<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Lenovo Tab Plus retails for $330. Contrary to its small size, the model houses a booming eight-speaker system and a long-lasting battery. The MediaTek Helio chipset and dim display won’t be winning any awards. more buying choices If you’re in the market for a new tablet that won’t break the […] More
SOPA Images/Getty Images The company behind Perplexity AI has announced plans to unleash a browser specifically for agentic search. Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search engine and research tool that combines the massive amounts of information found in large language models (LLMs) with real-time web searching to provide comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date answers to user […] More
Adam Breeden/ZDNETSay you’re watching an edgy new streaming series and find yourself turning up the volume for every scene where two actors are engaged in a dramatic dialogue. It seems like both characters are whispering — until an explosion happens on screen, and the sound is the opposite, almost deafening.Also: The LG soundbar made my home audio sound like a theater – even though it’s not the newest modelWhat’s up with that? It’s not just the imbalanced proportion of sound that bothers you, and it’s not that your hearing is going bad. Keep reading, and you might find an easy fix for improving (and balancing) your TV’s audio quality.In the scenario above, my first recommendation would be to turn on your closed captions. While enabling video subtitles is an obvious solution for understanding the dialogue, some people find on-screen text to be clunky and distracting. If you can’t stand reading scripts on your screen, try the following solutions. More
Artie Beaty/ZDNETSoundbars are gaining in popularity because of their sleek design and ability to provide an ample boost in audio quality compared to built-in TV speakers. Even with their plug-and-play nature, you can make a few modifications to help unleash the best possible sound quality.Also: Upgrade your home audio with this JBL soundbar that’s still $150 offWhether you’re new to soundbar setups or a self-proclaimed audiophile, familiarizing yourself with some key settings can take your viewing and listening experience to new heights. Read on for five pointers on how to optimize your soundbar’s performance. More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The YHE BP Doctor Fit is available for just $129. Blood pressure results are within 6-8 mmHG of a blood pressure cuff, the display is vibrant, the battery lasts a week, basic health tracking is available, and the price is low. The band closure is the opposite of other watches; the […] More
Signia/ZDNETA new Bluetooth-compatible hearing aid could help those with hearing loss listen more clearly — and for a bit longer — than with their current hearing device. On Monday, hearing aid maker Signia unveiled the Signia Pure Charge & Go BCT IX, which boasts a battery life of up to 36 hours, including five hours of streaming, on a single charge. Signia claims this is the longest battery life of any Bluetooth Classic-compatible hearing aid. Also: How to use the AirPods Pro as hearing aidsBluetooth Classic hearing aid devices enable users to tune into calls, listen to audio on their devices, and navigate calls hands-free. It’s an older form of Bluetooth and tends to use more battery life than other Bluetooth types, like Bluetooth Low Energy. However, Bluetooth Low Energy is less effective at audio streaming than Bluetooth Classic. The Pure Charge&Go BCT IX offers improved battery life and listening quality compared to other models in Signia’s Pure Charge&Go IX and IX T line of hearing aids. The hearing aid offers RealTime Conversation Enhancement, which tracks and enhances the clarity of speaking partners in groups, even while partners are moving or coming from multiple directions. Signia says this results in a 22% improvement in speech understanding when used in loud group conversations. The Pure Charge & Go BCT IX also includes universal device compatibility for Android or iOS users. More
When it comes to creating strong, secure passwords, the best course of action is to use a password generator, which is much better than humans are at randomizing characters into long (16 or more) and hard-to-crack credentials. Thankfully, there are numerous tools available. Also: The best password managersWhat is the best password generator right now?At ZDNET, we’ve tested a long list of password generators to find the top tools for creating strong (random) passwords to secure your digital accounts. The best password generator is the one you’ll actually use — and if you have a password manager, the simplest and most seamless way to create and save strong passwords is to use the built-in generator. That said, NordPass More
ZDNETGoogle is aiming to dump SMS as a two-factor authentication method for Gmail and switch to a more secure approach using QR codes. Reducing SMS abuse In an email conversation with Forbes published in a story on Sunday, Gmail spokesperson Ross Richendrfer described this upcoming change. Instead of entering your number and getting a six-digit code via SMS, you’ll see a QR code that you scan with your phone’s camera. Richendrfer said Google is making this switch to “reduce the impact of rampant, global SMS abuse.” In an email to ZDNET, Richendrfer provided more details. Also: Gmail just made it easier to pay your bills — here’s howUsing two-factor authentication with your online accounts is highly recommended as a way to verify your identity and guard against suspicious or malicious logins. But some forms of 2FA are better than others. A common method is to receive a confirmation code via an SMS text message. However, that type of unencrypted communication can be exploited by cybercriminals. Why QR codes? If you’re wondering why QR codes, Richendrfer and Google security communications manager Kimberly Samra zeroed in on the vulnerabilities of SMS authentication. A scammer can spoof such a message to trick you into sharing the correct verification code. You may not always have access to the device in which you receive the code. And through SIM swapping, a mobile carrier can be fooled into transferring the victim’s phone number, allowing the scammer to receive SMS texts, thus negating the security value of the authentication. That’s why a dedicated authenticator app, such as Microsoft Authentication or Google Authenticator, is a more foolproof alternative. Physical security keys also are much more secure than SMS. But those methods can take time to set up, which is likely why Google is opting for a simpler but still stronger approach of QR codes. Also: How to turn on Private DNS Mode on Android — and why it matters for privacyCurrently, Google uses SMS verification for two purposes — security and abuse control, Richendrfer told Forbes and ZDNET. The first purpose is to ensure that the company is dealing with the same user as in previous interactions. The second is to ensure that scammers aren’t abusing Google’s services. One example of the latter occurs when cybercriminals create Google accounts to send out spam and malware. Another trick used by scammers is something called traffic pumping, also known as “artificial traffic inflation” or “toll fraud.” Popping up over the past two to three years, “it’s where fraudsters try to get online service providers to originate large numbers of SMS messages to numbers they control, thereby getting paid every time one of these messages is delivered,” according to Richendrfer. More
