Euro Truck Simulator 2 is, outside of the well-known titles such as GTA 6, one of the most hyped upcoming console releases. We know it's coming to Xbox Series X|S and PS5, but other than that, nothing.

The lack of information is only adding to the build-up, but now, finally, there's a strong chance it might be ready for people to see for the first time.

Its maker, SCS Software, has announced it is going to Tokyo Game Show for the first time. While it means we're probably not hearing anything at Gamescom a few weeks prior, SCS is hoping to have a playable console version of Euro Truck Simulator 2 on the Tokyo Game Show floor.

"We're also doing everything we can to bring playable demonstrations of our upcoming Road Trip and Coaches projects to Tokyo Game Show, along with a PlayStation 5 version of Euro Truck Simulator 2. While we're not quite ready to make any promises, our teams are working hard behind the scenes, and we hope to give visitors an early hands-on look at these exciting new experiences."

Alright, so first up, it's the PS5 version of Euro Truck Simulator 2. Which, given it's in Tokyo, makes a lot of sense. Xbox will also be at the show, but let's face it, PS5 is the clear king in Japan of the two. There will be more players at that event that are on PS5 than on Xbox.

It's also not a guarantee, but the fact that SCS has even mentioned it at all must mean they're somewhat confident of making it stick. The other content they're hoping to show off we've at least already seen to some degree. The console version is the unicorn right now.

There are so many questions players have over how the experience will translate to console. It has to be flawless on a controller, for example, and I'm confident enough it will be. I play both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator on my Steam Deck regularly with its built-in gamepad.

But a PC game supporting a controller is not the same as a truly controller-native console experience. It's also great news for the development of the game if SCS believes it's in a good enough state to allow members of the public to take a look.

What it very much isn't, though, is any confirmation of imminent release. For one, it's only one of the two games. American Truck Simulator isn't mentioned. Is there a chance we'll hear more about the desired timeframe? Possibly.

Either way, for console players who are waiting impatiently for the insanely popular truck simulators to finally break free of their PC exclusivity, this is the best piece of news since they were first revealed.

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Laptops outfitted with Qualcomm Snapdragon CPUs are some of the best in the market for people looking to crush their daily quotas or survive mountains of schoolwork due to their reliable performance rates. long battery lives and sturdy designs.

Yet, many of them have had their price jacked through the roof thanks to the ongoing memory crisis, making their value not worth the investment for most people with low budgets and incomes.

Fortunately, one of these laptops, the ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025), has managed to snag a sneaky 30% discount to give people an edge in completing their daily workloads for the reduced price of $699.99 at Best Buy (listing price was $999.99).

Why buy the ASUS Zenbook A14?

If you're looking for a high-quality mid-range laptop that can get homework and work office tasks done fast with no fuss, the ASUS Zenbook A14 is the machine for you.

Why you may? Well, first of all, its performance rates are strong, as it's able to perform productivity activities like browsing the internet for info, opening up hundreds of emails, and running Microsoft Office and AI-empowered programs with great speed with little to no slowdown thanks to its mighty Snapdragon X Plus CPU, 16GB of RAM, and NPU capable of 45 TOPS.

Additionally, it has a clean and beautiful 2K OLED display screen that renders images in crisp detail so you don't miss out on any details when viewing documents or art pieces, an intuitive operating system, and a massive selection of USB and HDMI ports.

Throw in a massive battery life of roughly 32 hours with a sleek, minimalist design that doesn't compromise its durability for the sake of portability, and you have one of the best workhouse laptops in the mid-range spectrum, especially now that it won't cost you $1,000 thanks to this 30% discount at Best Buy.

FAQ

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The excitement for Gears of War: E-Day continues to build as Xbox announces brand-new, limited-edition Gears of War: E-Day-style Xbox controllers, now available for pre-ordering on the Xbox website.

One controller is pre-made with a design to resemble the Gears of War logo, while the other controller features a custom-made Xbox Design Lab faceplate along with several buttons, triggers, and joysticks that the player can customize the look of to fit their fashion sense.

Here's everything you need to know about these awesome-looking controllers.

For starters, these accessories are regular Xbox Series X|S controllers with modified cosmetic looks inspired by Gears of War: E-Day, meaning they'll feature all the high-quality ergonomics, responsive controls, and satisfying feedback that earned them a spot among our favorite Xbox controllers.

The pre-made Gears of War: E-Day controller features 3D-molded, laser-etched details meant to resemble the cracked asphalt of a road giving way to a Locust Emergence hole, with the Gears of War logo shining brightly in the middle.

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Additionally, the pre-made controller has a mix of sharp black and red buttons and joysticks to help it stand out more, firm textured grips to make it more comfortable, and a painting of a COG tag on the battery door as a fan-servicey reference to all the dog-tag-style COG tags players collect throughout the Gears of War series.

The limited-edition Gears of War: E-Day Xbox controller will cost you $89.99 and is available for pre-ordering on the Xbox Store or at your local retailer.

The custom Xbox Design Labs Gears of War: E-Day Xbox Controller features a custom faceplate with bloody, heavy-metal-style artwork by Luke Preece, who created official artwork for heavy metal bands like System of a Down, Metallica, Black Sabbath, and more.

As with any Xbox Design Labs controllers, players will be able to augment the controller with cosmetic upgrades like metallic triggers and D-Pads, rubberized side and back grips, and a personalized engraving to make it their own.

If you're going to Gamescom this year, you will be able to see them firsthand, as they'll be on public display at the Xbox Booth, where players will get their first playable taste of Gears of War: E-Day's story campaign mode.

The Xbox Design Labs Gears of War: E-Day Xbox Controller will be available for purchase and customization on September 30, 2026, on the Xbox Store.

But wait, there's more. 8BitDo is collaborating with Xbox to create a special charging dock designed to be paired up with the pre-made Gears of War: E-Day Xbox controller, and it is called the '8BitDo Ultimate Charging Dock for XBOX Controllers – Gears of War: E-Day'.

This charging dock is also compatible with regular Xbox Series X|S controllers and Xbox One controllers, and it includes an 8BitDo rechargeable battery pack to save you the trouble of buying one separately for your controller to work with this dock.

The '8BitDo Ultimate Charging Dock for XBOX Controllers – Gears of War: E-Day' will cost you $39.99 and is available for pre-ordering on Amazon and 8BitDo's eShop.

Windows Central's take

Xbox has had some wild tie-in controllers over the years, but these Gears of War: E-Day controllers are possibly the coolest ones I've seen in a long time.

The pre-made is definitely my favorite, as its well-done design gives off the cool effect of the Gears of War logo erupting from the ground, and the overall black and red color scheme looks so sick.

I can't wait to get my hands on one of these controllers and play Gears of War: E-Day with it when the game comes out on October 30, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, and PC.

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Microsoft is too pushy with its Edge browser, according to a recent survey shared by the Browser Choice Alliance. Polling 2,000 adults in the United States provided some insight regarding how easy it is to switch browsers on Windows 11 and if the operating system respects user choice.

Microsoft has been criticized for years for pushing Edge. Windows 11 introduced settings that make changing the default browser more complicated, such as a person electing to change their default only affected certain file types. The situation has improved a bit over the years, but it's still surprisingly difficult to just tell Windows 11 to never use Edge.

It's important to note that the Browser Choice Alliance includes several members that compete directly with Microsoft Edge. Chrome, Vivaldi, and Opera are all part of the alliance. That does not discount the experience of the people surveyed, but it provides some context.

Many members of the Browser Choice Alliance would benefit from more freedom about browser choice and simpler default settings. I would argue that those would also be good things for everyday users as well.

With that in mind, here are some of the highlights of what the Browser Choice Alliance found through its survey:

• 86 percent of those surveyed believe they should have primary control over their default browser and 80 percent want "one-click browser default."
• 26 percent of participants have Edge as their default browser compared to only 19 percent who say they would choose Edge as their default browser.
• 72 percent of participants who tried to change their default browser within the last two years ran into challenges, such as Edge being recommended and applications or links opening in Edge despite that browser not being set as default.
• 29 percent of those surveyed claim Windows system updates "contributed to their browser preference being changed or reset."
• Older adults often struggle with setting their default browser.
  • 44 percent of those surveyed ages 65 or older claimed changing their default browser was complex. Only 15 percent of people ages 18 to 44 said the same.
  • 61 percent of participants 65 or older said they were not confident setting their default browser.

The survey results are not surprising, except perhaps that 14 percent of participants do not think they should be able to pick their default browser.

Microsoft is so eager to push people to use its Edge browser that when forced to give users more choices by the EU, Microsoft only shipped those changes within the EU. The company could have used that as an opportunity to just give people greater control over their PCs, but it didn't.

The fact that MSEdgeRedirect and EdgeDeflector ever existed is a stain on Microsoft's reputation. Those tools, which forced links to open with your default browser either don't work or are limited now.

Microsoft claimed having widgets or other system components open in Edge regardless of if Edge is the default helps ensure the best end-to-end experience. Many, including myself, question the validity of that claim.

With Microsoft following in the footsteps of Google by discontinuing support for MV2 extensions, uBlock Origin will no longer work in Edge. That extension is a must-have for some users, so they may be on the lookout for a new browser. But based on the recent survey performed by the Browser Choice Alliance, changing to a different default browser may be more challenging than it should be.

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Mourning the concept of affordability in the custom PC-building scene isn't a new trend; on the contrary, the eulogy for "Moore's law" was read years ago, around when hardware like NVIDIA's high-end GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards came with astronomical prices, and possibly even earlier than that.

If you've never heard of the term — named after Intel co-founder Gary Moore — it's a prediction (not really a law) of how computing power increases every few years by doubling transistor counts without a severe cost impact. Anyone who follows graphics card, RAM, or storage prices knows that dream is over.

On a more widely known subject, the demands of generative AI quickly became obvious as more models were widely adopted, and building them on local hardware is how that all gets started. Since then, our sister site, Tom's Hardware, has watched GeForce RTX 50-series GPU prices spike by up to 39%. Sure, MSRP always felt like a suggestion rather than a rule with GPUs, but it's getting worse.

Today's GPU for the price of yesterday's PC

As it stands, encouraging novices to build their first custom Windows rig is particularly difficult because it usually means settling for the absolute bare-bones, entry-level GPU to stand a chance of keeping your build under $1,500. No matter how many advancements NVIDIA puts into DLSS — which I maintain is still the best graphics upscaler on the scene — it can't solve everything.

Plus, all these GPU headaches come before you start the painful process of finding a storage drive and suitable RAM modules to pair with it. Once you start approaching $2,000, I generally nudge people toward high-end gaming handhelds like the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ for something more entertaining. Then again, nothing beats the satisfaction of building your own rig from scratch.

Of course, the reality is that Moore's Law has its scientific limits. We can only go so far into microscopic process nodes before manufacturing hits the borders of what's currently possible. That doesn't excuse inflated prices, and a commercial obsession with artificial intelligence still pulls the brunt of that blame, but why isn't there any AI-free hardware for the rest of us?

Would any brand go against the grain?

Realistically, practically any functional computer can run a local AI model on its CPU, GPU, NPU, or a combination of the three on a single SoC processor. Much like the crypto-mining fad that saw graphics cards scalped for their usefulness in Bitcoin earnings, modern components are at the mercy of AI, and it's a bubble that shows no signs of bursting (whether I like it or not).

Since the advent of Intel's Arc graphics hardware, particularly the first-generation "Alchemist" A750, which powered my wife's gaming PC for years with gradually improving performance, I've become an advocate for what the brand is trying to do. It's a similar story on AMD's Radeon graphics side, as both have an opportunity to steal the entry-level market away from NVIDIA.

After all, if NVIDIA isn't under enough threat from its competition, why would there be any incentive to lower prices? Intel has made impressive advancements in its own XeSS upscaling tech, which is part of what makes Intel Arc G3-powered handhelds so appealing. If it could commit to more affordable discrete GPUs with its long-awaited "Celestial" range, it could shake up the game.

Then again, Intel's CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, seems more interested in a return to the memory business (via Tom's Hardware), which would push Intel's desktop graphics even further down the list of priorities. It's much the same story as NVIDIA's minuscule — if utterly dominant — consumer GPU business compared to its monstrous data center and artificial intelligence side.

Could gigantic desktop graphics cards even seem ridiculous a decade from now, when NVIDIA's RTX Spark chips become its main priority? Doubtful, but who knows? Either way, Moore's Law is seemingly dead, and regular consumers are eating the costs passed on from major manufacturers as the march towards AI psychosis continues. I'll keep my eyes peeled for any signs of that changing.

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GOG (formerly known as Good Old Games) is one of the most popular spots to buy, download, and curate PC game collections. It competes directly against the behemoth Steam, the oft-maligned Epic Games, and plenty of other PC game storefronts, and over the years it has garnered quite a positive reputation among gamers.

Why? It's all about GOG's focus on consumer rights and actual game ownership, which in 2026 is becoming increasingly rare.

GOG's games don't come with DRM. Older titles are often fixed, patched, and updated to run on new hardware. There's a rather generous 30-day return policy, and there are frequent sales with massive discounts.

Yeah, it all looks great, and I'm a huge fan of GOG.

So where is this going? I recently came across a user-maintained catalog of "Games that treat GOG customers as 2nd Class." It was just updated on August 11, 2026, and I'm shocked at how many titles are listed as having some sort of disparity compared to other digital storefronts.

GOG's game version disparity is a lot worse than I ever expected

I was aware that some GOG games weren't the same as the versions found in other stores, but I never knew the problem was this widespread.

This effort to track issues with GOG versions of games actually got started in 2018 in a GOG forum thread that's still alive today, now reaching 400+ pages with thousands of replies.

The spreadsheet catalog contains a list of 1,140 games with at least one issue. There are 1,531 issues in total. Those numbers are not typos. Sure, some of the issues are less severe than others, but that doesn't mean GOG customers should receive an inferior product.

The catalog tracks the following issues:

• Missing updates (308 total issues)
• Missing languages (100 total issues)
• Missing free DLC (51 total issues)
• Missing paid DLC (200 total issues)
• Missing features (111 total issues)
• Missing soundtrack (439 total issues)
• Missing builds (278 total issues)
• Region locking (12 total issues)

Sources are provided for many of the games listed as having issues, and others are sourced directly from first-hand experiences.

Out of all the 1,140 games on the list, there are 17 special mentions. The game The Messenger from Devolver Digital, one of my favorite publishers, is flagged as special. Why? The GOG version is missing a Unity security update, and the soundtrack files are of a "lower quality than on Steam."

Another special mention is given to the game Nuclear Throne for its five issues, including a missing 10-year anniversary update, missing languages, missing challenges, missing soundtrack, and missing Linux version.

I could go on with plenty more examples, but I'm sure you get the idea. Missing soundtracks seem to be the most frequent offender with 439 total issues, while missing updates place second with 308 total issues.

Why do some developers seem to give GOG less attention?

GOG's disparity with other storefronts isn't really GOG's fault. It's ultimately up to the developers and publishers what to include in their games when they're sent to GOG, and what to update thereafter.

Devolver Digital and THQ Nordic GmbH are both at the top of the list with 29 issues each in total across their published games.

Correct me in the comments section below if I'm wrong, but Steam's far larger user base and its savvy workshop integration make it the go-to spot for most game companies. Much more attention is paid to Steam, and GOG seems often to be treated as "we'll get to it when we can."

And because GOG requires games to be DRM-free, there's definitely extra work to be done in many scenarios. For older games that may or may not have a dedicated development team, this is especially painful.

GOG is a great place to shop if you care about game preservation and proper functioning of classic titles, but you're still paying for the games. There's a certain irony here in buying a game to preserve it properly, only to find out that it's missing one or several features that you could have received if you'd purchased it, say, on Steam.

My advice for the next time you're buying a game on GOG

Like I said, I support GOG and its mission to deliver DRM-free games. However, I was not aware of how many titles have issues.

From now on, I'll be checking the spreadsheet carefully any time I head over to GOG and pick up a new game. I suggest you do the same, lest you end up with a DRM-free version that's missing the content you bought it for in the first place.

Were you aware of how many games on GOG have missing content and issues compared to other storefronts? Has it tainted your opinion of GOG? Is there any hope to solve the major issues that some of these games have? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Microsoft Edge will soon drop support for Manifest Version 2 (MV2), which means uBlock Origin will stop working in the browser. But Windows 11 users still have some browsing options that will support uBlock Origin and other MV2 extensions.

The Firefox account on X shared a simple message in response to an article about Edge ending support for certain extensions: "Firefox support for uBlock Origin is not going anywhere."

Brave shared a longer message, which emphasized that "Brave will keep supporting uBlock Origin" and that Brave hosts uBlock Origin and other MV2 extensions on its own servers. To enable MV2 extensions in Brave, you need to go to Settings > Extensions > Manifest v2 extensions.

Brave also has a built-in ad blocker that's unaffected by the MV2 changes.

Firefox runs on the Quantum browser engine, which is built specifically for that browser and is separate from Chromium. Brave is a Chromium browser. With both Chromium and non-Chromium options, people have a variety of ways to continue to use uBlock Origin.

Why are some browsers stopping uBlock Origin from working?

MV2 is an extension platform that developers can build upon. That older platform is being replaced by Manifest Version 3 (MV3), which is more secure and provides better performance than MV2.

The transition from MV2 to MV3 brings improvements, but it also removes support for the WebRequest API, which lets ad blockers dynamically intercept and block requests before they load.

The side effect of the transition is that uBlock Origin no longer works.

Since uBlock Origin Lite is an MV3 extension, it does not dynamically intercept content before it loads.

It's about more than blocking ads

In our recent poll about ad blockers, over 70% of respondents said they use uBlock Origin. Since that poll appeared in a piece about Edge ending support for uBlock Origin, the results are a bit self-selective, but still interesting. Even among those already interested in uBlock Origin news, 12% said they use uBlock Origin Lite.

While uBlock Origin Lite blocks many ads, it does not process ads in the same way as uBlock Origin. The full version of uBlock Origin intercepts the ads entirely, which reduces bandwidth usage and improves browser performance.

If you've ever loaded a web page and noticed that ads appear to be slowing things down, uBlock Origin would help in that situation but uBlock Origin Lite would not.

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ASUS Armoury Crate is but one piece of specialized management software that many of us have installed on our PC, perhaps without even knowing it. It comes preinstalled on ASUS gaming handhelds, including the Xbox Ally X, as well as ASUS gaming laptops.

If that sounds like hardware you use, it's time to check up on Armoury Crate. According to an August 10 update on the official ASUS advisory board, "a component used by Armoury Crate" is vulnerable and could be leaving you open to attacks.

Alongside that unmentioned component of Armoury Crate, ASUS has also released security updates for its GPU Tweak III, GPU Tweak II, and AI Suite 3 software.

This vulnerability, listed as CVE-2026-8917, comes with an 8.4 rating. That's out of a maximum of 10, meaning this isn't an issue you should ignore for long.

What does this ASUS vulnerability entail?

According to the CVE record, an "IOCTL vulnerability allows a local attacker to write a specific value to an arbitrary memory address, potentially leading to privilege escalation."

Although the CVE record doesn't mention Armoury Crate by name, it's clear that ASUS is concerned with that "certain component" alongside its other standalone software.

How do I update the vulnerable ASUS software?

Updated versions of GPU Tweak III, GPU Tweak II, and AI Suite 3 software can be directly downloaded from the ASUS support website.

You want to be sure that you're grabbing the most recent version. For GPU Tweak III, I'm seeing version 2.1.7.2. This appears to be a newer version than what's listed as affected on the CVE website.

For GPU Tweak II, I'm seeing version 2.4.0.0 on the ASUS support page; unfortunately, this version is listed on the CVE page as vulnerable, so I can only guess that ASUS hasn't yet made the necessary updates to its download packages.

It's unclear why ASUS hasn't yet made the secure version of GPU Tweak II available for download. If you're concerned, my best advice is to simply remove the software entirely until it's updated.

For AI Suite 3, I'm seeing version 3.01.10, which is thankfully newer than the affected version 2.1.2.0 listed on the CVE page.

And for the actual Armoury Crate software, you can choose to update from within the app itself.

Is there any alternative to ASUS Armoury Crate?

I often use Armoury Crate on my desktop gaming PC to control certain ROG and TUF components, but most of the time it sits idly in the background. It's not the best software, vulnerabilities aside, but it seems to get the job done.

I've read tales of some specific ASUS desktop hardware absolutely requiring Armoury Crate to function properly, but for other ASUS gaming devices, it can be replaced entirely.

Let me introduce you to G-Helper. It's designed to work with ASUS laptops and gaming handhelds, doing what Armoury Crate does in a streamlined, unbloated app that only eats up about 5MB of space.

You can download G-Helper for free from its official website.

— via PC Gamer

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Yesterday, Microsoft rolled out the latest Windows 11 updates for all users across version 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1. For users running version 24H2 and 25H2, this latest patch includes a number of nice to see quality of life improvements in the way of performance and reliability upgrades in a number of key areas.

According to the changelog, which includes improvements that began rolling out as part of last month's optional feature update, the KB5101684 update includes reliability upgrades for explorer.exe, which will make opening things like Jump Lists and recent files faster. Additionally, Microsoft says this update will also make sharing files and switching between desktops with Task View faster too.

The reliability improvements don't end there, either. This update also includes reliability upgrades for the Windows lock screen and sign-in screen, which will be most noticeable on PCs with low amounts of RAM available. There are also startup reliability upgrades for the Start menu and Taskbar, which should make those interfaces appear quicker when powering up.

Furthermore, Microsoft says that this update also makes the post-update process less resource intensive, meaning your PC will feel faster to use immediately after an update is installed. Previously, Windows Updates required a clean-up phase after install which could be quite resource intensive on certain PCs.

The good news is all of these performance and reliability upgrades apply regardless of the amount of RAM your system has. You should notice a more responsive system if you have 8GB or 128GB of RAM.

Here's a rundown of the reliability-focused improvements in the latest update:

• This update improves explorer.exe reliability, including when opening Jump Lists and recent files, when sharing files and folders, and when using Task View and multiple desktops.
• This update improves the reliability of the Windows sign-in and lock screens, especially when system memory is low. It also improves the reliability of the Start menu and taskbar during startup.
• This update improves reliability of loading the system tray area of the taskbar when using the taskbar on touch devices in a tablet posture.
• The update improves the reliability of Start menu view preferences, ensuring your selected view is retained.
• This update includes changes to update clean-up logic to improve system performance immediately following an update.
• This update improves app search to better handle typos and partial app names when finding installed apps.

These reliability and performance upgrades are in addition to the many other quality of life improvements shipping as part of the KB5101684 update, including improvements to File Explorer, Windows Hello, Windows Search, system sounds, and more.

Microsoft recently announced a renewed commitment to making Windows 11 better on PCs with 8GB RAM, and it appears we're already seeing the fruits of that labor. While there's plenty of more optimizations to come, it's good to see Microsoft already moving to address this weak point on Windows.

Microsoft has been delivering genuinely nice improvements to Windows 11 over the last few months, all of which have been addressing issues with the OS around performance and reliability. This latest update continues that crusade, meaning your PC will feel better to use as of the latest updates.

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Yesterday, on August 11, 2026, a post in the r/Controller subreddit shared images of what appears to be the long-awaited Xbox Elite Series 3 controller, a successor to one of the best Xbox controllers, which we gave a near-perfect score to back in 2021.

The original poster deleted their "leaked" gallery of the implied prototype (potentially in response to an unconfirmed cease-and-desist order from Microsoft). Still, the images were nonetheless preserved and shared again by The Verge's Tom Warren, who clarifies how the original post claimed the poster purchased it from "OfferUp", an online reseller marketplace.

As with any rumor —or supposed leak — it's always best to take them with a pinch of salt, as any could turn out to be fake, and these images of the Xbox Elite Series 3 controller are no exception. Then again, there are plenty of hints in its design that this is indeed a prototype that was never intended to be seen publicly. The Verge's report even confirms that the battery pack says "Prototype, not for sale".

Still, these could be knockoffs of the official Xbox Elite Series controller or an early, unfinished model that looks nothing like the final product. However, the fact that these images were quickly removed implies they may be real.

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If it is genuine, it at least doesn't appear at a glance that the Elite Series 3 has changed much from its predecessor, other than a slightly different rubberized grip design and different-looking trigger locks.

However, The Verge's analysis shows some new features. These include two new scroll wheels along the bottom edge, a wireless mode that would connect directly to Xbox Cloud Gaming servers, and a 'Pair' button that switches the controller's connection between Cloud Gaming servers and an Xbox console.

Either way, we will have to wait for Microsoft's official announcement of the Xbox Elite Series 3 controller to see whether this design becomes the final product or an outdated prototype/knock-off. Gamescom is coming up, so we'll see.

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There's a lot of debate around minimum memory requirements for Windows laptops at the moment, and that often comes with the discussion of rising costs for the same components. It could be confusing for students looking for a new portable PC as they head back to school, but there are genuinely great options out there.

• Back to school deals up to $900 off PCs and more at Dell

Dell's latest XPS 13 offers student pricing starting at $599, and comes with the absolute latest "Wildcat Lake" processors from Intel. Yes, it sticks with an entry-level 8GB of RAM — though it is high-speed (7,467 MT/s) LPDDR5x memory — but at 2.2 lbs, it's still one of the most lightweight and portable options available right now. Need more? I have some options.

How much RAM does Windows really need?

There's no doubt that manufacturers like Dell started flexing their design muscles even harder after Apple launched its MacBook Neo for $599 — later rising to $699 —and it's arguably led to better choices for Windows PC consumers on a budget. We saw the new XPS 13 at Computex, a technology convention held earlier this year in Taiwan, and learned more about its choice of Intel Wildcat Lake processors.

Dell's Konstantin Tuv described it as "a great student device" [...] we want this to be their first XPS", and revealed that it was in production far before the Neo ever appeared, so it certainly isn't some knee-jerk reaction to rush an affordable laptop to market. Indeed, the XPS 13 was designed from the beginning to be a featherweight companion for students and workers alike. Still, its release didn't suddenly remove its in-house alternatives from sale.

Microsoft itself is committed to optimizing Windows 11 for 8GB of RAM, as CVP Marcus Ash told us directly: "We're relentless at reducing the memory footprint." However, if you're certain you need more memory (RAM) or storage (SSD space), Dell still offers its 15-inch and 16-inch laptops with modern DDR5 and previous-generation DDR4 modules, so you can choose a variant that suits you.

Ultimately, the $599.99 Dell 16 comes closest to satisfying each category, albeit with a larger display (though you'll have access to its touchscreen) and increased weight at 4.18 lbs, but you get 16GB of RAM and the same sensible 512GB of storage as the $599/$699 XPS 13. Otherwise, if you're prioritizing portability, the $549.99 Dell 15 doubles the SSD to 1TB, giving you more space for your files.

Whatever you choose, it's refreshing to see Dell pushing its capable laptops below $1,000, even if it takes back-to-school-themed sales to do it. If you've been holding out for a new Windows PC, there are still brief moments of savings happening like this where it's smart to shop.

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Atlus has been on a roll these past few years with the Persona series. We've had an amazing remake of Persona 3, a cool Persona 5 XCOM-like spin-off, and now we're getting a remake of Persona 4 along with the long-awaited Persona 6, both of which are headed for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Game Pass.

Needless to say, it's been a happy time to be a Persona fan...unless you happen to be a fan of the very first few Persona games like Revelation: Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.

In which case, you feel like an abandoned puppy, as these PlayStation 1-era cult classics that helped shape the Persona franchise have not received substantial updates or re-releases in decades since the release of their PSP ports between the late 2000s and early 2010s.

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However, that may change, as during an interview with GamerBraver regarding Persona 4 Revival, an Atlus producer called Wada Kazuhisa was asked if Atlus had plans to remake the aforementioned games, as it did with Persona 3 and 4.

Wada Kazuhisa responded with, and I quote, “At this point, I can’t say for sure, but personally, I think it’s something we should definitely do. I think we have to do it.”

Windows Central's take

Revelation: Persona and 2 were very different compared to their more famous successors. There was no social link system where you bonded with characters, and there were no time management/high-school simulator gameplay elements.

These games were traditional, linear dungeon crawlers that had way darker storylines and themes that tackled psychological horror and apocalyptic scenarios that leaned more closely toward the franchise Persona originally spun off from: Shin Megami Tensei.

A tone that Atlus may be bringing back in Persona 6, judging by how creepy its announcement trailer shown at the June 2026 Xbox Games Showcase was.

Personally, I would like to see remakes of the first few Persona games, as I never got a chance to play them due to how rare and scarce they are to find where I live. Persona 2 especially, because the idea of playing a Persona game where we played as older characters instead of teenagers in most Persona games sounds really refreshing.

Heck, I'd even take a re-release of their PSP ports or even their original PS1 versions on Xbox and PC, especially considering that it will be impossible to do on PlayStation systems since Sony is shutting down the PSP's and PlayStation 3's PSN stores, making them even more scarce to find and own.

After all, if Atlus was willing to bring back a cult-classic like Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzonoha for modern systems, why can't it do the same for the games that helped shape this weird, wacky, deranged, dark, and heartwarming franchise we know and love today?

🗨️ Over to you

How do you feel about the idea of Atlus remaking Revelation: Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment? Are there any other classic Atlus JRPGs you want to see come back with a re-release, remaster, or remake?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll, the comments section, or our Reddit page.

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The beauty of a handheld gaming PC is its size and that it's also a full PC. The downside is that, unlike a laptop, you need to accessorize in order to achieve productivity status.

A Nintendo Switch 2 may well have a 'mouse' now, but you're not going to use it to bang out some emails and spreadsheets on the train.

I've had a Steam Deck since the very beginning, and as an open fan of Linux, I'm more than happy using it as a PC as well as a handheld games machine. Razer has now released a new product to go with one of its existing products that's particularly useful for the former.

Unlike everything else Razer makes, it doesn't have some wild monicker. It's simply the Razer Travel Case Folio, and it's designed to transport your favorite portable keyboard and prop up your favorite portable device.

Nothing overly fancy, but in the case of handhelds, it's actually pretty nifty.

The keyboard part is designed primarily around the Razer Joro wireless keyboard, which I have, and is the only keyboard I ever travel with in conjunction with my Steam Deck. The box also says it's a seamless fit with Apple's Magic Keyboard, if you're so inclined.

As yes, one of the reasons you'd want to buy this case is if you're an iPad owner (other tablets are also available). It'll support up to a 13-inch tablet to use with your keyboard, as the back of the case opens up in a manner regulars in these parts will be familiar with.

The Travel Case Folio has a Surface-style kickstand on the back.

I have to say I'm surprised at how sturdy it is. It has zero struggle propping up my hefty Valve handheld, and in the same vein as a Surface kickstand, you can adjust your angle to suit.

The keyboard doesn't lock into place or anything, but it's secure when the case is closed, kept in snug by the magnetic closing flap. I also like that there's a cutout on the case to connect a charger without needing to open it up. One is for the Joro, and one is more centralized for Apple's keyboard.

One small gripe I have though, and it is only small, is that the cutout for Razer's own Joro could have been a little larger or had a secondary one for the power switch. I never remember to turn the keyboard off, and every single time I've pressed something as I've packed it away, and that translates to something happening on the screen.

So I have to get it out again, open up the case, turn off the keyboard, and pack it all back up. And no, after many, many times of doing this, I still haven't remembered.

It's a really nice product though. Spill resistant on the outside, soft and protective on the inside, and it works better than I expected as a kickstand for a handheld. Even with my Steam Deck in a case, it will still stand up just fine. Perfect for those of us who don't have a Legion Go.

At $55.99 from the Razer Store, it's not that expensive, either. Obviously, if you don't have one of the two keyboards it's built for, then it's probably not worth it, but given that the Razer Joro is a $140 portable keyboard, it's worth the investment. I think I'm more surprised it took this long.

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Microsoft Edge may soon let you sign in with an Apple account. The latest Canary build of Edge includes flags that, if enabled, let you sign into the browser with your Apple account.

Using your Apple account within Edge will make it easier to keep your bookmarks, history, and other content synced across your phone and your PC. Many people, including myself, use a computer running Windows 11 and an iPhone.

The change was spotted by Leo Varela, who often leaks or highlights features in Edge and other browsers.

Microsoft did not initially plan to support non-Microsoft accounts within Edge. Google account support rolled out recently and now support for Apple accounts appears to be on the way.

Of course, you could use Edge without any account at all. The browser works without requiring signing in. But syncing data and some other features require using some sort of account to sign in.

Windows Central take

It's interesting to see how Microsoft's cross-platform app strategy has shifted over the years. Some apps have been available on other platforms for over a decade, but Microsoft increased its efforts to have a presence on iOS and Android after shutting down Windows Phone.

With no phone operating system of its own, Microsoft aimed to provide a premier experience for its services on Android and iOS to meet people where they are. Microsoft bought up popular apps like Wunderlist and SwiftKey to make a Microsoft experience on mobile platforms made by Google and Apple.

Back in 2015, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talked about his "iPhone Pro," which was just a normal iPhone with a bunch of Microsoft apps on it.

These days, several Microsoft apps feel like abandonware and others lag behind the competition. The glory days of the "iPhone Pro" are over.

I do appreciate flexibility when it comes to signing in to Edge, but I can't help but wonder if adding support for Google and Apple accounts is an admission that Microsoft can't even get people to use a Microsoft account in Microsoft Edge.

Rather than trying to force users into the Microsoft umbrella, the company seems to be accepting its mobile reality. It is finally conceding that to keep PC users on Edge, it has to let them live inside Google and Apple's account ecosystems instead.

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It seems like every time I turn around, there's another round of layoffs affecting video game studios.

In July, Xbox announced its biggest downsizing ever, cutting 3,200 jobs throughout 2026 and 2027. At the same time, Xbox made deals with four major studios to go independent or take on new management.

That independence didn't come without a cost either, as studio Double Fine Productions announced it was laying off 23 employees shortly after going solo.

It's all starting to feel like white noise with the same language. Streamlining. Restructuring. Focusing resources. Adapting to changing markets.

After reading an excellent report from Rest of World about the plight of small game developers in Turkey, I realized that the entire video game industry is likely in more trouble than most people realize.

While Microsoft and other big companies at the apex of the industry have been cutting thousands of jobs at the top, there's something just as disruptive going on at the bottom.

Solo developers are shipping full games with a tiny team, empowered by tools like Claude Code and Cowork, OpenAI Codex, and Copilot. This shift in how games are developed is eating up the entry-level jobs that used to serve as a way to break into the game dev industry. The candle is burning at both ends, as they say.

Turkey's AI game development example doesn't bode well

Over the last decade, Turkey has become a mobile gaming hotspot with more than 800 studios at its peak. It served as a pipeline for young developers who finished school, applied, got hired, worked in junior roles, and eventually made their way up the ladder.

This pipeline is no longer functioning as it should, and it's largely due to AI. One developer interviewed by Rest of World went from a huge studio pumping out a game per week to founding his own studio.

With Claude Code in his back pocket, the developer realized he needed just two employees to achieve similar productivity.

This shift in Turkey's game development scene is having dire effects. Entry-level jobs are understandably disappearing at smaller studios, and the larger studios are reticent to hire inexperienced developers.

The AI stack designed to make us more productive is killing key jobs

The AI stack negatively affecting one of the largest game development booms in European history is the same AI stack that Microsoft is racing to put in front of every developer, on every platform, including the ones building for Xbox and Windows.

Microsoft has famously spent years telling Windows users that Copilot will make us all more productive. But Turkey's example is likely a preview of what that means when followed to its logical end.

👉 "The 'AI Stigma' is real and severely punishes developers": A new study shows how much using AI in games hurts sales, and the numbers are hard to believe

Not a team of developers shipping games faster (OK, maybe a bit faster). One developer doing the job that used to require a team. Set this dilemma on top of a video game industry that just saw Xbox cut thousands of jobs, and the math really starts to hurt.

It's worth noting that Microsoft stated that AI is not being used to replace the most recent batch of laid-off employees at Xbox, but the company's overall massive spending on AI infrastructure and data centers has undoubtedly played a role in cuts to underperforming sectors like Xbox.

With layoffs at the top and an ever-shrinking front door at the bottom, the entire industry is being squeezed for all its juice.

Windows Central's take

The part that stuck with me the most is the plight of junior developers. A university director in Turkey is warning students not to follow the traditional path of getting hired on in an introductory position and working their way up. Instead, they should be building their own games while in school in order to land a job.

So, yes, AI tools definitely lower the barrier to creating a game. At the same time, however, AI tools do nothing to ensure that a game actually finds an audience.

Key steps in the nurturing and maturing of a video game developer are being skipped, and artists, writers, and programmers aren't necessarily getting the experience needed to compete at the upper levels of the industry.

Turkey's degrading video game development scene seems like a preview of what's to come for the rest of the industry, and I'm not sure I like it.

Are you a developer who uses Copilot, Claude, or any other AI tools in your workflow? Has it made you more ambitious? More productive? Are you more nervous now about who you're competing with? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Microsoft PowerToys will soon add on-device support for Phi Silica. Microsoft called that small language model (SLM) "small but mighty" when announcing it in 2024. Now, that model is available for Advanced Paste in the latest PowerToys preview.

Advanced Paste is a utility in PowerToys that formats content from your clipboard. It supports several formats, including plain text, markdown, and JSON. You can also use it to extract text from images using OCR and transcode audio and video files.

When first launched, Advanced Paste required an OpenAI API key, but PowerToys later added support for other models. Azure OpenAI, OpenAI, Gemini, and Mistral are cloud services that work with Advanced Paste. Foundry Local and Ollama both work with the feature locally.

Phi Silica is now available as an option for local AI processing in the latest preview.

While you may not have heard of Phi Silica, you've likely heard of tools it powers if you have a Copilot+ PC. Click to Do and on-device rewriting in Word and Outlook are powered by Phi Silica.

Phi Silica uses the NPU of a device, which helps with efficiency.

The GitHub page for PowerToys lists all the changes in the latest preview. Here are the highlights from the same page:

PowerToys v0.101.2211.0 Highlights

• Advanced Paste: Added an on-device Phi Silica provider and more per-action AI customization options.
• Command Palette: Improved dialog handling, icon loading, memory cleanup, theme behavior, and dock performance monitoring.
• Window management: Improved shutdown behavior across FancyZones, Grab And Move, and Always On Top, and made Always On Top borders render solidly at full opacity.
• Keyboard Manager: Fixed the elevated Run Program browse flow in the new editor.
• Mouse Jump: Moved Mouse Jump to the newer WinUI app architecture and packaged its new binaries into signed release builds.
• Settings: Added an update channel selector and a guided Bug Report flow with progress and a GitHub shortcut.
• Quick Accent: Made press-and-hold activation cancel cleanly so the picker appears only when intended.
• Preview releases: Added dedicated preview-release versioning and update-channel support so preview builds can be published and tested independently from stable releases.

PowerToys has a growing library of utilities, so there's a lot to look at in the latest preview even if you do not care about AI. Command Palette will perform better and Window management has been improved across FancyZones, Grab And Move, and Always On Top.

Mouse Jump being moved to WinUI modernizes the utility and gets it in line with Microsoft's push to use WinUI across Windows.

WinUI 3 is the native framework for Windows. Microsoft is moving several key components of the OS to WinUI 3 and rebuilding that framework.

The latest preview of PowerToys also makes it possible for preview builds to be published and tested independently.

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Razer, one of my favorite manufacturers that has produced some of the best PC gaming accessories I've ever used, has released a new mouse built to conquer any game you throw at it — the Razer Naga V3 Pro.

This gadget is the long-awaited evolution of the Razer Naga V2 Pro, which takes everything we loved about its predecessor (which we gave a near-perfect review score) and refines it to create the ultimate PC gamer mouse.

Here's what you need to know about the Razer Naga V3 Pro and where you can buy it.

The Razer Naga V3 Pro mouse is equipped with cutting-edge tech to improve input detection speeds and swappable button plate configurations so that it can handle a wide variety of game genres.

Its biggest selling points include:

• 23 programmable buttons and three interchangeable side button plates (a 12-button MMORPG plate, a 6-button MOBA plate, and a 2-button FPS plate).
• A Razer HyperScroll Tilt Wheel Gen-2 with new dual tactile, free-spin, and smart-reel modes to adjust its scrolling speeds to a user's preference.
• A Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-4 to give its buttons an upgraded lifecycle up to 100-million clicks, cleaner and faster input detection, tactile feedback, and a zero-bounce optical design to prevent accidental misclicks.
• A Razr Focus Pro 50K Optical Sensor Gen-3 with precise mouse-movement detection and adjustable sensitivity that can go as high as 50,000 DPI.
• Polling rates from 1000Hz to 8000Hz to help improve the mouse's input accuracy and detection speed.
• A lightweight build of 117g (with the 12-button MMORPG plate attached) so it's not so heavy to move for the wrist while allowing it to be moved more quickly when making sharp turns in first-person action games.
• A battery life of 155 hours on HyperSpeed connectivity (2.4GHz).

This mouse is Razer's next amazing premium outing for MMORPGs, MOBAs, FPS titles, and more

Our resident PC gaming accessory expert, Jez Corden, reviewed the Razer Naga V3 Pro and found it to be one of the best PC mice he's used so far this year. Jez praised it for possessing dozens of programmable buttons, the best-in-class software solution, and a premium feel that emphasizes tactility.

So, if you generally play input-heavy PC games and you want to get your hands on the Razer Naga V3 Pro, it will cost $179.99/£179.99/€199.99 at select digital retailers including Best Buy, directly from Razer.com, and at physical RazerStores.

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I've been using Razer mice for decades, and have tested dozens upon dozens of iterations of the firm's products. I'm also a dedicated MMORPG and MOBA player on PC, flipping between games like World of Warcraft and Heroes of the Storm as seasons wax and wane.

For the Warcraft-faithful, I play a Demonology Warlock, which has been simplified over the years, but in previous expansions I had anywhere up to 30+ keybinds for playing the class effectively in PvE and PvP. It was a bit like learning a musical instrument back in the day, particularly when you throw in battle potions, trinkets and other additional buttons.

As such, I've tended towards Razer mice with extra inputs to make my gaming life easier. I had no idea how much easier it was going to get until I went palm-on with the new Razer Naga V3 Pro — which is quite easily one of the best mice of 2026.

Razer Naga V3 Pro: Specs and price

The Razer Naga V3 Pro builds on its predecessor in a variety of ways, but chief among those is the inclusion of a further three configurable inputs, bringing the maximum total to 23 (and many, many more if you use HyperShift and other modifier keys).

Razer also doubled down on durability with reinforced molding processes for the switches, which the firm says will now last up to and potentially beyond 100 million actuations.

The obvious headline feature is the magnetic button plates that can be customized at will, adding between two, six, and twelve additional buttons. Razer has also included a uniquely configurable scroll wheel that comes with haptic feedback capabilities.

The mouse goes into general availability on August 11, 2026, and will set you back $179.99 from Best Buy in the United States.

Razer Naga V3 Pro: Features

The Razer Naga range has long been designed with MMO and MOBA gameplay in mind, adding a huge amount of additional inputs via a unique magnetic side plate feature.

Razer has enhanced the force of the magnets to ensure it feels well and truly part of the mouse when connected, and I can say without doubt that it well and truly does. The buttons can be programmed at will using Synapse, and modified further with a ring-finger button that defaults to Razer's dedicated "Hyper Shift" modifier key. Of course, all of these can be reconfigured too.

What struck me immediately when going palm-on was the new scroll wheel. Razer has included some unique functionality here that I've not experienced previously in other mice. You can set it to free-wheeling mode, which allows it to quite literally spin indefinitely under its own weight. There's also a standard step-stop function that most users will be familiar with, but also a precision-stop feature that adds some haptic feedback and shortens the actuation for rapid hot bar or weapon switching with more forceful control.

There is a parade of other buttons and functions too. The DPI rates have been placed in the top right corner of the mouse out of the way, requiring a little more intent to reach to prevent accidents, I suppose. There are two buttons below the scroll wheel, and the scroll wheel itself can be tilted and clicked for additional inputs too.

It sports 155 hours of battery life out of the box, and supports Razer's new Mouse Dock as well as its wireless Hyper Flux charging mouse mat. Either plugged in or connected to a compatible Hyper Speed dongle, this bad boy can go all the way up to 8,000 Hz. You will not be left wanting for speed.

Razer Naga V3 Pro: Comfort and usage

How does it feel to actually use, though? I dropped into a couple of World of Warcraft raids and played a few games of Heroes of the Storm to get a feel for it, but it was in games like Age of Empires where it truly felt transformative.

As noted, you can add up to 12 extra buttons with the side plate feature. It does take some getting used to, and I think Razer could've perhaps done a bit more to help differentiate the keys, particularly on the 12-button plate. The six button plate felt like the sweet spot for me, given that the profile of the buttons made them easier to memorize, but also I didn't find it as hard to squeeze my thumb backwards to hit the keys closest to my palm.

Indeed, you might struggle with this mouse if you don't have the most flexible hands. I found its palm hump to be a bit tall for my tastes (small ass hands maybe, or perhaps poor desk ergonomics on my end), but overall it was incredibly comfortable. I suspect most people won't have any issues with it. I also suspect that it was designed quite intentionally to be "palm grippy" to facilitate the fact users will be reaching for buttons on the side more often than on other mice.

There are probably neuroscientific reasons for this, but it does feel genuinely more intuitive to actuate inputs on the same hand as your movement intentions. Perhaps it stems from my console-oriented history in some ways, but I found it a lot easier to drop Guldan's ult with a mouse swipe and mouse click, as opposed to lining up my mouse with a keyboard press.

For Age of Empires, it was particularly fun binding various quick keys directly to the mouse. Assigning regiments, bypassing certain menus, and being able to select specific units instantly from anywhere won't make up for my lack of skill with RTS, but it did boost the fun factor.

Razer Synapse is a fantastic piece of software that ties everything together. It's still better than solutions from other companies by a country mile. Configure RGB lighting, set up profiles for specific games, configure literally all the things — quick and easy.

Some of the less useful features include Razer's macro functionality, which will sadly get you banned in a lot of online games for "automation."

The Naga V3 Pro also comes with an AI assistant key by default, which lets you bind certain Copilot prompts to mouse inputs for some reason. You can turn it off, but it's 2026 so everything has to have some kind of "AI" feature in it apparently, even if it's effectively useless. Perhaps this might become more useful if Microsoft ever ships agents to consumers, but as for right now it feels like boardroom fluff. Thankfully, that's the only "feature" here I could describe as such. Practically everything else is genuinely useful and represents a demonstrable upgrade.

There is a lot of functionality in the Razer Naga V3 Pro, and you won't need all of it all of the time. It is designed primarily for people who want maximum control over their games, and indeed, it is priced as such.

Razer Naga V3 Pro: Conclusion

The Razer Naga V3 Pro is a tour de force of functionality, with unmatched versatility for practically every genre of game you can throw at it. FPS, RTS, MOBA, MMORPG, and beyond — even the most control-complex games fall before the Naga and its capacity to inject intuitiveness into the least intuitive games and control schemes possible.

But yes, it will require configuring to get there. That's ultimately who it's designed for, though; people who play more complex games to a hardcore level, and want their peripherals to reflect their desire to configure and control their experience.

You should buy this if ...

✅ You play complex input-heavy games like MMORPGs and RTS.

✅ You like to configure your controls to the nth degree.

✅ You prefer your inputs on your mouse, rather than your keyboard.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You find configuring keybinds exhaustive and annoying.

❌ You have particularly small hands (you might find its height uncomfy).

❌ Price might be a concern.

This will become my default mouse moving forward. Being able to effectively keybind number keys 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, etc. without needing to physically reach away from WASD is a big boost in some games I play.

However, I am cognizant of the fact that I got the review unit here. Almost $200 for a mouse is tough to justify unless you're particularly passionate about the functionality the Razer Naga V3 Pro is going to provide for you. For configuration enthusiasts, there's well and truly nothing better than the Razer Naga V3 Pro right now.

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Like millions of other people, I have a Windows 11 PC and an iPhone. I'm envious of some of the ways Macs and iPhones connect, but I still rely on Windows 11 for everyday work and my hobbies.

AirDrop is one of the features I want the most when looking over the digital fence at my friends who are fully in the Apple ecosystem. While you cannot use AirDrop on a PC, there are some great alternatives.

"Does anyone actually have a good way to transfer files between an iPhone and a Windows PC?" asked Reddit user Palunath in the r/Windows11 subreddit. Users responded with several options, but two stood out: Blip and LocalSend.

Reddit delivered with both those recommendations. I downloaded both and have used them over the last week. I'm hardly the first person to highlight these apps, but if people are asking for AirDrop alternatives on Windows 11, they likely haven't heard of Blip and LocalSend.

Top pick: Blip

Transferring files is quicker and easier if both of your devices are on the same network, but Blip works when on different networks as well.

Blip is my top pick. It's easy to use, has an interface that feels familiar, and it's extremely fast. It's similar to AirDrop but without the Apple exclusivity.

Blip supports sending files and folders without any size limits (Blip's website says "99TB? Game on").

Not having to zip folders is a big plus, as is being able to send large photo files.

Blip is free for non-commercial use. If you're a business user or want priority speed, you can subscribe for $25 per user per month.

Signing up for Blip is easy and just requires entering your email and confirming the code you're sent.

Blip's website has download links for all supported platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux.

Secure second: LocalSend

LocalSend works very well, but its structure has some pros and cons. Because it works through your network, it works without the internet. It's also incredibly fast, assuming your Wi-Fi network has quick speeds.

LocalSend doesn't require an account or logging in. Your devices from the network just appear within the app. You can mark devices as favorites to streamline sharing as well.

You can download LocalSend through its website (or just use the service through that site). LocalSend is free to use.

You can send files to a single recipient or multiple recipients as well, which makes LocalSend feel a bit more like AirDrop.

LocalSend is open-source, fully offline, and peer-to-peer, so it's a great choice for people who value privacy.

The obvious drawback is that LocalSend is for sending files locally. If you just need to send files at home or work when devices are on the same network, LocalSend provides a seamless experience.

OneDrive and iCloud

Blip and LocalSend are made for sharing files on demand. If you want to sync entire folders or all of your files, you can use apps like OneDrive or iCloud.

In my experience, these apps are much slower at syncing and sending files, but they're a great way to back up content.

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