Eliana Willis

Daniella Ramirez/ZDNETThe next time you run low on your favorite food, you could place an Instacart order straight from your refrigerator — including items that your fridge added to the shopping list.Samsung announced today that it’s teaming up with Instacart to let you place a grocery order directly from your refrigerator’s screen. This order can consist of items you placed there and things your fridge knew you needed. Also: CES 2025: What to expect and how to watchSamsung said this feature will be introduced first in the company’s 2025 Bespoke models — the 32-inch “Family Hub” display version and the 9-inch “AI Home” display version. The feature also will roll out to existing AI Family Hub+ units through over-the-network firmware updates later this year. Neither the AI technology nor the screen-ordering technology is new on its own, but it’s the first time you can use them together.Refrigerators with screens have been around for years (both from Samsung and other manufacturers), and some of these did let you place Instacart orders, but were limited to items you put in your cart.  More

To make your 2025 trips as seamless and efficient as possible, you’ll need a trip planner. Guide is an AI travel planning tool that helps you create personalized itineraries based on your trip preferences. Once you create an account, you can input your travel details, and Guide will generate a customizable schedule for your desired trip, with hotel, restaurant, activity, and attraction suggestions. You can modify Guide’s suggested itinerary to your liking by adding new activities and restaurants or by moving current suggestions around.  More

ZDNETAs you step into the new year, it’s natural to reflect, declutter, and set fresh goals for 2025. But there’s a simple resolution you might not have considered: Giving your iPhone a fresh start.Take a moment right now to check your browser tabs. How many are open on your phone? Go ahead, look — you might be surprised. Also, take note of the apps running in your task manager. A quick swipe-up-and-hold from the home screen will show you exactly what’s still running in the background.Also: We’ve used every iPhone 16 model and here’s our best buying advice for 2024Let’s make a resolution to clear your browser cache more often. It’s a quick way to boost performance and free up space. These small habits can make a big difference in keeping your phone — and your year — running smoothly.After all, we spend more than 5 hours a day on our smartphones. That’s more than five hours of your phone accessing, retrieving, and saving cache and cookies, which can negatively impact your iPhone’s storage space.How to clear the cache from Safari on your iPhoneWhat you’ll need: Everything you need to clear your browser cache is in the iPhone’s Settings app or the Safari app, so grab your iPhone to get started.Remember that clearing the cache can clear private data, which can close all open tabs in Safari. This action is also likely to log you out of all your websites. You will be prompted to sign in the next time you open these sites. More

As the competition to produce higher-performing laptops at ever-competitive price points heats up, different brands have embraced their reputations and specialized offerings to set themselves apart. We’ve tested machines from all of the top brands out there and can safely say there are certain things brands do better than others. So where does Dell stand? Let’s take a look. Dell vs. LenovoLenovo is known for its utilitarian, durable design philosophy, particularly with its iconic ThinkPad line of laptops. They’re robust, versatile, and have a reputation for being workhorses, especially in the office. By contrast, Dell is known for some rather innovative designs. The Dell XPS 14, for example, is a powerful laptop that is visually daring with its flush keyboard, “InfinityEdge” display, and invisible trackpad. Also: This Dell Inspiron is one of the most versatile, well-rounded laptops I’ve testedMany Lenovo laptops are designed for the enterprise space and exude a conservative, “down to business” element. On the other hand, Dell laptops are versatile and marketed toward a broad range of consumers, from creators to businesses to home users. Dell vs. AppleApple needs no introduction when it comes to brand aesthetics. Its minimalist, sleek design is evident in all of its products, and users still see Apple at the forefront of innovation. Its MacBook line of laptops are some of the highest-performing laptops on the market, and they compete in processing power with even the highest-tier Windows machines. Dell’s laptops are much more varied, with some resembling familiar, (even non-descript) designs, and others reaching for bold design elements and statement-making looks. One thing both companies have in common, however, is an emphasis on high-performing hardware. Dell vs. HPHP’s line of laptops reaches a broad range of consumers, from budget machines to high-end laptops like the new OmniBook X 14. Dell laptops put an emphasis on customizability — particularly in a business context — while HP laptops tend to target consumers seeking a balance between affordability and function, as well as familiar branding. Dell vs. MicrosoftMicrosoft’s latest Surface Pro attracted a lot of attention for its innovative, 2-in-1 form factor, something Dell is not particularly famous for. If you’re looking for a convertible laptop/tablet device, both brands offer solid choices, with Microsoft’s machine at the cutting edge of design and form. Also: I bought the cheapest Surface Pro 11 laptop: 3 takeaways as a Windows expertThe Microsoft Surface Laptop is also a sleek, high-performing laptop for creators, business users, and home use alike, and one that we praised earlier this year for its versatility and AI readiness.  More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Torras’ MiniMag Power Bank is available now for about $41. The MiniMag bank’s 0.3-inch thickness makes it uber-portable while supplying 5,000mAh via 18W USB-C charging or 7.5W wireless charging. However, if you’re looking for larger pack capacities or kickstands or grips, you’ll be better off looking elsewhere. –> Testing MagSafe battery […] More

Last year’s Galaxy A15 5G was a budget champ. This year’s model may be even better. Kerry Wan/ZDNETIf you’re seeking smart tech for someone who’s not tech savvy, buying your kid their first smartphone, or simply trying to save some money with a no-frills device, you’ll want to pay attention to two new Samsung offerings. Samsung is bringing two popular budget devices – a smartphone and a fitness tracker – to the US for the first time on Jan. 9. Also: The best fitness trackers: Expert tested and reviewedThe Galaxy Fit3 debuted in select markets in February 2024 and quickly found a fanbase with its $59.99 price tag. If you’re new to fitness trackers and curious how much of a savings that is, our current list of best fitness trackers has devices that range from $160 to $450. Like other fitness trackers, the Fit3 is essentially a basic smartwatch. It has a 1.6-inch screen, tracks more than 100 workout types, offers metrics like stress level, blood oxygen level, and heart rate, and is IP68 water- and dust-resistant. If you wear it overnight, the Fit3 also offers sleep insights, including sleep tracking and snoring detection, and has built-in fall detection that gives you the option to call emergency services on your nearby phone.   More

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETFor as long as I can remember, I’ve preferred headphones over earbuds for travel. Yes, they’re bulkier, but the added weight has always been worth it for the superior sound quality and noise cancellation — if not the battery life. Also: CES 2025: What to expect and how to watchThis year, however, Google introduced a pair of earbuds that not only replaced the headphones in my backpack but did so without compromising any essential features. This makes the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 More

ZDNETThose of you still wearing an Apple Watch Series 4 on your wrist could now run into problems if your watch ever needs to be repaired. That’s because Apple labels products beyond a certain lifespan as “vintage,” which affects if, how, and where you can get them fixed if they break down.Also: 8 times the Apple Watch predicted danger and saved lives in 2024On the latest version of a page that explains what happens if an Apple product’s warranty has expired, the company added a couple of new devices to its vintage lineup on Thursday. Tops on the list is the Apple Watch Series 4, which debuted in 2018. That year aligns with the new designation. Based on Apple’s assessment, devices become vintage when the company has stopped selling them more than five years but less than seven years ago.What does it mean if you own a vintage product?If the device is still working, great. Keep using it as long as you want. But if it conks out, you may have trouble getting it fixed.You might be able to request parts and servicing; however, that depends on the availability of the parts. If your local Apple Store or third-party repair shop doesn’t have the parts in stock right away, you’ll have to wait until they’re found, or you may be out of luck completely. In that case, you may have to check eBay or a third-party reseller to try to uncover the parts yourself. More