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    I used the Google Pixel Tablet as my smart home display – and here’s how it fared

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Google Pixel Tablet retails for $499. The 11-inch tablet runs Android 13 on Google’s Tensor G2 chip It has solid performance, small bezels surrounding the screen that can handle multitasking, and a charging dock. Android can be buggy on the Pixel Tablet, though less so than on competing devices; the […] More

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    I may finally switch from Google Pixel to Samsung Galaxy in 2025 – and hardware has little to do with it

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETI’ve been a Google Pixel fan since the beginning. I pre-ordered the original Pixel XL phone in 2016 and have upgraded every other year or so since, eventually owning the Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 8 Pro. I even picked up a Pixel Watch and Pixel Buds along the way. Also: Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked 2025: Galaxy S25, Gemini AI, moreBut for the first time, I’m awfully tempted to leave the Google ecosystem. Samsung today unveiled its latest flagship phone, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and while I’ve never been so eager to spring to its smartphones, my interest has more to do with the fact that the Google Pixel line is becoming less and less dominant when it comes to new features and capabilities. More

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    How to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro – without overpaying

    The upgrade from Home to Pro is quick and easy. Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNETIf you purchase a new PC with Windows 11 Home preinstalled, you might be able to get right to work. But for demanding PC owners, this entry-level edition doesn’t have some essential features, like the ability to connect to a Windows domain-based network, manage disk encryption, fine-tune update schedules, or create virtual machines. (For a detailed list of Pro-only features, see “7 reasons Windows 11 Pro is worth the upgrade – and the best way to do it.”)To get those features, you need to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro. That’s a pretty straightforward process, but if you’re not careful, you can end up spending much more than you need to on the upgrade. And you can also find yourself having to do it all over again if you need to reinstall Windows.Also: How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 in 2025In this article, I cover three common scenarios for upgrading from Windows 11 Home edition to Pro:You’re setting up a new PC that came with Windows 11 Home edition preinstalled.You’re doing a clean install of Windows 11 Pro on a PC that you previously upgraded.After resetting your PC, you need to restore your Home-to-Pro upgrade.If you’re upgrading a PC for the first time, you need one essential ingredient to get started: a product key. More

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    6 Linux commands I can’t work without – and what I use them for

    Yosi Azwan/Getty Images Before we get into this, I want to be clear: Using the command line is not a requirement for using Linux. I mention this because the idea of typing commands tends to scare off new users and my goal — for years — has been to introduce people to the open source […] More

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    I went hands-on with Samsung’s standard Galaxy S25 and didn’t envy the Ultra model at all

    Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETSamsung’s Galaxy S25 series has arrived, and like last year, the theme is all about AI. However, things are slightly different this year because the “AI” that Samsung so confidently touts is a little more mature. Also: Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked 2025: Galaxy S25, Gemini AI, moreWith the Galaxy S25 phones, Samsung is introducing new contextual AI features to make them more helpful. And these software tricks are accompanied by more polished hardware that feels better than ever in the hand. While there aren’t many major spec upgrades, the $799 Galaxy S25 and $999 Galaxy S25 Plus More

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    Best One UI 7 features coming to Samsung Galaxy S25 (and older models, too)

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETSamsung just announced the latest generation of Galaxy smartphones. Along with the new lineup comes new software. One UI 7 is now available for public download, and older compatible Samsung devices can also use the latest software.Also: Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked 2025: Galaxy S25 Ultra, AI features, and moreIt’s unclear when older Galaxy devices will receive the update, but the S23 and S24 series phones will likely receive it shortly after the S25 launch More