NZCity NewsLinks -

All Links

18 Jul 2025

Search

Dataswyft boosts leadership with senior appointments to drive growth
Dataswyft appoints four senior leaders to enhance strategy, policy, government relations and communications, supporting its Smart Data Transformation Programme.

Live: Black Caps bowling first in tri-series Twenty20 against Zimbabwe
Follow live coverage of the Black Caps’ T20 international match against Zimbabwe in Harare.

I finally decided to reset my Windows PC. Here are 6 signs you should, too
I finally did it. After months of putting up with a diminishing Windows experience plagued with issues, I bit the bullet and gave my Windows PC a proper factory reset—and boy does it feel good. I should’ve done it sooner, but I’ve been putting it off because I’ve always dreaded the whole process of migrating files and re-installing all my apps. I’m embarrassed to share this one because my colleagues are big proponents of regular factory resets, and now I understand why. It gets you back to the performance you had when everything was new, and it ditches all the bloatware that has built up over the years. I now have a lovely, clean, fresh Windows install that’s running like magic, and I’m here to encourage you to do the same. Not convinced? Here are several warning signs that it’s time to reset your Windows PC. Sign #1: Your PC feels slower than usual My main PC is a bit of a beast. Thanks to hardware review samples and friends in the right places, I was able to build an economical but very capable machine that has served me well in most respects. It’s built around the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, which gives stellar performance for gaming and professional tasks. That’s paired with 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a few TBs of PCIe 4.0 storage, and a PowerColor Red Devil 7900 XTX. Apart from the 9950X3D, this is about as fast an all-AMD PC can be. But until my most recent Windows reset, it wasn’t behaving as it ought to. General performance was fine, but this is a powerful PC setup that should offer a no-compromise experience—and I was seeing odd frame rate drops, inconsistent frame times, bizarre performance dips when tabbing to something on my second monitor, and a weird system lock that lasted a few seconds any time I launched a game or app. I basically only use my PC to play Tabletop Simulator. It’s complete overkill, I know, but when that app slows down… well, you know it’s time to do something about it.Jon Martindale / Foundry I tried troubleshooting—new drivers, new BIOSes for everything, Windows updates, uninstalled bloatware, unplugged new devices, and rolled back to a System Restore point from a few weeks ago. But the issues always cropped back up again. Now that I’ve factory reset Windows and killed off whatever it was that was causing my performance issues, I’m enjoying a pristine gaming and work experience once again. I’d forgotten what I was missing. Sign #2: Your PC crashes and glitches a lot I’ve written hundreds of how-to guides on using and troubleshooting Windows, so I like to think that when a problem appears, I know (or can figure out) how to fix it. I’m the “Computer Guy” in my extended family, so I fix all of their problems, too. Unfortunately, that makes it hard for me to throw in the towel when I’m dealing with bugs, glitches, and crashes on my own PC. It’s a point of pride, in a way, and I want to fix what I can—but sometimes troubleshooting just becomes too much of a bear. No matter how many times I reinstalled the Logitech G Hub app, it would sit stuck on this loading screen for minutes whenever I tried to launch it.Jon Martindale / Foundry For example, my Logitech webcam was causing system locks whenever I woke my PC from sleep. It was some kind of driver issue, but nothing worked—updating, reinstalling multiple times, changing USB ports, reinstalling the admin software. My ring light caused a weird USB initiation hang during post, too, and sometimes caused GameMaker Studio to freeze when launching my work-in-progress. And my second monitor always flickered to white on reboot, prompting a cable reseat. These are the kinds of little issues that built up, making my PC an utter pain in the neck to use as they piled on. I stubbornly tried my best to fix everything, but eventually it got bad enough that I was driven to reset. I only wish I reset earlier instead of digging my heels in. If your PC is bugging, crashing, and glitching, it’s fine to try fixing things on your own—but when you can’t, or when the issues keep recurring, then there’s no shame in hitting the factory reset button. It’ll save you a lot of time and headaches in the process. Sign #3: Your PC has racked up bloatware I really like a lean system. My list of startup apps is as minimal as I can make it, and I try to make a point of closing down any app I’m not actively using. But one of the downsides to writing about software is I often have to install apps I don’t plan on keeping, in order to test them out. I might be writing a how-to guide, grabbing screenshots, or just needing to know how something works so I can write about it. So many installed apps. Too much crap to count.Jon Martindale / Foundry Sadly, I don’t always delete those apps straight away—I might need them later, after all. But that just means that over time, and with enough procrastination, my collection of no-longer-used, no-longer-needed apps grows to ridiculous proportions. Bloatware. Uninstalling each and every app would’ve taken up precious time I could spend doing literally anything else. Instead, a Windows factory reset was a great way to just wipe them all out in one go. If you find yourself swimming in apps that you no longer use or need, a full PC reset is great for freeing up storage and saving time. Sign #4: It’s been years since the last reset You should really reset your Windows PC at least once in a while, and we argue that once per year is the best practice. For me, though? I’m embarrassed to admit that it’s been three years. Three long years of bloatware buildup, performance dips, and stubborn bugs. (Do as I say, not as I do! It’s true, I commit several PC sins and mistakes.) Foundry If you ignore all the other signs that you should reset Windows, at least remember this one—and stick to it. Perform a Windows reset as part of your annual spring cleaning. It’s an easy milestone to track, and you’ll be keeping your PC in tip-top shape before all the small issues crop up, pile on, and noticeably start dragging you down. Sign #5: You’re going to upgrade your PC Another great opportunity to factory reset your PC is when you’re performing a big upgrade. Sure, Display Driver Uninstaller will give you a good clear out if you upgrade your GPU—it’s one of my favorite hidden gem apps for Windows users—but for everything else, you never know what legacy code or drivers are hanging around gumming up the works. Samsung Memory / Unsplash In some cases, you kind of have to reset Windows because it’ll throw a fit if you toss out too much of the silicon baby with the proverbial bath water. But it also means you can make the most of your new hardware with a freshly installed operating system. You deserve that true, new hardware feel. Skipping the factory reset is doing yourself and your new hardware an injustice. Plus, a reset would’ve felt great on your old hardware—imagine how much better it’ll be with some brand new hardware with it? Sign #6: You’re dealing with malware Modern PC security solutions are more capable than ever. You have anti-ransomware systems, AI-backed malware detection, identity fraud protection, and phishing blockers. Windows’ own security systems are robust enough now that you probably don’t need other antivirus. solarseven / Shutterstock.com But malware makers will find ways to get around those systems, and if your machine is ever infected by something nasty, it can be hard to clear it out—or worse, know whether it’s been fully removed. That can leave you paranoid, thinking the infection is quietly stealing data from under you. If you want ultimate peace of mind after dealing with a malware attack, a proper Windows factory reset is a great option. Better yet, zero out your hard drive or even just buy a new drive altogether. Further reading: Signs your PC was hacked (and what to do if it was)

Fire at panelbeaters in Otahuhu, Auckland
Fire and Emergency were called to the scene in Otahuhu just before 6.30pm.

Alienware AW2725D review: OLED gaming greatness at a budget price
At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Compact but functional stand Excellent SDR color gamut and contrast Bright in HDR Great motion clarity with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible Very attractive price Cons Design isn’t much to look at No USB-C input with DisplayPort and Power Delivery Our Verdict The Alienware AW2725D is a great OLED monitor with an MSRP of just $550, with SDR and HDR image quality that often rivals more expensive alternatives. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Alienware AW2725D Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices There’s no denying that a flood of OLED monitors hit the market in 2025, and Dell (which owns Alienware) is among the companies most responsible. It now has a total of five OLED monitors in its catalog of 14 current displays. The Alienware AW2725D sits at the bottom of the OLED ladder. It’s a 27-inch QD-OLED monitor with 1440p resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 280Hz, and it retails at an MSRP of just $549.99. That makes it an easy choice if you want an OLED gaming monitor at a mid-range price. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best gaming monitors for comparison. Alienware AW2725D specs and features The Alienware AW2725D’s specifications are entry-level for a modern QD-OLED monitor, though that might surprise you if you don’t keep up with the latest displays. Though entry-level, the AW2725D still provides a respectable QD-OLED panel with 2560×1440 resolution and a speedy 280Hz refresh rate. Display size: 27-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 2560×1440 Panel type: OLED Refresh rate: Up to 280Hz Adaptive Sync: Yes, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black Certified Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-B 5Gbps upstream, 1x USB-A 5Gbps downstream, 1x USB-C 5Gbps downstream with 15 watts charging Audio: None Price: $549.99 MSRP It also supports Adaptive Sync, with official support for both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. HDR support, meanwhile, comes with VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification. The price, though, is the real reason to buy the AW2725D. Its retail MSRP of just $549.99 is among the lowest for any QD-OLED monitor. It matches or beats Amazon Prime Day deals on competitors like the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 and Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q2, which are older QD-OLED monitors with a 240Hz refresh rate. Alienware AW2725D design Alienware redesigned its entire monitor lineup for 2025, but not for the better. The retro-futuristic look the brand relied on for the past five years is gone, replaced by a curved, organic design. The plastics used don’t look or feel as premium as before and, strangely, all Alienware monitors come in one color: a dark navy-blue hue. It’s not all bad news, though. The change in design comes with a new stand that’s more compact than the dramatic wing-like stands that shipped with many older Alienware monitors (and still ship with the Alienware AW3225QF which, despite the name, was released in early 2024). Alienware’s entire 2025 monitor line-up takes up little space on a desktop. Matthew Smith / Foundry The stand provides a decent range of ergonomic adjustment, too. It adjusts 40 degrees of swivel, 25 degrees for tilt, and 110mm in height. It can rotate 90 degrees into portrait orientation, too. This is typical for a 27-inch gaming monitor in this price bracket but still appreciated. A 100x100mm VESA mount is available for use with third-party stands, as well. Alienware AW2725D connectivity I’ve often raged against gaming monitors that fail to include important ports, like USB-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery. But this year, Alienware called my bluff. They decided to skip USB-C video input and power across the Alienware range—and dropped their prices. That means the Alienware AW2725D isn’t a great choice for use with a USB-C laptop or tablet. You’ll have to stick to HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort for video input. The monitor does act as a USB hub with a couple downstream ports (one USB-A and one USB-C), but it only provides one USB-B upstream port. So, you can only connect one device to the monitor’s USB hub at a time. Whether that works for you depends on your needs. It’s not a problem for most gaming desktops, of course, as USB-C is rarely used for video input. But if you were hoping to connect a thin-and-light laptop that’s easy to power over USB-C, perhaps because you use one alongside your gaming PC, you’ll likely want to look elsewhere. On the other hand, this choice seems to help Alienware reach an extremely competitive price. The AW2725D’s $549.99 MSRP is in league with older QD-OLED monitors with 1440p resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. Alienware AW2725D menus and features The Alienware AW2725D is also light on features. It has a joystick hidden under the center of the lower bezel that provides quick access to the monitor’s menu system. Alternatively, owners can use Alienware’s Command Center software to tweak monitor settings within Windows. However, there’s not a lot to change. The monitor doesn’t have color temperature modes that target specific values. It does provide gamma adjustment, but only in a couple specific modes, such as Creator. The most significant color adjustments are limited to Custom Color mode. Limitations like this are common for gaming monitors. Still, content creators who know what they want may find the monitor a hassle to tune and calibrate. Matthew Smith / Foundry It does provide a few gaming features. You’ll find common features like an on-screen crosshair and timer, as well as a dark stabilizer that can elevate the brightness of dark scenes (to make foes easier to see). It also has Alienvision, which further tweaks the image to improve contrast and clarity at the expense of image quality. The AW2725D doesn’t include speakers. Though a small disappointment, it’s to be expected given the price. Most gaming monitors don’t include speakers. Monitors that have good built-in audio, like the LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B, are much more expensive. Alienware AW2725D SDR image quality The Alienware AW2725D is less expensive than most OLED monitors but has a Samsung QD-OLED panel that’s at least as good as the 27-inch 1440p panels that were in most flagship OLED gaming monitors sold a year or two ago. As a result, the monitor’s SDR image quality doesn’t at all reflect its inexpensive price. Matthew Smith / Foundry The AW2725D starts off with a win in brightness. It achieved a maximum sustained SDR brightness of 272 nits which, as the graph shows, is among the highest figures recorded from recent OLED monitors. Brightness can still be an issue in bright rooms. While 272 nits is a lot for an OLED monitor in SDR, it can look dim when forced to compete with sunlit windows. The AW2725D also has a highly reflective display coat that amps up reflections. Still, if you want to go OLED and SDR brightness is a concern, the AW2725D is better than most. Matthew Smith / Foundry There’s not much to say about contrast, though only because it’s precisely as excellent as expected. OLED monitors achieve an effectively infinite contrast ratio thanks to their ability to reach a minimum luminance of zero nits. That’s why OLED monitors look richer, deeper, and more immersive than LCD monitors with an LED backlight. Once again, price works in the AW2725D’s favor. All OLED monitors are effectively identical in this respect. Spending twice as much on a high-end competitor won’t net you any improvement in contrast. Matthew Smith / Foundry Samsung’s QD-OLED panels are among the most color-rich in the industry, and the AW2725D is no exception. It delivers a color gamut that spans 100 percent of sRGB, 98 percent of DCI-P3, and 95 percent of AdobeRGB. As the graph shows, this is top-notch performance for an OLED, and it’s close to record performance overall. The only monitors I’ve tested that have a wider gamut are rare QD-IPS displays with Mini-LED backlights, like the Xiaomi G Pro 27i. Matthew Smith / Foundry I wasn’t completely shocked by the AW2725D’s outstanding color accuracy, as recent Alienware OLED monitors have proved uniformly excellent in this test. Still, it’s remarkable to see a $550 OLED monitor deliver color accuracy with an average error below one, and to see it beat more expensive competitors. This level of color accuracy means color errors are generally unnoticeable. It’s not perfect, but the flaws come from other aspects of the display’s image quality, not color accuracy. One of those flaws is color temperature. The AW2725D reached a default color temperature of 6200K, which is a bit off the target of 6500K and indicates a warmer image than the target. I don’t mind it, but you’ll need to adjust it to achieve a more neutral look. Also, as mentioned, the AW2725D lacks precise color temperature adjustment options, so adjusting the color temperature is a bit difficult. Gamma, on the other hand, was spot-on the target gamma value of 2.2. Sharpness is mediocre, at least by the standards of 2025. The AW2725D’s 27-inch (technically, 26.7-inch) 1440p panel squeezes in about 110 pixels per inch. By comparison, a 4K QD-OLED monitor like the Alienware AW2725Q or Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM can deliver around 166 pixels per inch. That’s a big gap, and it’s made more noticeable by the irregular sub-pixel layout of QD-OLED displays, which makes them look coarser than the specifications suggest. I find it hard to notice on a 4K QD-OLED, because it’s so sharp to begin with. With a 1440p display, though, QD-OLED does look a bit less sharp than a 27-inch 1440p monitor with an IPS-LCD panel. Still, I have no issue with the AW2725D’s overall image quality. This monitor delivers performance that was flagship-caliber in early 2024, and it remains top-notch today. The monitor’s image quality is ideal for gaming, as the anti-aliasing techniques available in modern games can make up for some of the sharpness gap between a 1440p and 4K monitor. Factor in the AW2725D’s great SDR brightness, contrast, and color performance, and you’ve got a winner for all sorts of entertainment. It’s remarkable to see a $550 OLED monitor deliver color accuracy that beats more expensive competitors. Alienware AW2725D HDR image quality The Alienware AW2725D doesn’t give up much in SDR image quality to achieve its low price. But what about SDR? After all, monitor makers often boast of their unique heatsinks and cooling solutions that boost maximum HDR brightness. Surely the budget-oriented AW2725 is worse. Right? …Right? Matthew Smith / Foundry Wrong. As the graph shows, the Alienware AW2725D ranks among the strongest HDR gaming monitors that PCWorld has ever tested. To be clear, the margin between it and the alternatives is often slim. I don’t think most people will notice the difference between a peak HDR brightness of 834 nits and a peak of 938 nits (I certainly can’t). Still, the results made it clear that the less expensive AW2725D performs just as well as more expensive QD-OLED and LG WOLED panels, and it’s a great choice for HDR games. Alienware AW2725D motion performance The Alienware AW2725D’s refresh rate is arguably among its less attractive features and a key reason for its low price, but given that it still provides a refresh rate of 280Hz, that feels a bit absurd. It’s slower than more expensive 1440p QD-OLED monitors, which typically hit at least 360Hz. But 280Hz is still more than many people will need. Remember: You only receive the full benefit of an enhanced refresh rate if the game you’re playing can achieve that frame rate, or higher. Otherwise, the display will refresh at a lower rate to match the frame rate of the game (when Adaptive Sync is turned on). The AW2725D delivers buttery-smooth gameplay with great motion clarity. Fast-moving objects are easy to see and scrolling text is generally readable, though low-contrast examples can still be hard to make out. Don’t get me wrong: the benefit of a higher refresh rate is noticeable. But 280Hz still looks great. The AW2725D supports Adaptive Sync with official compatibility with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible. Most monitors that list compatibility with any of these standards will work with all three, but it’s still preferable to see official support. It’s welcome added assurance that Adaptive Sync should work with your video card, and that you can complain to Alienware if it doesn’t. Should you buy the Alienware AW2725D? The Alienware AW2725D reiterates a point that I made earlier this year: Tt doesn’t really matter what OLED you buy. All QD-OLED panels are sourced from Samsung, and while there’re minor differences in refresh rates and HDR brightness, they’re broadly much more similar than they are different. That’s good news for the AW2725D. Priced at just $549.99, it provides most of the benefits of more expensive QD-OLED monitors at an alluring price. The monitor’s only serious downside is its lack of USB-C and somewhat limited image quality adjustment options, which make the AW2725D less appealing if you want a gaming monitor that can also serve as a productivity display. The AW2725D’s price helps to excuse that, though, which makes it an easy monitor to recommend.