Eliana Willis

Jason Hiner/ZDNETIs your smart TV acting not-so-smart? Does it exhibit lag in sequences or a slow response to your remote control? You aren’t the only one who’s experienced the frustration of watching a juddering screen or disconcerting digital hang-ups. Also: How to calibrate your TV for the best picture quality – 2 easy and simple methodsModern TVs have plenty of features and apps (and services that run in the background) which can leave them bogged down over time. Fortunately, there are some simple actions to take that might just rectify your flatscreen’s sketchy performance. More

The JBL Bar 1000 sounds as good as it looks. Jack Wallen/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?JBL is currently discounting its flagship Bar 1000 soundbar More

Jack Wallen/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Denon PerL earbuds More

Matthew Miller/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?Amazon is currently selling the Suunto Wing headphones More

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETGoogle just announced a handful of new features for its diverse Chromebook lineup, including two new models that push the limits of what we expect from a Chromebook device: one with a detachable display, and another with a vibrant OLED screen.All Chromebooks will now have access to Gemini, come loaded with Google One AI Premium plan for free for three months, have new customizable Focus modes to silence notifications, and a brand-new Welcome Recap feature that lets you bring up all the apps and windows you had up in a previous session. Also: 6 reasons why a Chromebook is the best laptop for most anyoneBut the flashiest features were saved for Chomebook Plus devices, which have some unique AI-powered perks that set them apart — certainly giving Windows’ Copilot a run for its money. There’s Live Translation, which works with anything on your screen, a text summary feature called Help me read, a better recording app that can summarize and transcribe audio, and a new Quick Insert feature baked into the ChromeOS that’s like a quick-access control panel. Here’s a closer look at the major features Google just announced.  1. The Quick Insert key More

Jason Perlow/ZDNETLiving in South Florida means that hurricanes are a regular part of my life. Through experience, I’ve learned that preparing for a storm is more than just stocking up on supplies — it’s also about having the right data and tools available. As a technology professional who’s weathered multiple hurricanes since moving to the state in 2012, I’ve become passionate about tracking storms. I make it a point to stay 7 to 10 days ahead, closely monitoring every model and update as a storm develops and strengthens. Also: The best VPN services: Expert tested and reviewedHere’s an overview of the apps and websites that I rely on to stay ahead of the storms. Essential websites1. NOAA National Hurricane Center  More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways I tested the 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 model, priced at $529. The new watch body is charmingly thin, the larger display is lovely, fast charging is greatly appreciated Battery life remains rated for 18 hours, and the watch is still missing some software features found on the Watch Ultra 2 […] More

The AfterStep desktop in all its old-school glory. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNETI’ve used just about every desktop available for the Linux operating system. In the early days, I’d switch from one to another to find desktop nirvana. Every so often I’d land on a desktop that I enjoyed and would stick with it, only to find myself itching for a change in a few weeks.Those days are gone and I’ve stuck with the same desktop for a long time (which will soon change, once System76 releases the full version of COSMIC Desktop).Also: System76’s new COSMIC Linux desktop is out of this worldThat doesn’t mean old-school desktops aren’t still viable. Although they may not be as integrated and full-featured as the systems you’re used to, these nods to early Linux can be a lot of fun and some of them are still just as effective now as they were in the past.Let’s take a look at five such desktops. More