We routinely blame sluggish Windows machine performance on suboptimal boot drive configuration, and despite my technical inclination, I'm guilty of it too. Late last month, I noticed my boot time matched that of a resume from a hibernated state. I sidestepped the perils of downloading third-party optimization software that's mostly snake oil, and trusted Microsoft's integrated Storage Sense utility instead. However, I soon realized the company had misconfigured its own operating system defaults as a last-ditch troubleshooting tool rather than a routine cleanup utility.

You would have used Task Manager on your Windows PC countless times, whether to terminate a stuck application or reduce your startup app clutter. Windows 11's Task Manager has evolved considerably over the last three decades, but it can be traced back to the first version shipped with Windows NT 4.0 in 1996. It succeeded a more basic utility called "Task List" seen on earlier Windows versions.

While much of the automotive world sits dumbfounded as China gobbles up all its customers, BMW continues to roll out extremely well-crafted, technologically advanced electric vehicles that impress in both drive quality and price. The latest is the BMW iX4, a coupe-shaped SUV that puts a sportier spin on the automaker's iX3.The iX4 is the third vehicle to be released on BMW's next-generation Neue Klasse platform, following the iX3 and i3 models. The iX4 50 xDrive will come first in March 2027, followed by an even more high-performance M60 xDrive version later in the year. The automaker is positioning this new lineup as its bulwark against t …Read the full story at The Verge.

What year is it, and what dessert name of Android are we up to? | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge A common misconception I've seen with Googlebooks is that the Quick Insert and Google logo keys are new. They're not, as they first debuted a couple of years ago on some Chromebooks. But there is something new for Googlebooks that's ripped straight from Android phones circa 2014.On every Googlebook keyboard, the F1, F2, and F3 keys are the old triangle, circle, and square navigation icons that first debuted on Android 5.0 Lollipop. These were the back, home, and app switcher buttons long before everything went to gesture-based navigation, and they're still built into phones on Android 17 as an alternative. On Googlebook OS, these keys do w …Read the full story at The Verge.

Teenage Engineering founder and CEO Jesper Kouthoofd told Highsnobiety that it plans to stop making synths. And yes, that includes the iconic OP-1, which put the company on the map. TE isn't just a music gear maker; it's also a sought-after design firm. It's collaborated with Ikea, Nothing, and Playdate, among others. But almost everything the company makes itself - the OP-1, the OP-XY, EP-133, TP-7, et cetera - is music or audio-focused. Which makes the supposed decision to abandon the market all the more confusing.Here's the relevant quote from Highsnobiety: Kouthoofd tells me that, as part of a reorganization last fall, he announced …Read the full story at The Verge.

Even though some people don't want to admit it, Call of Duty remains one of the biggest video game series out there, and Microsoft just revealed that the long-running first-person shooter series will come to Nvidia RTX Spark-powered devices in 2027, including the Surface Laptop Ultra.

Diagramming sounds like one of those tasks that should be quick, until you're trying to nudge the fourth box in place with arrows that refuse to line up, and 20 minutes have passed. Handing all that work to Claude is the obvious solution to the problem. This is exactly what I've been doing to get my diagram elements to line up perfectly in no time, and then I just save the files straight to my vault and open them in Obsidian Canvas or with the Excalidraw plugin.

I've spent enough time testing DLSS 5 to know that it can be both incredibly impressive and incredibly frustrating. The tech has genuinely felt transformative in a lot of games, especially when I used to create free remasters of classic games. However, DLSS 5's Neural Rendering tech has also brought up some fairly obvious questions about what's actually going on with the final image. Some of these complaints have really hit home, too, and have been difficult to dismiss.

A few months ago, when Kyutai released Pocket TTS, I was able to clone my own voice from a 5-second-long clip, which was an experience that left me wondering just how fragile the voice-based identity checks at banks and insurers had become. The barrier to access was so low that anyone with a PC and an internet connection could've followed the same steps and reached the same outcome.

Anthropic has been moving pretty quickly lately. Only yesterday did it announce a Google Workspace plugin that lets you invoke Claude in a sidebar to help you get your work done. Now, the company has announced that it's releasing the cheapest, fastest light model yet with Claude Haiku 5.5.

I've been using a soundbar instead of my TV's onboard speakers for years because, well, the latter is rarely a good option. When I got this TV back in 2020, its speakers were serviceable for a while. After all, I finished The Last of Us Part 2 without ever buying a soundbar. That said, the TV speakers started showing their limits as soon as I watched a few movies and TV shows. The volume was fine, but the sound separation left a lot to be desired.

Anker’s 45W charger is less than $50 during Amazon’s October sale. In fact, you can get two for under $50. Getting in on the Prime Day action doesn’t have to result in an empty wallet. Just as we found a couple handfuls of goodies that are under $25, there are plenty of deals during Amazon’s October sale that are $50 or less, many of which offer a lot of practical value. Everything from chargers to coffee makers are discounted until 3 AM ET on October 8th, 2026, so you only have a few hours to take advantage of some of these deals.For the full range of deals, make sure to head over to our main roundup, where we’ll keep updating prices and stock into the evening.LEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian’s N-1 StarfighterThis 412-piece set features the Mandalorian’s reconstructed Naboo starfighter, with minifigs for Din Djarin, Grogu, and Peli Motto.Where to Buy: $59.99 $41.99 at AmazonVidaBay NFC E-Paper Fridge MagnetA tiny magnetic digital photo frame that repurposes a color E Ink screen developed for use as electronic shelf labels.Where to Buy: $29.99 at Amazon $35.99 $30.99 at VidaBay $99.99 $88.99 at VidaBay (three-pack)EasySMX S10The EasySMX S10 is our favorite Switch 2 controller for people who don’t want to spend twice as much on Nintendo’s option. It offers an excellent take on HD rumble, along with amiibo support and the ability to wake the Switch remotely. Where to Buy: $59.99 $39.89 at Amazon (black) $59.99 at EasySMX $59.99 $44.99 at Amazon (white, for Prime members)Ridge Tracker CardThis incredibly slim tracking card is just 1.55 millimeters thick, compatible with both iOS and Android, and recharges wirelessly via MagSafe or Qi.Where to Buy: $39 $32.99 at AmazonHOTO Electric Screwdriver RechargeableHoto’s compact rechargeable electric screwdriver includes 12 magnetic tips. It’s great for quick fixes at home or on the go.Where to Buy: $59.99 $37.99 at AmazonTP-Link Tapo Matter-Certified Smart Plug MiniA smart plug adds functionality to an existing gadget rather than replacing it. Once the plug is connected to your Wi-Fi network and a gadget, you can turn it on and off using an app. TP-Link’s Tapo smart plug supports Matter, so you can add it to whichever smart home platform you use. Where to Buy: $19.99 $7.99 at AmazonAnker Nano 45W charger with displayAnker’s latest single-port USB-C charger offers up to 45W of power, foldable prongs, and a front-facing “smart display” that lets you see the charge level, power flow, and other useful information at a glance.Where to Buy: $39.99 $23.99 at Amazon $39.99 $25.99 at AnkerBlink Outdoor 4 and Battery Doorbell 2K+This Blink bundle includes the battery-powered video doorbell with a 2K resolution, and an outdoor camera.Where to Buy: $149.98 $27.99 at AmazonLoop Quiet 2 earplugsAttending a live concert? You can protect your hearing with Loop’s Quiet 2 earplugs. They pack up to 24dB (SNR) of noise reduction and come with four eartip sizes, allowing them to accommodate a range of ear shapes.Where to Buy: $24.95 $19.95 at Amazon $24.95 at LoopAmazon Echo Dot (Fifth-Gen)Amazon’s Echo Dot is an affordable way to add a smart speaker to your space. The small, powerful speaker offers surprisingly robust sound, and it’s great for controlling smart home devices, including those compatible with Matter. The Dot also offers faster response times than its predecessor, and it can act as an extender for an Eero Wi-Fi system. Read our review.Where to Buy: $79.99 $39.99 at Amazon $79.99 $39.99 at Best Buy $79.99 $39.99 at TargetAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023)Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is noticeably faster than its predecessor, features Wi-Fi 6E, and benefits from twice the storage. It can also showcase widgets and artwork when idle, and continues to offer robust Alexa integration. Where to Buy: $59.99 $44.99 at Amazon $59.99 $44.99 at Best Buy $59.99 $44.99 at TargetJBL Go 4The last-gen JBL Go 4 has been around for a bit, but the pocket-sized Bluetooth speaker still delivers with up to seven hours of runtime, dual device connectivity, and an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. You can also pair it with other Go 4 speakers for bigger stereo sound, if desired.Where to Buy: $49.95 $34.95 at AmazonLife360 Tile TrackerThe Tile can help you keep track of your personal belongings from up to 350 feet away, which is 100 feet more than its predecessor. The handy location tracker is also platform-agnostic and can send SOS alerts, though only if you pay for Life360’s Gold subscription ($14.99 a month).Where to Buy: $24.99 $19 at AmazonAnker Zolo MagSafe power bank (10,000mAh, Qi 7.5W)This compact 10,000mAh power bank is MagSafe compatible, with both 7.5W wireless and 30W wired charging over USB-C.Where to Buy: $49.99 $34.99 at AmazonBlack & Decker DustbusterBlack & Decker’s handheld vacuum can help you quickly clean up small messes in your home or car. Where to Buy: $59.99 $42.43 at AmazonLifeStraw personal water filterLifeStraw’s basic filter removes unwanted bacteria and microplastics as you drink, giving you a safe way to hydrate no matter where you are.Where to Buy: $17.95 $12.98 at AmazonRing Solar Panel (2nd Generation)The Ring Solar panel can keep your outdoor cameras or other small devices charged up with up to 4 watts of power via USB-C.Where to Buy: $59.99 $47.99 at AmazonGoodr OG SunglassesGoodr’s classic OG sunglasses have polarized lenses and come in a variety of stylish colors. They’re cheap, durable, and practical.Where to Buy: $29.99 $24 at AmazonKeurig K-ExpressThe compact Keurig K-Express brews single cups of K-Cup coffee pods, with a 48 ounce reservoir for fewer refills.Where to Buy: $109.99 $49.99 at AmazonPokémon Legends: Z-APokémon Legends: Z-A is the first game in the main series with a real-time battling system instead of the traditional turn-based formula. Its more action-oriented battles and smooth performance on the Nintendo Switch 2 are very welcome.Where to Buy: $69 $39.99 at Amazon (Switch 2)