herraez/Getty Images The changes in the latest Linux kernel, Linux 6.16, may be small, but they include some significant ones. Linus Torvalds himself summed up this release as looking fine, small, and calm, but not “really not all that interesting (in all the best ways!).” Here’s my list of what’s new and improved. First, the […] More
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is on sale for $650 in four color options. Its display is vibrant and large, the battery lasts through a couple of days, and LTE is provided at no extra cost. It comes in a single 47mm size, gesture support is limited, […] 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
CMF Phone 1 <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The CMF Phone 1 by Nothing, which starts at $239, is the best budget phone I’ve tested this year. The replaceable cover and accessories, excellent battery life, and AMOLED display stand out in a crowded market. For the price, the downsides include a lack of NFC and wireless […] More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETFor many people, motion smoothing on TVs is only appropriate for gaming and watching live sports; enthusiasts typically prefer turning off the feature to watch anything else because it can detract from the filmmaker’s original intent, making on-screen images seem artificial or hyper-realistic. This is what’s called the “soap opera effect.” Also: How to turn off ACR on your TV (and why you shouldn’t wait to do it)It’s a perfectly descriptive metaphor that probably requires no explanation. You can see it all too well: the cinematic film should not look like a daytime soap; you shouldn’t feel like you’re on the set with the actors. But it is appealing to feel like you’re in the stadium watching your team with thousands of fans. The soap opera effect makes sense for live sporting event broadcasts. 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
Yuliya Taba/Getty Images Part of the “passkeys are more secure than passwords” story is derived from the fact that passkeys are non-human-readable secrets — stored somewhere on your device — that even you have very limited access to. OK, so what happens to those passkeys if your device is stolen? Over on Spiceworks.com, ZDNET’s sister site […] More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETIn a series of rare events, the iPhone 17 Pro has seemingly appeared publicly ahead of its expected September launch. Late Monday, X user @Skyfops shared two images of what can be assumed to be an Apple employee handling a test development iPhone.Also: You can download iOS 26 public beta right now – how to install (and which iPhones support it)While the iPhone is encased in a security cover, typically used to hide the device’s final design, there’s a dead giveaway that the model in question is the unreleased iPhone 17 Pro: the right-aligned LiDAR sensor and flash. Even Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman thinks the images look legit.Leaks and rumors have long pointed to the upcoming series of iPhones featuring a redesigned camera bar, with the same arrangement of cameras on the upper-left corner as previous models, flanked by additional sensors on the right side — all upheld by a protruding module. For phone enthusiasts, think Poco M4 Pro design. More
