Eliana Willis

ZDNETEvery time you use your browser, DNS is at play. DNS stands for Domain Name System and is responsible for translating IP addresses, such as 142.250.9.102, into domain names, such as google.com. Without DNS, everyone would have to remember IP addresses instead of handy URLs. That’s called name resolution.The difference between standard DNS and secure DNS is pretty stark. With standard DNS, every time you go to a URL, the address is sent in plain text. When you use secure DNS, that address is encrypted, so it’s very hard for third parties (good or bad) to check in on your web traffic or searches. When secure DNS is used, all name resolution happens via HTTPS (the secure HTTP protocol).Simply put, you should be using secure DNS on all of your devices.Also: Why you should be using secure DNS on your ChromebookTo do this on MacOS, we’ll need to take care of secure DNS on the system and then make sure your default browser has DNS over HTTPS set.Note: Once upon a time, enabling Cloudflare’s secure DNS on MacOS required installing a proxy application, but that is no longer the case, as Apple now makes it possible to add those secure DNS addresses manually.First, let’s take care of the system part of things.How to enable secure DNS for MacOSWhat you’ll need: The only thing you’ll need for this is a MacOS device. I’ll demonstrate on a MacBook Pro (M1) running MacOS version 15.1.1. Make sure your version of MacOS is updated. More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETIf you’re a subscriber to the Nextdoor app, you’ve seen ample footage of prowling ne’er-do-wells caught in the eye of a video doorbell or home security camera. Hopefully, you don’t have your own first-hand experience with suspicious characters milling around your front porch, or far worse.For good reason, security cameras continue to grow in popularity, and we can expect them to become even more reliable and affordable in 2025. Also: Apple is working on a doorbell that unlocks your door Face ID-styleWhile we don’t necessarily require super high-res imagery from these discrete little devices, you can get the most out of them by being mindful of a few factors — especially where you position your camera(s). 1. Avoid obstructions (even future obstructions)Obviously, you won’t be putting a lens behind anything that blocks its view. Sometimes, though, that can include objects that change in size or shape over time, like trees and shrubs. During wintertime, a clear view of your yard may become a different story when branches bloom with new foliage in the spring.The same can apply to interior views, at least with objects that come and go. Will shutting a door somewhere within your camera’s line of sight block out a good percentage of its field of vision? Will your pet cat find a favorite spot to curl up in for hours at a time, right in front of the device? More

ZDNETWearables are becoming an increasingly popular way to monitor your health. Smart rings like Oura can detect changes in vital signs that might indicate sickness, and smartwatches, including the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch, can identify sleep apnea. AirPods can now test your hearing; even irregular menstruation data collected by fitness bands can reveal early signs of bigger health issues. But in some cases, wearables go beyond routine health monitoring to save users’ lives. A 2023 study found that smartwatches are highly accurate when it comes to detecting arrhythmias. Through heart rate, emergency, and fall detection features, the Apple Watch helped several people in dire situations in 2024.Also: The best Apple WatchesHere are eight instances where the Apple Watch detected critical information in the nick of time.1. Unlikely heart failure Memphis-based Kamron Jones’ Apple Watch frequently sent him alerts indicating his heart rate was abnormally high, which eventually prompted him to visit the hospital. At the time, he had assumed he was feeling low-energy due to a recent case of pneumonia. But after several tests, doctors determined he was experiencing heart failure.At only 22, Jones didn’t expect the diagnosis and wouldn’t have considered it possible without his Apple Watch. Jones told Fox 13 that he would have ignored his mild symptoms if not for the watch’s notifications — at which point it may have been too late to get the help he needed. More

LG’s Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 from earlier this year. Kerry Wan/ZDNETLG just announced that it’s expanding its lineup of Gram laptops in 2025, which includes launching the company’s first-ever Copilot+ PC and its first devices powered by Gram AI, its proprietary hybrid AI that utilizes both on-device and cloud-based AI models. Expected to be unveiled at CES 2025, the Gram, Gram Pro, Gram Pro 2-in-1, and Gram Book are just as slim and lightweight as last year’s models. We tested them, and can confirm that they’re some of the thinnest, lightest laptops we’ve ever seen. What’s new is that they now come equipped with LG’s on-device “Gram Chat” AI to process and analyze data locally, even when not connected to Wi-Fi.  Also: I tested the lightest 16-inch convertible laptop of the year, but that’s not even its best featureGram Chat’s hybrid approach utilizes LG’s EXAONE large language model when offline, but when connected to Wi-Fi, it employs cloud-based AI powered by GPT-4o. LG Research released its EXAONE 3.0 LLM earlier this year after a three-year development period.So, what does this mean for laptop users? AI all day, every day, whether or not you have Wi-Fi. LG says Gram Chat integrates with calendar and email apps, enabling the AI to help manage a user’s schedule as well as send and receive emails and messages. It also leverages the “Time Travel” feature, which can revisit web pages, documents, videos and audio files (which sounds a little bit like a certain controversial Windows feature).  More

TCL’s 2024 QM8 photographed in the ZDNET testing lab. Adam Breeden/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?Best Buy is offering a new deal on the TCL QM85 (2024) More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Xgimi’s Horizon S Max offers sharp and vibrant picture quality that’s well above its price tag. The new gimbal design is convenient and easy to set up. Minimal port selection might be a problem for some more buying choices The Xgimi Horizon S Max–> is one of the brightest projectors I’ve […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Configurations for Lenovo’s LOQ Tower 17IRR9 start at $899. The computer is a great option for people looking for a well-performing, compact, and affordable computer. However, because of its small size, it has a limited number of available ports. more buying choices Lenovo’s Legion series is positioned as the company’s flagship gaming […] More

Nina Raemont/ZDNETThe new year is days away, but before we start thinking about all the technology that will emerge in 2025, let’s take a look back and remember this year’s greatest hits. I spend 40 hours a week testing products, writing reviews, and curating best lists (like the one you’re about to read). To compile a list of the best products released in 2024, I considered a few things. The first is my pure enjoyment of the product; that is, how badly did I want to continue using it — even after testing ended? Also: Everything you need to host a holiday partyThe second is how transformative or innovative the product is in its respective space — like sleep tech, health tech, or audio tech. The third is how value-packed the product is for its price. Sure, a few of these products might be expensive, but I’m including them because this product is the crème de la crème for its price point. This was a big year for wearable health tech, from sleep earbuds that actually put me to sleep to smart rings that track my activity.  But other products, like a great pair of earbuds for working out, also made the list. Oura Ring 4  More