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When you sign up for Netflix with a gift card, you might expect it to work like any other form of payment, allowing you to cancel and resume the subscription at any time. But that’s not the case. If you cancel Netflix while paying with a gift card, the subscription will continue every month until the balance is depleted. You can’t put the subscription on hold and save some of the credit for later. Disney has the same policy for Disney+ and Hulu gift cards, and NBCUniversal appears to have similar terms for Peacock gift cards. Spokespeople for Netflix and Disney declined to comment on the record about the rationale for their gift card policies, and a Peacock spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. No pause button These gift card policies aren’t new, but I became aware of them last month after hearing from Doug Wheeler, a reader who accrued a lot of Netflix credit from Christmas gifts over the past few years. Wheeler activated his subscription in September, and then cancelled in December with $151.37 worth of credit remaining. He planned to restart the subscription after several months of using other streaming services instead. To his surprise, Netflix continued to withdraw from the gift card in January and showed a message on his account page: “Your membership will be cancelled after your gift card is used up.” An email from Netflix confirming his cancellation said that the subscription would run through December 2026. Netflix’s account page, showing that an account can’t be cancelled with a gift card balance on it.Doug Wheeler According to Wheeler, Netflix’s phone support representatives refused to put the subscription on hold, citing the company’s gift card terms of service. But he points out that those terms weren’t disclosed on the digital gift card he received via Amazon. The gift card listings on Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy contain a URL for Netflix’s full gift card policy, but they don’t disclose the cancellation policy directly. Wheeler has since been trying to get the word out, contacting local politicians, news outlets, and the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection. “Netflix may be able to steal my (at this point) $151.37, but I am determined to make it cost them a lot more to not do the right thing by their customers,” he said via email. Streaming gift card policies compared Netflix isn’t alone in barring users from pausing their gift subscriptions. The terms of service for Disney+, for example, state that “cancellation shall become effective when the Gift Card Credit is fully exhausted.” The Disney Store has a similar disclaimer on its Disney+ gift card page. The fine print when buying a Disney+ gift card through the Disney Store.Jared Newman / Foundry Hulu’s policy appears to be more drastic, stating that gift card balances “will be forfeited upon cancellation,” but a Disney spokesman says Hulu’s policy is the same as that of Disney+. Peacock’s policy is a bit more ambiguous, but implies that pausing a gift subscription isn’t allowed. (“Once the Gift Card is redeemed to an account, the entire Gift Card balance will appear as a credit to the account until used,” Peacock’s terms say.) By contrast, Paramount+ deserves credit for explicitly allowing customers to put gift subscriptions on hold, with terms that say any unused balance will remain “indefinitely” available until starting a new subscription. Apple and Amazon allow you to start and stop subscriptions with gift card credit as well. HBO Max, meanwhile, has avoided this whole issue by not offering gift cards at all. One happy ending At least for Doug Wheeler, the campaign to complain about Netflix’s gift card policy had a positive outcome. One month after writing to the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection, he got an email response saying that Netflix had resolved his complaint. He then checked the email address associated with his Netflix account, and found six Netflix gift cards with a total value of $151.37, the same amount he expected to have after cancelling his subscription. Complaining to state officials can work.Doug Wheeler So, if a streaming service’s gift card policy catches you off guard, consider complaining to your state’s consumer protection office or Attorney General. The streamers may be willing to kick over some gift card credit to make the problem go away. As for Wheeler, he says he’s going to keep making noise about the issue regardless. “They are not changing their rules,” he says. “They simply gave me back my money, in a form I find acceptable.” Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Read...

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RAM, short for random access memory, is an essential PC component that directly impacts the performance and speed of a PC. It is responsible for storing data that a computer is using, allowing for quick access and retrieval. However, just like any other PC component, RAM has a limited lifespan. It can wear out and start experiencing problems leading to a decline in performance, or even a complete failure. Therefore, as a PC user it’s important to understand the factors that affect the lifespan of RAM, how to recognize the signs of failure and identify what you can do to extend its lifespan. What’s the average lifespan of RAM? While it’s difficult to give an exact timeframe on how long RAM will last, it is generally expected that RAM will last for several years before showing signs of failure. On average that could be anywhere from three to 15 years. High-quality RAM from reputable manufacturers generally has a longer lifespan compared to lower-quality alternatives. That’s a general guideline. It’s important to note that experiences can vary. There are many factors that play a role in determining the longevity of RAM modules such as environmental conditions and overall system maintenance. Factors that affect RAM lifespan The lifespan of RAM can vary based on several factors. Understanding these factors can help you make informed decisions when it comes to purchasing and maintaining your RAM. Here are some of those key factors. Quality of RAM: High-quality RAM from reputable manufacturers tends to last longer than lower-priced alternatives. Usage patterns: The way you use your computer can affect the longevity of RAM. Running memory-intensive tasks for extended periods — think gaming or encoding — can put additional strain on the RAM modules. Frequent read/write operations and constant data transfers can contribute to wear and tear over time. Operating conditions: The operating conditions of your computer, such as the temperature and humidity, can affect the lifespan of the RAM. Excessive heat or moisture can cause damage to the RAM modules over time. Voltage stability: The stability of the voltage supplied to the RAM modules can affect longevity. Fluctuations in voltage can cause damage to the RAM module over time. If the power supply is stable and from a competent power source, issues can be largely avoided. Overclocking: This refers to running RAM at higher frequencies than its default specifications. While overclocking can provide a performance boost, it puts excess stress on the RAM module, reducing its lifespan. Electrostatic discharge: This can occur when handling RAM modules without the proper safety precautions. For example, if you don’t use an anti-static wrist band. Therefore, it’s important to follow correct electrostatic discharge practices when handling or installing RAM. Pexels: Cottonbro Studio Signs of RAM failure RAM failure does not usually occur abruptly, but rather it often starts with system crashes, errors, and slowdowns that get worse over time. It’s also usually intermittent, in that the RAM will work sometimes and not other times. Here are some more common signs that RAM is failing. Frequent system crashes: Crashes, freezes, or blue screen errors that occur frequently could all be signs of RAM failure. Your computer relies on RAM to store and retrieve data and when the RAM is faulty it can lead to unstable behavior. Memory-related errors: Any error messages related to system memory such as Memory Management or Bad Pool Header can indicate problems with your RAM. Random reboots: Sudden restarts could be a sign of faulty RAM, causing the system to crash and restart abruptly. System slowdowns: If your PC takes longer to boot, open applications, or perform tasks that previously were performed fast, it could be a sign of failing RAM. Data corruption: Faulty RAM can lead to data loss or data corruption. If you start experiencing frequent file errors, inability to save files correctly, or files becoming corrupted it can be a sign of a problem. Failed diagnostic tests: Running diagnostic tests to test the competency of RAM such as Memtest86 can reveal errors or failures. If you have any of the above problems it’s important to run diagnostic tests to try to pinpoint the cause of the problem. Extending the lifespan of RAM While RAM has a limited lifespan, there are some things you can do to extend the lifespan. Here are some tips to doing just that. Invest in high-quality RAM: It makes sense to buy high-quality RAM from reputable manufacturers. Provide proper ventilation: Heat is the enemy of RAM. Because of that you’ll want to ensure that your PC has adequate ventilation to dissipate heat and prevent RAM modules from overheating. One way to do this is to keep your PC dust free. Minimize unnecessary read/write operations: Close unnecessary background applications and processes to reduce the workload of your RAM modules. Avoid excessive swapping or using virtual memory excessively. Pexels: Andrey Matveev Use a reliable power supply: Invest in a high-quality power supply that provides a stable voltage to your RAM. Always use a surge protector to prevent power surges to your PC. Avoid overclocking: To prevent undue stress on the RAM, keep to the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure stability and longevity of your RAM. Keep software and drivers updated: You should regularly update your operating system, drivers, and applications to ensure compatibility and stability, and to reduce the chance of RAM problems occurring. Practice safe handling: Use caution when installing or handling RAM to avoid damage from electrostatic discharge. Wear an anti-static wrist band and handle RAM modules by their edges. Unused RAM modules should be stored in anti-static bags to prevent damage from static electricity. Run regular system maintenance: Regular system maintenance tasks like disk cleanup and defragmentation can reduce the burden on your RAM and help with longevity. In summary, RAM has a limited lifespan just like other PC components. RAM nearing the end of its lifespan will start to show signs of failure and there are telltale signs of RAM failure that you can investigate. While there are many factors that affect the lifespan of RAM there are a range of things you can do to make the most of this crucial component and extend its lifespan for years to come. Related content Bring your own RAM? This new strategy for buying a PC hurts How to tell what kind of RAM you have Why mixing your PC’s RAM is a recipe for disaster Read...

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Valve has released a new feature in Steam that allows developers with games in Early Access to specify a planned date for when one of their games will be released in its first official 1.0 version. The tools for editing a game’s store page now include a date field where developers can select either an exact calendar date or a more general time frame. For example: month and year, quarter and year, or just year. When the information is published, it’s displayed openly on the game’s store page and can also be integrated into Steam’s personal calendar, making it easier for gamers to see when the game is expected to move from Early Access to full release. The background to this is that many developers already communicate their 1.0 plans via store text, news posts, and/or social media. This is just another—perhaps more official—way for developers to convey this information. Valve emphasizes that the feature is optional. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Informative LCD screen Excellent performance Nice mix of USB-A, USB-C ports Charging power easily exceeds smartphone needs Cons Odd mix of powered and unpowered data-only ports Our Verdict Mokin’s 160W GaN All-in-One Station is a 13-in-1 USB-C docking station with charging in mind, featuring a clean, nerdy aesthetic that informs you of what’s going on under the hood. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Mokin 160W GaN All in One Docking Station Retailer Price $79.99 View Deal Mokin $86.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices For those of you who want to know what’s going on under the hood of your USB-C docking station, there is Mokin’s 160W GaN All-in-One Station: a nerdy, compact 10Gbps 13-in-1 USB-C docking station designed to keep your devices charged and you informed — via an informative LCD screen. Mokin’s 160W GaN All-in-One Station appears on Amazon (at press time) as the “MOKiN Docking Station, 13 in 1 USB C Laptop Charging Station” and actually features a pair of entries — one for $99.99, and one for $139.99. From what I can see, they’re identical, so choose the cheaper option if they both appear. The dock measures 7.8 x 7.2 inches and about 3 inches high, not taking as much space on your desk as a full-fledged Thunderbolt dock, but more than one of our recommended USB-C docks or hubs. It will not sit vertically, and it’s really too chunky to consider toting along in a backpack or carry bag. By now, I’m used to docking stations whose ports do dual duty as charging options. This isn’t the case here, and the aesthetic seems to be in the vein of Anker’s popular charging products: include a bright, informative display, lots of charging power, and ports aplenty. That’s true here, though pay attention: Some ports provide data, and some ports provide power, and they don’t really overlap. There’s a new trend towards adding screens to just about everything, however, and that’s in play here, too. Mokin’s 160W GaN All-in-One Station is a rather nerdy approach to a powered USB-C charging dock, but the performance was superb and the aesthetic clean. First, though, there’s the power issue. On the left side of the dock’s front sit two 10Gbps USB-C ports and a 10Gbps USB-A port — the latter highlighted in orange for aesthetics, apparently. These ports provide data, but not power. The other three ports on the dock’s front side, to the right, also include two USB-C ports and a USB-A port, too. But these “dummy” ports only provide power, not data. Until you know what’s going on, it’s easy to think that this dock is defective — and based on a few reviews on Amazon’s site, some customers may not have read the manual closely enough. Mokin’s 160W GaN All-in-One Station pops up a summary of what’s connected when you first turn on your connected PC.Mark Hachman / Foundry On the other hand, if you do plug a device into one of these right-hand “dummy” power plugs, you’ll see a demonstration of the neatest feature this dock offers: a 2.26-inch LDC screen that tells you if a device is plugged in, and how much power is being delivered to it per port. That sort of things tickles my nerd nerves, and USB-C hubs like the DockCase 10-in-1 offer it as well. Is it necessary? Of course not. But it does satisfy the part of you that wants to know what’s going on under the hood. On the rear of Mokin’s dock lies the power input, as well as the USB-C power output to your laptop, which supplies a rated 100W. (The dock reported that it supplied 96W to my test laptop via a shortish 2-foot cord, which matched my USB-C meter’s output as well.) If you need an additional, functional USB-A port, there’s another on the rear. You’ll also find a pair of HDMI ports capable of supplying enough data for two 4K displays at 60Hz. The dock will report the output for those displays, as well. Below the display are ports for the power supplied to the laptop and another three USB ports to the right: C1, C2, and the “A” port, in order.Mark Hachman / Foundry Finally, there’s an Ethernet jack, though there’s no official rating in the extremely sparse manual. I suspect that it’s just a standard 1Gbps. The power that this dock delivers varies by port. If you own a USB charger, this should feel familiar: With just one port connected, that port will receive its maximum rated power. (About 100W is always reserved for the laptop.) The other “dummy” ports vary: the first “C1” USB-C port delivers between a rated 100W to 30W, depending on what else is plugged in; the “C2” USB-C port offers between 100W and 15W. The USB-A port provides 12W, always. The two USB-C ports to the left, plus the centered USB-A port, all provide data but aren’t designed to deliver power. The right-hand ports provide power, but no data.Mark Hachman / Foundry (For comparison, an iPhone 17 Pro Max can draw up to 40W while charging, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra can pull up to 45W. All other devices generally need less power.) All of this is displayed on the dock’s screen when booted up, though there doesn’t seem to be a way to cycle through the information once connected. (The dock will update the screen if you plug in a new device, however.) Otherwise, Mokin’s dock will always show how much power it’s putting out in aggregate, usually with the bulk going to the laptop. The USB-A port provides data, as do the HDMI ports, obviously.Mark Hachman / Foundry Still, the power output can get a little confusing, especially because there are differences between the two USB-C charging ports and the conditions in which they output power. On the other hand, I can’t think of too many devices that require 60W of power from a charging port. One exception is an external power bank or battery, which I use for testing. For reference, here’s how much power each port can provide, clipped right from the manual. Mark Hachman / Foundry How does the Mokin 160W GaN All-in-One Station perform? Remember, this is a USB-C docking station, so the 10Gbps interface won’t allow for gaming with high refresh-rate displays. But for a traditional Office (Microsoft 365) workload, the dock was perfectly stable. Part of this will depend on your hardware; if your laptop only supports DisplayPort 1.2, expect as little as a single display with 4K30 resolution or a pair of 1080p displays. DP 1.4 supports two 4K60 displays, which first rolled out with the 11th-gen Core chips (Tiger Lake) and the AMD Ryzen 4000. PCWorld’s testing procedures for USB-C hubs haven’t changed: I check thermals and port spacing, then connect multiple displays using a few test laptops. Finally, I measure performance. Mokin’s dock doesn’t get alarmingly hot, though it does get warm. Smartly, Mokin spaced out the USB-A ports, which can get congested with multiple devices plugged in next to one another. The USB-C spacing wasn’t an issue. In general, the power output of the dock matched Mokin’s claims, though I wasn’t able to get the USB-A port to provide more than 7 watts. We mostly live in a USB-C world, however, It’s a little hard to see, but my USB power meter reported 63.63W going into my laptop, which matched what the dock reported.Mark Hachman / Foundry Performance was close to perfect, at least on my newer test laptops. Streaming a 4K video over Ethernet worked perfectly — only two frames were dropped out of over 10,000. My test regimen also connects an SSD to the USB-C port to measure if the dock or hub throttles data, and then repeats the test while again streaming over Ethernet. My tests measured about 113MB/s on both tests, which told me that the dock isn’t throttling data. Should you buy the Mokin’s 160W GaN All-in-One Station? Yes. On one hand, this dock’s LCD screen is a bit of a gimmick. Other docks do just fine without passing on the knowledge of how much power your peripherals are consuming. Still, it’s an interesting way to see how much power your laptop typically consumes, and how it increases or decreases depending upon how much work it’s doing. I also like powerful charging ports, especially because other docks seem to be falling behind the charging needs of today’s most elite smartphones. A basic USB-C dongle will provide similar connectivity for much less, and the DockCase 10-in-1 does offer some of that nerdy detail that this dock provides. Still, it’s not a full-fledged USB-C docking station like Mokin’s offering. Just pay attention to which ports offer data, and which just provide power. Otherwise, you should be happy with Mokin’s charging dock. Read...

If you’re thinking of buying a gaming headset, that’s great. A gaming headset is a quality-of-life upgrade that you won’t regret having as you wile away the hours having fun. In that case you should check out our guide to the Best Gaming Headsets where we’ve reviewed and rated the best of the best. However, there are some top-line things you ought to know before you part with your money and buy a headset. Here I’ve put together a bunch of insider tips that I’ve only come to know by reviewing dozens of headsets over many years. So, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy reading. Wireless is just as good as wired these days First, are you going to tether yourself to your PC or go wire-free? There are compelling arguments either way. But the truth is there’s not that much difference these days. Wired headset fans will put forward a case for audio quality and argue that it’s the best way to remove any issues about connection latency. They’re not wrong about those points. But wireless headsets have come a long way in recent years. In most cases a wireless connection courtesy of a 2.4GHz dongle will sound great, have an almost flawless connection and near zero latency. Some headsets like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have both wireless and wired connections so you get the best of both worlds. There is one big caveat with wireless headsets though. You’re going to want to avoid Bluetooth for gaming. Bluetooth is useful for taking calls on the go and turning your gaming headset into a roving headphone but even the latest standard of Bluetooth will introduce some latency issues. You might notice your audio lagging behind the action on the screen, so use the Wi-Fi mode instead. The size of the drivers matters Inside the headset are the drivers. These are like small speakers that deliver the sound to your ears. Because they produce the sound, the quality of the drivers is important to your listening experience. Size matters when it comes to the drivers, with a minimum size of 40mm being what you want to get a robust sound. If you can find bigger than that, like the 90mm planar magnetic drivers in the Audeze Maxwell wireless headset, then all the better. You’ll also want drivers that are general purpose rather than for gaming specifically. Plenty of gaming companies advertise the quality of their headset drivers for games and even their surround sound prowess, but a good pair of drivers is a good pair of drivers and if they sound good for music, they’ll sound good for games too. So while it may be tempting to go for a gaming headset with specially tuned drivers, you really should be going for a headset that just sounds great. Indeed, headsets from Razer, Logitech G, Corsair, and HyperX, which are trusted brands will sound great and be suitable for music as well as gaming. Dominic Bayley / Foundry Comfort is of paramount importance Comfort is a very subjective thing that depends on a whole bunch of different factors. It’s also a hard point to make in a headset review because what feels good to one gamer will feel lousy to another. But when it comes to comfort, one simple rule applies: If it looks uncomfortable it usually is. There’s a lot to think about when it comes to headset comfort. No matter the size of your head or how you wear your hair, you’re going to want some serious padding in the earcups and on the top headband to cushion your head over long stints. Additionally, the clamp pressure of the headband should be moderate, neither too hard nor too soft. If it’s too hard you will feel pain, but if it’s too soft it’ll probably fall off your head the minute you look down at your phone or your keyboard. You also want an adjustable headband that you can easily manipulate to fit your ears. With earcup padding it’s important to think about sound isolation and sweat. Leather and leather substitutes can feel very plush and do wonders to passively block out ambient sound, but they can be extremely sweaty at times. On the other hand, mesh fabrics can be remarkably soft and allow you to play without accumulating much sweat. It’s difficult to know what the comfort levels of a headset are before you buy, but I advise paying close attention to any mentions of comfort in reviews before putting down your hard-earned cash. Look for headsets like the Logitech G Pro X2 Lightspeed that really make comfort a priority, with super-soft earcups and highly adjustable headbands. Dominic Bayley / Foundry A detachable microphone is better than an attached flip-up one Microphone quality matters a lot especially if you want to cut through the cacophony of jarring plosive sounds and distortions in multiplayer matches with a rich and more balanced-sounding voice. For such a microphone you want to find one that has a warm and clear sound profile. You then have to think about whether it’s a detachable or an attached flip-up microphone. While many headsets with attached flip-up microphones usually come with automatic mute functionality, which can be extremely convenient when you don’t want to be heard, detachable microphones are my microphone of choice because they allow your headset to look like and double as a headphone. The Logitech G Pro X2 Lightspeed has a detachable microphone so excels in this category. Battery life can be a game changer You don’t want to be in the middle of an epic Fortnite battle only for your headset to power down. Yep, battery life in wireless headsets is a big issue that can make or break your gaming experience. You could find a headset with just 10 to 14 hours of battery life and be constantly charging it several times a week, or you could get something like the HyperX Cloud Alpha with an epic 300-hour battery life that you can charge and forget about for weeks. The HyperX Cloud Alpha is a bit of a standout in this regard. Most gaming headsets will have a more modest 20 to 50 hours battery life, so it’s worth doing your homework to find out which ones can go the longest. As a rule, headsets in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi mode will drain their batteries faster than in Bluetooth mode. That’s unavoidable because we still prefer Wi-Fi mode for gaming. But what is avoidable is RGB lighting that can be a big drain on your battery. Battery life really does equal quality of life when it comes to headsets and gaming, so it pays to get it right. 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