Since Neuromancer took the sci-fi world by storm in 1984, computing nerds have pined for a "cyberdeck" - the ultimate in personal, portable PCs for surfing and hacking the world. Usually, they're DIY affairs. But the 10-inch GPD Win Max 2 is the closest I've seen to an off-the-shelf cyberdeck worth buying. @verge The GPD Win Max 2 is a lilliputian computing dream: a tiny laptop that doubles as a gaming handheld, with an incredible array of ports. It's surprisingly easy to type on, plays games as well or better than a ROG Ally or Legion Go, and supports two kinds of eGPUs. Keyboard and touchpad make navigating Windows easier than most handhelds. But you might not enjoy holding its stiff metal frame, and it's better paired with a mouse! #laptop #gaming #gadgets #todayimtoyingwith #techtok ♬ original sound - The Verge It's far from the best laptop or gaming handheld. It's an ergonomic compromise in five ways, and the webcam is trash! It's also a portable computing dream. It doubles as a gaming handheld, with joysticks and buttons smuggled away in hidden compartments. It optionally triples as a desktop gaming PC, with a rare Oculink port that lets you plug in a beefy eGPU. I …Read the full story at The Verge.

Managing passwords became a full-fledged job when every website and platform started demanding you create a separate account. Remembering so many passwords is impossible for anyone; hence, we all need a way to manage hundreds of passwords. The solution that I've been using for years is Google Password Manager, the free and built-in solution offered by Google on not just Android, but almost every platform.

RPGs are known for their lore, depth, and rich options regarding playstyle and customization. While the genre has its share of staple mechanics you'll frequently encounter, there are a number of features that deserve more attention. Specifically, players should have access to options that allow them to do as they please, be it for better or worse. That’s not necessarily suggesting you should be discouraged from committing certain actions or playing a particular way, but a good RPG should make you feel something and that your decisions/actions carry weight.

BBC Studios is using AI to recreate the voice and likeness of late detective story author Agatha Christie for the purpose of featuring it in digital classes that teaches prospective writers “how to craft the perfect crime novel.” A real life actor, Vivien Keene, is standing in for Christie, with her appearance augmented by AI to resemble the author. The new class, called Agatha Christie Writing, is available today on BBC Maestro, the company’s $10-per-month online course service that usually gives you access to content from living professionals teaching things like graphic design, bread making, time management, and more.Deepfaked Agatha Christie’s teachings are “in Agatha’s very own words,” her great-grandson James Prichard said in a press release. It uses insights from the real Christie and is scripted by academics — so the actual content appears to be human-made and not generated from a model that’s been fed all of her work. BBC collaborated with Agatha Christie Estate and used restored audio recordings, licensed images, interviews, and her own writings to make this all happen.Live now, the class has 11 video lessons with 12 exercises for prospective writing students, including how to “structure an airtight plot” and “build suspense.”

If you're paying attention to the video game industry, you know there's always a good crop of video games to be excited about each new month. For the upcoming month of May 2025, there's a massive release that many people, including me, are excited about. But it's not the only significant release of the month, so I put together this list of the games I'm most excited about over the month.

The Nintendo Switch just got a new update that adds Virtual Game Cards as a way to share digital games with other people. But the update also closes a loophole that would let you play shared games online at the same time as somebody you were sharing the game with, as reported by Eurogamer.Before the introduction of Virtual Game Cards, the only way Nintendo allowed you to share digital Switch games was by logging into your Nintendo Account on a second Switch and downloading the game to that console. Using that system, which is now available under “Online License Settings,” it was possible for you and a friend to play that game that you owned online simultaneously. Following the new Switch update, that digital sharing system is still an option – you don’t have to use Virtual Game Cards. However, with the old system, two people can’t play a shared game online at the same time anymore, which could be a disappointment if you relied on it ahead of this update.If you do opt to use Virtual Game Cards, Nintendo won’t just force you to manage those on a Switch or Switch 2; the company will also let you manage them from a website, which could be handy if you don’t have your Switch nearby but want to share a game.

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2025 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $70.1 billion in revenue and a net income of $25.8 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 13 percent, and net income has increased by 18 percent. Microsoft was expected to report $68.42 billion in revenue, so the results have beaten Wall Street expectations.Cloud growth appears to be the main driver of improved revenues, with overall Microsoft Cloud revenue reaching $42.4 billion, up 20 percent. Microsoft hasn’t split out its AI revenues, so it’s still unclear exactly how much that part of its business is growing, though.With all eyes on the impact of the Trump tariffs and consumer spending, Microsoft also reported Windows OEM and devices revenue growth of 3 percent year-over-year. Businesses and consumers are upgrading PCs and laptops ahead of the Windows 10 end of life in October, but there hasn’t been a big upswing in Windows OEM revenue yet. Microsoft does say that Windows OEM growth was partly down to “inventory levels remaining elevated due to tariff uncertainty.”Microsoft now combines Surface revenue with Windows OEM revenue, so it’s no longer clear exactly how its Surface line is doing. Microsoft hasn’t launched any new consumer Surface devices in the recent quarter, but the company did start selling Intel-powered versions of the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 in February for businesses. Microsoft is also rumored to be launching smaller versions of the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop soon.On the gaming side, Microsoft warned last quarter that Xbox hardware revenue would decline and it has again. Xbox hardware is down 6 percent this quarter, in a period when Microsoft has been launching a variety of games into Game Pass. Overall gaming revenue at Microsoft is up 5 percent.Xbox content and services, which includes Game Pass, is up 8 percent, though. Microsoft isn’t revealing any new Game Pass subscriber numbers though, and the last time we got an update was in February 2024 when Microsoft revealed there were 34 million subscribers, including the Xbox Game Pass Core (previously Xbox Live Gold) members.Over the past year Microsoft has been pushing ahead with its strategy to bring more previously Xbox-exclusive games to PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. The move has proven to be a successful one, with preorders for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Forza Horizon 5 topping Sony’s own PlayStation Store last month.“We ended the quarter as the top publisher by preorders and preinstalls on both Xbox and PlayStation Store,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on the company’s earnings call. PC Game Pass revenue also increased 45 percent year-over-year, and “cloud gaming set a new record, surpassing 150 million hours played for the first time this quarter,” revealed Nadella.Microsoft’s Xbox everywhere strategy — which I’ve been covering closely in my Notepad newsletter over the past year — will also include titles for the Nintendo Switch 2. Microsoft is preparing a similar list of games to port over to the Switch 2 this year.As is always the case for Microsoft’s earnings, the company’s Office and cloud businesses are once again the stars of the show. Microsoft 365 commercial products and cloud services revenue increased 11 percent year over year, and even office consumer is up 10 percent in revenue. Microsoft 365 consumer subscribers are up to 87.7 million now.Microsoft bundled its Office AI features into Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions earlier this year and raised prices. Previously, Microsoft 365 subscribers had to pay an extra $20 per month to get Copilot inside Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as part of a Copilot Pro subscription, but Microsoft now offers these AI features inside Microsoft 365 apps for an extra $3 per month. Existing subscribers have been able to opt out of the AI features and not suffer the price increase, but it’s not clear how many have actually decided to do that. Microsoft does note that it has seen “growth in revenue per user” from the January price increase, which has been partially offset by a “continued mix shift” to the $1.99 monthly Microsoft 365 Basic subscription.Microsoft’s revenues in what it calls intelligent cloud have increased by 21 percent year-over-year to $26.8 billion, which is exactly double the revenue generated by Windows, Xbox, and search and news advertising (more personal computing). Server products and cloud services revenue increased 22 percent, with Azure growth of 33 percent.Update, April 30th: Article updated with comments from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

Amazon’s annual Gaming Week celebration kicked off on Monday, April 28th, and will run through Sunday, May 4th. Whether you’re looking for a new headset, an internal SSD, or other gaming essentials, there are plenty of deals to explore. That being said, not every discount is worth your time and money — in fact, most aren’t — so we took the liberty of sifting through the deals to bring you the very best.From premium headsets like Sony’s InZone H9 and mice like the Glorious Model D to games like Resident Evil 4, Street Fighter 6, and Visions of Mana, here are the deals actually worth shelling out for.If you’re looking for a budget headset, Razer’s wired BlackShark V2 is on sale at Amazon for $35.99 ($15 off), which is $1 shy of its lowest price to date. The comfy, lightweight headset features a 3.5mm audio cable, so while it’s primarily designed for gaming on an Xbox Series X and Series S, it’s also compatible with PCs. It also features crisp sound and leather-like ear cups, as well as a noise-canceling cardioid mic and a truly excellent tactile knob on the left ear cup that allows you to quickly adjust the volume.You can grab a Meta Quest 3 with a carrying case, a three-month trial of Meta Quest Plus, and a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow at Amazon for $544.64 (about $25 off), which is $6 shy of the bundle’s all-time low. Meta’s last-gen virtual reality headset is slimmer and more comfortable than the newer Quest 3S, with higher-resolution pancake lenses, a wider field of view, and a dedicated depth sensor for more immersive mixed reality experiences. Read our review.The Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 is currently on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo for $129.99 ($20 off), which is about $13 shy of its best price to date. The handy, midrange macro controller features 15 programmable LCD buttons you can use to create shortcuts for various computing and smart home tasks, allowing you to quickly change your Slack status, hit the lights, and carry out a host of actions with the touch of a button. The MK.2 model also features a detachable stand and user-swappable faceplates, letting you add a bit more customization to your setup.If you plan on sticking with your Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED for the foreseeable future, the PDP Travel Case Plus Glow is on sale at Amazon in a variety of designs starting at just $14.99 ($10 off). The inexpensive carrying case features a protective 3D-molded design, a handle, and pockets for stowing game cartridges and other accessories; it also sports an integrated stand, if you find your console’s built-in kickstand to be lacking.You can pick up a physical copy of Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection for the Nintendo Switch at Amazon for $26.99 ($23 off), which is a new low price. The classic arcade bundle features seven 2D fighting titles that can be played either solo or online, including X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), and Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000).The HyperX QuadCast S is available for $99.99 ($60 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Target, which is $10 shy of its record-low price. In terms of recording quality, the original model — not to be confused with the newer QuadCast 2 S — maxes out at 16-bit/48kHz, but it still delivers solid voice and audio quality for the price thanks to multiple pickup patterns. The USB-C mic also features attractive LED lighting, which can be further customized using HyperX’s companion app.Amazon is selling the original Glorious Model D Gaming Mouse in black for $26.99 ($23 off), which is $2 shy of its best price to date. The ultra-lightweight wired mouse weighs just 68 grams and features an ergonomic build with a right-slanted design for enhanced comfort. It also sports six customizable buttons and a 1,000Hz polling rate, as if the adjustable RGB lighting and honeycomb design weren’t enough.If you’re looking to upgrade your streaming setup, the first-gen Elgato Key Light is on sale at Amazon and B&H Photo for $139.99 ($20 off), nearly matching its best price to date. The Wi-Fi-enabled LED panel is designed specifically for streamers and content creators, and as such, it delivers up to 2,800 lumens of adjustable brightness. You can also easily tweak the color temperature of the clamp-style light, which can wirelessly connect to your smartphone, PC, and other devices.You can grab a physical copy of Street Fighter 6 for the Xbox Series X / S for $27.99 ($32 off) or for the PlayStation 5 for $29.95 ($30 off), which is the lowest price we’ve seen on either configuration. The latest installment is a fantastic addition to Capcom’s long-running fighting series, with smooth gameplay, great visuals, and a new single-player mode that lets you explore the world with your own fighter. Read our review.You can grab a physical copy of Visions of Mana for the PS5 or Xbox Series X at Amazon for $34.99 ($25 off), an all-time low. Square Enix’s long-awaited action RPG marks the first main entry in the Mana series in almost 20 years, and though it suffers from a few flaws, it features a rewarding class system, lush environments, and a memorable cast of characters. The Amazon edition also includes a sticker set, but is otherwise identical to the standard edition.Samsung’s beefy 49-inch Odyssey G9 gaming monitor is on sale for $949.99 ($650 off) at Amazon, marking one of its better prices to date. The curved ultrawide is loaded with features, including an OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, great gaming performance, and a speedy 0.03ms response time. It’s also wonderful to look at, unsurprisingly, thanks to its deep contrast levels and support for HDR10 and HDR10 Plus.

One of the drawbacks of renting apartments was that I couldn't go crazy with my network setup. Between landlord restrictions on pulling cables through the walls and not wanting to see visible Ethernet cables stapled to the baseboards, I had to limit myself to putting in a good mesh router kit. But now I've got my own house, and even better, the builders pulled cable runs to several rooms through conduit so that I can fish fiber through at some point.

A small number of YouTube viewers will now see blurred thumbnails for certain search query results. | Screenshot: YouTubeYouTube has announced a new experimental feature that’s “aimed at providing safer search experiences for all users.” The service will begin blurring the thumbnails in search results for some queries “that frequently include sexual themes.” According to a recent update in the Community section of YouTube’s Help Center website, the feature is currently being rolled out to a small percentage of viewers.There are no specifics about what sexual themes may trigger a search to return a list of videos with blurred thumbnails, but YouTube says the video’s title, channel name, and its description will remain visible. Viewers will also have the option to unblur thumbnails.The goal of the limited test rollout is to “understand whether this type of feature helps users avoid accidentally viewing content that follows YouTube’s Community Guidelines but may be sensitive in nature.” But unlike SafeSearch that can both blur and filter out results on Google’s search engine, YouTube’s new experimental feature won’t omit results. In its current form it’s instead designed to provide an extra layer of protection that prevents younger or unsuspecting users from immediately being presented with content that may be inappropriate.

TikTok is back in a Washington, DC courthouse discussing the US law that - at least on paper - effectively banned the app. But this time, it's serving as a witness for the government, not fighting against it.On Wednesday, TikTok's head of operations and trust and safety Adam Presser testified in the Federal Trade Commission's antitrust trial against Meta, in the same courthouse where a panel of judges ruled that the government could expel TikTok from the country. Presser's role in the Meta trial was to explain the ways in which TikTok competes (or doesn't) with Meta's services in a market the FTC has defined as personal social networking - a category the FTC says contains only Meta's services, Snapchat, and a small app called MeWe.Lawyers for both the FTC and Meta brought up filings TikTok made in its own litigation against the 2024 divest-or-ban law, which required Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell its US business. (President Donald Trump has used dubious legal measures to extend the deadline for enforcement twice, leaving TikTok's service providers facing the potential for billions of dollars in penalties while saying he's working on a deal.) The FTC pointed to a TikT …Read the full story at The Verge.

Package managers are one of the most useful tools you can use on a PC to get things set up quickly. They don't have the same widespread adoption on Windows that they do on Linux, and that's because there wasn't really a standard for a long time. Options like Chocolatey did exist and were great, but most people didn't bother with it.