Eliana Willis

ZDNETIf your computer desktop looks a little chaotic and you’re noticing some performance slowdown, it might be time to do a cleanup. The best way to keep things running smoothly is to ensure you’re running the most updated version of Windows (you’d be surprised how many folks’ devices are several updates behind). But if you’re up-to-date, there are other things you can do to optimize.Also: How to clear the cache on your TV (and why you shouldn’t wait to do it)Windows has a few helpful utilities that can free up some space (and they’re already on your PC). These utilities aren’t intended for large-scale repairs but can help make things run faster by cutting excess weight.Regular computer usage results in stored cache files that can become corrupted and outdated, leading to operational quirks and slower boot times. Clearing this cache and other temporary files can improve performance and keep things running optimally. Here’s how.  More

Bloomberg/Getty Images The next time you use Gemini, you might notice it’s a little faster.  Google announced that Gemini 2.0 Flash AI is now rolling out to all users in the Gemini app on both desktop and mobile. It appears to be rolling out on desktop more quickly, as I saw it on my laptop, […] More

Getty Images/blackdovfx When incorporated into business operations, AI’s ability to act as an assistant in virtually every aspect of a professional’s workload should increase efficiency. However, many obstacles, including leadership perceptions of the technology, are preventing widespread adoption by organizations.  To better understand how organizations are welcoming AI-related change,  Accenture surveyed 3,450 C-suite leaders and […] More

CNET/ZDNETLive TV streaming services were designed to disrupt the cable monopoly. And for a while, it looked like the plan was working.Cable companies, no longer blessed with monopoly power, are losing millions of customers every year. But the cord-cutting alternatives that were supposed to save us have been raising prices steadily, and today the price of a live TV streaming service is nearly as high as one of those old cable bills.Also: Bye bye, Wi-Fi: How to add a wired network to your home without running EthernetTake YouTube TV, for example. At its launch in 2017, Google’s live TV streaming service cost a mere $35 a month. Since then, Google has raised prices every year. By the time I signed up in early 2020, the price had crept up to $50 a month. The latest price increase, which took effect in January 2025, raised the cost of the base plan to $83, plus an extra $10 for the 4K add-on. For the base plan alone, that’s a 66% increase in five years.And then there’s Fubo TV, which announced at the start of January that it would be acquired by Disney and would share the same corporate parent as Hulu with Live TV.  And by the end of January … yes, you guessed it: Fubo raised the monthly base prices of all its subscriptions.That flurry of price increases got me asking questions:Am I really getting my money’s worth out of that $90-plus subscription?Are any competitors offering a better deal?What happens if I decide to just cut out my live TV streaming service altogether?The competitionFor customers in the US, there are currently six live TV streaming services to choose from. Each one works using an app on a streaming device or smart TV platform. Subscribers choose a plan that offers some combination of basic and premium cable channels, local broadcast channels, and regional sports networks, along with DVR capabilities so you can pause live TV and record shows to watch later.ZDNET has already done the work of assembling the available choices. I reviewed each one of those services three years ago and decided to take a fresh look in 2025 to see what’s changed.Also: Want to avoid the YouTube TV price hike? This trick worked for me (eventually)Four of those services offer strikingly similar lineups at prices that are nearly identical: between $82 and $87 a month, before add-ons. The other two are noticeably cheaper, so that’s where I started, working from least to most expensive.PhiloYou get what you pay forAt a mere $28 a month for 70+ channels, this service seems like a genuine bargain. You also get access to the AMC+ library and another 100+ free ad-supported channels. (You can see the whole lineup in Philo’s channel guide.)Also: I invested $50 in Bitcoin in 2022, and it’s been a ride. Here’s how much I have nowIf you just want something to watch, Philo has plenty to offer, but its offering is too lean for me. It keeps costs low by not paying to carry the most expensive cable channels, so you won’t find The Weather Channel, for example, or any of the three big US-based cable news networks: CNN, MSNBC, or Fox News. (The only news is via BBC World News.) Philo also doesn’t include any local channels or regional sports networks, which means no weekend sports.Philo More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Motorola’s Moto G is available from the company’s website for $200. The smartphone boasts a long-lasting battery, booming speakers, and a solid camera array. However, I wouldn’t call it a “pocket-sized theater” due to its sub-standard screen. –> In a world where flagship smartphones can cost $1,000 or more, key brands […] More

It all depends on your use case and personal preference. For example, Mortensen prefers tablets with screens (otherwise known as pen displays).”Direct drawing changes your art and thinking in ways that you can’t predict,” he said. “Art is hard enough without not being able to look right at what you’re drawing. Sure, they’re more expensive, but if you have the means, I highly recommend it.”On the other hand, screen-less drawing tablets (also known as pen tablets) generally have a lower price point and are more portable. Keep in mind these tablets require a connection to a computer and can take some time to get used to, as you’ll need to draw on the tablet while looking at your computer screen. Overall, the best drawing tablets allow you to digitally create in different ways based on the art and artist, so it’s really up to your preference whether you want to work with a drawing tablet that has a built-in touchscreen or a special pressure-sensitive surface. More

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