Information Technology

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETGoogle’s new Android feature is focused on ensuring you have quick access to your communication history. It’s called Contact History, and it’s found within the Android Contacts app. The latest upgrade to Contacts now includes a section called “Recent activity” that lists the recent communication history with a contact.If you find an interaction (be it a phone call, text, or other form), you can tap the entry to open the associated app.Also: I changed 12 settings on my Android phone to instantly extend the battery lifeThis feature can be helpful if time has passed since you’ve communicated with a contact and you want to remember the last interaction. Open the contact, scroll down until you see the “Recent activity” entry, and you’ll see whatever communications you’ve had. You’ll also see the call time and when the call was placed. More

Amazfit Balance <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Amazfit Balance smartwatch is available now for $150. It features a sleek and stylish design with a brilliant AMOLED display, accurate GPS, and a list of health-tracking features. Just be prepared for the data-heavy companion app, which will take some time to familiarize with. –> As a wearables […] More

Mowrator S1 <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Mowrator S1 remote-controlled lawnmower costs $3,999. This mower makes fun work of yard maintenance; perfect for someone with mobility issues, has a long-lasting battery, and fast RC response. Unfortunately, it is an expensive device, at $3,999, and it’s not meant to perform completely hands-free cleaning like a robot […] More

Adam Breeden/ZDNETSoundbars are gaining in popularity because of their sleek design and ability to provide an ample boost in audio quality compared to built-in TV speakers. Even with their plug-and-play nature, you can make a few modifications to help unleash the best possible sound quality. Also: I replaced my Sonos Arc Ultra with this Samsung flagship soundbar – and it’s a worthy alternativeWhether you’re new to soundbar setups or a self-proclaimed audiophile, familiarizing yourself with some key settings can elevate your viewing and listening experience. Read on for five pointers on how to optimize your soundbar’s performance. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETI’ve spent large portions of my life looking for ways to extend the battery life on my Android phones. Admittedly, that sounds rather dramatic, but growing up with only budget models meant I was constantly tweaking device settings to squeeze every bit of juice out of their batteries. Thanks to this micromanaging, I successfully pushed the batteries on all my past smartphones to their absolute limit. I don’t want to hoard this knowledge to myself, so I’ve decided to share it with everyone.Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2025There are many different methods for saving battery life. However, there are 12 key settings that you can change right now to see improvements immediately. The following list highlights the most effective, easiest, and quickest tweaks to improve device longevity regardless of the Android phone you’re rocking, whether it’s the latest model from Samsung or a fancy Google Pixel. Plus, you won’t have to sacrifice the high-quality experience of using your phone.Although the power settings are practically the same on every Android phone you can buy, the process for adjusting them can vary between devices. Be sure to keep this factor in mind when following the steps I lay out because the approach might be slightly different depending on the model you’re using. More

Wyze Wyze just launched a new Lamp Socket v2<!–> that screws into an existing light fixture and lets you conveniently power your Wyze Cam directly from it. The lamp socket makes your light work intelligently with your Wyze cam, so you can control it from the Wyze app or set automation for it to turn on […] More

Dell 14 Premium <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Dell’s latest high-performance laptop is currently on sale starting at $1,500. It’s superbly designed, with a sleek, modern build and powerful, but accessible, hardware. It runs warm, and requires power management from the user to get the most out of the battery. –> Dell’s laptop rebrand may have […] More

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNETNearly every part of modern life depends on our connection to the internet. When my provider experiences an outage, everything grinds to a halt — working remotely via VPN, streaming music on Spotify, and even using smart home devices. It’s a stark reminder of how much we rely on the invisible network that keeps us connected. Almost every aspect of modern life is affected by our connectivity to the Web. Also: Is your Roku TV spying on you? Probably, but here’s how to put an end to itA total outage feels completely unacceptable. But a sketchy connection afflicted by lag and buffering can be even more frustrating. If you’re sure that your signal is strong but you’re still experiencing issues, the problem might be the location of your router.1. Location is key, but reach mattersIt’s always true that location is key. But your router’s efficacy is also impacted by the size of your home and how far the router’s signals can reach. A single wireless access point should be adequate for most apartments and smaller homes (1,500 square feet or less). Larger, multistory homes present a different challenge that can best be met by upgrading to a mesh network. Mesh networks consist of a main access point and additional nodes that can be placed throughout your space to ensure consistent coverage. More