Hardware Reviews

Alienware x15 R2 Review - Space Oddity

A couple of things hit me when the Alienware x15 R2 arrived at my door - its flashy design and surprisingly light weight. As is their selling point, Alienware knows how to impress. Though it's not a perfect piece of tech, my two weeks with this laptop showed off so much more than this. Often likened to Apple, they have a knack for putting together systems that just work incredibly well. You may be able to get better performance for the money or a few machines with nicer specs but the entire pac

Here's why you should look into an antivirus package for Mac

Though people have been saying for years that Macs are nearly impenetrable, this isn't true. You need an antivirus for mac if you're looking to support your machine long-term. Apple does provide surprisingly strong protections from the very start (often more so than a Windows PC) but they are not immune to viruses. It's worth pointing out that most antivirus packages offer so much more than file protection or the ability to stop you from downloading the wrong thing. They often provide a VPN ser

Razer Kishi V2 Review - Mobile and Marvellous

Cloud streaming gaming has had a bad rap over the last few years. With the closure of Google Stadia and the negative response to some Nintendo Switch reports, it's easy to see why. This being said, the Razer Kishi V2 mobile gaming controller is by far the best argument for it I've seen so far. Being a controller to play your mobile games with, there a few main things it has to get right. It needs to feel nice in the hands, it needs to look good, and it needs to roughly imitate what console gami

How good is the PSVR2 for fitness?

If you're thinking of picking up a PSVR2 for fitness, you'll be pleased to hear that it's a great way to get a little exercise into your life. Though VR fitness may not replace the gym , it can be a great supplement for when you don't really feel like going. And the PSVR2 provides a light and comfortable headset that's well suited to getting a swear on in virtual reality. We've spent a couple of weeks putting the PSVR2 through its paces and exploring the fitness options that it offers. It's a

Fotojet vs PhotoPad: Which is the best collage maker?

A good collage is an often underappreciated art. Drawing the line between tasteful and cheesy can be difficult and this is made even harder when your own app works against you. In this sense, you want something with varied and broad templates that has just enough customizability to make your collage feel special. As well as this, you may be looking for something with tonnes of extra features on Windows, macOS or Linux. Sometimes, you look for a specific collage. For others, you may just let the

Amazon Luna review - Head in the clouds

Cloud gaming has been in a little bit of a weird place for a while. Though Xbox Game Pass is still doing well and the Nintendo Switch is continuing to invest in cloud ports, Google Stadia just shuttered. For every advancement, there seems to be a step back. That being said, the Amazon Luna makes a lot of sense to me. Given they have huge servers running things like Amazon itself and Twitch, they have the facilities to work with something like this. Though I wasn't blown away by everything on of

Canva vs Fotor: which free photo editor is best for you?

Free software can be a little bit of a minefield. Generally, you have to sacrifice some features and privacy privileges in order to benefit from the low price point. Luckily, when it comes to the best free photo editors, there are plenty of good choices – perhaps even too many to choose between. To help make your decision a little easier we're going to compare two of our favorites from the list: Canva and Fotor. Below we go through their features, unique selling points, and their reliability –

Gamesir G7 SE Xbox Controller review - A great fit

Third-party controllers have really had a turnaround in fortune over the last decade or so. Formerly reserved for the extra friend when you don't quite have enough controllers, they’ve now become a great first-choice option, regularly providing many of the best assets of an official controller at a more appealing price. The Gamesir G7 SE is a really great choice for any player who needs an extra wired controller at their disposal, but it lacks a little bit of the versatility of the official Ser

How to choose the perfect gaming mouse: Weight, wired vs wireless, more

If you’re looking to upgrade your mouse but you’re a little lost on what to choose, this is what you should look for in a gaming mouse and how you choose your own. Picking the perfect gaming mouse can be hard. Do you go for one that is light and accessible? How about one covered with buttons? How much of an impact should a mouse’s DPI have on your decision? The market is flooded with excellent choices and, occasionally, technical jargon can get in the way of figuring out what works best for you

How to install Windows 10 and 11 on a Steam Deck

Valve's Steam Deck has already been a success for users who commute on the train for jobs and family, with the ability to use their Steam library on the go being very enticing. However, a new update has been released that enables users to install Windows 10 or Windows 11 on the handheld, which can allow other apps to be used on the Deck, not just Steam games. Yet, this isn't a simple affair – it's easy to get lost in the steps required in order to get Windows onto the handheld, which is why we

Best music production apps for Macs in 2022

Being great at guitar or an improvisation king on the piano is only one facet of making good music. In the modern age, being technically great isn’t required if you’re creative enough. How you put together your music is just as important as being able to make it in the first place. The DAW, or digital audio workstation, is what you need to look at if you’re interested in production. This will allow you to record yourself, and it will actively change the way you make music. Learning to compensat

Best photo-editing apps for Mac in 2022

Picking a good image editor for Apple's Mac computers can be a challenging task if you're new to the platform. With so many options all doing slight variations of the same thing, it's easy to feel like you might be missing something. If you want to edit photos or make entirely new images, you need a robust editor with powerful tools. There are tons of editing apps available on macOS and, with Apple's Silicon chips already beating the Intel Macs in speed and battery performance, there's even mor

Best music production apps for Macs in 2022

Being great at guitar or an improvisation king on the piano is only one facet of making good music. In the modern age, being technically great isn’t required if you’re creative enough. How you put together your music is just as important as being able to make it in the first place. The DAW, or digital audio workstation, is what you need to look at if you’re interested in production. This will allow you to record yourself, and it will actively change the way you make music.

Google Maps: Five features I'd like to see heading into Google IO

Google Maps, like Google itself, is a bit of an icon. This status comes from years of constant updates, best-in-class dedication to consistent maps, and an overall pleasant UI. This being said, with the likes of Apple Maps starting to compete, Google will need to refresh the experience to make sure it stays ahead. A healthy, competitive ecosystem is also the best way to keep all competitors thriving and growing. Google is still the top dog in regards to maps so it needs to pull out the stops to

How to find the the best gaming keyboard: N-key rollover, switches, what to look for

Looking for a new gaming keyboard, but don’t know what to look for? Here’s our guide on how to make sure you buy the perfect gaming keyboard for you. A gaming keyboard is one of the most foundational items in a good setup. If you’re looking to play at your absolute best, you need something that fits your playstyle, works well with your setup, and, most importantly, feels comfortable to use. When you think about your setup, you not only need to think about what the best gaming keyboard is but w

Marsback Zephyr Pro Review

Making the distinction between a gimmick and a feature can often be a hard thing to do. Does its function outweigh its purpose? Are you buying it for a central purpose? Is it something to show your friends? These are all questions to get to the center of that idea, but even then it’s hard to really know. The Marsback Zephyr Pro has had these questions rolling around in my brain for the last month and I still don’t know where it falls.

PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X Review

PowerA are a company I've known over the last year for making high-end elite controller replacements. With tons of customization options and some smart design decisions, they have mostly managed to find their niche among the most expensive controllers you can find. The PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X does the exact opposite, providing a unique-looking controller for around half the price of a standard Series X controller.
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