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This may be the last hurrah for high APYs as banks respond to yesterday's rate cut.

Trump not only won in the Electoral College, but he won so big that he expanded his coalition with historic demographic shifts.

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This week's quiz includes the great, the late and the clickbait.

• 51% of respondents quizzed by CyrusOne felt positive about data centers
• Two in three see job opportunities and potential for local economic growth
• However, only half were able to correctly identity a data center’s primary functions

New research from CyrusOne suggests there’s strong support from the public for data centers across Europe as businesses and consumers demand more compute and cloud services.

More than half (51%) of the 13,000 individuals questioned felt positive about data centers, with a further 42% expressing neutrality, leaving only a small percentage of negative perception remaining.

However, even those with positive attitudes towards data centers expressed concerns about the environmental impact of energy- and resource-hungry data centers.

The public are on board with data centers

Despite the positive outlook, a clear understanding of a data center’s purpose was not so common. Only 52% were able to correctly identify a data center’s primary function, and fewer than half (45%) associated data centers with online tools like video conferencing, social media and digital messaging.

Moreover, only 38% of British respondents understood their primary purpose, which is below the average and significantly below German residents (66%).

The lack of understanding didn’t detract from the hope for economic benefits – more than three in five acknowledged that data centers create job opportunities (66%) and accelerate local economic growth (62%). Those living closer to data centers were more likely to feel this way.

“It’s clear from the research that public opinion of data centers is more positive than expected and that perhaps the sector is not always presented in a way that accurately portrays how people really perceive the sector," noted Emma Fryer, Director of Public Policy for Europe at CyrusOne.

Speaking about increased local support, Fryer added: “It is therefore really important that we, as developers and operators, listen carefully to people in our host communities, while continuing to educate, identify their needs and act accordingly to deliver meaningful local benefits.”

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A federal judge on Thursday struck down a Biden administration policy that aimed to ease a path to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens.

(Image credit: Evan Vucci)

This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

The Meeting Owl products from Owl Labs have consistently been among the best video conferencing (VC) solutions on the market, and the Meeting Owl 4+ comes with even more appeal. Previously, the Owl Pro and Owl 3 offered a comparatively low 1080p resolution, but the Owl 4+ sports a new 64MP fish-eye camera that boosts video output to 4K Ultra HD.

There’s more going on inside, as it gets a faster Snapdragon 8250 SoC – the same as used by the 4K Owl Bar. The extra power has been put to good use by the Owl Intelligence System (OIS) software as businesses can pair multiple Owl devices together to provide total in-room coverage.

The Owl 4+ sports the same array of eight microphones as the Owl 3, which it uses to identify speakers. The smart part is the video feed: the Owl 4+ presents a 360-degree panoramic view across the top of the screen, dynamically splits the main display below to show the three most recent speakers and zeros in on the person currently speaking.

The distinctive Owl 4+ boosts video output to 4K (Image credit: Future)

The internal speaker count has been reduced from three to two, but output quality is undiminished. Comparisons with an Owl Pro found that the Owl 4+ was just as loud at maximum volume but delivered a much cleaner sound quality, with its heavier body producing a warmer bass without the shrillness of the Owl Pro.

Other improvements are an integral K-Lock security slot and an option to turn off the white LED “eyes” if they become a distraction. The Owl 4+ comes with an external power supply that can be replaced with an optional Power over Ethernet (PoE) network adapter, which has the part number ACCMTW405-0006 and costs around £75.

Installation is a breeze. After plugging the Owl 4+ into a Windows 11 Pro desktop PC, it loaded all the required drivers and defaulted to the split-screen mode. Management options abound: the free Owl mobile app connects over Bluetooth and provides tools to register the device and connect it to a wireless network for software updates. You can also enable remote management from the Owl Nest cloud portal, and meeting room analytics.

Using the iOS app on an iPad, we could passcode-protect Bluetooth access, choose the central point for the 360-panoramic view or disable it, set the camera to lock and focus on one person or follow a presenter. You can turn off the video feed and control the volume during meetings and use a whiteboard to present notes and diagrams to attendees, replacing the split screen in their session window.

The Owl 4+ can be managed from the cloud or mobile app (Image credit: Future)

The Owl 4+ supports all popular VC platforms, and we had no problems using Teams, Zoom and Skype. You’ll be impressed when you first use it as the video display is quite remarkable and noticeably sharper than the Owl 3.

During meetings, it maintained the full-room panoramic view at the top and swapped effortlessly between active speakers in the split screen below. It’s fast, too, taking around two seconds to swap from one active speaker to another, with the slide animation placing up to three participants in the main view. During small round-table meetings, we found a 50% volume level was quite sufficient and remote participants could hear us clearly, even when three meters away from the table.

The controls on the device are straightforward (Image credit: Future)

Pairing the Owl 4+ with an Owl Bar is easy, as you place them within two-and-a-half meters of each other with their front logos facing off and use the mobile app to pair them, after which they’ll use their tracking algorithms to choose the best view. No more looking at the back of people’s heads if they turn away from the Owl Bar, as the Owl 4+ takes over so they’re always looking directly at you.

For fully immersive meetings, nobody does it better than Owl Labs. The Owl 4+ delivers excellent video quality plus super-smooth speaker tracking, and pairing it with an Owl Bar covers every meeting room angle.

We've also ranked the best streaming microphones for content creation.

This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

One of the biggest challenges for Logitech is that its best webcams are expensive compared to no-name rivals on Amazon that have similar specifications. As a recent example, consider the £219 MX Brio 705 for Business I reviewed four months ago.

Admittedly, that was a top-end device packed with features and capable of 4K streaming at 30fps. The Brio 105 is a more modest offering that’s limited to 1080p and a 58° field of view (the Brio 705 offers a choice of three FoVs). But in practice, how much resolution and flexibility do most people need? If it’s only you, sitting at your desk, attending a meeting, 1080p is absolutely fine, and a 58° FoV will place you large in the frame.

More to the point, image quality is excellent. Not just in strong light, but also when I turned off my office light at night and relied on my screen’s backlight. The Brio 105 still did a fine job, without any amateurish artefacts.

The other plus side of buying from Logitech is that the Brio can be managed from Logitech’s mature software, whether Logi Options+ for individuals or Logi Tune for businesses (you can deploy it using Logitech Sync). There’s also a three-year warranty, while the webcam has been certified for Google Meet and Works with Chromebook -and it will naturally work on Windows and macOS with all the usual conferencing platforms. Logitech takes sustainability seriously, too, promising that the plastic parts are made from 77% post-consumer recycled plastic and that this is a carbon neutral product.

From a practical point of view, it’s good to see a basic but functional plastic shutter that you can slide over the lens when not in use, and while the single mic lacks any advanced features, I found it worked fine in a home office environment. The Brio is light enough to sling into a bag, but the whole assembly will come with you as the 1.5m USB-A cable is captive rather than detachable, as is the basic two-part mechanism to keep it in place atop your screen.

Of course, you can save cash by buying a £15 webcam with the same specs. But it won’t perform as well in low light and definitely won’t be as easy to roll out and manage for businesses.

We also ranked the best budget webcams.

AT&T Fiber offers the best internet services in Arlington, but if its services are unavailable, Spectrum and T-Mobile offer reasonable internet plans.

Sihoo has impressed me with their chairs over the last several years. I've had the opportunity to check out several Sihoo chairs recently, and they all look incredible. The Sihoo Doro S300 was the most futuristic chair I had checked out in a long time, and when I opened up the S100, I was giddy because it looked very similar for a fraction of the cost.

Sihoo positions itself as a simple yet ergonomic chair company. The Doro S100 points explicitly towards the budget-friendly side of the lineup -- perfect for those looking for an excellent chair for their home office without spending absurd money out of pocket.

The Doro S100 design aims to minimize strain from prolonged sitting, focusing on providing essential back support and comfort. How does it compare to the best office chairs I've tried? I put it to the test. 

Sihoo Doro S100: Price and Availability

The Sihoo Doro S100 is priced competitively around $150 - $200, depending on retailer and location. It's available through popular online platforms including Amazon, Walmart, and the official website of Sihoo. Though shipping fees may vary depending on where you want to ship this chair, it's widely available in the U.S. and select international markets.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Sihoo Doro S100: Unboxing and First Impressions

Sihoo's packaging has yet again proven to be very compact and straightforward. I was able to grab the pieces I needed quickly and easily without wondering which screw to use where. This is largely due to the clear and simple instruction manual and simple included tools. However, if I'm honest, I used my HOTO electric screwdriver to assemble since I have bad wrists from arthritis due to failed reconstructive surgeries years ago.

All chair pieces were securely wrapped, ensuring nothing got scratched or damaged in transit. Which, especially since this frame is white, I appreciated.

Assembly took me about 18 minutes from unboxing to sitting in the chair. Granted, I hustled through the assembly as I was familiar with the Sihoo design language. I saw what was going on without studying the assembly instructions too long.

I was immediately impressed by this chair's similarity to the S300 in feel and look. The lightweight frame and breathable mesh stood out and greatly benefited this chair.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Sihoo Doro S100: Design and Build Quality

Sihoo has done a fantastic job keeping a similar design language across offerings. The Doro S100 has a simple and sleek design, focusing on lower back support. This support is not suffocating nor cumbersome, as the backing is made of mesh that promotes airflow and comfort. The chair is offered in a darker black or the lighter grey I have, and both look great and will last quite a long time.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Sihoo Doro S100: In use Specs

Material: Mesh backrest, fabric seat cushion
Adjustability: Basic height adjustment, lumbar support, fixed armrests
Weight capacity: Up to 250 lbs
Dimensions: Seat height (16-20 inches), overall width (23 inches)
Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

I've had this chair in my rotations for the last three weeks. At that time, I found myself happy with it overall, and I forgot that it was a cheaper chair because of how comfortable it was. I can comfortably sit in this chair for an entire day of work. However, there is no deep recline option, meaning I can sit up or lean back slightly but not entirely. So, if you want to recline far back, you may not want this chair. Regardless, this chair is an excellent option for those who wish to have some range of motion while working but prefer to stay upright.

The armrests are practical and can be adjusted within a reasonable range. The chair is comfortable for prolonged sitting, although the limited recline may not satisfy those seeking deep reclining functionality. The mesh back provides support for my lower back without feeling constrictive. The cushion is firm, but it isn't excessively thick. Some days, I wish it were a bit thicker with a little more padding, but on most days, it's great.

One thing I appreciate about Sihoo and this chair is that it doesn't have a white base to match the chair. If you're in an office where you wear shoes, the chair frame can quickly get dirty from the bottom of your shoes hitting the chair legs. Thankfully, Sihoo seems to have noticed the same and has put a smooth metal base without a white coating. Further, if you are like me and have kids, I'd be weary of having them around the lighter chair in the worry of spilling something or marking it up somehow. But that's just my OCD speaking. So far, with regular use, I have not seen any color transfer from jeans, seat damage, or wear and tear.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Sihoo Doro S100: Final verdict

The Sihoo Doro S100 stands out as a competent, budget-friendly ergonomic chair that meets basic needs without overwhelming options or features — all while feeling like it's a nicer chair than it is. The Doro S100 is ideal for home office setups or more traditional workspaces if you bring your own or pick your own chair. It’s a practical choice for users prioritizing cost over customization. However, those needing comprehensive adjustability or premium materials may need to look toward mid-range models.

For more essential office furniture, we reviewed the best standing desks. 

This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

While Copilot+ PCs with Qualcomm Arm chips are gaining plenty of attention, there are compelling reasons to stick with the traditional approach. We await the killer app for AI on laptops, and Intel’s Core Ultra chips remain better all-rounders: the x86 architecture is still king on Windows and Intel’s Arc graphics are far more accomplished than anything Qualcomm can offer.

Despite my words of praise for Lenovo’s ThinkPad T14s, there are good reasons for business buyers to remain cautious and stick with a traditional approach. Chief among them is compatibility, as the last thing a business wants to do is a mass roll-out of laptops that are incompatible with key software or the office printer.

For the 11th generation of its x360 2-in-1, HP isn’t ripping up any trees. But what it is doing is packing this laptop with power, with my test system including the excellent Core Ultra 7 155H and 32GB of RAM.

Intel may point to the battery life of this machine as an example of its efficiency, too. In PCMark’s light-use benchmark, which uses a mix of web browsing and office apps, it lasted 17hrs 42mins despite a relatively modest 68Wh battery. Playing video, it almost reached 20 hours.

(Image credit: Future)

The low-energy screen helps, with the 1,920 x 1,200 IPS panel peaking at 60Hz rather than 120Hz. It’s tuned for the sRGB color space, covering 96% of that gamut with an average Delta E of 0.78. For this price, I’d have liked the whites to look whiter, higher peak brightness (365 cd/m2 won’t be enough for use in sunshine) and more pixels wouldn’t go amiss, either, as text lacks sharpness.

Where it wins is support for touch: sometimes, prodding a dialog button is the easiest choice. HP provides a large, glass-coated touchpad for more conventional navigation, and it sits beneath a mixed keyboard. In terms of action, the Elite x360 1040 is up there with the best laptop keyboards around. There’s enough resistance to make typing a pleasure, all the important keys are suitably large, and I love its quiet nature: you’ll need to thwack the keys hard to annoy neighboring workers. But I was repeatedly tripped up by the half-height cursor keys, with Pg Up and Pg Dn immediately above the left and right arrows. It felt that whenever I hit a keyboard shortcut (such as Ctrl + left to go back one word) I hit the wrong button.

HP clearly believes that USB-C rather than USB-A is the future, with three of the former ports and only one of the latter. The right-hand USB-C port peaks at 10Gbits/sec thanks to its support for USB 3.2 Gen 2, but head to the left and you’ll find a pair of even faster USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports. HP also sticks a 3.5mm jack and HDMI 2.1 connector here, but no physical Ethernet port. Wi-Fi 6E is your networking friend rather than the more forward-looking Wi-Fi 7.

There are three USB-C ports, two of which are fast Thunderbolt options (Image credit: Future)

While the CPU’s AI abilities are stuck at a modest 34 TOPS – compared to 45 TOPS for the Snapdragons inside Copilot+ PCs – you can draw upon them when using the webcam, with Windows Studio Effects such as eye contact and background blurring at the ready. The 1440p webcam is top notch, other than a tendency to blow out highlights, and if you need to take photos it can snap at up to 2,560 x 1,440.

The mics can use AI to dial down background noise, while the speakers are among the best I’ve heard on a business laptop.

The Elite x360 1040 2-in-1 G11 is a highly practical laptop (Image credit: Future)

When it comes to ease of repair, this laptop is a delight. Remove four crosshead screws, slide a pick into the gap and the rear lifts off to reveal a replaceable Wi-Fi card, battery and SSD, though the memory is embedded onto the motherboard. And while the one-year warranty is to be expected, you can buy a Care Pack at any point during that year to extend it to up to five years of on-site cover. HP also provides its Wolf Security for one year, offering an extra layer of protection baked into the hardware.

With a 1.4kg weight and 14.7mm thickness – both above average for a 14in laptop due to the nature of convertible designs – the HP Elite x360 1040 G11 is not going to set pulses aflame with desire. Nor is its matte silver finish. But this is a well-built 2-in-1 designed for practicality, from its port selection to its battery life to its build quality. It’s not an exciting choice, but it is a safe one – especially if you already manage a fleet of HP laptops.

We also ranked the best business PCs.

Get $5 off when you spend $200+ on select products, and enjoy other great deals at eBay this November.

Three people have been charged in connection with the death of Liam Payne, a former member of musical group One Direction who died after falling from his Buenos Aires hotel room balcony last month.

(Image credit: Natacha Pisarenko)

The delivery of the bells comes just one month ahead of Notre Dame's reopening, which is scheduled for December 8.

(Image credit: Christophe Ena)

A Southern California wildfire has destroyed more than 100 structures, mostly homes, in less than two days, fire officials said Thursday as raging winds were forecast to ease.

(Image credit: Noah Berger)

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Federal, state, and local authorities are investigating the offensive messages that have been sent over the last two days.

(Image credit: Alex Brandon)