Eliana Willis

ZDNETDid you know that you can print from your Android phone? Although it’s not perfect (nothing related to printing is), it’s not difficult once you figure out where everything is. Also: 4 Pixel phone tricks every user should know – including my favoriteLet me show you how it’s done. I’m using a Pixel device, but where necessary, we’ve added Samsung Galaxy-specific notes.  How to add a printer service to Android What you’ll need: To do this, you’ll need an Android phone and a printer connected to your network. That’s right — you must have a networkable printer for this to work. That printer can be connected to your network wirelessly or wired; as long as it’s connected to the same network your phone is on, it should work. More

ZDNETIn October, after months of beta testing, Microsoft officially released its major 2024 update for Windows 11. Known as Windows 11 24H2, the latest version enhances the Copilot AI, improves File Explorer, promises faster performance and greater stability, and introduces other improvements.Also: How to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro — without overpayingThe update, which is rolling out to eligible Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2 users, may appear on your PC’s Windows Update screen. If so, you can certainly install it from there. Otherwise, the new version is accessible on Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page, where you can grab it through the Installation Assistant, installation media, or as an ISO file. Several sets of patches so far Before you dive into the 2024 update, know that you may run into some problems and conflicts. The new version has been plagued by bugs that could prevent you from using Windows reliably and effectively. Microsoft has documented many of the glitches, and Windows users have reported a lot more. In response, Microsoft has put the update on hold for problematic PCs that could encounter blue screens and other issues. To address the barrage of bugs, the company has rolled out several sets of patches so far — one in late October, another in mid-November, a third on December 10 as part of the monthly Patch Tuesday, a fourth in early January, a fifth on January 14 for the month’s Patch Tuesday, a sixth to resolve some of the bugs introduced by the Patch Tuesday update, and a seventh for February’s Patch Tuesday.Also: Microsoft battles more bugs in Windows 11 24H2 with new round of patchesThe October update fixed a few bugs but also created a couple of new ones. The November update resolved some, but certainly not all, of the outstanding glitches. The December update addressed one specific glitch with certain USB-connected scanners and other devices. An early January patch finally fixed conflicts with the Ubisoft games Star Wars Outlaws, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Assassin’s Creed Origins, and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. But then came the January 14 Patch Tuesday update. Instead of resolving some of the persistent issues, this one actually introduced a host of new bugs, creating conflicts with audio devices, Bluetooth connections, webcams, and more. However, there’s been some light toward the end of the tunnel. On January 28, Microsoft released an optional preview update for Windows 24H2 that squashed a number of bugs. Several of the glitches were new ones added by the messy January 14 update. Others had been around since last year, some as old as October. February’s Patch Tuesday further addressed some of the persistent glitches. All the bugs still causing trouble Even after the latest update, several bugs remain. Here are ones that may still cause trouble for anyone running the 2024 flavor of Windows 11. 1. AutoCAD 2022 might not open On some PCs running Windows 11 24H2, Autodesk AutoCAD 2022 might not open. Users have reported error messages when trying to launch the application. In response, Microsoft has blocked the update for affected PCs and is currently working on a fix. Also: How to do a clean install of Windows 11: See which option is best for you and why More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETIf you’ve heard about Alexa+, a revamped version of Amazon’s virtual assistant powered by generative AI, you may be interested in diving into the Amazon Alexa ecosystem. Amazon Echo speakers are the best way to bring Alexa into your smart home. The Echo Pop More

Nomad always has an overstock sale option to help offload various products and models, however the addition of some of their flagship products into the mix is only for a limited time. Select flagship products will be included in the overstock sale starting at Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. PST through March 3 at 9 a.m. PST. However, deals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, although ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com. More

ZDNETGauging the speed of an application depends on several related factors, including the operating system, services running, applications open, OS uptime, the software versions used, whether a VPN is installed — and much more. You should always keep these in mind when considering which software represents the fastest option available.Such is the case with web browsers. I put several browsers through tests for startup and page rendering times to see which ones are the fastest. I tested every browser (except Arc and Safari) on Pop!_OS Linux; I tested Arc and Safari on an iMac. Also: Zen is my new favorite browser – and these 5 mods make it even betterI won’t lie: The results were disappointing because my default Zen Browser scored quite poorly, while Chrome (a browser I don’t generally recommend because of poor security and tab management) blew all the other browsers away. Keep in mind that speed shouldn’t be your sole criterion for judging a browser. To gauge a browser’s effectiveness, you should think about all the following: SpeedSecurityFeaturesEase of useConfigurabilityIf you consider all the above, I’d say that Zen Browser and Opera are your best browser options, even though both tend to perform on the slower side. However, both Zen Browser and Opera offer solid security (with Opera getting the nod because of its built-in VPN) and their customizations are exponentially better than the competition. More

Mechanical keyboards offer users a customizable and personable experience. Traditionally, gamers dedicate themselves to building or purchasing their perfect keyboard. However, folks outside that bubble can also reap the benefits of mechanical keyboards, which can be used to type on tablets, smartphones, and laptops. While a gaming mechanical keyboard may provide a better in-game experience, for a professional or student, it may be a better vehicle for a maximized workflow thanks to its tactile feedback and switch sounds you can pick and choose. Also: The best iPad keyboard cases you can buyTech brands like Keychron, Logitech, Cherry, Corsair, and more offer great options to help you start your mechanical keyboard journey. From there, you can begin to dabble in new switches, keycaps, and RGB lights or even start to build your own keyboards from scratch. A mechanical keyboard is a great way to add more personality to your gaming or professional setup.What is the best mechanical keyboard right now?The best mechanical keyboard we tested is the Keychron Q1 Max More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Regularly priced at $75, the Dreo Smart 5L Humidifier is on sale on Amazon for $60. This humidifier is easy to use, includes a demineralization filter, works with Alexa, allows you to add essential oils, adds both sleep and auto modes, and packs plenty of other features to help it rise […] More