Eliana Willis

ZDNETA recent update from Google is reportedly destroying battery life on some Pixel 4a phones. Fortunately, if you have an affected phone, Google is offering compensation.A surprise (and problematic) updateThe Pixel 4a was an excellent phone when it debuted in 2020 and had dedicated fans until Google discontinued it last year. Google hadn’t offered a software update for the device since 2023 but sent out a surprise update about two weeks ago to stabilize battery performance.Also: Your Google Pixel 9 is getting a major audio upgrade – and it’s coming for freeThe update seems to have done the opposite, as many users are reporting that their device’s battery life has plummeted after applying it. One Reddit user said their 4a went from more than seven hours of screen-on time to less than 30 minutes. Another said theirs went from full to 2% in five hours with less than 20 minutes of screen time. More

The iPhone SE 3rd Gen from 2022. ZDNETWe may have gotten an early peek at Apple’s upcoming iPhone SE 4, courtesy of photos and a video shared by a leaker via X. The photos and clip, posted by an account dubbed Majin Bu, show off what are allegedly two models — or more likely, two dummy units — of the SE 4.Also: How to clear your iPhone cache for a fresh (and faster) start in 2025The four photos reveal two phones, one black and one white, with a single camera sticking out from the base. The video clip takes us on a more comprehensive tour, revealing both the front and rear. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Active cooler that is more effective than just a fan Almost silent cooling fan Does take more power to run than a standard wireless charger –> I’ve become a fan of wireless charging because it’s quick, easy, and far more convenient to place my iPhone on a charging pad than to […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways HP’s Elitebook x360 1040 is on sale now at HP’s website for $1,499 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 configuration. It’s a solid 2-in-1 for business users on the move, has an incredibly long battery, a 1440p webcam, and a booming audio system. However, it runs rather warm during tough workloads […] More

ZDNETSubstack, a newsletter platform widely known for housing independent writers, journalists, and even up-and-coming individuals seeking to enter the media landscape, just launched a $20 million “Creator Accelerator Fund” to attract TikTok creators and influencers from other social networking platforms.How Substack’s creator fund worksAccording to a statement provided by the company on Thursday, the “Creator Accelerator Fund” aims to “help creators expand their reach and business by taking advantage of Substack’s growth network and full suite of publishing, community, and discovery tools.”Also: No, RedNote is not the new TikTok – and here’s whySubstack also detailed that the fund will pay content creators to move their paid subscription audiences exclusively to Substack. To avoid any loss of revenue creators may accrue as a result of the migration, the program will cover 100% of the revenue creators were making on their previous platform for the first year.Moreover, the company is explicitly looking to invest in US-based individual creators or small groups “who have a monthly recurring revenue (MRR) of at least $2,000” on subscription-based platforms such as Patreon, Memberful, or Circle. The platform is even pairing creators with a member of Substack’s Partnerships team, who will assist creators in moving their paid subscription audience to Substack by providing “advice and support” as well as “guiding [creators] through key launch moments and setting up your publication for maximum success,” according to a Substack blog post.Also: TikTok creators can earn big cash bonuses by posting on Facebook and InstagramOver the last few years, Substack has attracted thousands of independent writers, journalists, and creators by allowing them to monetize their content through paid newsletters. Recently, the platform has become a unique destination for alternative media publications like Mehdi Hasan’s Zeteo, the leftist outlet Drop Site News, former WashPo journalist Taylor Lorenz’s User Mag, and culture critic Hunter Harris’ Hung Up. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETI remember so vividly when, seven years ago, Samsung introduced Bluetooth wireless connectivity to the S Pen with the Galaxy Note 9. It was such an innovative feature because the Note 9 would automatically and burdenlessly charge up the stylus whenever it was inserted into the phone. Once charged, which took less than a minute to do, the pen could be used as a wireless clicker for taking photos and videos, scrolling through presentations, and more.Also: 72 hours later with Galaxy S25 Ultra – the AI hype is getting real for meWith the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Nank Runner Diver2 Pro is available on Amazon for $122.99. This bone conduction headset has 32GB of storage for phone-free use, a 10-hour battery life, and design features that enhance the audio performance. If you don’t have your own mp3 collection, you won’t find much use for the phone-free mode. […] More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETThose of you with plain old Microsoft 365 subscriptions may have noticed that Copilot now pops up in Word and other applications in the suite. How did it get there when you didn’t buy or request Copilot and don’t necessarily want it? Blame it on Microsoft’s usual sleight of hand.Also: The Microsoft 365 Copilot launch was a total disasterIn an effort to push Copilot, Microsoft has added the AI to its Microsoft 365 Family and Personal plans. Open Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote, and you’ll now see a Copilot icon on the ribbon. That’s not so bad, as you can easily ignore it. But launch Microsoft Word, and Copilot gets in your face with an icon in the left margin and a huge, annoying message prompting you to “Draft with Copilot.” More