Eliana Willis

It’s easy to take for granted constant communications — cellular and Wi-Fi blanket a large amount of the world. But once you step outside of that coverage, you’re on your own. While I love being away from it, the people around me appreciate a message or two. Also, if something goes bad — I have a medical emergency, something happens to my vehicle, or I’m delayed — having the ability to send a message is actually priceless.I’ve tested a lot of satellite messengers, and the one that I find myself using the most is the Garmin InReach Messenger. It’s a small, puck-sized unit that works both as a self-contained messenger device and when connected to a smartphone. It sends and uploads your location every 10 minutes to Garmin’s MapShare website, where you can give friends and family a special URL (and optional password) to see your location on a map in real-time. Yes, there is a subscription needed to access the satellite network, but you can pause this when you’re not using it. Also: This tiny satellite communicator impressed me during one off-grid adventure More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Moto G Stylus is currently on sale for $400 It is the best of Motorola’s 2025 series sporting a Super HD display and the most powerful chipset of the bunch You’ll hardly ever use its namesake feature, the stylus. more buying choices They say good things come in threes, and […] More

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETFinding a lightweight Linux distribution is as easy as closing your eyes and pointing to a list. Chances are good that your finger will land on a distribution perfectly suited for older hardware, giving that aging machine new life. On newer hardware, those lightweight distributions run faster than any OS you have ever experienced. Xubuntu is one such distribution.Xubuntu is an official Ubuntu spin that opts for the Xfce desktop environment (which is what makes this distribution so fast). Xfce is not only very lightweight, but it is also highly flexible. You can bend and twist Xfce into just about any layout you want, but those new to Linux might want to leave the default settings as is — because the default Xubuntu layout is as simple as it gets.Also: 5 surprisingly productive things you can do with the Linux terminalWhen you first log in, you are greeted by two desktop icons (Trash and Home), a top bar with a desktop menu and system tray, and a right-click menu. Click the desktop menu, and a searchable menu appears that includes categories, favorites, and power options. Within the menu, you will find apps like LibreOffice, Geary (email), Firefox, media players, an App Center, and more.Also: Ready to ditch Windows for good? This is the Linux distro I recommend for beginnersThe look of Xubuntu is straight-up classic with no frills or eye candy. It is basic, and it is simple. But what really makes Xubuntu stand out is its sheer speed. With all of the updates, bug fixes, and general improvements that went into Ubuntu 25.04, as well as the polish on the latest version of Xfce, this distribution is all about speed. More

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETWeb browsers are some of the most important pieces of software we use every day, but we take them for granted. Most users settle for whatever default ships with their devices — and that’s a mistake. There are far better options available that improve upon the default in myriad ways.Also: 5 great Chrome browser alternatives that put your privacy firstOver the decades, I’ve tried almost every browser that’s come to market, from the most basic, terminal-based ones to the very complex and bloated. Within that spectrum, there are some browsers that rise so far above the rest that there’s no comparison between the bad, the mediocre, and the good. Also: 5 alternative browsers that might just replace Safari on your MacFor me, there are six good browsers that I wouldn’t hesitate to use. 1. Opera More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways A premium quality pocket tool with a good selection of tools for under $30. All the tools are nice and sharp when new, and retain their sharpness even after extended use. Because this is a pocket tool, don’t expect pliers or a lifetime warranty. more buying choices I’ve been a big […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Outlaw Audio RR 2160 Mk II stereo receiver is available on the company’s online store for $949. It’s a high-end receiver that delivers amazing sound, has plenty of inputs and outputs, and has bass management that will floor you. It’s also far heavier than you’d expect. –> “If music be […] More

ferrantraite/Getty Images There are plenty of AI tools to make your life at work easier, but your coworkers might think you’re lazy for using them.  A new study funded by Duke University shows that despite AI’s prevalence in the workplace, it comes with a “social penalty.” The study says people who use AI face negative […] More