In the annals of computing history, there are few operating systems that have achieved the iconic status of Windows XP. Released in 2001 as a successor to Windows ME and Windows 2000, it quickly became a beloved staple in homes and businesses around the globe. However, despite its fondly remembered interface and groundbreaking features for its time, Windows XP is now woefully insecure. For those of us with a keen interest in the evolution of operating systems, understanding why XP has become a digital relic is as fascinating as it is essential.

Despite the options, it's not easy choosing a new monitor in 2024. But if you're looking for an ultrawide that's not too big or small, and isn't going to cost you an arm and a leg then this one from Gigabyte is going to be right up your alley. What makes this particular pick alluring is that you're getting a large 34-inch panel, along with a ton of great features. But best of all, it's now down to a ridiculous price that knocks it down to its lowest to date.

If you've used a Microsoft product recently, you've likely seen a new Copilot button appear somewhere within it. Ever since the start of 2024, Microsoft has been going full bore with adding Copilot functionality into as many of its apps as possible. For a while, it seemed that Microsoft had run out of apps to add Copilot to; however, the company has proved us wrong by adding its AI bot to third-party messenger apps. And while Microsoft plans to add its AI assistant to a range of different messaging apps, Telegram is the first one to offer a Copilot bot that you can talk to.

Image: OnLeaks / SmartPrix It looks like the not-yet-announced Galaxy Z Flip 6 is getting a tiny boost in battery capacity compared to the Z Flip 5, according to FCC testing records spotted by MySmartPrice. The Galaxy Ring’s size ranges and battery ratings showed up, too, revealing good news for the small-of-finger, as it’s been tested as low as size 5. The Z Flip 6’s battery is rated at 3,790mAh, based on screenshots shared by the outlet. That’s a touch higher than the 3,700mAh capacity that Samsung advertises for the Z Flip 5. Assuming that translates to increased battery life — which is not safe to assume — it could be a slight if welcome change for a phone that may not be changing all that much otherwise, at least judging from Z Flip 6 renders that leaked... Continue reading…

The PSVR 2 headset should have PC support by the end of this year, curtosy of a new adapter. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge PlayStation VR2 headset owners are one step closer to being able to use the virtual reality device with PCs. According to a certification discovered by VR enthusiast Brad Lynch, Sony has developed a PSVR 2 “adapter” that provides PC support for the otherwise PS5-exclusive device.Sony said that it was working on PC support for PSVR 2 in February, targeting a non-specific 2024 release date, but the company hadn’t previously mentioned what form this support would take. With the adapter certification being filed back on March 27th with South Korea’s regulator, it seems Sony is on track to easily meet its self-imposed PC support deadline. No other information about this mysterious adapter — including its price, appearance, or specified... Continue reading…

When someone calls you, if they exist in your contact list, their name and number will show up on the phone. In some cases when the caller is not a contact, the carrier/phone will provide some type of indication of who the person or company might be if the number is listed, or at least show you the phone number itself. Some carriers even help you filter out unwanted callers by naming them as "spam" or likely fraud or something similar. But sometimes, you get that no caller ID message, which often times means that it is someone trying to sell you something, or some type of spam call. You can block these callers so that these calls dont even ring through to your phone, avoiding any such annoying interruptions to your day.

Microsoft is quite transparent about what new features it's working on for Microsoft 365, as it gives us updates about those through its roadmap website on almost a daily basis. The company also releases a list of new features it adds to popular Microsoft 365 apps every month. Continuing the trend, the software giant has just released the list of features that it rolled out for Excel users in May 2024.

Illustration: The Verge On November 17th, 2023, OpenAI’s board shocked everyone by suddenly ousting co-founder and CEO Sam Altman. He had been overseeing one of the fastest-growing app launches in history with ChatGPT, so what happened? Former board member Helen Toner is filling in blank spaces in an interview on The TED AI Show podcast, providing her perspective on the events that caused board members to stop trusting Altman, as well as how he eventually returned. In her telling, once the board decided they needed to bring in a new CEO, they felt the only way to make it happen was to go behind his back. “[I]t was very clear to all of us that as soon as Sam had any inkling that we might do something that went against him, he would pull out all the stops, do... Continue reading…

Image: GPD GPD has been creating handheld gaming PCs and miniature mobile PCs for years, but it’s now turning its attention to regular-sized laptops. After teasing a dual-screen laptop last week, GPD has now published an image of its upcoming GPD Duo — complete with two 13.3-inch OLED displays, a range of ports, and stylus support.While we’ve seen new dual-screen laptops emerge over the past year, the GPD Duo looks like it might be the most practical yet. GPD is stacking the two 13.3-inch OLED panels so you get an extra screen on top. That’s similar to Asus’ new Zenbook Duo, but GPD is aiming to do this without a removable keyboard and kickstand, so the second display can fold behind the main one in what looks like a regular laptop form factor.T... Continue reading…

You may already know this, but batteries tend to wear down over time. As you use them and charge them back up, batteries will lose their original designed capacity. You might think, then, that keeping your laptop fully charged all the time is a good thing but you'd be wrong.

If you've ever been to an arcade, bar, or bowling alley over the past four decades, chances are you've spotted or tried your hand at a "love tester" machine. Of course, these machines never really gauged how much passion you might have had coursing through your veins, but they were great for entertainment purposes, especially if you were younger.

Using Apple’s RoomPlan Controller for HomeKit has added a map view for Apple Home to its app. | Image: Controller for HomeKit Controller for HomeKit, a third-party app for controlling your Apple Home smart home, has a new Floor Plan feature that adds a map interface for interacting with connected devices like lights, locks, shades, sensors and more. I got some time with the new feature ahead of its launch this week and it’s a compelling way to control your smart home. A 3D scan of your house becomes an interactive map filled with all your connected devices providing an intuitive way to control them: Just tap the lamp next to the sofa on the map and that light will turn on. For those unfamiliar, Controller for HomeKit is a well-regarded app that can manage and control any Apple Home and HomeKit compatible devices, scenes, automations, and so on. It uses the... Continue reading…