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<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The LG C5 OLED boosts dazzling brightness and color. It features an ultra-slim body, with material choices that evoke premium. It’s priced relatively high for the nominal upgrades over last year’s model. more buying choices Major retailers have discounted LG’s latest C5 OLED TV–> as much as $700 off, depending on which […] More
Dell//ZDNETDell is hosting a new Back to School More
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETDuckDuckGo, the privacy-focused browser and search engine, has released a new setting on its search engine that allows users to hide AI-generated images. “Our philosophy about AI features is ‘private, useful, and optional.’ Our goal is to help you find what you’re looking for. You should decide for yourself how much AI you want in your life – or if you want any at all,” the company said on X last week.Also: I test AI tools for a living. Here are 3 image generators I actually use and howTo that end, the company has added a feature that makes it easy to filter out AI images, so you don’t have to see them. The new filter works with open-source blocklists (such as uBlockOrigin’s “nuclear” list and uBlacklist’s “Huge AI Blocklist”) to give users control over the kinds of images they want to see.This new feature doesn’t eliminate AI-generated images from the search, but rather, vastly reduces the number of such images that appear in your searches. More
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETWhen I first started using Linux, I was thrown to the wolves. I unwittingly installed Linux over Windows and, at the time, couldn’t afford to purchase a new Windows license. Because of that, it was sink or swim.I decided to swim. Within a week or so, I felt comfortable with the OS, but I wanted more, so I spent the time learning the ins and outs of Linux, and look at me now. Also: This lightweight Linux distro makes switching from Windows 10 easyYou might be thinking, “I need to find a replacement for Windows 10, but I don’t want to have to have elite IT skills to do so. Fortunately, you don’t have to. With modern Linux distributions, you can get up to speed in no time, so that you’re using Linux for all your needs.”Even so, if you’re like me, you’ll want more out of the OS. I’m not talking about reaching a skill level that requires a degree in Computer Science. I’m talking about gaining an understanding of the OS that makes you feel competent enough to maybe help others learn the OS. If that sounds like you, read on to find out how you can level up those skills. 1. Use it… a lot This is the most obvious bit of advice, and it’s what helped me develop enough skills to make a career out of using Linux. You have to use it… a lot. You know what they say: it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master something. That’s over a year of 24‑hour days, so we’re talking several years. But we’re not talking mastery of the subject. You want to get proficient enough to feel comfortable helping others learn Linux. For that, you should consider installing Linux and making it your default operating system. Also: Installing apps on Linux? 4 ways it’s different than any other OS – and mistakes to avoidAfter using Linux daily, you should start feeling comfortable enough that you can do just about anything with the OS. You’ll no longer fear opening configuration files in /etc or installing services like Samba or a web server. Get familiar enough that you can troubleshoot issues and understand what’s going on under the hood. This will take time, so have patience. 2. Don’t be afraid to break things One way I leveled up my skills was by breaking things. I didn’t do it on purpose, but when things broke, I had to fix them. As I fixed more and more things, I found that I was understanding how the OS worked more and more. Now, before you raise an eyebrow at me, I’m not saying you should intentionally break your operating system. Don’t go running sudo rm -rf / (seriously… don’t), but don’t let yourself get so worried that what you’re going to do will damage the OS. Also: Linux has over 6% of the desktop market? Yes, you read that right – here’s howLinux is fairly resilient, so the chances of you breaking it are slim. If you do break something, consider it a learning opportunity. If you do feel the need to intentionally break something, I would suggest doing so with Linux running as a virtual machine, so you don’t wind up without a working computer. 3. Take notes This might seem silly, but I recommend taking notes… lots of notes. Why? Because Linux is different than Windows. You’ll need to remember things like ~/ is the equivalent of /home/USERNAME (where USERNAME is your Linux username), which is the equivalent of the Windows C:UsersUSERNAME (where USERNAME is your Windows user name). You’ll also want to take notes on where certain configuration files are, such as ~/.local/share or /etc. Also: You can try Linux without ditching Windows first – here’s howYou might want to keep track of what log files there are and what information they keep. As you learn the Linux OS, you’ll find a lot of cool tips and tricks that you’ll want to take note of. If you keep notes, you won’t find yourself at a loss as to what you need to do. I suggest taking notes with an app like Simple Notes or Google Keep, so you can access them from anywhere. 4. Find a ‘mentor’ or a community When I was first using Linux, I was lucky enough to glom onto a mentor, who helped me learn some of the trickier aspects of Linux. Also: This Linux distro makes openSUSE accessible to all – even newbies should take a lookBack then, installing a different window manager or desktop environment was challenging, and having a mentor really helped a lot. Finding a mentor might not be easy, because you need someone who’s willing to spend the time answering questions and chatting about the finer points of Linux. If you can find someone — a friend, a family member, or someone in the Linux communit — make sure to treat them with respect and always remember to thank them for their help. 5. Read, read, read You’ll find tons of Linux content online (such as on ZDNET). There are also books, like How Linux Works by Brian Ward More
91Mobiles / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETWe might be getting new Google smartwatches very soon.Also: The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 is $100 off on Amazon – get it while the deal lastsGoogle recently confirmed its next Made by Google event, the tech giant’s annual hardware launch, typically held in August. Made by Google’s X account confirmed it will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m. ET. What can we expect from the Pixel Watch 4? Google could debut new Pixel phones (including a foldable if the rumors are true), Pixel Buds, and maybe even a Google Pixel Watch 4, if I’m lucky. As ZDNET’s wearables editor, I’m keeping my eye on the Pixel Watch 4 chatter. Also: Google will announce its next lineup of Pixels on August 20 – here’s what we knowWhile Google has kept the details of its next hardware release discreet, a few leaks give hints about what to expect with the fourth-generation smartwatch. I’ve contacted the company for comment and will report back if I get any confirmation. For now, let’s dive into the most exciting and notable features we could see in the Pixel Watch 4. 1. Sizing According to rumors, the Pixel Watch 4 is expected to ship in the same sizes as its predecessor: 41 mm and 45 mm. 2. Same chipset, new processor Another rumor suggests that the Pixel Watch 4 will keep the chipset from the Watch 3, the Snapdragon W5 + Gen 1. However, there are murmurs of a new processor entering the smartwatch: Google’s M55 processor. Also: The best smartwatches 2025: I wore these for weeks and found the perfect one for your wristThis processor should enable the Watch 4 to handle five times the AI power, according to Android Headlines. The Watch 4 is going to need all the AI-processing power it can get, as Gemini arrives on the new smartwatch after debuting on the Galaxy Watch. 3. Thicker watch (but bigger battery) The Pixel Watch 3 is a hefty smartwatch already — and the thickest I’ve worn. It could get even thicker, according to 91mobiles, to make room for a larger battery. The site says the fourth-gen watch has a thickness of 14.3 mm. As someone with a small wrist, this is one unwelcome change I hope won’t come to fruition. The major smartwatch competitors, Samsung and Apple, have gone slimmer with their Galaxy and Apple Watches to make the devices more comfortable to sleep in, exercise in, and wear anywhere. That thinness and levity directly relate to comfort and wearability. Also: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 3: Which Android smartwatch should you buy?However, battery life is a major wearability factor as well, and it’s a draw for some users, so what we may sacrifice in chunkiness we make up for in an extended battery. 4. Breathing emergencies feature According to the folks at Android Headlines, Google will expand its personal safety features with Emergency Satellite Communications and a Breathing Emergencies feature. The SPO2 sensor on the Pixel Watch 4 will monitor blood-oxygen levels and wave the red flag when they’ve gone too low. More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Apple’s MacBook Air M4 (13-inch) is on sale at Amazon for $850, a competitive price for Apple’s latest ultraportable. The M4 Air supports up to two external monitors with the lid open, and scales up to 32GB of unified memory. There are still only two USB-C ports on the left side, […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways It can charge four devices simultaneously It features two retractable USB‑C cables that can rotate and swivel It is a bit bulky, so it might not fit in some vehicles. –> Your car probably has a couple of built-in USB ports, so you’d think that the days of the dedicated car […] More
BlackJack3D/Getty The hair dryer routinely trips the breaker and kills power to the second floor. The kitchen lights dim when you run the microwave. The air conditioner can only cool one room at a time on a sweltering night. You don’t have adequate power in your house to support your daily needs; we’ve all been […] More
