Eliana Willis

Kerry Wan/ZDNETThe Made by Google event on Tuesday showcased the company’s latest products, including four new smartphones in the Pixel 9 series: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Also: Everything announced at Made by GoogleThese smartphones range in price from $799 to $1,799, but if you preorder a Pixel 9 series phone at Amazon or Best Buy, you’ll get a free gift card. At both retailers, you’ll receive a $100 Amazon or Best Buy gift card, respectively, with the purchase of a Pixel 9 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

Sallyrango/Getty Images I’ve used just about every type of Linux desktop imaginable. Over the years, one of the things that has most impressed me is the ability of Linux distribution developers to reinvent the wheel in ways that make the open-source operating system more efficient and more aesthetically pleasing at the same time. There’s no […] More

Tomislav Iskrenovic/Getty Images Have you ever been on a phone call while looking frantically for pen and paper to take notes? Or tried holding your phone to your ear while typing into a notes app? You could benefit from automated call summaries — and Google’s latest AI now delivers exactly that. Also: Everything announced at […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETGoogle has finally introduced a follow-up to last year’s surprisingly solid Pixel Fold More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETMost weather apps offer a crowded screen full of percentages, numbers, and forecasting icons. Wouldn’t it be nice to get easy-to-read summaries of the day’s forecast instead? Google’s newest AI-powered Pixel-specific app is about to change the weather app game with at-a-glance weather forecasting summaries. Also: Everything announced at Made By Google 2024: Pixel 9 Pro, Fold, Gemini, Watch 3, and more More

Charlie Osborne/ZDNETHere at ZDNET, we extensively cover the virtual private network (VPN) market and keep an eye out for any worthwhile deals.  Over at Stack Social, we’ve spotted an interesting promotion for anyone who wants to use VPN software to mask their online activity from prying eyes, including ISPs, marketers, and other groups that may track what websites you visit and what online services you use.  Also: The best VPN servicesThe VPN in question is from AdGuard, a company well-known for its ad and tracker-blocking technologies. Now, you also have the option to try out their standalone VPN, which could provide an additional layer of privacy to protect your browsing.  What I like about this deal is the price. For $35 (90% off), you can sign up for a five-year plan, which gives you access to a VPN for the equivalent of around $0.58 per month. The subscription includes 10 simultaneous device connections, and AdGuard operates a no-logging policy. One- and three-year subscription AdGuard VPN deals are also available for $15 and $25, respectively, and while inexpensive, they are more in line with typical promotions offered by other VPN providers. Also: The best VPN for streamingThe mobile iOS and Android versions of this VPN are easy to set up, with a clean layout and a simple menu bar. You can opt for the default “smart” location just by clicking a button, or you can wander through the server and country list (over 60 locations) to find your preferred location. Its speeds are fine, and I didn’t notice any real difference in my browsing or app usage. There is a caveat, though: I can’t recommend this VPN for purely MacOS usage. During my testing, I found it a challenge to even sign in, and it is extremely slow. In short, the mobile user experience is what you would expect from a decent VPN, but the MacOS app needs a lot of work. (We do have a list of VPNs that are great for Mac, if you need one.) A free option is available, but keep in mind that VPN traffic, connection speed, and server locations are very limited.  More