Search Results for: Kodi

Zorin OS 18 Beta

With Windows 10 support ending soon, Zorin OS 18 Beta arrives as the ultimate alternative to Windows 11

Want to know a secret? If you don’t like Windows 11, you don’t actually have to use it! I know, shocker right? With Windows 10 support ending on 14 October 2025, millions of PCs will soon be left behind. For users who want to keep their existing desktop or laptop, Linux offers another way forward, and Zorin OS is one of the best Windows alternatives around.

Zorin OS 18 has now entered beta, giving Windows 10 users a chance to try a modern desktop that feels familiar without demanding new hardware or chucking you in at the deep end.

By Wayne Williams -
Nano11

Forget Tiny11, Nano11 takes Windows 11 debloating to the next level

Fans of debloating Windows now have another tool to experiment with. NTDEV, the developer behind the well known Tiny11 project, has created Nano11 Builder, a PowerShell script that hacks Microsoft’s operating system down even further.

While Tiny11 already produced a lighter and more flexible alternative to the full-fat Windows 11 install, Nano11 takes things to the extreme by automating the creation of an installer image that is a fraction of the original size.

By Wayne Williams -
Microsoft Windows 12

The brilliant Windows 12 is everything Windows 11 isn't -- and the Microsoft OS we deserve

Windows 10 is nearly at its end of life, and while Microsoft would love users to switch over to Windows 11, the truth is a lot of people aren’t keen. That's especially true for those with older hardware who are worried their systems either won’t run the latest OS at all or will struggle with reduced performance and compatibility issues.

It’s perhaps no surprise that the latest figures show Windows 11 actually losing market share.

By Wayne Williams -
Linux Lite 7.6

Linux Lite 7.6 is the perfect Windows 11 alternative for older PCs

Linux Lite has released version 7.6, an update to the superb Ubuntu-based distribution aimed at Windows users seeking a simple Linux alternative. If you’re using aging hardware or just fed up with Windows 11, this might be the lightweight Linux distro you’ve been waiting for.

Arriving as Microsoft moves toward ending Windows 10 support, the release introduces a new community-driven Wiki for documentation alongside updates to default applications and desktop tools.

By Wayne Williams -
Windows 11 lookalike Linuxfx

This updated Windows 11 clone is Linux underneath and makes your old PC run faster -- get it now

Windows 10 is edging ever nearer towards the end of its support period, which means no more security patches or updates for millions of PCs. Users will either need to run their systems without protection or upgrade to Windows 11, which has more demanding hardware requirements.

For many older laptops and desktops, Windows 11 is not an option, and this is where Linuxfx comes in. Just updated to version 11.25.09 “NOBLE”, the latest version of the Windows-style Linux distribution offers a familiar environment that runs faster on aging machines.

By Wayne Williams -
Double exposure of technology hologram with man working on computer background. Concept of big data.

Enterprise tech executives cool on the value of AI

Although enterprise AI investment continues to accelerate, executive confidence in the strategies guiding this transformation is falling according to a new report.

The research from Akkodis, looking at the views of 500 global Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) among a wider group of 2,000 executives, finds that overall C-suite confidence in AI strategy dropped from 69 percent in 2024 to just 58 percent in 2025. The sharpest declines are reported by CTOs and CEOs, down 20 and 33 percentage points respectively.

By Ian Barker -
Shocked at AI lottery numbers

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

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.

By Wayne Williams -
IMG_9965

CORSAIR EX400U USB4 SSD is a pocket-sized storage powerhouse

CORSAIR has introduced the EX400U USB4 External SSD, a portable storage device designed to deliver fast data transfer speeds while being compact enough to carry anywhere. With sequential read speeds of up to 4,000MB/sec and write speeds reaching 3,600MB/sec, the EX400U is perfect for tasks like video editing, transferring large files, or managing demanding projects.

Taking advantage of USB4’s high bandwidth, the EX400U offers excellent performance while remaining compatible with USB 3.x Type-C and Thunderbolt 4. Whether you’re on a PC, Mac, or iOS device, it’s a plug-and-play solution that doesn’t require complex setups. The included USB Type-C cable handles both power and data, making it even easier to use.

By Brian Fagioli -
Optimum-10-Pro-Hero

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.

By Wayne Williams -
Skyrim

Winlator 8 lets you play Windows PC games on your Android phone for free -- download it now!

Running Android games on a PC is straightforward with emulators like Bluestacks or NoxPlayer. If you want to play popular AAA Windows PC games on an Android device, things get a bit trickier.

This is where Winlator comes in. Winlator is a free Android app that allows users to run Windows (x86_64) games using Wine 9.2 (custom) and Box64 (0.3.0), and it has just received an update to version 8.0 which includes a lot of new features and improvements.

By Wayne Williams -
IMG_7443

Intel-based Radxa X4 Raspberry Pi alternative can run both Microsoft Windows 11 and Linux

If you have been thinking of buying an ARM-based Raspberry Pi, you may want to reconsider. You see, a new alternative SoC computer, the Radxa X4, is powered by the Intel N100 processor, part of the Alder Lake-N series. That processor will allow you to run full Windows 11 as well as Linux-based operating systems.

This board offers quad-core processing with speeds up to 3.4 GHz and is supported by Intel’s UHD Graphics. This device is equipped with a variety of features tailored to meet the needs of a diverse user base. Memory options range from 4GB to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and additional onboard eMMC storage options are available.

By Brian Fagioli -
Mawarebytes-5

Malwarebytes 5.0 sneaks out, sporting modern new interface and Trusted Advisor

Malwarebytes is quietly rolling out a major new version of its eponymous anti-malware tool with the release of Malwarebytes 5.0. The tool is available in both free and premium versions for desktop and mobile.

MBAM 5.0 is released almost five years after version 4.0 made its bow in May 2019. Like its predecessor, the major change is a sleek new user interface, although this latest effort packs in improved navigation and user-friendliness to go with the modern look.

By Nick Peers -
Win12-Mobile-Hero-

Windows 12 Mobile is everything a phone operating system should be

Microsoft made a significant investment in Windows 10 Mobile, including acquiring Nokia to produce its own handsets. Despite the strengths of the tiled mobile operating system, it was unable to compete with the dominant iOS and Android platforms. While Windows 10 went on to become a hugely successful operating system for PCs and tablets, Microsoft was eventually to abandon its mobile ambitions.

Although the tech giant has yet to announce Windows 12, if you’re wondering how that OS would look and perform in the mobile space, we have an answer.

By Wayne Williams -
Kodi-20.1

Best Windows apps this week

Five-hundred-and-thirty-four in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.

Microsoft unveiled Microsoft 365 Copilot yesterday, which "combines the power of large language models (LLMs) with business data and Microsoft 365 apps".

By Martin Brinkmann -
ccleaner

Best Windows apps this week

Five-hundred-and-twenty-six in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.

Microsoft released a new Windows 11 Insider build this week with a tabbed Notepad interface and Windows Spotlight improvements. Windows 11 users may run into "this app can't open" error messages on Windows 11 version 22H2 after system restore operations.

By Martin Brinkmann -
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