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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET In November of 2022, I decided I needed to organize my pocket EDC (everyday carry) gear. As part of that reorganization, I picked up a KeySmart Air More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETApple has been busy prepping iOS 26 for its likely debut in September. Until then, the iPhone’s upcoming new OS has been accessible for anyone to try via a developer beta (now up to version 5) and the initial public beta. Though iOS 26 still has at least a month of tweaks before it’s finalized, the beta flavors already provide a peek at what to expect.You can download iOS 26 beta on your iPhone now. Here’s how to install it — and which models support it.Also: The best MagSafe accessories of 2025 for your iPhoneI’ve been running the public beta since its release on July 24. Among the new and improved features in iOS 26, these are my five favorites so far.1. Liquid GlassAdding a new translucent design to the interface, Liquid Glass gives the impression that you’re looking at your screen elements through glass. With this new aesthetic enabled, icons appear more three-dimensional and layered, while menus are semi-transparent. I’ve read some negative comments about Liquid Glass, but I like the new design. I feel the interface draws me in and engages with me in an artistic but practical way. Comparing my test iPhone with iOS 26 and my current phone with iOS 18, I can clearly see and appreciate the differences with Liquid Glass.Also: What is Liquid Glass? Here’s everything we know about Apple’s major UI overhaul More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Google Pixel 10 is expected to receive significant upgrades this year, including a dedicated telephoto lens.Greater feature parity with the Pro models, combined with no expected price increases, makes the standard Pixel an enticing option.It still won’t be the best option for power users, especially if you want the most capable camera system from Google.Google’s non-Pro Pixel phone has always been the “safe pick.” It’s the model I recommend to most users, so long as they can live without the Pro features — whether that’s an extra telephoto camera, more RAM, or better hardware.Also: This rumored Pixel 10 feature puts Google above Samsung and OnePlus for me – here’s whyWhile there’s little left to the imagination as far as what the upcoming Google Pixel 10 phones will look like, if the leaks and rumors are true, there will be a notable shift in dynamics this year. I’ll say it now: The Pixel 10, not the Pixel 10 Pro, will be both the safe pick and the best pick in 2025. I’m not alone in that belief, and here’s why. More
NexTool Mini Multitool <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The NexTool multitool is blade-free, making it TSA and airport security friendly. The tool is compact and can be attached to a keychain All the tools are decent quality, and can actually do the job they claim to be able to do. –> I like my EDC (everyday […] More
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETI’ve had it happen before. Back when drives consisted of spinning, magnetic platters, that dreaded “tick” was a sure sign a hard drive was failing. Once upon a nightmare scenario, I waited too late and wound up losing everything on my drive. Sure, I could have recovered that data, but at a pretty high monetary cost.Also: The first 5 Linux commands every new user should learnSince then, I’ve always been vigilant about checking for bad blocks and sectors on hard drives.What is a bad block?Simply put, a bad block is one that cannot be read or written to. This can happen because of physical damage to the drive or failing transistors on flash memory (think SSDs). When a block goes bad, it’s not usable. Too many bad blocks, and the drive will fail. You don’t want that. Also: Thinking about switching to Linux? 10 things you need to knowBefore the bad blocks take you down, you should check for them. If you don’t, you could lose out. Let’s check. More
What about Focus Modes – do they help battery life? Yes. Focus Modes help by letting you whitelist specific apps and contacts; during “Work” or “Sleep,” only critical alerts light up your display. That means fewer wake-ups and less background processing. I already mentioned disabling notifications above, but you can take it a step further with Focus Modes. Also: The best Apple deals right now: Save on MacBooks, iPhones, and moreHow to set up a Focus Mode:Open Settings > Focus > tap + to create a profile.Under Allowed Notifications, choose People and Apps.Optionally schedule it by time, location, or app. How do I identify the biggest battery hogs on iPhone? To see what might be draining your iPhone’s battery, go to Settings > Battery. There, you’ll see usage by app and how much time each spent on screen or in background. Also: How to fix an iPhone alarm that’s not going off – and why it might be happening Can removing my case while charging help? Possibly — mainly if your device gets hot while charging. Removing the case can improve heat dissipation, which might speed up charging and protect your iPhone’s battery health. Should I try a battery pack or a power bank? Yes! I always travel with one. All the settings tweaks in the world won’t help if you’re stranded somewhere, staring at a red battery icon, far from an outlet. Here are the top picks ZDNET’s editors recommend: Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter. More
Maria Diaz/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysUnplug at 100%, keep battery between 20% and 80%.Avoid draining to 0%; store unused tablets at 50%.Use certified chargers to prevent stress and overheating.As someone who uses a tablet daily, I’m constantly looking for ways to make its battery last longer. However, some habits you don’t think twice about could actually be hurting your battery over time. There are ways to extend your tablet’s battery life, and there are some things you should avoid that do the opposite.Also: These 7 common household items were draining power all day – until I pulled the plugMost tablets offer six to eight hours of use on a single charge, though battery life diminishes with age and continued use. While there are many things you can do to conserve battery life, here are the ones you should avoid to ensure your battery’s longevity. 1. Leaving your tablet plugged in overnight This isn’t always a problem with newer tablets, but most tablets on the market will suffer from being left plugged in overnight. Tablets typically charge to 100% and stop using electricity. However, leaving your tablet plugged in can cause it to continue trickle-charging to keep the battery full, which can stress the battery over time and diminish its lifespan. Instead, unplug your tablet when its battery reaches 100%. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to keep your battery charged between 20% and 80%. Also: Why I recommend this Samsung tablet over pricier models – especially the UltraLike all the common charging mistakes we make with our tablets, leaving it plugged in overnight once or twice won’t permanently damage it. Battery damage happens when these incorrect practices become a habit and are followed often. 2. Letting the battery drain to 0% (and forgetting it) More
timyee/Getty ZDNET’s key takeaways Seventy-four percent of households expect their electric bill to go up Lack of backup power is the top energy frustration Two-thirds are considering solar or storage investments Neighborhood solar panels blend into the background of the everyday commute. Home batteries might enter our minds during an outage, but then fade when […] More
