<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways This range of universal travel adapters suits all needs, compatible with over 220 countries These GaN chargers feature USB-C and USB-A ports and are high quality, robust, and safe These universal chargers DO NOT convert voltages, so be careful with what you plug in. –> Digital gadgets have become an essential […] More
Amazon/ZDNETAmazon has had a busy last few weeks. After a smashing Devices and Services event last month, at which the company unveiled new Alexa upgrades and teased Alexa+ companion devices on the horizon soon, the retail giant is looking to get back to its roots: online shopping. Also: Amazon just gave Alexa its most significant upgrade in a decade – and old Echo devices will support it.With President’s Day behind us, ZDNET’s team of experts is gearing up for the second annual Amazon Big Spring Sale. As ZDNET’s deal connoisseur, I’m using my extensive hands-on tech experience and seasoned commerce skills to cover all things sales and deals, including breaking down everything you need to know to shop like a pro any time of the year. Amazon is springing into spring with new chances to save big. Last year, the retail giant announced its first-ever Big Spring Sale event from March 20-25. Amazon slashed prices and offered near-holiday-priced deals on tablets, TVs, headphones, robot vacuums, home goods, and popular flagship Amazon products. I expect the sale to return this year, plus many of the same deals. Also: Here’s how to use Alexa+ for free – especially if you’re an Amazon Prime memberAmazon has not officially confirmed the Big Spring Sale for 2025, nor has the brand publicized any specific sale dates. However, ZDNET’s research reveals that the Spring Sale will likely return. Conversations on Amazon’s seller forum reveal the News_Amazon account encouraging sellers to submit deals for the “Big Spring Sale” by March 17, 2025. Based on this knowledge, I expect Amazon’s spring sale event to kick off sometime afterward, likely during the last week of the month. Until then, I’ll keep you posted with everything there is to know about Amazon’s incoming Big Spring Sale, so check back here as more information becomes available. More
temniy/Getty Images If you’re a 1Password user, finding passwords tied to a specific location is about to get a whole lot easier. In a blog post today, the company — which holds the top spot on our list of best password managers — announced a new feature for its password-keeping service – the ability to add […] More
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETApple officially launched the iPhone 16e last week after a two-year hiatus. The new base model phone costs $599 and is perfect for Apple lovers who don’t need all the bells and whistles of the flagship iPhone 16 series. But right now, you can snag the new phone for nothing. Also: I replaced my iPhone 16 Pro with the 16e for a weekend – here’s everything I learnedThat’s right. Shoppers can get a new iPhone 16e More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETIt’s only March, but it feels like we’ve already seen the best Android phones of 2025. With the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra More
ZDNETFirefox has long been treated as a vagabond in the browser world, trailing in popularity behind the likes of Chrome, Safari, and Edge. And though it may have seen better days, Firefox keeps chugging along with new features and innovations. As just one example, the latest version offers vertical tabs, an option that could change the way you juggle all your open web pages.Also: The Firefox I loved is gone – how to protect your privacy on it nowLaunched this week, Firefox version 136 is a must-have update for anyone who typically works with a lot of open tabs. Your open tabs normally appear at the top of the screen in a tab bar. But the more pages you launch, the more crowded the bar becomes, preventing you from easily managing and using them. With vertical tabs, your open pages appear in a vertical sidebar on the left (or right). You can opt to see the name of each tab or save space by displaying just its icon. Opening or closing a tab requires just a click. By default, the earlier tabs appear at the top. But you can manage the order by moving a specific tab to the top or bottom of the list. You’re also able to open a tab in a new window, select all the tabs, or close multiple tabs in one shot. In short, all the commands accessible in the horizontal tab bar are there in the vertical layout. How to enable vertical tabs in FirefoxTo enable vertical tabs in Firefox, just right-click on any empty area of the horizontal tab bar. If you’ve run out of space, right-click on the New Tab icon. From the menu, select “Turn on Vertical Tabs.” You’ll then see the icons and names for each open page on the left sidebar. Want to recapture the lost space on the left? Clicking the icon at the top for “Collapse Sidebar” removes the names but keeps the icons visible. And maybe you’d rather see the vertical tabs on the right. Click the option for “Customize Sidebar” and then just check the box for “Move Sidebar to the Right.” Also: Can Digg’s return fix what ails social media today? Reddit’s cofounder is betting on itFirefox is hardly the first browser to offer vertical tabs. Microsoft Edge has included them since March 2021. Other browsers that support vertical tabs include Arc, Brave, Vivaldi, and Safari. But I like the way Firefox eases the process of using vertical tabs. In Edge, for example, you have to go to the Settings screen to enable the feature. In Firefox, you can quickly turn it on and off without leaving your main view.And there’s still more you’ll find in the latest version of Firefox. What else is new in Firefox?Mozilla has retrofitted the sidebar with access to different tools. With the sidebar enabled, you can quickly access ChatGPT, your bookmarks, your browser history, and tabs on other synced devices. Also: The best secure browsers for privacyYou can also remove data from saved forms, along with your cookies, history, and cached pages. The browser now uses the more secure HTTPS by default and falls back to HTTP only if the secure connection fails. And images copied from Firefox will use the PNG format to preserve their transparency. Finally, no browser update would be complete without the usual bug fixes, and Firefox 136 patches a number of security flaws. As detailed by Mozilla in a new security advisory, the latest version fixes 15 vulnerabilities, eight of which are rated High. More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETGoogle just released its March Pixel drop, which added 10 major upgrades, but the features are still coming for Pixel owners. A recent software update is adding some camera functionality across the board, providing a performance boost for older phones, and adding a change that many people aren’t liking.Here’s what’s new with Pixel devices. 1. Camera upgrades for both the Pixel phone and tablet Pixel Camera 9.8 started rolling out today, and while it’s not a major overhaul, it does add some nice features for Pixel phones and the Pixel Tablet. To start, Google clarified some details about the “raise your hand” gesture that lets you take a picture by holding your palm up. In addition to the front selfie camera, the gesture also works with the higher-quality rear camera. Also: Goodbye Gemini, hello Pixel Sense? What we know about Google’s AI assistant for Pixel 10In addition, Pixel Fold users are getting some new functionality in the form of Dual Screen Preview for video recording. This means you can use both the internal and external displays while taking video. Google is also bringing Add Me to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. If you’re not familiar, this feature uses AR to add people to group shots by blending two photos together. All of this is in addition to the Pixel Feature Drop a few days ago, which added the capability to connect your Pixel phone to a GoPro (or another Pixel phone camera) and stream from different angles. More
Google/ZDNETCybercriminals have increasingly been using AI to scam their victims, often through text messages and phone calls. Now, Google is using a similar tactic to protect you from those scammers.Also: Did you get an E-ZPass text demanding payment? Don’t click – it’s a scamOn Tuesday, Google announced two AI-powered scam detection features for calls and text messages on Android devices. The goal is to thwart more complex and sophisticated attacks, especially those that may seem harmless at first but then devolve into riskier territory. 1. Scam detection for MessagesFirst up is scam detection for messages. Enhancing the existing spam protection in Google’s Messages app, the new scam detection is designed to look for a greater variety of threats. With this option enabled in Google Messages, the built-in AI uses real-time detection to determine if and when a text conversation seems suspicious. Let’s say you receive a text from a stranger that starts off innocently enough. But after a few back-and-forth messages, the conversation veers into an unexpected area. Once it detects a suspicious text, the on-device AI steps in to warn you that this is likely a scam. You’ll then be given the option to dismiss the warning or report and block the sender. By checking the ongoing conversation for any red flags, Google’s detection should prove more effective than other security tools that can only block or allow an initial text. The new detection works with SMS, MMS, and RCS messages, so you’re covered no matter which format is used.Turned on by default in MessagesScam detection for Google Messages is turned on by default, though you can turn it off at any time if you want to opt out. It also affects conversations only with people not in your contact list. Also: Why rebooting your phone daily is your best defense against zero-click attacksFurther, Google promises that your conversations will remain private. If you report a suspicious exchange, only the sender details and recent texts with that person are shared with Google and your mobile carrier. The new option is now rolling out in English across the US, UK, and Canada and will soon head to other countries. More
