Articles by Rael Hornby, Content Editor

Rael Hornby, potentially influenced by far too many LucasArts titles at an early age, once thought he’d grow up to be a mighty pirate. However, after several interventions with close friends and family members, you’re now much more likely to see his name attached to the bylines of tech articles. While not maintaining a double life as an aspiring writer by day and indie game dev by night, you’ll find him sat in a corner somewhere muttering to himself about microtransactions or hunting down promising indie games on Twitter.

Articles by: Rael Hornby

Samsung Odyssey G9 G95C gaming monitor against blue background

Score a free 27-inch Samsung Odyssey monitor worth $300 with this incredible Memorial Day deal

By Rael Hornby published 22 May 25

For a limited time, save $500 on the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor and get a second Odyssey monitor absolutely free.

Apple Memorial Day sale — Apple ecosystem against purple gradient background

This MacBook scored a perfect 5 stars in our review, and joins many other Apple products on sale ahead of Memorial Day

By Hilda Scott, Rael Hornby last updated 20 May 25

Early Apple Memorial Day sales offer impressive discounts on MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watch, AirPods, iPhones, and more

XREAL Project Aura XR glasses, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon, and making use of Google's Android XR platform.

Google and XREAL announce Project Aura, XR smart glasses for Android

By Rael Hornby published 20 May 25

XREAL's Project Aura emerges as the Android device to watch out for as XR glasses take a generational leap at Google I/O.

Think Grok is bad? Microsoft made an AI so evil it had to be erased (twice)

By Rael Hornby published 19 May 25

Another Grok blunder is making headlines, but Microsoft still holds the crown for most unhinged chatbot — and its downfall took just 16 hours.

A screenshot from a video produces by Epic Games parodying Apple's classic "Ninety Eighty" advert for Macs, protesting against the company's decision to ban the game Fortnite from its App Stores.

Apple REALLY doesn't want you playing Fortnite on iPhone

By Rael Hornby last updated 17 May 25

A five-year feud rages on as Apple appears to block Fortnite's triumphant return to the App Store for iPhone and iPad.

What links GTA 6, Cyberpunk 2077, and Baldur's Gate 3? They could all be at risk of being banned.

By Rael Hornby published 15 May 25

Wake up, Samurai. A freshly proposed U.S. law could spell big trouble for today's best games and future favorites.

Only one person at Microsoft is talking about Windows 12 — let's keep it that way

By Rael Hornby published 14 May 25

A single tweet, and suddenly everybody is interested in Windows 12 again. But not me, and neither should you be.

Graphical illustration of Nintendo character Mario hitting the Nintendo Switch 2 with a mallet and breaking it.

Who really owns your Switch 2? "It's-a-me!" suggests Nintendo

By Rael Hornby published 12 May 25

Be aware of the Ninten-do's and don'ts of Switch 2 ownership. It could be costly.

Windows 10 shutting down message overlayed with Windows 10 default wallpaper.

Microsoft loosens the noose on Windows 10 users with new end-of-support timeline

By Rael Hornby published 12 May 25

Windows 10 users have a little more room to breathe, following a rare end-of-support U-turn by Microsoft. Just not the one they've been hoping for.

Microsoft's next Windows update isn't at all what users were searching for

By Rael Hornby published 9 May 25

Windows users wanted a better way to search, but all Microsoft found was feature creep

It's the "End of 10," but that doesn't mean you have to install Windows 11

By Rael Hornby published 8 May 25

Your laptop or PC isn't obsolete, no matter how many times Microsoft says otherwise

Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Docking Station (TBT4-UDZ) on a wooden desk with an SD card and USB drives in front of it.

Yes, you need a laptop docking station. And these 7 are the best for ports, power, and performance.

By Rael Hornby last updated 8 May 25

After testing and reviewing dozens of docking stations, here are our picks for the best docking stations in 2025 based on ports, power, performance, presentation, and price.

Two rows of Mario Kart World demo stations at the Switch 2 NYC preview event on April 4, 2025

The Nintendo Switch 2 has an Xbox-shaped problem, and we just got our first look at it

By Rael Hornby published 7 May 25

Can the Xbox-branded ROG Ally 2 pull the rug out from under the Nintendo Switch 2's upcoming launch?

Photograph of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

Microsoft CEO brags, AI model performance is "doubling every 6 months"

By Rael Hornby published 6 May 25

Microsoft posts its wins in Q3 earnings report, but will its success keep pace with its powerful AI models?

U1208 Lab at Inserm, which studies cognitive sciences and robot-human communication. The team works with two robots. A number of emotions can be reproduced with Reeti using an interface that is easy to use by medical staff. Research with Reeti is led by a child psychiatrist to encourage communication with autistic children. Children with autistic disorders concentrate more with a robot who can endlessly, and without getting bored, repeat attitudes that represent easily identifiable emotions. Reeti can also talk. This robot would be an ideal neuropsychiatric medium. (Photo by: BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

ChatGPT needs therapy. Humans are hard to process.

By Rael Hornby published 25 April 25

Your favorite AI chatbot might be having a bad day, and it's likely all your fault.

Photograph focusing on a laptop screen showing the 'inetpub' folder in Windows 11's system drive.

There's a secret folder in Windows 11 — and it's quickly going from fix to flaw

By Rael Hornby published 25 April 25

The mysterious "inetpub" folder keeps making headlines, and one security expert says it might be more risk than remedy.

Microsoft set to make huge Windows change — and it's hoping you won't notice

By Rael Hornby published 24 April 25

So long, and thanks for all the glitch

Robert Hallock, senior director of technical marketing at Intel

"We’re just trying to make computers faster, more power efficient, and AI is the new face of that": Intel's Robert Hallock on the impact of AI and the myth of the "killer app"

By Rael Hornby published 23 April 25

We sit down with Intel's Robert Hallock to get the inside scoop on AI, the "killer app," and more.

Person snowboarding down a mountain, self-shot with Insta360 X5, showing game-like HUD overlay with real-time metrics pulled from Garmin or Apple smart watches.

Insta360's latest 360-degree camera gives your footage main character energy (with a HUD to match)

By Rael Hornby published 22 April 25

The Insta360 X5's dual-capture InstaFrame mode caters to adventurers and editors alike, but syncing with Apple and Garmin smartwatches gives every shot serious video game vibes.

Being nice to ChatGPT might be bad for the environment. Here's why.

By Rael Hornby published 19 April 25

Be rude to AI. The planet will thank you.

Asus ExpertBook P5 (P5405) open on a wooden table

The 5 best Ultrabooks are premium thin-and-light laptops that make great picks for most people

By Sarah Chaney last updated 18 April 25

These are the five best ultrabooks in 2025 based on dozens of premium thin-and-light laptops put through Laptop Mag's real-world tests and benchmark results.

You don't have to give up physical media in 2025; I found the best external DVD drives for CDs, DVDs, or Blu-Rays

By Rael Hornby last updated 16 April 25

Check out our selection of the best external DVD drives in 2025. There are still numerous benefits to having an optical media drive to plug into your laptop.

Will Sam Altman's controversy be the downfall of OpenAI?

ChatGPT's Sam Altman threatened to "Uno reverse" Facebook over AI app — he might be dead serious

By Rael Hornby published 16 April 25

An older tweet from Sam Altman suddenly looks less like a joke and more like OpenAI's next big move.

A mysterious new folder appeared in my C drive after this Windows 11 update, should I be worried?

By Rael Hornby last updated 15 April 25

A recent Windows 11 update has left behind a strange "inetpub" folder on users' computers — here's what it is and what it isn't.

Oops. Deleting Windows' mysterious "inetpub" folder was a terrible mistake. Here's how to fix it

By Rael Hornby published 15 April 25

Last week, a strange folder appearing in the system directory of Windows machines was deemed harmless, but users who deleted it may be at risk.

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Rael Hornby

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