table Archives

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

What’s the weirdest thing that happened to you in a tabletop RPG?

Fraser Brown, Online Editor at PC Gamer, reflects on his 15 years of tabletop roleplaying experiences, sharing memorable anecdotes such as a companion covered in vomit due to the "Vomit Bandit" and his own humorous attempt to use a large table as a battering ram. He emphasizes the unpredictability and creativity of tabletop gaming, highlighting the camaraderie and joy it fosters among players.

Tech Optimizer

September 26, 2026

Norton 360 for Gamers vs Bitdefender vs Malwarebytes [2026]

Norton 360 and Bitdefender Total Security achieved perfect scores from AV-TEST in June 2026, while Malwarebytes had a 100% real-world protection rate in AV-Comparatives’ testing but with a higher false-positive rate. Bitdefender Total Security is recommended for PC gamers as it minimizes frame-rate impact to 0-2% during gameplay. Norton 360 for Gamers includes features for streamers and competitive players but has a higher renewal price. Malwarebytes Premium is noted for its minimal resource usage but lacks a dedicated game mode. The pricing for Norton 360 starts at .99 for the first year and increases to .99 upon renewal, Bitdefender starts at .99 for a single device, and Malwarebytes Premium aligns closely with Norton’s entry price but does not include a VPN. In FPS testing with Cyberpunk 2077, Norton showed a 2-3% drop, Bitdefender a 0-2% decrease, and Malwarebytes under 1%. Norton uses a hybrid detection model, Bitdefender employs cloud-based scanning, and Malwarebytes focuses on behavior-based detection. Norton offers gamer-tag dark web monitoring and a bundled VPN, while Bitdefender has limited VPN features on standard tiers and Malwarebytes lacks these protections.

Tech Optimizer

September 25, 2026

Norton 360 for Gamers vs Bitdefender vs Malwarebytes [2026]

Norton, Bitdefender, and Malwarebytes have adjusted their antivirus products to mitigate the negative effects on gaming performance. In June 2026, Norton 360 and Bitdefender Total Security both received a perfect AV-TEST score of 18 out of 18, while Malwarebytes achieved a 100% real-world protection rate in AV-Comparatives testing, though it had more false positives. Bitdefender Total Security is recommended for gamers due to its low frame-rate impact of 0-2%, while Norton 360 offers features for streamers and competitive players, and Malwarebytes serves as a lightweight secondary scanner. The value of gaming accounts has increased, making them targets for cybercriminals, with malware campaigns like Vidar 2.0 accounting for 41% of gaming-related malware detections. New malware families such as Katz and Bee specifically target Discord and gaming platforms. In terms of performance, Norton showed a 2-3% FPS decrease in Cyberpunk 2077, while Bitdefender's impact was only 0-2%, and Malwarebytes had less than 1% impact. Norton and Bitdefender are tied in detection capabilities, both scoring 18/18 in AV-TEST, while Malwarebytes had a 92.4% offline detection rate and 98.3% online. Norton includes a no-log VPN and gamer-tag monitoring, while Bitdefender offers identity protection without specific gamer-tag monitoring. Malwarebytes lacks a VPN and password manager. Pricing varies, with Norton starting at .99 for three devices, Bitdefender at .99 for one device, and Malwarebytes at .99 for one device. To switch antivirus solutions, users should back up their license keys, use removal tools, and ensure game-aware modes are active. Each product has unique strengths: Norton excels in gamer-tag monitoring, Bitdefender minimizes CPU usage, and Malwarebytes is lightweight but lacks additional features.

Winsage

September 23, 2026

I just spent a day with Stardock’s Snipboard, a promising replacement for the Windows 11 clipboard

Stardock has introduced Snipboard, a clipboard dock application for Windows 11 users that can be pinned to any edge of the screen. It allows users to search clipboard history, pin frequently accessed content, and copy and paste items across multiple PCs. Snipboard is currently part of the Object Desktop suite, which starts at .99 for an annual subscription, and will be available for separate purchase after its beta phase. Compared to Edge Drop, another clipboard management tool, Snipboard offers a more robust experience, although Edge Drop has superior drag-and-drop functionality.

AppWizard

September 23, 2026

2026 Android Casino Tech: Flagship Real-Money Play

Global mobile gaming revenue reached .6 billion in 2024, with projections indicating it will surpass 0 billion by the close of 2026. By 2026, the average flagship Android device will have 12GB of RAM, enhancing slot loading times and live dealer streaming. A 120Hz refresh rate can reduce perceived input lag by approximately 40% compared to 60Hz panels. As of early 2026, mobile users constitute 61% of all online gambling traffic globally. High-end devices like Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra and Google’s Pixel 10 Pro feature vapor chamber cooling for sustained gaming performance. The global luxury goods market reached .5 trillion in 2024, with 9% of that total spent on digital entertainment. Flagship devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipsets deliver live dealer feeds in 1080p and provide OLED screens for enhanced visual quality. A 5,000mAh battery supports three-hour gaming sessions and can recharge to 60% in about 20 minutes. Understanding wagering requirements and game weighting is crucial for maximizing bonuses. Progressive web apps ensure reliable performance on unstable connections, while flagship devices offer hardware-level encryption and biometric authentication for security.

BetaBeacon

September 20, 2026

MuMu Player vs GameLoop vs KOPLAYER: Android 15 Gap

Android emulators for PC have become a crowded market with close to a dozen actively maintained clients. Tencent and NetEase have first-party products like GameLoop and MuMu Player to control the PC on-ramp to their mobile catalogs. Independent players like BlueStacks and LDPlayer focus on platform-agnostic performance and feature breadth. KOPLAYER appears to be abandoned in 2026 with no updates, functioning website, or active development. MuMu Player supports Android 15, offering newer features for mobile games. GameLoop is focused on Tencent's mobile titles with updated documentation. MuMu Player and GameLoop are free, while KOPLAYER is also historically free. MuMu Player and GameLoop have ongoing updates and security, while KOPLAYER's lack of updates poses a security risk.

Tech Optimizer

September 18, 2026

Best Free Antivirus for Windows 2026: 6 to Install, 1 to Skip

Avast Free Antivirus is recognized as the best free antivirus solution for Windows in 2026, achieving a perfect score from AV-TEST. It operates on the same engine as paid versions, providing comprehensive protection. Other notable free antivirus options include Bitdefender Antivirus Free, which is efficient for older systems; Microsoft Defender, a built-in option with solid protection; AVG AntiVirus Free, suited for older hardware; Avira Free Security, which includes additional tools; and Malwarebytes Free, best for cleaning infections. Each product generates revenue through upselling or data collection. Avast scored 99.78% in detection tests, while Bitdefender achieved 97.6%, and Microsoft Defender reached 99.93%. AVG matched Avast with a 99.97% protection rate, and Avira recorded 99.96%. Malwarebytes had a detection rate of 99.57%. Kaspersky is noted as a product to avoid due to misleading trial offers.

BetaBeacon

September 18, 2026

Pokémon Infinite Fusion on Android: JoiPlay Setup [2026]

- Pokémon Infinite Fusion is a standalone game built in RPG Maker XP, using the RGSS scripting layer. - The game is not a ROM, cartridge dump, or console to emulate, but rather a folder of Ruby scripts, tileset graphics, and audio files. - The mainline build of the game reached version 6.7.2 on October 2, 2025, and was updated to version 6.8.2 by August 2026. - The game combines two Pokémon into a single custom sprite and blended stat line, generating the combined artwork procedurally. - The Android-specific performance complaints come from the CPU doing image layering work in real time when compositing fusion sprites on lower-end devices.

Tech Optimizer

September 16, 2026

AI helps scammers build convincing antivirus renewal pages

Antivirus renewal scams often begin with messages claiming automatic subscription renewals, leading victims to counterfeit pages designed to collect personal information. These scams impersonate well-known brands and do not indicate that the sender has accessed the recipient's device. Responding to such messages can provide scammers with valuable data, including names and phone numbers, which can be sold or used for further scams. A specific scam site impersonating Avast targeted users in Belgium, falsely claiming a subscription renewal for €129.99. The site appeared polished and requested basic contact information without asking for sensitive data. It contained notes suggesting AI involvement in its creation, indicating it was a half-finished project. To identify antivirus renewal scams, individuals should verify any claimed charges directly with their bank, check subscriptions through official channels, be cautious of cancellation forms requesting phone numbers, treat follow-up calls as potential threats, and avoid installing remote access software. If engagement with a scam occurs, disconnect from the internet, remove any installed software, and change passwords. Tools like Malwarebytes Browser Guard can help block malicious sites, and Scam Guard can analyze suspicious communications.

AppWizard

September 15, 2026

Every single new feature in Android 17 QPR1 [Video]

Android 17 QPR1 has launched, compatible with devices from Pixel 6 to the latest models. The update includes several user interface changes such as improved lockscreen animation for media controls, access to Pixel Search settings in App list settings for older Pixel models, and a stashed media player in Quick Settings. Usability enhancements feature a predictive back gesture in Quick Settings, a new Keyboard tile for quick switching between keyboards, an option to dismiss the mobile data pop-up, and adjustments to the screen recording menu. Cosmetic changes include a new Quick Settings edit tile icon, a Gemini Intelligence boot logo for newer models, refreshed default app icons, improved animations in Quick Settings, enhanced system blur effects, and a visual update for app notification dots.