Every day there are certain “tech” sites I visit for news and information to help me keep up with what’s going on in the Technology World.

To give you an easy way to see the latest happenings, here are the top 5 articles (for today) from four of my favorite sites.

Scroll down to see news from TechSpot, CNet, PC World, and Make-Use-Of.
Clicking the article title will open a new browser tab and take you to the full article.

News from TechSpot

  • Microsoft confirms standalone Office 2024 is coming to Windows and Mac later this year
    on March 18, 2024 at 11:39 pm

    Microsoft plans to roll out a new one-time purchase edition of Office for Windows and macOS throughout 2024 – the productivity suite's first significant update since Office 2021 launched alongside Windows 11. Office LTSC will cost 10 percent more while the consumer edition maintains its current price.Read Entire Article

  • If you teach a chatbot how to read ASCII art, it will teach you how to make a bomb
    on March 18, 2024 at 9:57 pm

    University researchers have developed a way to "jailbreak" large language models like Chat-GPT using old-school ASCII art. The technique, aptly named "ArtPrompt," involves crafting an ASCII art "mask" for a word and then cleverly using the mask to coax the chatbot into providing a response it shouldn't.Read Entire Article

  • Apple reveals AI model that can interpret photos and count objects
    on March 18, 2024 at 9:16 pm

    Apple researchers have developed MM1, a new approach for training large language models (LLMs) that incorporate both textual and visual information. MM1 is part of a family of multimodal models that includes up to 30 billion parameters, utilizing a dataset comprising image-caption pairs, interleaved image-text documents, and text-only data, according...Read Entire Article

  • New PlayStation 5 Pro leaks reveal multiple architectural improvements
    on March 18, 2024 at 8:49 pm

    Last week, internal Sony documents revealed that the upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro sports improved ray tracing performance and a new upscaling technology. More information surfaced this week, providing a clearer picture of the console's specs. While the PS5's GPU has undergone a full-architecture hardware refresh, PlayStation 5's main computing chip...Read Entire Article

  • Sony pauses PlayStation VR2 production as excess inventory piles up
    on March 18, 2024 at 6:41 pm

    The second-generation PlayStation VR launched in February 2023 to what seemed like a warm enough reception. Sony later said the PSVR 2 had outperformed the original during launch by eight percent, notching 600,000 unit sales in the first six weeks on the market.Read Entire Article

News from CNet

News from PC World

  • Best laptops for college students 2024: Top picks and expert advice
    on March 18, 2024 at 6:30 pm

    Gone are the days of backpacks overloaded with binders and the chronic hand-cramps from trying to write as fast as possible. Nowadays, a good laptop elevates your productivity and allows you to keep all your important lesson materials in one place. Whether you’re new to campus or heading into your final year, having a laptop that’s capable, sturdy, and portable — with good battery life, natch — will help keep you on top of your studies, or gaming (no judgement). Why you should trust us: It’s in our name, PCWorld. We’ve been reviewing laptops for decades, with exacting standards applied to all facets of the user experience, from performance benchmarks to features to the rigors of daily use. Our experts know their stuff and have curated a comprehensive list of the best laptops for college students, with their particular needs in mind. After you finish looking over our recommendations, be sure to hit our daily updated roundup of the best laptop deals to try and score your favorite laptops on sale. Or check out our roundup of the best laptops for even more recommendations. We’ve also got a great article about the five laptop features that matter most. Updated March 18th, 2024: Since our last update, we’ve published a number of laptop reviews, which we’ll include below. We’ve also added new sections as well as new pros and cons. The best ultraportable laptop for students pick was replaced by the Acer Swift Edge 16 and the MacBook Air (M3) was added as the best MacBook for students. MacBook Air (M3): The MacBook Air (M3) truly wowed us with its 19-hour battery life and spacious Liquid Retina display. It’s also lightweight and portable, weighing in at just over three pounds. MacBook Pro (M3): The MacBook Pro (M3) Pro is considered a good work tool for everyday tasks thanks to the 11-core CPU and the 16-core Neural Engine. It also runs quiet and is noticeably faster than its predecessors. Alienware m16 R2: The Alienware m16 R2 is a “do it all” 16-inch laptop for gamers who also want a portable PC with good battery life.  Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon: The ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12) is an amazing business laptop with a lightweight form factor and a stunning display, but it comes at a premium price point compared to competing laptops. Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 – Best overall for students Pros Stunning OLED display Long battery life Solid inking 1080p webcam Good audio Cons Webcam effects are iffy Price When Reviewed: From $1,699.99 Best Prices Today: $969.99 at Amazon$1500.99 at Best Buy$1899.99 at Samsung Why we like the Samsung Galaxy Book3 The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 offers a lot of goodies for the price ($1,699) such as a convertible form factor, a 1080p webcam, a superb OLED display, and long battery life. It also weighs just 3.66, so it’s light enough to take with you from class to class. The 1080p webcam will make you look fine as heck during remote learning sessions and the 13.5 hours of battery life means you’ll be able to keep working well into the evening hours. Everyday performance is snappy thanks to the Intel Core i7-1360P CPU and 16GB of memory, and the 16-inch AMOLED touch display features a resolution of 2880×1800 and a refresh rate of 120Hz, resulting in vibrant visuals. This laptop really has it all. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Any college student that’s looking for a well-rounded laptop. You can use it like a tablet for easy note taking or prop it up like a tent for sharing information or calling in for remote sessions. Multitasking is a real breeze thanks to the display’s 16:10 aspect ratio, which means the screen is taller and more square than rectangular. While we like the way the 1080p webcam makes you look in video calls, some of the effects such as Eye Contact are finicky to use. Aside from a couple of minor nitpicks, we feel as though the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is the best choice for most people. Read our full Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 review Lenovo Flex 5i – Best Chromebook for students Pros Great build quality Vibrant touchscreen display Fast performance Nice typing experience Cons Stylus not included Average battery life for a Chromebook Heavier than expected Price When Reviewed: $499 Best Prices Today: $329 at Best Buy Why we like the Lenovo Flex The Lenovo Flex 5i is a great Chromebook because of its convertible design, fast performance, superb typing experience, and touchscreen display. The chassis has a luxurious aluminum finish on it, which makes it feel three or four times as expensive. The 360-degree hinge that connects the display to the rest of the laptops feels strong and like it won’t wear out anytime soon. The keyboard is also a dream to type on and easy to adjust to, and the 1200p display produces sharp, colorful visuals. Sure, it’s heavier than we expected right out of the box and the stylus isn’t included, but those are small trade-offs in the grand scheme of things. Overall, this is a really well-rounded machine. Who should buy the Lenovo Flex We feel as though the Lenovo Flex 5i is a good option for those who prefer using Google’s ecosystem. The beautiful touchscreen display and the convertible design really gives it the edge over other Chromebooks and even some Windows laptops, as you usually see those features in machines that cost much more. While the nine hour battery life is a little below average for a Chromebook, it’ll still last you a full school day and then some. At the end of the day, the Lenovo Flex 5i’s list of compromises is quite small. Read our full Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review Acer Aspire 3 – Best budget laptop for students Pros Spacious keyboard with number pad HD webcam Solid video playback performance Decent business app performance Workday-long battery life Cons Small 128GB storage drive A little heavy Price When Reviewed: $329.99 Best Prices Today: $299.99 at Amazon Why we like the Acer Aspire For under $500, the Acer Aspire 3 laptop provides reliable performance as well as a durable build. It’s zippy enough for day-to-day productivity like binging your favorite shows on Netflix, checking e-mail, and so on. There’s even a full-sized keyboard and a 1080p screen. It even smashed the competition with a Cinebench R15 score of 1,925, edging out the Acer Aspire Vero 14, which has comparable hardware. By the way, the Cinebench benchmark measures how well a laptop handles processor-intensive workloads. Who should buy the Acer Aspire Anyone who’s on a restricted budget! To get more specific, we feel as though the Acer Aspire 3 is a good option for students because it’s affordable and a good performer. The HD webcam also produces “clean, crisp video” according to our review, which means you’ll always look your best in remote learning sessions. The 40 watt-hour battery is quite good too, lasting a total of eight hours on a single charge, so you don’t have to stop and go outlet hunting as you’re traversing from class to class. Read our full Acer Aspire 3 review MacBook Air (M3) – Best MacBook for students Pros Excellent battery life Great combination of price, features, and performance 256GB SSD is now two NAND chips, maintaining performance Cons Expensive memory upgrades Dual external display support requires closed lid Price When Reviewed: $1,299 (base) Best Prices Today: $1,234 at Amazon$1299 at Adorama$1299 at Apple Why we like the MacBook Air From the outstanding battery life to the spacious Liquid Retina display, the MacBook Air (M3) received high marks across the board. It comes with an 8-core CPU (M3) and a 10-core GPU as well as two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 66.5 watt-hour battery. Performance is similar to the MacBook Pro (M3), which means it can blitz through school work and casual use tasks. The only difference between the two is that the MacBook Air doesn’t have fans, resulting in quieter operation. This laptop also managed a whopping 19 hours on a single charge, which is great news for those with jam-packed schedules and have zero time to plug into the nearest outlet. Who should buy the MacBook Air Anyone who prefers MacOS over other operating systems! The battery life is incredible and the laptop itself weighs just a little over three pounds, which means you can easily take it anywhere with you. The 15-inch Liquid Retina (LED) screen is considered a step-down from the MacBook Pro’s Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) display, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t look great, especially for everyday use. The $1,299 price tag is also reasonable for the performance and features. However, the 8GB of RAM is a little light. Acer Swift Edge 16 – Best ultraportable for students Pros Gorgeous OLED display Lightweight Strong CPU performance Cons Mediocre battery life Weak audio Average keyboard and touchpad Price When Reviewed: $1,299.99 Best Prices Today: $949.99 at Best Buy$1,299.99 at Amazon Why we like the Acer Swift Edge In addition to its lightweight form factor, the Acer Swift Edge 16 is also the perfect combination of affordable and powerful. This sub-$1,000 laptop weighs just 2.71 pounds and is capable of out-performing machines that cost hundreds of dollars more (like the Acer Swift Go 16) due to the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U CPU. The 2000p OLED machine is lovely, too. According to our review, it “delivers an infinite contrast ratio and deep, inky black levels that produce convincing shadows in dark scenes.” Whether you’re watching your favorite flicks or working on an important assignment, you can count on a gorgeous picture either way. Who should buy the Acer Swift Edge If you’re looking for a lightweight ultraportable with strong performance, the sub-$1,000 Acer Swift Edge 16 is the one to pick. It’s thin and light enough to toss in a bag, and the display is fantastic for school work or watching YouTube. The 54 watt-hour battery is rather small, but it still manages a respectable seven hours on a single charge. For under a grand, we believe the trade-offs are reasonable. Besides, you won’t find many large screen laptops at this price point. Read our full Acer Swift Edge 16 review Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition – Best budget gaming laptop for students Pros Impressive battery life Gorgeous 16:10 display Rugged chassis Cons Keys feel a bit soft 720p webcam is disappointing Price When Reviewed: $1,099.99 Best Prices Today: $949.99 at Best Buy Why we like the Asus TUF Gaming The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is something of a rare gem in the sand dune. This specific model exhibits strong graphics performance as well as long battery life, which is unusual for a gaming laptop. Most gaming laptops last only a couple of hours on a single charge. Well, the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition and its 11 and a half hours of battery life is out here changing the script. That’s more than a full school day. Also, thanks to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, it also managed 123 frames-per-second in the Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark. That’s pretty darn good, especially for a sub-$1,000 gaming laptop. Who should buy the Asus TUF Gaming The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is a great option for those who like to game after class. The pricing is reasonable and you’re getting reliable graphics performance as well as a spacious keyboard and decent battery life. It’s also a good purpose machine, so you can use it for coursework and day-to-day productivity. With a solid Cinebench R20 score of 589, it should have “no trouble running lightweight apps and programs,” according to our review. The Lenovo LOQ 15, which we reviewed recently, stands as another solid budget option. It’s more than capable of 1080p gaming thanks to its more powerful RTX 4060 and the design is very sci-fi inspired. That said, it didn’t nab the top pick because of the poor battery life (not unusual for a gaming laptop) and limited port selection. Read our full Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition review How we tested The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests. It wouldn’t be fair or possible to run the same kinds of tests on a Chromebook, as they’re Chrome OS-based machines. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each test and the reasons why we run them. For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops. Windows laptops PCMark 10: PCMark 10 is how we determine how well the laptop handles lighter tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, and so on. HandBrake: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It basically measures how long a laptop’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file. Cinebench: Cinebench is a brief stress test of the CPU cores. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a short period of time. 3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips. Video rundown test: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10’s Movies & TV app until the laptop dies. Chromebooks CrXPRT 2: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark tests a Chromebook’s battery life. Speedometer 2.0: This test determines a Chromebook’s web browser performance. It simulates this by adding, completing, and removing a to-do list. Basemark Web 3.0: This benchmark gauges how well a Chromebook can handle web-based applications. Kraken 1.1: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript performance benchmark. Jetstream 2: Jetstream 2 is a combination of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. This is a way to gauge how well a Chromebook runs advanced workloads. What to look for in a laptop for college The first thing to consider is budget. How much are you willing to spend on a laptop? If you’re working with an inflexible budget, Chromebooks are a good option. They’re affordable and designed to handle everyday tasks like writing papers, working on spreadsheets, and so on. Chromebook prices can range anywhere from $200 up to $1,000. If you want to spend a bit more, laptops with convertible touchscreens (otherwise known as 2-in-1s) offer a great deal of functionality. You can flip the screen around and use it like a tablet or prop it up like an easel for watching movies. Things like navigating your e-mail or watching Netflix will require more RAM. We recommend springing for 8GB of RAM or more. 4GB of RAM is fine and good for web browsing and basic office work, but 8GB is better for having more tabs open and whatnot. Plus, applications like Google Chrome and Spotify tend to eat up a lot of memory. Most people can get by with 4GB in a pinch if you’re on a tight budget, but you won’t be able to multitask as much. The final thing is a decent keyboard. In college, you’re going to be spending a lot of time typing. Depending on your personal preference, you may want either a full or short travel keyboard. Mechanical keyboards, for example, normally have longer travel. This helps prevent accidental keystrokes. The keys also give a lot of tactile feedback, as they bounce back after they’re pressed down. FAQ 1. Which laptop size is best? This is mostly personal preference. Students who bring their laptops to class or intend to travel a lot should consider a smaller, more portable size. Anything in the neighborhood of 13- to 14-inches is recommended. However, if you want to use your laptop for gaming, then you should consider something in the 15- to 17-inch range. It’s also important to keep in mind the weight of the laptop before buying it. Ultra thin laptops can weigh a featherlight two pounds while hefty gaming rigs top the scales at three or four times that—not exactly something you want to carry in a backpack everyday. 2. How long should a laptop last on a single charge? If you’ve got a jam-packed schedule, you’ll probably be running from class to class with very little downtime in between. That’s why we recommend a laptop with a long-lasting battery. We recommend something that’ll last 7 to 10-plus hours on a single charge, unless you want a notebook that can play games on the side—gaming laptops are notorious for their shorter endurance, even during everyday tasks. That 7 to 10 hours is a good figure if you plan on taking your laptop with you everywhere. 3. What about processing power? Most students will be able to get by with an Intel Core i3 or i5 processor. You don’t need anything mega powerful for everyday tasks and school work. However, if you’re using more graphically demanding programs on the regular, then you may want to spring for an Intel Core i7 or i9. It all really depends on your workload. For more specifics regarding the hardware you want inside your laptop, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide on how to buy a budget laptop without getting screwed, as well as our broader cheatsheet on what to look for in a laptop CPU and GPU. Laptops

  • Microsoft will share a Surface and Windows ‘AI vision’ in May
    on March 18, 2024 at 6:29 pm

    Microsoft will kick off its Build conference with a special event on May 20 focusing on the company’s “AI vision,” the company said Monday. “Satya Nadella will share our AI vision across hardware and software as part of a dedicated news briefing,” the company said, the day before Microsoft Build kicks off in Seattle. The “hardware” in question is expected to be the consumer version of the Surface Pro 10 and the Surface Laptop 6, which should ship with versions of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (Arm) chip inside, according to reports. Microsoft said that the event will not be livestreamed. That Microsoft would combine hardware and software — or in this case, AI — isn’t surprising. Surface hardware has typically been a showcase for Microsoft’s latest software, whether it be a new operating system, the latest Office / Microsoft 365 innovations, or AI. According to Windows Central, Microsoft should begin showing off an AI-powered version of the Timeline app within Windows 11, possibly at the May event. We’ve already seen some innovations, such as AI-powered audio, debut within test builds of Windows 11. Will the Surface Laptop 6 and the Surface Pro 10 be able to keep up with Intel’s Meteor Lake? Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragons looked quite competitive when we saw them tested late last year. Whether they’ll truly offer viable competition is something we won’t know until after we see and test them. Laptops

  • Microsoft Office 2024 will release as a one-time purchase
    on March 18, 2024 at 6:25 pm

    The rumors have now become facts. This follows speculation that Microsoft would offer the latest version of Office (officially Microsoft 365) not only as a subscription, but also as a one-off purchase again. Well, Microsoft has made it official! The next version of Microsoft 365 (aka Microsoft Office) will be released later in 2024. In addition to Microsoft offering it as a one-off purchase, there will also be a Mac version of the program and it will support both 32- and 64-bit versions. Here’s what we know about it: iDrive adds unlimited cloud-to-cloud backup of Microsoft 365 Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium ESD In a blog post about the upcoming preview of Microsoft Office LTSC 2024, the company emphasizes that you can buy Microsoft Office 365 2024 and use it permanently. Of course, this only makes sense until the end of support after five years. Once support ends, you will no longer receive any security updates for Microsoft Office 2024, making it unsafe to use. This statement only applies to Office LTSC, i.e. a variant of Microsoft Office that is intended for commercial customers and public authorities. For private users, however, the question of whether Microsoft will release Office 2024 as a non-subscription version is much more exciting. And the blog post does indeed address this: “We also plan to release a new version of Office for home users later this year, Office 2024, which will also be supported for five years with the traditional ‘one-time purchase’ model. We have no plans to change the price of these products at the time of release. We will provide more details on the new features in Office 2024 shortly before general availability.” Here’s what you can expect from the latest Microsoft Office 364: The next version of Microsoft Office 364 for home users will launch in 2024 as Office 2024 Microsoft will provide updates for the next five years You can purchase Microsoft Office 365 as a one-off payment Office 2024 will also be released for macOS Office 2024 supports Windows 10, except on ARM devices Office 2024 supports 32-bit The price remains unchanged Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021, price comparison If you’re in favor of the subscription model with annual costs or the variant with a one-off payment and no follow-up cost, the new functions are only available for the subscription model, the one-off payment version only receives security and repair updates. The preview of Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 will be available for testers in April 2024. Microsoft is discontinuing Microsoft Publisher and Teams is missing because the company is making Teams available for download separately. This article first appeared on PCWelt and has been translated from German to English. Personal Software, Professional Software

  • How we test antivirus software at PCWorld
    on March 18, 2024 at 5:00 pm

    Antivirus software can be confusing. If security protections are already built into Windows, what makes a third-party alternative worth the switch, much less the money you might pay for it? And heck, what makes Microsoft trustworthy? There are good reasons to use third party software—a friendlier interface and protection against more types of threats, for example. But no matter which security suite you’re interested in, it’s important to understand what you’re getting. That’s so even when wanting to stick with Windows Security. For this reason, we test and review antivirus suites. We want readers to feel informed when choosing their security software. Performance, features, price—these and more are factors to consider. So we take the apps for a spin, study their performance reports, and lay it all out for you. All antivirus software gets evaluated with these criteria in mind: The efficacy of the antivirus engine—that is, how well it detects malware and other threats, as well as how well it protects against them The performance impact of the software upon the PC App experience and usability Efficacy, usefulness, and number of included features Price and value of the antivirus plan Customer service availability Data security and privacy policy for any sensitive info stored (as related to identity and financial protections) After you read one of our antivirus software reviews, you should understand what it’s like to use the software and be able to decide if it’s a good match for your needs. You should also know what distinguishes a particular subscription from others offered by the same vendor. Every antivirus suite we review is chosen by the PCWorld staff with complete editorial independence, free from input from outside parties. Any app that makes it onto our list of the best antivirus software is chosen with careful consideration, and the reasons for its selection are clearly outlined, along with who will find it useful. the best overall antivirus suite Norton 360 Deluxe Read our review Price When Reviewed: $49.99 for the first year Best Prices Today: $19.99 at PCWorld Software Store | $49.99 at Norton How we evaluate antivirus protection Antivirus software these days wears multiple hats, but its number one job is still stopping malware and other threats in their tracks. But how it achieves that job now is much different than decades ago, when antivirus software first became necessary—it’s had to evolve with the ever-changing landscape. For example, a good security suite prevents users from interacting with phishing websites or email, rather than waiting to clean up after exposure and infection. In the olden days, reviewers had to sling viruses, trojans, worms, and other malware at antivirus engines to see how well it caught them. While this self-testing process is still possible, we at PCWorld feel that security experts who put security software through their paces are better equipped to handle this work.  Accordingly, we look at the results of evaluations conducted by leading security research organizations like AV-Test and AV-Comparatives, to determine the efficacy of antivirus software. We examine the test scores for not just online protection and detection, but also offline detection. While most users are online continuously, some people may still have exposure to offline risks. We also consider how well a suite handles more sophisticated online threats. The tests performed by organizations like AV-Comparatives put antivirus engines through their paces.PCWorld When we then present this data to our readers, we contextualize in context of how those benchmark results stack up against rivals, but also what the expected user experience will be. For example, most antivirus engines have similarly high online protection scores, but some also post more false positives—a potentially stressful experience. How we evaluate antivirus performance Antivirus software can be measured on two fronts. The first is qualitative—the experience of using the app. If it’s slow, buggy, or even poorly laid out, it won’t be rated as favorably as an app that runs smoothly and feels intuitive. The other is quantitative—how the app affects your PC’s system resources. Some antivirus suites barely affect your computer’s ability to run its other tasks efficiently. Others can cause a notable dip.  Because slower hardware will more clearly highlight these kinds of performance changes, we test with a modest budget laptop to get a better idea of just how hard the hits land. Our current review unit, an Acer Aspire 3 15, sports an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 8GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. We start with a fresh install of Windows 11 Home, then install and run our benchmarks before the security suite under review is installed. The first test is done within PCMark 10. Its Extended benchmark simulates typical PC activities, including document editing, web browsing, video chatting, and light gaming. The second test is UL Procyon’s Office benchmark, which focuses on editing in Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. (This is something PCMark 10 doesn’t do—it uses free open-source apps for document and image editing.) Finally, as a punishing stress test, we run Handbrake to transcode a large video into a smaller file. On many PCs, this encoding workload utilizes 100 percent of the CPU.  The PCMark 10 Extended benchmark simulates typical everyday PC tasks.PCWorld After this initial baseline is established, we then install the antivirus software being reviewed and then run a second round of benchmarks while online. Benchmarks are often run offline to avoid unexpected software updates influencing results, but this scenario better imitates real-world use—and these days, many software suites rely on online access for threat detection. Companies lean on their cloud servers to minimize impact on your computer’s performance. We only run our tests after verifying that no outstanding updates exist for Windows or other background apps, to minimize any effect on scores. This second set of benchmarks establishes the app’s affect on performance while idle in the background, watching for any real-time threats. For a fuller picture on what happens when the software is busy scanning new or altered files, we run a third round of tests with a full scan happening continuously as the benchmarks run.  Most antivirus software, when run in this manner, will affect system performance on a budget PC—dropping the test scores by as much 20 percent or more. It gives a worst-case outlook for when you’re constantly changing or adding new files to your PC. However, this kind of full scan is not a good reflection of how modern security suites typically behave. Most engines today only run a complete full scan on first run. Afterward, any unchanged files are skipped—so if you’re like most people, your system performance will be closer to the results when the app is idling in the background. You can change the settings in some apps to always scan every bit and byte during a full scan, but it’s almost never the default. Speaking of defaults—most full scans are also scheduled by the vendor for off-hours. So heavy screening usually happens when you’re asleep. How we evaluate antivirus features Whether the features included with an antivirus plan match what Windows offers or go beyond, they should work—and do so in a polished manner. More importantly, they should be useful. To that end, we try each tool and utility within the app. Ex: For ransomware protection that blocks unauthorized access to select folders, we check if programs not on the allowed list are actually blocked. Likewise, we put VPNs, password managers, and parental controls through their full paces, testing them similar to when writing a separate review on each. PCWorld We also consider the features as a set—which informs our assessment of the software’s value. For entry-level antivirus subscriptions, we look at how well their features match Windows Security (which wraps up antivirus and firewall with other security safeguards), as well as what extras are included. If they stick closely to Microsoft’s formula, we expect them to at least feel more polished and easier to use. And any additional features should tangibly improve threat protection, not be window dressing. For mid-tier antivirus plans, we check for features expand defenses to include identity theft issues, like monitoring data leaks. You can’t guard against social engineering attacks on your accounts if you don’t know what information about you is floating around on the internet, for example. These subscriptions should also ideally provide methods to improve password security and privacy while on public internet connections. For flagship plans, we weigh the usefulness of the additional premium features, like identity theft recovery insurance (e.g., $1 million to cover financial losses related identity theft) and privacy setting changes to your social media accounts. We also find out how the company secures any sensitive data you share to set up those identity and financial protections. How we evaluate antivirus value In a nutshell, an antivirus suite’s value depends on the strength of its protection, the balance and usefulness of its feature set, and its price. For example, if a security suite is cheap but has a weak antivirus engine, it’s a poor value. (It doesn’t even fulfill its basic mission.) Meanwhile, a subscription for software with excellent malware detection that also costs much more than a rival with a minimally lower protection rating also has debatable value. But if an antivirus plan packs in both major defenses and extra services like a VPN and password manager, plus other tools while keeping cost relatively low? It’ll likely end up on our Best Antivirus list as our top pick. Our top pick for best antivirus Norton 360 Deluxe Read our review Price When Reviewed: $49.99 for the first year Best Prices Today: $19.99 at PCWorld Software Store | $49.99 at Norton Of course, a product can only top our charts if it’s outdoing the competition—the final aspect of weigh value. We at PCWorld may have certain expectations for what makes a good antivirus suite for a fair price, but if few vendors meet that criteria, it’s not realistic to mark them all down to zero on this point. (Fortunately, this isn’t currently an issue.) How we evaluate antivirus pricing We assess pricing in two ways—how costs are structured, and then how that stacks up against competitors. We cover the former more when examining the numbers directly, while the latter primarily shows up in how we rate an antivirus suite’s value. Antivirus companies typically give a big discount for the first year, then revert to a standard price for subsequent years. The business model is to lure in a user with that initial promotion, and then hope they don’t cancel the autopay billing that’s required for setup. We make sure to mention both that first-year discount as well as the full price, along with any other avenues for discounts. Some antivirus plans can be regularly had much cheaper through online stores, for example. While these affordable licenses don’t count as much as the vendor pricing, it’s useful information when considering a long-term relationship with the software. Generally, we prefer to see vendors offer a reasonable cost for the first year and for later years. Sure, you can switch antivirus suites at any time, but most people have more pressing concerns than price-shopping their software. How to interpret our antivirus rating system PCWorld’s antivirus ratings are straightforward, with 0 being the lowest score and 5 the best. If a security suite offers wide and strong protection (including services like an unlimited VPN and password manager), a polished app, extra tools and utilities that simplify using your computer, minimal impact on PC performance, and an affordable price for an ongoing subscription, it’ll earn a 5-star rating.  If an antivirus product can’t fully deliver on any of those points, its score will get reduced accordingly. Some criteria are weighted more heavily (like threat detection), so if an app is lacking on those ends, the rating will drop more significantly. For products that are exceptional—or particularly noteworthy for certain situations—we award Editor’s Choice badges. These marks indicate that the antivirus suite is noteworthy (if not outright exceptional), and one of the best available. The badge is automatically awarded if a score of 4.5 or 5 is issued, but select 4-star reviews may be elevated in this manner, too. You can see how all of these elements combine in practice in our roundup of the best antivirus software for Windows PCs, which links off to full reviews for all the top-rated security suites. Antivirus

  • Best Windows Hello webcams 2024: Add biometric login to your PC
    on March 18, 2024 at 4:00 pm

    The best Windows Hello webcams add something your PC may lack: a quick, secure way to log in using just your face. Why buy a Windows Hello webcam? Most laptops now include a webcam of some form or another, some with Windows Hello built in. Desktops don’t, however, and you’ll need at least a recommended 1080p webcam to make sure you look your best. And if you share an apartment with someone else (or just want to avoid typing in your password), Microsoft’s biometric Windows Hello system uses a depth camera plus facial-recognition technology to log you in to Windows 10 or Windows 11 in a split second. Below, we’ve listed several Windows Hello webcams that we recommend. We’ve begun with 4K Windows Hello webcams first, if only because we really think that your appearance makes a difference in a video call. But our budget (and clearly the most popular) picks all use 1080p resolution instead. Want more information? We’ve included a buying guide and a FAQ after our best Windows Hello webcam picks. You can also review our 1080p and 4K webcam buyer’s guide for recommendations on webcams without Windows Hello support. Why you should trust me: I’ve been a technology reporter and writer for 30 years, with 10 years covering consumer technology for PCWorld alone. I’ve written about Windows Hello and supported webcams since Windows Hello launched in 2015, and have authored a separate roundup of recommendations for the best webcams based upon hands-on testing. I’ve taken this knowledge and applied to our best picks for Windows Hello webcams, below. Update March 14, 2024: I’ve rewritten this guide to emphasize what I like about each recommendation as well as describe the ideal buyer of each webcam I recommend. If you haven’t tried Windows Hello, you should. Your PC will recognize you, just like a person. Logitech Brio 4K Ultra HD Webcam – Best Windows Hello webcam overall Pros 4K resolution Autofocus capabilities Adjustable field of view Cons High MSRP, but can be found for less — especially right now Price When Reviewed: $199.99 Best Prices Today: $159.99 at Amazon$199.99 at Adorama$199.99 at Best Buy Why I like the Logitech Brio 4K Ultra HD Webcam Logitech has a well-founded reputation for quality, and if you don’t believe our review below, then listen to 17,000 Amazon customers who have awarded it nearly five out of five stars. Interestingly, Logitech focuses on the webcam aspect first — the camera captures great images and great audio…and then offers Windows Hello capabilities on top of that. The autofocusing Logitech Brio 4K supports various resolutions and frame rates, including 4K Ultra HD at 30fps, 1080p at 30- or 60fps, and 720p (HD) at 30- or 60fps. According to our review, Logitech’s RightLight 3 technology snaps photos and video in a range of lighting conditions. It can adjust the field of view from between 90 degrees to 78 degrees or 65 degrees. You will need to download the Logitech app for fine-grained control options, however. Who should buy the Logitech Brio 4K Ultra HD Webcam Anyone who doesn’t like entering a password or PIN but wants to look great. This webcam does it all, and it even has a three-year limited hardware warranty to back it up. This is a product you should be happy with. Read our full Logitech Brio 4K Ultra HD Webcam review Dell UltraSharp 4K Webcam (WB7022) – Best 4K Windows Hello webcam Pros 4K resolution Autofocus AI framing Cons You'll have to supply your own mic Price When Reviewed: $199.99 Best Prices Today: $184.99 at Dell Home$199.99 at Dell Why I like the Dell UltraSharp 4K Webcam (WB7022) Dell’s UltraSharp WB7022 webcam is similar to the Logitech Brio 4K, our best pick, but goes a bit further in terms of image quality and especially framing. Dell was one of the first out of the gate to use advanced features like automatic panning and zooming to keep you in frame if you shift in your seat. Likewise, this autofocus camera provides digital zoom and automatic HDR, cropping in and out from 90 to 78 degrees and even down to 65 degrees. The result is a webcam that is really designed make you look your best, more so than the other webcams listed in this roundup. Dell applies HDR, temporal, and spatial noise reduction to help you look your best. There’s no mic, unfortunately, so you’ll have to use your laptop mic for that. There’s also a magnetic shutter which attaches to the front of the webcam. Who should buy the Dell UltraSharp 4K Webcam (WB7022) In some ways, this is a step down from the Logitech Brio 4K, in that it lacks a mic. But you’ll look better, too. If you want to look your very best and get Windows Hello capability, this should be the webcam for you. NexiGo HelloCam Pro – Best budget Windows Hello webcam Pros Solid value for the price 1080p Autofocus, 60fps Cons Utility software needs to be installed Price When Reviewed: $79.99 Best Prices Today: $79.99 at Amazon$79.99 at NexiGo Why I like the NexiGo HelloCam Pro There’s a tremendous value here: Most 1080p webcams cost about $50 to $70 or so, and this webcam adds Windows Hello capability on top of that. Otherwise, the NexiGo HelloCam Pro is a good 1080p/30fps autofocus webcam, whose other signature feature is an iris-like physical webcam shutter. (Our previous pick, the slightly cheaper $69 NexiGo HelloCam, lacked autofocus.) Once the webcam is in use, the iris opens; if turned off or disconnected, the shutter closes. The images this webcam produces are good, and the noise-cancelling mics are too. Again, the value here is that this a good all-around webcam, at a terrific price. Who should buy the NexiGo HelloCam Pro Budget buyers and mainstream users looking to improve upon their laptop’s 720p webcam, and who also want the added security of Windows Hello biometric security. If price matters, you can’t beat this webcam. Lenovo 510 FHD Webcam – Best budget Windows Hello webcam runner-up Pros Very inexpensive Privacy shutter, though a manual one 1080p, fixed-focus Cons Wide-angle lens might be too much for some Price When Reviewed: 69.99 Best Prices Today: $59.99 at Amazon$69.99 at Lenovo Why I like the Lenovo 510 FHD Webcam Lenovo’s 510 FHD (1080p) webcam balances a known name with a fairly reasonable price and some decent features. It’s the “true” budget pick compared to the NexiCam HelloCam Pro, which at press time was $20 more. Here, you’ll need to slide the privacy shutter closed yourself, and you won’t find conveniences like automatic zooming and framing. The field of view is also 95 degrees, which is a bit more than we’d like. The pair of dual noise-cancelling mics seem to work well, however. Who should buy the Lenovo 510 FHD Webcam Treat this as a basic Windows Hello webcam, though from a reputable name. (It has a one-year warranty from Lenovo.) If you just want Windows Hello capability, this is the cheapest way to do it. Honestly, if you already have a webcam you’re happy with, you can still buy the Lenovo 510, use it to log in, but use another webcam for Teams and Zoom calls. It sounds silly, but the price makes this a practical option. What to look for in a Windows Hello webcam Windows Hello dates back to 2015, and the introduction of Windows 10 running on Microsoft’s Surface hardware. It replaces the need to type your password to log in every time you sit down at your desk, providing a speedy yet secure compromise to secure your PC. Typically, Windows Hello is associated with depth-camera technology, which recognizes the various contours of your face, identifying you and only you. (A normal webcam doesn’t understand that it’s looking at a 3D image.) The image is then compared with a reference image which is stored during setup. The process itself is fast: It takes just a second or two for a Windows Hello webcam to recognize you, verify your identity to the PC it’s connected to via a USB cable, and log you in. Windows Hello can also read your fingerprint with a separate Windows Hello fingerprint reader, but these webcams are all you need. 1080p The resolution of the webcam matters. Most laptops still ship with 720p webcams, and a higher-resolution webcam will make you look better than your colleagues. Fixed-focus versus autofocus A worthwhile but not critical feature, autofocus will keep you in focus if you move back and forth, walk around the room, or so on. Fixed-focus webcams usually work just fine for normal use. Auto-exposure Most webcams will adjust their exposure for the available lighting, but superior webcams will do so in a way that makes you look well-lit and not a webcam zombie. Noise cancellation Running a fan in the background? Are the neighbors mowing their lawn or blowing their leaves away? A good noise-cancelling webcam with a mic will filter out these background noises. FAQ 1. What do I need to use a Windows Hello webcam? The webcam, a USB cable to connect it to your PC, and a desktop or laptop with Windows 10 or Windows 11 are all you need. We’ve never seen a webcam that uses a proprietary USB cable, but you can always spend a few dollars and buy a longer one if for some reason if it’s too short. You may need to download proprietary software from the webcam to enable more advanced features. Basic Windows Hello functionality should be plug and play, however. 2. How do I set up a Windows Hello webcam? After buying a webcam, make sure you have a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC. Connect the webcam to the PC via the USB cable and that should be all you need for basic webcam functionality. (Some webcams require you to install their utility software for Windows Hello to function, however.) In the Windows 10 or Windows 11 Settings menu, search for “Set up face sign-in.” Then click the “Facial recognition (Windows Hello)” menu. You’ll first need to add a PIN code as a backup — don’t pick something too obvious. Setting up Windows Hello simply requires your PC to “look” at you for several moments, recording your face. From then on, just be sure that your PC is using your webcam (though it should by default). Windows Hello setup requires simply looking at the screen while the webcam looks at you and records your image. 3. Is a Windows Hello webcam secure? In general, yes. You shouldn’t have to worry about a rebellious teen holding up a photo they snapped of your face and logging in. Just be sure to secure your PC by logging out or setting a timeout function if you get up from your PC and walk away. You can also manually lock your PC by using the Win+L shortcut. 4. What happens if my Windows Hello webcam doesn’t recognize me? That can happen, over time. A beard (or lack of one), new glasses, a big hat, or something else that obscures your face can interfere with Windows Hello. You can always go to (on Windows 11) Settings> Accounts > Sign-in options and “improve recognition” — the phrase Windows uses for updating what you look like to your PC. Remember to back up Windows Hello with a PIN, like you use at your bank. (Just don’t use an obvious PIN like “1234”, as that could be an easy way to break into your PC.) Webcams

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