Microsoft has been testing its ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming service over the past few months, as I exclusively revealed in October. Now, the software giant is getting close to testing the free streaming option with Xbox Insiders.Over the weekend, Microsoft updated its Xbox app with loading screens for Xbox Cloud Gaming that mention "1 hour of ad-supported playtime per session." That lines up with Microsoft's internal testing, which has been limited to one-hour sessions, with up to five hours free per month.Sources told me in October that internal testing includes around two minutes of preroll ads before a game is available to stream fo …Read the full story at The Verge.

Mini PCs were easy to dismiss in the past, but that's no longer the case. Most modern options are not underpowered or thermally constrained as small-sized computers used to be. Instead, many now deliver performance that's competitive with what you'd expect from mid to high-range desktop systems.

This is one of those things that's kind of silly, but also incredibly cool at the same time. With the help of a clever accessory, Reddit user alanpep was able to get Game Boy cartridges to play on Microsoft and Asus' ROG Xbox Ally.

If the partnership goes ahead, TCL will have input into the development of future Sony Bravia TV models. Sony has announced plans to spin off its TV hardware business, shifting it to a new joint venture with TCL. The two companies have signed a nonbinding agreement for Sony's home entertainment business, with TCL set to hold a 51 percent stake in the new venture and Sony holding 49 percent.With this partnership, TCL is elevating itself into the premium television landscape after innovating with technology over the last few years. If the deal goes through it would mark the end of an era for Sony, and could open the door for cheaper Bravia TVs built with excellent Sony image processing and leading TCL tech.Sony and TCL are aiming to finalize …Read the full story at The Verge.

We all love PC gaming here — not despite the horror stories, but almost because of them. The explosive PSUs, the BSODs that nuke a perfectly good weekend, and the drive updates that turn a stable rig into a science experiment overnight... it's all part of the deal. That's because the payoff is worth it: unmatched freedom, absurd value over time, and a platform that's ours to shape, break, and rebuild. However, that doesn't always translate to a PC gaming handheld. In essence, PC gaming handhelds are the best part of the PC ecosystem, becoming something you can throw in a backpack, and that's mighty impressive.

Back in 2020, I bought the LG 27GN950 Nano IPS monitor for $800, which I thought was a steal at the time. It checked every box I cared about: a fast IPS panel with minimal backlight bleeding, 160Hz refresh rate, and 4K resolution. I assumed I was going to use it as my primary gaming monitor for the next 5-6 years, but then OLED monitors started coming out. In 2024, I bought the Alienware AW2725DF, a 1440p 360Hz OLED gaming monitor, for $850. I basically paid more for a resolution downgrade, but do I regret it? Absolutely not.

Photoshop is powerful and sleek, but it’s also heavy, expensive, and a bit overkill for the average editor. Among the many other alternatives I’ve come to love, I recently also started playing around with a web-based editor. It’s a simple option for anyone looking for a capable Photoshop alternative without a subscription.

If you're someone who often switches from a multi-monitor desk setup to a single-TV living room setup with the same device, or you just have multiple monitors that constantly need reconfiguring based on what you're doing on them, you might have come across the Nvidia Control Panel (NVCP). It's slow, buried in menus, and requires you to recheck boxes and rearrange monitors every time you want to reconfigure.

Well, it seems the time is up for OnePlus. While the company itself hasn't made any announcement yet, one publication, which is very familiar with OnePlus, is reporting that Oppo is closing up shop with the mobile device manufacturer. However, unlike most rumors, this one seems to contain a ton of proof that, while the move hasn't been announced yet, OnePlus is indeed getting canned by its parent company.

A few months ago, I deepened my knowledge of Linux distros by giving an immutable one a try. I'm still very much a newbie when it comes to the world of FOSS operating systems, so it was a big learning process for me. However, it was one that, eventually, left me really happy with my operating system. Not only do I use Fedora's KDE Atomic spin as my daily driver (called Kinoite), but I'm not sure I can go back to a regular system.

My living room TV and basement office setup are pretty complicated as far as HDMI is concerned.

Spotify wants audiobooks to be on the same page. Spotify appears to be working on a novel feature that will allow audiobook listeners to pick up where they left off in the physical book. Android Authority reports that version 9.1.18.282 of the Spotify app includes code references to a Page Match beta feature that can quickly sync audiobooks on the platform with their paper and ebook counterparts.Using Page Match will require users to unlock or purchase the audiobook on Spotify, and own either the paper or ebook version of the same book. The feature works by scanning the page you're currently reading with your device camera, using optical character recognition (OCR) to identify passages t …Read the full story at The Verge.