Eliana Willis

ZDNETWith Street View, you can see panoramic, street-level images of practically any place in the world. Captured by Google’s fleet of specialized vehicles with high-resolution cameras, these images provide a virtual tour of neighborhoods, landmarks, and businesses. While Street View is incredibly useful and sometimes nostalgic, it does raise privacy concerns.Also: A hidden Google Maps feature is making people emotionalGoogle tries to blur identifiable faces and license plates in Street View to prevent misuse, but your house will still appear clearly. If this visibility feels unsettling — whether due to geospatial data privacy concerns, the desire to prevent criminal targeting, or maybe you just want to shield your property from unwelcome attention — Google allows you to blur your home upon request. Here’s how.How to blur your house on Google Maps Street ViewGoogle provides a quick process for requesting that your house, vehicle, different object, or even face be blurred on Street View. Keep in mind that once blurred, the image cannot be reverted, so make your decision carefully. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Logitech’s Mevo Core has a micro 4/3 image sensor that outperforms typical webcams in low light and resolution. Wireless connectivity offers flexible placement and setup for your live streams. The Mevo Core is fairly pricey at $999, with no lens included, but features like multi-cam support for creative live streams utilizing […] More

Phil Ashley/Getty Images The TikTok ban could be catastrophic for Americans. This crisis has ripple effects that could disrupt industries and shake the American economy. 💰 Aly (my editor) HATES when I do hot takes… but billions per month are at stake, and American small businesses are on the line so I have to share […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways KeySmart’s SmartCard is available from Amazon for $40 (3-pack for $90). It’s super thin, works with Apple iOS Find My, has a wireless rechargeable battery, and is IPX7-rated. It needs to be recharged every 5 months or so. –> Apple AirTags<!–> have changed my life, saving me countless hours looking for […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Microsoft has made one of the best work tablets of 2024 with the 11th-generation Surface Pro for $1,000. It’s one of the latest Copilot+ PCs housing next-gen hardware, long-lasting battery, and a stunning OLED touchscreen. As great as it may be, the device’s generative AI features don’t perform at the same […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Amazon sells the Echo Hub for $180. The Echo Hub gives Alexa the place it has earned in the smart home market: A control panel to easily access smart devices, no ads, and no unnecessary fluff. The smart display can be slow and buggy, especially while loading multiple camera views more […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is priced at $150. The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus offers a clear head-to-toe view of your front door, a removable rechargeable battery pack, reliable motion detection alerts, and seamless integration with Alexa. Ring continues to keep most features behind its Ring Home subscription; though the video […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is available for $200. I’ve been testing the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which features the fastest performance yet and up to 12 weeks of battery life; alternatively, the 16 GB Kindle Paperwhite is available for $160. Remember that Amazon’s promise of up to 12 weeks of […] More