Eliana Willis

The new generation of iPhones are here and features a new action button, more AI, and new color options like desert titanium. The iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max are available for preorder now, and will be in stores on September 20. If you’re picking one up, you’ll want to make sure to invest in a solid case to make your new device last. Also: Preorder the iPhone 16 now (and even get one for free) – here’s howIt’s no secret that iPhones aren’t the most rugged devices, sometimes yielding screen cracks and camera damage from simple drops. As someone who notoriously drops their phone on a daily basis, I have gotten to know what iPhone cases offer the best protection and have relied on ZDNET’s editors’ years of experience testing different case brands. No matter your needs — drop protection, style with durability, or functionality — we’ve got you covered. What is the best iPhone 16 case right now?Our pick for the best iPhone 16 case right now is the Nomad Sport Case More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETApple unveiled the new Apple Watch Series 10 this week. Preorders have officially opened today, and Best Buy is offering a trade-in deal More

Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images The future of computing needs to be more sustainable with artificial intelligence (AI) playing a role in achieving this, even as the growing adoption of the technology fuels energy consumption.  Digital technologies such as AI can help identify ways to reduce emissions, such as optimizing power grids and developing sustainable supply chains, […] More

Download a lifetime license to Microsoft Office at a deep discount with this deal. Stack Social If you need access to Microsoft Office but don’t want to pay the yearly fee to access Office 365, you’re in luck: Stack Social is offering a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows or Mac, starting […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETThe Apple Watch is one of the most popular smartwatches, and its integration with the Apple ecosystem makes it a go-to for iPhone fans. Apple recently held its annual September event, announcing a new lineup of iPhone 16 More

Jason Hiner/Kerry Wan/ZDNETThis week, Apple held its annual iPhone event to debut the iPhone 16 line and other devices. All the artificial intelligence (AI) features Apple unveiled may be very tempting, but is the iPhone 16 enough of an upgrade to warrant a new $1,000+ payment?Also: Preorder the iPhone 16 now (and even get one for free) – here’s howAs an iPhone 14 Pro Max user, I’m not convinced that the new AI-enabled iPhone 16 Pro More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Google Nest Learning Thermostat More

The upgrade from Home to Pro is quick and easy. Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNETIf you purchase a new PC with Windows 11 Home preinstalled, you might be able to get right to work. But for some demanding PC owners, this down-market edition doesn’t have some essential features, like the ability to connect to a Windows domain-based network, or to manage disk encryption, or to create virtual machines.Also: Yes, you can upgrade that old PC to Windows 11, even if Microsoft says no. These readers proved itTo get those features, you need to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro. (For a detailed list of Pro-only features, see “Here’s the best way to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro, and why you should.”) That’s a pretty straightforward process, but if you’re not careful, you can end up spending much more than you need to on the upgrade. And you can also find yourself having to do it all over again if you need to reinstall Windows.In this article, I cover three common scenarios for upgrading from Windows 11 Home edition to Pro. It all starts with one essential ingredient.First, you’ll need a product key for Windows 10/11 Pro If you’ve been building and upgrading PCs for a decade or more, it might be worth rummaging through your garage, storeroom, or email archives to see if you can locate a product key for Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro. (Yes, a product key for Windows 10 can be used to activate Windows 11 and vice-versa.)Also: Microsoft will start charging for Windows 10 updates next year. Here’s how muchOne option that used to work is, alas, no longer available. Previously, you could reuse an old product key from Windows 7 Pro, Windows 7 Ultimate, or Windows 8/8.1 Pro to enable an upgrade from Windows 10/11 Home to Windows 10/11 Pro, potentially saving you the upgrade fee. Microsoft closed that loophole in September 2023 when it finally ended its free Windows 10 upgrade program.  If you purchased a retail copy of Windows 10 Pro and used it on an old PC that’s since been retired, you can freely reuse the key that came with it. (OEM copies that were preinstalled on the PC when you bought it aren’t transferable.) As an alternative, you can look for a discounted copy online. Microsoft’s retail price for Windows 11 Pro is $199 More