Eliana Willis

It’s almost time to say goodbye to summer: Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer (and the end of summer Fridays) with a three-day weekend and some of the last hot temperatures we will see for a while, If you’re hosting a Labor Day get-together this upcoming holiday weekend, there are several gadgets and products that make for a successful, fun, and stress-free gathering. Plus, with some summer deals and sales going on, you may even be able to snag them for a discounted price.Also: Everything you need for safe and efficient traveling this summerWe thought about some of the most common party planning needs, cross-referencing them with the top tech on the market — from electric grills we’ve tested to ZDNET’s top picks for outdoor TVs — to compile a list of everything you’ll need for your Labor Day soiree.A grill A grill is a great way to simultaneously socialize and feed all your guests. Plus, a hot dog or burger on the grill is a summer staple.  If this is one of the first times you’ve grilled this year and are realizing that it’s time for an upgrade, or want to invest in one in general, now is the time. From electric grills to gas grills, these are the grills that’ll get the job done.   More

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 More

Apple This year, Apple will release the iPhone 16 family, which reportedly has many AI-powered upgrades. Apple confirmed the iPhone event will happen on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT. This year’s theme is “It’s Glowtime,” and it’s expected that Apple will announce a new Apple Watch and two pairs of AirPods alongside the iPhone. […] More

severija/Getty Images Have you ever used Secure Shell to access a remote machine, only to find yourself needing to download a file from a remote location? What do you do? Since you only have terminal window access to that remote machine, you can’t open a web browser and download the file as you normally would. […] More

Jack WallenZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysDeepin 23 is now available to download and install for free.It’s beautiful, easy to use, and offers extra features not found in many Linux distributions.Getting AI to work can be problematic in Deepin Linux.Before I dive into this latest release from Deepin, I’ll want to say two things. First, AI has its place. For me, however, AI will never be used for writing or anything creative. I do (on occasion) use AI for research but that’s it. When I do use AI, I always go for Opera’s Aria because my OpenAI account has failed to function for the past few months. The second is that covering Deepin Linux is rather tricky, because of the security and privacy issues surrounding the distribution. Because of that second issue, I always treat Deepin reviews carefully.Also: This Linux distro is inspired by Windows’ UI – and it works surprisingly wellDeepin Linux is almost always associated with user-friendliness. Since its inception, it’s been a Linux distribution that caters to those who are new to Linux and those who want a beautiful desktop. Now, it’s aiming at another market… those who use AI. Because of Deepin’s history of being so user-friendly, you’d think working with AI on this latest release would be as simple as using the rest of the desktop. Unfortunately, that’s not quite the case. Why? It all boils down to your OpenAI account (if you have one). If you’re not tech-savvy, the AI component of Deepin might be a bit too frustrating to use. Is Deepin spyware?I’ll explain that in a bit, but first let’s talk about the desktop itself, starting with the elephant in the room: the issue of privacy. Deepin Linux is developed in China and there was a reasonable fear at one point that the entire distribution was spyware. FOSSLinux has a good explainer for this issue which I recommend you check out for a deep dive on the subject.Also: Linus Torvalds talks AI, Rust adoption, and why the Linux kernel is ‘the only thing that matters’You can also read Deepin’s official statement in response, which denies that it’s spyware. How Deepin does AI Okay, back to Deepin 23. Back in February, I wrote about the Deepin 23 preview, where I mentioned the new Linlong package format, atomic updates, and other new features. What wasn’t present in that piece was any mention of AI. Well, the official release is here and there’s plenty of AI to be had…along with a very beautiful desktop that is, as expected, quite user-friendly. In fact, I would say this version of Deepin could be used by anyone, regardless of skill level. It’s not until you get knee-deep into the AI aspect that Deepin drifts slightly away from user-friendliness. How is that? Isn’t AI supposed to be simple to use by nature?The first hurdle you’ll run into is that, in order to use AI in Deepin, you must first set up AI in Deepin. The next issue is the ol’ OpenAI account. Does your account still work? Are you willing to pay for an OpenAI account? If not, you can always select the Deepin System Assistant or the Personal Knowledge Assistant from the Assistant List.Also: Linux market share hit its highest point ever last monthBut wait, even selecting those options requires you to add an AI model, of which there are 7 options:CPT 3.5GPT4Three Chinese modelsChatGLM-turboCustom More

Download a lifetime license to Microsoft Office at a deep discount with this deal. Stack Social If you need access to Microsoft Office but don’t want to pay the yearly fee to access Office 365, you’re in luck: Stack Social is offering a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows or Mac, starting […] More

Sony/ZDNETThe audio market is seeing new additions every month, with companies like Google, Samsung, and JBL refreshing their flagship earbuds. However, some companies, like Sony, are holding off on their more premium options and upgrading their budget buds instead.Also: The best earbuds you can buy: Expert tested and reviewedCase in point: Sony’s latest WF-C510 earbuds, the successor to the WF-500 earbuds from 2021, sport a closed-back, rounded form factor with angled silicone tips. They ditch the more expensive noise-canceling tech in favor of an Ambient sound mode and extensive compatibility with Sony’s mobile app.Although these earbuds can be considered a heavily stripped-down version of Sony’s flagship WF-1000X series earbuds, the company says the WF-C510 debut has many upgrades compared to its predecessor. For example, Sony claims the WF-C510 are 20% smaller and 15%, or 0.8 grams, lighter than the WF-C500.Also: Sony’s WF-1000XM5 may just be the best premium earbuds right nowThe decrease in size should make the WF-C510 more comfortable to wear for long periods, as some people found the WF-C500 too bulky and built up too much in-ear pressure. Instead of tap-and-swipe controls found on the premium Sony buds, the WF-C510 have buttons on the outer edges. We’ll have to see if that’s a deficit at all when we test them soon. More

Chris Clor/Getty Images Over the years, Linux has had little to offer gamers. Sure, there were a few cutesy games (such as one of my favorites, Frozen Bubble), but not many more. Then came Wine, which allowed users to play Windows games on Linux. Nowadays, there’s Steam. Also: Linux market share hit its highest point ever […] More