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    T-Mobile’s data breach settlements are rolling out now – here’s how to see if you qualify

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETIf you’re a T-Mobile customer — or were back in 2021 — you might have a check showing up in your mailbox soon. In 2021, the mobile carrier suffered a massive data breach that affected around 76 million customers (this isn’t related to the 2023 breach that affected 37 million people). T-Mobile denied any wrongdoing but agreed to settle a lawsuit about the breach out of court. Four years later, affected customers are getting compensation. Also: I clicked on four sneaky online scams on purpose – to show you how they workA recent update on the settlement website indicates that all court proceedings are done, and checks are expected to go out this month. If you suffered financial loss from the incident, you might receive up to $25,000. If you didn’t suffer any loss, even if you didn’t file a claim in the suit, you can receive up to $25 (except California residents, who will receive up to $100). While those are the maximum amounts, a quick crunch of the numbers — a $350 million settlement divided between 76 million people — works out to about $4.50 a person, and that’s before attorney fees.  More

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    These XR glasses gave me a 200-inch screen to work with – and they’re well worth it

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The RayNeo Air 3S is available for $269 These XR glasses provide advanced micro-OLED screens, dual speaker chamber design, and a 201-inch screen visual experience There are no light-blocking shades or electrochromic dimming capability, and productivity support is limited to native MacOS and Windows support. –> Just about every person to […] More

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    The hidden Pixel camera feature that makes your photos look more vivid – how it works

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETOne reason why the Pixel phones are so popular is the camera. There’s a depth, a level of clarity, and brilliant/accurate colors that most phone cameras cannot match.Also: If you’re planning to upgrade your electronics, you might want to buy them now – here’s whyGoogle is always trying to one-up itself by improving the Pixel camera with every iteration. Back with the Pixel 8, Google introduced the P3 wide gamut capture feature that came along with the Ultra HDR format of Android 14. The Display P3 wide gamut capture makes photos seriously come alive with color.What is Display P3?Display P3 is a color space that combines the following:DCI-P3 color gamutD65 white pointsRGB gamma curveFor those who didn’t sit at the popular photography club table at lunch, Gamma is a nonlinear operation used to encode and decode luminance in photos and videos. An even easier-to-understand definition is that gamma defines the relationship between a pixel’s numerical value and its luminance. Without gamma, your photos wouldn’t capture color as your eyes see it.Also: I changed these 12 settings on my Android phone to instantly improve battery lifeWhite point (aka white balance) helps a camera avoid tint in colors and light. Think of it in terms of color temperature. Are you filming in daylight or warm indoor light? With an incorrect white point, your photos could come out with a blue or amber cast.Color gamut is a range of colors within a color space that can be reproduced by a device. More

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    8 simple ways to teach your friends and family about cybersecurity – before it’s too late

    LagartoFilm/Getty Images It’s a jungle out there. And by “out there,” I mean in the online world, where scams, data breaches, and outright thievery are depressing facts of life. For those with a reasonable technical background, spotting the markers of an online attack is usually easy. But if you’re like me, you probably have a […] More

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    Clicked on a phishing link? 7 steps to take immediately to protect your accounts

    rob dobi/Getty Images When you think of phishing emails, you probably think of the crude, grammatically flawed, easy-to-spot samples that go straight to your junk folder. I regret to inform you that those weak “spray and pray” campaigns are yesterday’s news. The crooks haven’t gotten smarter, but their tools have. Also: I clicked on four […] More

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    Why neglecting AI ethics is such risky business – and how to do AI right

    Just_Super/Getty Images Nearly 80 years ago, in July 1945, MH Hasham Premji founded Western India Vegetable Products Limited in Amalner, a town in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, India, located on the banks of the Bori River. The company began as a manufacturer of cooking oils. In the 1970s, the company pivoted to IT and […] More

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    You should probably clear your TV cache right now (and why it makes such a big difference)

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETIn the age of smart TVs, convenience is king. With just a few clicks, we can dive into endless entertainment — but that ease comes with a downside: the buildup of cache data.Also: 5 easy ways to instantly improve your soundbar’s audio (without spending a dime)Just like on your phone or computer, a cluttered TV cache can lead to sluggish performance, app crashes, and even hinder new content from loading properly. That’s why it’s important to clear all that extra cache and make your TV feel like new again. Before I break down the steps for how to do it, let’s address the big elephant in the room first.What is a cache?A cache is a temporary storage area where data is kept for quick access. On your smart TV, the cache stores information from apps, websites, and system processes to help them load faster every time you turn it on. Think of it as a bunch of temporary files intended to speed up loading times for frequently accessed information. Also: The best TVs of 2025: Expert tested and reviewedFor instance, when you open a streaming app, the cache might store thumbnails, login details, or recently watched shows. Caches are designed to help your TV load this content more quickly. Over time, however, the cache can become overloaded with outdated or unnecessary data, which can consequently slow down your TV’s performance. More