Posts

Xperia 5 - a beautiful smartphone, with high-end hardware Sony Xperia 5 is a thin and light smartphone, weighing only 5.78 oz (164 grams), with dimensions of 6.22 x 2.68 x 0.32 inches (158 x 68 x 8.2 mm). It looks similar to the Xperia 1, but it is slightly narrower and not as tall, making it easier to hold in your hands, and your pockets. Sony Xperia 5 is available in four color versions (black, grey, blue, and red), which you can see in the picture below....

NOTE: This guide applies to Android 10, and it was created on a Nokia 5.3 smartphone. If you do not know your Android version, read How to check the Android version on your smartphone or tablet. The procedures are similar on all Android-powered devices, although you might come across some small differences, depending on your device’s manufacturer. What is the Android Data Saver? The Data Saver is a feature built into Android, that helps you control the mobile data consumption of apps in the background....

How to View the Network Map First, open the Network and Sharing Center. On top of the window, you will see a basic network map, showing if and how your computer is connected to the internet. To view the full network map, click on ‘See full map’. The network map should look somewhat like this. If you are connected to more than one network, you can switch between network maps. Go to the ‘Network map of’ section and click on the drop-down menu to select the network you desire....

1. The switches used on the keyboard: mechanical vs. membrane vs. rubber domes Gaming keyboards can use membrane keys, rubber domes, or mechanical switches. One problem is that manufacturers are not always honest about the type of keys that they offer, especially on budget keyboards, and use confusing terms in their marketing. For example, Roccat calls some of their keys as being membranical, while other manufacturers use the term “semi-mechanical.” A keyboard is either mechanical, or it is not....

Thermaltake A700 TG: Who is it good for? The Thermaltake A700 TG is an excellent computer case for: People who want to build a powerful computer and need a large case for it Those who have a lot of hardware components to install in their new computer case Users who intend to use large cooling solutions or even custom water cooling in their PC Pros and cons The Thermaltake A700 TG has more than a few good things going for it:...

Trust GXT 252+ Emita Plus: Who is it good for? This microphone is a solid choice for: Content creators in search of an affordable cardioid microphone for their podcasts, vlogs, or streams Users who want a quality microphone with an adjustable arm and a pop filter Vloggers who are on the move and require a compact mounting mechanism Pros and cons There are quite a few good things we have to say about the GXT 252+ Emita Plus:...

What is a BSOD stop code? The Blue Screen of Death is a STOP error displayed on a blue screen, showing that Windows encountered a critical error that caused the system to crash. A BSOD on a Windows 10 computer The error code shown on the BSOD can help diagnose what went wrong. These errors are often related to faulty hardware, corrupted drivers, software conflicts, bad memory (RAM), disk errors, or system file corruption....

What is Copilot? Before anything else, let’s cover the basics: Copilot is a chatbot and a powerful AI tool that can help you get more work done on your computer and mobile device. While you can access and work with it directly from your Windows 11 desktop, it’s also built into Microsoft Edge. Available in a sidebar, Copilot can answer complex questions using natural language instead of simple search terms, provide comprehensive answers, summarize information, and even compose text content for you....

NOTE: It’s not clear why the company chose to release some of these features, which are technically part of the Windows 11 23H2 update, earlier. However, we can presume that it either didn’t want to wait even a day more until releasing its new AI-powered experiences or that Windows Central’s sources are right about Microsoft wanting to somehow force users and businesses to install these updates sooner rather than later....

NOTE: I used Windows 11 Pro Version 23H2 build 22631 and Windows 10 Pro Version 22H2 build 19045 for this article. If you have another version or edition of Windows, you may get a different number of optional features than the ones listed below. Optional Features: What are they & What do they do? I’ll show you all the Optional features (available to install or installed by default) in Windows 11 and Windows 10....

Xiaomi Smart Band 7: Who is it good for? This device is a great choice for: People with limited budgets Users who want a small and lightweight fitness band People who are just starting to track their health and fitness Those who want a fitness device with excellent battery life Pros and cons My tests revealed the following qualities of the Xiaomi Smart Band 7: Good outdoors visibility Accurate step recording All-day monitoring and health features make it useful for people who focus on well-being Easy-to-use companion app Solid battery life Lots of band faces and sports modes Reasonable price that many can afford...

System commands Some of the best commands in Command Prompt are those that let you gather information, and control and manage your computer. These are commands that we call system commands, and the next ones are the best, in our opinion: 1. Logoff Although signing out of Windows is an easy thing to do from the graphical interface, you might prefer the command line sometimes. And Command Prompt has a simple command just for that:...

NOTE: If you are looking to find out how many cores or logical processors your CPU has, read: 7 ways to tell how many cores your processor has. 1. Find out what processor is inside your PC, and its speed, using only Windows 10 If all you want is to know what processor is inside your computer, there is no need to look for third-party apps, because Windows 10 can tell you this information directly....

1. More Dark Mode, including for File Explorer The Dark Mode is a feature that lets you change how the user interface of Windows 10 looks. It changes the appearance of some of the interface elements such as windows backgrounds, text, or links. While the default is to have white(ish) backgrounds in app windows and black or dark gray text, the Dark Mode changes that that to black (dark) backgrounds and white text....

Unboxing the ASUS G11CB Gaming PC As opposed to laptops, a heavy PC package is actually a good sign: it most likely means the case and the power source are well built and with good components. The simple, brown box of the ASUS G11CB Gaming PC weighs more than 24 lbs (11 kg) and looks rather underwhelming, considering the quality of the contents. Inside you will find the unit, a backlit keyboard and an optical mouse (not pictured, since the reviewed unit came without the mouse)....

Staying cool without breaking the power bank The secret behind Hunter is its clever cooling and energy efficiency. Instead of using noisy and inefficient fans to keep cool, like an old Windows laptop, it uses liquid cooling throughout its entire system. HPE, the company that built Hunter, says this is the first time anyone has made a cooling system like this for a computer this powerful. The University of Stuttgart spent €15 million on this project, splitting the bill between local and federal government....

NOTE: To be able to disable the Task Manager in Windows 10, you need to be logged on as an administrator. 1. How to disable Task Manager using our TaskMgrEd tool The easiest way to disable the Task Manager in Windows 10 is to use a tool that we made for you, called TaskMgrEd. Download TaskMgrEd using this link or the one at the end of this section. Save it somewhere on your Windows 10 PC, and then double-click on it....

NOTE: For this tutorial, we used a Google Pixel 4a and a Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, both running Android 12. The procedures described below should also apply if you have a Motorola, OnePlus, Xiaomi, or a smartphone from another manufacturer. The tutorial should also work for devices running Android 11 or even older ones. If you don’t know your Android version, read how to check the Android version on your smartphone or tablet....

Should you stop a Windows update or driver? Microsoft’s approach is aggressive when it comes to the drivers, features, and security updates in Windows 11 and Windows 10. By default, the operating systems automatically download and install all updates, which, in theory, sounds like a great idea and should help everything run smoothly. However, each PC is different, and certain updates and drivers can interfere with it in unexpected ways, causing issues and crashes....

1. What’s the brightness shortcut key? Did you know that most laptops have special shortcut keys to increase brightness in Windows 10? Moreover, if your keyboard has such shortcuts, you can also use them to lower brightness on Windows. Unfortunately, there’s no standardized layout for these keys, and each manufacturer can choose where to place them on their laptop keyboards. For instance, on my ASUS ROG Strix G17 G713, I have to press Fn + F7 to lower brightness in Windows 10 and I can use the Fn + F8 brightness shortcut keys to increase the brightness of the laptop’s screen....