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Microsoft wants you to upgrade to Windows 11 or buy a new computer

If you’re still running Windows 10 on your PC, you’re probably quite used to Microsoft’s reminders that you can upgrade to Windows 11 for free by now. For a multitude of reasons, Windows 10 remains the most popular operating system even though Windows 11 was released in 2021.

However, time is ticking for those holding on to Windows 10. A few months ago, Microsoft announced that free security and performance updates for Windows 10 will be coming to an end in October 2025. While you’ll still be able to use Windows 10, you’ll have to pay for updates and support. 

For most PC users, this will likely be the biggest reason to finally give in and upgrade to Windows 11.

But, wait! Adopting Windows 11 might not be the end of upgrading for you. In fact, Microsoft may want you to even purchase a whole new computer.

Microsoft’s Windows 11 watermark warning

Multiple outlets have recently noticed that upgrading to Windows 11 on older, unsupported hardware has resulted in a watermark displaying on the user’s desktop notifying them of the situation.

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According to Microsoft’s support page, “when Windows 11 is installed on a device that doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements, a watermark is added to the Windows 11 desktop.”

Microsoft has also added a disclaimer to its support page that reads:

This PC doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements for running Windows 11 – these requirements help ensure a more reliable and higher quality experience. Installing Windows 11 on this PC is not recommended and may result in compatibility issues. If you proceed with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and won’t be entitled to receive updates. Damages to your PC due to lack of compatibility aren’t covered under the manufacturer warranty. By selecting Accept, you are acknowledging that you read and understand this statement.

Microsoft also provides users with a guide on reverting back to Windows 10 if your PC doesn’t meet those minimum requirements. However, with the recently announced sunsetting of free support for Windows 10, this doesn’t seem like such a good long-term option anymore.

So, in a little less than a year from now, PC owners with older computers will be left with a choice: Buy a new computer and upgrade to Windows 11 or keep your old computer and stick with an unsupported operating system – unless of course you decide to pay for Windows 10 support. Basically, there’s no free upgrade to Windows 11 for older PC users. You’ll likely have to pay up one way or another.

Microsoft has yet to announce any pricing model for those who’d like to hold on to Windows 10.


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Entertainment

Apples excellent AirPods Pro 3 are back on sale for just $200 — a $50 savings

SAVE $49.01: The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are 20% at Amazon and Walmart as of April 22. Snag a pair for just $199.99 (normally $249).


$199.99
at Amazon

$249
Save $49.01

 

Our very own Stan Schroeder is fresh off reviewing the new AirPods Max 2, Apple’s updated over-ear headphones. While he thought their noise cancellation has improved since the last generation, they still can’t block out sounds as well as the AirPods Pro 3: “Wearing them on a busy street makes the outside noise vanish in a spectacular fashion,” he writes of the earbuds.

So, if you’re an Apple user looking for best-in-class ANC, stick with the AirPods Pro 3. Right now, they happen to be on sale for just $199.99 at Amazon and Walmart — that’s a savings of nearly $50 and one of their best deals to date. They briefly hit $184 on Amazon back in February, but never since. (And they were $219.99 everywhere last Black Friday.)

For comparison’s sake, the AirPods Max 2 are up to $350 pricier depending on the color.

The AirPods Pro 3 actually have the same H2 chip as the AirPods Max 2, so they support the same suite of smart features like Adaptive Audio and Live Translation. On top of that, they come with a built-in heart rate monitor that “worked perfectly,” per Mashable contributor Adam Doud. (Read his full review.)

On their own, the AirPods Pro 3 will net you up to eight hours of battery life per charge with their ANC enabled. Their included charging case adds an extra 24 hours of use.

I can personally assure you that you won’t find the AirPods Pro 3 on sale for anywhere cheaper — even if you go for a used pair. In new condition, they’re $239.99 at B&H Photo and full price at Best Buy and Target. Then there’s Best Buy’s open-box AirPods Pro 3, which are are $204.99 in fair condition. Pass.

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LA public schools pass screen time limits for students in a first

Los Angeles public school students may be returning to the age of college-ruled notebooks and Scantrons, following a Tuesday school board vote that will limit the use of computers, laptops, and tablets in classrooms.

Titled “Using Technology with Intention,” the new resolution mandates the creation of grade-level and subject-specific screen time limits across Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools, including a complete ban on device usage for kindergarten and first grade. The use of one-to-one devices, like individual Chromebooks, will be discouraged for second through fifth grades, as well.

Revised guidelines will also address video-aided lesson plans, access to video streaming platforms like YouTube, and expanded restrictions on gaming and social media platforms.

District staff must present the revised tech use policy by June, which will go into effect for all LAUSD students beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Guidelines will be reevaluated every year, and schools are tasked with tracking and sharing student screen time numbers with parents.

The resolution cites increasing concern about the effect of screen time on young minds and alleged screen addiction, including recent Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies that show a correlation between high screen time and adverse health effects. The board was unanimously in favor of the tech restrictions, with one recusal.

“We know that tech is not going away and can be a powerful tool in the classroom. This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time and screen time in schools to ensure we are doing what actually helps students learn best,” board member Nick Melvoin said during Tuesday’s meeting.


“This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time…”

Advocates, parents, and even students have spent the last year lobbying for greater tech restrictions following the passing of a 2025 bell-to-bell cellphone ban restricting the use of personal devices during school hours. Schools Beyond Screens, a national classroom tech safety coalition founded by LAUSD parents and teachers, helped craft the resolution in collaboration with board members and co-sponsors Melvoin, Karla Griego, Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Jerry Yang, Kelly Gonez, and Rocío Rivas.

“Now is the time for a safe and science-backed approach to classroom technology, one that is not guided by Big Tech talking points like screen value over screen time,” the organization wrote in a press release following the decision.

“There is much work to be done, and this is only the beginning, but today, we are proud, grateful, and – for the first time in a long time – hopeful. Our kids may yet have the kind of public education that they deserve — one that is proven effective and free of undue digital distraction, harmful content, and corporate exploitation.”

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The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is at the lowest price weve seen all year

SAVE $75: The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $299. That’s a 25% discount.


$224
at Amazon

$299
Save $75

 

Packing up for an adventure means figuring out how to bring along a soundtrack. A trip to the cabin or a lakeside campground all deserve to be experienced with a great playlist. If you could use an upgrade before summer to get a waterproof Bluetooth speaker, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of April 22, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $299. That’s a 25% discount that takes $75 off the price. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen at Amazon so far this year.

A compact speaker with a scratch-resistant aluminum shell is exactly what we should be packing on adventures. With an attached carabiner, the B&O Explore speaker is designed to clip onto your backpack when you hit the trail. Or you can utilize the rubber base to set it on a rock or even in the sand. It’s both waterproof and dustproof, adding to the durability.

Bang & Olufsen notes this model gets up to 27 hours of playtime before it needs to recharge. It weighs under 1.5 pounds, so it won’t add much bulk to your gear. It takes about two hours to recharge the Beosound Explore.

Before summer kicks into high gear, add the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore speaker to your pack. It’s ready for any adventure you have planned.

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