Explainers
Latest Explainers
RIP Microsoft Publisher: As a Pro Designer, Here Are the 8 Alternatives I Actually Recommend
Publisher has officially hit end of life, but don't fret. Based on years of hands-on testing, I've rounded up the best replacements for beginner and pro designers alike.
Malicious Websites Are Built to Scam You. Stay Safe With These 7 Defensive Tips
From enabling secure DNS to double-checking extensions, here's how I stay one step ahead of the cybercriminals while on the web.
Nintendo Isn't Getting Rid of Physical Games (Yet), But You Have to Watch Out for Game-Key Cards
Freaking out over Sony killing physical media? Nintendo's game-key cards add a weird wrinkle to the home media landscape. Here's what you need to know and how to spot them in the wild.
Is It Worth It to Upgrade to Switch 2 Games? We'll Run You Through the Actual Costs
Some Switch games you already own can be upgraded into enhanced Switch 2 titles, but the cost structure is pretty confusing. Here's how much you can expect to pay for the upgrade packs to your favorite games.
I Test TVs for a Living. Here's Why I Bought Last Year's Model
Year-over-year picture upgrades are usually tiny, but the price drops are massive. Here's why skipping 2026's newest flagships is the smartest move you can make this Prime Day.
I Got My Hands on All the New Googlebooks. Are They Better Than Chromebooks?
Google's new laptop initiative may sound like Chromebooks 2.0, but the new hardware requirements and Gemini AI capabilities set it apart from its predecessor. Check out my first thoughts on these upcoming Android systems.
The Ultimate Business Stack Hack: 7 Reasons to Unify Your Payroll, HR, and Accounting Software
You can save yourself a lot of time and trouble by connecting your accounting and HR apps to your payroll service from the start.
This Single Free App Replaces the Broken Windows 11 Store
UniGetUI lets you find, install, and manage the Windows apps you actually want to use from one convenient place.
You Don't Have to Pay $139 to Shop Amazon's Fall Prime Day. Here's How to Do It for Less
If you're a frequent Amazon shopper, a Prime membership likely pays for itself over the year. But if you just want to shop on Amazon during Prime Day sales, try these options.
Is Amazon Prime Still Worth the $139 Price Tag? Here's Everything You Get in 2026
Amazon's Big Deal Days returns October 6-7, but some early deals are available now. Should you sign up for a Prime membership to access the best offers? Here's how to decide.
Streaming Price Hike Tracker: How Much Every Major Service Will Cost You
Disney+ and Hulu are the latest streaming services to announce price increases, following Apple TV, Peacock, and others. Here's how we got here and what you can expect to pay.
9 Year-End Payroll Mistakes to Avoid (And How Software Can Help)
Don't let a last-minute December scramble lead to costly IRS penalties. Here are nine critical mistakes to watch for—and how the right tools can save your W-2 season.
Stop Replying 'Stop': The Danger of Responding to Spam Texts (And How to Block Them for Good)
Tired of spam texts? Your phone comes with built-in protection against them, but it might be turned off by default. Here's how to change that on both iPhone and Android.
Save Your Sanity: 8 Hidden iPhone Settings to Fix Right Now
From toning down Liquid Glass to bringing back the battery percentage, these simple setting tweaks make iOS so much better.
I Tested Every Apple Intelligence Feature: Is It Actually Useful, or Just Hype?
You don't need new hardware to get Apple's biggest upgrades. I put Siri AI, image generation, custom extensions, and workout tools to the test to see if Apple Intelligence is worth your time.
Inside AI Prompt Security: Why Stopping Every LLM Exploit Is Impossible
Because AI understands human language, hackers can trick models using clever phrasing. Here's how developers build defenses—and why attacks still get through.
A One-Click Fix for Slow PCs? I Put Microsoft's Free App to the Test
Microsoft says its PC Manager app can make your Windows machine faster, so I decided to find out whether it actually works.
Want to Master Excel? These 52 Hacks Will Turn You Into a Spreadsheet Wizard
As PCMag's resident data journalist, I practically live in Microsoft Excel. I've learned that it's capable of far more than I ever imagined. These are the tips and tricks you need to know.
Is Your Payroll System Starting to Crack? 7 Signs It's Time to Upgrade
After testing dozens of payroll services, I've seen firsthand how quickly inadequate systems can fail growing businesses. Here are the warning signs you need a better solution.
Get More Out of Starlink: 3 Must-Try Tricks I've Learned Over the Years
Don't settle for outages and slowdowns. These simple settings changes and hardware tweaks help you get peak performance out of SpaceX's satellite network.
