Richard Drury/Getty Images ZDNET’s key takeaways Monarch Money<!–> is one of the most feature-rich personal financial programs I’ve tested, and it offers a free week-long trial. Pros: It’s easy to set up and has powerful tools for analyzing finances and building a budget. Cons: It’s one of the more expensive Mint alternatives I’ve tested. In […] More
Maria Diaz/ZDNETLast August, Google rolled out a feature for Gmail that lets you use Gemini to fine-tune your drafts and replies. With the tap of a button, you can summarize an email, have Gemini write a reply on its own, rewrite a draft that you wrote, and more.Also: Gemini’s latest AI feature could be the future of web browsingThe feature is convenient and works well, but is a little clunky in actual use because you have to copy and paste Gemini’s work into the reply pane — not the easiest thing to do on a phone.Simple ‘Insert’ buttonGoogle is making steps to fix that problem by adding a simple “Insert” button on the Android version of Gmail that you can click to approve the AI-written message and move it to the reply window where you can make any edits. It’s a small change, but one that makes using Gemini a little easier.You’ll see the new button to the right of the screen on the bottom, on the same row as the thumbs up and thumbs down, and just below tools like formalize, elaborate, and shorten. When you tap it, Gemini sends the current version of what it has written into your reply window, ready to send.The feature was first spotted in December, but appears to be getting a wide rollout now. If you don’t see it yet (it was visible on my Google Pixel 8 Pro), you should soon.Also: Google TVs are getting a major Gemini upgrade in 2025If you’re not using Gemini on Gmail, you should know that it does more than generate messages. You can find information from Google Drive files, search for certain types of emails (like “Show unread emails only from the past 5 days” or “Emails from Chris sent last week”), get information about Google Calendar events, summarize entire email threads, and even create events in your Google Calendar. More
Microsoft Microsoft’s Office 365 apps have been the cornerstone for many working professionals’ day-to-day workflows for years. As a result, when the company developed its AI assistant, Copilot, it was only natural to infuse it across the 365 apps, and now, it is getting even more helpful. Also: Microsoft’s Copilot AI is coming to your […] More
ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy — devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. More
At this point in the smart ring race, everyone is trying to beat Oura. But the Oura Ring 4 proves that the smart ring pioneer’s position isn’t wavering anytime soon. While most smart rings simply provide you with the health data it collects, the Oura Ring 4 tells you the story and the context behind that data for greater information on your health. Oura recently revealed the Oura Ring 4, the successor to its popular Oura Ring 3 which debuted in 2021. The new generation comes with smart sensing technology for a more accurate, thinner, less obtrusive, and longer wear with fewer gaps in data capture. Oura upgraded the number of signal pathways (basically how the sensors monitor and collect data inside the ring) from eight in Ring 3 to 18 in Ring 4. It also flattened the inside of the Ring 4 for more comfortable wear (if you have worn the Ring 3, you know how irritating the domed sensors could get around your finger after prolonged wear). Lastly, the smart sensing allows for one extra day of battery life, upgrading from seven days in Ring 3 to eight in Ring 4. Oura presents my sleep, activity, and recovery data through a scoring system on the main page. These scores and descriptions enable me to track my progress or pinpoint weak spots over time. The simplified overall score of, say, my readiness or sleep, appears with a detailed chart monitoring heart rate, body temperature, and blood oxygen levels throughout the day and night. The ring also senses when I’m stressed and adjusts my daily activity goals accordingly. One recent night, it detected my significantly raised body temperature and suggested I use the rest mode function, which deprioritizes activity and prioritizes rest and recovery. Also: Oura Ring 3 vs Oura Ring 4: Which model should you buy? There are also eye-opening features like Daytime Stress, which captures your body’s stress levels over the day and showcases them on a timeline. Oura allows me to understand my physiological responses to various forms of stress, like a high-intensity workout, a night out with friends, or a bad day. What differentiates Oura from its competitors is its amazing user interface that hosts all the health data you could ever need — while staying mindful not to overwhelm you. Every number or graph is typically followed up with a short and digestible summary that turns your data into a helpful suggestion for sleep, activity, or stress. You can also easily click into a metric, whether that’s heart rate variability or respiratory rate, and get a historical view of it over time. The ease with which you can look at daily, weekly, and monthly health data — and how that data is communicated so clearly through the app — is a major reason why Oura is the best smart ring. There are many reasons to opt for Oura, but one that comes up frequently in conversation is how many apps partner with Oura. Natural Cycles, Strava, and other health apps offer data syncing into Oura’s app. I love that when I use Strava for runs, it automatically shows up in my Oura timeline. Also: The Oura Ring 4 is the best smart ring I’ve tested so farThis comprehensive but simple approach is evident in the ring’s form factor and integrations. The ring syncs with Apple Health, Google Fit, and iOS and Android apps, allowing you to see your daily and even monthly metrics from your mobile device. The downside, which Redditors and reviewers often point out, is the $6-per-month membership cost to unlock personal insights, like in-depth morning sleep analysis and temperature trend monitoring (which can even predict early stages of illness). Non-paying members only have access to sleep, readiness, and activity insights. Thankfully, Oura’s customer service is great. ZDNET staff writer Allison Murray called them after her ring’s battery began to falter, and the company sent her another ring free of charge. Oura Ring Gen 4 tech specs: Material: Lightweight titanium with non-allergenic, non-metallic inner molding | Battery life: Up to 8 days | Charging: Full charge in 20 to 80 minutes | Compatibility: iOS and Android | Durability: Water-resistant up to 328 feet | Sizing: 4 to 15 More
Since it’s that time of year when we’d all rather stay inside and have a cozy movie night, winter is the ideal time to consider upgrading your home entertainment system to include live TV. With a plethora of affordable streaming options, you don’t need to shell out for traditional cable to access live TV at your fingertips, ensuring you don’t miss any live sports games, important news, or winter movie marathons. Whether you’re snuggling up solo or hosting a watch party, live TV is a great addition to every living room. Many live TV streaming services are available on platforms you may already subscribe to, meaning you’ll get to watch live TV without installing cable. Platforms like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV allow you to watch live channels for a fraction of the cost of traditional cable while granting you access to their own exclusive content. Another plus for streaming services is that you don’t need to deal with additional equipment and lengthy setup phone calls — and you can watch live programs from your TV, phone, laptop, or tablet. Plus, a live TV upgrade is an excellent gift for family, in-laws, and the close-knit but hard-to-shop-for crowd. Also: The best TV antennas: Expert testedWhat is the best live TV streaming service right now?Our pick for the best live TV streaming service is YouTube TV More
Cheng Xin/Getty Images Microsoft has begun expanding the reach of its Copilot feature set, bringing its AI capabilities to Office apps for anyone currently subscribed to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family. For customers in the US and Europe, those features are only available with an extremely pricey Copilot Pro subscription. For Personal and Family subscribers, […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Privacy Hero 2, a $199 router available on FlashRouters, supports NordVPN and Surfshark alongside various VPN protocols. It comes with one year of access to Privacy Hero Wireguard VPN and, with a current promotion, one year of NordVPN. The company should improve the build quality and be more generous with […] More
