Microsoft has begun rolling out Windows 11 updates KB5065848, KB5065847, and KB5065813, which are mandatory updates that are intended to improve the post-installation Windows 11 user experience. As such, they significantly change the behavior of Windows 11. Once these updates are installed, future Windows updates that fix critical security vulnerabilities will be installed automatically as soon as the computer is connected to a network. Users will reportedly be notified when such updates are available, but there’s no way to decline their installation. In addition, when reinstalling Windows 11, Microsoft will ensure that the system is fully updated from the start, reports Neowin. Windows 11 stumbles to Windows 10 While Microsoft has been trying for months to boost the popularity of Windows 11 and encourage Windows 10 users to switch over, the latest figures on Windows market share show a major setback for the company as Windows 11 once again loses a chunk of its users. Currently, there’s no compelling reason to upgrade to Windows 11 and say goodbye to Windows 10, especially now that Microsoft has extended Windows 10 support for another year. Not to mention the fact that Microsoft won’t allow Windows 11 on many PCs. For those who love Windows 10 and want to stick with it for as long as possible, there’s even a free tool that grants Windows 10 support until 2032. It comes with some caveats, of course, but those drawbacks are worth putting up with if you can’t get (or dislike) Windows 11. Read...

If there was ever a good time to upgrade your gaming laptop to one with a cutting-edge GPU, it’s now. The Lenovo Legion 5i with an RTX 5060 is now on sale for $1,350 at B&H, a massive $350 off its MSRP. Who says good things don’t come to those who wait? Not only is it packed with solid specs and features, it’s capped off with a gorgeous 15-inch OLED display with a crisp 2560×1600 resolution and fast 165Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals at high frame rates. And with the RTX 5060 powering it all, you’ll be able to play the latest games with Nvidia’s latest tech, including DLSS 4 and frame generation. Under the hood, this machine is fitted with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX processor, a hefty 32GB of speedy DDR5 RAM, and a roomy 1TB SSD. All of this makes for a laptop that easily breezes through your games, apps, and even a million browser tabs without breaking a sweat. Connectivity isn’t a worry here either. On the Lenovo Legion 5i, you’ll find a next-gen USB4, a fast USB-C, three fast USB-A, plus HDMI 2.1 for an external 4K display, as well as LAN and 3.5mm audio. This one also comes with top-of-the-line Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3. This is an awesome price for an awesome gaming machine, so what are you waiting for? Get the Lenovo Legion 5i for $1,350 at B&H! Save $350 on this high-performance laptop with RTX 5060 GPUBuy now from B&H Read...

If you always feel achy and uncomfortable after a long day at your desk, then you have to look into a chair upgrade. Considering how many hours you spend in that thing, a good chair isn’t a luxury—it’s an essential. But who says a good chair needs to cost a fortune? The Staples Emerge Vortex is on sale for $130 right now, a solid 50% off its usual price. If that’s not an awesome deal, I don’t know what is! Though technically a gaming chair, it has a clean and understated design that makes it a solid addition to any home office. It features a tall back, lumbar support, a comfy headrest, and flip-up armrests that make it easy to slip the chair under your desk when not in use. (While it isn’t flimsy, it isn’t exactly heavy duty—it supports up to 275 pounds.) With over 10,000 reviews and a glowing 4.6-star rating on the Staples online store, the Emerge Vortex has earned high praise for its balance of comfort and affordability. Don’t miss out on this chance to snag the Staples Emerge Vortex gaming chair for $130! Save 50% on this budget-friendly ergonomic Staples gaming chairBuy now at Staples Read...

Having plenty of memory in your PC is more important than ever, now that practically everything runs on the web. But if you’re using a dated laptop or desktop that relies on DDR4 RAM, you might find it hard to upgrade. Manufacturers are winding down production, which is making prices rise… even above the price of newer DDR5 memory. DDR4 has been a bargain for system builders for years. Heck, that’s why AMD keeps making new AM4 chips even as the world falls in love with the AM5 platform. But the biggest memory producers on the planet—Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—are all setting an end-of-life date for DDR4 production. That’s partly because of the sheer progress of technology (you can’t stick to a format forever) and partly because there’s a huge demand for newer memory with the expansion of data centers and the “AI” industry, as Digitimes reports via Tom’s Hardware. Between decreased hardware output creating a supply squeeze and a shift towards memory production for industrial applications, consumer-level RAM prices are likely to go even higher. While not all configurations are in high demand, you can see 2x8GB DDR4 desktop kits in the $35 to $50 range on Amazon US right now (September 2nd). That’s equal to or higher than the same kits at much faster DDR5 specs. The pattern holds for laptop (SO-DIMM) kits, too. Pricing trends are showing an increase for all but the smallest capacities of DDR4 kits, even as DDR5 becomes cheaper and more plentiful. That might spell the end of affordable DDR4-based systems (and those venerable AM4 chips/motherboards at retail), and a nasty shock for those who want to upgrade older hardware. If you’ve been thinking of trying to squeeze a little more life out of an older desktop or laptop with a memory upgrade, I’d do it now before new memory kits become increasingly hard to find. Read...

Promised protections follow reports of vulnerable users misled in extended chats. Read...

Google recently came out and publicly rejected what it describes as “inaccurate claims” that the company sent out a “broad warning to all Gmail users about a major Gmail security issue.” In the statement, Google categorically denies it as “entirely false.” It’s a bit vague and doesn’t explicitly point to any specific claim, but the announcement most likely refers to notifications sent to users impacted by a Google Salesforce database breach in June. The incident went viral, with headlines claiming that Google sent out sweeping notifications to all Gmail users about an increased prevalence of phishing attacks. According to Google, Gmail has strong protections in place that stop over 99.9 percent of all phishing and malware attempts before they reach users, the Gmail developers are always innovating, and the Gmail team strives to communicate clearly about risks and protections. “Security is such an important item for all companies, all customers, all users—we take this work incredibly seriously. Our teams invest heavily, innovate constantly, and communicate clearly about the risks and protections we have in place. It’s crucial that conversation in this space is accurate and factual,” Google writes. Google ends the announcement with the following best practices for Gmail users: use a secure password alternative like passkeys and learn how to spot phishing attacks. This announcement comes in the wake of last month’s Gmail security incident that affected up to 2.5 billion Gmail users. Read...

By default, Windows only shows scroll bars when they are actually needed and when the operating system detects mouse movements. This behavior is intentional and part of the so-called Fluent Design of Windows. It’s intended to keep the desktop free of superfluous control elements. This effect can be observed, for example, in the list of apps in the Start menu, in the Microsoft Store, or in the Windows Settings app. In the Windows accessibility settings, you will find a switch that lets you make Windows display the scrollbars consistently.IDG However, if you work intensively with the operating system, the constantly disappearing scroll bars can also be annoying. In this case, you can display the elements permanently. To do this, open “Settings” in the Start menu, then go to “Accessibility,” click on “Visual effects,” and set the switch next to “Always show scrollbars” to “On.” Turning on this option can make navigating long lists much easier. Read...

Firebolt appoints Hemanth Vedagarbha as CEO to lead global expansion and strengthen its position in the analytical database market amid rising AI demand. Read...

Microsoft has finally responded to the rumors and grumblings that accuse Windows 11 update KB5063878 of cutting off access to SSDs. Under certain circumstances, Windows will no longer display an existing SSD—or simply displays the partition as “RAW.” This disappearance affects the existence of an SSD in both File Explorer and the BIOS. Microsoft said in a service alert (spotted by BleepingComputer) that it found no connection between the problems described by some users and Windows 11 update KB5063878, and that it couldn’t reproduce the problem on current systems. The company then began collecting user reports with additional details from those affected. “After thorough investigation, Microsoft has found no connection between the August 2025 Windows security update and the types of hard drive failures reported on social media,” Microsoft said. “As always, we continue to monitor feedback after the release of every Windows update, and will investigate any future reports.” Microsoft has been working with storage device partners to reproduce the problem, but noted that neither telemetry data nor internal testing has shown an increase in hard drive failures or file corruptions after installing the August 2025 Windows 11 24H2 security update. Among others, NAND controller manufacturer Phison worked with Microsoft to fix the problem, but was also unable to find a cause for the reported errors after completing their 4,500-hour investigation. Until the root cause is found and fixed, Windows 11 users with hard drives that are more than 60 percent full are advised to avoid downloading, copying, or writing large files (i.e., several dozen GB in size). Read...

I love one-handed gaming keypads. I love them so much that I even made my own because I couldn’t find one that had all the features I want. So I’m thrilled whenever I see a new, ultra-premium option on the market… even if it isn’t quite what I’m looking for. Say hello to the Lemokey L0 HE by Keychron. This is ostensibly a premium alternative to the Lemokey X0, the company’s previous attempt at a one-handed gaming keypad. But this one is a lot more blinged out, more akin to the Keychron Q series of keyboards. It’s got a chunky full-aluminum body, magnetic switches for adjustable actuation, and fancy PBT keycaps that still show off some RGB bling thanks to some transparent windows. You also get a snazzy scrolling knob, multiple levels of internal foam, programming options via a browser tool, and the removable USB-C cable missing in the original design. Keychron But it has a price tag of $160. Holy freakin’ crap. I get that this thing has premium materials and it’s a niche product, but that’s a hundred and sixty simoleons for essentially half a gaming keyboard. It sure doesn’t help that it’s missing a wrist rest—essential for this form factor, whether integrated or discrete—and it doesn’t have an option for wireless. Combined with limited options for those semi-proprietary switches and Lemokey’s inability to program settings for individual games, I can’t say I’m rushing to buy one. Razer’s Tartarus Pro pad is cheaper with more options… and yes, I’m aware that that’s an extremely rare thing to say about any Razer product. Read...