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.

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…

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…

The Windows Forecast is a look at the future of Windows that comments on the latest news for Windows Insiders, as well as other major announcements in the Windows space each and every week. My name is Joo Carrasqueira, and I've been covering the world of Windows professionally since 2018. If there's something you'd like to see covered, you can reach me at [email protected].

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.

There are many apps and services available to manage tasks, projects, habits, subscriptions, and notes. However, frequently switching between them can be challenging. If you are looking for an all-in-one solution to bring order to the chaos and reclaim control of your time and energy, look no further than Notion. It has become my ultimate life management system, helping me stay organized, productive, and focused on what truly matters.

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…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Microsoft has stopped offering updates to Windows 11 version 24H2 on PCs that have certain Ubisoft games installed, Bleeping Computer reports. The company made the move after complaints that Star Wars Outlaws and games in the Assassin’s Creed series were crashing after installing the new Windows update.Microsoft confirmed the “compatibility hold” in a status update yesterday evening, and says it’s working with Ubisoft to find a fix. In the meantime, the company recommends against installing the Windows 11 24H2 update manually. Here is Microsoft’s description of the issue and games affected:After installing Windows 11, version 24H2, you might encounter issues with some Ubisoft games. These games might become unresponsive while... Continue reading…

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].

When it comes to building a network, requirements are likely to increase as it grows larger and more complex. Also, there is the need for more sophisticated management of the network. Managed switches provide the means to create complex networks, control access, and monitor performance. These switches are a staple of large environments, but you will find these in home use too.

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

Single-Board Computers have been around for decades, but it was the release of the first Raspberry Pi in 2012 that brought these miniature devices to the forefront of the computing industry. Since then, weve seen major advancements in the software and hardware aspects of SBCs, with certain newer boards bearing enough firepower to not only run most desktop tasks but even run modern games at decent frame rates.