CATEGORIES

THE HOTTEST TECH TOYS FOR KIDS

From a build-it-yourself space station to a portable storyteller to Harry Potter’s Hedwig, here are the 2021 tech toys that’ll bring the kids in your life a ton of fun

MicrosoftOneDrive Is Ditching Windows 7, 8, and 8.1

The cloud storage platform will drop support for older versions of Windows in early 2022.

THE BEST PRODUCTS OF 2021

You need only one list this holiday season when you’re buying tech gifts. Here’s PCMag’s annual collection of the 101 most exceptional products tested and rated by our experts in the past year.

Facebook Shuts Down Its Facial-Recognition System

Facebook doesn’t point to a single incident that prompted the decision, but it comes as facial-recognition systems (and the social network in general) have come under fire.

SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium (for PC): Rich Fighting Game

Potent pocket fighting on PC

iRobot Roomba j7+: Smart and Capable

Peace of mind for people with accident-prone pets

Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model (Late 2021): Perennial Gaming Favorite

Faster CPU, better webcam bolster the beloved Blade 15

HP Chromebook x2 (2021): A Clever Combination

The best Chrome OS detachable of 2018 returns strong B

ESET NOD32 Antivirus: Way Beyond the Essential

An effective antivirus for the tech-savvy

Beats Fit Pro: Solid ANC

A bass-heavy alternative to the AirPods Pro

Penn & Teller

Magic’s best-dressed duo talks life, tech in magic, and 46 years of genuine friendship.

2021: A Space Reality

The Rising Battle of Conquering Consumer Space Travel

AI in Streaming Services

The shows you ‘choose’ to watch aren’t entirely your decision.

GREEN SPEED - Anthony Cross' Love of Sustainable Innovation

The Colorado-based former magazine publisher returns to his love of vehicles with Zaiser Motors and a fresh new look at electric motorcycles.

5 Reasons to Stay Bullish on Crypto

After a rough stretch, it’s time to start thinking about the future.

Rising Superstars of the STEM World

NOAA Scientist Dr. Tracy Fanara and Mythbusters Co-Host Tamara Robertson love fashion, the ocean, superheroes and tinkering with things. They’re also two of the most prominent scientists promoting and mentoring kids in STEM.

Playing with Sharks

Valerie Taylor began swimming with sharks as a teenager. Now, 70 years later, she reflects on her amazing journey as the world’s greatest living shark expert and protector of the species.

We're at the Tipping Point of Electrification

Everything is Going to Change — the Only Question is How Quickly

VAVA 4K UHS Dash Cam

PRODUCT REVOLUTION

Space Jam

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps is training to fly into the unknown. She shares how she prepares mentally and physically while still managing to stay grounded.

Nexvoo NexPad Pro T530

PRODUCT REVOLUTION

Tivoli Audio Model One Digital (Gen. 2)

PRODUCT REVOLUTION

Modula5

PRODUCT REVOLUTION

Climate Reparations

A trillion tons of carbon hang in the air, put there by the world’s rich— an existential threat to its poor. Can we remove it?

HOW TO USE SNAP LAYOUTS IN WINDOWS 11

Windows 11 may be better known for its centered taskbar and rounded window borders, but the new Snap Layouts feature (sometimes also called Snap Assist) might be a more useful UI innovation. Windows, as its name implies, has long been excellent at managing and rearranging program windows, but Snap Layouts elevate the operating system (OS) to the next level.

CAN MY PC RUN WINDOWS 11?

With rounded corners for all windows, relocated taskbar icons, and more elegant Settings dialogs, Windows 11 is a significant visual refinement of Windows 10. It’s also a free update, which means you’re probably keen to install it on your existing PC.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max: Excellent Media Streamer

Wi-Fi 6 is capable of higher speeds and better performance than the Wi-Fi 5 we’re used to, especially in crowded network environments, and Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the first media streamer under $100 we’ve seen to support the standard (the $180 Apple TV 4K also uses it).

HOW TO SET UP AND CUSTOMIZE YOUR WINDOWS 11 INSTALLATION

The Windows 11 setup process is similar to that of Windows 10, but there are a few surprises when it comes to account access, privacy, security, and other features. And installing the new OS is only half the battle. Afterward, you have to go through a host of setup screens to customize and configure Windows 11 the way you want it.

Holograms Are (Maybe, Finally) Real: Light Field Labs' SolidLight

In front of me is a wristwatch. Somehow, it’s floating in the air. It’s shiny, spotless, and seemingly solid. Light reflects across the metal timepiece like it’s on display at a jewelry store, ready to be handled and bought. But then I get closer and try to touch the floating watch. My hand passes through it and feels only air.

Microsoft Offers TPM 2.0 Bypass to Install Windows 11 on Unsupported PC

For months, Microsoft has been telling customers that Windows 11 requires your PC to have a special security chip called TPM 2.0—but you can actually skirt the restriction. Ironically, the company itself posted official guidance on its website detailing how to circumvent the TPM 2.0 requirement.