A number of Windows users reported snappy performance after updating their PCs to Windows 11, version 24H2. However, for lots of other people, the latest major Windows 11 feature update is causing all sorts of issues. So much so that Microsoft temporarily blocked the Windows 11 24H2 update on certain PCs last month. Unfortunately for Windows users, Microsoft has imposed the update block yet again, but this time, it's for different reasons.

I recently got my first-ever Mac, the M4 Mac Mini, after being a lifelong Windows user. I've always enjoyed and loved Windows, and what drew me to the Mac Mini was mostly the hardware, because macOS in itself was never very appealing.

Bit by Bit is a weekly column focusing on technical advances each and every week across multiple spaces. My name is Adam Conway, and I've been covering tech and following the cutting-edge for a decade. If there's something you're interested in and would like to see covered, you can reach out to me at [email protected].

Considering that the RISC-V project began in 2010, its one of the newest CPU architectures to grace the computing space. While theres still a noticeable shortage of consumer-grade processors in the RISC-V space, manufacturers like Milk-V have released a handful of RISC-V-powered devices.

The Chrysler Pacifica could come as a fully-electric minivan in a few years. | Image: Chrysler Chrysler is working on a fully electric version of the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, according to Green Car Reports. The EV version reportedly would “likely” come a year after the company debuts a Pacifica design refresh that features elements of the Halcyon concept that Stellantis showed off earlier this year. At the moment, the Pacifica lineup includes a standard gas-powered minivan and a plug-in hybrid with an estimated 32-mile electric-only driving range before it switches over to gas. Chrysler CEO Christine Feuell, who confirmed the plans to Green Car Reports during the LA Auto Show on Thursday, wouldn’t say whether the company will keep the plug-in hybrid alongside the all-electric model. Image: Stellantis The... Continue reading…

Juggling customer details, remembering follow-ups, and keeping track of every interaction can be overwhelming for small business owners. While there is no shortage of robust CRM (customer relationship management) tools, most of them are expensive and not feasible for small teams with limited budgets. Instead of opting for another hefty subscription, utilize Microsofts spreadsheet software, Excel, to get the job done.

Designers, creators, writers, artists, and other creative types often make it difficult to know what to gift them. There are so many specialist tools or fun creative gadgets, how can you even know what to buy for someone? Heres an ideal gift list for creatives, ranging from small gift items to larger more extravagant items that would really make your creative friends year.

A cozy workspace full of character and characters — and a cat. Continue reading…

Yes, the dongle dangles from your TV’s HDMI port. No, it’s not that big of a deal. | Image: The Verge It’s clear the world is ready to go all in on streaming for premier live events. That’s evidenced most recently by massive deals brokered by the likes of Netflix, which will exclusively broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day and weekly episodes of WWE’s Monday Night Raw.If you aren’t already set up with a capable streamer to enjoy it all, the Chromecast with Google TV (4K) is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store for $39.99 ($10 off), which is less than $2 shy of its all-time low. There’s a bit of urgency here, too, because we may be in the final proverbial hours of the Chromecast’s existence. Google recently confirmed it’s discontinuing the line in favor of the Google TV Streamer 4K, so if you want one — even if it’s... Continue reading…

Microsoft’s new Game Assist browser overlay can automatically surface tips and tricks for you. | Image: Microsoft Microsoft has announced that Microsoft Edge Game Assist, a new Edge-powered in-game browser overlay, is available for beta testing in Windows 11. The “game-aware” overlay lives in the Microsoft Game Bar and is designed to automatically find and show you links to tips and guides for the game you’re playing, using the Edge browser.Game Assist uses the profile you’re logged into in Edge, so it’ll give you access to your data, like cookies, autofill, and favorites, so “you don’t need to log into sites again.” Like other Game Bar widgets, you can pin it above your game as you play. Game Assist is currently available in English, and you’ll need to opt into the preview and set Microsoft Edge Beta 132 as your default browser to use it.Here’s a... Continue reading…

Kristen Radtke / The Verge Bluesky feels like the big winner right now.I’ve been covering Bluesky ever since I got my invite in April 2023. I’ve felt the platform has always had promise, especially with features like feeds with custom algorithms and the ability to let users pick their own moderation filters. But for a long while, it didn’t have the critical mass of users that I could follow to make it the first social network I load up every day.Over the course of this month, that’s changed. It added 700,000 new users in a week. Then, it crossed the 15 million-user mark. This week, CEO Jay Graber said it crossed more than 20 million users and had been adding more than a million users per day.Part of the interest in Bluesky is that it looks and feels like a... Continue reading…

Still beautiful. Still good. Still the wrong form factor for basically everybody. Continue reading…