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    Stop ignoring your car’s USB port: 5 features you’re not taking advantage of

    Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNETIn 2005, about 3.3 million cars sold that year included at least one USB port. Twenty years later, more than 200 million cars have embedded connectivity outlets (USB-A), and these days, a significant portion of them have USB-C ports. Some vehicles have as many as nine ports! Even many newer-model motorcycles have USB outlets.Also: Wyze wants to keep prying eyes away from your cameras with this new featureUsually situated on the front or rear consoles (and sometimes inside the glove compartment), USB ports offer more than just a way to charge devices. They enable music playback, phone connectivity, access to navigation systems, and more. I’ve put together a few common — and maybe not-so-common — ways you can utilize the ports in your car, along with some helpful notes. More

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    Your Apple CarPlay is getting a big upgrade: 3 features I’m using on iOS 26 right now

    Apple It feels like Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers’ Conference (WWDC) was just weeks ago, but the pubic beta of Apple’s biggest operating systems has already arrived, bringing big changes to Apple CarPlay users. Also: How to install iOS 26 beta on your iPhone (and which models support it) While you’ll have to enroll in the beta […] More

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    I tested the viral Sigma BF camera, and its radical redesign has me hooked

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Sigma’s BF is a $2,200, 35mm full-frame, mirrorless digital camera that radically changes the mode of operation by replacing the gaggle of buttons with an elegant click-wheel. It’s a great first camera but also has tons of pro features A future upgrade to a higher-resolution 60-megapixel sensor would be a welcome […] More

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    PayPal and Venmo outage hit users Friday morning – what we know

    SOPA Images / Contributor / Getty Images ZDNET’s key takeaways PayPal and Venmo experienced an outage Friday morning. Affected accounts couldn’t send or receive payments. PayPal has since fixed the problem, and Venmo and PayPal are working again Did you have trouble with PayPal or Venmo this morning? You weren’t alone. The problem has been […] More

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    The best smartwatch and fitness tracker deals to shop now

    How did we choose these deals?While considering the products on this list, I considered each discounted device’s popularity, quality, deal amount, and general deal worthiness, based on my own testing.Should I buy a smartwatch or a smart ring?A smartwatch functions as a health tracker and an around-the-wrist companion to your phone. You can answer texts, set timers, ask the smartwatch’s AI assistant questions, and more with an Apple Watch, Pixel Watch, Galaxy Watch, or Garmin. It will record your exercise and sleep and deliver that through the smartwatch’s health app, as well as on your phone’s health app. A smart ring is a little different. It doesn’t have a screen, so it won’t distract you throughout the day with pings or messages. All of the data it collects is displayed on your phone. If a smartwatch is a lifestyle wearable with health functionalities, a smartwatch is a health-centered wearable. Should I buy a health tracker?If you are an active person who is interested in keeping tabs on your vitals, like heart rate, body temperature, or heart rate variability, or activity, like steps and calories burned, a health tracker is an effective device. With recent medical advancements, health trackers do more than just count steps: they can monitor sleep and shine light on often undiagnosed conditions, like sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, and more. However, some people buy a smartwatch or smart ring and then experience data overload: constantly monitoring their biometrics makes them anxious, or their sleep and activity scores are never where they want them to be, and they end up constantly worrying about this data.  More

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    The best Amazon deals right now: Save on laptops, gadgets and more

    How did we choose these Amazon deals? ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy — devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. When will these deals expire? Amazon deals can expire at anytime. Select Prime-exclusive offers, limited time offers or lightning deals are time contingent, meaning you’ll want to take advantage of them when you see them. Other deals, like standard discounts and drops may remain for longer periods. However, deals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on a deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com. When is the next Prime Day? Amazon’s summer Prime Day ran from July 8-11, 2025. The next Prime Day sale (and the first before the holiday 2025 season) will likely be in October (Prime Big Deal Days) if Amazon sticks to their typical sale calendar. Keep in mind there are still a few more chances to save until then across retailers. How much is an Amazon Prime membership? Amazon Prime costs $15 per month, or you can purchase an annual membership for $139, which will save you a few dollars. Also: Get 50% off an Amazon Prime membership if you’re age 18-24 – here’s howCollege students and those aged 18-24 can get a discount and pay $8 per month or $69 per year. In addition, those with qualified government assistance (which may include select seniors) can receive a Prime membership for just $7 after their free trial. More