Information Technology

Maria Diaz/ZDNETMy kid had been asking for a Toniebox More

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETMicrosoft just announced another version of its Surface Laptop: this time, with 5G connectivity. The Surface Laptop 5G is a 13.8-inch laptop powered by Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) chips and an integrated 5G modem designed for business users to stay permanently connected. It comes with both NanoSIM and eSIM options, and Microsoft says it’s compatible with over 100 mobile operators worldwide. Also: This split keyboard offers deep customization – if you’re willing to go all inThe strength of this kind of laptop lies in its ability to connect via both 5G and Wi-Fi, transitioning between the two in the background as the user moves between different environments with always-on access to the cloud in the process. Perhaps even more handy, this also allows it to act as a hotspot for other devices, sharing connectivity while in the field, on a train, or that coffee shop with unreliable Wi-Fi.  More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETApple held its Worldwide Developers Conference a month ago, during which it previewed the latest operating system upgrades across all of its devices, including iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, TVOS, WatchOS, and more. These updates give Apple users, regardless of whether they have the latest hardware, the opportunity to have a device refresh — and this year, perhaps more than ever. During the event, Apple launched Liquid Glass, a new look for all of its devices that embodies a glass-inspired aesthetic and is the biggest redesign in 13 years. It also introduced a handful of exciting features, from the viral AutoMix feature for Apple Music to the Apple Shortcuts AI makeover. Also: How to clear your iPhone cache (and why it greatly improves the performance)Although the official launch of Apple’s latest operating systems won’t happen until the fall with the introduction of the latest iPhone lineup, here’s what you need to know about the public betas, which will be released soon and give you a preview of all of the latest features.  More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The RingConn Gen 2 is a subscription-free smart ring that monitors sleep, exercise, and stress. It monitors your sleep, activity, stress, and vitals, and it’s got a marathon battery life. The only downside is the user interface feels underdeveloped. more buying choices Most smart rings these days claim to offer marathon […] More

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition <!–> 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 $125. Remember that Amazon’s promise of up […] More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETChrome is catching up to other browsers with vertical tabs. This feature has been requested for years and is already available in several popular browsers, such as Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi. And given that Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi are also based on Chromium, this should have been a no-brainer for Google all along.No more third-party extensionsWell, according to Windows Report, the Chromium Gerrit (a code review system for Chromium projects) now has an entry labeled “[Vertical Tabs] add feature flag.” Then there’s the “[Vertical Tabs] Add a TabsMetricProvider to log VerticalTabs state” in this commit. That commit reads, “This metrics provider is used for metrics filtering. For right now this metric is just logging the feature state, however it will in the future log whether the vertical tabstrip is being rendered.” Also: 7 browser features I can’t live without that Chrome doesn’t offerTo date, the only way to get vertical tabs on Chrome has been to use third-party extensions, but even those are not always quite on the mark. Keep in mind that development on vertical tabs for Chromium has only just begun, so it will be some time before it makes its way to Chrome. However, when the feature does finally land, you can be certain that it will change the landscape of browser UIs and (if I had to venture a guess) every other browser on the planet will follow suit (if they haven’t already). More

Dell XPS 13 Copilot+ PC Laptop <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Dell’s XPS 13 Copilot+ PC is available for $1,499. It remains a favorite from Dell’s lineup for its sleek build, gorgeous display, and impressive battery life. The two USB-C ports are limiting, and the bold design choices aren’t for everyone. –> Dell continues to round […] More

AT&T / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETAT&T has long offered certain subscribers a free online storage app and service designed to back up photos from their phones. That certainly sounds handy. Alas, in the tradition of “all good things must come to an end,” the service is being retired.The bad newsPowered by tech company Asurion, AT&T Photo Storage has been available as an app for iOS and Android users alike. Through the app, AT&T subscribers can back up their photos and videos at full resolution. The service even provides tips and tricks designed to improve your picture‑taking skills.Also: The best online photo editors: Expert tested and reviewedWell, enjoy it while you can. Starting Oct. 20, 2025, AT&T Photo Storage will stop backing up your files. At that time, the app will be removed from Apple’s App Store and Google Play. The service itself, however, will still remain available until Feb. 1, 2026, at which point your stored photos will vanish as well. More