Eliana Willis

ZDNETAh, Digital Wellbeing. Would that everyone understood and practiced the art of finding balance in life. Sadly, you can go just about anywhere and see people glued to their phones as though it was a lifeline to their souls.I used to be one of them until I realized my health and sanity were dependent on me putting down the screen or staying mindful of my surroundings and how I interact with them.Also: This cheap Android phone has a display and battery life of a handset that’s twice the priceAndroid’s Digital Wellbeing is the component of the mobile OS that is tasked with keeping you mindful. Do you use it? I don’t. Since the feature became a part of the OS, I’ve maybe glanced at it a handful of times — and that was mostly to write about it. The reason I don’t use Digital Wellbeing is that I don’t find it very useful. Sure, it promises to offer some interesting insights, but it fails to make an impact on me or my life.What could Google do about this?I have answers.Hear me out.1. Integrate it with WearOS watchesWhen I want to gain insight about my well-being, I generally check my watch, not my phone. Why? I have my watch on 24/7, and it keeps track of the things I need to know about, like sleep, steps, and heart rate. Google needs to integrate Wear OS with Digital Wellbeing so all of those stats are in sync and analyzed. It would be much better to have all of that information in one place instead of having to check my watch, the Pixel Watch app on my phone, and Digital Wellbeing. Also: The best Android smartwatchesIf Google were to place all of that information in the place it should be, I’d be much more inclined to use Digital Wellbeing. Plus, having data from my watch would make Digital Wellbeing more accurate.2. Easily create reminders to take breaks from using your phoneDigital Wellbeing should allow us to set specific and regular reminders to take breaks. But here’s the thing: My watch sends me reminders to get up and walk at certain intervals. It would be even better if, through Digital Wellbeing, we could set customized reminders to not only move at a specific time but also where and how to move. You could set a reminder after your regular office meeting to take a few laps around the parking lot to decompress from whatever stress the meeting delivered. Or you could set a regular reminder to meditate in the middle of the day. Whatever breaks you need to make it through the day and give your well-being the attention it deserves. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Onyx Boox Page has a seven-inch E Ink display and sells for a discounted $219 across major retailers. It runs on a simplified version of Android 11, so you can download any app you want, including Kindle, TikTok, Google Docs, and more. Don’t expect the tablet to receive the latest […] More

AdobeCreating a visual asset is often a team effort, and Adobe’s new Photoshop feature is meant to make collaborating on a project easier for teams.  Also: Three CES 2025 products I’d buy as soon as they’re available for purchaseOn Tuesday, Adobe brought Live Co-Editing to Photoshop, which allows multiple creators to access and edit Photoshop documents from different computers simultaneously. In addition to working together, users can gather feedback from clients, teachers, or coworkers on the file through collaborative comments. The feature is available in private beta on Photoshop desktop and web apps. All users can sign up using the registration screener found at this link. You will then get a confirmation email letting you know you can get started with the feature. Until the feature is released publicly, Adobe will gather feedback from its beta testers. More

Motorola Moto G Power in Slate Grey and Leaf Green. MotorolaMotorola starts 2025 by revealing two mid-range smartphones: the Moto G and its big brother, the Moto G Power. The company says these devices are “entertainment powerhouses”, delivering both “exceptional photography [plus] immersive” media at a low price.Also: The best Motorola phones: Expert testedThe entertainment-rich capability starts with the display. Each phone has a bright 1,000-nit screen running at a 120Hz refresh rate. This screen ensures smooth “streaming, gaming, [and web page] scrolling”. Supporting the display is a robust speaker system backed up by Dolby Atmos and Bass Boost tech that can output high-resolution audio. Other shared features include a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset delivering solid performance and a rear camera system led by a 50MP camera. There is a small difference in size between the two devices. The Moto G measures 6.7 inches, while the Power model is a slightly larger 6.8 inches.  More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETWhile I’m not a binocular-wearing, bird-call-knowing birdwatcher, I’ve always loved having bird feeders in my front yard so I can see different kinds of birds frolicking around from the comfort of my couch. I also use a bird ID app that listens to different bird calls and identifies their type. But recently, smart bird feeders have gained popularity by offering high-quality images with little effort on the user’s end.As a BirdBuddy owner, I’m no stranger to the smart bird feeder trend. But seeing how the different brands have grown and evolved in the past few years is gratifying. I saw several of these brands’ new offerings for 2025 at CES this month, including Birdfy and BirdBuddy.BirdBuddy: Petal camera and Wonder blocks More

J Studios/Getty Images Professionals and managers working directly with artificial intelligence (AI) solutions are seeing their compensation shoot upward. These workers also experience greater job satisfaction. That’s the word from Dice’s latest tech salaries report, based on the responses of 2,835 tech professionals conducted in the fall of 2024. Also: The fastest-growing jobs in the AI-powered economy More […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi earbuds are available now for $129 on Creative’s official site. With rich, dynamic bass, well-blended mids, and crisp highs, these earbuds are a perfect match for any type of music you can feed them. The LE audio feature on these earbuds can cause brief disconnects, but […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The latest DJI Flip drone is compact yet highly capable and costs $439. Innovative prop guards add an additional layer of safety to the drone. I just wish the gimbal cover wasn’t so fiddly, and the app could be more intuitive. –> I’ve been testing drones for years, and it’s one […] More