The note-taking landscape has evolved over the years. While Evernote remains a solid choice for basic note organization, new-age solutions like Obsidian offer a far more powerful and flexible approach to creating a digital cabinet. If you are tired of Evernote’s closed nature and annoying limitations, then it’s time to give Obsidian a try.

You know what PC gaming handhelds lack? The cool factor. Sure, they come with powerful CPUs and GPUs and put older gaming rigs to shame, but when it's time to carry it around with you, you just slip it in a bag and call it a day. But what about a portable gaming station that looks like you're carrying something straight out of a cyberpunk dystopia? That's why I'm insanely jealous about this amazing cyberdeck that opens up to become a portable arcade.

After using over a dozen mechanical keyboards over 3 years, I never imagined I'd be advocating for the low-profile brethren of my favorite typers. I always associated mechanical keyboards with a deep sound signature and satisfying tactile feedback. So, naturally, I largely ignored low-profile keyboards.

AMD's Ryzen 9000 series is available, and the flagship Ryzen 9 9950X is the best of the bunch. Even though Zen 5 is more efficient than the last-gen Zen 4 chips, this flagship CPU calls for a hefty cooling solution. It has a 170W TDP, which is more than mid-range coolers can handle. You don't have to worry too much, though, as your new processor has plenty of cooling options. We've rounded up the best coolers for the Ryzen 9 9950X, including air and liquid-cooling options, so you can find the perfect one for your build and budget.

Image: Laura Normand / The Verge Microsoft is being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission in a wide-ranging antitrust probe, making it the fifth Big Tech company to fall under such scrutiny in several years.The agency is looking into Microsoft’s cloud and software licensing business, cybersecurity services, and AI offerings. Bloomberg first reported the news and The Verge confirmed the investigation with a person familiar with the matter, granted anonymity to speak to a confidential probe. The demand for information that spans hundreds of pages and culminates over a year of informal discussions with Microsoft competitors and partners. One focus is on how Microsoft bundles productivity and security software with its Azure cloud, per the source. The FTC’s... Continue reading…

Docking stations and USB hubs are a great way to bring extra connectivity to your computing products. Of course, if you want to go all out, you'll want to go with the former, as it offers more than just a way to keep all your accessories connected. With a docking station, you'll also get power, which means one cable is all you need to keep things connected.

Illustration by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized amendments to its Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), making it easier to protect consumers who are tricked into paying scam tech support companies. The FTC could already go after these fraudster companies if they initiated calls to people — now, they can do the same thing if people call the scammers too.Fake tech support fraud has been on the rise for many years. The “company” tricks people into thinking they have a virus or other problem by sending scam emails, popups, and other messages. This encourages them to call to a help desk, which then convinces them to pay up.The FTC has long attempted to wrangle money back from these scammers. But as it explains in a published proposal, a 2021... Continue reading…

A few decades ago, Microsoft made a monumental decision to bundle Internet Explorer 2.0 with its latest operating system, Windows 95. This move in and of itself was normal for Microsoft at the time; identifying a new tech product, developing its own version, and then releasing it at a fraction of the price to steal market share. Internet Explorer 2.0 was launched in this manner on November 27, 1995.

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Valve has dropped the price of the 512GB Steam Deck LCD to $336.75 (about $112 off) as part of its Steam Autumn Sale. The sale runs until December 4th at 1PM ET and includes plenty of game discounts too, but Valve discontinued the 512GB Steam Deck LCD, so it might not make it to the end. (It’s already sold through the 64GB model, which was also discounted.)It’s a shame to see the 512GB LCD model going away, even if its picture doesn’t pop the same way the Steam Deck OLED does. At its normal $449 price, it’s a more affordable alternative to the OLED model with the same storage, which costs $100 more but plays the same games. Especially if you’re getting it to play AAA bangers like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Elden Ring — those will fill up your... Continue reading…

Illustration: The Verge Google Chat is launching huddles, a Google Meet-powered addition that lets you start a quick call with your coworkers. Google said it would add huddles to Google Chat in customer preview over a year ago, but we haven’t heard about it since then. The company says the feature has started rolling out and should reach all Workspace users by January 6th.As we noted last year, this is the same feature as Slack’s Huddles, using the same exact name. There aren’t a lot of differences between the various office suites these days, but this is really going the extra mile. GIF: Google To get one going, simply click a dropdown menu at the top of a chat and select “Start a huddle.” That’ll pop open an audio call invite that you can... Continue reading…

The Verge A few weeks ago, Microsoft exec Sarah Bond said that in November, “players will be able to play and purchase Xbox games directly from the Xbox App on Android.” It’s almost December and the feature still isn’t live, but Bond says it’s not Microsoft’s fault. The problem is that Microsoft would only be able to do it once a court order takes effect that forces sweeping changes for Google’s Play Store on Android, like opening it up to competition and ending the requirement for apps to use Google Play Billing. 3/4: Due to a temporary administrative stay recently granted by the courts, we are currently unable to launch these features as planned. Our team has the functionality built and ready to go live as soon as the court makes a final... Continue reading…

Creating a smart home with bulbs, switches, appliances, sensors, and more is a great way to improve your daily life, but it can come at a cost when you add too much to your home network. Without proper planning and investment into the backend, you can end up causing some serious headaches. If you're considering the purchase of a device or a few, here are some things to consider when planning out your new smart home.