XDA

The HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook laid on top of printed documents.
Using Microsoft Office files on ChromeOS just got a ton easier

Just do a one-time setup and you're good to go.

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It can be tricky to work with a group of people when they all use different office suites. Whether you're getting a DOCX, a PDF, or an ODF, you sometimes need an app purely to handle one person who likes a specific app over all others. Fortunately, Google is making it easier to open Microsoft Office files in ChromeOS, meaning you'll find it a lot easier to work with people who prefer the Redmond giant's apps over Google's own.

Windows 11 background image
How to set up Windows Sandbox on Windows 11

Windows Sandbox is a very useful feature for testing software on Windows 11. Here's how to set it up on your own PC.

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If you follow news around Windows 11 (and Windows 10 before it), you might have heard of Windows Sandbox, but there's a good chance you may also not know what it is. This is a feature Microsoft added in later versions of Windows 10, specifically for the Pro or Enterprise editions.

The Fallout Excel RPG

With the Fallout TV series airing on Prime Video, the world has re-entered a post-apocalyptic resurgence with their interests. People are snapping up the old games, and even giving games that they didn't like at first a second try. Now, someone has shown their true dedication to the series by making an entire Fallout-inspired RPG in Excel, because people will find a way to do anything with the app bar using it to create spreadsheets.

PC installed inside the HYTE Y40 Snow White Edition
Never skimp on these parts when building a PC

"Buy cheap, buy twice!"

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Building a PC doesn't have to be expensive all the time, and there are plenty of components on the market right now to prove that. It is true that you may not get the latest and the best component out there when you stretch your budget a bit thin, but it's entirely possible to put together a solid PC without burning a huge hole in your wallet.

Windows 11 Start Menu and Settings app
If Start menu ads in Windows 11 aren't bad enough, something worse might be on the horizon

Don't be surprised if you see more invasive ads in the Windows 11 Start menu in the future.

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Microsoft has officially introduced ads in the Windows 11 Start menu via the April optional update. This has certainly not gone down well with many Windows users, and if that's you, Microsoft might be planning to add more salt to the injury by introducing more intrusive ads in the Windows 11 Start menu.

be quiet! Dark Rock Elite
be quiet! Dark Rock Elite review: Best-in-class CPU air cooling

Taking a look at be quiet!'s flagship CPU air cooler.

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The be quiet! Dark Rock Elite is a premium CPI air cooler with two fans, a beefy twin heatsink, and easy AMD and Intel system installation. The company's array of products isn't the flashiest on the market but is designed with function in mind. A similar sleek all-black design is found throughout the be quiet! hardware catalog, but every case, cooler, and power supply has a list of useful features.

A Raspberry Pi 5 with a power bank placed near it
I turned my Raspberry Pi into a portable computer — and you can too

The Raspberry Pi works well as a portable SBC, but there are a couple of things you should bear in mind before bringing it along on your next outing

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The Raspberry Pi boards are some of the best SBCs for DIY projects, but there’s no reason to confine them within the bounds of your house. Thanks to their small size, it's entirely possible to slip these devices into your pocket and use them on the move. But before you can bring your dreams of a portable Raspberry Pi to life, you’ll have to contend with the issues of powering and controlling the palm-sized system. So, I’ve put together a guide to help you free your Raspberry Pi from the shackles of cables, and use it anywhere outside your home lab.

Anker 717 on nightstand charging laptop
Anker's monster 140W charger gets irresistible 50% discount and can satisfy all your charging needs

If you're looking for a charger with a lot of power at a fair price, grab this Anker 140W charger for a steal for a limited time.

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Devices have gotten quite powerful over the past few years and, luckily, charging technology has managed to keep up, with brands utilizing the latest technology in order to provide speedy top-ups on some of our favorites smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Of course, these chargers aren't cheap, but if you're lucky enough, you'll be able to find a superb deal on one.

Dynabook Portege X40L-M over a pink-tinted office background
Dynabook's latest laptop packs all the ports, but it's still crazy light

The Dynabook Portégé X40L-M stands out by offering tons of ports while still being one of the lightest business laptops around.

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Dynabook may not be the first name anyone thinks of when thinking of laptops, but that's not stopping the company from launching new devices each and every year. And today, the company introduced the Portégé X40L-M, a laptop that aims to rise above its business laptop competitors by offering all the ports you could want while still being one of the lightest laptops on the market.

The Gunnar Optiks Groot Edition glasses

It's important to save your eyes from the blue light from monitors, but you also want to look good while you do it. Fortunately, Gunnar Optiks have been putting out good-looking glasses that save your eyes for a long time. Now, the company is ready to show off its newest pair with its partnership with Marvel, and you can grab your own Groot-themed glasses that can help keep your eyes safe from strain while looking stylish at the same time.

Pre-installed apps in Windows 11.
Microsoft's new Start menu ads represent everything I hate about Windows

No matter what you do, you can't get away from Microsoft's bombardment of ads in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

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Microsoft's business model for Windows has been a hot topic lately, as the company's moves continue to point to an ad-supported or subscription-based future of the platform. There was a time when some thought Windows 12 might be subscription-based, following in the footsteps of successful services like Adobe's Creative Cloud. Neither advertisements nor subscriptions are particularly new for people in the Windows ecosystem. Ads have been in parts of Windows taking various forms — some optional and others not so much — for about a decade. Microsoft 365 has been available as a subscription for longer than that, since 2013. But every time the company takes another step to collect more user data, provide more "personalized," "tailored," or "recommended" experiences, or other cleverly-disguised ads, I can't help but feel disrespected as a customer.

Back of the Asus ROG Ally.
How to use the ROG Ally for PS5 Remote Play

Turn your ROG Ally into a PlayStation Portal for PS5 Remote Play

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The Asus ROG Ally is a fantastic handheld gaming console that's powerful enough to handle a lot of AAA titles with ease. It's not without its flaws, but many of us here at XDA use it for gaming and thoroughly enjoy the experience. It's a solid handheld gaming console that lets you enjoy all your favorite PC games away from your computer. But what if you want to play your PlayStation 5 games on the ROG Ally when you are, say, on your bed, or when the TV is being used by someone else?

Top features Apple Notes should borrow from OneNote
6 features Apple Notes should borrow from OneNote

Apple Notes is great, but it needs these features to sway me away from OneNote

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Being an official offering from Apple, the Notes app has a robust integration on the company’s devices. While some of the Notes features, such as Smart Folders, Quick Notes, tags, and subfolders, are great, the app misses out on several basics and spoils my note-taking experience in no time.

The Snapdragon X Elite badge on the palmrest of a laptop.
Snapdragon X: Everything you need to know about Qualcomm's Arm computing chips

The Snapdragon X Plus and the Snapdragon X Elite will finally reach laptops very soon, and here's everything you need to know about the X series.

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Qualcomm has been talking about the Snapdragon X series for quite a while now, with its custom Oryon cores first being announced way back in 2022. These cores and the Snapdragon X series of SoCs are Qualcomm's answer to Apple's Arm-based chips, and they seem to be just around the corner. Qualcomm has announced the full range of SKUs for the Snapdragon X Elite, along an all-new Snapdragon X Plus.

TikTok on a phone
The US is passing a bill to ban TikTok, but there's hope yet

A US-based sale will be the community's final hope.

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The US and TikTok have been wrapped in a legal battle, with the former trying to ban the social media app out of the country. So far, there hasn't been a lot of progress, and TikTok has been allowed to operate normally. However, the biggest threat to the app has just passed through the Senate, and users have a single silver lining that may save the app from a nationwide ban.

An image showing a person using the 8Bitdo M30 retro controller to play games on a smartophone.
Retro gaming has never been better, and it can only go up from here

Give your classics the 21st-century TLC they deserve.

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Retro gaming has come a long way in the last decade or so. It may seem odd, given how we've had emulators for a long time now, but as technology has evolved, our retro gaming capabilities have only gotten better. Now, we're at a point where it has never been better to be a retro gamer, and there are plenty of reasons why now is a great time to crack open the classics and try something familiar.

Windows 11 Start menu
Start menu ads are officially here with the latest Windows 11 optional update

The latest preview update for WIndows 11 is here, including Start menu "recommendations" and some updates to Widgets on the desktop and lock screen.

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As we near the end of the month, Microsoft is rolling out its April optional update for Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2, and with it comes the introduction of recommended apps in the Start menu. That's another way of saying you'll now see ads for other apps in your Start menu, at least occasionally. The update is a preview of the Patch Tuesday update for May, so these changes will be coming to everyone soon.

Screenshot of Windows Terminal running an SFC command
How to save a failing drive with DISM and SFC

Having some issues with your Windows install? Your drive may be failing, but you can try to fix it using the SFC and DISM tools built into Windows.

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Hard drives and even the best SSDs don't always work as intended, there are some telltale signs. Your Windows install may start acting off or some things may just not work. These are warning signs you should pay attention to, and if you see them, you should try to fix these issues as soon as possible.

zimablade-connected
How building a NAS with an SBC can save you money

Build your NAS for less with a small-board computer.

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A small-board computer (SBC) is a compact system that can run the same software as a desktop PC on some Linux flavor or Windows. They're capable devices with powerful processors, upgradable and expandable parts, and healthy modding ecosystems. You can find SBCs powering surveillance systems, media centers, and storage solutions. It's possible to transform an SBC into a network-attached storage (NAS) server where you can store backups, sensitive data, and more. Compared to pre-built NAS enclosures from Synology, Asustor, and other brands, this could save you money.

Acer Swift Go 14-10
After speaking with Intel, I'm excited for the future of "AI PC"

We interviewed Robert Hallock, Senior Director of Technical Marketing at Intel, to talk about what the future of AI looks like to Intel.

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Intel has been going through a bit of a transformation of sorts in the last few months. Pushed by the improvements of chip competitor AMD and the AI dominance of Nvidia, the company has put its foot down and committed to supporting both AI and improving its fabrication nodes at a breakneck pace. Intel doesn't just want to ensure its processors are powerful, but it also wants them to be the smartest in the business.

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