About João Carrasqueira
I've been covering the tech world for over 5 years, with a heavy focus on laptops and the Windows ecosystem. I also love all things tech and videogames, especially Nintendo, which I'm always happy to talk about.
What was your first computer?
It's been a long time, but I remember having an old Compaq desktop PC running Windows XP, which was the family computer in my house. It had a 20GB hard drive and, if my memory serves, 512MB of RAM, yet it allowed me to play some of the games I remember most fondly, such as Rollcage and Lego Racers.
How long have you been interested in technology?
I've been interested in tech for as long as I can remember, whether it's computers or phones. I'd always look for ways to enhance the performance of my computer or try new versions of Windows, and I joined the Windows Insider Program the day the first build was released.
What tech products or categories are you most passionate about?
I love all things tech, and Windows has always been my home, so both software and hardware are things that interest me deeply. I'm also a huge fan of console gaming, with a big focus on Nintendo, whose games have a level of charm that most other companies don't replicate, despite their lesser technical prowess.
Latest Articles
If you're a PC gamer, Windows has historically been your only real option for an operating system. In recent years, technologies like Proton have made Linux a bit more viable, but if you want to make sure all the latest games are compatible and support the latest features, Windows 11 is where it's at. However, that doesn't mean it's is perfect out of the box. There are some settings you can change to make Windows 11 work that much better for gaming, so let's go through them to make sure you have the best experience possible.
How to disable Xbox Game Bar on Windows
Don't care about Microsoft's Xbox overlay in games? Here's how you can disable the Xbox Game Bar UI in Windows.
Out of the box, Windows 11 and 10 give you a way to record and share your games, as well as chat with your Xbox friends, manage system resources, and do all kinds of things thanks to plug-ins. All of this is available through the Game Bar, also known as Xbox Game Bar, but what if you don't care about any of these features and they're just using up resources on your laptop? Thankfully, you can disable the Game Bar so it doesn't bother you, at least to some extent. Here's how.
Windows 11 Home vs Windows 11 Pro: What's the difference?
Trying to choose between Windows 11 Home vs Pro? These are the main differences between the two editions you should be aware of.
Every major version of Windows comes in a few different editions. The same applies to Windows 11, which has many editions including Home, Pro, Enterprise, and the specialized Windows 11 SE, made for young students. While there are plenty of editions of Windows 11, technically, you're not really going to see most of them. If you're buying and using your own computer, the choices boil down to Windows 11 Home or Pro, which are the options you'll find preinstalled on most laptops.
QRD Stellar T5 review: More comfortable than Joy-Con, but they feel cheap
The world of Joy-Con alternatives gets a new contender that excels in comfort and flashiness. Build quality could be better, though.
There's no shortage of Nintendo Switch controllers out there from different brands, trying to address the pain points of Nintendo's own Joy-Con or adding more features. The QRD Stellar T5 is one of the more interesting options I've come across, replacing the Joy-Con and offering most of the features you'd expect.
3 big changes coming in the Surface Pro 10 and Laptop 6 consumer models
The real Surface Pro 10 and Laptop 6 will include even more improvements over the business models that are coming in April. Here's what we know.
Microsoft recently launched the Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business, which are set to become fully available in early April. But if you follow us, you already know we're not that interested in these devices, because what's coming in May is far more exciting.
Microsoft finally confirms when it's killing WordPad
Microsoft has confirmed that WordPad will be removed with Windows 11 version 24H2, and you won't be able to reinstall it.
Microsoft is removing WordPad from Windows 11 starting with version 24H2, the company has confirmed. The news isn't exactly surprising — at the start of the year, Microsoft shipped the first Windows 11 build in the Canary channel to remove the feature on new installs, and confirmed that a future release would remove the app upon upgrading as well. However, we didn't know for sure when it was happening for the general public.
Thunderbolt 5: Everything you need to know
Intel is working on the next generation of Thunderbolt with even faster data rates, although there's a lot we still don't know.
Intel's Thunderbolt technology is a staple of high-end laptops and PCs, offering super-fast connectivity over a single USB Type-C port. While Thunderbolt ports look like any other USB-C port, they offer capabilities you won't find on most of them, with high bandwidth allowing for fast data, high-resolution displays, and even external graphics cards.
Mobapad M6 HD and M6s review: The ultimate Nintendo Switch controller
If you're looking for the best Switch controller (that isn't made by Nintendo), the Mobapad M6 HD is basically unmatched.
Nintendo Switch controllers are a tricky market. Everyone has their fair share of complaints about Nintendo's Joy-Con, but when it comes to alternatives, every option that fixes one major pain point has another frustrating downside. Many of them are just remote controllers you can't use in handheld mode, and many others are exclusively handheld with no wireless communication, and that's to say nothing of the multitude of features Nintendo crammed into the Joy-Con that are usually left out of products like these. But then there's the Mobapad M6 HD.
MacBook Air (M3, 2024) vs iPad Pro (M2): Can a tablet beat a laptop?
The iPad Pro offers tremendous flexibility in how you use it, but getting to that level means spending a lot more too.
Apple's iPad Pro is a phenomenal powerhouse of a computing device, especially now with the M series SoCs. When paired with a keyboard and Apple Pencil, it can be a great alternative to a laptop. However, the type of apps and scope of iPadOS are still not on the same level as macOS would give you. The new 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 has the same starting price as the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which uses the M2 chip. If you were considering getting a new laptop and you travel a lot, does an iPad Pro with accessories make better sense than the M3 MacBook Air? Let's take a look at all angles of this dilemma.
5 reasons to use Start11 to customize Windows
The Windows 11 Start menu is fine, but there's so much more you can do with Start11.
At XDA, we're big fans of customization tools that let you make the most of your Windows PC. And one of the very best you can get has to be Start11, an app developed by Stardock that allows you to radically change your Windows 11 Start menu to suit your style and needs.
How to install RSAT in Windows 11
Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) are essential for Windows administrators. Here's how to install them on Windows 11.
If you're an IT administrator at an organization, there's a good chance you've heard about RSAT. Short for Remote Server Administration Tools, RSAT offers a suite of features that allows you to manage servers remotely, being critical to maintaining operations. RSAT isn't installed in Windows by default, but you can enable it relatively easy through a few methods.
Satechi Multiport Adapter 8K with Ethernet V3 review: The world isn't ready for it yet
Satechi's latest Multiport Adapter 8K with Ethernet is a great piece of hardware, but it's looking too far ahead for its own good.
I've reviewed many a docking station in my days, but while Satechi is a fairly well-known brand, the Satechi Multiport Adapter 8K with Ethernet V3 (yes, that's the actual name) is the first one I get to go hands-on with. This isn't a docking station, strictly speaking, but it's a USB hub that serves a lot of the same purposes.
The Surface Pro 10 for Business is good, but the one you want is coming in May
Microsoft recently announced the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 for Business, but these aren't the devices you've been waiting for.
After more than a year without new entries in its most iconic Surface devices, Microsoft finally introduced the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 earlier this week. Well, kind of. What we really got was the Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business, and if you're thinking this is all Microsoft has in store, think again.
How to rotate your screen in Windows 11
If you have a vertical monitor or a 2-in-1 PC, you might have to rotate your screen in Windows 11. Here's how.
Most of us use our computers in the typical landscape orientation, since that's what they're all designed around. That's especially true of laptops, which can't be rotated unless they're also tablets. However, convertible laptops are very common, and many monitors also support rotation (usually called pivot), meaning you can use them in portrait orientation.
How to make Windows 11 more private
Worried about your privacy in Windows 11? There are plenty of settings you can change to make the operating system less intrusive.
Windows 11 is a great operating system, and it's always getting updated with new features thanks to updates like Windows 11 version 23H2. However, many users are uncomfortable with the lack of privacy on Windows 11. Thankfully, there are a few Windows 11 settings you can tweak to make the operating system more private.
Microsoft is adding more widgets to the Windows 11 lock screen
Windows 11 is getting a richer lock screen experience with sports scores and stock information.
Windows Insiders running Windows 11 in the Release Preview channel are getting a new update today, and among the changes is a significant update to the lock screen adding more content to the experience.
Surface Laptop 6 for Business: Everything you need to know about Microsoft's professional laptop
The Surface Laptop 6 may look similar to the old model, but it promises double the performance, plus other upgrades.
It's been a year and a half since Microsoft released the Surface Laptop 5, but we finally have a successor... kind of. The Surface laptop 6 for Business, as the branding suggests, is a business-oriented version of Microsoft's flagship laptop, but right now, it's also the only version, as a consumer model is only expected later in the year.
Surface Pro 10 for Business: Everything you need to know about Microsoft's flagship tablet
Microsoft's latest tablet is a business-oriented product, featuring Intel Core Ultra processors and a new HDR display.
After a year and a half without a new Surface Pro, Microsoft finally announced the Surface Pro 10. However, this version of the Surface Pro 10 is made specifically for businesses, so while you can buy one for yourself, Microsoft doesn't really expect you to.
Google's Quick Share solution for Windows is better than Microsoft's
Nearby Sharing should have been the best way to share files on Windows, but Microsoft was too slow to capitalize.
In the age of fast, persistent internet connections, it seems like local file sharing is something not everyone cares to do, but while some might say I'm old-fashioned, I still prefer this to using cloud storage. A lot of my work involves taking screenshots and videos on different computers that I need to edit on a different PC, and while I can just use OneDrive, I don't want these single-use files taking up space in the cloud when I inevitably forget to delete them.
How to run an app as an administrator on Windows 11
Need tio run an app as an administrator on Windows 11? Here's how to do it once or make it permanent so you don't have to think about it.
In Windows 11, just like previous versions of Windows, you can have different user accounts on the same PC. Some of these accounts can be administrator accounts, and others might just be regular accounts. That's because some apps — particularly ones that can change important system files — sometimes require administrator permission to run or to make specific changes. Even if you have an administrator account, many times Windows 11 apps won't run with administrator permissions by default to prevent apps from making potentially harmful changes to your PC without your consent.