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2 Nov 2024

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Windows 11 market share grows, but Windows 10 still twice as popular
According to Neowin, Statcounter’s latest Windows usage figures show that Windows 11’s market share has finally started closing in on Windows 10, but its predecessor still has a huge lead. The overall share of Windows 10 users now sits at 60.95 percent, which is down 1.8 percentage points from the last survey, while the overall share of Windows 11 users has increased by 2.13 percentage points to 35.55 percent. That means just over twice as many people are still using Microsoft’s older operating system, but the company will probably think the numbers are at least heading in the right direction. Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Just a few months ago, we reported that Windows 11 had overtaken Windows 10 as the most popular operating system among Steam users, so this trend seems to track. Slowly but surely, people are migrating to Windows 11, even as we recently passed the operating system’s three-year anniversary milestone. But given the slow pace, it’s likely that switchers are mainly users who have had to replace their dying PCs with new ones — ones that come pre-loaded with Windows 11. There’s also the upcoming end of support for Windows 10, which is set to hit on October 14, 2025. As we inch closer to that date, we’re likely to see that pace of migration accelerate. For anyone who’s still on Windows 10 and wants to keep with it after end-of-support, it’ll be possible — but it’s going to cost extra, and it won’t be permanent.

IDF reports continuing airstrikes on Gaza Strip and Lebanon

Posts misleadingly claim Russian leader unveiled BRICS banknote to member countries in Kazan

Russia's Lavrov to travel to OSCE talks in Malta despite EU sanctions

China directs automakers to halt investments in EU countries supporting EV tariffs

The argument for the Barretts being the best sporting family in the world right now
With combos like Ryan and Grant Fox, NRL’s Burgess brothers and Serena and Venus Williams, they do have some competition.

Run out of Kohli caps day of hard toil for Black Caps in Mumbai heat
Daryl Mitchell and Will Young kept their cool to score valuable first-innings runs, before India imploded in the final 20 minutes of play.

Spain flood death toll hits 205 as Valencia opens temporary morgue
Dozens of people are still not accounted for after Europe's worst weather disaster in five decades.

What the heck is a gaming browser, and do you need one?
Even some of the most elite gamers haven’t heard of the term “gaming browser.” That’s mostly because there’s only one true gaming browser in the market today: Opera GX. Even so, most browsers can be set up specifically to accentuate your gaming experience. But is it worth going to all that trouble? Why not just jump on the bandwagon and use Google Chrome instead? Here I unpack why you might want to take the plunge on an alternative… Benefits of using a gaming browser A simple glimpse of the features available in Opera GX makes it clear that it’s no ordinary browser designed to just surf the web. Sure, it has a search engine, but it also has a comprehensive list of features made especially to enhance your gaming experience, be they hardware or software tools. While other browsers like Firefox, Vivaldi, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Coowon lack Opera GX’s level of control for hardware optimization, they too can give you better access to your games and more personalization and privacy than Google Chrome. Plus, they use a lot less of your CPU and RAM (usually less than 10 percent) — Google Chrome by comparison is notoriously resource heavy, often tying down 40 to 50 percent of your CPU and RAM. The Firefox browser includes a picture-in-picture mode which is ideal for gamers that like to keep a walkthrough video open while trying to complete a game… Better hardware performance Squeezing every ounce of performance out of your hardware can make a big difference to how smoothly your games run and that can equate to better gaming performance. While you may not have the most ripped hardware in town, you still want to get as much bang for your buck by optimizing what you have. Opera Amongst browsers, Opera GX rules the roost for hardware optimization. It’s relatively lightweight, taking up only about 6 percent of your CPU’s capacity. Limiting your CPU cores through the browser can reduce that even further. You can also limit the RAM and network usage, thereby directing these critical resources to where they count the most — your games. Restricting the RAM usage for minimal background tasks and open tabs can deliver an 80 percent reduction in RAM usage according to Opera GX parent company, Opera Norway. That’s a saving that can have a big impact on your performance. Better access to games, apps, and news Getting quick access to your games, gaming news, and gaming apps can save you tons of time searching for and locating these things. Opera GX Corner allows you to download and play games directly from the browser, while also providing gaming news snippets and a calendar that you can use to keep on top of upcoming releases. It also has a sidebar for your Discord chats and Twitch stream. You also have access to a video pop-up window, messenger, and pinboard. Other browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Coowon also fare well in this regard with plenty of gaming-specific extensions and add-ons to elevate your gaming experience. The Firefox Steam Web Integration extension, for example, allows you integrate into your browser a whole lot of information from Steam, like wishlists and trading cards, without having to look it up manually (as described below). Dominic Bayley / IDG Another extension, SteamDB, gives you quick and easy access to the Steam database to analyze trending games and other useful statistics. Microsoft Edge has a dedicated gaming homepage with plenty of gaming news as well as videos and information about upcoming esports tournaments. There’s no doubt this browser is the best option if you intend on playing Xbox Game Pass in Windows, since it’s made to work for that. Microsoft Edge also has a great feature called Clarity Boost which improves clarity in games. Like the Safari browser on Apple devices, Edge also supports 4K projection for games and surround sound too. Deeper personalization If you’re anything like me, you’re going to want to personalize your browser to look and feel like it’s an extension of your gaming den. Opera GX’s default theme is already deeply gamified, but you can add your own touches, choosing among a range of themes and colors. There’s also Dark Mode which makes using the browser in dim light a whole lot easier on the eyes. Firefox also has a Dark Mode, and you can find a bunch of free custom themes, skins, and search bar settings to personalize its look. If you’re a gamer that likes to multitask, the browser includes a picture-in-picture mode which is ideal for gamers that like to keep a walkthrough video open while trying to complete a game. If you want more than just an aesthetic bump up, though, the browser Vivaldi is hard to beat. It allows you to basically build your own UI from the ground up, choosing how complicated or simple you want it to be. This browser has advanced tab management that allows you to group your tabs together or organize them for quicker access. It also supports a split screen mode for when you’re sizing up gamer reviews about a game, or watching multiple Lets Plays at once. More security and privacy Most of the browser options I’ve mentioned do very well for privacy and security. Opera GX for example has a built in VPN as well as fraud and malware protection, and a tracker blocker and ad blocker for stopping annoying pop-ups. Opera Norway also claims to adhere to the GDPR regulations regarding data privacy, which gives you some peace of mind that your data isn’t being harvested and used unscrupulously. Pexels: Pixabay If I had to choose an alternative browser for privacy, though, I’d go with either Brave or Firefox. Brave blocks cookies and cross-site traffic. Additionally, it provides protection from malware and its fingerprint randomization features prevent users being identified based on their browser preferences. Firefox has excellent tracker blocking that can block cross-site cookies, social media trackers, and autoplays. Therefore, it’s also a great option for keeping your personal profile safe while you’re gaming. Time to load up a new browser… As you can see there are some big benefits to using a gaming browser — notwithstanding their lighter use of your PC’s hardware. If you’re planning on making the switch, I urge you to try more than one before you land on a favorite. Experimenting can help you find the ideal fit for your needs.