You want the best performance of your PC, and you're on the hunt for the best DDR5 RAM to help your rig run as fast as it can. There's just one little hurdle: do you go with the XMP or EXPO kit?

While the argument could be made that Microsoft has included some questionable apps in Windows over the years (and still does), some that the company has deprecated or flat-out abandoned were actually useful. The company has a habit of unceremoniously removing apps it deems inadequate. Some decisions are welcome, like putting Internet Explorer out to pasture. Other apps and features were helpful, and their removal isn’t appreciated. There are usually workarounds to get the retired app functionality back once it has been removed. Luckily, we have a good list of alternative apps you can use for the ones Microsoft forgot.

With the prevalence of hustle culture and a crowded online arena constantly vying for our attention, it's no wonder that many people rely on productivity apps to keep organized. But as I explore more apps to improve my focus and task management, I've found that I encounter more problems than solutions.

Microsoft Excel is widely regarded as one of the most powerful spreadsheet apps out there. It can be a project management program, a budgeting tool for personal finance, and for several other off-beat purposes, like tracking your workouts, making travel plans, and similar use cases you've never thought of. Heck, you can even play games on Excel! Despite these features, there are some areas where Microsoft's number-crunching app needs some work.

Google just introduced its latest budget smartphone, the Pixel 9a, with a much more streamlined design and upgraded specs. As has become typical for the Pixel a series, the Pixel 9a looks to offer tremendous value for the price, now with a brighter display, faster processor, and other upgrades, which makes it an easy device to recommend.

Microsoft releases one major Windows update every year to introduce new features to Windows 11. However, Windows Insiders don't have to wait that long to enjoy new functionalities, as they get early access to various new capabilities every month, including those that might not ship to the general releases.

My primary gaming PC runs Linux. The operating system has become an excellent choice for PC gamers, largely thanks to continued developments and the introduction of Proton from Valve. Gone are the days when Linux was an emulated and translated mess when it came to gaming. Although many games are still natively developed for Windows alone, Proton and other improvements on Linux have made gaming almost seamless. Here's what you'll need to create the ultimate Linux-powered gaming PC.

Google is adding gaming support to Android Auto, with titles including Candy Crush Soda Saga and Angry Birds 2 playable from compatible cars’ touchscreens. The new feature is included in the beta version of Android 14.1, which is rolling out to testers now.Only four games are currently supported, with Candy Crush and Angry Birds joined by Farm Heroes Saga and Beach Buggy Racing. To play them on the car’s display you need to have the games installed on your phone first, and for obvious reasons they’re only available while the car is parked. 9to5Google tested it out, and found that when you shift out of park, “the game closes immediately and is grayed out within the app drawer and app switcher.”This addition also marks the first time that fullscreen apps have been available in Android Auto, though it’s not clear if the option will be extended to other types of app. Gaming and fullscreen support brings Android Auto closer in line to the software experience on cars with Google built-in, which already support a wider range of games to play while parked.Gaming support in Android Auto was announced by Google earlier this month as part of its March feature drop, but the company hasn’t said when the option will leave beta. These aren’t the first games available on Android Auto, with a small number of basic titles running on HTML5 added in 2021 as part of Google’s GameSnacks service.

The network-attached storage (NAS) has evolved into a fully-fledged server, allowing you to install and host various services. Doing so makes it possible to configure your home or office with numerous self-hosted apps and services. Although Synology has an app store, I recommend using Docker containers where possible. I'll run through a few of my favorite Docker containers that you can (and should) run on your Synology NAS.

Are you on the hunt for a shiny new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090? If so, there's some good news; the GPUs have been spotted in stock, and they're currently selling for a cool $3,719. If that has put you right off of buying one, don't worry; it seems you're far from alone.

If you're in the market for a new PC, your bravery is commendable. It's not the best of times to be a PC builder right now, considering the abject state of gaming GPUs. It doesn't look like we'll get graphics cards at MSRP again any time soon. Still, if you can't live without a new gaming PC, and want to experience the latest and greatest titles, such as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it's possible to build a DDR5 future-ready machine on a budget.

Well, that's a shame. After Intel had some CPU issues in late 2024, the company seemingly bounced back with its Battlemage GPUs. The last time we checked in on them, Battlemage was doing pretty well in sales, and things looked rosy. However, it appears that Intel has changed its plans and has cancelled its high-end GPU...at least, for the time being.