Jorg Greuel/Getty Images Last October, Google began phasing out uBlock Origin, the popular content-filtering and ad-blocking extension, because it doesn’t adhere to Manifest V3, the search giant’s new extensions platform. Now, Reddit and X users report that their instances of Chrome have started removing extensions that don’t adhere to the new specification. In another Reddit thread, users report that […] More
ZDNETBuying stuff online can be a risky proposition. Sure, the big vendors do their best to make you feel safe, but what if you have to give up your credit card digits to a vendor you don’t know?As it turns out, there’s a type of financial instrument — called a virtual card — that can help. A virtual debit card can be turned on and off, spending limits can be set, and create unique card numbers created. Also: 10 common dangers VPNs won’t protect you from online – and how to avoid themNot only will a virtual card come in handy when shopping at unfamiliar online merchants, but you can also use it for those free trials that renew automatically — and can be difficult to cancel. Use a virtual card, allow it to have one charge, and then it shuts down. No unfair renewals. Similarly, you can use it to prevent overcharges on subscriptions. Set a maximum limit, and you won’t suddenly find yourself with a huge bill you must dispute.I use a service that enables me to limit how my card is charged without my express permission. Privacy.com lets me limit the amount that can be spent on any card I create, limit how many times a card can be used, and more. Let’s discuss how to get started, how the process works, and the benefits you get from Privacy.com. Getting started with Privacy.com To get started, point your browser to Privacy.com. Note: Privacy asks you for some personal information, including your name, residential address, date of birth, and possibly a copy of your driver’s license. They may also request other documents.Why? The company explains its reasoning for these fairly intrusive requests:To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens a Privacy Account. You’ll also need to set up a funding source. This is the account from which Privacy will pull your money in order to pay it out to the vendor you’re paying. Remember that although Privacy will issue you credit card numbers, it does not provide credit. Everything you pay using Privacy will be removed from your bank account directly or via a debit card linked to your bank account.Those are your two funding source possibilities: a personal bank account or its associated debit card. Privacy — at least the free version — will not work with a business bank account. You’ll be asked for a funding source when you first create your Privacy account. If you later want to change sources, go to the Account menu item under the little head icon in the upper-right corner of the page.You can have multiple bank accounts as funding sources, but you can’t have multiple debit cards, and you can’t have both a bank account and a debit card.It’s been a while, but I recall it taking a few days after I signed up for Privacy to fully enable my account. So, if you plan on using this service, don’t wait until the last minute when you really need it. More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETMWC 2025 is in full swing, and although smartphones are the focal point of the conference, mobile phone manufacturer HMD announced a unique pair of earbuds. The HMD Amped Buds feature a 1,600mAh battery for reverse wireless charging, enabling the buds’ case to wirelessly charge your smartphone.Also: Best of MWC 2025: 9 most impressive products that stole our attentionThe earbuds feature active noise cancellation, a bud-and-stem design, an IP54 durability rating, 10mm drivers, Google Fast Par, and Bluetooth multipoint connectivity.The earbuds case is equipped with Qi2 wireless charging, but users can also use it as a wired power bank. Qi2 delivers more efficient wireless charging, and the HMD Skyline and iPhone 12 and newer come with native Qi2 support.The Amped Buds promise 95 hours of playback, with almost five hours of playtime with ANC on and eight hours with ANC off. HMD boasts the earbuds’ 95-hour battery life, about three times more battery than mainstream competitors offer. More
picture alliance/Getty Images If you’re looking forward to Android 16, you might not have to wait as long as you were expecting. Speaking to Android Police at Mobile World Congress, Google says the next version of Android is on track to arrive sometime in June. Also: Android 16 Beta 2 now makes it easier to […] More
Apple/ZDNETApple has been on a roll in the past month, introducing the iPhone 16e More
ZDNETThere are several blood pressure monitors on the market, but few reliable smartwatches with that functionality. Chinese tech brand Huawei’s Watch D2 could change that.Huawei’s Watch D2 includes an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring device, the first wrist-based device of its kind. The wearable is certified by China’s National Medical Products Association and the EU’s Medical Device Regulation. According to Huawei, the device is one-fifth the width and 1/25th the volume of a traditional electronic blood pressure monitor, designed with portability and continuity in mind. The smartwatch is not for sale in the US.Also: The best blood pressure watches of 2025: Expert testedThe smartwatch can measure blood pressure at pre-set intervals for 24 hours to calculate averages and BP rhythms, supplemented by its TruSense System for improved speed and accuracy. This sort of blood pressure monitoring occurring over a day can help those with hypertension and cardiovascular issues get a clearer picture of their blood pressure for longer than a typical doctor’s visit. Several smartwatches have blood pressure monitor capabilities but require extra equipment. For example, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 can track your blood pressure with the help of the Samsung Health Monitor app; however, to use the feature, you need to calibrate it with a cuff-based blood pressure monitor. Samsung’s wearable also hasn’t received FDA approval as a BPM, so it can’t be used for diagnosis or treatment. The Apple Watch can aggregate your blood pressure data in its device but can’t take measurements itself. More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETMWC 2025, or the Mobile World Conference, has officially kicked off in Barcelona. It’s an annual conference where tech companies come together to showcase upcoming mobile devices.Lenovo has joined the festivities by unveiling a slew of new laptops, from lightweight machines like the convertible ThinkPad T14s to powerful workhorses such as the Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition. In addition to these computers, the company showed off some very interesting prototypes.Also: Best of MWC 2025: 9 most impressive products that stole our attentionIt’s unknown if the concept hardware will ever be made into official products, but it provides interesting insight into what may be coming in the not-so-distant future. Something to keep in mind is the information in the following list could change. A few models have expected starting prices and release dates, but nothing is set in stone.1. ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1 More
simonkr/Getty Images Ongoing Trump administration cuts to government agencies risk creating new collateral damage: the future of AI research. On Monday, Bloomberg reported that the February layoffs at the National Science Foundation (NSF) of 170 people — including several AI experts — will inevitably throttle funding for AI research. Since 1950, the NSF has awarded […] More
