Wayne Williams

No more bloat -- Talon completely fixes Microsoft Windows 11 in just two clicks

Talon-debloats-Microsoft-Windows-11-in-two-mouse-clicks

Windows 11 is the OS Microsoft thinks you should have -- not the one you actually want. It's good, but it's also packed with a ton of features that you don’t need and will never use.

There are a number of great tools you can use to strip out unwanted features from the OS, making it faster and more lightweight, but they tend to be too complex or require an advanced degree of technical know-how to use properly.

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Get 'Microsoft 365 Word for Dummies, Second Edition' for FREE and save $18!

Word, Microsoft's powerful and popular word processor, is capable of extraordinary things. From template building to fancy formatting and even AI-powered editing and proofing, your copy of Word stands ready to help you supercharge your productivity and save you time and energy. You just need to learn how it's done. And, thanks to this easy-to-understand book, learning is the easy part!

This latest edition of Word For Dummies is packed with the essentials you need to turn any old copy of the famous word processor into a document-creating, table-formatting, graphics-editing super app. You'll even learn how to customize your version of Microsoft Word so it's absolutely perfect for you, at home and at work.

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Oreon 10, our favorite Windows replacement, has just been updated -- and it's about to get much, much better!

The biggest problem with saying goodbye to Windows 10 or 11 is knowing what to use instead. macOS is a great choice, but you’ll probably need to buy a Mac to run it, so that makes it an expensive option.

There’s no shortage of Linux distros you can use, including the big ones like Ubuntu and Mint, but they aren’t for everyone. One relatively new choice is the stunning Oreon 10 which we declared had "arrived to replace Microsoft Windows" when it launched last December. That OS has just received a big update, but it’s what’s coming next that has us most excited.

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The stunning EndeavourOS 'Mercury' arrives to replace Microsoft Windows -- download it now!

If you’ve had enough of Windows 11, or are considering moving away from Microsoft when the tech giant pulls the plug on Windows 10 later this year, there are plenty of options available to you, ranging from the likes of Nitrux Linux to the just-updated, gorgeous EndeavourOS 'Mercury'.

The successor to EndeavourOS 'Neo' has been in development for quite some time, but it's a great update and not only fixes loads of problems but also introduces some great new features.

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AR OS 2 is everything we want Windows 12 to be -- and more

Microsoft continues to work hard at improving Windows 11, fixing problems and cramming in loads of new AI features. Despite that (or perhaps because of it), its newest operating system still lags behind Windows 10 in terms of market share, even though end of life is fast approaching for that beloved but aging OS.

Microsoft hasn't officially announced Windows 12 yet, and it likely won't until after Windows 10 is no more. But if you want inspiration for what the next generation of Windows could look like, feast your eyes on the stunning AR OS 2.

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From basic to brilliant: Seelen UI transforms Windows 10/11 into the OS you've always wanted -- download it now!

Seelen UI 2.1.0

For many users, myself included, Windows 10 and 11 are functional but unremarkable. The design, while supposedly modern, tends to be a bit, well, boring. The current design comes across as bland, offering little of the warmth or personality that once defined Windows. Remember Windows XP? Whatever happened to the Microsoft that gave us that leap forward in design a couple of decades ago?

Thankfully, there is a solution at hand. Seelen UI is a free tool that reimagines what a Windows desktop can be, giving users the tools to break free from Microsoft monotony. It offers a number of customization features that will let you craft a unique, stylish and practical workspace.

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Forget upgrading to Microsoft Windows 11: Nitrux Linux 3.9.0 is the operating system you need!

Nitrux 3.9.0

With Windows 10 set to reach its end of life later this year, Microsoft has been taking every opportunity to heavily push Windows 11 as the only upgrade path for users. The latest operating system share figures from StatCounter show the message is getting through -- slowly -- with Windows 11 achieving 36.65 percent of the market, an increase of 2.53 percentage points since last month.

What that means, of course, is that Windows 10 still has 60.33 percent, suggesting users aren’t in a huge rush to move away from their OS of choice to the AI-riddled sequel. Let’s be honest, Windows 11 isn’t the only game in town for Windows 10 users looking to make the move. One of the more popular alternatives is Nitrux Linux, which has just hit a new milestone.

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Transform Windows 10 or 11 into Windows 7 in just five clicks

If you’re running Windows 11 or Windows 10 but miss the look and feel of Windows 7, there’s a simple yet brilliant way to transform your newer OS into the older one.

This process, which takes just five mouse clicks, brings back all the features you may have missed, such as Windows Media Center, Windows Gadgets, and, of course, those classic Windows 7 games. The familiar, fuss-free Start menu also returns. This transformation works on all versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11, up to 24H2.

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Microsoft expands its Surface for Business Copilot+ PC lineup with new Intel Core Ultra-powered Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7

Microsoft has today announced two additions to its Surface for Business Copilot+ PC family, with new versions of the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop that, instead of using Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon X CPUs, will be powered by Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2), giving buyers a choice.

Microsoft says the Surface Pro 11 for Business is designed to deliver high performance, versatility, and security. The device offers up to 28 percent more overall performance, 98 percent better graphics performance, and double the battery life during Teams calls, compared to the Surface Pro 9. The 13-inch PixelSense display features optional OLED technology with better color accuracy, and anti-reflective properties for improved visibility, even in direct sunlight.

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I asked ChatGPT and DeepSeek to generate some random lottery numbers -- what happened next defied all odds [updated]

Shocked at AI lottery numbers

For a bit of fun, I thought I would ask ChatGPT to generate a set of numbers for the EuroMillions draw on Friday. Then, seconds later, I asked Chinese upstart DeepSeek to do the same.

My plan was to play both sets of numbers and see which, if any, of the two AIs could win me money. The result was not at all what I expected.

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How to install Kodi 21.2 Omega on Amazon Fire TV Stick (the easy way)

Kodi 21.2 Omega has just been released, bringing with it a range of fixes and improvements. It is the latest update for the hugely popular home theater software, coming ahead of the launch of Kodi 22 Piers, which is expected to arrive (in Alpha form) in the coming months.

For a lot of users, running Kodi on an Amazon Fire TV Stick (or Firestick as it’s more commonly known) is the best way to enjoy the software and everything it has to offer, giving users access to a wide array of streaming services and media libraries.

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Kodi 21.2 'Omega' has arrived and you should download it immediately!

The Kodi Foundation is still hard at work on Kodi 22 'Piers', with an Alpha release expected in the coming months. The team hasn’t forgotten Kodi 21 users however, and a new build for that branch has just been released.

It's been five months since Kodi 21.1 'Omega' arrived, and now the Kodi Foundation has rolled out a new build, Kodi 21.2, with a raft of changes, fixes and improvements.

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Optimum 10 Pro is an upgraded version of Windows 10 with next-level performance, privacy and control

When Windows 10 first launched back in 2015, it sparked a major backlash for its aggressive data collection practices. Features like default telemetry settings and forced updates left many people feeling uncomfortable with the new OS. Microsoft eventually dialed back some of the most invasive elements, but the damage was done, and some users still worry about how much control the company has over their data.

Beyond privacy concerns, Windows 10 has also faced criticism for performance issues, especially on older hardware, and for limiting user control with automatic updates and a lack of flexibility in system customization. The good news is there is a solution.

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How to quickly remove AI results from Google Search

You can’t have failed to notice that certain searches on Google now display AI-generated summaries, known as "AI Overviews," at the top of search results.

If you ask Google a question, such as “What is Bigfoot?” you will see an instant answer explaining that it is a “legendary, hairy, ape-like creature said to live in the forests of North America, especially in the Pacific Northwest.” That overview will also provide additional information about its size, appearance, location, and other names.

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Raspberry Pi 5 gets a 16GB upgrade for memory-intensive applications

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has expanded its Raspberry Pi 5 lineup with the launch of a 16GB variant, priced at $120. This new model joins the previously released 4GB and 8GB versions introduced in 2023 and the cheaper 2GB model released last summer.

In a blog post announcing the new model, the company explains that it continues to be impressed by the diverse projects its hardware is being used in.

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