IncrediVFX/Getty Images I use a VPN. I don’t use a VPN every second of every day. Over the years, I’ve found that using a VPN all the time can cause various issues to pop up. Because of that, I’ve become rather selective about when I make use of the VPN installed on my system. Also: You […] More
MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETWhen Apple announced the MacBook Air M4 More
Adam Breeden/ZDNETIf your Pixel phone screen is acting strange, it’s not just your device. Also: 4 Pixel phone tricks every user should know – including my favoriteGoogle just released its Pixel update for March, and while it introduced some new features, it may have also introduced new bugs that are frustrating users. Brightness randomly dropsIn addition to a strange change in the haptic feedback, some users are experiencing a problem with their phone’s brightness. While watching Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, or other streaming content, users say the brightness will randomly drop to a low level for a few seconds before returning to normal. Also: 12 Android phone settings you should change to dramatically increase battery lifeThe issue occurs about every 10 seconds for some users and every few minutes for others, usually while watching full-screen video. It is being reported on phones from the Pixel 6 series through the Pixel 9 series (but not on any Pixel Fold devices). Some users have found that turning on subtitles triggers the problem, while others experience it consistently, regardless of the content. More
Adobe/ZDNETAdobe is updating its Adobe Stock service with an AI-powered feature called “Customize.” It allows anyone to “refine and tailor” stock images without ever needing to leave the Adobe Stock platform. In other words, you can make quick, easy adjustments to images, including AI-generated image variations, rather than spend hours editing in a separate app like Photoshop.Also: The best photo editing softwareFor those unfamiliar, Adobe Stock is a paid service that gives you access to millions of assets to use in projects — including photos, videos, illustrations, vector graphics, 3D assets, templates, and more. It’s aimed at designers, marketers, business owners, etc. The service lets you search, preview, and license any asset in its library directly from its website or within Adobe Creative Cloud apps, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and After Effects. This integration is handy for those who like to add and manipulate assets right from the Adobe tools they’re already using. But what about people who don’t use Adobe’s other apps? That’s where Customize steps in to help.AI-powered edits in Adobe StockThe new Customize feature is all about giving you more creative control over Adobe Stock assets. It includes AI image creation and edits, all powered by Adobe Firefly. With this tool, you can now make edits and quick adjustments to images directly in Adobe Stock. You can expand images, apply styles, and make other adjustments, but these require generative credits.Also: Forget Sora: Adobe launches ‘commercially safe’ AI video generator. How to try itKeep in mind Adobe already offered its Firefly AI technology More
Cesar Cadenas/ZDNETI’ve never really been an Apple guy. Most of the tech I have owned has either been Windows- or Android-related. I’ve never had an iPhone, and outside of a few instances, I never used a Mac for an extended period of time. However, writing for ZDNET has given me opportunities to try out hardware I may never have touched. And after trying out Apple’s new M4 Max Mac Studio More
Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images For years, Pinterest has been dubbed the go-to social media site for seeing inspirational mood boards, tracking lifestyle, fashion, and beauty trends, and finding niche and popular consumer-based products. However, the site has recently been plagued with an onslaught of AI slop, making it difficult for users to decipher what’s […] More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETOnePlus just made a business decision that took a lot of courage. At least that’s how its CEO, Pete Lau, framed it in his Monday community post. After years and years of fielding a physical alert slider on its phones, the company is moving away in favor of a customizable function key, similar in behavior to the iPhone’s Action Button.Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: I compared the best Android phones, and it was very closeThe change is in response to a recent demand for more customizability in smartphones, particularly regarding the alert slider, which could only toggle between sound modes (silent, vibrate, and sound). Lau said that this left OnePlus with two choices: “Leave it as it was or evolve it into something even more powerful.”The result is a smart button that adapts to the user’s needs, whether adjusting specific settings, firing up apps at will, or remaining as the good old mute switch. The latter is non-negotiable, says Lau, as users still prefer OnePlus devices for the burdenless capability. More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETAT&T and its partner AST SpaceMobile have successfully completed a video call using an unmodified smartphone connected via satellite, showcasing the potential of space-based cellular networks to bridge connectivity gaps in remote and underserved areas.Also: AT&T and Verizon users can try T-Mobile’s Starlink satellite service now – here’s howThe call, conducted on AT&T’s spectrum, used AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites launched in September 2024. Originating from Midland, Texas, the video call was made using a standard WhatsApp application on an everyday smartphone, demonstrating how seamlessly integrated the satellite technology was with existing mobile devices. “It’s transparent to the phone,” John Wojewoda, AVP at AT&T Mobility, tells ZDNET. “It just looks like another wireless network.” More
