<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Fitbit Ace LTE is a kids’ smartwatch and fitness tracker that costs $230 (down to $161 right now), with a proprietary Ace Pass LTE data plan costs $10 a month or $120 annually The Fitbit Ace LTE features a rich, kid-friendly platform that is easy to navigate, and the monthly […] More
Black Friday 2024 is right around the corner, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the most competitive shopping events of the year. Top retailers and carriers are vying to bring you the best phone deals. Whether you’re starting your holiday shopping early or making up for missing last month’s Prime Day, there are incredible offers from Samsung, Google, Motorola, and Apple. Also: The best Black Friday deals live nowThe phone deals below will save you a significant amount of money on some of the best handsets we’ve tested and recommend at ZDNET. For example, carriers like Verizon More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?Right now, Best Buy is selling the 256GB 15-inch MacBook Air (M2) More
June Wan/ZDNETThe year 2024 delivered all the drama technology fans could want: AI dominance, chip wars, smart devices that were anything but, and a social media implosion that’s already a case study in corporate mismanagement. From monumental wins to jaw-dropping failures, here’s the definitive breakdown of the year’s tech highs and lows.Also: The best Black Friday deals live nowLosers1. X (formerly Twitter): A masterclass in self-destructionElon Musk spent 2024 doubling down on the chaos that turned X into a punchline. Advertisers fled after baffling policy shifts, verified checkmarks became meaningless, and users abandoned ship for Bluesky and Mastodon in droves. Engagement plummeted, and what was once a cultural institution became a meme of its former self. Musk might still call it “the town square,” but in 2024, X was more like the local landfill.Also: I tried replacing Twitter with Bluesky, Threads, and Mastodon: Here’s what I found2. Amazon: Innovation takes a coffee breakAmazon’s five-day return-to-office mandate alienated employees, sparked accusations of “quiet firing,” and triggered a mass exodus of talent. Workers who couldn’t — or wouldn’t — move closer to offices were forced out, and with them went years of expertise and innovation. This was the HR equivalent of smashing a robot with a sledgehammer for a company obsessed with efficiency. Quiet quitting? More like loud mismanagement.Also: 82% of leaders plan to increase flexible work options in the next two years More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe LG QNED90T More
Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images I created a Bluesky account a while back. I used it for a few days and couldn’t get into it. After a few weeks, I gave up and returned to X. But I still wasn’t happy. X had become a cesspool of trolls and vitriol, and my blood pressure couldn’t […] More
Satechi 145W USB-C 4-Port GaN travel charger Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?You can pick up a Satechi 145W travel charger More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The iPad Mini 7 is now available for $500, although it’s been reduced to $400 on Amazon. The compact iPad Mini 7 has gone everywhere with me this past week, fitting easily into bags and purses without weighing them down. Aside from the more powerful A17 Pro chip, the iPad Mini […] More
