News from the web

TL;DR: Charge four devices at once with the 100W Omega USB-C GaN Charger on sale for $59.99.  Having a lot of different devices means you also have a lot of different batteries to manage. That’s a lot easier when you can use one charger for all of them. The Omega 100W GaN Charger is a compact, practical solution for charging multiple devices. ...   PC World

TL;DR: Track your wallet anywhere with a MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card on sale for $26.99 (reg. $42).  Lost your wallet? Don’t cancel those credit cards just yet. If it has a MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card in it, then everything should be fine. These little trackers work just like Apple AirTags, but they’re a little easier to tuck into your wallet or even slide into your passport. ...   PC World

Microsoft is adding a new ability for third-party developers to add widgets to Windows, as well as a new “top cards” summary of your PC within the Settings menu. Microsoft began rolling out the new changes as part of the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4800 (Beta Channel). ...   PC World

According to one analyst firm, the combined shipment of desktop and laptop computers in 2024 was 245.3 million units. That’s a big number — a new computer for one out of every thirty or so people on the planet — and it’s showing a growth over 2023. But with the previous post-pandemic slump in sales, and big pushes around AI and Windows 11, it still feels like a big disappointment. ...   PC World

If you’ve been trying to somehow avoid the Windows 11 2024 Update, those days are over. Microsoft is now saying that mandatory Windows 11 24H2 updates have begun and the installation is lengthier than prior updates, so plan accordingly. ...   PC World

A few years ago, CyberPowerPC created a double-PC-in-a-box system called Pro Streamer — one to play games and one to stream them — which was a dream machine for the Twitch set. But with the latest Thunderbolt capabilities, it’s now possible to easily replicate a lot of that functionality with a laptop and a single Thunderbolt cable. Keith May went hands-on at CES 2025 to demonstrate it. ...   PC World

Two days ago, Google announced that it was doing away with a separate upcharge for its Gemini AI features in Workspace and forcing you to pay for it instead whether you want AI or not. Today, Microsoft is following suit, raising prices for its Microsoft 365 packages by $3 per month and bundling in some Copilot AI tools to justify the bump. ...   PC World

Gaming is so much better and more immersive when you have a proper headset, and one of our favorites is the Corsair Virtuoso Pro. It just so happens that it’s now available for just $140 on Amazon, a solid 30 percent off its original $200 MSRP. In our review of the Corsair Virtuoso Pro, we gave this headset a near-perfect 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award. ...   PC World

While we love laptops and powerful desktops, mini PCs have been stealing our hearts as of late because they’re tiny, powerful, and super affordable. For example, this beastly Acemagic F1A mini PC is only $449 right now, a good deal under its $599 MSRP. It’s a phenomenal machine for that price. The Acemagic F1A features a powerful Intel Core i9-12900H CPU plus 32GB of DDR4 RAM. ...   PC World

It’s hard to have too many microSD cards. They’re needed for everything ranging from tablets to smartphones, dashcams to drones, Nintendo Switches to GoPros. It makes sense to grab a few for the future when you spot good ones on sale. And right now, the Samsung Pro Ultimate microSD card is on sale. ...   PC World

What does a massive $150 billion corporation do when a law forces it to make slightly less money? It takes its ball and goes home. At least, that’s what AT&T chose to do, ending a long saga of New York state attempting to enforce its affordable broadband law. AT&T has completely withdrawn its 5G home internet service from the state in retaliation. ...   PC World

“Variable Refresh Rate” (VRR) technology like G-Sync and FreeSync dynamically adjusts the refresh rate of your monitor to the frame rate of the game, but they can sometimes cause undesirable side effects such as flickering. Monitors with VA and OLED panels are particularly affected, although some IPS and TN screens can also fall prey. ...   PC World

If you aren’t using a password manager yet, you’re missing out on greater convenience and security. Fortunately, if you don’t have a dedicated password manager app, you can always use Google Password Manager in Chrome, especially now that it supports the saving of passkeys. (Passkeys are even more convenient and safer than passwords. ...   PC World

For nearly as long as we’ve had smartphones, there have been attempts to turn them into something “more.” Motorola tried with the Atrix 4G and Webtop chassis back in 2011, and Razer’s Project Linda gave the concept another whirl in 2018. But the dream of taking a smartphone, plugging in peripherals, and using it like a laptop never quite came to life. ...   PC World

You would think that Arm, which arguably has been the vanguard in the smartphone and PC industry push for improved power efficiency, would double down on that strategy in its plans for 2025. Actually, it’s sort of the opposite. PCWorld sat down at CES 2025 with Chris Bergey, senior vice president and general manager for Arm’s client line of business. ...   PC World

Nintendo’s Switch 2 is official. We’ve seen a video reveal of the final design, teasing a more thorough announcement in April. And across the platform fence, the Steam Deck and its many imitators in the PC handheld space have never been hotter. So now it’s time for the inevitable, attention-grabbing headlines pitting them against one another. ...   PC World

TL;DR: A 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Membership is now just $36.49 (reg. $50), and you can stack them.  Xbox gamers, if you’re paying full price for your Game Pass Ultimate Membership, then you’re paying too much. Instead of dropping $50 for a 3-month membership, you can get them for only $36.49 right here. These codes are stackable, and they’re available to new or existing members. ...   PC World

Finding a good laptop under $500 is no easy task. Just type “laptops under $500” into any search bar and you’ll be inundated with tons of results. Although you’ll see many options, most aren’t worth the price. That’s why you need to shop smart here. Personally, I’d recommend getting a laptop with a 1080p display and at least 8GB of RAM. ...   PC World

One of the best ways to make your room look awesome without completely remodeling is to get some gorgeous LED strip lights that can shift to nearly whatever color you want them to be. Govee’s 100-feet RGBIC LED strip is a fantastic pick for that, and right now it’s on sale for $44 on Amazon, a solid discount from its $73 MSRP. ...   PC World

If you’re tired of laptops and large desktop towers, a mini PC is the solution for you. And right now, you can score a powerful configuration for not much money at all — the value here is crazy. I’m talking about this Kamrui E3B mini PC for $280 on Amazon, solidly discounted by 30 percent from its $400 MSRP. ...   PC World

Obsbot has launched two new webcams today, with a feature you won’t often see: 100fps recording, for ultra-smooth video. Obsbot launched the Tiny SE and the Meet SE, both 1080p webcams for less than $100. In fact, the Meet SE is $69 on Amazon, and the Tiny SE sells for $99 on Amazon. ...   PC World

At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros App gives you an incredible amount of detail about operating conditions Clarifying agent dispenser is available as an option Cons Very expensive for its performance and results No more effective at capturing debris than “dumb” skimmers Prone to getting stuck by running into the pool’s walls Our Verdict Beatbot’s smart skimmer comes with a ...   PC World

Duolingo reports that interest in learning Chinese (Mandarin) on the language learning app has increased by a whopping 216 percent among Americans compared to this time last year. This surge in interest comes as TikTok faces a ban in the US that will take place on Sunday, January 19. ...   PC World

If you’re on Windows 11, there’s a good chance you’re using BitLocker to protect your system files and personal data. BitLocker is enabled on most Windows 11 PCs by default, and that’s a good thing because BitLocker ensures only you can access your own data. ...   PC World

I’d almost stopped believing it’d happen, but the highly anticipated announcement has finally hit. Today, on January 16, 2025, Nintendo has officially announced the Nintendo Switch 2. The successor to the Nintendo Switch looks very similar but comes with a bigger display, upgraded internal hardware, and larger Joy-Cons that attach and detach magnetically (instead of sliding on rails). ...   PC World

Matter may be the big new thing in the smart home arena, but the old Zigbee protocol still has some tricks up its sleeves, and this one’s pretty cool: The ability to transform Zigbee devices, such as Philips Hue lights, into motion sensors.  It’s called Ambient Sensing and apparently it works with a simple firmware upgrade and without additional hardware. ...   PC World

If you want to be adequately prepared for any emergency situation, you can’t overlook the importance of a portable power station, especially one that lasts a long time and supports all your vital devices. Here’s a solid pick from Anker, one of our favorite power accessory brands. Right now, the Anker Solix C200 power station is just about $100 on Amazon, a whopping 41 percent off. ...   PC World

At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Unique decentralized Mixnet provides superior anonymity Open source Privacy-first approach Cons Still in beta Lacks some common VPN features Limited server network Future cryptocurrency payment model not accessible to everyone Our Verdict NymVPN is a really interesting, if somewhat incomplete, service built on decentralized blockchain technology. ...   PC World

Did AMD win CES 2025? Maaaaybe? We asked Donny Woligroski, senior technical marketing manager at AMD, to give us more detail on the blockbuster announcements the company squeezed into a 45-minute CES keynote: the upgraded Ryzen 9 9950X3D (and how it affects the persistent shortages of the other X3D parts) and the related 9955HX3D on laptops. ...   PC World

DirecTV has made good on its plans to launch a sports and broadcast streaming package for less than its standard TV plans, but the savings aren’t enormous. The DirecTV Stream MySports plan costs $70 per month (with an extra $20 off for the first three months) and includes a mix of local broadcast channels, national sports networks, league-specific channels such as NFL Network, and access to ...   PC World

Witech has announced that version 3.0 of TheDrumSource is now available as a VST3 and AU instrument plug-ins. TheDrumSource is a sample based drum machine with a built in browser... Read More   KVR Audio

Sonnet Technologies has announced the Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 SSD Dock, the latest offering in the company's popular family of docking stations and the first to exploit Thunderbolt 5, the fastest... Read More   KVR Audio

Glitchmachines has released Skein, an FM synthesizer focused on experimental sound design and electronic music production. Skein features 4 operators with skew controls and noise,... Read More   KVR Audio

TAQS.IM has announced the release of SOLO v3.2, introducing improved envelopes and an updated glide section allowing for more expressive response to your sounds. The update includes:... Read More   KVR Audio

Polarity Audio has released Kirana Drum Kit II, their latest VST / AU instrument plugin designed for musicians, producers, and composers in pop music, city pop, and related genres.... Read More   KVR Audio

Korg has announced the Multi/Poly Module, a rackmountable analogue modeling synthesizer along with a software version of the same instrument. The multi/poly module is a 19' rackmountable... Read More   KVR Audio

Acustica Audio has announced the release of Rice, a digital reverb plugin suite designed for creative sound design and mixing. Rice offers a hybrid approach, combining algorithmic... Read More   KVR Audio

Korg has announced the Handytraxx Play, a portable turntable co-developed with Toshihide Nakama that honors the original Handy Trax. The handytraxx play is a portable turntable designed... Read More   KVR Audio

Spitfire Audio has released Abbey Road Orchestra: Clarinets, the latest addition to its critically acclaimed ABBEY ROAD ORCHESTRA series. The new library captures the sound of a world-class clarinets... Read More   KVR Audio

United Studio Technologies has announced the release of the UT Twin48, a studio microphone that delivers two venerable classic tube microphone designs of the late 1940s and 1950s in a single... Read More   KVR Audio

Audient has announced the launch of iD48, the 8 channel 24in / 32 out USB-C audio interface, previewing at this year's NAMM show. Since we launched the iD Desktop Interface Range,... Read More   KVR Audio

Rast Sound has updated Soren, the automated mastering app, to v1.1, introducing three key enhancements: Gain Matching for precise A/B comparisons. Mono file processing for broader compatibility.... Read More   KVR Audio

Audix has introduced the new OMX series of dynamic vocal mics. Priced at $159.00 each and comprising the OMX-E, OMX-M, and OMX-T, this product family matches a handheld microphone to each of... Read More   KVR Audio

Blue Cat Audio has released another free update for Blue Cat's PatchWork, their multi-effects processor and plug-in host. This update to PatchWork includes many improvements for MIDI... Read More   KVR Audio

Mackie has announced a new addition to their ProFX line, the battery-powered ProFX10 GO. Now you really can mix anything from anywhere and never miss a beat. Dial in legendary Mackie... Read More   KVR Audio

Dynaudio has announced the second generation of its M-Series studio monitors. The new M-Series MkII range boasts a complete redesign with upgraded components throughout, including new MSP drivers,... Read More   KVR Audio

Pigtronix has introduced Cosmosis I, a single footswitch variation of Cosmosis, the brand's first stereo ambient reverb pedal. Here's what they say: Cosmosis I is a high-fidelity... Read More   KVR Audio