Unraid is favored by many, mostly because it doesn't use a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) — hence the name. That makes Unraid a unique operating system for network-attached storage (NAS) and one you should consider when shopping around for the very best. It's not perfect, however, and having used it for months, I've since switched back to other operating systems, such as TrueNAS and even Proxmox for storing data and running virtual machines or Docker containers, respectively.

Cloud storage is an incredibly useful technology that makes it easier than ever to keep copies of your files forever. But it also has a few downsides, including cost, the potential for someone to gain access to your account, or the simple fact that you're trusting a major corporation like Google or Microsoft to keep your data away from prying eyes. And when Microsoft has a list of file types that aren't allowed on OneDrive, you know the company has at least some access to that information.

The Steam Deck has long been a popular handheld gaming device thanks to its affordability and the SteamOS platform. Yet its hardware, while impressive for the price, can struggle with demanding AAA titles at smooth frame rates. A new free plugin for Decky Loader called FrameGen offers Steam Deck users a way to boost performance by using upscaling and frame generation for a growing list of games.

If you use Notion to manage your notes, you'll likely want the app on every device you own for maximum productivity. And while Notion isn't on every app and operating system that people want it to be on, it's making its way around.

Microsoft recently announced a limited public preview of Windows Backup for Organizations, which makes it easier for enterprise customers to back up all of their device settings and preferences and then restore them on any Entra-joined device. In theory, this simplifies the upgrade process from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Now, it seems like Microsoft wants to make the latter operating system even more enticing by constructing an orchestration platform that can handle Windows and app updates centrally.

I just got back from Microsoft Build, which was in Seattle, and it always feels like I'm going somewhere. Whether it's CES in Las Vegas, Computex in Taipei, IFA in Berlin, Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii, the Valnet offices in Montreal, or even just a few days in New York for something or other, there's always something on the calendar.

The new entry-level Surface Laptop is nicely put together.Microsoft finally found its answer to the MacBook Air last year with the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop (formerly known as 7th Edition). That Snapdragon X-powered laptop matched the MacBook in build quality, battery life, and at least some aspects of performance - something Windows laptop makers have been trying to do for ages. The 13.8-inch Surface Laptop was brilliant, but Windows on Arm's occasional app incompatibility stopped it just shy of being the default alternative to the MacBook Air.Nearly a year later, Microsoft has new Snapdragon-based Surfaces that are a little smaller and a little cheaper. The $899.99 13-inch Surface Laptop is nearly as great as last year's, despite some cost-cutting measures like a lower-resolution screen, a processor with two fewer cores, no face unlock, and no magnetic charging port. The hardware remains excellent, and Windows on Arm is even slightly better than last year. It'll probably work fine for some of you, but not all.The base 13-inch Surface Laptop, officially known as the Microsoft Surface 13-inch 1st Edition with Snapdragon (man alive, what a name), has an 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. For …Read the full story at The Verge.

When you use something all your life, it can be easy to overlook some of the problems it has. You grow so accustomed to things that they just work how you expect, even if it's not the most technically efficient. I suspect many people go through this with Windows 11, and to help address that, I've compiled a few utilities that can make your Windows experience that much better.

Apple is expanding its self-service repair program to cover a range of iPads, including mini, Air, and Pro models. The program opens tomorrow, at which point you’ll be able to order spare parts and repair kits for the Apple tablets.The program is mostly limited to the iPad models that Apple currently sells, including the A16-powered iPad, the iPad mini running the A17 Pro, and the M4-based iPad Pro. The M2 iPad Air is the only older model supported, along with the current M3 versions of that tablet. Apple hasn’t yet announced prices for the repair kits and components, which will include displays, batteries, cameras, and charging ports, along with rentable tool kits to carry out the work. iPhone parts range from $69 to $119 for a battery, while displays cost $129 to $379, and iPad parts are likely to cost more.The Self Service Repair program launched in 2022, initially covering only iPhones, though has since expanded to include select Macs, MacBooks, and the Studio Display. Apple has also announced today that the service will expand to cover Canada this summer, and that MobileSentrix will be added as a US parts distributor in the US as part of the recently launched Genuine Parts Distributor program, which allows third-party sellers to offer official Apple parts to independent repair shops.

There’s nothing worse than watching a game crash and burn on day one, only to realize its true potential as a fantastic title. It’s like seeing a beautiful car roll out of the showroom and immediately catch fire. They might be fantastic now, but their launches? Unforgivable.

The solid-state drive (SSD) has transformed the way we store data, paving the way to the modern smartphone, super-fast PC storage, and the thinnest laptops money can buy. They also allowed us to improve the performance of older or slower hardware, namely, mechanical hard drives. Intel Optane, AMD StoreMI, and some other technologies made their way to the datacenter, but you can take advantage of them at home with a server, NAS, or even your Windows PC. The thing is, only the first two scenarios are worthy of NVMe caching as your desktop PC likely already has fast enough storage and memory to handle everything you throw at it.

I started using Google Drive as a convenient and free cloud storage solution, but it quickly became a digital junkyard. Files were everywhere, important documents were hard to track down, and collaboration always felt chaotic due to disorganization. It was nearly impossible to find the specific files when I needed them the most. Finding files felt like a treasure hunt. After struggling with this disarray, I discovered these five tools that transformed my Google Drive from a cluttered mess into an organized system.