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    The Pixel 8 is still a sweet Android phone in 2025 and it’s on sale for over $200 off

    Max Buondonno/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Pixel 8 offers a flagship-level experience with Google’s latest AI and machine learning features, and right now, it’s marked down to $488 on Amazon.With fast performance, amazing cameras, and Google’s Actua display, it’s one of the best smartphone deals available.Compared to similarly priced phones, like the Nothing Phone 2, the Pixel 8 is a far better value.As part of Amazon’s 2025 Spring Sale, Google’s base Pixel 8 More

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    How AI agents help hackers steal your confidential data – and what to do about it

    SEAN GLADWELL/Getty Images Like many people, cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to help them work faster, easier, and smarter. With automated bots, account takeovers, and social engineering, a savvy scammer knows how to enhance their usual tactics with an AI spin. A new report from Gartner shows how this is playing out now and how […] More

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    Forget SaaS: The future is Services as Software, thanks to AI

    Kilito Chan/Getty Images For at least two decades, Software as a Service — aka, SaaS — has been at the center of the technology universe, with applications fully accessible via the internet. Now, artificial intelligence is turning this arrangement on its head, leveraging applications autonomously to deliver services. They’re calling it “Services as Software.” AI […] More

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    The 13 best early Amazon Spring Sale robot vacuum deals of 2025

    When is Amazon’s Spring Sale 2025? The Amazon Big Spring Sale starts on March 25 and ends on March 31. Are robot vacuums really cheaper during Amazon sales? Yes, robot vacuums are actually cheaper during Amazon sales. Prices often reach all-time lows during Prime Day events and the Amazon Big Spring Sale. You can find robot vacuum discounts sporadically throughout the year, but these big sales events tend to feature the biggest discounts and are often the best time to buy.How did we choose these Spring Sale deals?As a robot vacuum reviewer, I’ve become familiar with unique features and tested various devices in every price range. This experience has made me realize that the robot vacuum market has a lot of competition and helps me discern which robot vacuums are worth their retail price and when a discount is a good deal.I check robot vacuum deals weekly, paying special attention during sales events. I always choose to feature the deals that deliver the most features and best performance for the least money. Using our expertise and different tools to track deals, we can determine when a deal is worth it and ensure we only cover those.Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends. More

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    I always turn off this default TV setting when watching movies – here’s why you should, too

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETI love March Madness, at least when my team is invited to the Big Dance. I even enjoy watching other teams play their hearts out like everything is on the line — because it is. While NCAA basketball continues to be broadcast in standard HD, the games can look clear, bright, and beautiful on most modern TVs. Part of that appeal, though, is owed to your TV’s motion-smoothing capabilities. Also: How to watch March Madness 2025: The best streaming optionsFor many people, motion smoothing is only appropriate for gaming and watching live sports; enthusiasts typically prefer turning off the feature to watch anything else because it can detract from the filmmaker’s original intent, making on-screen images seem artificial or hyper-realistic. This is what’s called the “soap opera effect.” It’s a perfectly descriptive metaphor that probably requires no explanation. You can see it all too well: the cinematic film should not look like a daytime soap; you shouldn’t feel like you’re on the set with the actors. But it is appealing to feel like you’re in the stadium watching your team with thousands of fans. The soap opera effect makes sense for live sporting event broadcasts. More