Eliana Willis

The design in Apple’s new 2024 iPad Pro lineup is much slimmer than previous Pro models, and you’ll find Apple’s powerful M4 processor. This chip consists of a new 10-core GPU, next-generation machine learning accelerators to handle a diverse range of tasks, and ProMotion technology, enabling variable screen refresh rates ranging from 10 to 120Hz.ZDNET reviews editor June Wan tested the 13-inch Apple iPad Pro, and said he was especially impressed by the new Tandem OLED screen. “In practice, Tandem OLED makes the iPad Pro a phenomenal tablet for visual experiences. I’ve been able to complete text-heavy and photo-editing work — which often require adequate viewing angles — under a New York City sun that thinks it’s already summer,” Wan wrote in his review. “Watching Netflix and Disney+ on the iPad is straight eye candy; colors pop, and the darker, moodier scenes have a level of shadow detail unseen on older Pro models.”Review: Apple iPad Pro (7th generation)The Pro also supports the new Apple Pencil Pro, which has a range of features, including a squeeze gesture for quick tool, color, and other changes, a gyroscope for precise control of pens and brush tools with a simple rotation, and custom haptic feedback that you can feel via a pulse. It also pairs with the newly revamped Magic Keyboard, which is thinner and lighter, has a larger trackpad, and a new row of function keys this year, making the keyboard case more essential than ever for the full iPad experience. For most of us, getting the M4 iPad Pro would be like buying a Ferrari to commute five miles to work and never going over 30mph. Make no mistake, this machine is screaming fast, has a stunning display, and the Apple Pencil Pro is an incredible digital tool. But, this is a machine for the highest of high-end professionals. Unless you are an artist or a designer using the Apple Pencil Pro with it every day, or you are a filmmaker using it to view footage or even start your first edits in the field — or putting it to use in other creative fields — then we’d recommend sticking to the standard iPad.iPad Pro (7th generation) specs: Display: 11- or 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion | Processor: Apple Silicon M4 | Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB | Biometrics: Face ID | Colors: Silver, space black | Cameras: 12MP wide (4K, ProRes), Landscape 12MP ultra-wide | Weight: 11-inch: .98 pounds, 13-inch: 1.28 pounds | Dimensions: 9.83 x 6.99 x .21 inches or 11.09 x 8.48 x 0.20 inches | Connections: USB-C connector with support for Thunderbolt / USB 4 | Battery life: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways HP’s Envy x360 2-in-1 16-inch (2024) comes in a variety of configurations, but the version with 1TB of storage and an OLED display is on sale for $949. It sports one of the most gorgeous displays I’ve seen on a convertible laptop in this price range. It’s a little on the […] More

Looking for a TV to take your gaming to the next level or to make movie night special? Need something for everyday viewing? Samsung’s newest additions to their TV line-up offer plenty of reasons to consider upgrading your old Samsung set. The latest TVs provide the premium video and audio quality Samsung is known for, along with a 144Hz for smoother action in movies, shows, and games. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s a Samsung set that will fit your needs.Also: The best TVs you can buyWhat is the best Samsung TV right now?ZDNET staff went hands-on with plenty of Samsung TV models, and our pick for the best Samsung TV overall is the Samsung S95D More

Can you really enjoy the benefits of that new Apple Watch Ultra 2 More

Garmin GPS sports watches aim to help you improve your health and wellness by collecting data from your daily lifestyle and using the Garmin Connect ecosystem to analyze and present the data in useful ways. Garmin has significantly improved its track record for supporting previous models with the latest software features while also releasing new smartwatches with innovative features. You can even join the public beta program to try out the latest and greatest features before they are released to everyone. Also: The best smartwatches we’ve tested What is the best Garmin watch right now? I’ve tested nearly every popular Garmin watch on the market, evaluating their features, durability, battery life, price, and more, to help you determine which model is best for your fitness, wellness, and other tracking needs. I typically run, row, ride, hike, walk, sleep, and live with the watches for weeks at a time before providing my final evaluation of the watch. My current pick for the best Garmin watch overall is the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Sharge Icemag 2 power bank is available on Amazon now for $50. With a perfect size, a powerful battery, RBG lighting, and a tiny fan to keep things cool, this power bank is ideal for those on the go. The Icemag 2 isn’t exactly the fastest charging power bank on […] More

Tyler Daviaux (Unsplash)/ZDNETDo you have an old PC lying around? Maybe your Windows 10 PC won’t support Windows 11, and you’re not interested in purchasing a new machine. What do you do?You can turn to a lightweight Linux distribution. This type of operating system typically has very low system requirements and can make older machines feel as if they’re brand new. Although there are some distributions that claim to be lightweight, I’m limiting my choices to those whose system requirements are equal to or less than a 1GHz CPU, equal to or less than 2GB of RAM, and a minimum of 10GB storage. I’ve also only chosen those distributions that don’t skimp on the features in favor of speed.Also: The 4 most Windows-like Linux distros to try because change is hardBut which distribution should you choose? Let me help you with that.1. Linux Lite More

ZDNETWelcome to 2025. It’s Jan. 1, and this is my first article of the year. As I have in every first article since 2022, I’ll be talking about Bitcoin. Specifically, I’ll discuss how much money I gained or lost on my vast Bitcoin holdings over the previous 12 months.To put this into perspective, let me define what I mean by “vast.” On Jan. 1, 2022, after a celebratory New Year’s Eve filled with whatever was playing on BritBox that evening, I decided to take the plunge. I decided to invest my entire PayPal account balance into Bitcoin.Also: 4 top personal finance apps for Linux that run on MacOS and Windows, tooPayPal, you see, had just announced that it would become a Bitcoin wallet provider. That meant all I had to do was give up even more personal identifying information than I normally do to PayPal, along with my PayPal balance, and I would become the proud owner of what was then slightly more than 0.001 of a Bitcoin. My start with Bitcoin During the process of setting up my Bitcoin investment on that cold and cloudy morning, I regained some degree of self-control and perspective. Rather than putting my entire PayPal balance of $64 into Bitcoin, I decided to invest a more sane $50 (plus the $1.15 in fees PayPal demands for its always-so-helpful participation in any transaction).That self-control came in clutch when, after just a week, my holdings dropped almost 14%. More