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Matthew Miller/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?The Apple Watch Ultra 2 More

A tweak of the desktop to get a light theme does require a log out and log in. Jack Wallen/ZDNETArch Linux is not for the faint of heart. The reason for this is the installation, which is no walk in the park (unless said park is a convoluted mess of climbs, pitfalls, rope ladders, and monsters). That’s why, years ago, several distributions started popping up to help make Arch a bit easier. Those distributions focused on greatly simplifying the OS installation and subsequent software installs. Also: 10 Linux apps I can’t do without – and whyFor the most part, those distributions have succeeded in their mission. One of those spin-off distributions, Manjaro, has done a truly fantastic job of bringing Arch Linux to the masses, and with the latest release, the development team behind the distribution has created a brilliant take on Arch Linux.It’s easy to use, rock-solid, and beautiful. After testing Manjaro 24.1 for a few days, I came away seriously impressed and with only a single gripe.What’s new in Manjaro 24.1?First, Manjaro “Xahea” ships with kernel 6.10, which adds even better performance, stability, and hardware compatibility. Along with the new kernel, you also get the latest version of the Z File System (v 2.2.6), System d 256.6, Mesa 24.2, LibreOffice 24.8.1, and Firefox 131.For desktop environments, you get Plasma 6.1.5 and KDE Gear 24.08, GNOME 46, or XFCE 4.18. Also: The best tiling window managers for Linux, and what they can do for youManjaro is a rolling release distribution, which means all of the software is maintained in a constant state of newness. If you prefer to always have the latest releases of your OS and included software, a rolling release is the way to go. The Manjaro team also follows a cascading stability approach, which allows you to select which version of the OS you want to use. You can select between base, unstable, testing, and stable. Unless you like the idea of testing software, I would always stick with the stable release. There are also the home and business versions of the OS, of which you will clearly want the home edition.As you can see, other than the new kernel, updated software, and latest toolchains, the “newness” comes by way of the desktop environments. Also: How to run a Windows app on Linux with WineI tested the Plasma Desktop version of Manjaro and came away duly impressed. More

ZDNETOctober Prime Day is nearly here (it kicks off tomorrow), and it’s a great time to start gift buying for the holidays. It’s also just as good of a time to snag extra savings on everyday products and affordable tech. Plus, with other major retailers like Walmart More

HP Gaming desktops can get pretty expensive, but right now you can snag the HP Victus 15L<!–> direct from HP.com for 43% off with this post-Labor Day deal. And just because this PC is $480 doesn’t mean it skimps out on quality components. This configuration is built with an Intel Core i5-13400 processor, Intel Arc […] More

Adam Breeden/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?While we’re waiting for Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale, Best Buy is offering the 65-inch TCL QM8 More

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event — also known as October Prime Day — is right around the corner. The ZDNET team has rounded up some great deals on your favorite security tech already live. If you’re looking specifically for a smart home security camera, you’re in luck, because there are plenty of deals to be had on brands like Ring, Blink, Arlo, and Wyze. Also: The best October Prime Day deals live nowSome cameras on this list are indoor or outdoor, some are wireless versions powered by a battery, some are plug-in, and some make great pet camera options and baby monitors. Read on for all of the best early Prime Day security camera deals we’ve found so far.Our favorite Amazon October Prime Day security camera deals litokam 2K Indoor Security Camera for $20 More

October Prime Big Deal Days officially kicks off in a few days. While it’s a great time to grab early holiday gifts for all your loved ones, it’s also an opportunity to swipe up extra savings on everyday products and affordable tech. If you’re looking to satisfy your shopping itch without breaking the bank, we’ve rounded up some of the best Prime Day deals on tech, home, and beyond — all for under $50. Also: The best October Prime Day deals right nowThanks to plenty of early deals arriving before October Prime Day officially kicks off on Oct. 8, you don’t have to wait to snag savings, either. Our favorite Amazon October Prime Day deals under $50Apple AirTag More