
Windows defaults to the “Quick removal” policy, which disables aggressive SSD write caching and can slow down small, frequent write operations. Changing the policy to “Better performance” enables write caching, allowing the drive to acknowledge writes once data reaches the SSD’s cache rather than waiting for NAND commitment. This adjustment improves responsiveness on both internal SATA and NVMe SSDs, while external USB drives should retain Quick removal to avoid data loss from accidental unplugging. The fix requires only a few clicks in the drive’s Properties → Policies tab.

Microsoft’s Windows 11 24H2 update now activates BitLocker automatically during the out‑of‑box experience when a Microsoft account, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot are present. The encryption starts silently, using the same engine as the Pro‑only BitLocker but without visible controls on Home devices. Because...

The article ranks five ultra‑lightweight operating systems by download size, from KolibriOS at roughly 1.44 MB up to Slax at under 300 MB. Each OS delivers a functional desktop environment despite its tiny footprint, with KolibriOS fitting on a floppy disk and...

An author of a MakeUseOf article discovered that their Debian‑based Linux system’s Downloads folder had accumulated 14 GB of obsolete files, including old ISOs, duplicate PDFs, and lingering .deb packages. By manually auditing the directory with basic commands and applying a...

The article explains how connecting a smartphone to a TV with a USB‑C to HDMI adapter unlocks features beyond simple casting. A wired link bypasses DRM restrictions, allowing apps like Netflix and Disney+ to play uninterrupted, and Samsung’s DeX mode...

Raghav Sethi reviews Khoj AI, a self‑hostable research assistant that fills the gap between lightweight chat tools and heavyweight platforms like NotebookLM. The service offers a free web tier powered by Gemini Flash 3 and a Docker‑based self‑hosting option that can...

A growing number of power users are ditching subscription‑based note‑taking services for a free, open‑source stack that guarantees data ownership. The combination of Obsidian, which treats each note as a plain‑text Markdown file, and Syncthing, which synchronizes those files peer‑to‑peer,...

Alt‑Tab Terminator, a free Windows utility from NTWind Software, replaces the default Alt‑Tab switcher with a vertically organized panel featuring large icons, live previews, and a searchable task list. The tool adds keyboard shortcuts for window actions and integrates with...

A Linux laptop’s fan was constantly loud despite modest CPU usage and temperatures around 65 °C. The author discovered the noise stemmed from frequent CPU frequency spikes triggered by mismatched power‑management settings, not a cooling problem. Ubuntu’s power‑profiles‑daemon was overridden by...

Ultra‑Wideband (UWB) smart door locks can detect a user’s approach within 10 cm and unlock automatically, eliminating the need to pull out a phone. The first UWB‑enabled models – Aqara U400 and Ultraloq Bolt Mission – launched in January 2026, priced at $270 and $300...

Google’s At a Glance widget is a hallmark of Pixel phones, but its built‑in customization is modest. The third‑party app Smartspacer upgrades this widget by adding targets, complications, and plugins, and introduces an Expanded Smartspace drawer for deeper data display....

Android 16 introduces predictive back animation, a gesture‑based navigation that shows a preview of the previous screen when swiping from the device edges. The feature is enabled by default, but its behavior varies across devices and apps—some show a back arrow,...

LatencyMon is a free Windows utility that diagnoses hidden latency issues causing audio crackles, video stutter, and input lag. Unlike Task Manager, it measures hardware interrupt execution times and highlights problematic *.sys* drivers. The tool presents a clear verdict and...

The article walks through building a RetroPie console on a Raspberry Pi 3B, emphasizing the board’s sweet‑spot performance for classic games. It lists essential hardware—2.5 A power supply, 32 GB microSD, wired controller—and warns against common missteps like flashing the wrong image. Step‑by‑step instructions...
A tech writer transformed an unused Pixel 5 into a dedicated bedside assistant, leveraging its OLED always‑on display, wireless charging, and low standby draw. By installing a minimal home screen, enabling Bedtime Mode, and adding the Sleep as Android app, the...

Apple’s Shortcuts app, pre‑installed on macOS, offers a powerful, visual automation platform that supersedes the older Automator tool. Users can create workflows by dragging actions, set triggers, and leverage a built‑in Gallery of ready‑made shortcuts without writing code. The app...

Long‑time Google Photos users are growing frustrated with its crowded interface and limited privacy controls, prompting a shift toward self‑hosted alternatives. PhotoPrism, an open‑source, AI‑driven photo manager, lets users store images on their own servers while offering advanced tagging, RAW...

Microsoft has begun rolling out Windows MIDI Services, a new MIDI stack for Windows 11 that modernizes the legacy MIDI 1.0 architecture. The service introduces native MIDI 2.0 support, multi‑client endpoints, and dramatically lower latency, while preserving compatibility with existing APIs and devices....

AMD’s Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) is a BIOS toggle that lifts the power‑delivery limits of Ryzen CPUs, allowing them to sustain higher boost clocks for longer periods. Enabling PBO on a Ryzen 7 7700 delivered consistent 7‑10% multi‑core gains on rendering, compiling...
Consent‑O‑Matic, a free browser extension from Aarhus University, automatically rejects unwanted cookie‑consent banners on Chrome, Firefox and Safari. It groups pop‑ups into five categories, lets users set preferences once, and then applies them silently across sites. The open‑source rule generator...