Eliana Willis

ZDNETGauging the speed of an application depends on several related factors, including the operating system, services running, applications open, OS uptime, the software versions used, whether a VPN is installed — and much more. You should always keep these in mind when considering which software represents the fastest option available.Such is the case with web browsers. I put several browsers through tests for startup and page rendering times to see which ones are the fastest. I tested every browser (except Arc and Safari) on Pop!_OS Linux; I tested Arc and Safari on an iMac. Also: Zen is my new favorite browser – and these 5 mods make it even betterI won’t lie: The results were disappointing because my default Zen Browser scored quite poorly, while Chrome (a browser I don’t generally recommend because of poor security and tab management) blew all the other browsers away. Keep in mind that speed shouldn’t be your sole criterion for judging a browser. To gauge a browser’s effectiveness, you should think about all the following: SpeedSecurityFeaturesEase of useConfigurabilityIf you consider all the above, I’d say that Zen Browser and Opera are your best browser options, even though both tend to perform on the slower side. However, both Zen Browser and Opera offer solid security (with Opera getting the nod because of its built-in VPN) and their customizations are exponentially better than the competition. More

Mechanical keyboards offer users a customizable and personable experience. Traditionally, gamers dedicate themselves to building or purchasing their perfect keyboard. However, folks outside that bubble can also reap the benefits of mechanical keyboards, which can be used to type on tablets, smartphones, and laptops. While a gaming mechanical keyboard may provide a better in-game experience, for a professional or student, it may be a better vehicle for a maximized workflow thanks to its tactile feedback and switch sounds you can pick and choose. Also: The best iPad keyboard cases you can buyTech brands like Keychron, Logitech, Cherry, Corsair, and more offer great options to help you start your mechanical keyboard journey. From there, you can begin to dabble in new switches, keycaps, and RGB lights or even start to build your own keyboards from scratch. A mechanical keyboard is a great way to add more personality to your gaming or professional setup.What is the best mechanical keyboard right now?The best mechanical keyboard we tested is the Keychron Q1 Max More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Regularly priced at $75, the Dreo Smart 5L Humidifier is on sale on Amazon for $60. This humidifier is easy to use, includes a demineralization filter, works with Alexa, allows you to add essential oils, adds both sleep and auto modes, and packs plenty of other features to help it rise […] More

Matthew Miller/ZDNETI spent a couple of weeks with the OnePlus Watch 3 More

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETThe Pixel Watch 3 is getting a first-of-its-kind, potentially life-saving feature. Also: My new favorite Android smartwatch outperforms Google and Samsung in a crucial wayIn a blog post today, Google announced that it had received FDA clearance for its Loss of Pulse Detection feature. Tracking your heartbeatThe feature works by tracking your heartbeat. If your heart stops beating — due to cardiac arrest, respiratory or circulatory failure, overdose, or poisoning — your watch will automatically turn on more accurate infrared LEDs and look for motion data. If the watch determines you’re not responsive, it will start a countdown and audio alarm. If you still don’t respond, the watch will place a call to emergency services using your LTE or phone connection, inform them that you don’t have a pulse, and share your location. Also: The best Android smartwatchesGoogle says the watch will be able to tell the difference between an actual cardiac event and the user simply removing the watch. Safety features like fall detection and crash detection aren’t new, but they aren’t at the level of this one (which is why it needed FDA clearance first). Other watches have heartbeat tracking, but they track much less frequently than the Pixel 3. The Apple Watch, for example, tracks heart rate every 3 to 7 minutes by default. More

SEAN GLADWELL/Getty Images If you find your personal information online, like your phone number, address, or email, Google is making it easier to make sure it doesn’t show up again. Several years ago, Google introduced a “Results about you” tool that lets you track your personal information online and remove it from search results. It […] More

Nina Raemont/ZDNETYour menstrual cycle can significantly impact how you feel throughout the month. But wearables like a smartwatch or smart ring may not reflect those fluctuations when providing you with your energy or sleep scores — or they might consider those fluctuations as strain. Oura’s latest update to its Readiness Score aims to change that situation.Also: Oura’s CEO wants its smart ring to be the doctor in your pocketOn Thursday, Oura announced a new and updated Readiness Score that factors fluctuations during a menstrual cycle into its scoring mechanism.Oura members receive a Readiness Score out of 100 every morning with information about how their body recovered from the previous day’s activity load and sleep. The score also factors a user’s vitals data into the mix, notifying users when their body temperature was higher than normal or their heart rate was lower late into the night. Also: I’ve tested dozens of smartwatches, but the Oura Ring 4 was first to show me I’m sickCycle-related hormone fluctuations impact vitals data. For example, heart rates tend to increase during the luteal phase and decrease during the follicular phase, thanks to variations in estrogen and progesterone released throughout the menstrual cycle. After ovulation, body temperature tends to rise. The algorithm has historically seen these fluctuations as signs of strain.  More