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Whatever happened to Minesweeper and 3D Pinball on Windows?
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Whatever happened to Minesweeper and 3D Pinball on Windows? Windows used to ship with a bunch of iconic games that you could play straight after installation. Here's why they're gone and what happened. Remember back in the day when you could install Windows 98 or Windows 7 on a PC and enjoy built-in goodies like,,,, and?
LG's 45-inch OLED ultrawide with dual refresh modes is 700 off
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. LG's 45-inch OLED ultrawide with dual refresh modes is $700 off Ultrawide monitors offer significantly more horizontal screen real estate, which is handy whether you're gaming (for immersion) or working (for focus and productivity). OLED panels offer true blacks, vivid colors, and ultra-fast response times. The LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B combines both into a single 45-inch display that'll upgrade any PC desk. The 45GX950A-B is priced down on Amazon right now, available for "just" $1,299.99.
OpenClaw is yesterday's hype and today's AI blueprint
PCWorld notes that OpenClaw 2.0 has launched with easier setup, improved browser experience, and masked security credentials to protect sensitive system files. The tool connects to ChatGPT, Claude, and local LLMs, but users should remain cautious given the AI's deep system access and required trust levels. OpenClaw's early vision appears to have inspired major players like Google, Nvidia, and Microsoft, whose products Scout and Gemini Spark reflect its agentic AI blueprint.
Windows 11's latest optional update finally fixes search clutter
PCWorld reports that Microsoft's Windows 11 optional update KB5120981 cleans up Windows Search by removing cluttered Bing and MSN results, prioritizing more relevant local results instead. The update also improves typo handling, file categorization, and introduces gradual features like taskbar repositioning, making it a meaningful quality-of-life improvement. However, users should be aware of potential cursor and wallpaper bugs post-installation, so waiting may be wise if stability is a priority. A few days ago, Microsoft rolled out KB5120998, an optional update for Windows 11 that introduces several new features and improvements ( like the taskbar being repositionable again). Another noteworthy improvement is that the built-in Windows Search has been tidied up, meaning you'll no longer see results from Bing, Copilot, and MSN mixed in. Other search-related changes include: web searches no longer prioritizing ads and product suggestions, instead now always showing the most relevant result first; more clarity as to whether a search result is an app, a setting, a file, a web page, or a Microsoft Store recommendation; and the ability to cleanly handle typos and incomplete terms. Since KB5120998 is an optional update, you'll have to install it manually if you want to take advantage of its benefits. Otherwise, you can wait for it to release as part of September's big update.
Building a new PC from old parts? Don't reuse these components
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Not every old PC part deserves a spot in your new build. Here's how to tell what's safe to reuse and what to replace. When building a new desktop computer, it makes sense to reuse as many components as possible from your old machine. That very flexibility is one of the greatest advantages of a self-built system!
Windows 10 and 11 users are seeing a Defender warning that isn't real
PCWorld reports that Windows 10 and 11 users are seeing false warning messages claiming Microsoft Defender has been turned off, despite the security software remaining fully active. The issue stems from a recent antivirus update bug, causing incorrect notifications across multiple Windows versions. Microsoft is aware of the problem and is working on a fix expected in an upcoming update, so users should not panic. Over the past few days, some Windows 11 users have been getting incorrect warning messages about Microsoft Defender--the operating system's built-in security solution--being disabled.
This Ryzen 7 mini PC with 16GB RAM just hit a new low price: 423
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. The Acemagic K1 has good hardware and supports three 4K monitors, and it's now on sale at Amazon. If you want the full power of a laptop in a tinier package at a smaller price, what you're looking for is a mini PC--one like this Acemagic K1 that's on sale for $422.99 at Amazon . To score this extra low price, you just have to click the on-page coupon for an extra 10% off its listed sale price. And when I say "extra low," I mean it.
Kensington Triple 4K TB5 dock review: Killer speeds, but a few glitches
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Kensington's Triple 4K docking station excels on performance, but its stability is more in question. Kensington's Thunderbolt 5 Triple 4K Docking Station (SD5010T5) is an attractively priced 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 dock, with excellent performance but questionable stability. Kensington's Thunderbolt 5 Triple 4K Docking Station (SD5010T5, sometimes referred to as the SD5010T5 EQ) feels like a 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 dock for the PC, rather than the Mac, with multiple HDMI ports rather than a host of Thunderbolt upstream connections. Performance is stellar; stability, less so.
My robot vacuum can map a house. My car broke its brain
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. My robot vacuum can map a house. So let me set the scene here. But the backseat of my car is covered in dog hair, and I'm in no mood to wrestle one of those long-hosed vacuums at my local car wash. The suction on those things sucks anyway.
Meta's 18 billion payout isn't enough to save our kids
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. The actual teen protections are more complicated. I'm not a parent, but I'm looking at the Meta settlement wondering if our kids are any safer. If you haven't heard already, Meta agreed last Wednesday to settle a lawsuit over Facebook and Instagram's affect on children. Brought by 47 states, Washington D.C., and several U.S. territories, the suit alleged that Meta purposely made its platforms addictive to kids, ultimately causing negative mental health outcomes like anxiety, depression, and even suicide.