I am all for whupping the English like a convict caught with the governor’s wife. But it would be nice if they could put up a little fight next time. Read...

At a glance Top Picks in streaming and sports entertainment Apple TV: It’s a great service, and this deal will save you $42 over six months. Disney+ and Hulu: Both the with-ads and ad-free deals offer substantial savings over a full year ($96 and $60 respectively). NFL Sunday Ticket: Football fans who snap up this deal will save $48 for the rest of the regular season. Starz: The one-year-for-$11.99 option is the one to take with this service. Walmart+: If you shop at Walmart, this half-off membership deal includes a full year of either Peacock or Paramount+ Essential One thing became clear as we assembled these deals: The streaming companies see higher value in customers who subscribe to their plans that include ads, over what are otherwise the same services without ads. The savings you’ll get without ads is almost always less (as a percentage) than what you’ll get if you’re willing to put up with commercial breaks. Of course, with some channels—especially those carrying live TV and sports–you’ll get ads with some content even if you’re paying the higher no-ads price. Updated November 28, 2025: Deals refreshed, pricing verified. Black Friday deals on streaming entertainment Crave (Canada only, with ads): $89.99 for a full year (25% off) Crave Premium (Canada only, no ads): $129.99 for a full year (41% off) Disney+ and Hulu (with ads): $4.99/mo for 12 months (62% off) Disney+ and Hulu (no ads): $14.99/mo for 12 months (25% off) Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max (with ads): $19.99/mo for 12 months (43% off) Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max (no ads): $32.99/mo for 12 months (42% off) Frndly TV: $.99/mo for 3 months: (86% off) HBO Max (with ads, no live sports): $2.99/mo for 12 months (73% off) Starz (no ads): $2.99/mo for 3 months (73% off) Starz (no ads): $11.99 for a full year (83% off) Black Friday deals on sports streaming plus entertainment Apple TV (pro baseball and soccer, Formula 1 in 2026; no ads): $5.99/mo for 6 mos (54% off) ESPN Select, Disney+, and Hulu (with ads): $19.99/mo (46% off) ESPN Select, Disney+, and Hulu (no ads): $29.99/mo (41% off) ESPN Unlimited, Disney+, and Hulu (with ads): $29.99/mo for 12 months (44% off) ESPN Unlimited, Disney+, and Hulu (no ads): $38.99/mo for 12 months (43% off) Paramount+ Essential (with ads): $2.99/mo for 2 months (63% off) * Paramount+ Premium (no ads): $2.99/mo for 2 months (77% off) * Black Friday deals on football coverage NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube: $12/mo for 4 months (68% off) * You can get one year of either Paramount+ Essential (with ads) or Peacock (with ads)—and switch between the two every three months) for free—with a one-year subscription to Walmart+, available as a Black Friday deal for $49 (50% off). Read...

Everyone loves a good deal. But a lot of people sleep on cashback offers from their banks. Yep, banks will credit your statements for your shopping, based on purchases made with your credit or debit card. The catch: You have to active these offers first. So during Black Friday, it can literally pay to log into your bank account and look at what offers are available to you. I set a reminder every November to harass my friends and family about looking at theirs. Why? Well, one of them just activated an offer for $100 off a $500+ purchase at Dell. And they were about to buy a new laptop there. How to activate merchant offers These cashback deals can be found in your bank account’s main dashboard or in your card’s individual dashboard. They usually span multiple categories like shopping, entertainment (including streaming services), cell phone services, restaurants, travel, etc. Sometimes it’s a percentage, other times it’s a fixed amount. Minimum spend amounts may be required, too. A few tips: Activate the offer first before shopping! These are not retroactively awarded. Not sure you activated an offer? You can filter the list to see which ones you’re enrolled in. Have multiple cards? Check your offers for each—they might be different, even if they’re both with the same bank. Make note of the expiration date for the offers. A fun offer that popped up for a friend: A rebate of $12.99 per month for Paramount+, up to 3 times. In other words, 3 free months to binge on Star Trek series.CBS / PCWorld How to ultra-combo with other offers Fun fact: Merchant offers are different than cashback or reward portals (e.g., Rakuten, Capital One Shopping).  So sometimes you can combine a store discount, a merchant offer active on your credit or debit card, and a cashback portal rebate. For example, right now a deal at Visible (a subsidiary of Verizon with cheaper prepaid cell phone plans) cuts the price of their annual top-tier plan (Visible+ Pro) in half. Normally $450, it’s down to $225, or $18.75 per month. Then, if you have an American Express or Chase credit card, you can stack on a merchant offer of either $30 or $15 cashback (respectively) as well. And finally, if you use Rakuten’s cashback portal, you’re eligible to earn $40. Or, if you instead go through Capital One Shopping and visit the website a few times, you could get an offer for $120 in rewards, which can be redeemed for a gift card (available stores vary). The maximum cashback savings? That would be $155, or $12.92 per month for unlimited text/talk/data, 100GB hotspot data, and free data for a smartwatch. I’m not in the market for this plan, but boy, this kind of discount and cashback chaining is simply beautiful. Read...

The airline also took out awards for innovation, sustainability and entertainment. Read...

On November 20th, 1985, a then not-so-big company called Microsoft announced that Windows was commercially available. Read the full story of the Microsoft operating system below. Windows 1 to 11: The history of Windows, blue screens, and Easter eggs We’re taking a look back at the history of the most widely used operating system. Why? Because Windows is full of surprises. When Bill Gates demonstrated the beta version of Windows 98, he ran into a blue screen. Windows 10 users fared only slightly better in fall 2018 with the Windows Fall Creators Update version 1809. It’s been a journey, to say the least. I present to you a floppy disc containing the VERY FIRST demo of what would become @Microsoft @Windows! It was coded by the little-known father of Windows, Rao Remala. I will have much more to share on this, but for now, I thought you might like to see this historical treasure! pic.twitter.com/lyWKFMYn2M-BetaCollector (@beta_collector) March 9, 2022 Timeline, curious: Microsoft forgets Windows Me in its own compilation.©Microsoft Windows 1.0: DOS gets a graphical add-on On November 21st, 1985, Microsoft officially presented Windows 1.0 (which also contained an Easter egg that named the developers and employees of the Windows team). One day earlier, on November 20th, 1985, Microsoft had announced the delivery of the retail version: “BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON—November 20, 1985—Microsoft Corporation announced today the retail shipment of the Microsoft Windows operating environment to dealers and distributors.” The Windows 1.0 desktop. On 20 November 1985, more than 35 years ago, Microsoft introduced the first graphical user interface for its MS-DOS environment under the name Microsoft Windows 1.0.©Microsoft This is how Windows 1 looked on the shelf in 1985©Microsoft Until then, MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) had been Microsoft’s operating system for IBM PCs. Windows 1.0 required a graphics card and 256KB of memory, the equivalent of 66 typewritten pages. For comparison, Windows 10 required a good 8GB of space on the hard drive. And by the way, Microsoft Word had already been around for a while by this time! Which version of @Windows is the first to include Easter eggs? Windows 3.0? Nope. What if I tell you there is an Easter egg in Windows 1.0 RTM? This is what I have recently discovered: pic.twitter.com/dbfcv4r7jj-Lucas Brooks (@mswin_bat) March 18, 2022 Images from Microsoft show the beginnings of more than just Windows The triggerThis is where it all begins: Microsoft’s co-founder Paul Allen discovers the Altair 8800 on the cover of “Popular Science” magazine in January 1975. The device is minimally equipped and has 256 bytes of RAM. Gates and Allen then worked day and night and developed the computer language “Altair BASIC” in just a few weeks.©Poptronix Nerds as they are written in the bookin 1978, shortly before the company moved to Albuquerque, one of the most famous photos of the Microsoft team was taken. The colourful bunch of long-bearded nerds hardly gives any indication that the team is about to establish a company worth billions.©Microsoft Microsoft Word for DOSthe first version of Microsoft Word was released in 1983, back then for the MS-DOS 1.0 operating system. The programme made use of the computer mouse for the first time. The peripheral device, which was not very ergonomic at the time, also came from Microsoft – it was the company’s first hardware product.©Microsoft The most important productin 1985, Windows 1.0 is released. Developed under the code name “Interface Manager”, the operating system offers a graphical user interface, unlike MS-DOS, and allows various applications to be run simultaneously. The Windows series is still one of the most important sales centres for Microsoft today.©Microsoft The new headquarters: Microsoft Campusin 1986, the rapidly growing company moves to a new headquarters in Redmond, Washington State. The picture shows the Microsoft campus after numerous extensions and expansions. Today, over 30,000 employees work on the 750,000 square metre site.©Microsoft Separate operating system for IBMMicrosoft develops the OS/2 operating system for IBM, which is released almost simultaneously with Windows 2.0. Although the operating systems compete with each other, Microsoft earns money from both products. microsoft ended its co-operation with IBM in 1991, but despite further development, OS/2 was ultimately unable to prevail against Windows.©IBM Clever acquisitionIn 1987, Microsoft bought the company Forethought, which had developed promising presentation software. A short time later, this would become Microsoft PowerPoint. The software is still a key component of the Office package today.©Microsoft Office 1.0 goes on saleMicrosoft Office version 1.0 is launched on the market in 1989. The software bundle includes Word 4.0, Excel 2.2, PowerPoint 2.01 and Microsoft Mail 1.37. To this day, Microsoft Office is one of the most successful and best-selling products from the Redmond-based corporation.©Microsoft Bill Gates presents Windows 3.0Bill Gates, who still lives up to the image of a nerd, presents Windows 3.0. The operating system is launched on the market in 1990, sells very well and now also conquers domestic computers. It contains games such as Minesweeper, Solitaire and Hearts for the first time.©Microsoft Microsoft EncartaThe first version of Microsoft Encarta is launched in 1993. The encyclopaedia, initially developed under the code name “Gandalf”, was published in a new version every year. The picture shows the 1998 edition, which also supported updates via the Internet. microsoft discontinued all Encarta offerings in 2009.©Microsoft More power, more freedom, more fun…More power, more freedom, more fun…… the release of the operating system was accompanied by the biggest advertising campaign that Microsoft had ever launched up to that point. It was a great success, with Windows 95 selling more than seven million copies in the first few weeks. This is also because Microsoft has recognised the signs of the times: Internet support and plug-and-play functions are included for the first time.©Microsoft Microsoft buys FrontPage with development studioin 1996, Microsoft bought the company Vermeer Technologies together with its HTML editor FrontPage 1.0 for 133 million dollars. A short time later, the programme was distributed by Microsoft in version 1.1 and was consistently developed further in the following years and added to the Office suite. Since the release of Office 2007, FrontPage is no longer part of the package and has been replaced by Microsoft Expression Web. ©Microsoft The strategic purchases continuein 1997, Microsoft paid 400 million dollars for the Hotmail e-mail service; at the time of the takeover, the webmail provider already had twelve million users. After the takeover, the service was repeatedly the victim of hacker attacks due to numerous security vulnerabilities. Hotmail was completely replaced by Outlook.com in mid-2012.©Microsoft Flagship for the browser warmicrosoft starts the browser war in 1995. Internet Explorer was to take market share away from the previously successful Netscape Navigator. The strategy worked, partly because Microsoft was able to spread its own browser quickly by linking it to Windows. Netscape loses out and is swallowed up by AOL in 1998. Internet Explorer is therefore mockingly dubbed the “Internet Destroyer”. The picture shows version 10.©Microsoft Another acquisitionIn 2000, Microsoft bought the Visio Corporation and the software of the same name for 1.3 billion dollars. The visualisation program can be used to create graphical representations using simple tools and templates. Visio is one of a long series of software acquisitions with which Microsoft earns a lot of money. The programme is not part of the Office package and must be purchased separately.©Microsoft Steve Ballmer becomes the new Microsoft bossAlso in 2000, Bill Gates appoints Steve Ballmer (pictured right), who has been President of the company since 1998, as the new CEO. The hot-tempered Ballmer repeatedly attracted attention with his eccentric appearances, earning him the nickname “Monkey Boy”.©Microsoft Proud of the new operating systemin 2001, Bill Gates can hardly wait for the release of the new Windows XP, which goes on sale at the end of the year. Microsoft now undeniably dominates the market for home computer operating systems. Windows XP, like other versions before it, is criticised because it again contains program types that cannot be uninstalled and were previously distributed by other providers.©Microsoft Windows VistaWindows Vista hits the shops in 2007. With the new Aero user interface, a new search function, the Flip 3D view and, for the first time, control functions for parents, Vista brings many new features. In 2006, the European Union threatened to force Microsoft to stop selling the operating system if EU requirements (such as the disclosure of communication interfaces) were not finally implemented.©Microsoft Windows 7 enters the race quicklyWindows 7 is coming onto the market just two years after Vista. On board are new options for working with windows, such as docking or peek and shake, as well as an improved user interface and taskbar. With Windows Touch, touchscreen PCs are also supported for the first time. ©Microsoft Courage for the new user interfaceIn the competition with Apple and Google for share of the mobile market, Microsoft is focussing on the new “Metro” user interface. The typography-based “tile design” is intended to satisfy PC, smartphone and tablet users alike. The reception is mixed. Microsoft later renamed the design “Modern UI”.©Microsoft Microsoft prevailsBill Gates, who still lives up to the image of a nerd, introduces Windows 3.0. The operating system is launched in 1990, sells very well and now also conquers domestic computers. It contains games such as Minesweeper, Solitaire and Hearts for the first time.©Skype The first tablet from Microsoft2012 sees the launch of the “Surface”, Microsoft’s first tablet. The device, which was manufactured entirely in-house, received mixed reviews with its powerful computing power, high-quality workmanship, but also high weight and short battery life. The third generation of the tablet is now available.©Microsoft The new Windows 8in 2012, Julie Larson-Green, a Vice President at Microsoft, presents the new Windows 8. It contains both the Windows 8 Modern UI (formerly “Metro”) for touchscreen PCs and a classic desktop view. With the Windows RT operating system for tablets and Windows Phone 8 for smartphones, Microsoft is thus offering a standardised design for all devices.©Microsoft The evolution of Microsoft logosThe logo of the software pioneer from Redmond has changed several times in the company’s almost 40-year history. After 25 years with the same logo, a symbol in a tile design was added for the first time in 2012. It underlines the company’s efforts to standardise its products.©Microsoft Third generation of the games consoleThe Xbox One, the third generation of Microsoft’s successful games console, goes on sale in 2013. The device competes with Sony’s high-performance Playstation 4 console, and the “Kinect” add-on module allows players to control the console using body movements or voice commands. Three million Xbox One units will be sold worldwide by the end of 2013.©Microsoft Net profits since 2002In the last calendar year alone, Microsoft generated a net profit of 21.86 billion dollars. A look at the past few years reveals fluctuations and shows the company’s difficulties in gaining a foothold in the mobile market.©en.statista.com This man should fix itSatya Nadella, Steve Ballmer’s successor as head of Microsoft since this year, has to make up for the botched entry into the mobile device market. With personnel changes and a new motto focussing more on cloud services and mobile technologies, he wants to make Microsoft a pioneer in the IT industry again.©Microsoft Windows was initially only intended to make DOS easier to use The first Windows was sold as a graphical add-on for the MS-DOS operating system. The aim of the still-young company Microsoft with its boss and founder Bill Gates was to make DOS PCs easier to use: users no longer had to type in command-line commands to get things done. The “Interface Manager”—as Windows was originally called—brought a small word processor, a drawing program, a card index box, a calendar, a clock, and some service programs in addition to file management. The Windows 2.0 desktop©Microsoft Windows 2.0 arrives in 1987 On December 9th, 1987, Microsoft released Windows 2.0 with desktop icons and expansion memory. Thanks to improved graphics support, users could now arrange windows to overlap, control the screen layout, and use keyboard shortcuts to get their work done faster. Windows 2.0 was developed for the Intel 286 processor. Bill Gates presents the newly released Windows 3.0©Microsoft Windows 3.0/3.1: A legendary operating system with 16 colors Windows 3.0©Microsoft Windows 3.0 was launched on May 22nd, 1990 together with Microsoft Solitaire. Windows 3.1 followed in 1992. Windows 3.1 computers are still in operation at Paris Orly Airport today. Microsoft announced that a total of 10 million copies of both systems were sold in the first two years. Windows 3.1: Before Windows Explorer, there was the Programme Manager, in which applications could be grouped and collected in every conceivable way.©Microsoft Windows 3.x offered better performance, extended graphics options with 16 colors, and visually improved icons. Users enjoyed a modern interface with 3D-looking icons and new programs. The cult games Solitaire, Hearts, and Minesweeper, which are still popular today, now also made Windows a favorite at home. From a technical point of view, however, Windows was still an add-on for DOS. Spent the entire day today reverse engineering early Windows binaries to hunt for Easter eggs. Here is a list of the Easter eggs in various builds of Windows 1.0 – 3.0 and the keystrokes required to trigger them. https://t.co/ecqLN1NoDg. Try them yourself! pic.twitter.com/lr5Cfd5XLu-Lucas Brooks (@mswin_bat) March 19, 2022 Windows 95: Bringing the PC into the living room©Microsoft Windows 95: Bringing the PC into the living room Windows 95©Microsoft When Windows 95 was officially launched at a major event in Redmond in the summer of 1995, the world’s press was there. The launch was accompanied by the Rolling Stones hit “Start Me Up,” the most important topic at the time was the internet, and the most urgent task that an operating system had to fulfill was communication: “More than half of all new features in Windows 95 revolve around communication, for example electronic messaging (electronic mail), Internet access, and the ability to dial into your system decentrally,” said Bill Gates at CeBIT 1995. Bill Gates presents Windows 95microsoft Windows 95 allowed several programs to run simultaneously. Internet Explorer for surfing the web also appeared during the lifetime of Windows 95. In addition, longer file names were possible and 32-bit became available. Settings were no longer set via INI files but in the Registry. Windows 95 introduced the Start menu, the taskbar, and buttons for “minimize”, “maximize,” and “close.” Also new were the Plug & Play functions, which simplified the installation of hardware and software. The 32-bit operating system also offered enhanced multimedia functions. The following images show screenshots of early Windows versions Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows1985: Windows 1.01With the very first version of Windows, Microsoft still had to be careful not to come into legal conflict with Apple’s MacOS. For example, a recycle bin icon was omitted and windows were not allowed to overlap. But the very first version of Windows also had a taskbar.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows1987: Windows 2.0With Windows 2.0, Microsoft slightly improved the graphics and, for the first time, windows could overlap. The taskbar from Windows 1.0 was removed again. A number of useful helpers were included for the first time. These included a clock, Paint and Terminal and the file manager, which was still called MS-DOS Executive. Shortly after the release of Windows 2.0, Microsoft also brought out Word and Excel for Windows.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows1990: Windows 3.0Windows 3.0 included Solitaire, which is still popular today, for the first time. It also included the Program Manager, support for VGA and virtual memory. Visually, Windows 3.0 came in a 3D look. More and more software and hardware manufacturers began to support Windows from Windows 3.0 onwards.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows1992: Windows 3.1Windows 3.1 was significantly improved compared to its predecessor Windows 3.1. For example, scalable fonts with TrueType fonts were included for the first time. Drag-and-drop functionality and multimedia support have also been improved and OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) has been integrated. And – oh yes: Minesweeper celebrated its premiere.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows1992: Windows for Workgroups 3.1This version of Windows was based on Windows 3.1 and added native network support, particularly for LAN networks. Various network tools were also added.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows1993: Windows NT 3.1The work that had previously been done for OS/2 was channelled into Windows NT. It was a completely new 32-bit operating system. All previous versions of Windows had been graphical user interfaces for MS-DOS. Windows NT 3.1 was aimed at workstations and servers. Although Windows NT 3.1 resembled Windows 3.1 in appearance, it was ultimately a completely new operating system.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows1995: Windows 95For end users, Microsoft continued to rely on a DOS-based operating system and developed Windows 3.1 into Windows 95. For the first time, no separate DOS installation was necessary. The new taskbar and the Start menu celebrated their première. Many other improvements were also made. Windows 95 was a success and heralded the triumph of the Windows platform.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows1996: Windows NT 4.0With Windows NT 4.0, the stable server Windows was given the interface of the consumer Windows 95. The very stable Windows kernel was further improved. The NT operating system became a success with Microsoft’s corporate customers.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows1996: Windows CE 1.0Windows CE 1.0 was the first version of Windows for small devices. It was an operating system that was completely independent of other Windows versions that had previously been released and was used for handheld devices in the mid to late 1990s. Windows CE 1.0 ultimately formed the basis for the later Windows Mobile.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows1998: Windows 98With Windows 98, the Internet Explorer browser became part of the operating system for the first time, along with support for USB and the quick launch bar.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows2000: Windows 2000The NT Windows family was further developed in 2000 with Windows 2000. Web support from Windows 98 was now added to the server operating system as standard. It was also a relatively secure operating system that Microsoft developed for servers and workstations. Nevertheless, Windows 2000 was also often used on desktop PCs. An important new feature of Windows 2000 was that the reboots that were previously often necessary after installing new software or changing system settings were a thing of the past.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows2000: Windows MEWindows users from the early days still remember Windows 2000, which was released in 2000, with nostalgia, but Windows ME, which was released in the same year, still inflames people today. Windows ME aimed to increase multimedia support and user-friendliness. However, the operating system was also very unstable and slow.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows2001: Windows XPWith Windows XP, Microsoft combined the stable NT family with the 9x family for end users for the first time. The result was the most successful operating system to date – and Windows XP still has a large following today. A great achievement for software that has been around for over 10 years.There was also criticism when Windows XP was released. For example, the new, colourful Luna interface.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows2003: Windows Server 2003The NT family was continued in 2003 with Windows Server 2003, which offered improvements to the interface that Microsoft had already introduced two years earlier with Windows XP.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows2007: Windows VistaIn 2007, the visually sophisticated interface of MacOS X stole the show from the ageing Windows XP. Microsoft’s answer to this was Windows Vista, which introduced the Aero interface, gadgets, a new Start menu and more stylish icons. There were also many improvements under the bonnet. However, Windows Vista failed to win over the masses. However, Windows Vista laid an important foundation for the next version of the Windows operating system for desktop PCs: Windows 7.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows2008: Windows Server 2008Windows Server 2008 was primarily the server version of Windows Vista. However, the Aero interface was omitted.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows2009: Windows 7Criticism of Windows Vista prompted Microsoft to quickly start work on a successor that would address all the criticisms levelled at Windows Vista. The result was Windows 7, which has now been well received by the masses and is becoming increasingly popular.©2014 Windows 1.01 to Windows 8: 25 years of Windows2012: Windows 8Windows8 was released as the successor to Windows 7 on 26 October 2012. With Windows 8, Microsoft built on its highly successful predecessor and increased stability, security and speed. Microsoft developed the new tile interface for use on touch devices. Two major updates followed with Windows 8.1 on 18 October and Windows 8.1 Update 1. With these, Microsoft significantly improved the operation of the operating system, among other things.©2014 Windows 102015: Windows 10 Windows 10 took over the legacy of Windows 8 in 2015. Microsoft justified the version number jump by saying that Windows 10 was not just a successor, but heralded a new era for Windows. Windows 95 becomes a success despite its many crashes Even though Windows 95 was a standalone operating system, it still required some DOS technologies. And Windows 95 was by no means stable—crashes are simply part and parcel for Windows users. However, this did not detract from its sales success, as Microsoft sold around 40 million copies in its first year. The Windows 98 desktop©Microsoft Windows 98: Windows in the age of the first internet cafés Three years after Windows 95, on June 25th, 1998, Microsoft launched Windows 98 (codename Memphis). It was the successor to Windows 95 and had Internet Explorer integrated into the operating system for excursions into the still relatively new World Wide Web. A browser war promptly broke out between Internet Explorer and the then-widely-used Netscape Navigator, which is now defunct. Windows 98©Microsoft Fun fact: When Bill Gates presented a beta version of Windows 98 at the US computer trade fair Comdex on April 20th, 1998, he actually looked at a blue screen. This sight was later shared by many millions of users, as Windows 98 remained susceptible to crashes but always recovered. The blue screen and the associated computer restart were commonplace for Windows 98 users. The Windows 98 SE upgrade, which appeared a year later, did nothing to change this. Windows 98 not only offered simplified access to the internet, but also supported reading and writing DVDs and automatic hardware recognition of many USB devices for the first time. A new feature was the quick launch bar (“taskbar”), which allowed Windows programs to be launched more quickly than via the Start menu. Windows 98 also had native support for USB and FAT32. The breakthrough on the market came with Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), which was the first time Microsoft used the CD-ROM and said goodbye to floppy disks as an installation medium. However, users still needed a boot disc with CD-ROM drivers because the Windows 98 retail CDs themselves were not bootable—and blue screens were still part of everyday life for Windows users. Windows 98 was the last version of the operating system based on MS-DOS. Windows 2000: Standardization of Windows for businesses Back in 1993, Microsoft launched Windows NT, an operating system designed to meet the requirements of companies for business computers. The Windows 2000 Professional operating system offered companies a standardized IT platform. Based on the code of Windows NT Workstation 4.0, Windows 2000 offered greater reliability and improved usability. Microsoft also simplified hardware installation with broad support for USB devices and new network and wireless products. Windows 2000©Microsoft Windows Me: Who asked for this? Windows Me, which was released in 2000, was the first to introduce system recovery, a feature where the configuration of PC software could be reset to a point in time before problems occurred. Movie Maker provided users with tools for digitally editing, saving, and sharing home videos. And with the help of Microsoft Windows Media Player 7 technologies, digital media could be searched, organized, and played back. However, users weren’t very enthusiastic about Windows Me. Technically speaking, Windows Me was the last Microsoft operating system based on the Windows 95 code base. Microsoft announced at the time that all future operating system products would be based on the Windows NT and Windows 2000 kernel. The Windows XP Home Edition desktop©Microsoft Windows XP: Still fondly remembered Windows XP was launched on October 25th, 2001 with a common code base shared between Windows for end users and Windows for servers and businesses (formerly Windows NT). With XP, Windows became significantly more crash-proof and blue screens less common. For Microsoft, Windows XP became the best-selling Windows of all time in the following years, with millions and millions of users loving it. Many users found the navigation in the Start menu, the taskbar, and the Control Panel intuitive—and many years later still didn’t want to give up their Windows XP for later versions like Windows 8. Windows XP: XP wallpaper “Bliss”©Microsoft Microsoft also provided regular security updates online and launched the Trustworthy Computing initiative in 2002. With Windows XP, Microsoft increasingly integrated digital entertainment media in 2001. Later versions of Windows XP, such as the Media Center Edition, could even be controlled using a remote control. Windows XP©Microsoft Windows XP was available in two versions: Home and Professional. Windows XP Home came with Network Installation Wizard, Windows Media Player, Windows Movie Maker, and advanced features for digital photos. Windows XP Professional contained additional features especially for use in companies. Windows XP consisteds of 45 million lines of code. Even 20 years after its launch, a small number of computers still run Windows XP. However, as they no longer receive security updates, they pose a huge security risk as soon as they’re connected to the internet. The Windows Vista desktop©Microsoft Windows Vista: A huge flop with users In January 2007, Microsoft revealed the secret behind the new operating system codenamed “Longhorn”: Windows Vista with its new Aero design. Microsoft redesigned the Start menu and taskbar, while User Account Control ensured that potential malware didn’t harm the PC. But user enthusiasm was limited with Vista, as it was with Windows Me. Windows Vista©Microsoft The Windows 7 desktop©Microsoft Windows 7: The first step on the way to the cloud Windows 7 was released in 2009, together with Windows Live Services and the “online hard drive” SkyDrive (which would later be known as OneDrive when Microsoft had to change the name of its online storage due to legal problems). Windows 7 was such a huge success that nobody wanted to move on to its successor, Windows 8. Windows 7microsoft Windows 8 – now with apps and tiles©Microsoft Windows 8: Optimized for mobile use In 2012, Microsoft brought tiles out of the bathroom and onto the Windows desktop—with Windows 8 and apps in tile form. Windows could now be operated via touch input. The Windows Store was also integrated, allowing apps to be downloaded. Windows 8©Microsoft Microsoft wanted to bring together desktop PCs, laptops, and tablets (where Windows didn’t play a major role). However, users gave Windows 8 the cold shoulder. With the subsequent release of Windows 8.1, which went on sale on October 17th, 2013, Microsoft tried to correct the worst flaws of Windows 8 and also bring back the Start button. The desktop could now also be used again as standard. Microsoft discontinued support for Windows 8.1 on January 10th, 2023. Windows 10: A new attempt at success On July 29th, 2015, Microsoft released a new generation of its operating system: Windows 10. It offered a uniform software platform for all devices and took into account the specific characteristics of tablets, laptops, phones, and the Xbox through to the Internet of Things and the development of holograms. Developers now just needed to create one app for Windows 10—known as a Universal App—to use on all Windows devices, which could be made available via the Windows Store. Microsoft also released its digital assistant Cortana and the Edge browser, plus the Start menu was also back with Windows 10. Windows 10©Microsoft Windows 10 was made available as a free upgrade for qualified Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices in 190 countries worldwide. Windows 10 users received the first major update automatically and free of charge on their PCs and tablets as part of Windows-as-a-Service. Microsoft followed this up with the Anniversary Update for Windows 10 in August 2016, which was followed by two further updates per year. Major feature updates for Windows 10 were released regularly in spring and fall. The most notorious of these was the Fall Creators Update version 1809 from 2018, which turned into a tour of bankruptcies and mishaps, leading Microsoft to finally end the update. Windows 11: How the story continues Windows 11 review: An unnecessary replacement for Windows 10 Windows 11 2022 Update review: Subtle upgrades in weird places Windows 11 2023 Update review: The rise of the AI PC Windows 11: Over 30 hidden new features you probably missed Read...

If you’re wondering whether to cancel YouTube TV in favor of a cheaper live TV streaming package, your options are better than they used to be. Getting local channels, news, and even sports no longer requires a big bundle, with skinnier packages selling for less than YouTube TV’s $83 per month asking price. Smaller packages are also available for folks who don’t care about sports, some of which even include popular streaming services at no additional charge. Even though the carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Disney is now over after dragging into a second week, now’s the time to look at alternatives. You might be better off taking your business elsewhere. If you need sports I’ve already written a whole other article about sports-streaming options that are cheaper than YouTube TV, but here’s a quick rundown: Fubo Sports ($56/mo.): Includes ESPN, Fox Sports, Tennis Channel, NFL Network, Tennis Channel, and most local channels, but does not include NBC or TNT/TBS; and the only included cable news channel is Fox News. DirecTV MySports ($70/mo): Includes local channels, ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT/TBS, NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, USA, Golf Channel, and the major cable news networks. You can add regional sports in some areas for an extra $20 per month. You don’t need a satellite dish and can stream via the DirecTV app on connected TV devices. Xfinity Sports & News ($70/mo.): This one’s for Comcast internet customers only, but it includes local channels ESPN, Fox Sports, Turner channels, USA, Tennis Channel, and Golf Channel; plus, the big three cable news networks. It also includes Peacock, and you can stream using the Xfinity app—no cable box needed. Hulu + Live TV ($90/mo.): It’s not any cheaper than YouTube TV, but it does include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select and an otherwise similar channel lineup. It’s also on sale at $65 per month for the first three months right now. Sling TV Blue or Orange (starts at $46/mo): Sling can be an odd choice due to its patchy local channel availability, but its combination of cable news, national sports networks, and general entertainment are worth considering–especially if you use an antenna for local channels. Cheaper news and local-channel options If you don’t watch a lot of sports but still want local channels or cable news, have a look at these options: DirecTV MyNews ($40/mo.): Despite the name, this package is actually the cheapest way to get local channels without an antenna. It also includes major cable news networks. Local channels can vary by market, though, so check your zip code on DirecTV’s website. Sling Select ($20/mo. and up): This is a weird one. Depending on where you live, this package will either include no local channels or some combination of ABC, Fox, and NBC. The price increases to $25 per month in markets with at least two of those channels, and $30 per month in markets with all three. (CBS is excluded no matter what.) In all cases, the package includes 11 other cable channels including Fox News, FS1, FX, NFL Network, and MeTV. Check local channel availability here. Notable non-sports options If you don’t need local channels—or you can get them with an antenna—these options could save a lot of money: DirecTV MyEntertainment ($35/mo.): Includes more than 60 entertainment channels, the big three cable news networks, and free access to Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max (with ads). DirecTV MyKids ($20/mo): Offers more than a dozen kids channels—including Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network—and access to Disney+. Philo ($33/mo): Includes more than 60 entertainment channels, plus access to HBO Max, Discovery+, and AMC+ (with ads). Frndly TV ($9/mo): A super-skinny bundle anchored by Hallmark and surrounded by mostly rerun-centric channels. The price jumps to $11 per month if you want DVR service. Maybe you don’t need a bundle at all Between ESPN Unlimited, Fox One, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, CNN All Access, and Disney’s various bundles, much of the content that once required a pay TV package is now available in a somewhat a la carte form. I’m not saying you should subscribe to all of those services simultaneously—if you do, you might be better off with some of the bundles above—but you might be able to find two or three that meet your needs for less than a traditional pay TV package. And unlike with YouTube TV, there are no carriage disputes to worry about. If a company like Disney decides to raise rates, it’ll have to reckon directly with customers like you instead. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best TV streaming services. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Correction: This article previously said that DirecTV MySports includes Tennis Channel. It does not. Read...

Philips Hue can usually be counted on to serve up some enticing deals from Black Friday, and this year looks to be no different.  In the run-up to the big day, we’ve already pinpointed deals for the most sought-after Philips Hue smart lighting products, ranging from its ever-popular color A19 bulbs and table lamps to Hue’s holiday light strings and its TV sync box, the latter of which is rarely on sale.  Early Black Friday Philips Hue table lamp deals Philips Hue Go smart portable accent lamp, white, $74.24 on Amazon (25% off)  Philips Hue Signe White and color ambience floor lamp, black, $254.09 on Amazon (30% off)  Philips Hue Signe table lamp, white, $180.99 on Amazon (25% off)  Philips Hue Go portable table lamp, black, $125.11 on Amazon (29% off)  My top pick: The Philips Hue Go smart portable lamp is a fantastic smart light that totally transformed my apartment dining room. Early Black Friday Philips Hue smart bulb deals Philips Hue BR30 White and color ambience bulb, 3-pack, $89.97 from Philips Hue (50% off)  Philips Hue 75W A19 White and color ambience bulb, 1 pack, $49.99 on Amazon (33% off)  Philips Hue Starter Kit with Hue Bridge, 2x A19 White and color ambience bulbs, $98.35 on Amazon (31% off)  Philips Hue 40W B39 White and color ambience candle-shaped bulbs, 4-pack, $169.99 on Amazon (25% off)  Philips Hue slim downlight, White and color ambience, 6-inch, 6-pack, $299.99 on Amazon (30% off)  Philips Hue A19 White and color ambiance bulb, 3-pack, $79.91 from Philips Hue (46% off)  My top pick: Packing the Hue Bridge and a pair of color Hue lights, the Philips Hue starter kit is the perfect way to kickstart your smart lighting journey. Early Black Friday Philips Hue entertainment area deals Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K, $288.74 on Amazon (25% off)  Philips Hue Play gradient light strip, 75 inches (requires Hue Bridge and Hue Play HDMI Sync Box), $254.95 on Amazon (23% off)  My top pick: The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K makes for an easy and eye-popping way to boost the immersion factor of your home theater. Early Black Friday Philips Hue accessories Philips Hue Smart Plug, 1-pack, $29.99 on Amazon (21% off)  My top pick: Philips Hue smart plugs aren’t the cheapest, but in my experience they’ve been refreshingly reliable, and they’re not on sale that often. Early Black Friday Philips Hue decorative and outdoor lights Philips Hue Dymera indoor and outdoor wall scones, 2-pack, $387.19 on Amazon (20% off)  Philips Hue Festavia gradient string lights, 130 feet, $277.19 on Amazon (30% off)  My top pick: Philips Hue Festavia lights can add a magical sparkle to your holiday tree, and the Festav string in my home has lasted for years. FAQ 1. When is Black Friday? Black Friday 2025 lands on Friday, November 28. But just because Black Friday hasn’t arrived yet doesn’t mean there aren’t any deals to be had. Some of the best Black Friday deals might appear in the run-up to the big day. 2. When is Cyber Monday? Cyber Monday 2025 is on Monday, December 1. You can score some surprisingly steep discounts on Cyber Monday, but you’ll have to be quick to do so, as the best deals will sell out fast. For that reason, you may want to start your Cyber Monday bargain hunting at midnight. 3. Which retailers have the best Black Friday Philips Hue deals? For the very best deals on Philips Hue lights, look no further than the official Philips Hue website. You’ll also find great Philips Hue deals on Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, Target, and Walmart. 4. Which smart lights does TechHive recommend? We’ve tested a truckload of smart lighting products at TechHive. To see our top picks, check out our rundown of the best smart lights of 2025. You should also check out our picks for the best smart dimmers and switches. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart lights. Read...

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Black Friday is the best time to upgrade your home entertainment setup, just in time to enjoy all your favorite Christmas and winter movies in the months ahead. But I’m not talking about your TV! One of the most effective upgrades you can make is a proper soundbar—and thanks to this early Black Friday deal at Best Buy, you can snag Samsung’s HW-B650/ZA soundbar with a wireless subwoofer for just $199.99 (was $399.99). That’s a jaw-dropping 50% discount! View this Best Buy deal I have a different Samsung soundbar (sadly, not wireless like this one) and I still love it quite a bit even though it’s long in the tooth now. This model on sale steps it up with Dolby Atmos, so you get realistic 3D sound surrounding you for that immersive overall experience. And this is a 3.1 channel soundbar! Hate how you can barely hear dialogue these days? The built-in center channel makes voices crystal clear. All of that happens while the wireless subwoofer provides powerful bass for everything else. Just want to listen to music? It sounds great here. There’s also a nifty Bass Boost feature that, with one press of a button, deepens the low-end frequencies for extra oomph. On the opposite end, there’s a Night Mode that reduces bass levels so your neighbors won’t hate you for making their walls rumble. A 50% discount on a hot Samsung product is nothing to sneeze at. Get this soundbar for $199.99 while you still can because I doubt you’ll spot anything like this even when actual Black Friday comes around! Save 50% on this excellent 3.1 channel soundbar by SamsungBuy now via Best Buy Read...