Did you know Google Maps has a feature called Travel Time that lets you to see approximately how far you can travel in a given time limit? As of now, this feature works with Walking and Driving navigation, but not Cycling or Public Transportation. It’s also only available in the web version of Google Maps, not the Android or iOS apps. Here’s how you can turn on Travel Time in Google Maps and what makes it such a useful feature to start using. How to enable Travel Time Navigate to maps.google.com in your web browser (you don’t need to be logged in with your Google account), then hover over the bottom-left icon labeled Layers to open a menu. In the hover menu, click More, then look under the Map Tools section and click on Travel Time to enable the feature: Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Once you enable Travel Time, you’ll see a new panel appear at the bottom-center of Google Maps, and this panel will have grayed-out options for selecting a time limit and method of travel: Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Now click anywhere on the map to set a starting location. Once a starting location is set, you’ll be able to select a time limit and method of travel, which will then reveal how far you can go in that time. How to use the Travel Time feature Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG With Travel Time, you can choose the following time limits when Walking is the method of travel: 15 minutes 30 minutes And these time limits with Driving selected: 15 minutes 30 minutes 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours 6 hours You’ll see a shaded region on the map that shows everywhere you could travel within the time limit via the method of travel. The shaded region won’t necessarily be a circle because different paths may allow for greater travel in certain directions (or be blocked off entirely). Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Depending on the time limit selected, you may have to zoom out of the map to be able to view the entire shaded region: Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG Joel Lee / IDG There are two drawbacks to Travel Time as of this writing: The estimate doesn’t take into account traffic conditions and only represents a general idea of where you could go. It may be inaccurate during rush hour or if there’s an accident somewhere. Not every location currently has Travel Time data, and some locations may only have Driving data but not Walking data. Despite these shortcomings, the Travel Time feature is pretty cool to play around with and can be useful for getting a general idea of where you could possibly go given certain parameters. Read...

When you install Windows 11, you get a wide variety of programs and apps (in the Windows world, these words get mixed up a lot, and they really mean the same thing). Many of them are linked to the operating system itself. For example, you use Explorer to manage your files and Microsoft Defender to protect your computer against attacks. Windows 11 Pro But there are also plenty of free programs that add new features to your computer, such as the drawing program Paint and video editing software Clipchamp. We have collected the most important programs to know about here. They are built into your computer and you access them by clicking the Start button > All apps — or via the Search tool. If any of them are missing from your PC, you can install them yourself via Microsoft Store, the built-in tool that lets you download programs to your computer. Clipchamp: Free video editing at last Mark Hachman / Foundry Mark Hachman / Foundry Mark Hachman / Foundry Nowadays, Windows 11 includes an excellent video editing tool called Clipchamp. It can do all sorts of basic editing of your films. For example, you can trim them, removing the bad material at the beginning and end of most films. You can also split a clip into several parts so that you can remove the bad ones. You can also move the clips around and make the transitions smoother by, for example, inserting a fade or sweep between two clips. Other powerful features include the ability to change the speed of a video clip, apply filters, or adjust lighting and colors. Of course, you can also add music, sound, text, and various graphic elements to your film. All the essential basic features are free, but you can get more if you get a paid subscription. Download Microsoft Clipchamp in the Windows Store. Edge: Smarter browsing with AI Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft’s Edge browser keeps getting better. Built on the same technical foundation as market leader Google Chrome, it has no problem displaying some web pages, and you can use most extensions created for Chrome. Edge has a lot of smart tools, the most interesting of which is its connection to Copilot, Microsoft’s AI service. If you tap on the Copilot icon in the top right, you’ll get a toolbar where you can access the same kinds of features as in the AI service Chat GPT. In other words, you can ask questions and get answers directly. You can also let Copilot write everything from appeal emails and blog posts to birthday speeches and poems. Download Microsoft Edge Microsoft Photos: Keep track of all your photos Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft The Photos app does two things: It keeps track of all the photos on your hard drive and on various cloud services, and lets you do advanced searches and fun slideshows. Second, Photos has an editing feature with all the basic functions. For example, you can crop and rotate your photos, and you can adjust light and colors. If you don’t want to do it manually, you can enhance your photos automatically or use different filters. Recently, Photos also got smart AI tools that let you remove backgrounds or unwanted objects. Download Microsoft Photos in the Windows Store Outlook: More than an email client Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft has retired the Email and Calendar tools and replaced them with Outlook. The most important component here is the email part, which allows you to manage all your email accounts. These include Hotmail, Live, or Outlook addresses — but Outlook can also handle Gmail, Yahoo, and other email services. Outlook also includes Microsoft’s other productivity tools, i.e. Outlook Calendar, To Do list, and People address book. You can also add shortcuts to other Microsoft services. Download Outlook in the Windows Store Paint: Draw and paint like the pros Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Paint is a program you use to draw and paint. It can also edit your photos in a more advanced way than the Photos app. Recently, Paint got two new features. The first is an AI feature that lets you remove backgrounds on your photos. The second is called Layers and makes it easier to do more advanced image work. Download Paint in the Windows Store Quick Assist: Help your friends Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Quick Assist is a tool for those who usually help friends and family with their computer problems — and for those who usually need help. What it does is let someone take control of a computer remotely. Using Quick Assist is simple. As a support assistant, click on Help someone and log in to your Microsoft account. You will now receive a code that you give to the person you are helping. They enter the code under the heading Security code from the assistant in the same program. The support assistant can choose between just looking at the computer or checking it completely — and the person to be helped must authorize this. Download Quick Help in the Windows Store Phone link: Connect your computer and mobile phone Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Pairing a Windows computer with an Android mobile phone is now easy. The Phone Link application allows you to send text messages from your computer, and you can also access photos and notifications. If you can’t find the application on your computer, you need to open Settings > Bluetooth and devices > Phone Link and activate it. For Phone Link to work, you’ll also need to install an app on your mobile phone and make a number of settings. Getting started can be tricky, but when you open the Phone Link application on your computer, a clear guide will show you how to do it. Windows Backup: Automatic backup Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft If you have plenty of space in Microsoft OneDrive, you may benefit from Windows Backup. It copies all files located in the Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music folders to OneDrive — and even your settings are safe. When you open Windows Backup for the first time, a wizard starts to help you set up what and how you want to back up and synchronize. Then, when you get a new computer or reinstall Windows, you’ll get a prompt to restore material from the backup. Notes: Simple word processing with tabs Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft The built-in Notepad application has received several smart innovations in the latest Windows updates. The most interesting is the tabs that allow you to work with multiple notes at the same time. The layout is the same as in most browsers. To use the tabs, press the plus icon at the top right. You can also select File > New Tab (or Ctrl+N). This will open a new tab in the program. Close it with the cross on the right or via the File menu. Another welcome addition is that Notepad now has a spell checker. To control it, you can tap the gear in the top right and make sure Spell Check is enabled. You can also select Auto-correct, which is a function that fixes spelling mistakes itself. More great free programs Family. A tool for those with children who want to control their browsing, gaming, and screen time. Sticky Notes. A digital equivalent of those yellow Post-it notes. Make a note of what you want to remember and stick the note anywhere on the screen. Game Bar. A tool that allows computer gamers to record and share video and still images. In addition, there are tools for making performance measurements of the games. Game Bar is opened with the keyboard shortcut Windows+G. Calculator with graphing function. Microsoft’s calculator can handle both basic maths and more advanced calculations. Camera. Use your computer’s camera to take pictures or film. Maps. Microsoft’s equivalent of Google Maps. Getting started. A simple beginner’s guide that shows you how to use Windows 11. Audio recorder. Use your computer’s microphone to record audio. Media Player. A stripped-down tool that plays music, audio, video, and other media files. Teams. Microsoft’s tool for video meetings. Tips. This app gives you smart ideas from Microsoft’s own engineers. Todo. A to-do list that you can also access via mobile and browser. Xbox. Some of the gaming features from Microsoft’s Xbox game console are available in a Windows 11 app of the same name. Read...

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TL;DR: Now through 7/21, you can get Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows for just $19.97. For crunching numbers and analyzing data, there’s Microsoft Excel. But when it comes to navigating more complicated data that requires charts and diagrams, you must use a different tool. Fortunately, Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows is one of the best in the business and it’s on sale for just $19.97 during our version of Prime Day. Visio is a leading tool for diagramming and presenting complex information in more digestible ways. It offers tons of templates and shapes to help you create the diagram that most makes sense for you, and gives you intuitive tools to effectively convey what you need. From flowcharts and org charts to Venn diagrams, mind maps, and much more, Visio gives you the tools to visualize practically anything. Take advantage of this limited-time deal on Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows. Through 11:59 pm PT on 7/21, you can get it for just $19.97 (reg. $249).   Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows – $19.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Personal Software, Professional Software Read...

2024 is an exciting year for Windows. While the AI features touted by Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs are a flat miss, the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite hardware inside Copilot+ PCs is a definite win. Finally, after more than a decade of effort, Windows on Arm is a viable alternative to traditional x86 processors—and it’s especially alluring if you long for longer battery life. But what about games? There’s reason to be skeptical., despite Qualcomm’s pre-release claims that games should just work on Snapdragon X Elite. Games are often developed with a highly specific platform target. Even ports that seem simple, like a move from PlayStation 5 to Xbox Series X|S, can take a lot more effort than you might think.  To find out how well Qualcomm’s chips fare in PC games, I pitted Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop 7 against a Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with an Intel Core Ultra processor and Intel Arc integrated graphics. The results are shocking. Further reading: Surface Laptop 7 review: A new Snapdragon-powered era for Windows laptops Qualcomm vs. Intel integrated GPUs Every Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip comes with an integrated Qualcomm Adreno X1 GPU, though the IGP’s performance varies a bit depending on the particular Snapdragon X chip in a device:  Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100: 3.8 TFLOPs Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100: 3.8 TFLOPs Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100: 3.8 TFLOPs Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100: 4.6 TFLOPs As you can see, Qualcomm’s naming conventions are a bit opaque even by the standards of the industry, so you’ll need to pay close attention when buying a Qualcomm-powered Windows laptop. Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8?) Read our review Best Prices Today: $999.99 at Amazon | $999.99 at Best Buy Though the X1E-84-100 is the best Qualcomm chip, it’s currently exclusive to the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, leaving the X1E-80-100 in the leading spot for most Qualcomm-powered laptops. This is the chip I’ll be using in my tests for this comparison. Intel, meanwhile, provides integrated Arc graphics into some—though not all—Intel Core Ultra chips. Here, too, the details can vary quite a bit between chips. The least performant have four “Xe Cores” while the best have eight. Clock speeds vary, too. Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H, the one I’ll be using for this comparison, is a popular option for thin-and-light Windows x86 laptops, the form factor Qualcomm targets with its debut Snapdragon notebooks.. Many expensive laptops use it for their entry-level configurations, while mid-range laptops provide it as an upgrade over an Intel Core Ultra 5. Qualcomm Adreno X1: Games that failed Before diving into benchmarks, I want to address a major problem upfront: Most games currently make little or no effort to support Qualcomm’s hardware. Qualcomm tried to build pre-launch hype with demonstrations of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Control, which both launch and run on a Snapdragon X laptop. However, many of the games I tried refused to launch, crashed at launch, or had instability problems that made them unplayable. The list of game titles with such problems include many of the most popular games on Steam: PUBG: Battlegrounds has an anti-cheat system that doesn’t currently support Qualcomm’s hardware, so the game refused to launch. Counter-Strike 2 launched and, at first, seemed playable. However, the game frequently locked up for seconds at a time. The lock-ups seemed to be triggered by gunfire, which obviously isn’t great in a fast-paced esports shooter. Warframe launched to the title and login screens, but opened in an oddly scaled window that made the login button unavailable. The game crashed when I resized or maximized the window. Apex: Legends politely refused to launch. The game produced an error message stating Arm chips aren’t supported. Diablo IV launched and I was able to enter a game, but the game froze several seconds after I started moving my character, followed by a “[Prism] Device Removal – Win10/Dx12 TQ0 RT0 DLSS0 FG0” error message. Valheim crashed to the desktop before the game loaded to the start screen. This happened under both DirectX and Vulkan. As I discovered in my time using the Microsoft Surface Laptop, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X delivers a stable Windows software experience straight out of the box. From web browsers to video editors, nearly everything ran without a problem. And, to my surprise, a large majority of the apps I use for everyday work already support Arm. But PC games are a different beast. Very few PC developers bother to create Arm-compatible versions of their game. That’s when emulation tries to step in, but emulating a game is more difficult than emulating a typical desktop application. Can Intel Arc play these titles? For the most part, yes. Games like Warframe and Counter-Strike 2 are very playable on Arc. Others, like Diablo IV and PUBG: Battlegrounds, push the definition of playable with occasional hitches or stutters, but I suspect gamers who aren’t too critical of performance will still find the experience tolerable. The laptops used for comparison I went beyond PCWorld’s typical benchmarks for this comparison because I’m interested in a broader overview of how Qualcomm’s Adreno X1 and Intel’s Arc compare across different games of varying age, graphical fidelity, and genre. Because of that, I had to test a competitive laptop with Intel Arc graphics side-by-side with the Qualcomm machine. I selected the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and I pitted it against the new Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 with Qualcomm X1E-80-100. Both laptops have (roughly) 14-inch screens, and they’re similar in size and weight so neither has innate thermal advantages. They represent many mid-to-high-end laptops with Qualcomm or Intel hardware. The laptops were set to their respective “Best Performance” modes for these tests. I ran all benchmarks three times and averaged the results. Both laptops were connected to power. The games tested and their results Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Firaxis’ Sid Meier’s Civilization IV, released in 2014, is hardly a new game, but it remains among the most popular grand strategy games on Steam. It’s a great game to test because large games like this, with many AI opponents, can still tax entry-level laptops. I tested this game with the built-in Gathering Storm expansion benchmark at 1920×1080 resolution with low Performance and Memory graphics presets selected. The benchmark ran three times back-to-back and the results were averaged. The DirectX 12 mode was used. Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1:Avg 21.47 / 1% low 14.52 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc:Avg 72.29 / 1% low 39.52 This is a blowout win for the Intel Arc graphics, which averaged a performance uplift of roughly 3.5 times when compared to the Qualcomm Adreno X1. More importantly, Intel Arc delivered a playable and enjoyable experience, while Qualcomm Adreno X1 did not. Interestingly, an Arm-native version of Civilization VI exists, as the game is available for both the iPad and Nintendo Switch (both have Arm chips). However, it’s not available for Windows. This implies the potential to improve performance with a native Arm release, but Firaxis hasn’t announced plans to bring it to Windows on Arm. Dota 2 Valve’s Dota 2 remains one of the most popular esports titles on the planet. I tested its performance using the in-game replay function to standardize the results. The game was launched at 1920×1080 resolution with the Fastest detail preset, and three 60-second snapshots of performance were captured from the same replay file. Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1:Avg 52.8 / 1% Low 17.8 / 0.1% Low 9.8 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc:Avg 106.6 / 1% Low 52.6  / 0.1% Low 38.1 This is a playable result for the Qualcomm chip, but only just. The average of 52.8 frames per second is solid, though not amazing, but the 1% lows dip into the high teens, and the 0.1% lows dip to single-digits. The game suffered occasional audio drop-outs and glitches. Intel Arc is both quicker and more stable. Though far from a speed-demon, the Arc delivers an experience that looks and feels more polished. I think most Dota 2 players could get by with Intel Arc graphics if that was their only option. Diablo II: Resurrected As mentioned earlier, Diablo IV crashed on the Qualcomm chip—so I instead gave Diablo II: Resurrected a spin. Although it appears to be a 2D game at a glance due to its fixed isometric perspective, it’s a full 3D title and can prove surprisingly demanding on low-end to mid-range hardware. I tested the game at 1920×1080 resolution with the Medium detail preset. Dynamic resolution scaling was disabled. I booted the game up, selected a high-level character, and romped through the River of Flame map on Nightmare difficulty. Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1:Avg 47.8 / 1% Low 26.8 / 0.1% Low 19.1 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc:Avg 74.5 / 1% Low 49.6 / 0.1% Low 27.9 Though hardly perfect, Diablo II: Resurrected was playable on the Qualcomm chip. It delivered an average of about 48 frames per second and 1% lows of 26.8 frames per second, indicating gameplay wasn’t always smooth but usually good enough. I didn’t notice any bugs or glitches in my time with the game, either. Still, Intel Arc came out ahead by every metric. Not only was Arc’s average framerate much higher, but its framerate dips were less severe. In practice, these numbers mean Diablo II: Resurrected felt smoother and more stable on the Arc system. Final Fantasy XIV The popular MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV received a graphical overhaul for its new expansion Dawntrail, but it’s still not an especially demanding game when all things are considered. I tested it with the standalone benchmark at 1920×1080 resolution and the High (Laptop) detail setting. Dynamic Resolution Scaling was off, while LOD on Distant Objects and Dynamic Grass Interaction were left on. Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1:4474 / Avg 31.56  / Minimum: 7 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc:6111 / Avg 41.8 / Minimum: 24 The Qualcomm chip played the game reasonably well, but it often suffered momentary framerate dips that were a drag on the visuals, while Arc’s dips were relatively rare (though I would still recommend notching down a few detail settings). This is another win for Intel Arc. While a higher average framerate is great, Arc’s real victory is its superior minimum framerate result. FFXIV fans might get by with the Qualcomm chip in a pinch, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Total War: Warhammer III Total War: Warhammer III is a real graphical showcase for strategy fans. It has detailed campaign maps and large battles that can include thousands of units. I tested this game with the built-in campaign benchmark at 1920×1080 resolution and the Low detail preset. Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1:Avg 24 / Minimum 16 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc:Avg 30 / Minimum 19 Intel Arc won this comparison, but the margin of victory was far slimmer than with most of the titles I tried—and it might not matter much. While Arc did average 30 FPS, the framerate frequently dipped into the 20s. Both Intel Arc and Qualcomm Adreno require significant resolution reductions for a truly playable experience in this title. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Despite its age, Skyrim remains an important title for PC gaming with an active community and a huge library of modifications. I tested the Special Edition, without mods, at 1920×1080 resolution using the High detail preset. The test run was a walk from the cave you exit at the beginning of the game to the walls of Helgen. Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1:Avg 29.8 / 1% Low 12 / 0.1% Low 8.3 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc:Avg 59.4 / 1% Low 39.7 / 0.1% Low 30.3 This was a clear win for Intel Arc, which roughly doubled the performance of the Qualcomm chip. Skyrim felt more stable on Arc with a 0.1% low of 30.3 frames per second, while it stuttered and hitched frequently on the Qualcomm-powered Surface with a 0.1% low of 8.3 frames per second. Cyberpunk 2077 Now we have Cyberpunk 2077, a notoriously demanding title that’s representative of cutting-edge cross-platform games. I ran the benchmark at 1920×1080 resolution and used the Low detail preset. Resolution scaling was enabled because this game simply isn’t playable on this class of hardware without it. The Qualcomm chip used AMD FSR 2.1 while Intel Arc used Intel XeSS 1.2. Ray tracing was off. Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1:Avg 20.69 / Minimum 14.93 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc:Avg 35.83 / Minimum 27.90 This is another win for Intel Arc. Cyberpunk 2077 is just barely playable on Arc, though, so it’s a long way from ideal. On Qualcomm, meanwhile, the game’s average and minimum framerates fall short of acceptable. Reducing resolution to 720p and fine-tuning the settings can arguably provide a playable experience, but I wouldn’t recommend it. 3DMark Last, but not least, is a pair of 3DMark synthetic benchmarks: Time Spy and Night Strike. Time Spy is not an Arm-native test, but Night Strike is, and that has a big impact on performance. Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1:Time Spy 1,880 / Night Strike 24,573 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc:Time Spy 3,523 / Night Strike 25,552 In Time Spy, which isn’t Arm-native, the Qualcomm Adreno X1 is leagues behind Intel Arc. But in Night Strike, which does provide an Arm-native version, the two are rather close. Arc still wins, but only by a hair. This is a very important result. While not especially useful for gamers buying a laptop today, it hints that Qualcomm hardware could eventually end up in a much better place in due time. Windows games designed for Arm are exceedingly rare right now, which is bad news for Qualcomm. But the Night Strike result shows that Qualcomm could make up a lot of ground if game developers begin to release updates for Windows on Arm. Qualcomm Adreno X1 vs. Intel Arc: Conclusion Qualcomm’s big issue is the lack of Windows on Arm among the PC game development community. Unlike other software developers—who are adopting Windows on Arm at speed—PC game developers seem unmotivated and even reluctant. That’s understandable. Game developers already have to think about possible support for at least six platforms (Windows x86, Mac, Linux x86, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch). Adding Windows on Arm to the pile is surely a strain. Still, the consequences are clear. Modern games simply don’t run well on Qualcomm’s chip because they generally run emulated, not natively. As a result, many titles experience hitching, stuttering, and/or extended framerate drops that drag down the experience with instability. This could all change as game developers begin to release Arm-native versions, but I can’t predict how quickly that change will come. So, what’s the final takeaway? If you’re looking to play PC games on an entry-level laptop today, you should choose an Intel laptop with Arc integrated graphics (or an AMD Ryzen laptop) over a Qualcomm alternative. Graphics Cards Read...

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At a glanceExpert`s Rating ProsClear audio with fine detail in the soundOozes comfort at every turnPinpoint-accurate spatial audio supportMix of wireless and wired connectivityConsNo Active Noise Cancellation on boardExposed cords could be a risk for breakageIt comes with a soft case instead of a more robust hard caseOur VerdictThe Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed wireless gaming headset dishes out clear, high-fidelity sound. With pinpoint-accurate spatial audio and lots of personalization available in the Logitech G Hub app, this headset is an excellent choice for gamers. Best Prices Today: Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed Retailer Price $247.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket I really liked the Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed for its high-fidelity audio and snug comfort. The Pro X 2 Lightspeed is a chip off that winning headset’s block for comfort, but with new 50mm graphene audio drivers on board, its sound is even more impressive. Indeed, with the detail I’m getting in the soundscapes of my favorite RPGs, I’m wanting to replay them all. The Pro X 2 Lightspeed also benefits from a very defined 3D spatial surround sound courtesy of DTS Headphone: X 2.0, which is truly immersive. A longer battery life of up to 50 hours is also a win. There’s no simultaneous audio or ANC to speak of, but an excellent level of personalization in the headset’s companion app helps balance the scales in favor of the Pro X 2. Further reading: See our roundup of the best gaming headsets to learn about competing products. Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed design and build When you pull the Pro X 2 Lightspeed out of the box you notice two things right away: It resembles its predecessor the Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed with oval-shaped earcups, thick leatherette earpads, big, dominant Y-shaped aluminum yokes, and a sturdy steel frame. Second, the earcups are about as big as an adult fist (3.9 x 3.1 inches), and just cover my ears for a snug fit. They move vertically and horizontally too, so I can move my head and neck around quite well. Curly cords up near the top of the yokes are in danger of breakage, however, so you’ll want to keep this headset cased when not in use. You can change the volume of each of the seven directional points in G Hub, to emphasize or soften sound originating at each, which is something I’d recommend you work into presets for specific FPS maps… The left earcup houses almost all the controls except for the 3.5mm auxiliary-in jack, which you can find over on the right. They include an on/off switch, volume wheel, mute mic button, USB-C port for charging the headset’s onboard battery, and a Bluetooth button. All up, and with the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, you get three connectivity types, which is quite generous. That let me connect to a smattering of my devices, including my PC, smartphone, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5 console — so I didn’t have to change headsets. In the box you get a USB-C to USB-A cable and a long 3.5mm audio jack. Two spare earcup covers are a softer velour material so you have the option of swapping the leatherette ones for cooler, more breathable ones when things heat up. As to comfort, it’s top notch. The default leatherette on the cups is soft and the cushioning is deep. A moderate clamp pressure didn’t squeeze my ears. The headset’s 12.2-ounce weight was never a burden; it has a presence on your head, but not enough of one to make you sore. Lastly, the headset comes with a soft storage case. I would have preferred a hard case with compartments, if just to prevent accessories rolling around and scratching up its gorgeous facade. Still, a case is better than no case at all. Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed performance No matter whether you’re using 3.5mm auxiliary-in, Bluetooth, or Wireless connectivity, these cans sound amazing. The 50mm graphene audio drivers are the reason. They can pick up the smallest of vibrations, so the Pro X 2 has an excellent frequency response and low distortion. Music, games, and movies sounded equally impressive in my testing. In games, though, two things stood out: the high level of detail in the soundscape and the audio clarity. Indeed, in RPGs like Elden Ring I relished hearing hard-to-notice atmospheric sounds like the game’s background drone, the bleating of sheep, and the rustle of grass. The audio clarity too had me stopping at times to just soak it all up. The mid tones sounded natural and crisp, as well, and the treble tones held their shape without irksome tinniness or twanginess. But the bass impressed me the most; this is definitely a headset that pushes lows to the foreground for maximum impact. Luxurious leatherette covers the Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed’s earcups for a comfy feel.  Luxurious leatherette covers the Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed’s earcups for a comfy feel.  Dominic Bayley / IDG Luxurious leatherette covers the Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed’s earcups for a comfy feel.  Dominic Bayley / IDG Dominic Bayley / IDG Indeed, that bass isn’t just commanding — which is where most gaming headsets would be happy to leave off — it’s exceptionally smooth too. I never had that uncomfortable pressure cooker-like feeling on my ears that I sometimes get with really bassy headsets, which is a rare thing I savored. That bass is impressive even in default mode, before you’ve even activated the Bass Boost preset in the Logitech G Hub companion app, so if you wish, you can switch it on for even more impact.   The left earcup also houses a discreet slot for the headset’s 6mm detachable cardioid boom microphone. The mic is flexible and also comes with a neat pop filter on the end. The mic did a great job making my voice sound clear and warm. The filter minimized pops and hisses in my Discord chats too. The surround sound was also a pleasure to game with, so I kept it on most of the time. It proved effective at helping me pinpoint player footfalls in games like CounterStrike 2. I could change the volume of each of the seven directional points in G Hub, to emphasize or soften sound originating at each point, which is something I’d recommend you work into presets for specific FPS maps. Dominic Bayley / IDG Dominic Bayley / IDG Dominic Bayley / IDG I had a lot of fun with the microphone settings in G Hub too. Applying presets to my voice using Blue Vo!ce allowed me to enhance its quality. My go-to of these was “Broadcaster,” which bestowed my voice with an authoritative quality, and “Crisp and Warm,” which did exactly what its namesake suggests. Another great feature in G Hub is “Sampler.” Here you can create your own macros or random expressions to use in your games. A list of ready-made expressions come in a variety of languages, so they can be a fun ice breaker if you’re playing on overseas servers. That’s some of the key functionality you can tweak. There’s more I wished the headset had, especially since it costs a whole $250 at checkout — namely Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and simultaneous audio, but the Pro X 2 has neither.   You can still access your different audio sources separately, though. A simple button press switches you between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modes, which I found was very handy when I wanted to use the headset between multiple devices in one sitting. Should you buy the Logitech G Pro X2 Lightspeed? In its purest form, you could say the G Pro X 2 really capitalizes on what matters the most for most gamers — audio quality, comfort, and connectivity. The fact that it dispenses with ANC and simultaneous Bluetooth functionality, might seem a bit of an oversight for a headset that costs $250. But, with such amazing audio fidelity and features like DTS Headset: X 2.0 surround sound, even those omissions seem forgivable. Indeed, I’m enjoying all the detail I can now hear in the soundscapes of my favorite RPGs — details which have brought them to light in new and engrossing ways Headsets Read...

Acer has unveiled their new TravelMate laptops mere days ahead of Computex. These business laptops are traditionally known for their slim form factor and long battery life. In fact, the 2023 version of the TravelMate P6 nabbed a top spot on our best laptops roundup, earning the title of “Best Ultraportable.” The new models announced today come loaded with more power-efficient Intel Core Ultra CPUs as well as useful AI capabilities. There’s also a 2-in-1 version and a clamshell with a bigger 16-inch display, and they all use recycled materials in both design and packaging. Heck yeah. Configurations, hardware, and availability Acer Acer Acer Acer puts forth three offerings on the table: Acer TravelMate P6 14, Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14, and Acer TravelMate P4 16. Acer TravelMate P6 14 The Acer TravelMate P6 14, a traditional clamshell and the first to lead the charge, is powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and comes with up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. The 14-inch touch-optional display is a real stunner with its 2880×1800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, and 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut support for sharp-looking pictures with rich colors. It even comes with Wi-Fi 7 (gotta go fast!) and Thunderbolt 4 support — both ideal if you’re connecting high-performing devices. It has a starting price of $1,429.99 and will be available to purchase in July 2024. Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14 The Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14 is the convertible version of the business lineup. That means you can swing the screen around a full 360 degrees and use it in various positions, like tent or tablet mode. It weighs 3.29 pounds, making it super travel-friendly. The machine also comes with up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, a 14-inch touch-optional 1200p display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. The taller aspect ratio makes scrolling through web pages a much more comfortable experience. This versatile device has a starting price of $1,329.99 and is expected to launch in July 2024. Acer TravelMate P4 16 Looking for a laptop with a bigger screen? The Acer TravelMate P4 16 is your girl. Like the other models above, it’s packing the latest Intel Core Ultra processor. However, you can load this one up with up to 64GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. 64GB is a lot of RAM — and that’s a good thing, especially if you typically work with video editing software. The 16-inch display has a 1920×1200 resolution and 100 percent sRGB, so the picture and color quality should be quite good. The starting price is $1,229.99 and you can start ordering it in July 2024. New AI capabilities Everybody’s embracing AI these days, so it’s no surprise to see Acer jump on that bandwagon. You’ll find a number of AI features in the Acer Experience Zone on the TravelMateSense application. Need to remove something in the background of a photo? Acer LiveArt has you covered. You can also generate “depth maps on 2D images,” according to Acer. The TravelMate laptops also come with Acer PurifiedView 2.0, which uses the CPU’s neural processing unit to create more seamless, free-flowing AI experiences. This is useful for when you need to blur your background during a videoconferencing call. Enterprise Chromebooks Speaking of business laptops, Acer’s got two new business Chromebooks on tap: Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 and Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise Spin 514. Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 has a spacious 15.6-inch 1080p display and an equally spacious keyboard with a number pad. The number pad is key for both workers and students alike, especially if your day-to-day consists of punching in numbers (data entry is no joke). The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 has a starting price of $649.99 and will be available in June. Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise Spin 514 The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise Spin 514 is the convertible model, meaning you can prop it up like a tent or flip the screen around and use it like a handheld tablet. It also has Google AI-powered video call tools, which automatically enhances the webcam picture. The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise Spin 514 will hit the market in August with a starting price of $749.99. For regular customers, there’s also the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. It comes with up to an Intel Core 7 150U processor and 16GB of RAM. It has a starting price of $549.99 and will become available in August. Laptops Read...