Information Technology

Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysWindows has a hidden backup tool in Windows 10 and 11.It can save files to discs, drives, or network locations.Deprecated by Microsoft, so expect occasional errors.Regularly backing up your files is always a good idea, just in case any important or irreplaceable ones go missing. For that, you can turn to a variety of programs. But Windows itself has a built-in backup tool that’s simple and flexible. The catch is that you probably don’t even know it exists.Named simply Windows Backup, this feature lets you choose which folders and files to back up. You can back up only select files or all your Windows folders. You’re supposed to be able to include an entire system image in the backup in case you ever need to restore Windows in full. The limitation here is that you can’t save the system image on removable media. But you can always use the system image tool to do this separately. Also: Windows has a secret recovery tool – here’s how to find it and use itFurther, you’re able to save the backup on a recordable CD or DVD, an external hard drive, or a network location. You can also set the backup to run on a regular basis. The tool works the same in Windows 10 and 11. But as always, there is a hiccup here. This version of Windows Backup has since been deprecated by Microsoft, which means it’s no longer supported or updated. As a result, you could bump into issues and errors when using the tool. In my experience, it generally works reliably. However, the last few times I tried using a network share as my backup destination, I received an error that the specified network location cannot be used. Although I confirmed that the network path, credentials, and other settings were correct, I continued to get the same error. I’ve seen posts from other Windows users complaining of the same problem. Your mileage may vary, but keep this in mind when choosing your backup destination. Also: Your Windows 11 PC has a secret emergency shutdown feature – here’s how to use itTo add to the mystery, Microsoft offers a newer tool also known as Windows Backup. (Yes, Microsoft loves to use the same names across different products to confuse people.) The newer Windows Backup is designed to back up and restore certain files and settings. The main objective is to help you move from one PC to another. In contrast, the older legacy Windows Backup that I’m covering here operates more like traditional backup software. Both tools serve their purpose. But here’s how the older, legacy Windows Backup works and how to use it to back up anything you want, to any location you want. More

Wyze ZDNET’s key takeaways Wyze just announced the launch of Duo Cam Pan<!–>. The dual camera system has 360-degree panning coverage and 180-degree tilting with indoor and outdoor capabilities. The camera system is priced at an affordable $70. Wyze is upping the home security ante with a new Duo Cam Pan, a dual smart security camera […] More

Geekom IT15 Mini PC <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Geekcom IT 15 Mini PC is available on Amazon for $1,100. This tiny form-factor PC has plenty of power to spare for everyday tasks. The only downside is that the IT15 doesn’t have a dedicated GPU. –> I’ve always enjoyed a mini PC, and any time […] More

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNETZDNET’s takeawaysPebblebee announces a new safety feature for Clip trackers.Alert Live sends your real-time location to up to five contacts.The feature costs $2.99 a month or $24.99 a year.Days after announcing that its Clip would be the first tracker to be able to use both Google’s and Apple’s Find My networks, Pebblebee just revealed another major upgrade for the Clip — a potentially life-saving one.In July, Clip trackers (which made ZDNET’s list of the best Bluetooth trackers you can buy) got a new free safety feature called Alert. When you rapidly press the button on your Clip, it flashes a strobe light, emits a loud siren, and sends your location to a trusted contact.Also: The best Bluetooth trackers: Expert testedNow, an upgraded Alert Live feature sends your location to up to five contacts and shares your real-time location until you turn it off.Pebblebee says that Alert is designed for students, parents, and seniors who value independence, but it’s a useful feature for just about anyone. Unlike the basic Alert feature, Alert Live does have a cost. It’s minimal, though — $2.99 a month or $24.99 a year.In addition, Pebblebee also announced a new Silent Mode that’s available for both the Alert Free and Alert Live plans. In this mode, you can send alerts to a contact without any sound or visual cue. Pebblebee explains that this mode is “perfect for high-stress or unsafe situations where quiet communication is essential.” Also: My 5 favorite gadgets for students are all under $40 (and why they’re so useful)While Pebblebee’s previous announcement positioned the Clip as a lost-item tracker, today’s taps into the growing personal safety market (take a look at our list of the best GPS trackers for kids if you need something for a younger user). Other trackers, like the Tile, have a similar safety function, but Pebblebee’s combination is one of the few that works with both Apple and Android ecosystems.  More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETI started noticing something very annoying at the beginning of the year: I’d set my iPhone alarm for 7 a.m., only to sleep right through it. At first I assumed it was my mistake — maybe I’d accidentally left the ringer volume all the way down. But after double-checking that, even switching off vibrate and cranking the volume all the way up overnight, the problem persisted. Somewhere between frustration and desperation, I installed a third-party alarm app to try and even asked my partner to set a backup alarm on his phone.Also: How to clear your iPhone cache (and why it greatly improves performance)I was at a loss as to what was happening, so I decided to Google the issue. I found that Apple acknowledged an alarm problem back in April 2024 and that a fix was in the works. But this was over a year ago. In January, several reports claimed the issue was still happening. I consider myself an iPhone power user, so I kept thinking I could figure out what’s wrong myself — or at the very least, I hoped the fluke would resolve itself. But now, well into August, I’m turning to Reddit threads and Apple Support discussions for tech support. Every community seems to have its favorite solutions — some simple, some nuclear. Here are all the ones I plan to try. How to fix the ‘silent iPhone alarm’ glitchSince the silent iPhone alarm bug appears to be intermittent, I’ve decided to try one solution at a time to see which actually does the trick. If you’re in the same boat, here are all the troubleshooting tips I’ve found that will supposedly get our iPhone alarms working on schedule again. If Apple isn’t going to do something about it, maybe we can — and hopefully put an end to oversleeping. More

J Studios/Getty Images ZDNET’s key takeaways Claude can now be prompted to reference past user interactions. The feature rolls out today to Max, Team, and Enterprise users. It’ll be turned on by default, but you can also switch it off. Claude just got a major memory upgrade: Anthropic’s flagship generative AI chatbot can now retrieve […] More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETThere are thousands of songs about staying up all night to have fun, yet fewer about how nice it is to go to bed early. After a long day of work, nerve-inducing headlines, and strenuous exercise, all I want is sleep. That’s when the lyrics of Hall and Oates’ song, “When the Morning Comes,” a tune mainly about rejection that can be interpreted as an ode to a good night’s rest, come to mind: “It’ll be all right when the morning comes,” the duo sing. As a sleep enthusiast, I can’t help but agree.Also: New FDA-cleared blood pressure monitor delivers medical grade results at homeAs a health and wearables editor, I wear smartwatches and smart rings around the clock. By testing these products, my interest in optimizing my sleep and health has grown. Not to brag, but I’m amazing at sleeping — my roommates jokingly refer to me as the Sleepytime Tea Bear. I treat my sleep the same way a professional athlete treats their workout routine, and it’s paying dividends. My sleep scores reach the high eighties and low nineties consistently, and I get around eight hours — the expert-recommended daily sleep dose — every night. My focus is clear and my energy is long-lasting. If you want to level up your sleep scores, I’ve consulted experts from wearables specialists, such as Oura and Whoop, and drawn on my own experience using these products and witnessing my sleep results to compile a list of tips I swear by for better slumber. More

Samsung RGB Micro LED TV at CES 2025 Kerry Wan/ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways Samsung debuts 115-inch Micro RGB TV for $29,999.Millions of RGB LEDs deliver precise color and brightness.Glare-free tech, Tizen OS, and coming soon to the US.The long-awaited Micro RGB TV More