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I use these apps and services to make my Mac play nice with an Android phone, and you should too
Android phones and Macs are not a match made in heaven, but they can work very well together.
Apple's new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models have brought some noteworthy improvements over their predecessors, but they haven't convinced me to ditch my Android phone just yet. I am hoping Apple will bring even bigger changes next year, which is why I've decided to stick with my trusty Pixel 7 and the Galaxy S23 for now. I am not too pumped about that as a Mac user, though, because Apple's Mac computers don't necessarily play nice with Android phones and vice versa.
The last time I used a gaming laptop as my primary machine was in 2019. I ditched it in a couple of years to build a gaming PC, and never looked back. I occasionally use gaming laptops that show up on the test bench for review, like the Lenovo LOQ 15 and the Alienware m16 R1 that I reviewed recently, but I really don't see myself buying a gaming laptop anytime soon. I say that because even the modern gaming laptops on the market these days haven't solved some of the major gripes I had with my personal gaming notebook back in the day. If anything, they've introduced some new issues that push me further away from the idea of owning a gaming laptop again.
Galaxy Z Flip 1 to 5: How Samsung's clamshell evolved to become the most mainstream foldable
Samsung Flip's journey to the mainstream market.
Whether it's the sales figures collected by research firms, Samsung's own marketing claims, or my own personal anecdotal experience from seeing what phones people use in multiple countries, it's clear the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 was a big hit, and perhaps the first foldable phone to achieve mainstream status instead of being a niche, enthusiast-only device.
How to check GPU VRAM: Two simple ways to find out your graphics card's video memory
It's important to know how much VRAM you're working with
Graphics cards — be it for a great laptop or a desktop — have their own memory called VRAM (short for video RAM). This video memory is crucial to the performance of your graphics card, and not having enough VRAM can cause some performance issues. That's why it's important to know how much VRAM your graphics card has before figuring out the applications and games you can run on your PC. Thankfully, it's incredibly easy to figure out how much VRAM your GPU has.
How to tell if an SSD has DRAM
There are a couple of ways to tell whether you have a DRAM or DRAM-less SSD
Swapping your HDD for an SSD is one of the best upgrades you can make to your PC to improve its overall performance. It's one of the first things I recommend upgrading for an instant boost without spending too much money. However, not all SSDs are made equal, and some are considered to be better than others. There are plenty of things to consider while looking for an SSD, but one thing that you may have heard the most is checking whether your SSD has DRAM. Well, there is no definitive way to tell if an SSD has DRAM, but there are a few things you can do to verify the presence of DRAM in your SSD or the one you're planning to buy.
How to partition an SSD: A step-by-step guide
Partitioning an SSD has various benefits, and it only takes a few minutes to do.
Partitioning the great SSD that's installed in your PC is a fairly simple process, and it has various benefits. Having separate partitions allows you to store personal data away from the OS files, so you don't lose them while reinstalling the operating system, for example. You can also use separate partitions to dual-boot Windows 11 alongside other operating systems, or use them to encrypt sensitive files and data.
Note-taking is one of those simple yet extremely personal things. Some notes are more important than others, but we keep them all together to ensure they're organized in one place. Whether you're jotting down a simple grocery shopping list or a random thought that you want to save for later, having a dedicated and reliable note-taking app that works well on your computing devices such as Windows laptops, desktops, and Mac is extremely crucial to ensure you can quickly access it wherever and whenever you want.
A storage drive — be it a solid-state drive (SSD) or a hard disk drive (HDD) — is one of the most important components of a PC. They're just as crucial as the CPU or the GPU as they're constantly in use and contain things like your PC's operating system and all your critical data. SSDs, in particular, demand less attention and maintenance than some other major components of a PC, but it's important to keep tabs on them to ensure smooth performance. If you haven't checked your SSD's health in a while and are wondering how to do it, then here are a few ways you can keep tabs on it.
The Alienware m16 R1 is a powerful gaming laptop that can deliver an enjoyable gaming experience. It's not as sleek as its sibling, the Alienware x16, but that's a good thing. While the x16 was built with portability in mind, the m16 is all about performance, so it runs pretty hot and needs all the cooling possible. My review unit has an Intel Core i9-13900HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, which isn't the highest-tier variant, and it still runs extremely hot with frustratingly loud fans. That said, it certainly lives up to its performance moniker and leaves very little room to complain about otherwise. There are plenty of other things that make it a great gaming laptop overall, but it's sure to burn a huge hole in your wallet.
48 best Cyber Monday deals at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart
We collected the best prices for these products across the three major retailers.
Cyber Monday is officially here, and almost all the Black Friday deals that have been live for weeks are still going strong at all the major retailers. There are still plenty of amazing deals out there on Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart to save a lot of money on things like laptops, smartphones, PC hardware, and more. It's the best time to splurge and get the smartphones and laptops that you've been eyeing for a long time, and it's still not too late if you haven't been keeping up with the deals. Here are the best Cyber Monday deals that you must grab before it's too late.
The best smartphone deals for Cyber Monday 2023
Looking to upgrade from your aging phone this Cyber Monday? Here are a few amazing smartphone deals that are live now.
Black Friday is officially over, but the deals show no signs of slowing down as we head into Cyber Monday. In fact, there are plenty of new deals to look forward to while the existing ones are still alive and kicking. There are still plenty of great deals that can save you a lot of money on your favorite phones for the holiday season, and I've highlighted the best ones of the lot to help you replace your aging phone. Many of these are relatively new phones, which might just convince you to splurge on the phone you've been eyeing for a long time. From cutting-edge flagships to some solid mid-range smartphones, here are the best Cyber Monday smartphone deals you can grab right now.
This ridiculously powerful gaming laptop I'm currently reviewing is up to $600 off for Cyber Monday
Excellent price for one of the best gaming laptops out there.
If you're yet to find a good laptop deal to splurge your money on this holiday season, then here's a blockbuster deal that's too good to pass up. Best Buy is currently offering a hefty discount on the Alienware m16 gaming laptop that went on sale not too long ago in the United States. In fact, it recently showed up on my test bench for a review, and I've been having a lot of fun using it as my go-to machine for gaming for the past few days.
How to update the SSD firmware on Windows
It's a fairly simple process to ensure the smooth performance of your SSDs
The importance of firmware updates can't be understated. It directly affects the functionality of its associated hardware, so it's important to be on the latest version to get all the new features and to ensure your device works as advertised. These updates are also crucial to fix bugs and glitches or patch any potential security vulnerabilities.
Build my $2,250 gaming PC for $400 cheaper this Black Friday
Grab the deals I was too impatient to wait for during Black Friday.
I recently built one of the fastest gaming PCs out there using some of the best PC components on the market right now. It's an incredibly powerful machine that can handle pretty much any modern AAA title you throw at it without a hitch, be it Cyberpunk 2077 with Path Tracing or Alan Wake 2 at max graphics settings. I was able to get some discounts on a few components to save me enough for a couple of case fans, but — if I’m being honest — I should've just waited for Black Friday before getting new parts for my PC.
Garmin’s Holiday Flash Sale kicks off with up to $300 off its bestselling watches
Garmin's best smartwatches are cheaper than ever for Black Friday.
I was having a hard time finding some good smartwatch and fitness tracker deals this year, but that changes now with the kick-off of Garmin's Holiday Sale. The company's annual Black Friday sale brings some hefty discounts on its best and the most advanced trackers. We're looking at some steep discounts on the top Garmin smartwatches that are rarely discounted, making it one of the best times to buy them. A huge selection of Garmin products are currently discounted, so I've highlighted some of the best ones below to make it easier for you to find the right one.
11 incredible TV deals you can ONLY get at Best Buy this Black Friday
These limited time Best Buy-exclusive deals are too good to pass.
Best Buy's Black Friday sale is in full swing right now, offering tons of discounts on various products. You'll also find some exclusive deals at Best Buy that you won't get at any other retailer, so you better grab them while you can. It's offering these exclusive deals for all kinds of items, but we'll focus specifically on some TV deals in this post. So if you are in the market to buy a new TV for your home this Black Friday, then I highly suggest you check out Best Buy's exclusive TV deals below.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the latest entry in Samsung's foldable line-up this year. It's still a book-like inner foldable with basically the same design language as last year's foldable, so it looks very similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 4. It does, however, has a few changes that make it slightly better than its predecessor.
Five ways Microsoft can improve the Xbox Game Bar on PC
The Game Bar is severely lacking in its current state.
Very few things are as annoying as accidentally triggering the Xbox Game Bar when you are in the middle of a game, and having your entire screen taken over by a tasteless overlay. That's precisely why I disable the Game Bar as a part of my Windows setup ritual on new laptops and desktops. The Xbox Game Bar is supposed to be a one-stop shop for gamers on Windows with all the right tools in one place, but it's far from that, in my opinion.
SD card buying guide: Speed classes, capacities, and sizes explained
Look beyond just the capacity to get the best SD and microSD card for your device
MicroSD cards may not be as prevalent as they used to be among the best smartphones, but they continue to serve as a reliable storage solution for things like digital cameras, drones, and handheld consoles like the Steam Deck and its alternatives. They even serve as drives for the operating system and software on single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi, so it's safe to say that they're still very relevant.
4 ways to prepare for Black Friday and get the best deals this holiday season
A little bit of prep is all you need to score these big end-of-year deals
Black Friday officially kicks off this Friday, but almost all major retailers like Best Buy and Walmart have already started rolling out their holiday discounts. That's right; a slew of Black Friday deals are already live, so you can start your holiday shopping early. The annual deal extravaganza can be a bit overwhelming, but you can easily score some big deals with the right preparation.