Whether you're looking to grab a copy of Windows to get a newly built PC up and running or are just simply looking to upgrade from Windows 10, it can be quite shocking when you realize just how expensive buying a copy of Windows can be. With Windows 11, the price for a license starts at $140, and can run as high as $200 if you're looking to go Pro. Of course, if you need it, you'll usually have to make a tough choice because there's really no substitute that can properly take the place of Windows.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge YouTube’s premium subscriptions are about to get more expensive for long-time subscribers with legacy plans in more places. In December, YouTube told US subscribers with legacy YouTube Premium plans (stemming from discontinued services Google Play Music or YouTube Red) they’d need to start paying the current $13.99 per month price in the new year.YouTube Music users in Europe have posted emails they received announcing a price increase for them, too, and just like the US, some report getting three more months at the current price before the hike.In an email to The Verge, YouTube communications manager Paul Pennington confirmed prices are increasing for both YouTube Premium, which removes ads on the streaming videos and includes access... Continue reading…

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D isn't quite out yet, but you can bet that two things will be true. First, it'll be awesome for gaming workloads because the last-gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still a powerful processor. The other thing is that it's fully unlocked, so you'll be able to overclock the core for the first time on an X3D processor. That makes it worthy of a good motherboard to call home, and that means you'll want one of AMD's AM5 motherboards. What's fantastic here is that every existing AM5 board will support the new CPU as long as it can supply the 120W TDP of power that this gaming beast requires. We've rounded up some of our favorites from the existing crop and the new X870/E chipset motherboards that will be great pairings with this 8-core overclockable monster.

Microsoft 365 is a powerful office suite that perfectly represents the great and not-so-great things about software as a service. It's continually receiving updates, feature improvements, and security patches but you're also continually paying the subscription fee. For macOS users, that's a tough sell. After all, the iWork suite of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are included with all versions of macOS free-of-charge.

Jellyfin is a powerful open-source and free media cataloging and streaming platform. It's a close competitor to the popular Plex Media Server and both of these solutions offer plugin support. There are some solid offerings from the community to improve the functionality of your Jellyfin streaming box, but which are worth using? I've compiled a list of some of the best Jellyfin plugins right here to get you started.

Smart glasses have been a thing for quite some time, but the first few iterations really didn't sit well with the public and were kind of forgotten. Luckily, with the advancement of technology, we've seen some impressive smart glasses come to market over the past couple of years. Best of all, they're actually pretty good if you're planning to use them every day. Most importantly, they're powerful, compact, and look like regular glasses.

Upgrading is integral to PC building, and is one of the major advantages of building a custom PC. Many users end up swapping components over the course of 5 to 10 years, ending up with a completely new PC at the end, Ship of Theseus style. Although some people consider regular upgrades a drawback of gaming PCs, you don't necessarily have to upgrade every generation.

Photo by Tom Warren / The Verge AMD launched its latest Ryzen 7 9800X3D to glowing reviews this week, but if you’re looking to buy one then you might have to wait for more stock. The 9800X3D is currently sold out at Newegg and Best Buy, with the majority of Micro Center locations also sold out of AMD’s best gaming processor.The situation is similar across Europe, too. In Germany most retailers have run out of stock, with new shipments not expected to arrive until later this month. In the UK Scan is accepting preorders for the 9800X3D, but stock won’t arrive until November 29th. Overclockers in the UK says its stock is currently held at UK customs and that its first and second shipments are allocated and sold out. It’s not expecting another shipment until December.S... Continue reading…

If you're looking for a great pair of wireless earbuds, then Apple's AirPods Pro 2 are going to be it. Not only have these gotten better over time, but they are some of the best wireless earbuds that you can purchase in 2024. Although they have a retail price of $249, sometimes you can get lucky if the timing's right, and you'll be able to pick them up for a great price, while saving lots of money.

Wi-Fi 7 routers are finally here. The speeds are incredible, but the prices are steep, though they have been coming down slowly. Wi-Fi 7 increases bandwidth over Wi-Fi 6 by making better use of the 6GHz spectrum now available in many countries. The fastest Wi-Fi 7 routers have one or more 320MHz wide bands at 6GHz, which is double what was possible with Wi-Fi 6. While multi-gig internet speeds aren't yet available to most people, fast Ethernet makes these routers a good choice for someone who shares large files across a home or office network.

Paul McCartney in 2022. | Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images The Beatles have been nominated for two Grammys — nearly 50 years after the band officially split up. Their final song, called “Now and Then,” was restored last year with the help of AI, and is now up for record of the year alongside the likes of Beyoncé, Charlie XCX, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift. It’s also been nominated for best rock performance, where it goes up against Green Day, Pearl Jam, and The Black Keys.Released in November 2023, “Now and Then” started as a demo recorded by John Lennon in the late 1970s. This recording, as well as “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” was given to Lennon’s three surviving bandmates in the ‘90s, with the hopes of including it in The Beatles Anthology project.However, “Now and Then” was never... Continue reading…

Intel just cannot catch a break. The company's Core Ultra 200 series was a step in the right direction compared to 14th-gen processors, but it wasn't enough to prevent AMD from sailing ahead. The launch of the all-new Zen 5-based AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D added salt to the wound with its impressive gaming performance, so why would you want to buy an Intel CPU in 2024?