Rundll32.exe and DLL Files Almost all applications need to make use of various Windows dynamic link library files. These library files allow applications to call Windows specific functions for different Windows system functions. Displaying windows and other objects for a graphical user interface.Playing sounds using the computer’s audio driver and hardware.Transferring inputs and outputs from hardware like the keyboard and mouseStoring information in system memory.Accessing any accessories connected to your computer....

Thunderbolt Versions There are several versions of Thunderbolt, with newer iterations improving steadily in data transfer rates or speeds. The first version of Thunderbolt, initially called Light Peak, launched in 2011. The standard was first found on Mac computers, but it has since made its way to PCs, often competing with the USB standard. However, unlike USB devices, which don’t need to be certified, Thunderbolt devices must be certified by Intel....

How to Fix USB Port Issues When your USB ports suddenly stop working, the problem can always be tracked down to either a hardware or software failure. Some of these problems are the same across both Windows and Mac, while others are unique to just one or the other. If restarting doesn’t do the trick, then you’ll want to move on to more complicated fixes. If you see anything stuck inside, shut your computer down and gently remove the obstruction with a thin plastic or wooden implement like a toothpick....

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement with a Facebook post, saying the end-to-end encryption option will store your backup messages in either Google Drive or iCloud. “WhatsApp is the first global messaging service at this scale to offer end-to-end encrypted messaging and backups, and getting there was a really hard technical challenge that required an entirely new framework for key storage and cloud storage across operating systems,” Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook post....

Based on the performance of the tiny, in-ear AirPods and the AirPods Pro, the AirPods Max probably sound incredible. They also pack in some typical Apple design flourishes, like the Apple Watch-like Digital Crown for volume control, magnetic aluminum earcups, and a headband design that is so sensible one wonders why it’s not used everywhere. Even for Apple, the price is steep, and yet delivery times have already slipped to 12-14 weeks....

Older technologies like radio might seem quaint and out of date, but they still have many advantages over the internet. They are broadcast over the air, and all you need is a small, battery-powered box to pick them up, with no internet or data plan required. Radio’s range is much greater than that of Wi-Fi or cellular data, and while it can be jammed, that’s not practical on a country-wide scale....

It’s no secret reboots and remakes of nostalgia-stinging properties are big business, from the upcoming Dune film to Punky Brewster’s return to television. Couple that with the fact that video games are enjoying a surge thanks to COVID-19 forcing everyone to find new ways to entertain themselves at home, and it’s the perfect time for Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael to return. “Gaming is the largest form of entertainment, and it’s been a long while since the property has made a splash in that market,” said Ray Carsillo, co-host of the Geeks Who Like Sports podcast, in an email interview with Lifewire....

Paper books seem absurdly old-fashioned, and yet almost all of our ‘productivity’ apps mimic aspects of paper and paper notebooks. The iPad and Apple Pencil try to make a literal recreation in silicon, glass, aluminum, and plastic, and still don’t come close. And that’s because they’re missing the point. Paper is perfect because it is so open. You can do anything, it’s always ready, the batteries never die, and you’ll never lose a note thanks to a dead battery, crash, or ransomware attack....

If your iPad won’t update, it may be because your device has an insufficient charge or lacks the necessary free space—problems you can easily remedy. However, it could also be because your iPad is old and can’t be updated to the latest version of the operating system. The only way to “fix” an obsolete and outdated iPad is to buy a new one. Lack of Free Space Prevents Upgrade Your iPad may need as much as 3 GB of free space to swap out the operating system for an iOS upgrade....

On iOS and older macOS versions, software updates would come in at a few hundred megabytes each, perhaps even smaller for basic fixes. But ever since Big Sur, you’re lucky to get anything smaller than 2-3GB a pop, even when the update, itself, only requires a few megabytes. This wastes data and time and—when it’s all added together—a significant amount of energy. So why are they so big? It’s mostly about reliability....

When I heard that Insomniac Games would be making a new Ratchet and Clank title exclusive to the PS5, I wasn’t surprised; after all, the series is a PlayStation mainstay, and for good reason. For those who missed out on playing the original 2002 game on PlayStation as a kid—or one of the many, many sequels—the premise is fairly simple: Ratchet, a mechanic and member of a cat-like race called the Lombax, travels the galaxy with his robot sidekick Clank, fighting Bad Guys and saving the day....

But all the positive reviews wore me down, and when the keyboard went on sale for $199, I decided to give it a try. Now, I understand what all the fuss is about. Comfort is King First of all, this is the most comfortable keyboard I’ve ever used. Somehow, it’s even better than the full-size one on my MacBook. It’s got the perfect amount of tactile feedback, bounce, and spring, and when using it, my fingers just fly along....

What Is Hardcore Mode? Hardcore mode is a game mode available to play in Minecraft. While it may seem like a normal carbon copy of the Survival game mode, the Hardcore mode offers a new set of challenges for users to undergo while playing and surviving. Imagine a version of Minecraft where a player is spawned into a world with only one life. Suddenly, the thought of surviving Minecraft under those conditions seems much more intimidating....

Connectivity continues to be a huge component of our lives, especially as we move deeper into a time where the Internet of Things (IoT) is growing rapidly. As we connect with more devices, being able to connect with accuracy and security becomes more important. That’s why UWB connectivity is such an important topic of discussion. Major smartphone manufacturers already are moving to support it more—both Apple and Samsung have devices with UWB, and Google reportedly is working on bringing it to future Pixel phones....

We know almost nothing about the inner workings of our devices. And we’re not talking about their deep file systems or defragmenting disks. Those can stay back in the 1990s, thank you very much. But would it kill Google, Apple, and other companies to let us know how fast we can expect our devices to charge with a given brick or whether that USB-C cable is up to the task?...

Nintendo made the announcement on December 15, the same day it was made available, as part of the Indie World Showcase, a day-long event during which Nintendo announced numerous independently-developed games coming soon to the platform. Even more exciting, the game’s Twitter bio promises that it’ll soon be available on the Xbox as well. “It just might be the best way to play,” Luis Levy, author and co-founder of Novy Unlimited, a game-focused PR and marketing agency, told Lifewire in a social media conversation....

The fingerprint-based Touch ID has been available for years for Apple’s MacBook and iPad lineup. But last week’s release of the technology for iMacs marks the first time you’ll be able to use your fingerprint to get into Apple’s latest desktops. “It will be quicker to sign in since all you have to do is provide your finger,” Dan Moore, head of developer relations for FusionAuth, a company that builds identity management solutions, said in an email interview....

Apple recently announced it would be offering subscriptions for podcasts, allowing creators to charge for their content, while taking a percentage of the profits from each subscription. Now, though, Spotify has revealed its plan to launch its own competing podcast subscription service, with the company letting creators keep 100% of their earnings. Experts say that, along with several other factors, could help make Spotify more appealing to podcasters and their audiences....

“Sleeptrackers could be useful tools—if their accuracy can be proven—but they come with a host of medical privacy implications,” Marco Bellin, the CEO of the cybersecurity firm Datacappy, told Lifewire in an email interview. “HIPPA regulations exist to preserve the privacy of your medical records, but they don’t apply to the data Big Tech gleans from its devices monitoring your breathing, heart rate, and sleep patterns. There are no assurances that Big Tech will use that data to your benefit....

Although the upcoming changes aren’t exactly shocking—the platform has been working to find new ways to incorporate retail, video, and more for years—the deliberate shift away from photos may require users to change their ways. “The platform is going to continue to evolve,” Austen Tosone, a professional fashion and beauty content creator and blogger based in New York City, told Lifewire by phone. “If creators want to stand out and make the platform work for them, it is in their interest to adapt as well....