About Rich Woods
Hello! I'm the Editor-in-Chief of XDA, and I've been reporting on all things consumer tech since 2013. More recently, I've had more of a focus on Windows, and I've reviewed pretty much every mainstream laptop under the sun. If you see me somewhere, come say hello and let me ask you awkward questions about why you use the tech that you use.
What was your first computer?
I'm not sure of the brand, but back in 1987, my family had a PC with an Intel 8088 processor, 512KB RAM, and 20MB storage. It's fun to think about how I now have photos that wouldn't have fit on that entire hard drive. It ran DOS, and I used it to play games like The Oregon Trail and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego.
How long have you been interested in technology?
A few years after I got that first PC, I liberated my father's book on GW-BASIC. That was my start with wanting to learn more about how computers worked. By the time I was in high school, I was writing Visual Basic programs to figure out the passwords on school computers. Weirdly, I never actually got into trouble for that.
What tech products or categories are you most passionate about?
Windows! It's the software that I've been using since I was a child and I've always admired the broad range of hardware that uses it. This interest is what led to that passion to understand why people choose the tech that they do, and to help people to make those decisions by reviewing the products that they might end up buying.
Latest Articles
Windows 11 has leaked: Here's a sneak peek before next week's launch!
The first leaked build of Windows 11 is here, and we went hands-on with it to see everything that's new in the next-gen OS.
When Microsoft said that it was going to announce the next version of Windows on June 24, it was only a matter of time before the leaks started coming. The first Windows 11 build leaked today, first offering up some screenshots on Baidu. Now, the full build is here.
Alleged Windows 11 screenshots leak and it looks a lot like Windows 10X
Some screenshots showing what is apparently Windows 11 Pro have leaked, with a Start Menu that looks a lot like Windows 10X.
Next week, Microsoft is set to announce Windows 11. A major part of it is that it's going to have a big overhaul in the UX, the codename for which is Sun Valley. As we know, a large part of the UX shift is going to come from the Windows 10X shell, and as we also know, Windows 10X is not coming to market. Now, Windows 11 is starting to leak, as expected.
Dell XPS 13 9310 Review: OLED makes this laptop even sweeter
Dell's new XPS 13 9310 has an Intel Tiger Lake processor and a beautiful OLED display. Find out what we think of this laptop in our review!
Razer announces its first AMD-based gaming laptop with Ryzen 5000
Razer has announced its first AMD-powered gaming laptop, the Razer Blade 14, which packs an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, RTX graphics, and more.
Razer has traditionally been an Intel shop, at least as far as its PCs are concerned. In fact, up until recently, it's only ever used a 45W Core i7 in its laptops. As the company once told me, it knows what has worked for it, and it continues to do that. Now, it's introducing its first AMD-powered laptop, the new Razer Blade 14.
Microsoft is making its own Xbox game streaming devices for TVs
Microsoft announced today that it has big plans to bring Xbox game streaming to more devices like TVs, new hardware, and more.
Today, Microsoft expanded on its ambitious plans for gaming. As usual, this includes Xbox Game Pass and its various SKUs, but more importantly, part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is game streaming. And if you're a Microsoft watcher, then you know that the cloud is where it's at. Microsoft has a ton of plans to bring Xbox game streaming to more devices.
Android 12's Material You wallpaper-based theming is now live
The wallpaper-based theming in Android 12 is now live in the Beta Program. It's part of Google's new Material You design language.
Google released Android 12 beta 2 today, and as the OS gets closer to release, there are a bunch of changes. One thing that the Mountain View firm promised back at Google I/O was that the theme of the device could automatically adjust to your wallpaper with Android 12. That's now live in the new build.
Moto G Stylus 5G offers pen support and fast connectivity on a budget
Motorola has introduced its Moto G Stylus 5G. It costs $100 more than the 4G model but has better specs and, of course, 5G connectivity.
Today, Motorola is introducing the Moto G Stylus 5G, and it's essentially a 5G version of the model that was introduced back at CES.
Microsoft isn't releasing any new Windows preview builds until after Windows 11 event
Microsoft has announced that for the next several weeks, it's not going to be releasing any new Windows Insider Preview builds.
Today, Microsoft released Windows 10 Insider Preview build 21390.1000 to the Dev channel. It's yet another cumulative update with no features or fixes, designed to test the servicing pipeline.
Safari gets a reimagined UI on macOS, extensions on iOS and iPadOS
Apple has announced at WWDC that macOS 12 Monterey is getting an all new Safari browser, and Safari is getting extensions on iOS and iPadOS.
Today at the WWDC 2021 keynote, Apple announced macOS 12 Monterey. While some of it is about features that we're getting on iOS, like new FaceTime features, there's also a lot that's coming to Safari. And on macOS, Safari has been totally redesigned.
Apple is finally bringing widgets on the home screen to iPadOS 15
Apple has announced that starting with iPadOS 15, you'll be able to put widgets on the home screen, like you can today on iPhones.
Today, Apple held its keynote for WWDC, announcing new software updates like iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, tvOS 15, and macOS Monterey. For iPadOS 15, Apple is finally delivering some key iOS 14 features like home screen widgets. Indeed, last year, the Cupertino firm delivered home screen widgets for the iPhone, but iPad users had to keep their widgets in a dedicated widget section.
Microsoft seems set to launch Windows 11 this month
Microsoft is holding a big Windows launch event later on this month, and it seems that the version it's launching is Windows 11.
Earlier this week, Microsoft announced a launch event for "the next generation of Windows". But even before then, there's been a lot of speculation on what this new version will be called. All signs are starting to point to the launch of Windows 11. The firm hasn't publicly said so, and won't until its big launch event.
Samsung has two new ARM-powered laptops, the Galaxy Book Go and Galaxy Book Go 5G
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Book Go and the Galaxy Book Go 5G, two new Windows on ARM PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors.
Today, Samsung announced the heavily-leaked Galaxy Book Go and the Galaxy Book Go 5G, two similar but different laptops. The former uses Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chipset, while the latter has a Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2.
Microsoft to announce the next generation of Windows on June 24
Microsoft is set to announce what it's calling the next generation of Windows, as the event will be held in a few weeks on June 24.
For some time now, we've known that there are big changes coming to Microsoft's desktop operating system. It's the worst kept secret at Microsoft, and now, the Redmond firm is finally ready to take the wraps off of the next generation of Windows.
Microsoft announces Edge 92 will get Automatic HTTPS
Microsoft is bringing Automatic HTTPS to its Edge browser with version 92. It automaticaly delivers more secure HTTPS webpages.
Microsoft has announced that it's bringing Automatic HTTPS to its Edge browser with version 92. It's currently available in preview through the Dev and Canary channels.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Review: Crazy light, but also crazy good
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Nano is super-light, coming in at right around two pounds, but it doesn't make compromises to get there.
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Nano is a phenomenal PC. I've already said as much when I compared it to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. They're both meant to be premium, thin and light laptops for businesses, but the ThinkPad X1 Nano is next-level thin and light. This is actually the second one that I've reviewed, as Lenovo was kind enough to send over the multi-touch model.
HP has some new AMD Ryzen-powered PCs for businesses
HP is unveiling some new AMD Ryzen-powered computers for businesses, such as the HP EliteDesk 805 G8 and the ProDesk 405 G8.
At COMPUTEX today, HP announced a couple of new business PCs from its Elite and Pro lineups, including the EliteDesk 805 G8 series and the ProDesk 405 G8 series. They include AMD's Ryzen PRO 5000 desktop chips.
Alienware fully unveils new X-series to show what it can do
After a teaser in May, Alienware is taking the wraps off of its new X-series, where it plans to showcase innovation, design, and quality.
Back when Intel unveiled its latest H-series processors, Dell announced a bunch of laptops too. What might have flown under the radar at the time was the Alienware X-series, more specifically the X17. It was just a teaser, but now the wraps are being taken off.
Intel announces new ultrabook CPUs, hitting 5GHz in the U-series
Intel has announced its first ultrabook processors that will get a Turbo frequency of 5GHz, along with its first actual 5G solution.
It's COMPUTEX, which means that there are some in-bound announcements from Intel. They range from new U-series CPUs to a new 5G modem. First up is the new Core i5-1155G7 and Core i7-1195G7.
Microsoft Edge now asks you to switch your default search back to Bing
Mirosoft's latest update to its Edge browser attempts to get you to switch your default browser to Bing, assuming you've changed it.
If you're a user of Microsoft's Edge browser, then you know that the default search engine is Bing. In fact, that should come as no surprise. What's more surprising is that with the latest update, the browser is actually going to attempt to get you to switch back.
HP Elite Folio Review: The best Windows on ARM PC you can get right now
HP's Elite Folio is the first ARM PC that's designed for the enterprise, and it's definitely a winner when it comes to Windows on ARM.
HP's Elite Folio is the best Windows on ARM PC. It has a form factor that blends laptop and tablet form factors without making significant compromises on either. Moreover, it takes the premium aspect of HP's EliteBooks and puts it into this completely new product.