The Samsung Galaxy Ring has an impressive concave design and a unique wireless charging case. Jason Hiner/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Samsung Galaxy Ring More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETWith the return of the school year fast approaching, you might be faced with having to purchase new laptops for those returning to class. Here’s why you should add the Chromebook to your back-to-school shopping list. Also: The best Chromebooks for students in 2024: Expert tested and reviewedYou might think ChromeOS is too simplistic, but what was originally scoffed at as nothing more than a laptop with a web browser has evolved into something much greater. Chromebooks have grown into user-friendly laptops that can be employed for both personal and business workflow. And given that most of the work we all do now happens within a browser, it’s a perfect marriage of simplicity and usability.The thing is, a lot of Windows and MacOS users still shrug off Chromebooks as not much more than a toy with a limiting operating system. Little do they know. I’ve been a tech journalist for 30 years and a tech aficionado for even longer. I’ve tried every OS and hardware platform, from the ones you’ve heard of to the many you haven’t. I added Chromebooks into the mix when the first device was released, so I’ve experienced ChromeOS in all of its iterations. Here’s why Chromebooks are the perfect laptops for most people, based on my experience.1. Chromebooks are cheapThe first reason cannot be disputed by anyone. And given how the economy has had a rather crushing effect on so many budgets across the globe, finding an inexpensive piece of hardware can be a real plus for anyone looking to remain productive. That’s not to say every Chromebook is cheap. I once paid a premium for a Chromebook Pixel, and that laptop is still one of the favorites I’ve ever owned (the display and keyboard were best in class at the time). And, of course, there’s also the HP Dragonfly More
cofotoisme/Getty Images Organizations cannot afford to pick sides in the global market if they want artificial intelligence (AI) tools to deliver the capabilities they seek. Geographical diversity is critical as organizations look to develop AI tools that can be adopted worldwide, according to Andrea Phua, senior director of the national AI group and director of […] More
Maria Diaz/ZDNETBack when I was a product developer, there were always a few features that I was particularly proud of that customers, resellers, and reviewers tended not to notice. Usually, this was because bigger features provided a competitive advantage or garnered more attention. Even so, I always felt that some lesser-known and carefully crafted features deserved more love.Also: The best Alexa devices of 2024: Expert tested and recommendedThat’s why we have this article series. I’m pointing out some cooler features I’ve been looking at for each product spotlighted. I also spoke to the product designers and internal champions and asked them what features they wished were more well-known. This time, we’re looking at the Amazon Echo More
ZDNET’s editor-in-chief, Jason Hiner, ranked the Torras Ostand MagSafe case among the best iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max cases for its multifunctional, convenient design, calling it “the most versatile and innovative of the bunch.” The MagSafe-compatible stand features a 360-degree ring that can function as a holder or a kickstand. Plus, the magnet can attach to everything from a fridge to a pole, so you can stick your phone anywhere to take videos, watch tutorials, and more. More: The best iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max cases you can buy Hiner noted that the Ostand case is sturdy but not awkward or bulky. “The case feels very solid and ready to withstand a drop, but without the massive marshmallow look and feel of most rugged cases,” he writes. You can get the case for all iPhone 15 models, but the color selection varies depending on which model you choose; our favorites include the blue and green color case you get with the iPhone 15 case. With military-grade drop protection of 12 feet, this case is supportive, sleek, and multifunctional. Reddit users seem to agree: spend any time on tech Reddit threads for iPhones, and you’ll see Redditors sing Torras’s praises. Torras Ostand MagSafe Case features: Different colors depending on which iPhone model you have | 12 feet military drop protection | Magnetic metal ring kickstand or grip More
Screenshot by Kayla Solino/ZDNETIn 2024, streaming is the new normal. With options for streaming TV, movies, music, books, and more, there are many ways to keep yourself occupied with a few clicks on your device of choice. Unfortunately, streaming services aren’t cheap, and are typically offered as recurring monthly fees, which can add up quickly. Also: Buying a Mac or iPad? Students can get a $150 Apple gift card. Here’s howThankfully, if you’re a student, you can use your status to your advantage and save a few bucks on one of the largest music streaming services: Apple Music More
Jack WallenZDNETI’ve been using WearOS for quite some time and have found it to be a great companion for my Android phone, but the watch also stands out as another helpful piece of technology.Like me, many users of WearOS devices tend to discover along the way that the OS offers more than meets the eye. Within the first few months, it seemed like I was discovering new features daily. Also: How we test smartwatches at ZDNET in 2024From tracking fitness, sleep, and health to helping you answer your phone, smartwatches do much more than tell time. If you believe you’re not getting the most out of your WearOS device, these tips can help you eke out just a bit more joy from your watch.1. Install apps from your phoneOut of the box, your WearOS device probably has the right collection of apps to get you started. The Google Play Store also carries several new and improved apps you can install directly on your watch using your phone. Open the Google Play Store on your phone, tap the Apps button at the bottom, and then tap the Categories tab at the top. From the resulting list, tap Watch Apps, where you’ll find a plethora of both free and paid apps to install, including WhatsApp Messenger, Spotify, Purple Diary, My GPS Location, gym workout trackers, to-do lists, sports alerts, water trackers, and more. You’ll also find even more watch faces to choose from. 2. Customize hardware buttonsIf your WearOS device is a Galaxy Watch 4 or 5, you can customize what the hardware buttons do. There are some other WearOS watches that offer this functionality (Pixel Watches not being one of them) and how you configure them will depend on the watch.Also: 10 settings I changed on my WearOS smartwatch to improve battery lifeOn the Galaxy Watch 4 or 5, open Settings and scroll down to tap “Advanced features.” Then look for “Customize keys.” From there, you can assign different functionality for double and long presses. However, the options are limited — for example, the bottom button can be set to either navigate back to the watch’s main screen or open a list of recent apps.3. Contactless paymentsThanks to NFC and the Google Wallet app, your watch can be set up for contactless payments like your phone. Your watch should already have Google Wallet installed, but if not, you can install it from your phone. Also: 6 reasons why I switched to a digital wallet, and you should tooThe card you want to add must already have been added to your phone. Next, open the Google Wallet app on your watch — on the Pixel Watch, do so by swiping down and then tapping the wallet icon. If your card isn’t automatically detected from your phone, tap the plus sign and select the card you want to add from the list. Once added, you can use your watch to make purchases by opening the Google Wallet app and holding it near the payment terminal. More
Artie Beaty/ZDNETWhether you’re using them for a road trip or your daily commute to work, Google Maps and Waze make avoiding traffic a lot easier. Both apps got even better on Wednesday thanks to five new features, including one that gives you a heads-up about traffic that could affect you even if you’re not currently at that location.Here’s what’s new:Easier reporting: Community reporting is one of Google Maps’ and Waze’s most useful features. By tapping a button, you can let other drivers know about a collision, roadwork, police, and more. Now, not only will Google Maps show you reports from other Waze and Maps users, but accessing those reports will be easier thanks to larger buttons. You’ll also be able to see which app the report came from. The feature is rolling out now.Also: Google upgrades Search to combat deepfakes and demote sites posting themHighlighted buildings: Navigating to a new building, especially if you’re not familiar with parking in the area, can be tricky. Now, when you arrive at your destination, Maps should light up your destination building and its entrance on the route. Maps should also highlight nearby parking lots and their entrances. Google plans to make this update available sometime in the next few weeks.New camera reports: Red light and speed enforcement cameras are becoming more commonplace across the US, and Waze is adding new camera types to keep up. To help drivers follow local laws, Google says Waze will now alert drivers about cameras that enforce HOV lanes, seatbelts, speed, and red light laws. In some communities, drivers could even get a warning about cameras that track cell phone usage while driving. These reports are supposed to come from both the Waze community and publicly accessible databases, and are rolling out now.Also: Why I integrate Gemini with Chrome (and you should too)Real-time alerts about your favorite places: Waze has always reported real-time traffic conditions, but going forward should also give you advanced notice if your usual route has a problem — even if you’re not there. If you often drive in an area or have places saved there, you’ll get a notification if traffic nearby is changing. If roads are closed for a parade or a big concert is causing traffic, Waze will tell you what’s happening and suggest an alternate route if needed. This feature is available now. More
