<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Amazfit Active 2 is available starting at $99, depending on the band. The watch is small, lasts up to 10 days, has a brilliant AMOLED display, measures an extensive amount of data, and is inexpensive The small size is great for many people, but may also not be the right […] More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETFor many people, motion smoothing on TVs is only appropriate for gaming and watching live sports; enthusiasts typically prefer turning off the feature to watch anything else because it can detract from the filmmaker’s original intent, making on-screen images seem artificial or hyper-realistic. This is what’s called the “soap opera effect.” Also: Your TV’s USB port has an invaluable feature you should use during internet outagesIt’s a perfectly descriptive metaphor that probably requires no explanation. You can see it all too well: the cinematic film should not look like a daytime soap; you shouldn’t feel like you’re on the set with the actors. But it is appealing to feel like you’re in the stadium watching your team with thousands of fans. The soap opera effect makes sense for live sporting event broadcasts. More
Adam Breeden/ZDNETThese days, internet and Wi-Fi connectivity seem to be virtually ubiquitous. In the US, at least, there is a societal expectation that you can connect your devices to the web wherever you go. After all, connectivity is essential for many devices to function. But sometimes that connectivity fails — and what can you do if you want to watch TV without the internet?Here’s what you can do: use a USB flash drive.Also: Change these 5 settings on your TV for a quick and easy way to improve its picture qualityMost modern smart TVs have built-in media players that read content from USB devices. The range of benefits for using a USB drive is abundant. You can play your selected media files without streaming or connecting with multiple devices. Using a drive is cost-effective; you can store a large library of content on a USB stick and avoid monthly streaming subscriptionsn. And you have increased flexibility because you can use the USB stick to play content on pretty much any TV manufactured since 2001. More
HP Gaming desktops can get pretty expensive, but right now you can snag the HP Victus 15L<!–> direct from HP.com for 35% off with this site-exclusive sale. And just because this PC is under $1,000 doesn’t mean it skimps on quality components. This configuration is built with a 12th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB […] More
Microsoft Do you ever share information in a Microsoft Teams meeting that you don’t want people to capture or record? Microsoft is adding a new restriction that could help keep a lid on those confidential details. Due to start rolling out in July, a Prevent Screen Capture feature will block participants from taking screenshots at […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The 12-inch Microsoft Surface Pro is available for preorder now starting at $799 for the Platinum color, and $899 for the new Violet and Ocean colors. The 12-inch version is exceedingly thin and light with a fast-charging battery, and the refreshed form factor looks more premium. The 256GB of storage is […] More
Tetra Images/Getty Images Linux runs very well on all types of systems. It’s built for speed and proves to me, on a daily basis, how superior it is in terms of speed and reliability. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Things happen (albeit rarely) that can add to a system slowdown. One such issue can be […] More
