Eliana Willis

Adam Breeden/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Formovie Cinema Edge 4K UST projector More

David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images If you’re a T-Mobile customer, your rates might be on the rise. After announcing a price bump less than a year ago, the mobile carrier is doing it again — and once again, it’s affecting customers on older plans. Also: Want a cheaper phone bill? This major carrier lets you play […] More

ZDNETHave you ever felt like your phone is listening in on your conversations? You’re probably right, and so is your TV, your Alexa, and your other smart home devices. Researchers at NordVPN have developed a simple test to check.Also: How to disable ACR on your TV (and stop companies from spying on you)Your smartphone is constantly using its built-in microphone so your assistant can hear voice commands, and it’s probably not the only device in your home doing so. But are these devices hearing other things you say, and are your background conversations leaving your device? How to find out if your phone is listening to youStart by choosing a unique topic that you’ve never searched for or discussed before. This should be something unrelated to any usual interest, NordVPN says. Discuss this topic over several days, making sure you’re around your phone each time. Talk about the topic and specific things related to it (like tourist sites or hotels in a certain city), but don’t search online for this topic. Also: I recommend this $50 anti-spy camera finder to anyone travelingOver the next few days, pay close attention to the ads you see — on your social media feed, website ads, app ads, and even ads on your TV. If you start seeing ads about your chosen topic, you’ve confirmed that your phone is listening. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETLast week, deep in the heart of Mobile World Congress, in a remarkably refined, albeit temporary, meeting space, I couldn’t help but reflect on how far Google’s Android ecosystem had come. Five short years ago, Android’s mission was focused on personalized privacy controls and smart home integration. Also: Best of MWC 2025: 10 most impressive products that you might’ve missedNow, amid towering Android statues, Gemini balloons, and miniature figures rappelling from bookshelves, the narrative had shifted decisively toward integrating AI-powered experiences into almost every aspect of the mobile experience.At the center of this evolution sits Sameer Samat, Google’s Head of Android, who graciously carved out time during the conference chaos to discuss Gemini Live’s new real-time video and screen-sharing capabilities — features powered by DeepMind’s Project Astra — and what they reveal about Android’s AI-driven future.   More

Hill Street Studios/Getty Images By the time you finish this sentence, at least two new AI thingies have been announced. Big tech will have made some ridiculous promise that either makes you question your livelihood or makes you go, “Cool story, bro.” Not gonna lie; this ish is exhausting. Trying to keep up makes my […] More

Adam Breeden/ZDNETAmazon has had a busy last few weeks. After a smashing Devices and Services event last month, at which the company unveiled new Alexa upgrades and teased Alexa+ companion devices on the horizon soon, the retail giant is looking to get back to its roots: e-commerce.  Also: Amazon just gave Alexa its most significant upgrade in a decade – and old Echo devices will support it.With President’s Day behind us, ZDNET’s team of experts is gearing up for the second annual Amazon Big Spring Sale. Last year, the retail giant announced its first-ever Big Spring Sale event, which ran from March 20-25. Amazon slashed prices and offered near-holiday-priced deals on tablets, TVs, headphones, robot vacuums, home goods, as well as popular flagship Amazon products. I expect the sale to return this year with many similar deals. As ZDNET’s deal connoisseur, I’m using my extensive hands-on tech experience and seasoned commerce skills to cover all-things sales and deals. I break down everything you need to know to shop like a pro any time of the year — plus all of the currently unconfirmed details about Amazon’s first major sale event of 2025. Also: Here’s how to use Alexa+ for free – especially if you’re an Amazon Prime memberAmazon has not officially confirmed a spring sale for 2025, nor has the brand publicized specific sale dates or verbiage. However, my research points to a second Big Spring Sale in bloom soon. Towards the end of February, moderators of Amazon’s Seller Central (a public forum for third-party merchants) announced More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Xgimi’s Horizon S Max offers sharp and vibrant picture quality that’s well above its price tag. The new gimbal design is convenient and easy to set up. Minimal port selection might be a problem for some more buying choices The Xgimi Horizon S Max–> is one of the brightest projectors I’ve […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The TCL Tab 10 Nxtpaper 5G is a full-color, color paper, and ink paper tablet available at Verizon for $239. It’s a great entertainment tablet for daily use that also functions very well as an e-reader. Although the screen is versatile, don’t expect the graphics to compare to those on an […] More