Information Technology

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James Keith/Moment via Getty Images Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source<!–> on Google.  ZDNET’s key takeaways OpenAI announced character cameos for Sora. Characters come with their own names and personality traits. Sora is temporarily available in the US without an invite code. If you thought your Instagram feed already had a lot of AI-generated videos […] More

When is Black Friday? Black Friday used to be on the last Friday of November each year. However, many retailers now offer their own sales over the course of a whole week, and so you can expect sales to appear from around Monday, Nov. 24. Black Friday itself falls on Friday, Nov. 28, and leads into Cyber Monday on Dec. 1.Are Apple products really cheaper during Black Friday? They can be! Some products, such as older iPads, typically are discounted by around $50 or more during sales events and this tends to appear every year. I wouldn’t expect massive price cuts for new, flagship Apple devices, but more often than not, you can save a few dollars.How did we choose these early Black Friday deals?ZDNET only writes about deals that capture our own interest — devices and products we want, need, or would recommend not only to our readers, but to friends and family. Our experts look for deals at least 20% off (or hardly ever on sale), using established price-comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually worth your time. We also examine customer reviews and rely on our own hands-on experience with new tech to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products we’re recommending. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice and to make you aware of price drops so you can shop smarter.  More

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When is Black Friday? This year, Black Friday is happening on Friday, Nov. 28, while Cyber Monday will be on Monday, Dec. 1. Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving in the US, a holiday that is celebrated on the last Thursday in November. Many employers have historically given workers the Friday after Thanksgiving as a day off, so retailers started featuring discounts to encourage people to do their holiday shopping. Are robot vacuums really cheaper during Black Friday? Yes, robot vacuums really are cheaper during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Cyber Week is the last big shopping event before the holidays and also the last one of the year, so many retailers offer steep discounts on their stock to prepare for the new products that will launch in the new year.How did we choose these early Black Friday deals?I constantly monitor robot vacuum deals as part of my work, so I’m always looking for the best discounts that offer the best combination of features and value. As a robot vacuum reviewer, I’ve tested dozens of models across different brands and every price range — so I’ve become very well acquainted with robot vacuums, their features, and their worth. Through this experience, I’ve realized that the robot vacuum market is currently saturated, and many brands attempt to outcompete one another with significant discounts during shopping events. At ZDNET, we use our expertise and deal-tracking tools to identify the offers that are truly worth your attention — and only highlight those. More

Roku Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source<!–> on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways A Roku beta test may rearrange your home screen apps. This beta test is not opt-in. The redesign will prioritize the apps you use the most. Thanks to beta testing that’s now rolling out to more users, your Roku home screen […] More

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETI use Apple’s iMessage to send and receive texts on my iPhone. But if I’m already in front of my PC, writing and answering texts is often easier using a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. For this, I turn to a handy and free Microsoft utility that helps me access iMessages while using Windows.Accessible in both Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft’s Phone Link app lets you view your recent texts, create new messages, and respond to existing texts. Any texts you send and receive automatically sync between your PC and iPhone, so you can pick up an ongoing conversation on either device. You’re also able to manually enter a name, phone number, or email address to send a text to one of your contacts or someone else.Also: Your Apple Messages app is also a calculator – how use it for complex mathHow to send and receive iMessages in WindowsPhone Link works the same in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Here’s how to use it to view, send, and receive texts.Using Microsoft Phone LinkBefore you can use Phone Link, you’ll need to complete a few steps on your phone and your PC.Your iPhone must be running iOS 16 or later. To check this, go to Settings, select General, and tap Software Update. You’ll be told that iOS is up to date or prompted to install the latest update. Next, go to Settings, select Bluetooth, and confirm that Bluetooth is turned on. More

picture alliance/Contributor/picture alliance via Getty Images Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Microsoft Azure experienced a global outage on October 29. Microsoft customer-facing services were affected. Recovery came later that same day, but some problems linger. Last week, Amazon Web Services (AWS) went down, and many of us were miserable. […] More