Simply telling playtesters not to share any details hasn’t exactly worked out. | Image: The Verge Nintendo has updated the official website for its mysterious “Switch Online: Playtest Program” today, privately revealing more information to participants about what it entails. The playtest is running from October 23rd, 9PM ET until November 5th, 8PM ET, and is only available to the roughly 10,000 people who have already registered for the program. The test software is now available to download ahead of the start of gameplay, and requires 2.2GB of free space. Participants didn’t sign an NDA, but Nintendo requested in the playtest terms and conditions that users refrain from sharing any details about it — which has gone about as well as can be expected. While Nintendo has already started issuing copyright strikes to take leaked media... Continue reading…

There are a few apps I never use, and eventually, I let my Mac maintenance routines delete them. Its not that I need the storage; rather, its an effort not to be such an app hoarder. That being said, there are a handful of apps Ill never delete, and theyre the first ones I install when Im setting up a new Mac. These apps have been super helpful in keeping me focused and productive, especially since I work entirely from a home office.

Who says an OLED monitor needs to stay in one place all the time? A new funding campaign has opened up for a wireless 4K monitor you can use in a 100-ft radius. Perhaps the most interesting feature is its magnetic back, which allows you to stick anything metal to itincluding a stand.

Whether you're trying to protect your privacy, access your services, or avoid geographical restrictions when traveling, a VPN is one of the best upgrades you can make to your tech life. There are plenty of ways to set up a VPN at home, but if you're looking for a more classic OpenVPN or WireGuard setup, DDNS can help. A home VPN with dynamic DNS (DDNS) offers a secure way to access your resources remotely without opening up security vulnerabilities, and without worrying about constantly changing home IP addresses.

Michelle Yeoh is back in Trek. | Screenshot: YouTube Star Trek: Section 31 will premiere as a direct-to-streaming movie on January 24th on Paramount Plus, which revealed the date during a Trek panel at the New York Comic Con. Fans will finally see Michelle Yeoh’s Star Trek: Discovery character, Emperor Philippa Georgiou, put her Mirrorverse skills to use as a super secret space spy.When we last saw Emperor Georgiou (an alternate dimension version of Captain Georgiou Discovery’s first season) she was flung back in time by a being called the Guardian of Forever. Before that, though, she had been recruited as a member of Section 31, the clandestine organization that the Trek franchise often uses to illustrate that even the glossy Federation has a shady side.The film, originally announced a... Continue reading…

Welcome to The Drive, a weekly column looking at some wacky, interesting, cool, and pivotal things within the tech space! Curated by PC Hardware Lead Editor Richard Edmonds through almost two decades covering the sector.

I love my pfSense firewall and couldn't see myself returning to a router supplied by an internet service provider (ISP), but it's not for everyone. While I would recommend building a custom firewall and router to those who'd be able to set it up and manage their LAN, I can understand why some may find it daunting or not worth the effort. Here are some reasons you may not need to build one for your home.

Sometimes you just want to share a file with someone. You're not really bothered with creating an account on a website, or setting up a cloud storage service; you just want to get the file online, get the link, and post it where it's needed. Fortunately, someone has made a third-party app that makes uploading a file on Windows easy and without the need to log into anything.

If you're a longtime Windows user, chances are you've likely used apps that are long gone. Some may remind you of a time when the name of a long-forgotten app may bring a wave of nostalgia or a repressed sense of dread for others. Yet, it could be argued that plenty of these useful apps were simply ahead of their time.

In the world of mobile content creation, shaky footage can ruin what would otherwise be a perfect shot. Whether you're a travel vlogger capturing your latest adventure, a social media enthusiast trying to take your content to the next level, or just someone who loves to record family memories, having the right gear can make all the difference.

The Special Edition model of the Galaxy Z Fold. | Image: Samsung Samsung just announced the Special Edition model of the Galaxy Z Fold. It’s thinner and a little lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 that only recently went on sale, and includes slightly larger displays on the inside and out and a new banded pattern on the back. It also has more memory available for Galaxy AI and an upgraded 200 megapixel wide-angle camera.Great! Unfortunately, it’s only been announced for South Korea, priced at 2,789,600 KRW or just over $2,000 when it goes on sale Friday, October 25th. And it seems the only other release market will be China.At 10.6mm and 236 grams, the Galaxy Z Fold SE is 1.5mm thinner and 3 grams lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Memory is now 16GB standard, and the wide-angle sensor has been bumped... Continue reading…

The AirPods Pro 2 will soon offer more robust hearing protection and a new hearing aid feature. But it’s the hearing test that really hooked me. Continue reading…