Microsoft has started testing a refreshed web experience for Xbox Cloud Gaming that looks even more console-like. Xbox Insiders can now try out the preview UI, which includes updated navigation features, plenty of new animations, and a refreshed design. It all feels like a teaser of what's to come for Xbox consoles in the years ahead.The existing Xbox Cloud Gaming interface got its last major overhaul nearly two years ago, when Microsoft added the social features and UI you'd normally find in the Xbox dashboard. This new design makes that existing UI feel even closer to an Xbox console, thanks to a variety of new animations, a new library …Read the full story at The Verge.

Notion is understandably the go-to for many productivity enthusiasts; it’s quite flexible and has that all-in-one appeal. AFFiNE improved on that for me with a more streamlined interface, faster performance, the whiteboard canvas, and the focus on local-first data and ownership. This is why it’s become my top pick over Notion for managing my notes and projects. Overall, depending on your needs, both apps are great. But they can also be heavier than necessary for day-to-day note-taking.

Many of us never think about the router after the ISP configures it for the first time. It blends in with the house like furniture, and only gets noticed when something isn't working. While the ISP-provided router is functional and mostly fine for its intended purpose, it's far from the device you'd ideally want running your entire home network. You might not even realize the number of basic features missing or locked down on your ISP router. Add to that the high probability of it having subpar hardware, an older Wi-Fi standard, and an unreasonable amount of control over your own network, and you begin to see the point of replacing it altogether.

Instagram’s premium subscription may include unlimited audience lists and the ability to see which accounts you follow aren’t following you back. Meta is gearing up to trial new premium subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp in the coming months that will allow users to access expanded AI capabilities and additional features. TechCrunch reports that the upcoming subscription plans aim to "unlock more productivity and creativity" by providing premium users with "more control over how they share and connect."The core Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp services will remain free to use, and the new premium subscriptions will be separate from the paid Meta Verified service that was launched in 2023. Meta told TechCrunch that it will test a variety of subscription features and …Read the full story at The Verge.

Windows hides many features that most people never know about, and sometimes that's for the better. Not everyone needs the Task Scheduler, Event Viewer, or Performance Monitor. And those aren't even the most obscure examples.

This is actually tidier than my desk normally looks. It took way too long, but Roland finally caved and gave the people what they want: a proper analog successor to the iconic TR-808 drum machine. The 808's sound, especially the kick drum, is embedded so deeply in the DNA of modern music that it would be a gross disservice to try and boil its influence down to a single sentence or a list of artists. (Note: Not all of the songs linked necessarily use an actual 808, but they at least feature samples or approximations of its sounds.)But, in typical Roland fashion, the company didn't just re-create some iconic analog circuits. No, the TR-1000 also has digital emulations of other classic Roland d …Read the full story at The Verge.

I was paying way more for cloud storage than I should have, and I realized it was far too late. I was subscribed to both Google One and iCloud since I use a MacBook and an Android phone. Recently, I decided I wanted nothing to do with big tech and would rather store my data myself on a local NAS.

Bridget McCormack is used to correcting judges' work. As the former chief justice on the Michigan Supreme Court, it was her job to review complaints about how judges at the lower courts failed to consider key evidence or rule on certain aspects of a case. In her current job, McCormack is working on a new kind of legal decision-maker. Like a judge, it would make mistakes. But unlike many judges, it wouldn't be burdened by more casework than it had hours in the day. It could make sure to always show its work, check that each side agreed it understood all the facts, and ensure it ruled on each issue at play. And it wouldn't be human - it's ma …Read the full story at The Verge.

While YouTube Music is a decent music streaming platform, it has always lacked one key feature Spotify and Apple Music have offered for years — the ability to start a playlist on desktop and carry it over to your phone seamlessly, whether it's on Android, an iPhone, or on the desktop (via 9to5Google). Thanks to a recent update, YouTube Music subscribers can now start a song or podcast on desktop and shift over to their phone and not lose their spot in the content as long as they're signed in to their account (this works in reverse, too).

Self-hosting your own services can seem intimidating, especially if you’ve never dabbled in containers or virtual machines before. But most of the popular FOSS tools are easy to deploy and ship with sleek interfaces that you can get accustomed to in no time. Home Assistant is one such utility that, despite being packed to the brim with handy features, is easy to work with even when you’re a complete beginner.

If you've ever felt that the standard Nvidia Control Panel plays things a little too safe and feel like taking the tweaking and tuning to the next level, a lightweight, open-source utility may be just what you're looking for.

When you first kick off your self-hosting journey, Docker tends to be the recommended go-to, and a Docker container manager tends to be the recommended app. While you can obviously handle everything through the CLI and Docker Compose, a Docker container manager just makes everything easier with a straightforward interface that makes managing and installing new apps much easier. Portainer is a popular choice here for its versatility and plethora of features. That's exactly why I started using it.