Antigravity ZDNET’s key takeaways Action cam manufacturer Insta360 has launched a new sub-brand called Antigravity, focusing entirely on drones. Its first model, the Antigravity A1, is unique in that it can record 360-degree video at up to 8K resolution. Launch date is slated for January 2026, but exact pricing is still unknown. Insta360 just announced […] More
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways NPD, the people search site with a bad security record, is back.The good news is you can pull your information from it.Bad news? Hundreds of sites contain your data, but you can remove.Get more in-depth ZDNET tech coverage: Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers.Over a year ago, National Public Data (NPD), a search site for people, earned a place in privacy infamy for a security breach that revealed the personal data of 3 billion individuals (that’s billion with a “b”). Now, after disappearing, NPD is back.As ZDNET sister publication PC Magazine reported, NPD is open for snooping again under a new owner, the rather mysterious-sounding Perfect Privacy LLC. This company has no relationship with the virtual private network (VPN) business Perfect Privacy VPN. Also: The best VPN services (and how to choose the right one for you)The new NPD is back to the same old business of letting people search for personal data on friends, relatives, your ex-wife, and anyone else. While the site states it’s “not a ‘consumer reporting agency’ as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA),” and that you may not use “any information from this site to make decisions about employment, credit, insurance, housing, or other purposes covered by the FCRA,” nothing is stopping you from using the site’s data to do just that. After a brief review of the new NPD, I found that some of the data on the site was inaccurate or outdated. Other information, however, was spot-on. The site also appears to struggle with handling hyphenated names. That’s a win for me.Where does NPD get its information? NPD says on its site: “We collect the data you find on our people search engine from publicly available sources, including federal, state, and local government agencies, social media pages, property ownership databases, and other reliable platforms. After the data is in our hands, we verify and filter it to make sure it is indeed accurate and up-to-date.” Also: 5 simple ways to regain your data privacy online – starting todayWhile NPD is far from the only site that offers gray, semi-legal services, I wouldn’t trust it with my information. How to remove your information from NPDIf, like me, you’d just as soon not have NPD know who you are, where you live, and all the rest, take the following steps: Search your name on nationalpublicdata.com. When you find your profile, click “View Full Profile.”Copy its URL.Go to nationalpublicdata.com/optout.html.Drop the URL into the “Your Profile Link” field and click “Request Removal.”Enter an email address, and the site will send you an email requesting that you click to confirm deletion. You’ll need a separate email address for each profile you want to delete. Also: How to remove your personal info from Google Search – it’s quick and easyThe site appears to remove your data quickly. That said, if you opt out, I’d check again in a few days to make sure.How to check for your data on people-searching sitesMind you, dealing with NPD isn’t enough to erase your personal information. When I checked for my data on people-searching sites using Optery, a personal data removal service, I found my information on no fewer than 81 sites. Also: I found the easiest way to delete myself from the internet (and you shouldn’t wait to use it, too)If you seriously don’t want big data looking over your shoulder, I’d strongly recommend trying one of these services. More
Geekom IT15 Mini PC <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Geekcom IT 15 Mini PC is available on Amazon for $1,100. This tiny form-factor PC has plenty of power to spare for everyday tasks. The only downside is that the IT15 doesn’t have a dedicated GPU. –> I’ve always enjoyed a mini PC, and any time […] More
Adam Breeden/ZDNETAs an avid iPad user, I’m all too familiar with the internal struggles that course through me when the battery is about to die. I love using either the iPad 11 or iPad Air to write and work, but I also use it to stream content, play games, and browse the internet after work. This makes me appreciate the iPad’s long battery life, yet my anxiety grows when I start getting ‘low battery’ alerts without a charger nearby.Also: How you’re charging your tablet is slowly killing it – 3 methods to avoid (and the right way)There are many things you can do to increase your iPad’s battery life that go beyond the usual advice. You can start with the usual: lowering your screen brightness and setting the auto-lock to a shorter time, which I’ll cover here. I’ll also cover other ways to extend your battery life that have, altogether, given me a few more hours of use from my iPad.1. Lower screen brightnessThis is one of the first recommendations you’ll hear from anyone offering tips on conserving your iPad’s battery life — and it truly works. Depending on your usage, lowering your screen’s brightness settings could offer you over an hour of extra use on each charge. Also: 5 Apple products you definitely shouldn’t buy this month (and 7 to get instead)Doing so also makes it easier on your eyes, reducing the eye strain involved with staring at bright screens for too long. That’s the main reason I prefer keeping my brightness low, but the perk of a longer battery life makes it even more worthwhile. Your iPad’s screen brightness can be adjusted from the Control Center by swiping down on the top right side of your screen.2. Turn off location servicesLocation services can keep your iPad working extra, especially if you have them enabled for multiple apps. It’s a good idea to turn off location services for any apps that you don’t use often, especially those that you know you won’t be using in the next day or two. While turning off your iPad’s location services won’t double your battery life, it can add a good half hour or more of use. To check and turn off your location services, follow these stepsGo to your iPad SettingsSelect Privacy & SecurityGo to Location ServicesAlso: 8 reasons why I replaced my Kindle with an iPad Mini for reading ebooksYou can check which applications have access to your iPad’s location and decide which ones to revoke. Alternatively, you can turn off all Location Services altogether, especially if you’ll be using your tablet for work, streaming, or playing.3. Turn off wireless when idle More
OpenRock S2 <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The OpenRock S2 open-style earbuds are available on Amazon for $99. The S2 earbuds are one of the most comfortable open-air earbuds I’ve ever tested Although the S2 earbuds don’t have the punch at the low end, they make up for it in soundstage. –> I depend on earbuds […] More
The Koala cleaning kit with a pair of glasses. Kayla Solino/ZDNETI’ve been wearing prescription glasses since I was 18 months old, so trust me when I tell you I know a lot about keeping lenses clean and protected — I’ve had over 20 years of practice. While it may seem like you can clean your sunglasses or glasses with any old “glass cleaner,” or something as simple as soap and water, I am here to tell you that it can be a huge (and costly) mistake. Most glass cleaning products (even dish soap) can be too abrasive and harsh on specialized lenses and damage protective coatings for UV, glare, blue light, and more. Of course, clean at your own risk, but I have damaged my lens coating once before from plain soap and water, and there is no fix for it besides getting brand new lenses. Also: I tested the $15 screen-cleaning solution used in Apple stores and it worked like magicAnd just like glasses, the screens on your tech products should be handled with the utmost care. Lucky for you, I’m sharing one of my best-kept secrets that can clean lenses and screens with ease without damaging either. Meet Koala cleaner More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETA quick scan through ZDNET’s list of the best phones, and two names usually top the list — Samsung and Apple. That’s no exception with our most recent picks, as the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max take the top two spots. That list will likely be changing soon, though, as Apple is expected to unveil a successor that is the iPhone 17 Pro Max.Also: Should you buy the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17? How to decide which model to buyBoth the 16 Pro Max and the S25 Ultra are their brand’s most impressive phones to date, with each handset packed with premium features and high-end specs, and both being the largest of their lineups. They also feature a whole lot of AI, like it or not.If you’re already locked into a specific ecosystem, the choice here is simple. But if you’re on the fence or you’re considering switching sides, you have a decision to make. Fortunately, there’s enough of a difference between these two devices that you can make a choice. Here’s what you need to know. Specifications Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraiPhone 16 Pro MaxDisplay 6.9″ QHD AMOLED 120Hz, 2600 nits peak6.8-inch AMOLED with 120Hz, 2000 nits peakWeight 218 grams227 gramsProcessor Snapdragon 8 EliteA18 ProDimensions77.6 x 162.8 x 8.2mm 77.6 x 163 x 8.25RAM/Storage12GB with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB8GB with 256GB, 512GB, 1TBBattery5000 mAh4685 mAhCamera200MP wide / 50MP telephoto (5x) / 10MP telephoto (3x) / 50 MP ultrawide / 12MP front48MP Fusion / 48MP Ultra Wide / 12MP telephoto (5x) / 12MP front Price$1,299$1,199 You should buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if… More
Marshall Middleton II <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Marshall’s Middleton II Bluetooth speaker is available in Black And Brass or Cream for $330. The Middleton II debuts with meaningful upgrades from its predecessor, spectacular sound, a stylish design, and 30 hours of battery life. Despite its long list of pros, this speaker is considerably more expensive […] More
