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By 2026, Microsoft Copilot has moved well beyond its headline launch moment and is now a firmly established part of everyday life for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers worldwide. What began as an optional add-on has become a core component of the Microsoft 365 experience — built directly into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and the Microsoft 365 Copilot app. If you haven't explored what Copilot can do for you yet, or if you last looked at it when it first arrived and dismissed it as a novelty, it's worth a fresh look. The product has matured considerably, the feature set has expanded, and the way Microsoft has structured its plans has shifted too.
TL;DR — Microsoft 365 Copilot is no longer a bolt-on experiment. It's the default AI layer across Microsoft 365 Personal and Family, with tiered options for power users and businesses. Some access is included in your existing subscription; more capable tiers are available if you need them. Read on for a clear breakdown of what you get, what it costs, and what to watch out for.
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Read more: Copilot is now included in Microsoft 365 Personal and Family
Google are clearly ambitious and bold on AI. In their Responsible AI 2024 report Google makes a striking admission, that "Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is coming into sharper focus". This isn’t just a vague nod to progress in AI research; it signals a fundamental shift in how we should think about the future of artificial intelligence. AGI is an important acronym to learn. The most famous fictional AGI is Skynet, the self-aware AI which is the main antagonist of the Terminator film and TV franchise. So if Google is getting closer to AGI we better be sure that there are guardrails in place. We know how those particular movies end!
TL:DR – While dystopian narratives tend to exaggerate the risks, I do feel like we are looking at a worrying future. The harsh reality seems to me to be that guardrails are not in place, and if we have learned anything at all from the last two decades exponential use of mobile devices and social media and the way it has transformed our society, we have learned that disruptive technologies almost always outpace our ability to govern them effectively.
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Google maps in Android Auto took a bit of a beating for cluttering up the display online recently. It doesn't have to!
TL:DR – The search bar has a convenient ability to show directions history, but you can just tap arrow up to declutter your display. You're welcome.
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Read more: Android Auto Maps really doesn't clutter the screen
Affordable, Reliable, and Feature-Rich Roku streaming players have established themselves for yers as a proven solution for hassle-free entertainment. Designed to be cheap yet highly capable, these devices offer a seamless streaming experience without unnecessary complexity. With a straightforward setup process and an intuitive interface, they provide easy access to a vast array of content.
Equipped with HDMI® connectivity, Roku devices ensure high-definition playback on any modern television. Their performance is consistently fast, reducing buffering times and delivering smooth video playback. The platform supports major streaming services, including Netflix, iPlayer, Channel 4, Amazon Prime, Disney, and Apple TV+, offering a comprehensive selection of films, series, and live programming. For added convenience, several models feature voice control, allowing users to search for content, adjust settings, or launch apps with minimal effort. This hands-free functionality enhances usability, making it an ideal choice for households seeking a streamlined experience. Roku’s reputation is built on reliability—it just works. With robust hardware and an intuitive user interface, it remains a top choice for those wanting a cost-effective yet feature-rich streaming device that consistently delivers high-quality entertainment.
TL:DR – I've been using Roku streaming devices to transform my oldest non-smart TV's into modern devices for over ten years and even my oldest Roku 3 devices are still getting software updates after all this time. The Roku app adds a second remote via your phone and you can search right from there and cast videos, music, and photos to your TV. Highly recommended.
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Read more: Roku® streaming players give a new lease of life to older TV's
A Mac laptop equipped with Apple silicon is designed to power on automatically upon opening lid or connecting to a power source. However, for those running macOS Sequoia 15 or later, this behaviour can be modified without compromising the functionality of the keyboard or trackpad to manually power on the device.
TL:DR – Theres a new command to adjust this behaviour by you'll need Sequoia to use it.
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Finding the right PC is an exercise in balancing cost, performance, and longevity which can feel like a daunting task. When you add the new capabilities of a Copilot+ system into the mix, the decision becomes even more nuanced. For those seeking to harness the advantages of AI-driven assistance without overspending, it’s essential to understand what features truly matter.
TL:DR – A friend of mine whos retiring has a state of the art pro level Dell Laptop running Windows 11 Pro and managed by his organisation. He wants a new Windows PC, doesn't have that kind of budget, and wants to buy the best he can to last a long long time. So the question is, should he buy a Copilot+ PC or a slighty older design. I did some comparing to help him and in the end he chose a Dell Inspiron 14 Plus Copilot+ PC 7441 Laptop which has a 14" QHD+ 60Hz 16:10 Touch Display 2560 x 1440, Snapdragon X Plus, Qualcomm Adreno Graphics, 16GB/1TB, Windows 11. This is an amazing spec with a slightly less powerful chip than the pro level XPS. It was £729 on Amazon https://amzn.to/4jYeVb7 which is an absolute bargain for what it is.
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The arrival of Copilot+ systems adds another layer of complexity to the balancing act between cost, performance, and longevity but they aren’t the only option. Budget-friendly Intel-based PCs without Copilot+ offer exceptional value, delivering solid performance without the premium price tag. Some manufacturers are hedging their bets by producing identical form factor Intel based and Snapdragon® based laptoops. Importantly Intel processors mean they can be used for Intel based virtualisation.
The landscape of personal computing is undergoing a significant transformation in 2025, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and specialised hardware optimised for modern workloads. With the advent of so called AI-powered PCs, consumers now face a new decision: should they opt for a Copilot+ PC equipped with a Snapdragon® processor, or should they stick with an Intel-powered equivalent? This choice is not merely about performance but extends to factors like software compatibility, energy efficiency, and long-term viability.
TL:DR – A friend of mine whos retiring is used to a state of the art pro level Dell Laptop running Windows 11 Pro and managed by his organisation. He wants a new Windows PC, doesn't have that kind of budget, and wants to buy the best he can to last a long long time. So the question is, should he buy a Copilot+ PC with a Snapdragon® X Plus or the Snapdragon® X Elite or an equivalent Intel PC to conserve his funds.
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Read more: To Copilot+ PC or not to Copilot+ PC, that is the question