Eliana Willis

ZDNETI’m an Android user and have been since version 1.5 of the OS. Over the past year or so, Google has switched its default assistant to its powerful AI solution, Gemini. For a while, I used Gemini on Android to get answers to my questions. I even made use of Gemini Live (which is quite impressive).But recently, I’ve been defaulting to a different AI service, Perplexity. I’ve installed the Perplexity app on Android, Linux, and MacOS, and set it as the default search engine in my web browser. Although I prefer using local AI (such as the Ollama/Msty combination), there are times when I need more or something faster than a local AI can deliver. On top of that, my locally installed AI doesn’t have access to real-time data, so it can’t tell me what’s in the news today.But why Perplexity over Gemini?Also: How I made Perplexity AI the default search engine in my browser (and why you should too)For starters, you can’t switch from Gemini to Perplexity as the Android default digital assistant, and I doubt that will ever be possible. You can, however, use Perplexity on your phone, desktop, and laptop as the default AI tool.Let me explain why you might want to do that.1. AI as search engineFor me, this is the biggest reason to switch to Perplexity. I’ve been using AI as a search engine for some time now. Why? The main reason is I find Google far less effective than it once was. When I’m doing research, I need answers fast and would rather not have to wade through sponsored sites or sites that contain so many ads that they render my browser unusable. One thing about Gemini is that you can certainly head to the Gemini website and use it, but you can’t set it as the default search engine in your web browser. On the other hand, you can do this with Perplexity, and that, for me, is a deal-maker.2. Better, more accurate responsesAfter comparing both Gemini and Perplexity for a few weeks, I’ve found Perplexity not only gives better answers (with more description and context) but the answers are also more accurate. I’ve found Gemini to produce subtle inaccuracies fairly regularly, but I have yet to find fault in a Perplexity response. That’s not to say they aren’t there, but they’ve not been nearly as obvious as what I generally found with Gemini. I’m not saying that Gemini is always or often wrong, but in the comparison, Gemini delivered less accurate responses overall. On top of all this, the response detail in Perplexity is much higher than Gemini. More

ZDNETA lot of people still use Windows 10, and very soon those people are going to have a few choices to consider:Pay Microsoft for continued updates ($61 for the first year, $122 for the second year, and $244 for the third year per device).Upgrade to Windows 11 (if your computer supports the new OS).Purchase a new computer that supports Windows 11.Switch to an Apple device.Switch to Linux.Only one of the above options is free… switch to Linux.For those who’ve never used Linux, that option could be a bit daunting.It doesn’t have to be.Also: The 4 most Windows-like Linux distros to try because change is hardThere are plenty of Linux distributions that will look and feel quite familiar to Windows users. One of those distributions is called Siduction, which is a rolling release (meaning it’s always up to date) based on Debian Sid and uses the KDE Plasma desktop.The developers of Siduction have done a great job of releasing an operating system that will make any Windows user feel right at home. KDE Plasma offers a familiar layout that’s beautifully configured and includes all of the flexibility the desktop environment offers.But it’s the familiarity that will be most welcoming. Out of the box, Siduction uses a Dark theme (why is that so popular?), but you can easily switch to a light theme in Settings > Appearance & Style > Colors & Themes. Switching to a light theme is one of the first things I do when installing a new operating system, and I find it necessary more often than not.Also: Why I no longer recommend this Windows-like Linux distroOf course, a light or dark theme is a personal choice, but that’s one of the beauties of KDE Plasma — you can make the desktop uniquely yours. More

Matthew Miller/ZDNETGet this: These widely loved Sony headphones More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is available for $80 in five colors: Black, Blush, Charcoal, Starlight, and White. This indoor camera pans 360 degrees and tilts up and down to cover the entire area it’s set up in, letting you watch over your home, business, or pets. The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor […] More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETThe new year is a great time to score lingering deals, and the Apple AirTag 4-Pack More

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images Despite the rise and fall of video platforms such as TikTok, Vine, and Musical.ly, YouTube has remained a top player in video streaming over the years. A key to that success has been constant updates to the platform, which make it easier for creators to produce and share videos and […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra battery and inverter unit is available now for $6,299 while the Smart Home Panel 2 is available for $1,899. The single unit has a 6kWh capacity and supports a 7,200W output and 5.6kW solar input, allowing it to run an entire home, especially when stacked with […] More