Eliana Willis

ZDNETI’ve been using Firefox, on and off, for a very long time. After all, it’s been the default web browser for Linux for as long as I can remember. But I’m finally moving on from Firefox and all of its clones.Also: Love Arc browser? You can get early access to its new AI-powered replacementThis time it feels permanent. Every other time I migrated away from Firefox (or a Firefox fork), it felt temporary, like I’d soon return, after using whatever browser I adopted, because Firefox was always there for me (and Linux).The problem is MozillaBut this time… I can’t imagine going back. Even to a clone, like Zen Browser, which I’ve really enjoyed using. The problem isn’t Zen Browser or any of the Firefox forks. The problem isn’t really a Firefox issue (more on that in a bit). The problem is Mozilla.You see, Mozilla is a company, and companies have to have income to keep the lights on. There’s nothing wrong with that, but when those running said company have shown signs that they don’t quite understand how to steer an open-source ship. Also: The fall of Firefox: Mozilla’s once-popular web browser slides into irrelevanceTake, for instance, back in 2022, when Mitchell Baker, Mozilla’s CEO (at the time — she’s now gone), was found to have received a significant pay raise of over $6.9 million. This drew criticism and ire from people around the world, especially given A) how Firefox was struggling to keep up with other browsers’ market share, and B) how Mozilla’s income was suffering. It was not a good look then, and it’s not a good look now. And there were all the layoffs, even during a time when Mozilla was flush with cash. That was a move no one could understand. It was looking as if Firefox was about to reclaim its glory days, and then, wham, the staff was cut. About the same time, it seemed Mozilla decided to shift its focus away from its core user base. Yes, I’m talking Linux and open-source enthusiasts. You see, when Mozilla and Firefox were in their glory days, it functioned with a Linux-first frame of mind, and it worked very well. Firefox was, hands down, the best browser on the market for Linux, and it always seemed the Mozilla team was working to make Firefox the Linux browser. It listened to the open-source community and worked hard to ensure Firefox worked perfectly on the open-source operating system.Also: The Firefox I loved is gone – how to protect your privacy on it nowBut then things started to change, and it seemed Mozilla was no longer a champion of the open-source community. What was once a blazing-fast browser on Linux has become doggedly slow. On top of that, features started to disappear (such as Do Not Track). As well, the development team seems to be ignoring the fact that every browser on the market has moved ahead of Firefox with regards to Tab Management. It’s almost as if Mozilla doesn’t care that browsers like Opera, Safari, Edge, and others have made tab management a work of art. Firefox can’t competeAnd let’s not talk about how much faster Chrome has become. Firefox can’t compete with that speed. As well, there’s the fact that so many Linux distributions have opted to go the Snap or Flatpak route with Firefox, and Mozilla has done a less-than-stellar job on that front (the Snap version of Firefox is slow and buggy). Ultimately, however, the biggest problem for me is that Mozilla is floundering as a company, and that has had a negative impact on the browser. That negative impact is far-reaching because of all the browsers based on Firefox. If Mozilla fails Firefox, Firefox will fail every browser to use it as its core. What does that mean? If apps like Zen Browser are to remain successful, they might have to go it on their own and maintain their own core. That’s a big ask for a small team.Also: 5 MacOS-like Linux distros that can rescue your old Intel Mac before support endsAnd because of the constant drama with Mozilla, users are no longer able to trust the future of Firefox. I don’t, and I need a browser I can rely on. I need a browser built by a company that actually listens to its users and understands the importance of workflow and creating a browser that is efficient, reliable, and forward-thinking. I can’t keep using a browser that’s stuck in the past. More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETBecoming a successful manager is far from straightforward. Leading people requires a series of crucial characteristics, and research suggests one of the most important is positivity.A Harvard Business Review survey found that team members felt more highly respected when leaders expressed positivity during the early stages of a project. Also: 5 ways to make assertive decisions in uncertain times, according to business leadersSo how can leaders develop the right tone and be seen by their staff as positive leaders? Five business leaders give their top tips. 1. Showcase great results Richard Masters, VP of data and AI at Virgin Atlantic, said the best way to be a positive leader is to highlight your team’s achievements. “It’s about letting people, whether or not you’ve reached the full business outcome, showcase what they’ve done and highlighting how there is always something we’re learning from the failures as well as the successes,” he said. “I think that approach helps bring everyone along and think, ‘Okay, I’m curious. I’m going to iterate more on this.'” Also: 5 secrets to achieving your goals, according to business leadersMasters told ZDNET that people working in data science and machine learning, for example, must experiment and be unafraid to fail. Great leaders show how their team’s efforts create broader business benefits. “You’ve got to get them to analyze the results and bring out failures in a positive light. That approach is about showing people that we are always learning something,” he said. “It’s also about saying, ‘I’m showing people what you have done in my data science team as an analyst. I’ll discuss that work with the C-suite team. I’m going to show them how your efforts have helped us develop an understanding.'” More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETThe United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a new recall for the Anker PowerCore 10000 power bank, model number A1263. According to the report, the lithium-ion battery inside can overheat, causing the device to become a fire and burn hazard to consumers.”Anker has received 19 reports of fires and explosions” caused by its faulty power bank. Among those incidents, there have been “two reports of minor burn injuries” (thankfully not requiring medical attention) and 11 reports of property damage totalling over $60,700.”Also: The best power banks you can buy: Expert testedModel A1263 was sold online at Anker’s official website, Amazon, Newegg, and eBay between June 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022, where it was sold exclusively in the United States. So, if you bought it in the US, you should replace or get rid of the device immediately. What to do with your affected device: 2 optionsHowever, do not throw away the PowerCore 10000 in the trash or in a used battery recycling box. Remember: this is a fire hazard. You have two methods to get rid of your power bank.The CSPC recommends taking the power bank to your municipal household hazardous waste (HHW) collection center. If you need help finding a center, the United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has a website where you can find authorized recycling locations near you. More

In April, Amazon confirmed that its annual Prime Day event would return this July. Despite an uncertain economic outlook, Amazon is full steam ahead on its first Prime Day event of 2025, though dates have still yet to be confirmed. Also: Google’s new AI shopping tool just changed the way we shop online – here’s whyAmazon hosted its second annual Big Spring Sale in March, which was extended from five days in 2024 to seven days this year. In a similar fashion, some early leaks suggest that Prime Day will be extended from the usual two days to four days as well. Though Amazon has not announced the dates of the 2025 July Prime Day event or commented on the length of the sale, competing retailers already take advantage of similar savings events that extend prior to, during, and after the dates Amazon selects.Also: Sorry shoppers, Amazon says tariff cost feature ‘Is not going to happen’In 2024, Prime Day ran from July 16 to July 17. I’ve covered plenty of sale cycles over the last few years, and I’m placing my best estimate for this year’s Prime Day event to land either from July 8-9 or July 15-16 — after Fourth of July, but not too late into the month. It’s typically a two-day sale running on a Tuesday and a Wednesday. If Amazon chooses to extend it like with their Big Spring Sale, I’d expect more days to save within the same weeks as those dates. We’ll have to wait and see. What is Amazon Prime Day?Prime Day is Amazon’s flagship sale event, and it happens twice a year: July and October. Shoppers can expect tons of savings across nearly every product category on the site, including popular Amazon products. Typically, Prime members can shop for new deals that are refreshed throughout the event and partake in exclusive invite-only deals. Plus, market competition with Prime Day has turned the month of July into a true shopping extravaganza that mimics holiday-like sales in the heat of the summer, making it a great time to be a consumer. I’ll be keeping up with all the best Prime Day news through the end of the sale, so be sure to keep up with our team on ZDNET.com. We’ll be updating the site with all the details you need to shop savvy — including the best deals on products we’ve personally tested and would recommend. How to prep for Prime Day 2025As a deals and shopping editor, I can recommend a few things to help you maximize Amazon’s sales. If you want to shop the sale, you’ll need to access a Prime account. In addition to free two-day shipping, membership is easy to set up and usually gives you access to exclusive offers on the site. Plus, you can use a free trial to shop for the best savings without spending a dime on a membership (you’ll want to wait to activate a free trial until less than 30 days before Prime Day). If you end up starting a free trial (or already have Prime), ensure your payment options (like one-click settings and your default delivery address) are correct. This way, you can check out quickly if you need to during the sale. Also: 7 exciting AI features coming with Alexa+ (and what Amazon devices support it)Other ways to prepare for spring savings include researching and planning potential purchases, listing want and need items, and setting a budget before sales.  More

Garmin/ZDNETIf you’re a fan of bold smartwatches, Garmin just unveiled its biggest watch ever. Garmin announced its newest smartwatch Thursday, the Venu X1. What’s immediately noticeable about the Venu X1 is the size. It has a large, rectangular face (Garmin said its biggest) and an extremely thin design. It’s a watch that’s easy to see, but it doesn’t look overpowering or like it’s too heavy to wear.The press release about the watch details several more design features, including the 2-inch screen, a sapphire lens (scratch-resistant for outdoor activities), a titanium caseback, and an 8mm case. Also: My new favorite Garmin watch offers flagship features at an affordable price pointThe Venu X1 will come in two colorways, black and moss, and have a built-in LED flashlight, speaker, and mic. It will have access to more than 100 sports apps, mapping, the ability to make and take calls, a sleep coach, and the wealth of fitness and health information Garmin’s devices are known for.Garmin said the watch will have up to 8 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. That will be less depending on how much you use tracking features and if you have the always-on screen enabled, but from several early online reviews I’ve seen, it still seems to be about two days.The Venu X1 has a suggested retail price of $799.99 and will be available to order More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETGoogle’s Pixel phones aren’t the only ones with battery-saving secrets to explore. Motorola offers almost as many features inside its menus. After three weeks with the Moto Razr Ultra and separately, the Moto G Stylus 2025, I discovered a handful of tweaks hiding in plain sight that you’ll likely find on your Motorola device if you know where to look.1. Battery Saver keeps the lights on when your gauge hits the red More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are available for $449 in Anthracite Black, Canvas White, and Indigo Blue. These headphones provide a listening experience and design profile unlike any other headphones in the same price range. Although these are the best sounding and looking headphones at this price, they fall behind […] More

Adam Breeden/ZDNETEarlier this week at WWDC, Apple announced a handful of changes to the iPad for the upcoming iPadOS 26, including making it feel a little bit more like a Mac with window control and tiling, the same Games app that’s also available for MacOS and the iPhone, and of course, more Apple Intelligence. Also: Your iPad is getting 4 big upgrades for free. Here are the top features in iPadOS 26All these new features won’t roll out onto your iPad until this fall, but if you’re keen on checking out the features iPadOS 26 has to offer now, you can download the beta version of the OS and take a peek at what’s in store. However, as with any beta, be aware that it can be full of bugs and not optimized for speed and efficiency.  How to install the iPadOS 26 developer beta What you need: An iPad running iPadOS 16.4 or later with an Apple ID used in the Apple Developer Program. Since not all iPads are compatible with iPadOS 16.4, you’ll also need a model that’s on this list.  More