<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Asus ProArt P16 is on sale now at Best Buy for $1,699, which is $200 off the regular price. It pairs powerful hardware a suite of customizable options for creatives. The deep personalization requires engagement from the user, the huge trackpad won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, and the ultra-glossy […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Twelve South ButterFly SE is available for $100 in Midnight Plum, Iridescent, White, Black, and Pink. This charging station is highly compact, making it ideal for travelers and habitual end-of-night nightstand charging folks. You can only charge two devices at the same time, which may not be enough power for […] More
Get a Babbel lifetime language subscription at a big discount right now. StackSocial Learning a new language can be daunting. But right now, you can buy a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning from Stack Social that lets you choose from 14 languages and access more than 10,000 hours of online language education for $130 — […] More
While Apple doesn’t give a timetable, we have pointers and historical data to fall back on.First, Apple dropped a swath of release candidates yesterday, indicating that — barring some last-minute catastrophe — everything is ready. Also, going back through my calendar – yes, I log operating system releases in my calendar – iOS 17.2, 16.2, and 15.2 were released Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, and Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, respectively.So, if I were a betting man, I’d wager next Monday or Tuesday.As for the time of day, updates normally land 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET/5 a.m. AEDT (next day). It takes a while for the update to roll out, and depending on how busy the update servers are, it might take a while before the new updates are available. More
Jason Hiner/ZDNETIs your smart TV acting not-so-smart? Does it exhibit lag in sequences or a slow response to your remote control? You aren’t the only one who’s experienced the frustration of watching a juddering screen or disconcerting digital hang-ups. Also: How to calibrate your TV for the best picture quality – 2 easy and simple methodsModern TVs have plenty of features and apps (and services that run in the background) which can leave them bogged down over time. Fortunately, there are some simple actions to take that might just rectify your flatscreen’s sketchy performance. More
Long-Term Support Linux Kernels December 2024 sjvn/ZDNETAs expected, the recently released Linux 6.12 will be the next Long-Term Support (LTS) version of the Linux kernel, according to Greg Kroah-Hartman, Linux kernel stable maintainer.This new LTS kernel comes with many useful new features, the most significant being the inclusion of real-time support in the mainline kernel, which — after 20 years of work — dramatically improves the performance of real-time applications.Also: 5 first-rate Linux distros for power users (or anyone seeking a challenge)Other noteworthy additions include a new extensible scheduler, sched_ext, which leverages eBPF in kernel virtualization technology and grants users more control over process scheduling and prioritization. In addition, 6.12 is giving us QR error codes for Linux’s kernel and the Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) panic screens. This makes debugging Linux failures much easier than navigating a flood of text error messages. Linux kernels used to have a six-year lifespan. This was cut to two because people were not using the older kernels. In addition, maintaining older kernels wasn’t easy, and Linux code maintainers were burning out.Linux 6.12’s selection came as no surprise because, in recent years, the last kernel release of the year is usually selected as the next LTS kernel. This version will receive extended maintenance and security updates for at least two years. More
Charlie Osborne/ZDNETHere at ZDNET, we extensively cover the virtual private network (VPN) market and keep an eye out for any worthwhile deals. Over at Stack Social, we’ve spotted an interesting promotion for anyone who wants to use VPN software to mask their online activity from prying eyes, including ISPs, marketers, and other groups that may track what websites you visit and what online services you use. Also: The best VPN servicesThe VPN in question is from AdGuard, a company well-known for its ad and tracker-blocking technologies. Now, you also have the option to try out their standalone VPN, which could provide an additional layer of privacy to protect your browsing. What I like about this deal is the price. For $35 (90% off), you can sign up for a five-year plan, which gives you access to a VPN for well under $1 per month. The subscription includes 10 simultaneous device connections, and AdGuard operates a no-logging policy. One- and three-year subscription AdGuard VPN deals are also available for $15 and $25, respectively, and while inexpensive, they are more in line with typical promotions offered by other VPN providers. Also: The best VPN for streamingThe mobile iOS and Android versions of this VPN are easy to set up, with a clean layout and a simple menu bar. You can opt for the default “smart” location just by clicking a button, or you can wander through the server and country list (over 60 locations) to find your preferred location. Its speeds are fine, and I didn’t notice any real difference in my browsing or app usage. There is a caveat, though: I can’t recommend this VPN for purely MacOS usage. During my testing, I found it a challenge to even sign in, and it is extremely slow. In short, the mobile user experience is what you would expect from a decent VPN, but the MacOS app needs a lot of work. (We do have a list of VPNs that are great for Mac, if you need one.) A free option is available, but keep in mind that VPN traffic, connection speed, and server locations are very limited. More
Adam Breeden/ZDNETSay you picked up a shiny new TV this holiday season. You unbox it like a kid at Christmas and prepare yourself to binge-watch Squid Game 2. You think to yourself, “This is 2024. 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.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. Also: The best Samsung TVs of 2024: Expert testedFor 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
