Information Technology

If that five-year-old laptop that runs at a turtle’s pace is killing your back-to-school mood, it might be time for an upgrade. Students have many options when it comes to affordable laptops for studying and getting their work done, including lightweight Chromebooks, which cost significantly less than most Windows machines or Apple’s Mac offerings and are streamlined with ChromeOS.Also: The best Chromebooks for workThe lighter OS makes it easy to navigate to popular apps like Google Docs, Google Drive, and email so students can stay on task and in touch with teachers and classmates. Chromebooks also have tons of security features, too, like mic mute, camera shutters, and data encryption to keep students safe from digital spying and to prevent theft or misuse of their personal information or classwork. What is the best Chromebook for students right now?ZDNET went hands-on with many of our top choices, including our pick for best Chromebook overall — the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook More

Bitwarden A passkey consists of two things: a public and private key. A private key is secret and is saved on a device, like your phone. A public key is saved on a server housing a site or service where you want to log in. When you log in to that service, the server compares […] More

Jack Wallen/ZDNETI don’t give Xfce the fair shot it deserves. After all, it’s one of the fastest Linux desktops on the market and one of the most flexible. Out of the box, this open-source desktop is fairly easy to use. It has everything you need for a robust desktop interface — but it could be better. Everyone’s idea of user-friendly is different, so what I’ll share with you may or may not fit your modus operandi. Even so, there’s certainly a tip or two here that anyone wanting to adopt Xfce as their desktop could use.Also: Don’t like your Linux desktop? Here’s how to install an alternativeSo, if a fast and reliable desktop sounds good, let’s get to those tips. Note: I’ll demonstrate these tips using Xubuntu, the official Xfce spin of Ubuntu. It’s important to understand that many distributions tend to configure Xfce differently. Because of that fact, your mileage may vary (depending on the distro you use). More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETWriting down notes using a pen and paper scratches an itch that typing text just doesn’t. Studies have shown that physically jotting down notes is a better way to retain information. That said, by writing stuff down, you miss out on the perks of digital notes. ChatGPT helps you get the best of both worlds.When OpenAI supercharged the free version of ChatGPT with GPT-4o in May, users gained the ability to upload files, including images and documents, and to interact with images in multiple ways, such as extracting text. Also: How to use ChatGPT to analyze PDFs for freeThis feature means you can upload handwritten documents, from sticky notes to meeting and class notes to packing lists, and convert them into text. Then, you can use that text to create new content by copying and pasting it into presentations, emails, outlines, essays, Quizlets, and more.Sounds too good to be true? I thought the same, but after testing the tool, I can assure you that it works efficiently and quickly. Getting started is simple, and you will not want to stop once you start.How to use ChatGPT to digitize your handwritten notes More

The JBL Tour Pro 2’s innovative touchscreen case is so user-friendly and ahead of its time that even Apple is (reportedly) taking notes. Pause or play, reduce or increase the volume, switch from noise-canceling to ambient aware to talk-through mode, accept or reject calls, or even locate that missing left earbud, all through the touchscreen case. The first time I wore these earbuds during my morning commute to work, I was surprised while waiting at the subway platform when I looked up from my phone to find the subway had shown up — I barely heard its arrival. Needless to say: the noise cancelling on the Tour Pro 2s is legit, and the buds deliver clean and crisp sound. Review: Forget AirPods: These wireless earbuds offer clever features that Apple doesn’tWhile exercising with the Tour Pro 2s, I could lightly touch the right earbud to pause or play music and switch between noise canceling (ideal for deep concentration, but not-so-ideal for jogging outside) to ambient aware (great for environmental awareness) with ease. The buds stay in your ears while you’re on the go but get a little slippery as you begin to sweat with them (which you can do without any worry of water damage since the earbuds have a water-resistant IPX5 rating). The call and microphone quality isn’t as good as other high end earbuds, like Apple’s, but the Tour Pro 2s are a little less expensive than other noise-canceling earbud options on this list, and they offer a slate of features that some of the more popular tech brands, like Apple, simply don’t have yet. One Reddit reviewer said that the noise cancellation is great — “maybe better than I remember my [first generation] AirPods Pros ever being.” Though many reviewers, myself included, say that the transparency mode could be improved. JBL Tour Pro 2 tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: 8 hours with ANC on and 10 hours with ANC off | Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof rating: IPX5 More

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers more exclusive features than any other Apple Watch model. The most notable and useful difference between the Ultra and the other Apple Watch models is the larger, brighter, flatter screen that’s covered by a sapphire crystal face and surrounded by a titanium case to considerably increase the amount of wear and tear it can handle. It’s also IPX6 dust resistant, works underwater up to 100 meters (328 feet), and has military grade (MIL-STD 810H) certification for ruggedness. Plus, the Ultra 2 can handle high altitudes, shocks, vibrations, and temperatures as low as 4 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 130 degrees Fahrenheit.Review: I spent a week with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and here’s what stood out the mostZDNET contributing writer Matthew Miller also tried out the Apple Watch Ultra 2 when it was released last year, and said he enjoyed the watch “for its long battery life, brighter display, expanded connectivity, and new watch bands” while also being impressed by the improved mental health functionality via the Mindfulness app.The Ultra 2 adds more exclusive features as well, including a programmable Action Button with a variety of workout and adventuring functions (it can also simply activate the flashlight), dual-frequency GPS that can overcome interference from mountains and skyscrapers, and dual integrated speakers that are much louder for taking phone calls, playing music, or interacting with Siri. Many Amazon reviewers who have bought this watch say that it’s the best Apple Watch model they have ever used, calling out the watch’s quality and large 49mm screen with 3,000 nits of brightness in particular. Beyond that, the Ultra offers one key addition to the Apple Watch Series 9 lineup: an emergency siren (activated by holding down the Action Button), which belts out an 86-decibel sound pattern that can be heard up to 600 feet (180 meters) away. This can help if you get lost or take a fall on a hike, to ward off wild animals, or to scare off attackers.Apple Watch Ultra 2 tech specs: Display Size: 49mm | Battery life: Up to 72 hours | Storage capacity: 64GB | Features: Sturdy titanium case and sapphire crystal face, enhanced safety features including a built-in siren, dual-frequency GPS, works up to 100 meters underwater More

Amazon’s fire tablets–specifically the Fire HD 8 and HD 8 Plus–are among the most affordable tablets you’ll find, and the Fire HD 8 Plus is the cheapest tablet on our list at $120. The company redesigned the formerly square and hard-edged tablets, adding a more round design that looks and feels fantastic. What’s the difference? The HD 8 comes with 2GB of memory, while the HD 8 Plus comes with the same features as well as 3GB of memory, wireless charging support, and a faster-wired charger in the box. Amazon customers praise this affordable tablet for its image quality, mentioning that the display is very crisp, and that the charger is snappy and quick.Review: Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus (2022) review: Primed for Amazon superfansWan also reviewed the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus, and said that “for $120, you really can’t complain about the performance of the Fire HD 8 Plus.” He recommends the tablet for casual browsing, mobile entertainment, or even for a child.The Fire HD 8 runs Amazon’s Fire OS. This means it runs Android apps, but you’re limited to apps that are available in Amazon’s own Appstore. Like with most tablets in this price range, performance can be sluggish at times, but you’ll have no issues shopping, browsing Facebook, or checking your email on the Fire HD 8 Plus. And, the battery life of 13 hours means you can go longer without having to charge the tablet.Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tech specs: Display: 8-inch, 1280×800 display | Processor: Quad-core 2.0GHz | Storage: 32GB or 64GB | Memory: 3GB | Colors: Black | Cameras: 2MP front and rear | Weight: 0.78 pounds | Dimensions: 8.0 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C | Battery: 13 hours More

screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETGathering and managing research for any type of project can be a daunting task as you have to try to organize the different kinds of information you collect. One tool that aims to ease the process is Google’s NotebookLM. Using AI, NotebookLM will collate the various sources of information you add, summarize the key details, and even answer any questions you ask about the research you’ve gathered.Also: Have 10 hours? IBM will train you in AI fundamentals – for freeAvailable to anyone through Google’s experimental Labs service, NotebookLM acts as part note taker, part collaborator, part data collector, and part librarian. The tool works by prompting you to create a virtual notebook designed to hold all the text, documents, and other research that you compose or collect. The goal is to provide easy access to all of the information you need as you write your paper, conduct your research, or develop your project.For now, NotebookLM is available only in the US for people 18 and over. Here’s how it works.How to use NotebookLM More