VPN Users Beware: Windows 11 Security Update Might Break Your Connection - CNET

Microsoft says it's working on a resolution for a future release. Here's what you can do in the meantime.

from CNET https://ift.tt/lpAqn7d

Latest Tech News

Despite some stiff competition from the likes of Lenovo, Asus, MSI, and more, Valve’s Steam Deck has made its position as one of the best PC gaming handhelds in the market known time and again. And with the announcement that Nvidia’s GeForce NOW will introduce wider support for the Steam Deck, its dominance is even more assured.

There are two particularly excellent updates geared towards Steam Deck users. The first is a new beta installation method for GeForce NOW on the Steam Deck, which will automatically install Google Chrome to the device and add all necessary settings so users can immediately start playing after booting up for the first time. 

And the second is a GeForce NOW update that lets users navigate on the browser with a gamepad, including on the Steam Deck. This makes finding and playing games on the handheld without worrying about system specs — including non-Steam games and titles with Nvidia DLSS support and ray-tracing.

Nvidia and Valve had been in talks since 2023 to add more support for the Steam Deck, so these updates were certainly a long time coming.

Steam Deck is charging full steam ahead in the gaming space 

These latest updates from Nvidia help to smooth over some of the Steam Deck’s issues, mainly that its lack of power compared to other PC handhelds is becoming more apparent over time. The Steam Deck OLED fixes some of these problems, but certain titles cannot natively run without mods.

But being able to stream titles through GeForce NOW this easily is the best way to combat this issue (at least until the Steam Deck 2 finally launches, of course) since the hardware is completely irrelevant to how well the best PC games run. As long as you have a solid connection, framerate and general performance are as stable as it can be, even for titles that the system can’t otherwise play.

And with the added controller support coupled with the Steam Deck’s largest advantage over the competition — its excellent OS fully optimized for the handheld — it truly feels like it’s gotten meaningful enhancements that keep it competitive with its more powerful rivals.

You might also like

• Can I really ditch my work laptop for a Steam Deck?
• The Steam Deck could finally get me into PC gaming
• Steam Deck has made me sell my PC and move on from my PS Vita

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/4iaONqd

Latest Tech News

If the recent news concerning two Windows 11 updates that have been breaking various features isn’t enough, the recent reveal that the OS’s market share has dipped below 26% certainly should spark some alarm.

According to April 2024 data from Statcounter, Windows 11 plummeted to a 25.69% market share after it reached an all-time high of 28.16% back in February 2024. Meanwhile, Windows 10 has risen to over 70% market share during the same period, and this is after Microsoft announced its intentions to reach End of Support (EOS) for Windows 10 by October 2025.

Microsoft could be looking at a tremendous issue, in which its hopes for Windows 11 being the ultimate AI-supported OS with Copilot, are hampered due to not having the user base it needs. Normally, an OS drops in support once the successor launches, so Windows 11 falling nearly three points in just a few months is quite telling.

But is it honestly surprising? 

It’s no secret that Windows 11 has been plagued with issues and bad updates since its launch — not to mention its biggest problem involving many users not being able to make the upgrade in the first place due to its much steeper installation requirements, which prevents many otherwise interested users from even upgrading in the first place. 

There’s also the fact that the OS has been forcing ads as "recommendations" into the Start menu and has even begun testing promotional recommendation pages that take up your whole screen, urging users to make Edge the default browser and installing or enabling other services. The worst part is that there’s no way to fully opt out of these ads, which accomplish nothing but clog up the UI with constant notifications.

As for what features Windows 11 offers over Windows 10? There’s simply not enough incentive for users to make the jump, with some features like centering the icons and Start menu on the taskbar and bringing back desktop widgets, barely worth mentioning. And some features, like the ability to move the taskbar, were actually removed.

On the other hand, Windows 10 came after Windows 8/8.1 which endeared users to its many improvements including bringing back the Start menu. Not to mention how much more stable the OS is compared to its successor, with far fewer broken updates.

What's the future for Windows 11?

The biggest reason to make the move to Windows 11 is possibly Microsoft Copilot, but that’s also coming to Windows 10. There are some unique AI tools that Windows 11 will be getting eventually, but that could also serve to further the divide between users with higher-end PCs and less powerful ones.

So then, what should Microsoft do? The tech giant might have to cut its losses and speed up the release of Windows 12, putting all the AI goodies and other new features there instead. The user base would be more willing to move to a new OS, and doing so could even prevent a possible ecological disaster in the making. There are also tons of other features and tools that could be added, plenty of which are fan favorites that would easily draw in users from Windows 10.

This move would be the kiss of death for Windows 11, but this would honestly be a net positive for Microsoft, as it could put all the bad press for Windows 11 behind it and fully support a superior OS while giving Windows 10 users far more incentive to make the switch in the process.

You might also like

• Microsoft reveals next evolution of Windows
• Windows 12: new features we want to see
• Could Windows 12 become Microsoft's first cloud-based operating system

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/ONLtCx7

Best Air Fryer for 2024, CNET Tested - CNET

Air fryers have taken the kitchen scene by storm. Check out our expert tested top picks for the best air fryer.

from CNET https://ift.tt/lMTXLRs

Latest Tech News

A new feature was discovered in the files of the fourth iOS 17.5 beta called Repair State. What it does is place your iPhone in a special hibernation mode that doesn’t force people to disable Find My when sending their device in to be serviced.

The way it works currently is whenever an iPhone is taken to a repair shop, users must turn off Find My in the settings menu. Doing so hasn’t been a problem for anyone until the introduction of the Stolen Device Protection feature on iOS 17.3.

Stolen Device Protection “adds extra security steps” to certain functions like requiring biometric authentication whenever an iPhone owner wants to access stored credit card information. It also adds a time delay when changing certain sensitive settings, such as Find My. This forces you to wait a full hour until you’re allowed to use your smartphone again regardless of how long repairs took. As a result, people have begun to complain about the lockout.

Repair State is the company’s solution. It lets users confirm “their Apple ID and password” designating them as the iPhone’s owner to technicians without having to deactivate Find My or Stolen Device Protection. According to MacRumors, phones under this mode have a “Ready for Repair” label alongside a stethoscope icon inside the list of devices. 

Work in progress

It’s been confirmed the feature is “only available on iPhones”. None of Apple’s other gadgets have been spotted with Repair State. You can check it out yourself by installing iOS 17.5 beta 4 from the tech giant’s Developer program However, it is recommended that you leave it alone. 9To5Mac in their report states users can enable the mode “when trying to remove their iPhone via [the] Find My app.” But once activated, there isn’t a way to disable Repair State.

The publication states there may be two reasons why you can’t revert the phone back to normal. It’s either because the company has yet to implement a way to turn off the mode or an Apple technician must first complete repairs before removing the mode. 

There doesn’t appear to be any performance issues associated with Repair State. None of the reports we sifted through mention anything relating to iPhones becoming inoperable. In fact, it’s quite the opposite as the hardware apparently “remains fully functional.” Still, just to be on the safe side, it’s better that you don't mess with it.

Apple’s WWDC 2024 is the tech giant’s next major event kicking off on June 10. While we don’t know what’ll be shown on the big day, we do expect to see iOS 18 make its world debut and Repair State may be one of the new tools on display.

Until then, check out TechRadar's list of the best iPhone for 2024.

You might also like

• These Apple apps could get a major AI overhaul in iOS 18
• Safari tipped to get AI-powered Intelligent Search in iOS 18 and macOS 15
• Best iPhone deals for May 2024: free devices, trade-ins, and cheapest unlocked prices

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/dJxeKs0

The Yale Assure Lock 2 Is Now $50 Off at Best Buy - CNET

This smart lock can help protect your home, office or business, and now you can save a little money, too, thanks to this deal at Best Buy.

from CNET https://ift.tt/afvJMY0

We Tested the Saatva Classic Mattress (and Our Marriage) for 30 Nights - CNET

My husband and I have very different sleep preferences. Will we succeed in our hunt for the perfect mattress?

from CNET https://ift.tt/seXnc0B

Latest Tech News

A couple of months ago, the YouTube TV app on iOS gained Multiview, a feature giving subscribers a way to watch up to four different sports games at once. A company spokesperson at the time told us Android users wouldn’t get the update until later this summer. Well, it seems the platform sped up development because Multiview on YouTube TV for Android devices has recently been spotted rolling out.

All you need to do to receive the feature is run the latest version of the app on your smartphone or tablet. After installing the patch, scroll down while on the Home tab until you see the section “Watch in Multiview”. Then select a group you want to watch. Audio will initially play from the livestream in the upper left corner. You can change the audio source by tapping another stream twice. The first time brings up the Play/Pause button in the middle, and the second makes the switch. 

(Image credit: Future)

You’ll know you’ve done it correctly if the live stream has a white highlighted border around it. It’s important to mention that double tapping a source while the Play/Pause button is showing lets you expand it to full screen. Similarly, you can hit the Go To option while in a portrait view to jump to a specific game or show.

You can’t create your own Multiview setup. Users have to pick one of four pre-selected livestreams provided by the platform. The customization tool remains exclusive to the smart TVs. 

Not just sports

According to 9To5Google, the update “can work on any device” and doesn’t require powerful hardware to run. All of the heavy lifting is done by YouTube. The publication states that Multiview is, “for the most part, limited to sports content”. However, in our experience, this wasn’t the case. We were able to watch four different news sources at once including Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and BBC News. Alongside those were two economic programs as well as a pair of weather channels. To see the others, scroll the content carousel to the left.

(Image credit: Future)

There is a chance you may not see Multiview at first. A Google representative told TheVerge the patch is in the process of rolling out to Android owners and will continue to do so over the coming weeks. Be sure to keep an eye out for the update once it arrives. If you still don’t see it, try closing YouTube TV and then opening it up again. We did that when we didn’t see the new section.

In addition to this upgrade, a handful of users have reported seeing the 1080p Enhanced option reappearing on their Apple TV. This setting lets people enjoy content in 1080p resolution at a high bitrate enabling a better quality stream. The validity of said feature is shaky since YouTube has yet to make an official announcement. So, we reached out for clarification.

While we have you, check out TechRadar's list of the best Android phones for 2024.

You might also like

• YouTube's update to its TV app makes it much easier to get to video highlights
• YouTube is coming for ad-blocking apps – you might need to finally pay up for Premium
• Android’s next bright idea is adverts on your lock screen – and it sounds like the Windows 11 nightmare revisited

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/A3khY9O

Best Dog Food Delivery Services for 2024 - CNET

Upgrade your dog's diet from stale kibble to healthy, human-grade chow with these excellent online pet food services.

from CNET https://ift.tt/bBGpZY9

Latest Tech News

A prominent hardware leaker has uncovered new patch notes revealing that the now-allegedly canceled AMD Navi 4X / 4C graphics cards would have been significantly more powerful than the current AMD flagship RX 7900 XTX. 

Uncovered by Kepler_L2 (via Tweaktown), new patch notes for AMD GFX12 supposedly showcase Navi 4X die models, the newer equivalent of the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, which would feature up to 50% more shader engines, however, it's not looking likely that anything from RDNA 4 will be as quick as has been touted here.

Specifically, the patch notes reveal that Navi 4X / 4C die GPUs would have featured nine shading engines which is a significant upgrade over the six available from Navi 31 for a significant boost. RNDA 4 appears to be targeting the value crowd, so while the tech could have technically rivaled leading models from Intel, it's likely the top-end was cut due to wanting to keep the prices competitive. 

It calls back to an earlier leak at the end of last year as the supposed RX 8900 XTX design had reportedly leaked. Documentation from Moore's Law is Dead showcased the Navi 4C config overview with an alleged patent for complex GPU architecture revealing up to 12 dies in parallel without a central or master die. 

According to Videocardz, AMD decided to cancel the highest-end RDNA 4 GPU but no reason was offered. To speculate, this could have all come down to pricing. We've seen Nvidia's mid-range and top-end cards explode in MSRP in the generational gap between Ampere and Ada, so it's possible that Team Red wanted to avoid this from happening. 

Cost is king in the new GPU market

While we're champions of bleeding-edge hardware, it's important to remember that the top-end will always be a luxury few can afford. There's no question that the RTX 4090 is the best graphics card from a raw technical perspective, but it outprices the RX 7900 XTX by nearly $600 at MSRP. 

For AMD to compete at the top-end, as it sounds like the 4C GPU could have, we would likely have seen prices creeping up past the $1,000 mark, which its RX 7900 XTX avoided. Until the release of the RTX 4080 Super, AMD had cornered the mid-range market with its line of 1440p and 4K graphics cards for gamers, and losing that edge to compete on a power front likely would have done more harm than good. 

You may like...

• MSI goes all in on Nvidia graphics cards
• Windows 11 laptops could take on Apple M3 MacBooks
• Intel Lunar Lake could revolutionize laptops

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/so57gFe

Latest Tech News

Italian hi-fi maker Volumio has just launched a new audio device called the Motivo Streamer, Transport & Headphone Amplifier, which is best described as a high-res music streamer and iPad rolled into one compact and stylish package. 

To control the device, Volumio has combined a sleek-looking 8-inch touchscreen with a retro-styled haptic control dial to make the whole entertainment experience feel more immersive. It boasts a range of software and hardware connectivity options, which means you can use it with any of the best music streaming services. It’ll also play nicely with your current home entertainment set up and a pair of the best noise-cancelling headphones, thanks to wide connectivity options.

Under the hood, you’ll find a Sabre ES9038 DAC (that’s a digital to analogue converter), which supports all of the best-quality high-resolution music files. It also boasts dual-output analogue XLR balanced and RCA unbalanced outputs.

With Volumio’s Premium software, which is included as part of the device, you’ll be able to access any of your favorite streaming services, including Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz and more. In short, the Volumio Motivo is built for audiophiles and with wireless streaming compatibility to the best Sonos speakers and Google Cast speakers, it can fit seamlessly into wired or wireless setups.

(Image credit: Volumio)

Slick styling and Smart suggestions

We’ve covered Volumio’s products before, and we always fall for its blend of state-of-the-art audio that’s housed in modern designs with artisanal touches. But new technology from Volumio makes its latest products even more appealing because they bring AI smarts to your listening experience.

We first covered the company's ChatGPT-powered Supersearch tool in 2023 when it was added into the Volumio Integro super-compact all-in-one hi-fi box. But Supersearch will also be available in the Volumio Motivo, too. What makes it interesting is that it claims to bring you smarter recommendations via ChatGPT, and then play them from your streaming service of choice. 

When we first wrote about Supersearch we did say that, of course, you can just use the ChatGPT app and ask it for music recommendations, but this experience is much slicker and more straightforward. The Motivo also comes with Volumio’s 'Infinity Playback' tool, which continues to bring you music you’ll like once you reach the end of the recommendations. Sure this all sounds similar to the experience you’ll already get from the likes of Spotify and Tidal, but again, having all of these features built directly into one product makes it infinitely easier. 

We don’t have pricing or availability details about the Volumio Motivo just yet, but it’s not going to be cheap. The Volumio Integro launched for around $1,400 / £1,025 / AU$2,499 and although it’s a different sort of device, it should give you a rough idea about what to expect.

You might also like…

• 'In the beginning I didn't want to – my son persuaded me': why Audiovector's Trapeze Reimagined speaker is a 45-year family affair
• Final VR500 review: unassuming wired in-ear headphones that have it where it counts
• Apple is exploring removable batteries for iOS devices – and I think AirPods need it most

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/O31hbMw

Best Vitamins for Energy in 2024 - CNET

If you're in need of a boost of energy, these essential B vitamins could help you find what you're looking for.

from CNET https://ift.tt/ZxeMS71

Latest Tech News

HighPoint has unveiled the industry’s first 8-Channel PCIe Gen5 x16 NVMe Switch and NVMe RAID product lines. 

Powered by Broadcom’s PEX89048 IC, these are designed to cater to high-demand, data-intensive applications and integrate Broadcom’s Gen5 PCIe switching technology to utilize x16 lanes of Gen5 host bandwidth, direct from the CPU, across Intel and AMD platforms.

HighPoint says this unique architecture enables each AIC/Adapter to maximize transfer performance for up to 8 independent device channels, and support as many as 32 NVMe devices via backplane connectivity.

Synthetic Hierarchy

The Rocket 1600 series NVMe Switch uses native inbox drivers, meaning that a 2PB solution is possible using Solidigm 61.44TB SSDs, providing they already work with the system in question. 

HighPoint's PCIe Gen5 NVMe AICs high-performance switching architecture integrates Broadcom’s 48-Channel PEX89048 switch IC to provide x16 lanes of dedicated PCIe Gen5 upstream bandwidth, ensuring x4 lanes of downstream bandwidth are available for each NVMe device channel. HighPoint says “The innovative hardware architecture enables our Gen5 NVMe product series to deliver up to 64GB/s of transfer bandwidth, minimize latency, facilitate consistent, robust I/O throughput.”

The PCIe Gen5 and Gen4 Switching Architecture employs a technique known as a “Synthetic Hierarchy” to isolate the host system’s operating system from any PCIe physical changes. It enables the AIC/Adapter to directly manage resource allocation to the downstream PCIe channels and provide true hot-swap /hot-plug capability.

The NVMe Switch Series consists of the Rocket 1628A, which is a PCIe Gen5 x16 to 4-MCIOx8 NVMe switch adapter, the Rocket 1608A, a PCIe Gen5 x16 to 8-M.2x4 NVMe switch AIC, and the Rocket 1528D, a PCIe Gen4 x16 to 4-SlimSASx8 NVMe switch adapter.

HighPoint’s RocketRAID 7600 PCIe Gen5 NVMe RAID AICs and Adapters are built on the foundation of the Rocket 1600 Switch series, and provide RAID capabilities using HighPoint’s drivers, which are compatible with qualified NVMe drives from the company’s ecosystem partners. The Rocket 7600 Series AICs/Adapters can directly support up to eight M.2 or U.2/U.3/E3.S NVMe SSDs.

The NVMe RAID Series includes the Rocket 7628A, a PCIe Gen5 x16 to 4-MCIOx8 NVMe RAID adapter, the Rocket 7608A which is a PCIe Gen5 x16 to 8-M.2x4 NVMe RAID AIC, and the Rocket 7528D, a PCIe Gen4 x16 to 4-SlimSASx8 NVMe RAID adapter.

HighPoint says its PCIe Gen5 NVMe AICs will begin shipping globally in Q3 2024.

More from TechRadar Pro

• These are the best SSDs available now
• 61.44TB Solidigm SSD finally goes on sale
• 1200TB SSD modules are in the pipeline thanks to Pure Storage

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/QZc0AUS

Best Samsung Galaxy S24, S24 Plus and S24 Ultra Cases for 2024 - CNET

Check out some of our favorite cases that'll protect your Galaxy S24 from drops, dings and scratches.

from CNET https://ift.tt/tcRKxEJ

Latest Tech News

It's a pretty good bet that the Google Pixel 8a is going to break cover at Google I/O 2024 on May 14, and as the day approaches, we've seen a pile of new leaks turn up that give us a better idea of what we can expect from this mid-ranger.

First up is well-known tipster Evan Blass, who has posted an extensive set of pictures of the Pixel 8a. You can see the phone from the front and the back, and at an angle, and in its  four rumored colors: Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white-ish), Bay (blue), and Mint (green).

P8a pic.twitter.com/tqn9FvDGlwApril 25, 2024

See more

These designs have previously been leaked, so there's not a whole lot that's new here, but it's more evidence that this is indeed what the Pixel 8a is going to look like. The images are sharp and clear too, giving us a good look at the design.

It appears this phone will look a lot like the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 7a, with the recognizable camera bar around the back. It does seem as though this year's mid-range Pixel is going to sport a more curved frame than its immediate predecessors, however.

Promo materials

To no one's surprise, the Pixel 8a will feature AI (Image credit: @OnLeaks / MySmartPrice)

Onward to the next leak, and MySmartPrice has managed to get hold of a promotional video for the Pixel 8a. It was briefly available to view on YouTube before being pulled – and as YouTube is owned by Google, we're assuming someone higher up had a word.

If you want to see some stills taken from the video before it disappeared, you can find some over at Phandroid. There's actually not too much that's new in this video, besides seeing the Pixel 8a itself – a lot of the AI features the clip shows off, like instant photo edits and live text translations, are already available in newer Pixel phones.

Our final leak for now is over at Android Headlines, where there are some promotional images showing off some of the capabilities of the Pixel 8a: capabilities including tools like Circle to Search. The images suggest all-day battery life, the Tensor G3 chipset, IP67 protection, and seven years of security updates.

The same source says the on-sale date for the Google Pixel 8a is going to be May 16, and there are some pictures of the official silicone cases that'll come along with it. Expect to hear all the details about this upcoming phone on May 14.

You might also like

• The Google Pixel 8a has now leaked on video
• What we're expecting from Google I/O 2024
• The Google Pixel 8a might have a 120Hz screen

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/GIULKmg