NZCity NewsLinks -

All Links

26 Nov 2024

Search

Did you know Windows 11 has an easy tool for recording screencasts?
Did you know Windows 11 has a built-in tool for capturing screenshots and recording screencasts? It’s called the Snipping Tool and you can launch it by either using the Windows key + Shift + S keyboard shortcut or by searching the Start menu for “snipping tool”. Once the Snipping Tool is open, you can record a screencast by toggling the mode from screenshot to screencast (by clicking the film camera icon). Then, drag your mouse cursor to define the area you want to record, whether it’s an entire window or just a certain section. Then, to start recording, click on the Start button: In Windows 11, the Snipping Tool also records screencasts.IDG After a three-second countdown, the tool will begin recording. You can do whatever you want on screen and it’ll be recorded in the screencast. Use the Pause button to temporarily pause or the Stop button to end recording altogether. Use the Microphone and Speaker buttons to mute or unmute the recording of microphone and/or system audio. When you’re finished, you can then play the recorded video in the snipping tool using the Play button. To save the recording, click on the small Save in the top right-hand corner of the Snipping Tool. Further reading: Obscure Windows features worth knowing about

Hot deal! Get this iPad Mini for just $300 right now
I’m a Windows and Android die-hard who’s loathe to admit it, but the iPad is a darn good tablet. And if you want a high-end tablet that’s a little smaller and more portable than the usual suspects, the iPad Mini is pretty much the only game in town. Right now, you can get this 6th-gen iPad Mini for just $300 on Amazon. That’s a whopping $200 off the list price, an incredible deal that makes it way cheaper than the base model iPad. To be very clear, this is a brand-new iPad, not refurbished or used. The only catch is that it’s the slightly older 6th-generation model from 2021, not the most recent one with updated internals. But the design is otherwise identical, aside from the A15 processor (which is still a screamer for an 8.3-inch tablet) and the lower 4GB of RAM (ditto), along with a few other touches like faster Wi-Fi and USB file transfers. You can read Macworld’s review of the 6th-gen iPad Mini here. In my opinion, this iPad Mini is more than worth it at a 40 percent discount, especially since there are basically no Android, Windows, or Chrome alternatives in this form factor. Sure, you can pick up a small Android tablet on the cheap, but it’s not going to be anywhere near as solid as Apple’s offering in terms of its core software or app support. The iPad Mini also makes a great gaming or media tablet for traveling. Amazon is offering the $300 base 64GB Wi-Fi version in four different colors: space gray, purple, pink, and “Starlight” (kinda, sorta, gold-ish). If you want to boost the storage to 256GB, it’ll cost $500 instead (which is still a nice deal, down $150 from its original $650). Get this 6th-gen iPad Mini for just $300 right nowBuy now on Amazon

Complete your Black Friday laptop with these must-have accessories
Picking up a laptop in the Black Friday sales can save you hundreds. But why stop there? You can save even more money by accessorizing your laptop with the extra things it needs while the sales last. What kind of things might it need? A laptop stand, external hard drive or SSD, and peripherals like a mouse and keyboard will make using your laptop a whole lot easier. Then again, you’ll also want a laptop sleeve and surge protector to keep it safe and sound and extend its lifespan. Here we’ve put together a shortlist of laptop essentials to consider as you shop. Laptop essentials to consider USB hub: Get one to expand the number and kind of ports available for your laptop. Hiearcool USB-C hub is a very affordable and capable USB-C hub with myriad ports, including 2 x USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots, and a HDMI port. Get if for $30 on Amazon. Laptop stand: A laptop stand can position your laptop so that it’s more comfortable to use, aids ventilation, and protects it from bumps and scratches. The Lamicall laptop stand is adjustable and portable and is large enough to accommodate laptops ranging in size from 10 to 17.3 inches. See it on Amazon from $36. External SSD storage: An SSD is the fastest form of external storage and it’s also less prone to physical damage than an external hard drive. Samsung’s T7 1TB portable drive offers blisteringly fast data transfer speeds and is currently 38 percent off the marked price. Get it on Amazon for $99. External hard drive: This is the cheapest option for storing your files if you need a lot of storage space and don’t have a big budget. Western Digital is a household name for HDD storage — its My Passport HDD comes with password protection and defense against ransomware to keep your files safe. The 2TB option is available for $69. Laptop sleeve: A good quality sleeve will protect your laptop from the inevitable bumps, scratches, and drops that happen over time. Amazon’s choice for laptop sleeve is the BOOEUDI, which is shockproof and made from neoprene. Browse sizes at Amazon. Surge protector: Use one to stop shifts in power voltage from damaging your laptop. The Belkin 6-outlet Wall Surge protector is ideal for a laptop, providing you with six AC outlets and 2 USB-A ports to charge your laptop safely. It’s just $22 on Amazon. Cooling pad: A cooling pad can prevent your laptop from overheating and extend its lifespan. The Havit is portable and comes with USB and power switch design and is ideal for 15.6 to 17-inch laptops. It’s down to $28 on Amazon. Mouse: Using a mouse instead of just your laptop’s trackpad is essential if you’re going to do any kind of gaming on it; it can also speed up productivity if your laptop is mainly used for work. A mouse you can rely on for all your needs, be it work or gaming, and that feels comfortable is the Razer DeathAdder V2 X HyperSpeed. Find it for $60 on Amazon. Keyboard: In the right setting, a full-sized external keyboard can make typing or playing games on your laptop a lot quicker and easier. It’s expensive but the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro Wireless is one of the most comfortable keyboards we’ve used at PCWorld for work and gaming thanks to the linear optical switches in its keys. The wireless version costs $199 at Amazon or else a wired version is $250 at Razer. Docking station: A docking station prevents you having to swap out dongles and adapters to fit your laptop’s limited number of ports. The Anker 568 USB-C docking station provides you with 11 ports for your devices, including one with USB 4 capability for 100W charging of your laptop. Find it for $241 on Amazon. Antivirus software: Antivirus software is essential from the first day you use your laptop, to protect it from viruses, malware, hackers, and other online threats. As well as virus protection, Norton 360 Deluxe offers a comprehensive protection against threats including antivirus scans, malicious link and attachment screening, dark web monitoring, a VPN, and parental controls. It’s available for just $20 on the PCWorld Software store. VPN subscription: A VPN subscription will provide you with anonymity and privacy while you’re online by hiding your online activity. ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs, featuring a comprehensive selection of countries and extra security features like ad- and tracker-blocking and a password manager. See the ExpressVPN Black Friday offer. If you plan on picking up more than one item in the Black Friday sales, be sure to also check out our handy accessory lists for monitors, desktop PCs, TVs, smartphones, and tablets, which tick off the main accessories you’ll need for each of these items.