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Two NASA officials have weighed in on the public dispute over when and how to bring home Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been on the International Space Station since June.

Losses from investment scams accounted for nearly half of that amount, the FTC says.

The New York Times Dealbook conference in November 2023, when he criticized advertisers for boycotting his social media platform, X, after Media Matters and other groups reported on the rise of extremist content on the platform since his 2022 purchase.'/>

A new suit in an ongoing legal battle between the billionaire and the liberal advocacy group claims Musk's legal attacks are impeding the organization's work.

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According to the survey, 57% of drinkers believe their alcohol consumption does not increase their personal risk of serious health problems.

(Image credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

• TCL has announced the QM7K, a mid-range series of mini-LED TVs
• The QM7K series is available in the US in 55- to 115-inch screen sizes
• QM7K series TVS feature a built-in 2.2-channel Bang & Olufsen speaker system

TCL had a relatively low-key presence at the recent CES 2025, announcing just one series of new TVs, the budget-priced QM6K. The company promised more TV news would be forthcoming in a “phased series rollout,” and today, it made good on that promise with the announcement of the QM7K series mini-LED TVs.

The new mid-range sets from TCL range in size from 55 inches up to a gargantuan 115 inches, with prices starting at $1,299.99 for the 55-inch model and $19,999.99 for the 115-inch behemoth.

TCL’s QM7K series TVs feature a Super High Energy mini-LED chip design that the company claims will increase brightness by 53% and light efficiency by 10%. They additionally feature a new Halo Control System with a Super Condensed Micro Lens to minimize light blooming artifacts, along with a new Crystglow HVA Panel with anti-reflection properties. TCL is claiming up to 3,000 nits peak brightness for the new TVs, which provide up to 2,800 local dimming zones.

Video features on the QM7K series include Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, and HDR10 high dynamic range support, along with a Filmmaker Mode and IMAX Enhanced certification.

A built-in 2.2-channel Bang & Olufsen speaker system delivers Dolby Atmos sound, and the Google TV is onboard for streaming with a far-field mic for voice control.

Gaming is also well supported on the QM7K series TVs, with 4K 144Hz for PC gaming, AMD FreeSync, and a Game Accelerator feature for 1080p 288Hz VRR.

QM7K series: TCL’s best value TV?

According to TCL, 2024's TCL QM7 series “was the biggest star in our portfolio last year, with some of the best-selling skus in the U.S.”

TechRadar didn’t review a QM7 series model, but the step-up TCL QM851G series landed on our list of the best TVs in 2024. Looking over the QM7K series specifications, they are very similar to last year’s QM851G, which was the brightest TV we’ve yet tested, exceeding its 3,000 nits peak brightness spec at 3,583 nits (in Vivid picture mode).

The gaming features TCL has listed for the new QM7K are also similar to what was provided on the QM851G, and TCL’s new Halo Control System with a Super Condensed Micro Lens – and 2,800 local dimming zones – promises to deliver similarly excellent, backlight blooming-free blacks when watching movies and TV shows with dark content.

Also notable is the QM7K’s built-in 2.2-channel Bang & Olufsen sound system. The QM851G’s powerful 2.1.2-channel Onkyo-designed speakers performed well in our tests. And while Onkyo has a well-deserved reputation for sound quality, Bang & Olufsen is a premium brand that’s been responsible for some cutting-edge TV designs that combine an OLED panel with both built-in and external wireless speakers.

We look forward to getting our hands on a QM7K model soon for testing. Prices for the new TVs, which, except for the 98- and 115-inch models, are available now, are significantly lower than what the QM851G initially listed for. If the QM7K series can even approach the performance of the QM851G series, it should be an exceptional value.

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• Health New Zealand’s finances are being tracked with Excel
• The body operates 6,000 apps and 100 digital networks
• No immediate plans to modernize its systems

A recently published report has revealed Health New Zealand (HNZ) has been relying on a single Microsoft Excel spreadsheet as its primary financial management tool.

Established in 2022, HNZ was designed to replace 20 district health boards in the name of cost efficiency and service consistency, but until now, the body has been relying on basic spreadsheet software that has been deemed unsuitable for purpose.

A Deloitte report found HNZ lost control of “critical levers that drive financial outcomes,” which it blamed primarily on “the inability to identify and respond to the disconnect between expenditure and revenue” among other factors.

New Zealand’s healthcare was run off an Excel spreadsheet

HNZ reported a $1.013bn deficit against a breakeven budget in 2022/23, and by 2023/24, Doilette says financial challenges were “increasingly evident.”

Overall, the report specified five major issues with the Excel-based system: hard-coded financial data made updates and source tracing difficult; errors such as incorrectly released accruals were not picked up until later; changes to prior periods would not flow into consolidated data; limited tracking allows for easy data manipulation; and input and changes are prone to simple human errors, such as typos or missing zeroes.

“The use of an Excel spreadsheet file to track and report financial performance for a $28bn expenditure organisation raises significant concerns," Deloitte summarized.

Separately, Health Minister Simeon Brown recently revealed in a speech that HNZ operates an estimated 6,000 applications and 100 digital networks – he described the healthcare system’s digital infrastructure as “fragmented.”

Despite the damming report, the Health Minister has not revealed any immediate plans to replace Excel. A potential Health Infrastructure Entity is being considered for managing physical and digital assets, but no timeline has been set. TechRadar Pro has contacted Health New Zealand for a comment.

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As TechRadar's Homes Editor, I spend a lot of my time testing and writing about vacuums. It is my opinion that Dyson makes some of the very best vacuum cleaners on the market. They're super easy to maneuver, they're well-built, and the suction is excellent. Some even have things like lasers, sensors, and LED screens. But almost all of them – bar the very top model – have one big, basic usability issue, and I just can't understand why.

Here it is: the trigger needs to be continually held down when using the vacuum.

If you're vacuuming anything bigger than a doormat, that means a sore index finger. It impedes maneuverability too, because you need to factor in your poor digits when twisting the vacuum into awkward corners. I've tested lots of vacuums now, and in my experience it's rare that the manufacturer won't provide a way to lock the power on for continuous running. Yet, whenever I get my Dyson V8 out to do some comparative testing, I am immediately frustrated by the trigger setup.

There's no way to activate continuous running on most Dyson vacuums, including the V8 (Image credit: Future)

It's not a price thing; most of the best budget vacuums address this potential problem. Even the ultra-cheap vacuum I purchased when I bought my first flat (and discovered, to my horror, how much such boring adult appliances could cost), had a simple-but-effective plastic clip that held the trigger down. Sure, the suction was barely a gentle breeze, but at least my finger wasn't getting sore as I waved my new vac ineffectually across my floors.

What's more baffling to me is that Dyson is clearly investing in product development. It's one of the best vacuum brands when it comes to innovation. This is an incredibly basic usability issue that absolutely should have been addressed before Dyson started messing around with lasers and real-time dust sensors.

Button vs trigger

The brand has fixed the issue on the Dyson Gen5detect – the newest and best Dyson vacuum by specs. That model uses a single-press button rather than a trigger for operation, which means your fingers don't need to get involved at all (except for tuning it on or off).

But the Gen5detect is a very expensive model, mainly because it's packed with tech and advanced engineering. While I'm happy the Gen5 exists, for most people it'll be overkill. I generally think something like the Dyson V11 offers a much better balance of performance to price, and I'd wholeheartedly recommend it... if it weren't for that pesky trigger issue.

The Gen5detect is the only model to have button rather than a trigger (Image credit: Future)

Dyson was late in addressing its trigger problem, and I think it should consider retrospectively fixing the issue on at least some of the four or so models that remain in the current lineup and precede the Gen5. Let's not forget that even these older models are still not particularly cheap. Imagine splashing $749.99 / £649.99 / AU$1,449 on a V15 Detect and discovering Dyson hasn't even spared a thought for your poor index finger.

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• AI servers boost revenue but have far lower margins than traditional servers
• AI server sales are hugely unpredictable, with revenue fluctuating massively
• Companies like Dell offset low AI margins with storage, networking, and support

The high-performance computing market has long been a tough space for manufacturers to turn a profit, and this is true even with the surge in demand for AI servers.

In a new deep-dive, The Next Platform has looked into the economics faced by server makers like Dell, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Lenovo which shows that while those firms are aggressively pushing AI server deployments, the real profits are being made elsewhere.

The site reports that although AI server deals are increasing the likes of Dell’s total revenue and adding some profit, they are also reducing the overall profitability per dollar earned because the profit margins on AI servers are much lower than those on traditional servers and storage.

Unpredictable AI hardware sales

TNP's Timothy Prickett Morgan notes, “Almost all of the margin of building AI systems is going to Nvidia for GPUs, interconnects, and sometimes CPUs as well as to those making memory and flash storage for these AI systems. AMD is getting some margins, and eventually Arista Networks and Cisco Systems will get their shares of the AI revenue and profit pie, too, but it hasn’t really happened yet. AMD is getting a skinny slice of GPU and CPU revenue from AI servers, and Intel has an even tinier slice of CPU revenue and profit. That’s about it.”

Dell reported $2.1 billion in AI server revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 that ended in January, down from $2.9 billion in the previous quarter and significantly lower than the $3.1 billion recorded in Q2. This fluctuation highlights the unpredictable nature of AI hardware sales.

Despite the challenges, Dell said in a call to Wall Street analysts that it expects to generate at least $15 billion from AI servers in fiscal 2026. Its AI server backlog stood at $4.1 billion at the end of Q4, but a recent $4.9 billion deal with xAI, which we reported last month, immediately pushed it to $9 billion.

“AI servers have gross margins on the order of 5 percent. A mix of enterprise servers consisting of big systems for running ERP systems and databases, midrange machines for mid-sized companies, and less capacious boxes for small businesses have gross margins that are on the order of three times higher than this,” Prickett Morgan writes.

“The networking and storage attached to these systems adds more margin, and so does installation, tech support, and financing services. The latter is where companies like Dell, HPE, and Lenovo make up for the fact that building the physical server is not worth much margin at all.”

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After Netflix offered glimpses at serial killer Joe Goldberg's (Penn Badgley) bloody final chapter with an ominous first image and a short teaser trailer, the streaming service has finally dropped an official two-minute trailer for You season 5.

Joe's deadly journey is coming to an end with You season 5 as his murderous escapades in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and London see him return to where it all began in New York City.

The trailer teases "the killer finale you never saw coming" and going off the clip alone, I think You season 5 has promise to become the best season yet even though my favorite character Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti) isn't around to make Joe's life a nightmare.

In the trailer for one of the best Netflix shows, the book-loving killer is back in New York aka "the greatest city in the world," with his You season 4 love interest Kate Lockwood (Charlotte Ritchie). Now that Kate is the powerful leader of her father's company, Joe has emerged from the shadows and gone under the spotlight as he reveals: "Fame definitely took a bit of getting used to, but to live happily ever after, you had to bury your old self."

However, his "perfect life" is threatened when his dark past is splashed all over the media and a young woman called Bronte (Madeline Brewer) comes to work at his new bookstore.

What else happens in the You season 5 trailer?

While the new trailer also teases a new rivalry between Joe and his twin sisters-in-law Raegan and Maddie Lockwood (Anna Camp), some familiar faces from Joe's past also make an appearance as the devious protagonist has made himself a whole lot of enemies that are out now out get him.

So, who could be seeking their vengeance this time around? Well, student-turned-detective Nadia (Amy-Leigh Hickman) from You season 4 is seen in the trailer after being sent to prison for a crime Joe committed and there's also Annika (Kathryn Gallagher) from the first season, a social media influencer who was friends with Joe's ex-girlfriend Beck (Elizabeth Lail). Both Beck and her best friend Peach (Shay Mitchell) were murdered by Joe and now she's onto him.

What is the release date for You season 5?

(Image credit: Netflix)

You season 5 will premiere globally on Netflix on April, 24.

You season 5 cast: Penn Badgley, Charlotte Ritchie, Madeline Brewer, and more

(Image credit: Netflix)

Newcomers joining the likes of series regulars Badgley and Ritchie are Madeline Brewer as Bronte, "an enigmatic and free-spirited playwright who comes to work for Joe Goldberg at his bookstore" and Anna Camp as Joe's twin sisters-in-law Raegan and Maddie Lockwood.

Griffin Matthews also joins the cast as Teddy Lockwood, Joe's brother-in-law, and Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau as Detective Marquez. Amy-Leigh Hickman returns to You season 5 as Nadia and Kathryn Gallagher reprises her season 1 role of Annika.

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Are you growing tired of your TV’s sub-par audio? Well I promise you this, you’re not alone. A lot of TVs – yes, even some more expensive models – are guilty of plating up unclear dialogue, tinny treble and thin bass. But since I added a soundbar to my setup, I’ve freed myself of such issues and watching my favorite movies or TV shows never felt better.

But a lot of you may be thinking that a good soundbar will set you back quite some way. And OK, if you want the crème de la crème, you’re right; some of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, for instance, won’t come cheap. Having said that, I’ve tested some of the absolute best cheap soundbars on the market and now I’m convinced – there’s an option for everyone, whether your budget is around $300 or under $100. So, I’ve collected a list of five budget bars that will take your viewing experiences to the next level. Let’s take a look…

Sony HT-SF150

(Image credit: Future)

I’d like to begin with a real favorite of mine, the Sony HT-SF150, or HT-S100F for those of you in the States. This isn’t the newest soundbar on the market – there’s nothing flashy like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X support, but it just nails the basics.

Firstly, it’s ultra-cheap, often appearing on sale for less than $100 / £90 / AU$180 – that’s a phenomenally low price. But don’t be deceived: that low price is not indicative of the bar’s quality. The HT-SF150 also offers up clear dialogue, meaning you can keep those pesky subtitles turned off. And you can adjust audio to suit whatever content you’re viewing by switching between the soundbar’s Standard, Cinema, Music, Night, and crisp-sounding Voice modes.

On top of all of that, the HT-SF150 harnesses the power of Sony’s S-Force Front Surround virtual processing, which aims to emulate “cinema-style surround sound”. Now that might be a bit out of reach for this bar, but still, I was impressed by the width of audio and felt on-screen action was mapped pretty effectively to boot. Pair that with the soundbar’s surprisingly sleek looks and you’re staring at a value champion.

Read our full Sony HT-SF150 review.

Hisense HS214

(Image credit: Future)

But hold on: let’s say you’re working with a bit less space. Well, the Hisense HS214 could be the perfect option for you. This is another sub-$100 option, coming in at $99 / £79, but unlike the Sony HT-SF150, this is a mini soundbar.

The HS214’s diminutive build makes it is ideal if you live in a dorm room or small-sized apartment and want a soundbar that seamlessly slots into your TV setup. But despite its truncated size, this thing is able to pack quite the punch. It boasts a maximum power output of 108W and has a built-in subwoofer for some added weight in the low-end. Does it dish out truly booming bass? Not quite. But if will be a significant step-up on a lot of TVs – especially smaller models that often serve up disappointing sound. Yep, that even includes some of the best small TVs.

What’s more, this soundbar comes with EQ options of its own, is simple to setup and has every connection type under the sun – including HDMI ARC. It can’t create quite as broad a spatial impression as the HT-SF150, though. That’s partially inherent to its more restricted width, but its included Surround Mode also sounds a bit tinny – so if you want truly expansive audio, the Sony alternative may be a better fit. But all in all, this surprisingly powerful soundbar is a super solid option if you’re looking for a quick and cheap upgrade on plain TV audio.

Read our full Hisense HS214 review.

Panasonic SC-HTB100

(Image credit: Future)

And for my next trick: a UK exclusive. Sorry, US folk. I’d like to shed some light on the Panasonic SC-HTB100, which sees us return to full-sized soundbars once again. This model is ultra-cheap, often retailing for less than £80, but I was surprised to find that out myself.

Why? Well, above all, I was impressed by how clear and well-positioned vocals sounded with this soundbar. Both higher and lower-pitched voices are pretty neatly separated, rarely sounding muffled or disrupted in the overall mix. Sure, this isn’t the most powerful bar and bass isn’t going to blow you away – but if you listen to a lot of radio or documentaries, for instance, the crisp reproduction of vocals makes this bar worth it alone.

Another reason to choose the Panasonic SC-HTB100 is its Bluetooth connectivity. This bar uses Bluetooth 5.0 – more up-to-date than the previous two’s Bluetooth 4.2. And of course the big win there is you can seamlessly connect your phone up to the soundbar and play your favorite tunes from Spotify, Apple Music and the like. I found music quality to be pretty decent on the SC-HTB100 – not as good as the best Bluetooth speakers or anything – but still clear and tonally accurate, especially in Music mode.

Read our full Panasonic SC-HTB100 review.

Bose Solo Soundbar 2

(Image credit: Future)

Another small-sized option I enjoyed using was the Bose Solo Soundbar 2. I’ll come clean from the get-go… there’s no HDMI connectivity option here, so you’ll have to use the included-remote to adjust volume output. But picture this: you have a Playstation 5, a Nintendo Switch and a Blu-ray player. Oh no! You have no more HDMI ports remaining. But the optical connection will render that insignificant. So, if you don’t want to keep swapping out one of your consoles or accessories, the optical route may be a better fit for you anyway.

Regardless, let’s talk about the soundbar itself. Again, it’s surprisingly powerful for such a tiny model, with a maximum power output of 100W. It also has adjustable bass levels, so you can get fairly meaty low-end audio – a big plus when watching movies with dark, imposing soundtracks. On top of that, there’s Dialogue Mode, which is effective at lifting speech out in busier scenes, or just giving crisp clarity when streaming podcasts, for example.

Like the Hisense HS214, you can’t expect particularly striking expansiveness from this soundbar, in part down to its small size. But a more positive similarity is that this is again, a pretty attractive-looking model, with a responsive remote and straightforward setup process. It’s not too expensive for a Bose product either, carrying a list price of $199 / £179.95 / AU$359.95 – and it’s sometimes available at a cut-price too.

Read our full Bose Solo Soundbar 2 review.

Sony HT-S2000

(Image credit: Future)

Maybe I’m being a bit cheeky here, but I just have to circle back to Sony and shout out the HT-S2000 model. In honesty, this bar isn’t quite as cheap as the previously mentioned soundbars, but still, it’s by no means super-expensive. We’ve even seen it drop to less than $300 in the US and that’s unbeatable value as far as I’m concerned.

That’s because this soundbar packs almost everything you need into one comprehensive package. And I mean that literally: this is a standalone 3.1 soundbar that can play Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks to a high standard and deeply immerse you in the action, courtesy of Sony’s proprietary processing tech. It’s quite rare, in my experience, to find a more budget-friendly soundbar that can do Atmos justice. But when I tested this bar myself, I was really impressed by the verticality on offer – sounds can easily exceed the height of your TV screen, making for significantly more engaging viewing.

Again, you can expect the HT-S200 to handle the fundamentals – be it crisp dialogue, neat aesthetics and a straightforward setup. But it even gets trickier things right too, be that deep bass output, adept music replication or accurate mapping of on-screen activity. It’s worth noting that this is a chunkier bar than some of the alternatives I’ve listed above, so make sure you have plenty of space on your TV unit – that is if you don’t fancy setting it up on a rack.

Read our full Sony HT-S2000 review.

So, there you have it. My picks for the best soundbars if you’re on a budget. As you may have noticed, a lot of these models sit closer to the $100 side of the spectrum, which really goes to prove that stepping up from TV audio doesn’t have to be a crazy expensive endeavour.

Of course, some of these options won’t rock your world with booming bass or the delights of Dolby Atmos – but I can still vouch for their impressive sound quality. If you’re looking for a real top-tier performer, check out our guide to the best soundbars, where we’ve curated a list of the most elite options available today.

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• Google Maps timelines are disappearing for some users
• It seems to be a Google One issue, but there's no known fix
• Thankfully not everyone is affected, but it's frustrating for those who are

Google Maps timelines are disappearing, and not only is there no guaranteed fix for the issue right now, it isn’t clear if this is a permanent removal or only a temporary glitch.

At first glance, reports of people’s timelines being lost seems like they might have fallen afoul of Google Map’s big privacy change: your Google Maps timeline is moving from the cloud to your device, and unless you agree to various new settings by a deadline date (which is different for different users, weirdly) you’ll lose your travel history.

However, according to reports in the Google Maps subreddit (spotted by 9to5Google), it’s an unrelated issue as it’s affecting people who have agreed to backup their timeline locally. What’s more, they’re unable to restore old backups (even if they delete and reinstall the Maps app), and some are noting that new visits aren’t being tracked either.

Some users have posted saying that Google Support blames the issue on Google One, and that Google is working on a fix, though, at the time of writing, there doesn’t appear to be a reliable method for getting your timeline back.

There was a time when restoring a backup seemed to work, however, the issue has gone on so long the backups are now being overwritten – or simply can’t be restored – meaning this option isn’t available anymore.

Why is it such a big deal?

Thankfully, the issue doesn’t seem to be impacting everyone – the Google Maps timeline on our devices appears to be fine, for example – but this is nevertheless frustrating.

While having Google tracking your location sounds less than ideal for many, having a timeline of their travel history is a dream come true for plenty others. It serves as a useful tool for reminiscing about holidays, or finding a location you want to return to later – such as a cafe you stopped at the other day, or a museum you didn’t spend enough time in on your last trip away.

I love looking back through my timeline and would be disappointed if my travel history was ripped from me by a glitch – especially as right now there’s no word on when users’ timelines will be restored.

From the sounds of things, it should be a glitch Google can resolve, but, for now, everyone affected will have to wait and see when a fix is sent out.

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Jet fuel is spilling into the North Sea after a U.S.-flagged fuel tanker collided with a cargo ship off the eastern coast of England. Thirty-seven people have been brought to shore.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

• YouTube creators are being threatened with copyright claims
• The way to resolve the problem is to share a download link
• The link distributes trojanized programs that install a cryptominer

Cybercriminals have been targeting YouTubers with fake copyright claims, threatening them into distributing malware through their videos and channels. T

Cybersecurity researchers at Kaspersky recently spotted the campaign in the wild, claiming the majority of the victims are Russian.

Kaspersky said it spotted a video with more than 400,000 views sharing the malicious link, and that the campaign resulted in more than 40,000 downloads (before being pulled down).

Tens of thousands of downloads

Kaspersky said Windows Packet Divert (WPD), a user-mode network packet capture and injection tool for Windows, is growing increasingly popular in Russia. It allows applications to intercept and modify network packets at various stages in the Windows network stack, and is used as part of a tech stack that allows users to bypass government censorship.

There are many YouTube video tutorials on how to use WPD tools to do just that, and their creators are being targeted. Apparently, threat actors would file a copyright claim with YouTube, and then reach out to the creators, claiming they were the tool’s owners. They would then demand the creators add the tool’s GitHub download link in the videos’ description.

Alternatively, they would just reach out to the creators claiming to be the developers and offering an “updated” download link.

However, the GitHub repository being shared this way is trojanized and includes a version of the tool that carries a cryptocurrency miner called SilentCryptoMiner. This is a modification of the infamous XMRig, and is capable of mining ETH, ETC, XMR, and RTM.

"According to our telemetry, the malware campaign has affected more than 2,000 victims in Russia, but the overall figure could be much higher," Kaspersky said in its analysis.

Cryptojackers are a popular type of malware which can be easily spotted, since the device running it cannot do anything else, as its compute power is fully utilized in the mining process.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Microsoft's Windows 11 23H2 beta has a new image editing and compression feature in Windows Share
• It's not clear whether this will come to other feature updates other than 23H2
• This could make the snipping tool obsolete as cropping, adjusting, and filtering are all possible

Microsoft has been under fire recently due to its Windows 11 24H2 problems - but fortunately we bring some good Windows 11 update news, as it's reportedly introducing new features to image sharing and editing capabilities.

Spotted by phantomofearth on X, Microsoft will be bringing image editing and compression to its Windows Share feature, as highlighted by Windows Report. This will allow users to crop and adjust images without using the Snipping Tool while also having access to file compression.

It's important to note that this was found in the Windows 11 23H2 beta (Microsoft is still updating older versions of Windows 11), so it's not available to all users yet - it's also not clear whether these handy tools will come to 23H2 only or if it will be available to other feature updates. This is an ideal move for those looking to share much larger images in terms of file sizes.

It would be even better if it turns out that video compression and general file compressions are possible - it would eliminate the need to find different file compression sites, saving users plenty of time. While it's likely better to wait until Microsoft fully implements this in 23H2 (or other feature updates if possible), you can access the feature early by joining the Windows Insider Programme to access 23H2's beta.

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Windows 11 23H2 is a breath of fresh air, and this beta feature is another reason why

Having faced a whole host of issues using Windows 11 24H2, I recently went back to Windows 11 23H2 - Nvidia's 572.70 Game Ready Driver forced my hand in this case as it gave me black screens on startup - and I'm happier than ever.

The strange bugs, slowdowns, and game compatibility issues are no longer a burden and I can finally use my PC as intended. There are more than likely going to be issues in some capacity with feature updates, but 23H2 is the safest bet at the moment (aside from the weird 100% CPU usage bug).

While I'm not using the 23H2 beta, this Windows Share update is one I've wanted Microsoft to implement for a long time - more specifically for videos and other files rather than relying on other software or online free websites to do the job. Sure, compressing much larger files is a much bigger ask, but this is a great starting point.

I don't know when I'll update my system again (that's if updates aren't forced upon me), in the same way I won't be upgrading my GPU drivers until I know my system is safe from BSoDs.

If Microsoft can get 24H2 back into good shape and the new file compression feature can be used on other file types, I'll finally be able to let go of my gripes - let's hope that it happens sooner rather than later.

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