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| RadioNZ - 9 hours ago (RadioNZ)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) Is it harder to have sex when there`s so much going on in the world? And why is intimacy still important when there`s seemingly bigger issues at play? Read...Newslink ©2024 to RadioNZ | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | RadioNZ - 9 hours ago (RadioNZ)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) The move ends days of speculation over whether the former president would support Harris` White House bid. Read...Newslink ©2024 to RadioNZ | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 9 hours ago (PC World)Power strips are essential for any workstation because you have so many devices to keep plugged in, from your computer to your monitors to your chargers and everything else. But power strips get in the way.
Unless you have this desk-clamping power strip with surge protection, which is down to just $25 right now from its original $59.
This versatile power station securely mounts to the side or back of your desk using an edge-mount bracket, freeing your workspace of clutter while keeping all your devices accessible within arm’s reach.
It has three power outlets, two 20W USB-C PD ports, and two USB-A ports, so you can fast charge multiple devices at once while also powering your computer, monitors, and accessories.
This desk-clamping power strip features a flat plug on a 6-foot power cord, so it’s long enough to reach your wall outlet even if you hook this up to a standing desk. In this way, even when you raise your desk, the power strip has enough slack for any height.
Installation is super simple, too. No screws or drill holes needed. The clamp is wide enough that it will fit desks up to 1.6 inches thick.
Ready to level up your workstation? Grab yourself this desk-clamping power strip for just $25 on Amazon and simplify your desk setup.
This desk-clamping power strip is 58% offBuy now on Amazon Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 9 hours ago (PC World)We’ve all read the reports: Blue light can play a role in sleep issues. It’s also been mentioned as a factor in skin damage, too. Fortunately, not only can you enable a blue-light filter on your smartphone, you can do so in Windows 10 and 11, too.
In fact, the process is incredibly easy—setup takes just a few minutes. Here’s how to do it, step-by-step, complete with a video walkthrough towards the end.
Step 1
Jumping into the Night Light settings via Windows 10’s robust search feature is easiest, but if you go the manual route, here’s where to find the link to that setting.
Jumping into the Night Light settings via Windows 10’s robust search feature is easiest, but if you go the manual route, here’s where to find the link to that setting.
Jumping into the Night Light settings via Windows 10’s robust search feature is easiest, but if you go the manual route, here’s where to find the link to that setting.
Click on the Start menu (or tap the Windows key on your keyboard). Then type in “Night Light” to bring up a direct link to that setting.
Alternatively, you can go to Start > Settings > System > Display, then click on Night light settings under Color (see image above for Windows 10, and image below for Windows 11). If you take this route, you can turn Night Light on and off via a toggle on the Display settings page.
The Night Light settings are near the top in Windows 11’s list of Display settings.
The Night Light settings are near the top in Windows 11’s list of Display settings.PCWorld
The Night Light settings are near the top in Windows 11’s list of Display settings.PCWorld
PCWorld
Step 2
An example of what Night Light settings look like in Windows 10 when the feature is active and a daily schedule is set.
An example of what Night Light settings look like in Windows 10 when the feature is active and a daily schedule is set.
An example of what Night Light settings look like in Windows 10 when the feature is active and a daily schedule is set.
If you didn’t already flip the toggle, click the Turn on now button to immediately activate blue-light filtering. Move the strength slider to increase or decrease how much blue light Windows will eliminate.
Never used a blue-light filter before? Before turning on Night Light, you can first play with the strength slider for a preview of what your screen will look like at various intensities—it’ll essentially let you try before you buy.
You can also instead click the gray toggle for Schedule night light to restrict the blue-light filtering to specific hours. Customize a time span for when the blue-light filtering is on, and you’re all set to go. Windows can also base the schedule on your location’s periods of actual sunset. You’ll just need to turn on Location Services for that to work—if your system has that setting off, a link to Location settings will automatically appear.
That’s it. You’re done!
How Windows 11’s Night Light settings look when the feature and its scheduling are both active.
How Windows 11’s Night Light settings look when the feature and its scheduling are both active.PCWorld
How Windows 11’s Night Light settings look when the feature and its scheduling are both active.PCWorld
PCWorld
More options
For most people, Windows 10 and 11’s built-in blue-light filtering does a good job. But for more control, you can turn to a third-party app. We recommend f.lux, a free program that provides more exact blue-light filtering settings and a rolling schedule for day and night time intensities.
Windows’s Night Light only has two options: It’s either on, or it’s off. With f.lux, you can have a less intense amount of blue-light filtering during the day, and then have that transition to a much deeper blockage. The program will even do that for you automatically if you choose, based on your type of in-home lighting and your location.
Is blue light bad for your eyes?
Prolonged exposure can cause vision issues, according to reports from institutions like UC Davis—think retinal cell damage, macular degeneration, cataracts, and eye cancer. Children have higher risk for such effects compared to adults, due to greater absorption of blue light from tech devices.
Less scary but still problematic is eye strain, which can cause to blurry vision, headaches, and even pain in your shoulders and neck.
Why is a blue light filter important?
In addition to helping reduce negative effects on your eyes, blue light filtering in Windows also helps your PC use from disrupting your body’s sleep cycle. Blue light can keep you up, as it triggers wakefulness in our brains—the biggest natural source of blue light is sunlight, so using digital devices that put out blue light can throw off our natural sense of when it’s time to be awake and when to be asleep. Poor or reduced sleep can lead to other health problems, like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, insomnia, and even cancer.
Editor’s note: This article originally published in August 2021 but was updated with Windows 11 information and explanations for how blue light can affect our health and sleep. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | BBCWorld - 10 hours ago (BBCWorld)A host of scary monsters and super creeps descend on Liverpool to revel revel in all things Bowie. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | Ars Technica - 10 hours ago (Ars Technica)Join us as we talk about the next few years in AI & storage, and what to watch for. Read...Newslink ©2024 to Ars Technica | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 10 hours ago (PC World)Gaming laptops are a breed of their own, with great specs, sharp displays, and big price tags. So when I found the Asus ROG Strix G16 (2024) on sale for its best price yet, I got rather excited!
What stands out to me is that this laptop comes with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, delivering superb graphics and strong gaming performance. Powered by an Intel Core i7 processor, the ROG Strix G16 promises smooth gameplay and multitasking power, especially with its 16GB of DDR5 RAM and spacious 1TB SSD.
When we reviewed the Asus ROG Strix G16, we absolutely adored it and gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Our expert appreciated that the laptop makes excellent use of the performance hardware it has under the hood, while the display looks absolutely brilliant. That was the 2023 version; the one on sale today is the improved 2024 version.
This laptop has a 16-inch display with a 1920×1200 resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. “The G16’s display is also Pantone Validated for those who might want to use it for design work. […] The laptop is certainly powerful enough for this kind of work,” our expert noted.
In our review, we also called the Asus ROG Strix G16 “a great all-round 16-inch gaming laptop, being powerful, exceptionally stylish, and packed with useful features.”
So, if you want to get a super solid 16-inch gaming laptop and save a bit of money doing so, the Asus ROG Strix G16 being down to $1,165 is a fantastic opportunity worth cashing in on.
Save $235 on the Asus ROG Strix G16 laptopBuy now on Amazon Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 10 hours ago (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsAmazingly easy customizationStylish lightingSemi-standard layout for keycapsConsExpensive base price and add-onsNo adjustable feetABS keycapsOur VerdictThe CSTM65 lives up to its name, being extremely easy to disassemble and customize. It’s a solid middle ground between a full custom keyboard build and a regular retail design.
Best Prices Today: Drop.com CSTM65 Keyboard
Retailer
Price
Drop.com
129.99
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
One of the first mechanical keyboards I ever owned was bought from Massdrop. More recently the online store is just going by Drop.com, and even more recently it’s been acquired by an ever-hungry Corsair. I imagine it’s the latter that’s pushed it into making less expensive, more accessible designs like the CSTM65.
This board is all about customization: The switches, the software, and even the case can be upgraded without any special tools or knowledge. It’s a good middle step between a regular mechanical board and building your own…though it doesn’t offer a great value.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best mechanical keyboards to learn about competing products.
Unassuming looks
If the CSTM65 looks familiar, that might be by design. Its 65 percent layout, lack of branding, and all-black looks seem almost intentionally vague, as if meant to appeal to keyboard users who want to eschew the garish colors and logos of gaming boards. But there are a couple of distinctive touches, including shine-through keycaps with legends on the bottom to take full advantage of south-facing LEDs. It’s a nice, stealthy look, if that’s what you’re into.
This board is all about customization: The switches, the software, and even the case can be upgraded without any special tools or knowledge.
In terms of hardware, it’s pretty standard for boards in this market. It’s wired with a braided USB-C cord in the box, hot-swap switch sockets for changing out the key feel (you get either basic Gateron Brown tactile or Yellow linears by default), and some goodies like internal sound-absorbing foam and a gasket-mounted PCB. Again, pretty typical, but there’s nothing to complain about except perhaps a higher-than-average price tag.
Crack it open
But there are a few other parts that highlight this board’s customization focus. The 65 percent layout isn’t technically standard, but it’s about as close as it can be at this size. Only the 1.75u right Shift key is off from ANSI, and that’s a common enough inclusion for custom keycap sets (including Drop’s many branded options). A slightly larger version of this board, the CSTM80, comes in a standard tenkeyless (TKL) layout.
The stylish weighted bottom piece is aluminum out of the box, but you can upgrade this with steel or brass (sold separately).
The stylish weighted bottom piece is aluminum out of the box, but you can upgrade this with steel or brass (sold separately). Michael Crider/Foundry
The stylish weighted bottom piece is aluminum out of the box, but you can upgrade this with steel or brass (sold separately). Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
The real wow factor is the case. Unplug the cable, lift up the sides, and the top comes right off, secured with a series of magnets. You can swap it out for other colors and accented designs available from Drop, or even a swanky aluminum replacement. With a few exposed screws removed, you can get to the keyboard’s internal circuit board, foam layers, and the bottom of the case, which also holds a replaceable weighted piece. The one in the box is aluminum, but you can upgrade it with chunky and heavy brass.
The top of the case pulls off easily from its magnetic mount, and the rest is easily accessible with a screwdriver.
The top of the case pulls off easily from its magnetic mount, and the rest is easily accessible with a screwdriver. Michael Crider/Foundry
The top of the case pulls off easily from its magnetic mount, and the rest is easily accessible with a screwdriver. Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
It’s just about as easy as any keyboard can be to work on and upgrade, far more so than any gaming board or even Keychron’s custom-focused Q series. If you’re into more intense customization, you can even remove the plastic plate and the screw-in stabilizers. Like I said, this is a very nice middle ground between building your own keyboard from the ground up and going with a more expensive custom-style or boutique build.
That said, there are a few corners cut. The default plastic case doesn’t feel great — it’s a little flimsy, aside from the brushed aluminum bottom plate. It’s also lacking any adjustable feet, an odd omission on a keyboard otherwise so happy to be tweaked. And the keycaps, while solid, are still ABS plastic instead of a more premium PBT. That’s a let-down coming from Drop, which certainly knows keyboard fans will be looking for the latter.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
I get the feeling that CSTM boards are offered more as a starting point for Drop.com customers, hopefully enticed by more elaborate keycaps and other accessories. Which is fine…but I have to evaluate it as a product wholly on its own. And at this price point, I would have preferred to see a little less plastic.
Performance
Without any modifications at all, the CSTM65 is a decent if unspectacular board. Gateron’s linear Yellow switches are pretty good, though a little less stable than I prefer (my favorite switches use a stem with a circle or square outer rim to cut down on wobble). The stabilizers are likewise fine, though there’s definitely a bit of chatter in the space bar despite the generous internal padding.
Thanks to the semi-standard layout I was able to use the board immediately for my typing-heavy workload with ease. And as a wired board it works fine for gaming, though it lacks the dedicated features and per-game profiles of dedicated gaming keyboards. Since Drop didn’t advertise it as a gaming board, I won’t penalize the board for lacking them, something I can’t say for other boards with a custom focus.
The south-facing LEDs and bottom-printed shine-through keycaps are striking…even if they are a disappointing PBT plastic.
The south-facing LEDs and bottom-printed shine-through keycaps are striking…even if they are a disappointing PBT plastic. Michael Crider/Foundry
The south-facing LEDs and bottom-printed shine-through keycaps are striking…even if they are a disappointing PBT plastic. Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Those south-facing LEDs (that means they’re on the bottom of the switch relative to the keyboard, towards the user) are notably bright and vivid, with a bit of extra style thanks to the shine-through keycaps with legends on the bottom. It’s an understated, stylish touch that I appreciate, even without a ton of animation options you’ll find from some Corsair boards. Speaking of which…
Software
According to the promotional page, the CSTM65 is compatible with QMK, VIA, and Vial programming tools. I wasn’t able to get the keyboard to show up on the VIA and Vial web-based interfaces, an issue that seems to be repeated with other buyers. But fortunately Drop has its own custom-made programming tool available for Windows.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
It’s a good one, offering an easy at-a-glance interface for customizing up to four layers. Lighting is a little more sparse, but there are a handful of built-in animations that should tide you over if you want a light show, and RGB-based options for solid colors and breathing. These can be set and adjusted with key combinations, no software work required.
Not showing up in Via (even after I loaded up the custom definition) is annoying. I can only hope that it’s a firmware issue, and can be fixed with an update. But it was easy enough to customize the keyboard layout and lighting as-is, which is more than I can say for some boards in this price range.
Expensive upgrades
Drop.com is asking $130 for the CSTM65, which is pretty pricey for a board with a plastic case and no wireless option. You could get our top gaming keyboard pick, Corsair’s own K65 Plus Wireless, for a little more. You could also get something like the Keydous NJ80-AP, which is less easy to customize but comes with far better parts out of the box, plus wireless.
But let’s examine some of the customization options, since this is one of the board’s big selling points. With only the tools in the box plus a screwdriver, you can upgrade the case top, the weighted bottom, the keycaps, the switches, and the plate (the part in between the circuit board and the switches). All of these are available on Drop.com’s site.
Drop.com offers a collection of easy-to-swap-out parts for this board, but they don’t come cheap.
Drop.com offers a collection of easy-to-swap-out parts for this board, but they don’t come cheap.
Drop.com
Drop.com offers a collection of easy-to-swap-out parts for this board, but they don’t come cheap.
Drop.com
Drop.com
But they don’t come cheap. A new plastic case top in a handful of colors is $25, $35 for the nice green one with a bit of printed bling, or a hefty $59 for a black or gray aluminum one. Steel or brass weights for the bottom are $49 a piece, and an aluminum, brass, or carbon fiber plate ranges from $25 to $49. For a “fully upgraded” version of this keyboard, you’re looking at an extra $100 or more…and that doesn’t even touch the rather basic keycaps or switches.
You can get the CSTM65 or the CSTM80 in barebones packages without the switches, top, or keycaps, but you’ll quickly find the parts adding up anyway, especially if you want some of Drop’s themed keycap sets. Just the 70 switches and a 65 percent keycap set will put you over the pre-assembled retail price, even if you go for the cheapest third-party parts.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
For that kind of money there are far better options, available in a wide variety of layouts and styles. They’re not as easy to modify, but they’re not that much harder either, and they come with wireless capabilities. Like some of the other branded Drop keyboards I’ve tried, the value proposition is lacking.
Is the Drop CSTM65 worth it?
I’m not saying you shouldn’t consider this keyboard. It does make sense if you want to customize a board with incredible ease, and you’re intimidated by more complex builds. And you don’t particularly care about gaming features or wireless…and you’re not on any kind of restricted budget. It wouldn’t hurt if you’re already a fan of Drop.com as a site, since that’s the only place to find some of these parts.
The CSTM65 makes sense if you want to customize a board with incredible ease, and you’re intimidated by more complex builds.
But even so, I’d recommend waiting for a sale. I’ve seen the CSTM65 go for $100 even over the course of this review period, and that makes its compromises a lot more palatable. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | ITBrief - 11 hours ago (ITBrief)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) An IT outage caused by a faulty update from CrowdStrike halted 8.5 million Windows PCs, disrupting airlines and the NHS; a fix and reboot are now advised. Read...Newslink ©2024 to ITBrief | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | ITBrief - 11 hours ago (ITBrief)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) Enterprises are prioritising security over digital transformation as cybercrime`s global cost approaches USD $9.5 trillion. Is crowdsourced security the answer? Read...Newslink ©2024 to ITBrief | ![](/n.gif) |
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