Tech

A collection of 1931 posts

Tech

Skip the $1,500 laptop - why Mini PCs are the way to go as RAM prices skyrocket

When my desktop died in December I turned to the Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini x and found it a capable, budget-friendly replacement. Launched at the end of 2025, the mini PC delivered an experience close to my usual setup and is worth considering if you’re watching costs as RAM shortages

Tech

Arc Raiders' wall-breaking exploits were intrinsic to the way the game is built

Arc Raiders has had its fair share of bugs since launch, some of which were unfortunately pretty game-breaking. Perhaps second only to the recent item duplication glitch was the infamous door glitch, which let players break into locked rooms with just a little shimmy. It was eventually solved not by

Tech

Atari 2600 ROM fetch simulated at CMOS FET level

A designer has created a simulation that shows how an almost 50-year-old computer fetches data from ROM, rendering the process down to the CMOS FET level. The clip tracks data moving between circuits on a very small scale; it's scattered and fast, but visually striking. The simulation uses

Tech

Mchose L7 Pro+: ultralight competitive mouse for $60

The Mchose L7 Pro+ is a 43 g ultralight wireless mouse that delivers high-end competitive performance for just $60. It uses the PixArt PAW3395 sensor and supports USB-C, Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz, while its software offers extensive customisation options. Its shape leans toward claw and hybrid grips rather than

Tech

Embark plans changes to Arc Raiders' account‑wiping Expeditions

One of Arc Raiders' most contentious features is the Expedition: an opt-in seasonal wipe that lets players effectively delete their accounts and restart every two months or so. In return are a few semi-permanent boosts—extra stash space, perk points—and unique cosmetics to mark the reset. Participation requires

Tech

Why are FireRed and LeafGreen $20? Pokémon eBay listings explain why

Ahead of Nintendo's forthcoming Pokémon Presents stream on Feb. 27, which will celebrate 30 years of the Pocket Monsters, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company announced that Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen will arrive on the Nintendo Switch eShop the same day. Instead of joining Nintendo Switch Online'

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Corsair introduces two Frame 4000D colours that change tone with light

Corsair has announced that its Frame 4000D cases are getting two new colourways: Nova and Galaxy. They feature colour-shift paint finishes that change tone as light moves across the surface. The Nova case appears more blue-toned, shifting to purple under the light. Galaxy, on the other hand, appears dark, phasing

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Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen release frustrates Nintendo Online subscribers

The Switch release of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen has left Nintendo Online subscribers puzzled because the games are standalone rather than part of the Nintendo Classics library. Serebii founder Joe Merrick points to a likely reason: Game Freak has spent recent generations building ways to move monsters from older titles

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Bluepoint's closure makes a Bloodborne remake less likely

Bloodborne, FromSoftware's 2015 PlayStation 4 hit, has long been one of the most requested remakes. Adjacent to the Dark Souls series, it emphasized offensive playstyles, letting players dual-wield weapons while largely forgoing shields. In our review, we called it "some of the best work FromSoftware's

Tech

How to install Stardew Valley mods: SMAPI, Stardrop, and Content Patcher

Stardew Valley is fun on its own, but modding opens up far more options. This guide walks through the basics: the mod loader SMAPI, setting up the Stardrop mod manager, where to grab mods, and how Content Patcher and Alternative Textures work. Start by downloading SMAPI, Stardrop, and Content Patcher

Tech

DICE: some Battlefield 6 vehicles are 'death traps'; Labs test planned

Battlefield 6 is pretty awesome, unless you happen to be in a jeep. The LGT (light ground transport), Battlefield 6's most plentiful vehicle, is a failure on every level. "It is so bad at its one job—safely transporting—that it's not unusual to watch

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If Xbox is 'recommitting' to its console, what does that mean?

After struggling to compete with the PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, Microsoft's gaming division spent the last few years remaking the Xbox brand into a software label first and foremost: it started with Steam releases and cloud streaming, continued with the painful "This is an Xbox" ad

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Google Pixel 10a vs. Pixel 10: Which is right for you?

Unlike last year, Google's new affordable Pixel 10a sits closer to its predecessor than to the base flagship Pixel 10. Google pulled the 10a away from the flagship by not giving it a processor, camera, or battery upgrade, so it doesn't bridge the gap the way

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Players spent over 10 billion monthly hours in Roblox in 2025, analyst says

Analyst Matthew Ball's 2025 games industry report lays out how dominant Roblox has become. Ball found the platform attracted over 150 million daily active users in 2025—a 69% rise over 2024—and players spent over 10 billion hours in Roblox each month, more than the hours spent

Tech

Asha Sharma named CEO of Microsoft Gaming

Long-time Microsoft Gaming boss Phil Spencer has retired, and Xbox president Sarah Bond has resigned. Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, has been promoted to chief content officer, and Asha Sharma will take over for Spencer as the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Sharma arrives from Microsoft's

Tech

Microsoft insider Clippy spills details on big Xbox shakeup

Microsoft’s Xbox division has seen a rapid leadership change: Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has retired and Sarah Bond has resigned as President of Xbox. Asha Sharma, Microsoft’s President of CoreAI, has stepped in to lead the Xbox brand as CEO. The moves have raised immediate questions about

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Xbox leadership shakeup won't trigger immediate layoffs, chief content officer says

Xbox's leadership changed today: longtime boss Phil Spencer is retiring, presumed heir apparent Sarah Bond has resigned, former AI executive Asha Sharma is now in charge, and Matt Booty, head of Microsoft Studios, has been named chief content officer. The shakeup has prompted questions about jobs, but Booty

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Pokémon Go Mega Evolution guide

Pokémon Go now includes Mega Evolution, which temporarily makes a Pokémon stronger and grants several in-game perks. Primal Reversion operates in a very similar way but applies only to Kyogre and Groudon. Update (Feb. 20): the guide was updated with context about changes introduced with Super Mega Raids. Mega-Evolved Pokémon

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Mark Zuckerberg Takes the Stand in Social Media Addiction Trial

In a crowded Los Angeles courtroom, a lawyer projected a frowning stick figure and asked Mark Zuckerberg whether a reasonable company should help, ignore or prey on a vulnerable child. Clad in a navy blue suit and gray tie, Meta’s chief executive replied, “I think a reasonable company should

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Highguard issues surprise update and teases raid-focused mode

After last week’s studio layoffs and a period of radio silence, Wildlight Entertainment quietly pushed a content drop for Highguard. The update is content-focused, adding a new Base and a powerful Raid Tool, along with new store offerings. It also adds the Cloudbreach map, set at the launchpad for

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Phil Spencer is retiring; Asha Sharma to lead Microsoft Gaming

A Variety report says that after nearly 40 years at the company, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer is retiring. In a memo to employees he wrote, "When I walked through Microsoft’s doors as an intern in June of 1988, I could never have imagined the products I’d

Tech

Phil Spencer retiring; Asha Sharma to lead Xbox

In a major leadership change, Xbox chief Phil Spencer is retiring and Xbox president Sarah Bond has resigned, with IGN reporting that Asha Sharma, the president of Microsoft's CoreAI, will take over. In an email to Microsoft employees Sharma wrote: "We will recommit to our core Xbox

Tech

Best electric blankets and heated throws in the UK, tried and tested

Aside from hugging a fluffy hot-water bottle, sipping whisky and ramping up the thermostat, an electric blanket or heated throw is a practical way to ward off the winter chill. Many of the best electric blankets and heated throws cost about 2p to 4p an hour to run, so heating

Tech

14 uses for your iPhone's USB-C port beyond charging

Apple moved the iPhone from Lightning to USB-C starting with the iPhone 15, and every current model — including the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families — now uses USB-C. One immediate benefit is fewer cables: a single USB-C lead can serve an iPhone, iPad, MacBook, headphones, camera gear and power banks,

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Ubisoft CEO confirms new Assassin's Creed and Far Cry games are in development

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said in a new interview that new Assassin's Creed and Far Cry games are in development. "We have a solid pipeline underway across Vantage Studios," Guillemot said. "Under the Assassin's Creed brand, several titles are in development, spanning both