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    This iOS 26 feature makes the iPhone 17 Air a more reasonable upgrade for me

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETDay one of Apple’s WWDC conference is over, and my brain has been wrapped around one particular feature ever since. It wasn’t announced during the opening keynote, nor did it make it onto the all-encompassing graphics chart of iOS 26 features, but it’s a big one — if it works.Also: Everything you might’ve missed at WWDC 2025: iOS 26, Liquid Glass, MacOS Tahoe, moreThe feature I’m referring to is called “Adaptive Power,” a battery conservation tool that’s baked into the Power Mode settings in iOS 26. You’ll have to dig through a few columns to access it within the Settings app on the developer beta. Once you turn it on, your iPhone will automatically throttle certain background tasks to help you conserve battery whenever it detects high-performance workloads.In Apple’s words, “When your battery usage is higher than usual, iPhone can make small performance adjustments to extend your battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to take a little longer.” Exactly how aggressive this power-saving mode is remains to be tested, but if it works only when you’re truly pushing your iPhone — like recording videos, editing photos, or gaming — then it’s a feature many users may appreciate. More

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    How to remove your personal info from Google Search – it’s quick and easy

    How long does Google take to approve removal requests? When you submit a removal request, Google will send a confirmation email and inform you when the URL is no longer visible in Search. In many cases, this happens within a few minutes to a few days. Also: The best secure browsers for privacy in 2025: Expert testedWhen I tried Google’s removal tool for myself, I found the process simple. I searched for my name, found a site that listed my information, and submitted a removal request. My request was approved four minutes later. “Within a few hours,” Google’s follow-up email explained, “the URL for this result will no longer be visible”. More

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    Five iOS 26 features that I’ve been using on my Android phone for years

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETApple’s WWDC annual developer conference signaled the first major redesign of iOS since 2013, with flashy demos of iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design and AI-driven features. Apple sometimes takes its time bringing features to its many surfaces, but when it does, it’s often a highly polished and well-considered take on a familiar theme. Let’s unpack a few ways where Apple is catching up, and how they stack up against their Android counterpart.1. Call Screening and Hold Assist More

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    Roku just revamped its TV lineup with big upgrades to picture quality and digital artwork

    Roku Roku just announced the launch of its 2025 lineup of Roku-made televisions<!–>, including the Roku Select, Roku Plus, and Roku Pro Series. The full 2025 lineup features upgrades to its earlier generation, including simplified cable management, easy-to-reach ports, a faster, built-in remote finder, and a more responsive user experience.  Also: Your Apple TV is […] More

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    The headphones I recommend to most audio professionals are cheaper than you think

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The OneOdio Studio Max 1 headphones are available now on the official site for $169.99 These headphones offer wired and wireless options for connecting to a traditional source and produce a well-blended sound If you’re looking for headphones to use with your phone, look elsewhere. –> My best friend has been […] More

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    Your Sonos Ace headphones just got 4 major upgrades for free – here’s my buying advice now

    Jada Jones/ZDNETEditor’s note: This article was first published on June 6, 2025, and updated on June 10, 2025, when Sonos announced the Ace’s latest software updates.It’s been one year since Sonos released its first pair of consumer headphones, and although they made waves when they first dropped, how have they fared after the hype has died down? You can often find the Ace discounted for up to $120 off their original price, and if you’re interested in them, that’s the best time to buy them.Also: The best headphones of 2025I’ve worn the Sonos Ace More

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    How to turn on Android’s Private DNS Mode – and why your security depends on it

    Kerry Wan/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: Your Android phone is getting 4 big upgrades for free, thanks to Android 16Without 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 AndroidWhat you’ll need: The only thing you need to enable Private DNS Mode is an Android device running at least Version 9 of the operating system (released in 2018). I’m using a Pixel 9 Pro; pretty much every modern Android phone is capable of enabling Private DNS. More