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How to set up remote game streaming using Moonlight and Sunshine
Here's how you can create a personal video game streaming server with the help of Moonlight and Sunshine
Years ago, it was impossible to imagine running games on a remote system and streaming them to the device of your choice. Thanks to advancements in hardware capabilities and network bandwidth, today, you can not only broadcast your entire library from a cutting-edge PC, but also enjoy high graphical fidelity and solid frame rates while doing so.
6 quality of life features Windows can learn from Linux
2024 is shaping up to be a great year for Windows, and I'd love to see these six features added into the beloved operating system
Windows 11 had quite a rocky start when Microsoft first unveiled it in 2021. But after years of updates, the OS has gained quite a bit of following from the community, and many of us are awaiting the new additions to Windows 11 with bated breath. Fortunately, with the AI-powered Moment 5 update and the feature-laden Windows 11 version 24H2 coming later this year, there’s a lot to look forward to if you're a fan of Microsoft's latest operating system.
What is AppData, and what are Local, LocalLow, and Roaming?
AppData on Windows is an important part of how the operating system works, but what are its three subfolders, and what do they do?
If you have a Windows PC, then you've probably heard of AppData. It's a folder that contains three subfolders: Local, LocalLow, and Roaming. Understanding the different types of AppData folders and their uses can be helpful for troubleshooting, managing storage space, and more. If you've ever wondered what these folders are for and why they're so important, you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll explain the difference between the three main types of AppData folders and what types of information are typically stored in each.
How to transfer files between iPhone/iPad and Windows PC
Wondering how to transfer files between an iPhone and a PC? We explain all the ways you can transfer files from iPhone to PC and vice versa.
PCs, iPhones, and iPads are not as exclusive as they were years ago, and transferring files between Windows and Apple operating systems is about as easy as transferring files between an Android phone and a PC. Besides the traditional iTunes method, many other methods have popped up over the years to help ease the process, and this guide will walk you through all the best ways to transfer files between an iPhone or iPad and a Windows PC.
Best apps for students in 2024
If you're looking to improve your studying experience, or simply focus more on schoolwork, we've collected some of the best apps to consider
For students going back to school, purchasing a new laptop, such as a Mac or Chromebook, or a tablet is just the start. These devices will automatically be useful for school due to their built-in offerings, like text editors and browsers. However, you'll need to download a few third-party apps to make the most of a computer, phone, or tablet for learning. We've rounded up some of the best education and learning apps that are available, for students as early in their education as preschool to experienced learners of all ages.
How to make Windows 11 look like Windows 7
Microsoft made a lot of changes with the Windows 11 update, but you can make your system look a lot more familiar with a Windows 7 skin.
Some of the most significant changes made to Windows 11 by Microsoft are visual ones, like changing the way the Start menu and taskbar appear. For some users, that's great news, as it makes the operating system feel modern and fresh. But for others, the new look of Windows 11 is an unnecessary change that inhibits productivity. Luckily, if you're missing the iconic and familiar look of Windows 7, you can make a few alterations to make your new PC or great laptop look a lot like Windows 7. You can do a lot with third-party tools, but there are also some things you can do with Microsoft's official settings. For all the ways you can make Windows 11 look like Windows 7, follow the steps below.
How to remotely unlock your Windows PC via a fingerprint scanner on Android
No need to type anything!
Gone are the days when you can only rely on plain old passwords to protect your Windows PC. Microsoft offers a variety of sign-in options and account protection mechanisms for consumers. Windows Hello, for example, allows you to sign in with your face or fingerprint, if your device has Windows Hello hardware. But what if it doesn't, or what if you want to unlock the PC remotely? With a little fiddling, it's possible.
If you use one of the latest iPhones and a Windows PC, you may need to set up iCloud on your computer manually. Unlike on macOS Sonoma, Windows won't sync your iCloud files and other data by default. Fortunately, the setup process is straightforward, and we've detailed it in this guide.
How to install NVM on Windows
NVM is a tool used with Node, and the installation process on Windows is pretty straightforward.
Node.js is a very popular Javascript runtime environment used on a lot of web applications these days. As a developer, you're probably already familiar with the tool, but one thing that's important to keep in mind is that there are multiple versions of Node.js out there, and they can produce different results or have compatibility issues in projects that were designed for a different version. The Node Version Manager (NVM) allows you to manage and install multiple Node.js versions on your PC, so you can use them as you need to without any hassle.
How to disable Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot might get in the way of your Windows experience. If it does, here's how to disable it.
If you have Microsoft Copilot on your Windows PC and you find it more annoying than useful, it's quite easy to disable. Microsoft hasn't quite integrated Copilot into the broader PC experience just yet (although that may change with Windows 12), and you can turn it off in just a few simple steps.
How to install ADB on Windows, macOS, and Linux
A step-by-step guide to get you started with the Android Debug Bridge tool.
Most of the best phones on the market run Android, and it's preferred by many for being a more open operating system than Apple's iOS. However, several features of Google's OS can be accessed only through paths and methods that are hidden away from the average user. However, many of these capabilities can be accessed by using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB). If you're wondering how to set it up, we're here to help with that.
ReactOS hands-on: An open-source operating system for those who miss Windows XP
It's not perfect, but it marks a big step forward for the bloat-free Windows experience
Most people never dip their toes into the world of alternative computer operating systems, instead sticking with Windows or macOS since they're pre-installed. That's perfectly fine for most use cases since both the Redmond and Cupertino giants deliver excellent desktop operating systems for great laptops and desktops. However, if you're a power user who likes to shape things according to your own needs, then the Linux family is the undisputed champion (for instance, Google's Chrome OS uses the Linux kernel), but it does have its share of contenders.
How to back up drivers and integrate them in a Windows ISO
A full driver backup is always a good idea to protect your setup, and in this guide, we'll show you how.
If you're anything like me, you like to keep your laptop and gaming PC running at its best. Updating the drivers for the hardware components is undeniably an easy way to optimize your computer. While many of us solely rely on the operating system to keep the drivers up-to-date, power users often like to take the matter into their own hands, hence "the newest is always the best" might not be suitable for all.
5 Windows software features that should come to macOS
Windows has some bloat, sure, but it also packs killer features that would be great additions to macOS
macOS is known for being a simple and easy-to-use operating system that stacks up well compared to Windows 11 in terms of efficiency. After all, many of the features Microsoft has baked into Windows aren't used daily. That causes Windows to have more bloat that can slow things down for casual, regular users. Unfortunately, for the sake of simplicity, Apple has sacrificed a few essential features in macOS. Some of these shortcomings can be fixed with some great apps, but considering how expensive the best Macs can be, that's just not good enough. Here are five Windows software features that I really wish would come to macOS in the future.
It might be hard to imagine now, but Microsoft used to offer a number of add-on apps that didn't require a subscription to unlock their full potential. Some of them were paid, like the Microsoft Plus! suite and its successor, Windows Ultimate Extras, but you could also enjoy applications such as Photo Story without paying a dime. The customization potential and the geeky challenge of dabbling with those apps were part of the appeal of PCs decades ago when hobbyists made up a core part of the target audience.
Geekbench ML 0.6 improves its AI testing with more workloads and support for more platforms
Geekbench ML 0.6 adds more AI workloads and supports more platforms, too.
Geekbench is one of the most well-respected benchmarking applications in the world and can be used to compare countless devices against each other on the basis of performance in multiple ways. Geekbench 6 launched a few months ago, with an update to Geekbench 6.1 arriving soon after. Now, Geekbench's Machine Learning benchmark is being updated to version 0.6, and it brings new workloads and support for more platforms to better assess device performance.
Avira antivirus is reportedly causing Windows PCs to freeze on startup
With no official fix yet, the only way to get affected PCs back to working order is uninstalling the software.
Antivirus programs that run in the background are known to sometimes cause performance issues in Windows PCs, but it's not often that they make their host computer entirely unusable due to erroneous updates. That's exactly what is now alleged to have happened with Avira security software, with a string of users reporting that their computers running Avira are freezing up on boot following a recent update.
Wacom One 13 review: An entry into the professional drawing world
The Wacom One 13.3-inch pen display is marketed as an entry-level drawing tablet, but should you just get an iPad instead?
For digital artists and graphic designers, not many products can beat Wacom's Cintiq lineup of precise and color-accurate pen displays. But what if you want to enjoy that experience without spending thousands of dollars? In that case, you might be turning to the Wacom One 13. It's a portable pen display with a 13.3-inch touchscreen that claims to offer precision and color accuracy on a budget, retailing for around $600. Although you'd be right to push back on the idea that $600 for a drawing display is budget, compared to the other products in this space, it is.
36 years ago, Windows 2.0 brought us closer to the version we know today
The initial release of Windows wasn't all that well received, but Windows 2.0 delivered some much-needed refinement
Windows wasn't always the powerhouse we know today, and the initial release wasn't exactly well-received due to plenty of bugs and issues. But Microsoft came back around two years later with Windows 2.0, and this release was a big step forward, delivering more stability and refinements, as well as some brand-new capabilities.
5 reasons Linux is better than Windows for gaming handhelds
Linux is better for gaming handhelds overall, and the Steam Deck proves why that is.
When it comes to devices like the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and any of the other best gaming handhelds, they're all fantastic at playing games. No matter the operating system, once you're in a game, it runs, and that's part of what makes them excellent devices. However, they differ in operating systems, with most gaming handhelds running Windows. When it comes to the Steam Deck, though, it runs Linux, bucking the trend of everyone else in the industry.