Image used with permission by copyright holderLike virtually every other chat app in existence, Google Hangouts makes a very distinctive sound every time you receive a message. That may be useful on mobile devices, which you’re probably not constantly looking at. However, on a desktop or laptop, which are likely already in your direct line of sight when you’re logged into Hangouts, you might find the constant noises aggravating.
Thankfully, there is a way to mute those sounds in Hangouts, but the process that involves doing so isn’t exactly straightforward. That’s why we put together this quick guide to show you how to turn down Hangouts’ volume.
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How to turn off Google Hangouts chat sounds in Gmail
Step 1. Click the gear icon in the upper right-hand corner of your Gmail inbox.
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Step 2. Click Settings.
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Step 3. Click the “Chat” tab at the top.
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Step 4. In the “Sounds” section, click the bubble labeled “Sounds off.”
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Step 5. Click “Save Changes.” That’s it! You’ll no longer be bothered by annoying sounds from Google Hangouts.
Intel’s promised Arrow Lake autopsy details up to 30% loss in performance
Intel's Arrow Lake CPUs didn't make it on our list of the best processors when they released earlier this year. As you can read in our Core Ultra 9 285K review, Intel's latest desktop offering struggled to keep pace with last-gen options, particularly in games, and showed strange behavior in apps like Premiere Pro. Now, Intel says it has fixed the issues with its Arrow Lake range, which accounted for up to a 30% loss in real-world performance compared to Intel's in-house testing.
The company identified five issues with the performance of Arrow Lake, four of which are resolved now. The latest BIOS and Windows Updates (more details on those later in this story) will restore Arrow Lake processors to their expected level of performance, according to Intel, while a new firmware will offer additional performance improvements. That firmware is expected to release in January, pushing beyond the baseline level of performance Intel expected out of Arrow Lake.
You can get this 40-inch LG UltraWide 5K monitor at $560 off if you hurry
If you need a screen to go with the upgrade that you made with desktop computer deals, and you're willing to spend for a top-of-the-line display, then you may want to set your sights on the LG 40WP95C-W UltraWide curved 5K monitor. From its original price of $1,800, you can get it for $1,240 from Walmart for huge savings of $560, or for $1,275 from Amazon for a $525 discount. You should complete your purchase quickly if you're interested though, as there's no telling when the offers for this monitor will expire.
Why you should buy the LG 40WP95C-W UltraWide curved 5K monitor
5K monitors are highly recommended for serious creative professionals, such as graphic designers and filmmakers, for their extremely sharp details and precise colors, and the LG 40WP95C-W UltraWide curved 5K monitor is an excellent choice. We've tagged it as the best ultrawide 5K monitor in our roundup of the best 5K monitors, with its huge 40-inch curved screen featuring 5120 x 2160 resolution, 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 spectrum, and support for HDR10 providing striking visuals that you won't enjoy from most of the other options in the market.
Generative-AI-powered video editing is coming to Instagram
Editing your Instagram videos will soon be as simple as typing out a text prompt, thanks to a new generative AI tool the company hopes to release in 2025, CEO Adam Mosseri announced Thursday.
The upcoming tool, which leverages Meta's Movie Gen model, will enable users to "change nearly any aspect of your videos," Mosseri said during his preview demonstration. Those changes range from subtle modifications, like adding a gold chain to his existing outfit or a hippo in the background, to wholesale alterations including swapping his wardrobe or giving himself a felt, Muppet-like appearance.
