Eliana Willis

ZDNETMicrosoft is testing a free, ad-supported desktop edition of Office, but it comes with a host of limitations. On Monday, tech news site Beebom described the new version, saying that Microsoft quietly launched it and no one noticed. That’s an apt description, as Microsoft seems to be limiting the test to a small audience.Persistent ad banner and videoBased on Beebom’s description, the free desktop suite includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and is available only on Windows. To help pay the bills, a banner ad persistently appears on the right side of each application and won’t disappear unless you opt for a Microsoft 365 subscription. Plus, a 15-second video ad with muted sound pops up in each app every few hours. The freebie offers only basic writing and editing skills, with virtually all the advanced features and add-ins grayed out and unavailable. That means no ability to adjust line spacing, columns, drawing tools, or mailing options in Word. Excel users can’t insert objects, play with pivot tables, or create macros. And PowerPoint won’t let you customize your slideshow, format the background, add animations, or record the screen. Also: How to remove Copilot from your Microsoft 365 planAnother hiccup is that you can’t save your documents and files locally. Instead, you must save them to OneDrive. That could pose a problem, since free users get only 5GB of OneDrive storage. A paid Microsoft 365 plan provides more space, anywhere from 100GB to 1TB per person. But if you already have such a subscription, then you wouldn’t need this free version of Office in the first place. More

You probably already know that MagSafe technology is a pretty handy feature. You can use it to wirelessly charge your phone, attach a wallet to the back of your phone, use it as a combination phone stand and power bank, and more. To put it simply: MagSafe makes phone charging fun and far more convenient. But with plenty of accessories on the market, it can be hard to know what is and isn’t worth your cash. That’s why we’ve tested plenty of options on the market, so you can find the most useful MagSafe accessories for your lifestyle. Also: The best wireless chargers: Expert testedWhat are the best MagSafe accessories right now?We rounded up some of the best the best MagSafe accessories right now, each of differing use. Some of our favorites are Anker’s 3-1 MagGo Wireless Qi2 Charger More

Jason Hiner/ZDNETAmazon has discounted several Mac Mini M4 builds as part of a new series of unexpected deals. You can purchase the compact desktop for as low as $549 More

NurPhoto/Getty Images The consequences of Meta’s recent content moderation change are starting to reveal themselves. Last month, Meta announced it would roll back its fact-checking program on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads starting this spring in favor of a Community Notes approach, where individual users volunteer to comment on posts with additional context or differing information. […] More

CNET/ZDNETLive TV streaming services were designed to disrupt the cable monopoly. And for a while, it looked like the plan was working.Cable companies, no longer blessed with monopoly power, are losing millions of customers every year. But the cord-cutting alternatives that were supposed to save us have been raising prices steadily, and today the price of a live TV streaming service is nearly as high as one of those old cable bills.Also: Bye bye, Wi-Fi: How to add a wired network to your home without running EthernetTake YouTube TV, for example. At its launch in 2017, Google’s live TV streaming service cost a mere $35 a month. Since then, Google has raised prices every year. By the time I signed up in early 2020, the price had crept up to $50 a month. The latest price increase, which took effect in January 2025, raised the cost of the base plan to $83, plus an extra $10 for the 4K add-on. For the base plan alone, that’s a 66% increase in five years.And then there’s Fubo TV, which announced at the start of January that it would be acquired by Disney and would share the same corporate parent as Hulu with Live TV.  And by the end of January … yes, you guessed it: Fubo raised the monthly base prices of all its subscriptions.That flurry of price increases got me asking questions:Am I really getting my money’s worth out of that $90-plus subscription?Are any competitors offering a better deal?What happens if I decide to just cut out my live TV streaming service altogether?The competitionFor customers in the US, there are currently six live TV streaming services to choose from. Each one works using an app on a streaming device or smart TV platform. Subscribers choose a plan that offers some combination of basic and premium cable channels, local broadcast channels, and regional sports networks, along with DVR capabilities so you can pause live TV and record shows to watch later.Also: Having trouble hearing whispery TV dialogue? I found 3 ways to fix thatZDNET has already done the work of assembling the available choices. I reviewed each one of those services three years ago and decided to take a fresh look in 2025 to see what’s changed.Four of those services offer strikingly similar lineups at prices that are nearly identical: between $82 and $87 a month, before add-ons. The other two are noticeably cheaper, so that’s where I started, working from least to most expensive. More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETAmazon has been focused on bringing generative AI to Alexa for the past few years, hitting multiple delays in launching new features that the company first announced in September 2023. The delayed Alexa 2.0 seems poised for a 2025 release, as evidenced by the surprise Devices and Services event Amazon is hosting this week.Amid rumors of Alexa 2.0 shortcomings, Amazon skipped its 2024 Devices and Services event, where the company typically announces new Alexa features and hardware devices. Now, the company plans to host an Amazon Alexa-themed event on Wednesday, where it is expected to unveil the voice assistant’s generative AI features and finally put an ETA on its launch.Also: 5 ways AI can help with your taxes – and 10 major mistakes to avoidThe event will take place on Feb. 26 in New York City and will be Panos Panay’s first since joining the Devices and Services division after his Microsoft exit. But aside from new Alexa features, Amazon could be preparing to launch other devices.What to expect from Amazon’s February 2025 event More

If you’re just starting out at a Twitch streamer or content creator, you have plenty of options for high-quality, affordable streaming lights. The Elgato Key Light Mini retails for about $80, and offers several brightness and color temperature options for fine-tuning your signature style and boosting production values. But even something like the Newmowa 60W mobile light, which retails for about $25, can go a long way towards improving the quality of your recordings and live streams.More established streamers and creators may want to spring for more sophisticated lights, like the Lume Cube Tube Light Mini, which are capable of both warm/cool white and RGB colors. When blended with similarly capable lights, you can create custom color schemes to match your stream or eSports team colors, personal branding, or just show off your favorite colors that day. Other lights, like the GE Cync strip lights, feature reactive lighting functions, producing impactful visuals in time with music, sound effects, and dialogue.Buy this best streaming light…If you need…Elgato Key Light Mini A well-rounded key light for streaming. The Elgato Key Light Mini features a magnetic mount for nearly endless placement options as well as Bluetooth connectivity for enhanced control. Lume Cube Ring Light Pro A professional-quality ring light for streaming. The Lume Cube Ring Light Pro not only offers Bluetooth connectivity, but also a built-in battery for better portability. Govee Hexa Glide A set of RGB light panels for streaming. With multiple kit options, the Govee Hexa Glide allows you to create custom RGB wall lighting for stream backgrounds. Govee Neon Rope Light 2A reliable strip light option for streaming. The strip light is capable of both white and RGB lighting and easily integrates with Alexa and Hey Google for hands-free controls. Newmowa mobile light A budget-friendly and portable light for streaming. The Newmowa mobile light’s quality vs. price made it go viral on TikTok, and it can elevate your content without breaking the bank. More