PC Magazine March 2022

As I walked to my local pottery class last night at a little before 6:30, I realized a very exciting thing: There was still light in the sky! I’m writing this in late February, which might seem a bit soon to be thinking about spring cleaning, but that realization was a heads-up for me: Time has marched on, and the world will be thawing out very soon. So let’s kick it off. Our phones, computers, smartwatches, Fitbits, headphones, tablets… These are all things we touch a lot. We wear them, eat while we’re using them, take them everywhere we go, and sometimes even let other people touch them. (Some of us don’t; a friend of mine refuses to let anyone near his devices, saying “Personal tech is personal!”) So it shouldn’t be…

I wish millions of people could read this article. When I cite a couple of these myths, especially about laptop batteries, I get all kinds of reactions, and then I have to try to talk people away from a myth somewhat ingrained because they have been living it for years. Maybe PCMag could contact [The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal], and USA Today to have this piece reprinted in those papers.—Ben Myers I agree. I already know this stuff, but this was a great rundown of things I constantly have to try to explain to people, and it’s clear and succinct. I’m going to forward it to a lot of them.—SuchObvious “Premium HDMI Cables Provide a Better Picture”: I would disagree with this one. Having used a large number of…

Updating Windows can be a frustrating process, but Microsoft has identified a key factor in why devices may struggle to achieve the state of “fully up-to-date.” In a post on the Microsoft Tech Community website, via BleepingComputer, David Guyer, Program Manager for Windows Updates in Endpoint Manager, explains how a device running Windows needs two periods of time connected to the internet (and Windows Update) to successfully update. The first period spans “two continuous connected hours” followed by “six total connected hours” after an update is released. That total time of eight connected hours ensures any update Microsoft releases for its operating systems will be installed successfully. Guyer says the time a device is powered on and connected to Microsoft services such as Windows Update is referred to as “Update Connectivity” internally.…

NASA wants to crash the International Space Station (ISS) into the ocean—but not until 2031. The space agency said in a press release that it plans to operate the ISS until 2030. As we head into the next decade, however, the long-running space station will be retired to make room for “one or more commercially owned and operated [low Earth orbit] destinations (CLDs).” “It is NASA’s goal to be one of many customers of commercial LEO destination services, purchasing only the goods and services the agency needs,” NASA says in the updated International Space Station Transition Report. “CLDs, along with commercial crew and cargo transportation, will provide the backbone of the human LEO ecosystem after the ISS retires.” The agency says it has five goals for the ISS before its retirement: to…

SpaceX is preparing to launch a new “Premium” Starlink tier that’ll boost download speeds up to 500Mbps. But the satellite internet service won’t be cheap. The Premium tier will cost $500 per month, a major increase from the $99-per-month rate that non-premium Starlink users currently pay. In addition, premium users have to submit a one-time $2,500 fee for a larger dish; the standard Starlink dish for non-premium customers is $499. On the plus side, the Premium tier dish will be able to offer better performance, thanks to a new “high performance antenna,” according to a tweet from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. The company’s website added: “Starlink Premium has more than double the antenna capability of Starlink, delivering faster internet speeds and higher throughput for the highest demand users, including businesses.” Also claimed is…

Samsung’s Galaxy S22 came out in February, and as the first US phone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 modem, it brings a few new 5G features that should especially excite AT&T users. Before we get to that, though, let’s start with something that will make everyone happy. We all want better reception, right? Improved phone reception is helpful for more than just preventing dropped calls. It improves your battery life, for instance, because your phone doesn’t have to strain so hard to be “heard” by the towers. No matter which carrier you’re on or where you live, better signal reception improves the mobile experience. Qualcomm put signal reception on the front burner with its X65 modem, the company said when the X65 launched. A new signal-boosting algorithm changes radio power based on…