smirkdingo/Getty Images Veo 3, Google’s new video-generating model that’s been making waves across the internet, is now available for everyone in public preview, the company announced Thursday. The tool was initially available only to subscribers of Gemini Ultra and through Flow, Google’s AI-powered filmmaking platform that was also revealed at the most recent I/O. As of Thursday, it can […] More
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETThink that Apple’s Siri snooped on your private conversations in the past? If so, you may be able to snag a slice of the $95 million that Apple is paying out to settle a class-action lawsuit. But you have to act fast, as the deadline to submit your claim is days away.Also: My favorite iPhone productivity feature just got a major upgrade with iOS 26 (and it’s not Siri)A settlement page recently published in the case of Lopez v. Apple Inc. explains the steps and deadlines for people who want to make a claim. The settlement is geared toward current or former users of a Siri device in the US whose conversations with the voice assistant were captured by Apple or shared with third parties due to an “unintended Siri activation.” How to tell if you qualify If you are in the US and used a Siri-supported device between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024, you might be eligible for part of the payout from Apple. In May, a notice approved by the US District Court for the Northern District of California was sent to affected parties. Some ZDNET staffers received it with the subject line “Lopez Voice Assistant Class Action Settlement.” Also: 5 reasons I turn to ChatGPT every day – from faster research to replacing SiriTo learn more about the claim submission process, check out the FAQ section on the settlement page. If you still have questions, you can also contact the settlement administrator by snail mail or by phone.How to enter your claim todayIf you’re in the qualifying group, you should have received a notice email with a Claim Identification Code and a Confirmation Code alerting you to the settlement. The email should have been sent from an account called info@lopezvoiceassistantsettlement.com. If you received such an email, don’t delete it. You may also want to check your spam folder to see if the message is trapped there. Also: 10 easy ways to make Siri work better on your iPhone todayIf you didn’t receive an email or even a postcard, which was also sent to affected parties, you can still try to put together a claim.If you got an email or postcard…If you received a notice, go to the claim submissions page, enter your claim codes from the email or postcard, and log in to proceed. If you didn’t get an email or postcard…If you don’t receive either the email or the postcard, you can enter a new claim at the submission page. You’ll be asked to provide your contact information along with a serial number and model name for the Siri device or proof of purchase. You can add as many as five different devices, including an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, or any other gadget that uses Siri. Also: Every iPhone model that can be updated to iOS 26 (and which ones don’t support it)Either way, you’ll be asked whether you want to receive your payout by direct deposit to your bank account or by electronic check. When is the deadline? Don’t wait too long to file a claim. The deadline is July 2, 2025. You can also opt to do nothing, in which case you simply won’t collect anything.Also: Your iPhone can be used as a digital driver’s license – here’s how it works for these statesFollowing the filing deadline, the court still has to approve the settlement before payouts can begin. A final approval hearing is scheduled for August 1 with US District Judge Jeffrey White in the federal court in Oakland, Calif.. More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Klein Tools 80016 Circuit Breaker Finder effectively maps circuits throughout your home. It’s a useful tool with clear discovery indicators and improved safety features. It’s somewhat pricey at $65, with minimal directions for beginners. –> Do you ever wonder what wall socket corresponds to which circuit breaker or circuit in […] More
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNETThe arrival of HDMI 2.2 technology ushers in a new era of A/V potential, which is great news for enthusiasts and future-proofing fanatics. It might be a little while before every device on the market sports the new tech, but you can expect to see the first “Ultra96” HDMI cables hitting shelves later this year. Increased bandwidth and resolutionThis is a significant leap forward from the current HDMI 2.1. Even ultra-high-speed 2.1 cables cap out at 48 Gbps. While 48 Gbps has capably handled resolutions up to 10K and 4K content at 120 Hz, HDMI 2.2 throws open the gates to even more mind-bending visual experiences. Imagine 4K at a fluid 480 Hz, 8K at a zippy 240 Hz, and a jaw-dropping 16K at 60 Hz. For your exceptionally discerning eye, it will also flawlessly transmit uncompressed video formats with 10-bit and 12-bit color at 8K 60 Hz and 4K 240 Hz.Also: Are you paying more for cable and internet? It’s bad all overBefore you start dreaming of 16K cable TV, though, let’s keep things in perspective. Native 8K content is still incredibly rare, and HDMI 2.1, which debuted in 2017, hasn’t even been fully leveraged by most hardware manufacturers yet. So, while HDMI 2.2’s increased bandwidth and resolution capabilities might feel a bit ahead of its time, that’s because it’s laying the groundwork for innovations yet to come. More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETDid you know that whenever you turn on your smart TV, you invite an unseen guest to watch it with you? These days, most popular TV models utilize automatic content recognition (ACR), a form of ad surveillance technology that gathers information about everything you watch and transmits it to a centralized database. Manufacturers then use your data to identify your viewing preferences, enabling them to deliver highly targeted ads.Also: Your TV’s USB port is seriously underutilized: 5 features you’re not taking advantage ofWhat’s the incentive behind this invasive technology? According to market research firm eMarketer, in 2022, advertisers spent an estimated $18.6 billion on smart TV ads, and those numbers are only going up.To understand how ACR works, imagine a constant, real-time Shazam-like service running in the background while your TV is on. It identifies content displayed on your screen, including programs from cable TV boxes, streaming services, or gaming consoles. ACR does this by capturing continuous screenshots and cross-referencing them with a vast database of media content and advertisements. 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: The best Android phones to buy in 2025Without 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
Andrei Stanescu/Getty Images For many, saving money is a top priority these days, especially with something as consistent and essential as groceries. And with Amazon Prime Day coming up, now might be a good time to sign up for a Prime membership<!–> (or a free trial) if you want the benefits of yes, great deals, but […] More
Jumping Rocks/Contributor/Getty Is it something in the water? First, it was Denmark bidding Microsoft adieu. Then it was the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Now it’s Lyon, France’s third-largest city and a leading economic hub, sweeping Microsoft Windows and Office suite away to replace them with Linux, OnlyOffice, NextCloud, and PostgreSQL. Also: Ready to ditch Windows? ‘End […] More
