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    The 10 DIY gadgets every home should have (and why they make such a big difference)

     A decent drill is still a must-have in my opinion, especially one that can do triple duty — drill into wood and metal, hammer drill into concrete, and also drive screwdriver bits.I prefer cordless tools not only because they are more convenient, but also because I won’t trip and fall over the cord. For the screwdriving job, my brand of choice has got to be Dewalt. Its tools are durable, last years of use and abuse (this drill has been used as a hammer more than once!), and are reasonably priced. This 20V Max Cordless Drill Driver is currently priced at $100 (and discounted by $60). It offers two speeds, a 2.0Ah battery, and comes packed with a charger.  More

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    I changed 8 settings on my Pixel phone to instantly improve the battery life

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETPixel phones have an excellent reputation for smart software, but battery life has been a common complaint with Google’s smartphones. Thankfully, that same smart software is now improving battery life and longevity, though many features aren’t set up for maximum endurance out of the box. I’ve found that a handful of features can dramatically improve how long your Pixel lasts, both in a single day and over the long haul.Also: 6 hidden Android features that make my life easier – and that you’re overlookingHere are the battery tweaks I rely on with my Pixel, and how you can set them up for the best results.1. Use Battery Saver and Extreme Battery Saver modes More

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    How AI can help design your company like a stealth aircraft

    Stocktrek Images/Getty Images The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, the first stealth aircraft, had a striking design driven by radar invisibility rather than intimidation. Its flat, triangular surfaces minimized radar detection but caused instability in yaw, pitch, and roll — the three dimensions of flight control. Most aircraft are designed to be stable, allowing pilots to easily […] More

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    I changed 10 settings on my Pixel phone for an instant performance boost

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETThe Google Pixel 9a might be the best-value phone of 2025, especially now that it brings flagship-level AI tools, a bright 120Hz display, and a massive battery into a more affordable price tier. But, just like any Pixel phone, the best features often aren’t enabled by default. Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2025These tips are based on a Pixel 9a running Android 15. Depending on which Pixel model and Android version you’re using, the exact menu locations may vary slightly, but the settings themselves are widely available across recent Pixel generations. 1. Enable Smooth Display More

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    Samsung is selling the popular Frame TV with a free bezel for up to $1,800 off

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETSamsung’s Frame TV lineup is popular for a reason; It’s unique, makes practical use of all the idle space a TV typically leaves behind, and looks great doing so. And right now, on Samsung’s website, you can save nearly $2,000 on the flagship TV ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Also: Samsung Frame TV 2024 vs. 2023: Comparing the key differencesThe smallest 32-inch display More

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    Dell wants to be your one-stop shop for enterprise AI infrastructure

    Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images Michael Dell is pitching a “decentralized” future for artificial intelligence that his company’s devices will make possible.    “The future of AI will be decentralized, low-latency, and hyper-efficient,” predicted the Dell Technologies founder, chairman, and CEO in his Dell World keynote, which you can watch on YouTube. “AI will follow the […] More

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    I thought my favorite browser blocked trackers but this free privacy tool proved me wrong

    Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETHow safe is your browser? You’re probably using Chrome, right? Or maybe you’ve migrated to Opera, Firefox, Edge, Brave, or some other browser that you believe has your back. It probably doesn’t. At least not as well as you might think.That’s why the EFF created Cover Your Tracks. Also: I found the most private and secure way to browse the web – and it isn’t incognito modeThis site tests your browser to see how trackers view your browser. It’s a brilliant tool that gives you enough insight into the browser you use that you might want to think about switching or adding some plugins to strengthen the default offerings. How does Cover Your Tracks work?The site is simple to use: Open your browser.Point your browser to coveryourtracks.eff.org.Click Test Your Browser.Wait for the results.As the site runs, it loads fake trackers. If your browser blocks a tracker, it passes that test and moves on to the next. The tests are: A fake ad.A tracker.A domain that respects the EFF’s Do Not Track policy.It only collects anonymous data, so you don’t have to worry, and the EFF can be fully trusted. Also: I’ve tried nearly every browser out there, and these are my top 6 (none are Chrome)The results give you basic and detailed information, but the important thing is that it’s going to say something like: “Our tests indicate that you have some protection against Web tracking, but it has some gaps.” Or maybe: “Our tests indicate that you have strong protection against Web tracking.”My results with Cover Your TracksI’m not gonna lie, the results caused me to switch browsers. Here’s the deal: My default has been Zen Browser for some time. I love the UI and the ability to really customize it. However, Zen Browser fell under the “some protection” category. On the other hand, Opera fell under the “strong protection” category.Needless to say, I went back to Opera. Surprise, surpriseFor me, the big surprise was Chrome. For the longest time, I’ve railed on Chrome for being one of the most insecure browsers available. Guess what? Cover Your Tracks flagged Chrome as having “strong protection” against trackers. Also: 5 Firefox-based, privacy-first web browsers that improve on the originalThat, of course, doesn’t mean Chrome is 100% safe to use, but if blocking trackers is your primary need, Chrome passed the test with flying colors. How other browsers faredHere’s the list of browsers I have installed: Tor – strong protectionFireDragon – some protectionFirefox – some protectionEdge – no protectionBrave – strong protectionYandex Browser – some protectionSafari – strong protectionArc Browser – no protectionFloorp – some protectionLibreWolf – strong protectionThe results are a mixed bag. You’d think that all Chrome-based browsers would have strong protection, but not Arc. You would also think that all Firefox-based browsers would have some protection, but LibreWolf proves that wrong. More

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    I highly recommend shopping these early health tracker Memorial Day sales

    Current price: $200Original price: $250The nice thing about buying one of Oura’s earlier model smart rings is you’ll get the same app and software experience — just a different form factor and one less day of battery life. If prospective Oura Ring buyers don’t mind this, they should opt for the Oura Ring 3, which has reduced its price by around 20% since the Oura Ring 4’s debut.The Oura Ring tracks your daily sleep, stress, activity, and readiness to deliver scores, insights, and recommendations. It’s a great health tracker for people looking to optimize their sleep and activity routine, but who want gentle recommendations and encouragements that won’t make them feel bad about a poor night of sleep or a day of low activity. It’s constantly innovating with new features, like a Cardiovascular Age feature that tells you if your physiological age is ahead, behind, or at your chronological age. Plus, it partners with other health brands, like Dexcom, so you can keep track of your glucose levels on the Oura app if you use its Stelo continuous glucose monitor. The smart ring is compatible with Android and iOS phones, so everybody can use it to capture data. The only downside of an Oura Ring is its $70 annual subscription (which is not on sale) to unlock all that data it collects and displays. The Ring Gen 3 is also an sale in select finishes and sizes at Oura.  More