Eliana Willis

Kerry Wan/ZDNETApple introduced iOS 26 to the public at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference event in early June, and since then, has been polishing the software with developers for the eventual beta release. Now that it’s finally available for everyone to test, you may be wondering if it’s worth diving straight into or waiting for the official software launch — likely sometime in September. That’s what we’re here to answer.Also: You can download iOS 26 public beta right now – how to install (and which iPhones support it)To set the stage, Apple’s iOS 26 offers a refreshing new look, more streamlined first-party app layouts, more functionalities across popular services, and some smaller Easter egg features that greatly enhance your iPhone’s usability. My ZDNET colleague Kerry Wan and I have been testing the public beta (via Developer Beta 4) for the past few weeks, and here are our biggest takeaways so far.1. Visual Intelligence is almost ready for primetime More

AlexSecret/Getty Businesses around the world may not realize this, but they absolutely depend on Linux and open-source. Without those two pieces of technology, we wouldn’t have nearly the services and sites we now enjoy. But Linux isn’t just a good option for servers and technology stacks. Linux is also viable as a desktop operating system. […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETNewer phones may be getting more compact, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t bigger options available. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus More

Allison Murray/ZDNETSummer is almost over, which means it’s time to start making a list of everything your tweens, teens, and college-aged kids need for back-to-school. And if you’re looking for a reliable smartphone that’s also not going to break the bank, you can save up to $500 on the Motorola Edge Plus More

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETAt this moment, it may be the best time to buy an M4 MacBook Air More

Victrola Harmony <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Victrola Harmony turntable system is available for $299 in the colors Natural, Walnut, and Black. This system includes a full-size turntable, two bookshelf speakers, and an A-T ATN3600L cartridge, all great components for beginners. At its $300 price point ($100 up from its debut in Jan.), people willing […] More

Jason Howell/ZDNETSamsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 7 More

Since I use my desktop as both a workstation and gaming rig, I like a wireless mouse that can also pull double duty. The Corsair Harpoon is a great, straightforward mouse with four buttons, adjustable sensor speed, and integrated RGB lighting to match my K100 keyboard. It features dual wireless connectivity with Bluetooth and a 2.4GHz USB receiver, and you can use it while plugged in and charging. That’s perfect for when I don’t catch the low battery notification in the iCUE app, and the mouse dies in the middle of an important work project or an S rank run in Ready or Not with friends. Read more: The best silent mouse you can buy: Expert testedThe rechargeable battery lasts about a week for me, and I’m at my PC anywhere from 4 to 12 hours depending on my workday (and how much free time I have for a doomed Alternate Poland run in Hearts of Iron 4). The simplified design is also lightweight and comfortable to use for long periods, which is nice for long work days researching tech or accidental all-nighters playing Plate Up with friends. More