Eliana Willis

Charlie Osborne/ZDNETHere at ZDNET, we extensively cover the virtual private network (VPN) market and keep an eye out for any worthwhile deals.  Over at Stack Social, we’ve spotted an interesting promotion for anyone who wants to use VPN software to mask their online activity from prying eyes, including ISPs, marketers, and other groups that may track what websites you visit and what online services you use.  Also: The best VPN servicesThe VPN in question is from AdGuard, a company well-known for its ad and tracker-blocking technologies. Now, you also have the option to try out their standalone VPN, which could provide an additional layer of privacy to protect your browsing.  What I like about this deal is the price. For $35 (90% off), you can sign up for a five-year plan, which gives you access to a VPN for the equivalent of around $0.58 per month. The subscription includes 10 simultaneous device connections, and AdGuard operates a no-logging policy. One- and three-year subscription AdGuard VPN deals are also available for $15 and $25, respectively, and while inexpensive, they are more in line with typical promotions offered by other VPN providers. Also: The best VPN for streamingThe mobile iOS and Android versions of this VPN are easy to set up, with a clean layout and a simple menu bar. You can opt for the default “smart” location just by clicking a button, or you can wander through the server and country list (over 60 locations) to find your preferred location. Its speeds are fine, and I didn’t notice any real difference in my browsing or app usage. There is a caveat, though: I can’t recommend this VPN for purely MacOS usage. During my testing, I found it a challenge to even sign in, and it is extremely slow. In short, the mobile user experience is what you would expect from a decent VPN, but the MacOS app needs a lot of work. (We do have a list of VPNs that are great for Mac, if you need one.) A free option is available, but keep in mind that VPN traffic, connection speed, and server locations are very limited.  More

The new, more compact, more powerful Mac Mini More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Samsung’s Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is available for $1,700. I recommend this laptop for professionals who want great performance, a high-quality touchscreen, and long battery life. To get the most out of it, you’ll need to own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone. –> I have largely ignored Samsung’s Galaxy Book laptop series, […] More

Ant Pruitt/ZDNETRegardless of how great your video may look, audio is a priority. Professional creators understand that high quality matters more to viewers than crispy pixels of 8K footage. Saramonic has announced its Ultra wireless lavalier microphone kit More

PM Images/Getty Images The generative AI boom might have started with the launch of ChatGPT, but the technology has now been integrated into all kinds of productivity platforms designed to make our everyday workflows easier. A fear many people have when they hear about AI use in the workplace is that the technology will replace them. […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETIf you’ve been missing Google Assistant since Gemini took over, you’ll want to know about a major upgrade coming to your phone.One of the biggest complaints about Gemini on Android is that it lacks a lot of the basic functionality that Google Assistant had like setting alarms and timers and controlling media.Also: Why I recommend this Google Pixel phone to most peopleA new “Utilities” extension aims to fix that. As Google explains, this tool lets you ask Gemini to handle certain actions on your device. You can use it to set and manage alarms and timers in your clock app, open websites, take photos and screenshots, control your media playback, browse or search for screenshots in Pixel Screenshots, and more. You can find the full list on Google’s support page. Gemini can even handle multiple requests at once like “Turn my media volume and notification volume to [percentage] and turn on battery saver” or “take a photo with a 10s timer.”Also: How to use Gemini to generate higher-quality AI images nowIn addition, several lock-screen-specific features are on the way, like the ability to set or silence alarms and timers, turn on and off your flashlight, enable Bluetooth, check your phone’s battery level, or restart. More

It’s been several years since I evaluated the first-generation Moto G Stylus, and a lot has improved. My ZDNET colleague Kerry Wan covered all of the specifications of the latest model, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) More

Lance Whitney/ZDNETHave you recently checked the notes in Apple Notes on your iPhone only to discover that they’ve mysteriously disappeared? You’re not alone. The problem is apparently hitting other iPhone users as well. But fear not for there is a fix.Based on reports from 9to5Mac and other tech outlets, the hiccup pops up after you accept new iCloud terms and conditions presented to you on your phone. After opening Apple Notes, you then find that the Notes folder under iCloud is empty where there used to be a host of notes.Also: How to install Apple’s iOS 18.2 public beta – and what you’ll find insideIn some instances, the bug is temporary, and your notes soon appear back in their rightful folder. In other cases, time doesn’t fix this glitch, so you have to resolve the matter yourself. Here’s how.Head to Settings, select your name at the top, tap iCloud, and then select Notes.Make sure the switch is on for “Sync this iPhone.”Wait a few moments and check the Notes app again. Your iCloud synced notes should then start to appear. More