Microsoft first introduced a dark mode option in Windows 10 in 2016, but there were still plenty of areas of the operating system that looked like a mish-mash of light and dark modes. Nearly a decade later, the latest preview build of Windows 11 now includes even more darkened UI elements.Windows watcher Phantomofearth spotted updated file operation dialogs with a dark theme. If you’re copying files or deleting them, these dialogs will finally have a dark mode instead of light-themed prompt. It’s clearly a work in progress though, as the buttons on these prompts still have light buttons instead of dark ones.Windows 11's file operation (copy, access denied, etc.) dialogs are FINALLY getting support for dark mode! Here's how the dialogs look in dark mode at this point, hidden in build 26100.5061.Also notice the light buttons in the top right, still a work in progress of course. pic.twitter.com/3D00lWIJcn— phantomofearth 🌳 (@phantomofearth) August 15, 2025Microsoft hasn’t officially announced any improvements to its Windows 11 dark mode, but these small changes could indicate a broader overhaul is coming in time for the 25H2 update later this year. The Control Panel, Run prompt, and file properties UI are all still stuck in light mode, so hopefully Microsoft finds the time after nearly 10 years to address these, too.I’m not holding out much hope, though. It took Microsoft a few years to even add a dark mode to File Explorer in Windows 10, after the OS shipped with a mixture of light and dark modes. Apple has long had a consistent dark mode in macOS, since it shipped with macOS Mojave in 2018. A new Liquid Glass redesign is even on the way later this year, with a bigger focus on translucency.

As a business owner, you know that knowledge is your most valuable asset. But how do you keep track of all the ideas, processes, documents, emails, and insights that make your business run? This is the challenge I faced, and it’s what led me to build a simple yet powerful knowledge system using two tools I already had at my disposal: NotebookLM and Google Docs.

I’ve spent a lot of time wrestling with video editors that feel like they’re built for full-blown studio productions, all just to make a few cuts and add some titles to my clips. So, I set out to find something lighter — a tool that covers all my bases without turning every edit into a technical marathon.

If you maintain scripts in multiple languages, switch between projects, or just hate Googling the same code solutions repeatedly, a snippet manager is a lifesaver. While there are many options out there, if you are after a self-hosted and open-source one, look no further than massCode. It is a code snippet management app designed for developers to collect, organize, and quickly retrieve code snippets. massCode is cross-platform, available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

First launched in 2018, the open-source SerenityOS offers its users a stripped-back GUI-based operating system that melds a 1990s desktop aesthetic with a focus on productivity for power users. It isn't Linux, but SerenityOS is a UNIX-like OS, built on a custom core and uses no licensed components. So, while it can run MP3s, other media and related codecs currently covered by licenses are not supported.

I’m a long-time Windows user, to the extent that I attended college for it and earned certifications in PC, network, and Windows administration. I was employed in IT in network and database admin positions, where Windows is king in business. I’ve been using and covering Windows for my entire tech writing career. I won’t date myself, but needless to say, it’s been a minute.

Open-world survival craft games have really hit their stride in the past few years. If you're not familiar with them, they're titles which plonk you down in a giant world and tell you to use any means necessary to keep yourself alive. There's also some construction mixed in with the hunting, gathering, and farming, which lets you go from someone with barely anything to their name to owning a huge base.

If you've seen even just a handful of my articles in the past, you'll know that I am a huge advocate for all things related to e-ink displays. I can never put my finger on why, but there's something about the paper-like displays that makes them look a lot classier than their LCD brothers. You can turn a project from "looks like someone hung a screen on a wall" to "cool art installation" just by using an e-ink display.

My home network is never quite finished, partly because I had some oversights while wiring it up, partly because the existing wiring wasn't designed well, and partly because it's a large task and I never have the time or the budget to finish it in one go. The number of things I'm learning along the way is also never finished, whether that's software setup likeVLANs, or physical skills like how to terminate 8P8C connectors (and how there are two different wiring schemes).

The more I build out my home lab, the more I love it. Being able to tinker with operating systems, services, and networking gear is a fulfilling hobby for me, and the parts that work out make my home better to live in. I've learned a ton over the years, but the one thing that I've not loved is what it does to my electricity bill. Old ex-enterprise hardware can be power-hungry, and quite honestly, much of it was surplus to my actual needs.

Your home network connects everything from your laptop to your smart TV. It keeps the internet running, but without the proper setup, it can be an open invitation for unwanted access. It’s easy to assume the setup is safe, yet you won’t know for sure until you review your settings.

Throughout my career as a software developer and a freelance tech blogger, remote access has been essential. For years, I relied on TeamViewer, but as my work evolved, I needed something faster, more reliable, and secure. I had been aware of Parsec for a while, but I had always pigeonholed it as a tool exclusively for gamers. However, as my frustration with TeamViewer grew, I decided to give it a shot.