Eliana Willis

Several colleges, universities, and K-12 schools have already made the return to the classroom ahead of Labor Day, but the back-to-school season lasts well into September. While a chaotic time for parents and educators alike, back to the classroom means back-to-school savings are abundant, especially on top tech from brands like Apple, Samsung, and more.Also: These 5 gadgets are the college essentials you’ll actually reach forIf you’re looking to get the best deals on back-to-school tech that will last all year, you already know that shopping for the best laptops, tablets, iPads, earbuds, and other tech essentials starts early. Plus, you don’t want to miss out on educational discounts and offers exclusive to students and teachers. Also: Buying a Mac or iPad? Students can get a $150 Apple gift card. Here’s howIf your student is in the market for a new smartphone this school year, OnePlus More

Blue/ZDNETBlue is one of the biggest names in home recording equipment. You may be familiar with their more popular USB microphone, the Yeti. But they also offer an excellent XLR option for experienced content creators, musicians, and podcasters with the Baby Bottle cardioid microphone. With higher-fidelity recording, you’ll get rich, more accurate master recordings for mixing and editing. Right now at Amazon, you can save $237 (or almost 60%) on a Blue Baby Bottle cardioid microphone More

Jack Wallen/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysLinux Lite 7.0 is available to download and install for free from the official site.This lightweight Linux distribution comes with everything you need and performs like an absolute champ.The default desktop is a bit bland, but it’s fairly easy to customize.My friend recently wanted to bring an old laptop back to life. Her aging Intel MacBook was no longer supported by Apple, and instead of letting the machine wind up in a landfill somewhere, she decided to install Linux, an OS she’d never used before.She started her quest with Linux Mint, which is always a good place to start. Unfortunately, the installation failed for her (mostly because of the doggedly slow nature of the machine), so she reached out.Also: Thinking about switching to Linux? 10 things you need to knowGiven her hardware, there was only one logical suggestion to make — Linux Lite. This installation went well for her, except the keyboard layout was automatically selected incorrectly. Fortunately, that was an easy fix.After this experience, I realized I hadn’t reviewed Linux Lite in a while, and it was time to rectify that. So, I downloaded the ISO, spun up a virtual machine, and in less than five minutes logged into the desktop.Also: 5 essential Linux terms every new user needs to knowAny time I review a lightweight Linux distribution, I know what I’m getting into. They tend to be fairly generic, with a lack of eye candy and panache. They get the job done and not much more.  That’s why Linux Lite struck me as unique among the “genre.” No, it doesn’t offer a plethora of effects or beautifications. It’s a very straightforward (albeit customized) version of the Xfce desktop, which means you can always further customize it to meet your needs. It took me all of two minutes to configure the desktop to how I prefer the interface (with a dock-like panel, no desktop icons, and a lighter theme). More

Microsoft Microsoft Teams has finally become one. Previously cobbled together as a confusing mix of two separate Windows 11 apps for work and personal use, Teams is now one unified app that lets you switch between different accounts and access types. Rolled out on Tuesday, the new app brings work, personal, and educational accounts under […] More

Artie Beaty/ZDNETIf you use Google Maps on your smartwatch, there’s a useful new feature you need to know about.Thanks to a recent update, you can use Google Maps navigation even if your watch doesn’t have an internet connection and it’s not connected to a phone with an internet connection. Also: The best Android phones you can buy: Expert testedWhen Google unveiled the Pixel Watch 3, it detailed a feature that would let you save maps for offline use on your watch. That feature now appears to be rolling out to all WearOS devices.”Offline maps on the phone are auto-downloaded to the watch,” the updated WearOS version of the Maps app explains when you open it. There’s also an “Offline maps” section in the settings.  More

<!–> Although Samsung just debuted the Galaxy Watch 7, the older generation Galaxy Watches still offer impressive features. For example, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic–> has a brilliant AMOLED display, a stainless steel case, and Samsung Health data — and it’s currently on sale.  Also: The best smartwatches: Expert tested If you purchase the Galaxy […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETWith some colleges and universities’ fall semesters already underway and many K-12 schools returning before (or shortly after) Labor Day, students of all ages will soon return to their desks five days a week. Also: These 5 gadgets are the college essentials you’ll actually reach forBut if you’re looking to get the best deals on back-to-school tech that will last all year, shopping for the best laptops, tablets, iPads, earbuds, and other tech essentials starts early. Plus, if you want to be an even smarter shopper, don’t miss out on educational discounts and offers exclusive to students and teachers. Also: Buying a Mac or iPad? Students can get a $150 Apple gift card. Here’s howAnd if you’ve been eyeing a new Samsung tablet or laptop, you’re in luck this school year. Now through Aug. 26, teachers, parents and administrators that are part of Samsung’s Education Offers Program More

Get Windows 11 Pro at a big discount right now. StackSocial Need an operating system upgrade? Windows 11 Pro puts productivity in your hands with features that make everything from hybrid work to streaming entertainment easy, and you can grab the software for a discounted price right now through StackSocial. A lifetime subscription for the […] More