<!–> 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
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
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge starts at $1,099 for the 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage configuration. It’s an ultra-slim and lightweight flagship phone that makes any other device feel outdated. You’ll have to settle with subpar battery life and the absence of a telephoto lens due to […] More
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
Kerry Wan/ZDNETIf you’re a Pixel phone user, be prepared for some cool new features. With the June Pixel Drop, your Pixel will become more helpful, personalized, and accessible. These new features will start rolling out today; however, you can expect the rollout to take a few days (or weeks) to reach every supported Pixel device.What’s new in the June Pixel Drop? Let’s dive in.Also: Your Android phone is getting 4 big upgrades for free, thanks to Android 161. Pixel VIPsWith this new feature, you can turn specific friends and family members into VIPs. The VIPs widget makes it easier to stay connected to your favorite people. You’ll want to add as much information as you can for each VIP — such as birthdays, email, home addresses, and preferences — to get the most out of the feature. Once you’ve made someone a VIP, you’ll be able to view your last call and message with them and even allow them to bypass Do Not Disturb. You can keep notes on your VIPs, view their locations, and find things to do together. More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETMobile devices are always a tempting target for cybercriminals. That’s true not just for consumers but for companies. According to Google, more than half of organizations have pointed to smartphones as their most exposed endpoint, and data breaches often occur from improper use of these devices. In a blog post released on Tuesday, Google describes the latest protections available with its Android Enterprise platform.Also: Your Android phone is getting 4 big upgrades, thanks to Android 16Mobile devices have become popular, convenient tools among workers, as they can access email, apps and other internal business resources from anywhere. But often an employee’s phone is unmanaged and uncontrolled, leading to security weaknesses that can be exploited by hackers and attackers. Android Enterprise offers organizations and IT admins a way to better manage these devices, whether they’re company-owned or employee-owned. Though Android Enterprise has been around for a number of years, here are some of the latest initiatives Google has introduced. Security features Advanced protection: Employees can better thwart targeted attacks through strong mobile device protection. With just a single tap, they can enable multiple security features to defend against online attacks, malicious apps, unsafe websites, scam calls and other threats. This feature is accessible on Android 16 and higher but may only be available on certain devices and in specific regions. Identity Check: This feature prevents scams such as PIN theft and shoulder surfing, in which nearby thieves can pick up the PIN or password used to access a phone. With Identity Check, signing in to the device and apps requires a biometric method, such as facial or fingerprint recognition. This feature is also available on Android 16 and higher on certain devices. Corporate badges in Google Wallet: Employees can add their corporate ID badge to the Google Wallet app and then use their phones to securely gain entry to NFC-enabled buildings and offices. Secure network access with Access Point Name: Access Point Name, or APN, is a secure gateway between a mobile network and the public internet. With APN enabled, IT admins can apply custom cellular network configurations on managed devices to control how they use cellular data.Also: 7 simple things I always do on Android to protect my privacy – and why you should too More
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETAndroid 16 is officially here, and Google has some big upgrades on the way. Instead of releasing a new OS and a new phone lineup at the same time, Google is making the same move it did with Android 15 and giving both software and hardware their time to shine. Also: T-Mobile is giving away the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus for freeThis is the earliest Google has launched a major Android release in a while (for comparison, Android 15 was released on Oct. 15, 2024, and Android 14 was released on Oct. 4, 2023). Here’s a look at four of the biggest upgrades in Android 16. All of these features will drop for Pixel devices first and other devices later in the year. 1. Streamlined updates and lock screen app updates: Don’t want to unlock your phone every time you check to see when your late-night food order is arriving? Feeling uneasy in a new city and want to make sure your ride-share is close? Streamlined app updates give you the ability to see real-time updates from your lock screen. Google says it’s working with app partners to bring this capability to Android, including in Samsung’s Now Bar and OnePlus’ Live Alerts.Also: The best Google Pixel phones to buy: Expert tested and reviewedGoogle says it’s also automatically grouping notifications that come from a single app to make sure you don’t get information overload. More
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETI use the Music app on my iPhone just about every day, and one challenge I face is swiping through my vast library to find the album or artist I want to hear. Now, Apple has unveiled a new option that saves me a lot of swiping time.Apple introduced a pinned music feature with iOS 26 at WWDC on Monday. With this option, you can pin your favorite albums, artists, and playlists for quick, easy access. Pressing an item displays a menu with commands to Pin Playlist, Pin Album, or Pin Artist, depending on what you select. From there, the pinned item appears at the top of your music library. Also: Every iPhone model that can be updated to Apple’s iOS 26 (and which ones can’t)For now, you can pin up to six items — any combination of playlists, albums, and artists. That may not seem like a lot, so hopefully Apple will increase that number over time. The pin option isn’t the only new feature for the Music app in iOS 26.Ever play a song for which you can’t quite make out the lyrics (like Elton John’s “Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza”)? A new Lyrics Translator will help you better understand the actual words, and a Lyrics Pronunciation option will encourage you to sing along with your favorite tunes. Also: Your iPhone is getting a major upgrade for free. Here are the best features in iOS 26An AutoMix feature uses AI to segue smoothly from one song to the next, the same way a DJ might transition between tracks. And if you’re playing music while your phone is locked, the Lock screen will display animated cover art for the current album. To try the pin option and other new Apple Music features, you’ll need the first developer beta of iOS 26.Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter. More
