MakeUseOf

Please stop disabling this Windows feature to “protect” your SSD

Rob LeFebvre — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 15:01:16 GMT

Some SSD guides and forum threads still repeat the same advice: open Optimize Drives and switch off the schedule. The logic seems sound, as the tool still has "defragment" in its name, defragging an SSD performs extra writes for no speed gain, and every write chips away at the drive's lifespan.

Wondershare’s Filmora 16 automates the most time-consuming parts of video editing

Sponsored — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:40:56 GMT

Ask anyone who edits videos regularly where their time goes, and the answer is rarely "making creative choices." A good chunk of it goes on scrubbing through clips to remember what was shot. More goes into fixing a transcript that has spelled the same name three different ways. Then there's the final stretch, when a client wants a vertical cut as well as the main version, and you sit through one export after another.

8 new Netflix shows you need to binge this weekend (October 15-18)

Dan Selcke — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:30:16 GMT

The weekend is upon us! Maybe you're going out with friends, maybe you're spending time with family, and maybe you want a new show to binge before work starts up next week. Netflix has you covered.

I stopped paying for Netflix after discovering these free legal streaming apps

Jack Mitchell — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:01:15 GMT

Netflix was the first streaming service that I subscribed to, and the one that made me realize that we were entering a brave new world of on-demand entertainment, where an entire video rental store could be plucked from the ether. These services began piling up as more "essential" movies, shows, and documentaries came into the fold, and before long, my monthly streaming bill had ballooned to rival most cable packages.

I finally found a better way to save things from the internet

Jack Mitchell — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:30:14 GMT

I’ve accumulated hundreds of bookmarks over the years, but I rarely revisit them, even if I remember they exist. What I really wanted was a proper read-it-later library where everything I want to keep is presented in an attractive UI, properly categorized, and with recognizable thumbnails.

I gave my Fire TV Stick Ethernet without Amazon's adapter and streaming finally stayed smooth

Suman Biswas — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:14 GMT

If there's one thing that stops me from using my Fire TV Stick as my primary entertainment device, it's the shoddy Wi-Fi connectivity.

There's a reason expensive motherboards still have this 39-year-old port

Gavin Phillips — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:30:14 GMT

For all the modern tech we know and love, old tech still keeps everything running.

Google's new Fitbit Edge has me questioning what a smartwatch should be

Brady Snyder — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:15:15 GMT

I have a love-hate relationship with smartwatches. I love the fitness and health data they provide, but hate the extra screen and bulk they add to my wrist. If you're questioning whether you truly need a smartwatch to monitor your everyday health and track your workouts, you're not alone. That's why minimalist fitness bands are surging in popularity, from brands like Whoop, Google, and Garmin.

One Windows setting helped me spot a fake PDF before I opened it

Oluwaseun Bamisile — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:01:16 GMT

Cybercriminals are getting smarter by the day, and PDF phishing is one of the ways they try to infiltrate your PC. I almost fell victim to this a few days ago when I unknowingly downloaded a "PDF" file onto my laptop. But what saved me wasn't even the mighty Microsoft Defender. It was a simple setting in File Explorer that I've had turned on for months.

Opera's new browser deliberately has no features, but gives you a free VPN

Sara Heritage — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:36:06 GMT

Opera has relaunched its minimalist web browser, Opera Air, focused on minimizing visual clutter and reducing background distractions. Opera Air keeps distractions to a minimum, giving you more room to focus on what matters. The interface starts clean, but you can add new tools like music and ambient sounds to help you focus or unwind, as well as a Breaks feature to force you to take a... Well, a break from your computer.