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lundi 31 août 2026

Why You Might Need to Roll Back Windows' Latest Update

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If you're the kind of person who installs Windows updates as soon as they hit your PC, you're likely running version KB5120998 of Windows 11 right now. Microsoft released it on Thursday, and while it's an optional update, it isn't locked behind its Windows Insider program. As such, anyone who has manually checked for new updates since then will have seen it, and could have installed it. Unfortunately, that might have been a mistake.

As reported by Windows Insider, the latest Windows 11 update is a big one. It includes some major updates to Windows customization, including changes that Microsoft has been testing for months. For example, the update lets you move and resize the taskbar however you like, and there are other changes that improve Windows Search for the better. These updates have previouly been exclusive to Insiders, but are now officially part of Windows 11. But it's not all good news.

Windows 11's latest update is buggy

In addition to these new features, it seems Microsoft inadvertently shipped some bugs with this update. Perhaps the most impactful of them, and the one most users will notice right away, is an issue where the cursor doesn't appear onscreen—or, when it does, it appears too big or too small. Some users report their cursors are enormous, while others find them annoyingly small. Unless you use your keyboard to control everything on your PC, losing access to your cursor isn't really an option, and even inconsistent UI experiences aren't really acceptable in 2026, considering Windows has had a cursor since 1985.

Luckily, Microsoft has a fix in the works. The company formally addressed the bug on a support page, stating, "Microsoft has received reports indicating that mouse cursor personalization settings are being changed or reverted to certain standard settings. This occurs following installation of Windows updates released August 27 2026 (KB5120998) and later."

It's not just the cursor causing issues, though. Following this update, Windows may forget your wallpaper settings, so your desktop appears black. You can bring your wallpaper back, but this glitch may occur every time you restart your PC. There are also reports that some fonts appear blurry, which would be particularly annoying on high-resolution displays.

How to roll back the latest Windows update

If you're experiencing any or all of these bugs, the only solution at this time appears to be rolling back the update. As Windows Latest highlights, users did see their cursors return to normal following the rollback, and those specific wallpaper glitches were only reported with this latest version.

Luckily, it isn't too difficult to uninstall a recent Windows update. To do so, head to Settings > Windows Update > Update History > Uninstall. Here, find the update (KB5120998), then choose "Uninstall." Windows Latest notes that because this update was optional, you won't lose any security patches this way. Hopefully, Windows' next update is a bit more stable than this one.



10 Video Downloading Hacks Every YouTube User Should Know

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There are multiple ways to download YouTube videos, but the only official method is paying for YouTube Premium. If you're not inclined to do that, you're not out of luck. Instead, you can use one of many YouTube download hacks to watch videos offline, download video transcripts, or even extract audio from YouTube videos. Be aware, however, that YouTube constantly changes its website and apps, so these methods may not always work, but I've tested all of them and confirmed they are working at the time of writing.

It's also important to note that downloading YouTube videos outside of the app's official channels is against the company's terms of service. That said, if you're only downloading videos for personal use, you'll likely be fine, but if you plan to reupload that content to your own YouTube channels, or attempt to monetize the content you've downloaded, that's another story. Please download responsibly.

Use Apple's Shortcuts app to download YouTube videos on iPhone

Downloading YouTube videos without Premium is a fairly complex task on the iPhone, but thanks to the power of automation and scripting apps on the App Store, it can be done. I recommend using the YouTube Download shortcut to save videos for offline viewing on your iPhone.

During this process, the automation routine will frequently present you with permission prompts. This is normal because iOS doesn't allow apps to access data from various sources without confirmation. While YouTube Download is one of the most popular shortcuts for iOS, make sure you install it from the RoutineHub link above. This ensures that you always have the latest version of the shortcut, which is important for two reasons: Apple's iCloud links don't always automatically update, and YouTube's code changes frequently. Follow these steps to download YouTube videos on your iPhone:

  1. You'll need three apps: a-Shell mini, Scriptable, and Apple's Shortcuts (this one's installed by default).

  2. Go to the YouTube Download page, and tap Get Shortcut. You can skip the registration prompt, and tap Add Shortcut to add it to your library.

  3. Once the shortcut is installed, open any YouTube video (in Safari or the YouTube app), and tap the Share button.

  4. If you're on the YouTube app, tap the More button in the share sheet. Skip this step if you're using YouTube via Safari.

  5. Scroll down the share sheet until you see a list of shortcuts. Select YouTube Download. This is where the automation kicks in, and starts throwing a bunch of prompts your way. Permit it to access various YouTube URLs, a-Shell mini, and Scriptable, all of which are necessary for the shortcut to do its job.

  6. Once the permission prompts are done, the shortcut will ask you which video quality you want, where you'd like to save the video (Files or Photos), and if you'd like to download subtitles, thumbnails, and so on. Pick the options you desire, and the shortcut will start downloading the video.

  7. Once the download is complete, you'll find the video saved in the location you specified.

Use "Downie" to download YouTube videos on a Mac

Downie for Mac.
Credit: Pranay Parab

Downie ($20) is the Swiss Army knife of video downloaders, since it supports saving videos from a lot of sites, including YouTube. Once you install the app, copy a YouTube video URL, and click the + button in the bottom-left corner of Downie's home page. The app may take a minute to start downloading the video, but it gets the job done. Downie is also available as part of the Setapp subscription, which offers a way to get the app (along with many others) at a lower price.

Check out Stacher to download YouTube videos on Windows or Linux

It's safe to say that yt-dlp is the gold standard for YouTube downloaders on desktop. As good as it is, installing and running it is a bit complex since it's a command-line utility. That's where apps like Stacher come in, since they provide a user-friendly frontend for yt-dlp. You can install Stacher on Windows or Linux, paste the YouTube URL, and the app will handle the rest for you. I should warn you that antivirus software often falsely flags trusted YouTube downloaders, which means that even if you download the setup file from the official website, your Windows PC probably won't let you run the installer.

Instead, you can get the app from Winget, a hidden package manager for Windows. Open the Start menu on your PC, search for "Terminal," and open the app. Paste the following command to install Stacher:

winget install -e --id Stacher.Stacher

Alternatively, you can go to Stacher's page on Winstall, and install the app from there. When you're ready, run Stacher, and accept its prompts to install yt-dlp and ffmpeg. Now you can paste any YouTube video URL in the app, and click the "Highes" button. Use the "Download Format" drop-down menu to select your preferred video quality, and then click the Download button to get started. The default download location is the Downloads folder on your PC, but you can change it using the folder path button in Stacher.

Sideload NewPipe to download YouTube videos on your Android phone

If you want an app that will download YouTube videos on your Android phone, you probably won't find good options on the Play Store. Most people are better off using web-based YouTube video downloaders, but if you absolutely want to use an app, try NewPipe. You will have to sideload this onto your phone, which is becoming increasingly difficult as Google continues to lock down the Android ecosystem.

Once you download the apk file from NewPipe's website, run it on your phone to install the app. You may have to dismiss some warning prompts before you can complete the installation. When you have NewPipe running, the app shows a download button below each YouTube video. Tap it to complete the task. If you want a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to NewPipe, you can check out LibreTube.

Use Cobalt to download YouTube videos on the web

A simple website that downloads YouTube videos is probably the best option for most people. If that's what you need, you can visit Cobalt to save videos for offline viewing. The website periodically goes down or disables downloading due to rising costs or changes from YouTube's end. If you face these troubles, you can look for mirrors such as this one. When you find a working mirror, just paste the YouTube video URL, and click the download button. The website will show a download progress bar, and save the file to your device when it's done.

Try NeoDLP to download YouTube videos without sponsored segments

NeoDLP is another useful frontend for yt-dlp, which has a few tricks up its sleeve. It supports downloading YouTube playlists, embedding chapters and other metadata, and most importantly, removing sponsored segments from downloaded videos. You can install the app either via its Winstall page, or use the following winget command:

winget install -e --id neosubhamoy.neodlp

When you have NeoDLP running, click the Settings button in the bottom-left corner, and go to Sponsorblock to set up sponsor removal. You can choose which categories to remove, such as sponsored segments, subscription reminders, hooks, fillers, etc. Once done, click the Downloader button in the left pane, paste the YouTube video URL, and click Search. The app takes a short while to find the video. Once it does, select the Combine button next to "Download Options." You can now select if you want subtitles, the correct audio stream, and the video quality you wish to download. Then, click Start Download.

Use this website to download YouTube video transcripts for free

Downloading transcripts from YouTube.
Credit: Pranay Parab

If all you want is a searchable video transcript of a YouTube video, then you don't need a video downloader. Instead, head over to this YouTube Transcript website, paste the video URL, and click Extract transcript. You can either copy the transcript or download it in formats such as pdf, txt, srt, etc.

Try Downsub to extract subtitles from YouTube videos

You may discover that a downloaded video doesn't have the best audio quality, and that you'll need subtitles to follow what the host is saying. In these cases, you don't need to redownload the video with subtitles. You can just use Downsub to extract subtitles from the video. Just paste the video URL in the text box on Downsub's homepage, and click Download. You'll see that you can download subtitles in srt, txt, vtt, and other formats. The site also allows you to choose subtitles in different languages. Be aware that this feature doesn't work reliably when trying to download YouTube's auto-generated subtitles.

Use 4K YouTube to MP3 to extract audio from your favorite videos

For those who want an app just to extract audio files from YouTube videos, 4K YouTube to MP3 is a decent app for the job. It's simple enough: You can copy a YouTube video URL, click the Paste Link button in 4K YouTube to MP3, and the app handles the rest. It'll extract audio from the video, convert it to the mp3 format, and save it to your computer's Downloads folder. The free tier limits you to five downloads per day, which is good enough for casual use. If you want to get more audio files for free, you may consider using other YouTube downloaders mentioned in this guide.

Use "ClipsCutter" to download short clips from YouTube videos

If you want a short clip from a YouTube video, you don't have to download the entire video and then trim it using an editing app. Instead, you can use ClipsCutter, an online video trimming service. You can paste the YouTube link on the site, select the start and end times for your clip, select the format and resolution, and click Create. The site will create your clip and allow you to download it quickly. The free tier allows you to download clips up to 10 minutes long and restricts the resolution to 360p, but you can pay $6 per month to remove those restrictions.



These DeWalt Tools Are up to 50% Off for the Lowe's Early Labor Day Sale

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Lots of DIYers are inspired to take on projects over the Labor Day long weekend, and big box stores will often time their sales to coincide with holiday weekends. This makes Labor Day one of the best times of year to buy tools. DeWalt tools are known for being durable and reliable, and they’re on sale right now at Lowe’s for Labor Day. Here are some of the best deals I've found.

Best deals on cutting and shaping tools

Cordless cutting tools can be better than their corded counterparts for getting into tight spaces—and they’re more portable, too. Here are a couple of the best deals on DeWalt cutting and shaping tools on sale at Lowe’s for Labor Day.

The DeWalt 12-volt oscillating multitool is on sale for $99, 50% off its regular price. This tool comes with a wood-cutting blade, a multimaterial blade, and a sanding adapter. It doesn’t come with a battery or a charger, so you’ll need a DeWalt 12-volt battery and charger to use it. This tool can cut wood, metal, PVC, drywall, and tile and you can use the adapter to use it as a sander that will work in tight spaces.

The DeWalt 12-volt, 5 ⅜-inch circular saw is on sale for $99, 41% off its usual price. This is a tool-only deal, so you’ll need a DeWalt 12-volt battery and charger to use it. This saw is a miniature version of the circular saw that you might use to cut plywood. You can use a circular saw to cut light to medium-weight material for DIY projects like installing wainscoting.

Best deals on DeWalt drivers

Drivers are a cornerstone of a DIY tool set because these are the tools you’ll use to turn screws and nuts to attach all your DIY pieces together. A powered driver can make assembling shelves or taking apart your HVAC panel much easier. Here are a couple of the best Labor Day deals on DeWalt powered drivers at Lowe’s.

The DeWalt ⅜-inch cordless powered ratchet is on sale for $99, 50% off its typical price. This is a tool-only deal, so you’ll need a DeWalt 12-volt battery and charger to use it. A powered ratchet can be used for automotive and HVAC repair projects, but take care to use a hand-powered wrench for rusted hardware or when installing delicate parts like sinks or toilets.

The DeWalt 12-volt cordless ½-inch impact wrench is on sale for $99, 41% off its regular price. This is a tool-only deal, so you’ll need a DeWalt 12-volt battery and charger to use it. You can use an impact wrench to drive larger-sized nuts and bolts.

Best deals on DeWalt batteries

Batteries are the part of most cordless tool sets that wear out first because even the best-made ones will eventually take a smaller and smaller charge until they barely charge at all. DeWalt makes some of the best batteries for cordless tools, but if you need replacements for your tool set or if you want to use your tools continuously without waiting for a fresh battery, here are some Labor Day deals on spares from Lowe’s.

A two-pack of DeWalt 20-volt, 4-amp-hour batteries is on sale for $129, 41% off its usual price. These batteries are sold on their own, so you’ll need a charger to use them.

A two-pack of 20-volt, 2-amp-hour batteries is on sale for $99, 41% off its typical price. These batteries are also sold on their own, so you’ll need a charger to use them.



samedi 29 août 2026

There’s Not Much Time Left to Win a New Apple Watch From Lifehacker

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Congratulations! You have made it to the third and final round of our Big Guessing Game! This year, Lifehacker, along with the other CNET Group sites (CNET, ZDNet, Mashable, and PCMag), has been giving readers a chance to win the latest Apple Watch by making predictions about Apple's big 2026 announcements—including Apple's upcoming iPhone event. There are only three days left to get your guesses in, so make sure you play the game now for your chance to win the latest Apple Watch.

If you've played Lifehacker's or CNET Group's Big Guessing Game in the previous two rounds, you'll know the gist. But for any new guessers, here's a summary. The Big Guessing Game is made up of three rounds:

  • Round 1, which ended on June 2. This round was focused on Apple's software announcements (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, etc.). You can see the results of this round here.

  • Round 2, which ended July 21. This round had questions about Apple hardware (iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, Vision Pro, etc.). You can see the results of this round here.

  • Round 3, which started Aug. 18, runs through Sept. 1. This round focuses on Apple's fall event, which should feature the iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone Ultra. (You're here now.)

Each round features five questions about what Apple might announce during various keynotes and presentations. As such, we won't know the answers for sure until Apple confirms them—but once we do know, each correct prediction will earn you one entry into CNET Group's grand-prize drawing. This drawing will commence at the end of the third round, and, if you win, you'll walk away with the latest version of Apple's smartwatch.

To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old and a resident of one of the 50 U.S. states or Washington, D.C. As alluded to above, you aren't limited to Lifehacker's guessing game, either: All CNET Group sites are hosting their own games, each with their own questions, which means there are 75 possible guesses across all three rounds. You can answer any or all of the questions each round, but note that you can only possibly win once, even if you play across multiple sites. Each of the five sites will announce the winner of its contest shortly after Apple's fall event.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win the "CNET Group Big Guessing Game" Giveaway. Open to legal U.S. residents in the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+ yrs of age. Other restrictions apply. Begins May 19, 2026 at 12:01 p.m. ET and ends Sept. 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules. Sponsor: Ziff Davis, LLC.

Apple is not a sponsor of, affiliated with, or endorser of this sweepstakes. Apple Watch is a trademark of Apple Inc.



vendredi 28 août 2026

These Samsung OLED TVs Are Up to $1,300 Off Right Now

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Samsung’s entire S90H lineup is discounted right now, from the 42-inch model all the way up to the 83-inch version, with savings reaching as much as $1,300 on the largest screen—the 65-inch version is the one I would look at first, though. It is down to $1,597.99 from $2,697.99, a $1,100 discount and its lowest price so far, according to price trackers. It also costs just $200 more than the 55-inch model, which is currently $1,397.99, so the extra screen size is much easier to justify—and for most living rooms, 65 inches is also large enough to feel like a real upgrade without demanding the wall space of the 77- or 83-inch models. Amazon is also including room-of-choice delivery with the deal, a service that normally costs $19.99, although the delivery team will only carry the boxed TV into the room you select and will not unpack, install, remove packaging, or haul away your old set.

The S90H is easiest to recommend for a living room where sunlight, lamps, or overhead lighting often reflect across the TV—its matte screen softens those reflections, so dark movies and daytime sports remain easier to see without closing the curtains. You still get the deep blacks, vibrant colors, and clean contrast expected from an OLED screen, with no obvious glow around subtitles or bright objects. The picture also holds up well from the side, which helps when your seating is spread across the room. The tradeoff is that the matte coating can make the image look slightly softer than it would on a glossy OLED.

Gaming gives the S90H another reason to consider it. All four HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K at up to 165Hz, variable refresh rate, and low input lag, so you can connect a gaming PC, multiple consoles, and a soundbar without constantly moving cables around. Its fast response also keeps quick camera movements and sports looking clear, while the wide viewing angle works well for local multiplayer games. The S90H is therefore best suited to someone who needs one TV for daytime viewing, movies, sports, and gaming. Buyers who care more about Dolby Vision and home-theater performance may prefer LG’s competing C6.

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Samsung’s M Series TVs Just Dropped to Their Best Prices Yet

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Samsung’s 65-inch M80H is down to $647.99 from $797.99 on Amazon, while the larger 75-inch M70H is $549.99 from $597.99, with price trackers showing both at their lowest prices so far. The choice really comes down to whether you care more about gaming features or getting the biggest screen for your money. The M80H is the more capable option on paper, with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and a 144Hz refresh rate, so it makes more sense if you plan to connect a newer console or gaming PC. Even then, I would not buy it just for the 144Hz label, because its slower pixel response can still make fast motion look blurry.

The 75-inch M70H is easier to understand as a size-first buy. At $549.99, it gives you a lot of screen for a family room where most of the time will be spent streaming shows, watching sports, or putting on movies rather than chasing high frame rates. Neither TV is especially strong in a dark room, though, since both lack true local dimming and their lower contrast can make black scenes look more gray than black. They also struggle more with glare in brighter rooms, so placement matters if your living room gets a lot of daylight. The M80H at least has good out-of-box color accuracy for standard content, while Samsung’s smart TV platform means both sets can handle the usual streaming apps without needing another device.

That is also why I would treat these as value buys rather than obvious upgrades. The M70H makes sense if your priority is simply getting a 75-inch TV for around $550, while the M80H is the better fit if you specifically want HDMI 2.1 and a higher refresh rate. Anyone more focused on HDR, black levels, or gaming performance should also look at alternatives like the TCL QM6K or Hisense U65QF, since both add local dimming and stronger overall picture performance, making either a better fit for someone prioritizing picture quality over the Samsung name.


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These Ryobi Cordless Tools Are up to 69% Off for Home Depot's Early Labor Day Sale

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If you have any fall home maintenance or DIY projects to tackle, Labor Day sales are an excellent time to shop for tools. Ryobi is a solid DIY brand because their 18-volt batteries are compatible with over 300 cordless tools and the batteries last a long time before needing to be replaced. Here are some worthwhile Labor Day deals on Ryobi cordless tools at Home Depot.

This Ryobi cordless circular saw is 48% off

A circular saw is a necessary tool for most DIY woodworking and repair projects. You can use it to cut materials like plywood and two by fours. Having a portable circular saw is especially useful if you don’t have a table saw because you can use it to make long, straight cuts.

The Ryobi 18-volt 7 ¼-inch circular saw is on sale for $139, 48% off its regular price. The saw comes with an 18-volt, 4-amp-hour battery. This saw has an attachment port for a shop vac or dust collection system, which can be used to control dust for safety as well as an easier cleanup.

This Ryobi angle grinder is 60% off

An angle grinder can be used for cutting or grinding metal for DIY projects; you can use it to shape hardware or to cut off the ends of screws or nails that stick through your material. For any DIY projects that involve metalworking, an angle grinder is an essential tool.

The Ryobi 18-volt angle grinder is now $99, 60% off its regular price. It comes with an 18-volt, 4-amp-hour battery. This grinder can make up to 210 cuts per charge on one battery so you’ll be able to get a lot done on a single charge. I use an angle grinder to nip off the ends of screws if they go too far through my joints and poke out.

This Ryobi oscillating multitool is 60% off

An oscillating multitool is the most versatile tool in your cordless tool set; you can use it for cutting wood, PVC, metal, drywall, and more. You can get a variety of blades for cutting different materials and you can also swap out attachments for sanding and polishing.

The Ryobi 18-volt oscillating multitool is currently $99, 60% off its usual price. It comes with an 18-volt, 4-amp-hour battery, a plunge-cut blade, a flush-cut blade, and a sanding attachment. You can adjust the speed of the oscillating tool for the specific project you’re working on. I like to use the sanding attachment when I’m refinishing furniture—it can get into tight spaces more easily than a larger tool.

This Ryobi driver set is 69% off

A good quality cordless driver is an essential component of a DIY kit—you’ll need it for driving screws or drilling holes. For anything from fence repair to hanging a flat screen TV, a driver will be indispensable.

The Ryobi 18-volt ¼-inch driver tool is on sale for $49.97, 69% off its typical price. This tool comes with an 18-volt battery and a charger. This is a good tool for a beginner DIY kit or for a home maintenance tool set. Because of its light weight design, it isn’t as powerful as an impact driver, so it isn’t recommended for heavier and denser materials like hardwoods or plaster.

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75" TCL Class S4 4K Smart TV $105.99 (List Price $529.99)
65" Amazon Omni Series 4K HDR Smart Fire TV $449.99 (List Price $669.99)
GoPro Hero11 Black $299.99 (List Price $299.99)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 Tablet (32GB, Dark Gray) $224.99 (List Price $224.99)
All-new Blink Outdoor (3-Camera Kit) $249.99 (List Price $249.99)
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