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Microsoft Edge for mobile could make me ditch Chrome for good: Free YouTube background play without interruptions

Google hid YouTube background play behind a paywall, but Microsoft Edge Canary just brought it back for free.

In this photo illustration a Microsoft Edge logo of a web browser developed by Microsoft is seen on a smartphone and a pc screen.

In this photo illustration a Microsoft Edge logo of a web browser developed by Microsoft is seen on a smartphone and a pc screen.

Sniffnet is my new go-to app for network monitoring — Free, open-source, and taking on GlassWire and Wireshark

I came across Sniffnet the other day, and after installing it on my PC, I can safely say it's sticking around. It's a free and open-source network monitor that's easy to use, efficient, and quite deep. Here's what you need to know.

Sniffnet dashboard with a dark blue and yellow theme displays network traffic. Graphs, numerical data, and lists of hosts, services, and programs are shown. The background is a blue abstract design.

Sniffnet's overview page displayed on a Windows 11 desktop.

"Users can now simply ask what happened": AppControl's optional AI integration gives you in-depth PC diagnostic history in plain English — It works with popular LLMs, but I'll use offline models for added security

AppControl has replaced Task Manager on my PCs, and it seems like it's just getting started. The latest update adds optional AI integration that answers questions regarding system history, which is basically like having your own private IT tech inside your system.

AppControl AI integration

AppControl AI integration

Our friends at Tom's Guide are upgrading: Here's what it means, and how our sister site's overhaul affects Windows Central

Our sister site, Tom's Guide, just launched its overhaul, featuring all-new shopping tools and exciting prospects for the future. Here's what it all means.

Tom's Guide homepage with new layout for 2026

Tom's Guide has a brand new look for its home page.

I've finally found a loophole to block a specific type of YouTube ads, and it won’t cost you a dime: Just a little teamwork

YouTube viewers can now work together to prevent ads from playing during livestreams without paying for Premium.

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 28: An image of a woman holding a cell phone in front of the YouTube logo displayed on a computer screen, on April 29, 2024, in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 28: An image of a woman holding a cell phone in front of the YouTube logo displayed on a computer screen, on April 29, 2024, in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"I can't stop laughing": I might have a reason to press my Copilot key as this absurd Windows 11 app adds some comic relief

TypeFart is a small Windows app that plays a fart sound on every keypress and weird sounds on the touchpad, but you'll need a subscription plan for the action.

Copilot button on a Windows laptop

TypeFart is a small Windows app that plays a fart sound on every keypress, and that includes the Copilot key.

Is this the perfect Windows app to emulate? Microsoft needs to take notes.

Speechify is more than just a great dictation tool; it’s a masterclass in how to build a native Windows 11 app that actually respects the platform.

A stylized, 3D exploded view of the Speechify Voice AI interface. Two translucent, glass-like cards float in perspective, one highlighting "Dictate Text Anywhere" with its Right Alt shortcut, and the other showing "Listen to Text Anywhere" with its Alt plus A shortcut.

A stylized, 3D exploded view of the Speechify Voice AI interface. Two translucent, glass-like cards float in perspective, one highlighting "Dictate Text Anywhere" with its Right Alt shortcut, and the other showing "Listen to Text Anywhere" with its Alt plus A shortcut.

Microsoft's buggy apps reach deep space — "I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those is working," says Artemis II commander

Even a multi-billion-dollar rocket can't escape Microsoft's buggy Outlook apps. Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman reported two broken versions of Outlook on his Surface Pro.

The Artemis II crewed lunar mission lifts off from Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket April 1 on a long-anticipated journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. With an intense roar that reverberated far beyond the launchpad, the enormous orange-and-white rocket carried three Americans and one Canadian away from Florida's Kennedy Space Center at approximately 6:35 pm local time, according to an AFP journalist onsite. "We're going to the Moon!" yelled a spectator. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)

The Artemis II crewed lunar mission lifts off from Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket April 1 on a long-anticipated journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. With an intense roar that reverberated far beyond the launchpad, the enormous orange-and-white rocket carried three Americans and one Canadian away from Florida's Kennedy Space Center at approximately 6:35 pm local time, according to an AFP journalist onsite. "We're going to the Moon!" yelled a spectator. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)

I’m skeptical of AI writing tools — but Speechify for Windows won me over. Here's why this new voice‑writing app is fast, simple, and weirdly addictive.

Testing Speechify’s new Windows app proves voice typing is faster than a keyboard, though AI quirks and a $29 monthly fee remain significant hurdles.

Screenshot of Speechify and Microsoft Word on a PC

Speechify has worked seamlessly with every app I've tried it with so far.

Microsoft Teams finally fixes the Enter key (yes, really) and adds more long‑awaited tweaks — Here is everything else new in March 2026

The March 2026 update for Microsoft Teams adds highly requested features like 'Enter' key customization and a new 'mark all as read' shortcut.

The Microsoft Teams app on a laptop arranged in New York, US, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Microsoft Corp. risks a hefty European Union fine after regulators accused the company of abusing its market power by bundling the Teams video-conferencing app to its other business software. Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Managing messages and drafts in Microsoft Teams is now easier than ever, thanks to a few new features.

Samsung Browser finally launches on Windows — a dark horse pick for your next browser

Samsung Browser is now available for Windows. It connects your mobile and PC browsing with several features and integrates a new AI tool powered by Perplexity.

Samsung Browser running on a Samsung Galaxy Pro laptop (2026)

Samsung Browser has finally jumped to Windows PCs, and you should give it a try.

Microsoft's GitHub is going to start using Copilot interactions to train AI models and it's starting soon

GitHub Copilot already ruffled feathers when it first arrived given what it was trained on. Now it's going to use your interactions with it to further train the models.

The GitHub logo on a background with green blocks.

GitHub is going to use your interactions with its AI tool to train its AI tool.

OneDrive has a new generative AI photo tool — and it isn't called Copilot

Microsoft’s new AI Restyle for OneDrive reimagines photos into artistic styles.

AI Restyle in OneDrive

AI Restyle in OneDrive allows users to transform photos into anime, sketch, and cinematic styles while maintaining the original subject.

The new Outlook finally learns how to search — Microsoft revamps "People" experience

Microsoft is rolling out a unified search experience for the new Outlook, allowing users to find contacts across directories and personal accounts with simple keywords.

Outlook Client Hero

The new Outlook finally simplifies contact search with a reimagined "People" experience.

Microsoft’s new Clipchamp ultimatum — Sync to OneDrive or lose your ability to edit

A new update to Windows 11’s built-in video editor mandates OneDrive for all active projects, effectively ending local-only workflows.

Clipchamp

Windows 11's built-in video editor now requires you to use a OneDrive account to edit projects.

Microsoft’s latest AI image generator aims for accuracy over hype, but it’s not top‑tier just yet

Microsoft’s latest image model, MAI-Image-2, vaults to #3 on the global leaderboards, marking a major shift toward internal AI development over OpenAI reliance.

MAI-Image-2 samples

A sample of images generated by MAI-Image-2 illustrates the realism the model is capable of.

This new translation tool turns your real thoughts into "LinkedIn Speak" — and it’s as cursed as you’d imagine

LinkedIn is a land of corporate speak and "aura farming," but a new tool makes playing the professional game a little bit easier (and a lot funnier).

LinkedIn logo at a tech conference

LinkedIn is a massive social network, but I rarely find it useful.

I finally tried Lively Wallpaper to animate my desktop — it's a dream for customization

Seeing the hype around custom wallpapers led me back to Lively Wallpaper. It’s an open-source standout with a native Windows 11 look, but I found one specific feature that uses an astronomical amount of memory.

Composite of Lively Wallpaper backgrounds

Lively Wallpaper includes several desktop backgrounds that are animated or interactive.

My favorite free Windows 11 app just got another great update — what's new in PowerToys v0.98

The latest update to PowerToys adds a Command Palette Dock that lets you pin your favorite extensions to the desktop. It also improves my favorite new utility, CursorWrap.

Microsoft PowerToys CursorWrap and Logitech MX Master 3S

Microsoft PowerToys CursorWrap and Logitech MX Master 3S

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