PCWorld

50 programs that fix Windows problems fast. 8 great Zoom features. Chrome's real-time phishing protection. AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT and 7800 XT review. How to extend the trial period of software.

Chrome turns on real-time phishing protection (and monitoring) • The upgraded Safe Browsing feature has nearly instant alerts for dangerous sites, but Google is downplaying the privacy issues.

Microsoft is killing WordPad, a mainstay since Windows 95 • Microsoft’s rich Windows text editor, WordPad, is officially deprecated.

Google extends Chromebook support to 10 years • Your Chromebook may now be supported longer than you thought.

You can now use Python in Microsoft Excel • Microsoft 365 Insiders get first crack at this new preview feature.

Western Digital slammed with lawsuits over dead SanDisk SSDs • Several SanDisk Extreme series SSDs have erased customers’ data. The manufacturer, Western Digital, is now facing a number of lawsuits.

Microsoft’s incessant Windows ads are getting out of control • They remind me of an endless, unwanted pitch for a time share.

HP’s Pavilion Plus laptops offer metal builds and surprising value • The new 14- and 16-inch designs offer a lot of bang for the buck, with base models starting at 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD.

Thunderbolt 5 will debut in 2024 with gamer-class charging • So far, however, Intel isn’t saying when Thunderbolt 5 will appear on your next Core-powered notebook. Spring? Fall? It’s a guessing game.

AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT and 7800 XT: The 1440p GPUs you want • Game on.

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED: More than a beautiful display • A solid laptop for the everyday person.

Microsoft OneDrive: Affordable cloud storage, plus Office • Microsoft’s cloud service is part of the Office subscription, and with plenty of space and the best extra features, it’s hard to beat.

Crucial X9 Pro external SSD: Fast, good-looking, easy on the wallet • The 10Gbps Crucial X9 drives is a sprinter for its class, but saves cash for those who can’t use or don’t need the 20 Gbps X10 Pro.

CCleaner Professional: Top-notch PC maintenance • A tune-up stalwart, but still a solid choice?

Anker 511 PowerCore Fusion 5K: A power bank made for travel • When space is a premium, the Anker 511 is an ideal companion.

50 PROGRAMS THAT FIX WINDOWS PROBLEMS WITH JUST A FEW CLICKS • ALL YOU NEED IS THE RIGHT SOFTWARE TO QUICKLY FIX COMMON WINDOWS HEADACHES. HERE ARE 50 ULTRA-HANDY TOOLS.

8 GREAT ZOOM FEATURES YOU (PROBABLY) DON’T KNOW ABOUT • MAKE YOUR ZOOM EXPERIENCE MORE FUN AND ENGAGING.

How to extend the trial period of software • Trials help you try out all the features before buying software. With a few tricks, you can even extend the test period.

12 secret Windows shortcuts you probably don’t know • Nearly all of these were new to me.

Microsoft Word: 9 tricks and hidden features • Word is the most widely used word processor, but it’s not perfect.

How to use SyncThing to sync files without the cloud • Even if you use cloud storage, SyncThing can still be a useful tool.

Tech Spotlight • A video showcase of the latest trends