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    AirTag too quiet? This alternative is much louder and works with Android and iPhone

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Small, durable, water-resistant, and loud User-replaceable battery lasts a year Like all third-party tags, they do not support Apple precision finding. –> For me, finder tags like the Apple AirTags<!–> have been a game changer. And that’s not a word of hyperbole. They have literally saved me countless hours of hassle, […] More

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    Samsung’s new rugged phone and tablet are built to last – but still have AI smarts

    Galaxy XCover7 Pro Samsung/ZDNETRugged smartphones are a niche category of mobile devices capable of withstanding environments your average model would struggle against. Samsung is a pioneer in this field, and recently, the company announced its latest tough phone – the Galaxy XCover7 Pro.It is a 6.6-inch device “designed to meet the demands of… high-intensity work environments.” The XCover7 Pro boasts a MIL-STD-810H certified form factor, allowing it to survive “drops, extreme temperatures, and vibrations”. It even has a resistance rating of IP68, meaning the smartphone can handle brief submersion underwater and blasts of dust.Also: The best Samsung phones you can buy (including foldables and cheap options)These features are present in the previous generation, the Galaxy XCover6 Pro. What makes this upcoming model better comes down to several factors. Much like the older phone, the XCover7 Pro will have a FullHD+ display with Touch Sensitivity to increase input responsiveness even if a user is wearing leather gloves (so long as those gloves are 2mm or less thick). But it’ll have a refresh rate of up to 120Hz (not 60Hz) as well as Vision Booster. More

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    One of my favorite smart home accessories turns any room into an aurora show

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Govee Star Light Projector is available for $80. This smart light projects an aurora-like display with coverage of up to 650 square feet It has over 16 million color options and over 50 preset scenes, including music and white noise. Though a great projector, the Govee app is not intuitive […] More

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    Samsung just dropped its 2025 flagship OLED TV – and you’re going to like what you see

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETSamsung has announced the release of its 2025 lineup of OLED TVs, boasting an impressive array of upgrades, including advanced picture processing, improved glare-free technology, and a significant boost in brightness.Also: Change these 5 settings on your TV for a quick and easy way to improve its picture qualityThe main differences between the S95F and its lower-priced siblings in the series (S90F and S85F) are that the S95F has quantum dot tech, plus a glare-free matte finish, a 165Hz refresh rate (compared to 144Hz or less), and it’s the only new release compatible with the Samsung One Connect Box. Another difference is screen size, which ranges from 55 to 83 inches, except that the S90F comes in two smaller sizes (42″ and 48″).  More

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    An affordable Windows laptop with great specs for work travel? I found the one to buy

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Vivobook S 15, Asus’ first Copilot+ PC, normally retails for over $1,000, but it’s currently on sale at Walmart for $668. It’s sleek and lightweight with a gorgeous OLED, 120Hz display, great battery life, and snappy performance. However, because of the nature of Windows on ARM laptops, some apps might […] More

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    This is the most customizable smart home accessory I didn’t know I needed

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Govee Neon Rope Light 2 is available in white or black and in two lengths: 10 feet and 16.4 feet. More pliable than other neon light strips on the market, the Govee Neon Rope Light 2 is easy to install and comes with bend clips to facilitate getting closed angles. […] More

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    New White House tariff exemptions for electronics could offer temporary break for tech

    Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETAmid uncertainty over rising costs as a consequence of steep tariffs, the White House announced an exemption for imported smartphones, laptops, chips, and other electronics. This temporary exemption would have significant implications for the US economy, which has suffered highs and lows since the announcement of new tariffs. The Trump administration had previously imposed up to 145% tariffs for imported goods from China and a minimum 10% global tariff for nearly all other countries. While the tariff on China has yet to be enacted, US consumers were riddled with concerns of price hikes that translated into a crashing stock market and panic-buying electronics. Also: Tariff war has tech buyers wondering what’s next. Here’s what we knowThe new exemption announced by the White House is temporary as a way to pause tariffs on some imported electronics, including smartphones, laptops, CPUs, memory chips, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Other electronics included in the exemptions are solar cells, flash drives, tablets, memory cards, and flat panel TVs. More

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    I found the smartest (and cheapest) way to protect your laptop’s charging port

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The magnetic USB-C connector now supports a 180-degree swivel, and it’s only $13 at Amazon. It can pump out as much as 240W of power. I just wish it was suitable for data transferring or powering monitors. –> These handy 240W USB-C magnetic adapters<!–> come in a two-pack and are on sale for […] More