<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The UAG Metropolis Wallet is a MagSafe wallet and stand made of vegan leather for $45. It holds up to five cards and cash, has a kickstand, is RFID blocking, and features pockets. It’s only available in Black. more buying choices As ZDNET’s MagSafe expert, I’ve tried many magnetic accessories, from […] More
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETA variety of AI sites and services let you create videos based on your text descriptions. But Google’s Flow takes the process a few steps further. With Flow, you can describe not only the scene but also the camera shots and angles. You can add sound effects and even dialogue. I played virtual filmmaker by trying all the cool features in Flow to create videos. Here’s what happened.Also: How to try Veo 3, Google’s AI video generator that’s going viral on the internetTo use Flow, you need a Google AI subscription, either the $20-per-month Google AI Pro More
Bloomberg/Contributor/Getty Images Executives at Apple are weighing the possibility of buying buzzy AI start-up Perplexity, Bloomberg reported on Friday. Citing anonymous sources close to the matter, the report said that talks within Apple to bid for an acquisition of Perplexity were still in early stages. A spokesperson for Perplexity told Reuters that the company had […] More
Jada Jones/ZDNETBack-to-school season is approaching, whether you want to admit it or not. For those starting college this fall, a good computer and noise-canceling headphones are the most excellent tools. Luckily, Apple has a convenient sale where you can get the best of both worlds, but without paying full price.Also: Get 50% off an Amazon Prime membership if you’re age 18-24 – here’s howNow through September 30, Apple is offering a deal just in time: you can get a free pair of AirPods or any eligible accessory More
Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETNearly everything you do on your desktop, laptop, phone, and tablet begins with a Domain Name System (DNS) query. Essentially, DNS turns domain names (such as ZDNET.com) into an IP address so web browsers and apps know where to get the information you want.Also: How to enable earthquake alerts on your Android phone (including these Samsung models)Without DNS, you’d have to type 34.149.132.124 every time you wanted to go to ZDNET.com or 74.125.21.102 to go to Google.com. Even by simply running a Google search, DNS is at work. The problem is that standard DNS isn’t encrypted, meaning all your queries are sent over the network as plain text. Why is non-encrypted DNS a problem? Let’s say you’re on a public network — like a coffee shop — and you start searching for things on your Android device. Or maybe you have to access a CMS or another work tool, and you don’t want the public to know the address you’re typing. If someone else is on the same network and has the skills, they could intercept your non-encrypted search queries (or the URLs you visit) and know exactly what you’re looking for. That’s where Private DNS Mode comes into play. Once you enable this feature, all of your DNS queries are encrypted, so bad actors won’t be able to view them — even if they capture those packets. In other words, Private DNS Mode should be an absolute must for anyone who values their privacy and security. Also: I test dozens of Android phones every year: Here’s how the best models stack upBut how do you enable Private DNS Mode on Android? It’s actually pretty simple. Let me show you how. How to enable Private DNS mode on Android version 11 or newer If you’re using Android version 11 or newer, the old method of Private DNS no longer works. Instead of handling this process manually, you have to install an application created by Cloudflare, called 1.1.1.1 + WARP. Once you’ve installed that app, it will open, and you’ll see a slider marked Disconnected. Tap that slider, and it will enable the service. More
Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETI depend on virtual machines. With them, I can easily use and review any Linux distribution on the market. I can also deploy various services on my network. For example, I have an instance of InvoicePlane that runs as a virtual machine (and I use daily to bill clients). I’ve used virtual machines for all sorts of things, and they have made my life considerably better.One of the tools I use to run virtual machines is VirtualBox. This application makes it possible to run guest operating systems, such as Linux, MacOS, and Windows, which gives me endless flexibility. Also: Your old MacBook’s days are numbered, as Apple confirms end of supportVirtualBox is one of the easiest virtual machine managers I’ve ever used, and it’s also free. For a long time on MacOS, VirtualBox was limited to Intel-only devices. However, it’s now possible to use VirtualBox on your M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs. Initial support for Apple Silicon was introduced in late 2024, and it’s now usable and stable. This is a big change because running VirtualBox on MacOS devices has always been a tricky proposition. Some attempted to run VirtualBox with Rosetta 2, but that was a failed experiment. Now you don’t have to worry about such things, as there’s an installer available specific to M-series MacBooks and iMacs. Because of that, anyone with an Apple Silicon-powered Mac can enjoy virtual machine technology without the headache of complex software. Once you start using virtual machines, you’ll wonder how you managed without them. But how do you pull off this feat? It’s much easier than you think.How to download the right installerWhat you’ll need: The only things you’ll need are an Apple Silicon Mac device and an Internet connection. It’s also important that your Mac have plenty of available storage space for the virtual machines. Because MacBooks can contain limited space, chances are good that you’ll be able to run and save only a single virtual machine at a time. For instance, on my System76 Thelio desktop, I currently have 20 virtual machines at my disposal. Every so often, I have to delete some to make room for more. Because of this, you’ll want to pay close attention to storage space on your Mac. More
When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? Amazon will have their annual Prime Day sale from July 8 through the 11th. Other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart will be having competing sale events around the same time, which means you’ll be able to shop around for the very best discounts on all things Nintendo.Are Nintendo Switch/Switch 2 consoles, games, and accessories really cheaper on Prime Day? While Nintendo is notoriously stingy when it comes to any sort of markdown or sale, the best time to find the deepest discounts is during Black Friday and holiday shopping sale events as console bundles and popular game titles are more likely to go on sale. Games and third-party accessories like headsets and controllers will see decent sale prices during Prime Day, but your best bet to save on consoles is to go the refurbished route.How did we choose these Prime Day deals?Not all gaming sales are created equal, and not every retailer will offer markdowns on things like Nintendo Switch consoles or Nintendo Switch 2 bundles. But many will offer steep markdowns on accessories like controllers and headsets as well as a variety of game titles. So I chose the steepest discounts on the most popular and trusted names in console gaming and combed the Nintendo eShop for digital deals on popular games. More
Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETPrivacy has become a keystone for keeping your information safe and preventing third parties from creating consumer profiles that could then be used for targeted marketing… or worse.To that end, there are countless products and services that promise to keep you and your information private. Some work, and some are nothing but snake oil. For me, the best route to privacy goes through Linux and one of the many privacy-focused distributions. Recently, I stumbled upon another such distribution, Securonis. The name reminds me of the Arconis cybersecurity solution, but I’m confident the Linux distribution and the proprietary business software have nothing to do with one another. Securonis is based on the Debian testing branch and automatically, out of the box, routes all traffic through the Tor network, which means it’s private and secure from the jump. It also includes a good number of applications geared toward keeping you even more secure. Also: I found the most private and secure way to browse the web — and it isn’t incognito modeSecuronis can be run as a live distribution (directly from RAM without installing it on your drive) or it can be installed with the easy-to-use Calamares installer. All of this might sound complicated. After all, you’ll find several preinstalled apps that might make you go, “Huh?” But even with added software like I2P Router, PxrtalCrypt, Securonis DNSCrypt, System Knight, VesperaCrypt, SecDNSChanger, and Wireshark, this distribution can be used like a standard OS — only more private. And with Securonis defaulting to the MATE desktop, anyone, regardless of skill level, will feel right at home. Even the web browser (FireScorpion) is geared toward privacy. Also: The best Linux VPNs: Expert tested and reviewedWhat is Securonis like to use? I approached it as if I knew nothing about Linux, Tor, or any privacy-focused tools, and here’s how it went. My experience with Securonis I decided to go the installation route, which was incredibly simple. I answered a few quick questions, typed my user information, and the installer was off. After roughly five minutes, the installation completed, and I was ready to log in. After logging in, my first impression was that Securonis looks like any other Linux distribution with security and privacy in mind. The MATE desktop is as simple as it gets, and the theme is the usual dark take on the desktop. There are some application shortcuts that have me curious, such as the launchers in the top bar. One is named Seconionis (not a typo). This is the Securonis take on the Onion network. When I click that icon, a window appears with options such as Start Tor Routing, Stop Tor Routing, Tor Status, Restart Tor, Set Autostart, and more. Essentially, Seconionis is my gateway to the Tor network, which makes it an important tool. More
