Eliana Willis

Kerry Wan/ZDNETIt’s not a stretch to say that only the most powerful of power users have heard of Samsung DeX. While full of whimsical capability, it’s one of the most undermined, poorly advertised features on modern-day Samsung phones, so much so that I only remembered it after reading a recent story from my colleague Jack Wallen.Also: I tried to replace my desktop with a phone for work – 5 frustrating lessons I learnedIn theory, Samsung DeX should be one of the most transformative features to come to smartphones. It allows users to quickly switch from their devices’ mobile interface to a more computer-like experience when hooked up to a monitor or TV. Since the feature was released in 2017, it’s received several upgrades, including wireless connectivity and enhanced multitasking.The story written by Wallen, by the way, speaks to how smartphones aren’t capable of replacing our laptops. So, I tested that theory myself, powering my workflow for a few days solely with the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Samsung DeX. Here’s how it fared as a standalone computing device and why replacing your laptop with it might not be the worst idea. More

ZDNETAccording to Stat Counter, mobile phones made up 63.07% of the total hardware platform market share in 2024. Simply put, more people use a phone than a desktop or laptop computer. That’s fine for many of us who use our devices mostly for messaging, social media, entertainment, and shopping.Also: Can phones replace laptops? This underrated Samsung feature settled that debate for meSure, my phone is indispensable; When I’m at home, my Pixel 9 Pro is my only source for calls. When I’m away from home, it keeps me connected to the world.But as viable as modern-day phones are, there are a handful of reasons why they will never be my primary computing device. Here are the main ones.1. Physical and digital limitationsThis is the primary reason mobile devices will never become my default. I’m a writer and am often churning out content for tech sites as well as novels. Unless I’m carrying a wireless keyboard, it’s often too difficult to type as quickly on the phone, but it’s not nearly as accurate, meaning I spend more time correcting myself than not. I know some writers who’ve attempted to pen novels on a mobile device, but it takes them exponentially longer than it would on a desktop or laptop.Also: Super Productivity is the ultimate task manager for your time management goalsBut writing isn’t the only thing I need from a computing device. I also create images for various things and create/edit videos — another task I could not do on a phone. For example, services like Adobe Photoshop and DaVinci Resolve are much more robust on desktop than on mobile. In reality, the hand-held form factor is just not conducive to being productive at the level I need. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is on pre-order through the company’s online store and Amazon for $899. It stands tall as a high-performing gaming handheld with a vibrant touchscreen and unique design. However, its large size won’t be for everyone, and there are still a few software bugs. more buying choices […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Hohem iSteady M7 phone gimbal is available now on Amazon for $269. The M7 is the best phone gimbal you can buy for the money, thanks to its reliable tracking. Make sure you install the Hohem Joy app before using the gimbal. –> The Hohem iSteady M7 gimbal<!–> is one […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Shokz OpenFit 2 are available for $179 in Beige and Black. These open-ear true wireless earbuds deliver meaningful upgrades from the first generation, offering high performance in almost any environment. Wearing glasses causes the ear hooks to become unstable, affecting the earbuds’ fit and sound quality. more buying choices Open-ear […] More

Jason Hiner/ZDNETApple recently unveiled new AirPods, and while you might be considering buying the brand’s latest headphones, you shouldn’t forget about the sweet, sweet discounts that activate on earlier models once Apple releases new hardware — especially if you’re looking for a new pair of high-quality noise-canceling earbuds.The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways This is one of the most secure SSDs on the market today The drive comes in a range of storage capacities so you only pay for what you need The drives aren’t cheap, especially at the higher end of the capacity spectrum. –> There are a lot of secure storage drives […] More

ZDNETMaking sure you get to that important call (and avoid unwanted ones) is about to get a little easier if you’re an AT&T customer on Android.Also: How to clear your Android phone’s cache and make it feel like newStarting soon, you’ll be able to see why a business is calling you on the incoming call screen.How it worksTo enroll, businesses will have to sign up for TruContact Branded Call Display. When an enrolled business places a call, they’ll select the reason. AT&T explained that the caller will have a wide range of reasons to choose from, including “Customer Service,” “Refill Reminder,” “Appointment Reminder,” “Delivery,” “Patient Callback,” and “Upcoming Appointment.”When your phone rings, you’ll see the business name, number, possibly its logo, and the reason for the call.You don’t need to do anything to start seeing the new feature, which is an extension of a feature that rolled out last year that introduced business logos on verified numbers and the same technology that automatically labels spam calls.If you’re worried about scammers misusing this tech, not every business that calls will be able to select a reason (which is probably beneficial given how many people opt to avoid talking to my Google Pixel call screener). It’s only open to businesses in the TransUnion TruContact program.Also: Google’s new ‘Ask For Me’ AI tool calls businesses to get your questions answeredSince enrolled businesses will likely utilize the service and select a reason, it probably means a much higher pickup rate  for legitimate callers. According to a recent study, 73% of people would likely pick up a call if it displayed a verified logo and reason.”Research shows consumers still prefer calling for communicating with businesses,” said Erin Scarborough, AT&T senior vice president of Mass Markets Product Management, “especially for urgent, personal, or high-value issues.” This branding, she explained, means you can trust who’s calling. More