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    The 11th Gen Apple iPad just reached its lowest price yet

    The previous model iPad 10th Gen (pictured).  June Wan/ZDNET iPads have become essential tools for work, productivity, school, and even business development. With rising tech costs, now may be an ideal time to jump on a deal, especially when it offers the latest and greatest updates.Also: Why the new $349 iPad is sneakily Apple’s best hardware deal right nowNow, you can get the 11th-generation iPad More

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    I found the 15 best Mother’s Day gifts for tech-loving moms

    If your Mom could benefit from better nights’ sleep and more rest, consider gifting a Hatch Restore alarm clock this Mother’s Day. The Hatch Restore 3 is Hatch’s most updated version of its popular sunrise alarm clock, designed to replicate naturally waking up with the sun. The Restore 3 builds upon the Hatch Restore 2, with improved speakers. This new central button makes it easy to turn things on and off, new Unwind routines to help ease you into bed, and a personalized onboarding experience to identify your sleep challenges.Also: This sunrise alarm clock changed my nighttime routineAs far as the setup goes, it’s simple: You download the Hatch app, connect it to your Restore 3, connect the smart clock to your home’s Wi-Fi, and then you start customizing and setting up your Rest and Rise routines with your preferred choice of light, soundscapes, and more.ZDNET’s Allison Murray tested the Restore 3 in March and was impressed with its capabilities. “If you’re looking to improve your sleep in 2025, the Hatch Restore 3 is a game-changer. While it’s costly, if you’re serious about using your phone less at night and getting a better sleep experience in the morning, this device is the one I consistently recommend,” Murray wrote in her review.  More

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    The next Apple Watch likely won’t include this popular health feature

    Jason Hiner/ZDNETBlood oxygen monitoring has been gaining traction in the wearables space for a while now. Smartwatches with blood oxygen monitoring functionality can help detect whether there’s enough oxygen circulating throughout the body. Apple originally implemented the feature on its Series 9 smartwatch, until it got caught up in — and lost — a patent lawsuit to Masimo, which resulted in the disabling of the feature on the smartwatch. Also: The best blood pressure watches you can buy: Expert testedRecent reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman indicate that the feature isn’t coming back anytime soon, at least not in time for the Apple Watch Series 11’s launch this fall. Gurman reports that Apple won’t be resolving the patent dispute. An Apple spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this rumor. Blood oxygen monitoring is a useful feature for both fitness enthusiasts and people with breathing conditions. For example, people with COVID-19 or pneumonia regularly check their blood oxygen levels to monitor their condition and assess treatment solutions.  More

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    Your Google TV is getting a free feature upgrade – smart home users will love it

    Maria Diaz/ZDNETOlder Google TV and Chromecast devices are getting the Home Panel feature, allowing you to control your smart home devices from your TV. The feature was initially launched with the Google TV Streamer last year, but Google opened a public preview program to let users enroll older devices. Now, the feature appears to have launched widely and quietly. The latest update began rolling out during the past 24 to 48 hours, and reports indicate users are using the Home Panel feature on discontinued Chromecast devices and Google TV sets, including Hisense TVs.Also: Is your Chromecast still throwing errors? This fix will get you streaming againThe Home Panel on Google TV lets you control Google Home-compatible smart devices by accessing them on the right side of your TV. These devices include smart thermostats, video doorbells, security cameras, speakers, smart lights, and more. Like Apple’s tvOS and Amazon’s FireOS, the Home Panel can also show smart home notifications, such as a person ringing your Nest Doorbell.  More

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    I changed these 6 Samsung TV settings for an instant performance boost

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETSay you recently picked up a shiny new TV. You unbox it like a kid at Christmas and prepare to indulge in all its visual glory. You think to yourself, “This is 2025. TV technology is sizzling, and it’s going to look amazing no matter what.” So you plug it in and don’t take one look at the default settings. Big mistake.Also: You should probably clear your TV cache right now (and why it makes such a big difference)I’ve been guilty of it. And I’m okay with that because it’s widely accepted that the majority of consumers neglect to alter the most basic settings when setting up their TVs. Even if your TV is a few years old, you may have never modified its defaults. For Samsung TVs, in particular, you can change a few settings to improve your viewing experience and make a dystopian survival thriller look that much more appealing. Following are six tips for doing just that. More