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    Best early Prime Day Kindle deals: My 8 favorite sales live now

    When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? Amazon Prime Day takes place from July 8 through July 11 this year. During the sale, the retailer cuts prices on thousands of products (and many products from brands it owns, like Kindle, Alexa, Ring, and more). Are Kindles really cheaper on Prime Day? Because Kindles fall under one of the many brands Amazon owns, Amazon will normally drop prices during Prime Day on them. I’ve been covering these Kindle deals for over two years, and I can almost guarantee that there will be a price drop on the devices during the four-day event. How did we choose these Prime Day deals?ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy — devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.  More

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    I’ve been in tech for decades. Here are 10 ways my home lab keeps me sharp – and employable

    Paul Taylor/Getty When I was a kid, my home lab consisted of test tubes and beakers, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), acetic acid (vinegar), and the occasional boom, followed closely by the sound of my mom in the distance yelling, “David Allen Gewirtz, you stop that right now.” When the scold transitioned from “David Gewirtz” to […] More

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    Best early Prime Day Amazon Echo device deals: My 17 favorite deals available now

    When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? Amazon is holding its annual Prime Day sales event this July and, for the first time, it will last four days instead of two, starting on July 8 and ending on July 11.Are Echo devices really cheaper on Prime Day? Yes, Echo and other Amazon devices get the biggest markdowns during the Prime Day sales event. As a smart home reviewer who always looks for great deals, I’ve purchased a few Echo devices during Prime Day events for this very reason.How did we choose these Prime Day deals?ZDNET cares greatly about curating the best deals for our readers, ensuring we only feature the deals worth your hard-earned money. We combine our experience testing different smart home products and looking for deals to give you the best offerings currently available, so you can be sure that a deal featured on ZDNET is a good one. More

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    Why I recommend this Hisense’s QLED TV over pricier OLED models – especially at $900 off

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Hisense U8QG is available from 55-inch to 100-inch, with most models currently on sale. It offers arresting HDR picture quality and brightness. However, this set lacks some premium features like four HDMI ports and an ultra-thin frame. more buying choices –> jun / 2025 The Hisense U8QG<!–> is one step […] More

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    Best early Prime Day headphones deals: My 12 favorite sales live now

    When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? Amazon Prime Day begins on July 8, 2025, and ends on July 11, 2025. Are headphones really cheaper on Prime Day? Yes, you can find headphones at discounted prices during Prime Day. I spend a lot of time testing headphones and tracking their retail and discounted prices. All of the headphones, earbuds, and Bluetooth speakers included in this list are discounted from their original sale price. The only headphones with an MSRP increase ahead of Prime Day are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. At their fall 2023 launch, they were $429, and now they are $449.How did we choose these Prime Day deals?We only included headphones, earbuds, and Bluetooth speakers that we’ve tested and used in our Prime Day recommendations. We use these products beyond our initial testing period to see how well they hold up during long-term testing.We also include deals from popular brands, helping our readers know when the most in-demand products are on sale. Some products have deeper discounts than others, but we try to include products with at least a 20% discount. More

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    I changed 10 settings on my Pixel phone to significantly improve the user experience

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETThe Google Pixel 9a might be the best-value phone of 2025, especially now that it brings flagship-level AI tools, a bright 120Hz display, and a massive battery into a more affordable price tier. But, just like any Pixel phone, the best features often aren’t enabled by default. I’ve tested generations of Google Pixel phones, and to achieve the best user experience, you almost always have to do a bit of digging and research.Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2025That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you and gathered the best, most effective tips below, all of which are based on a Pixel 9a running Android 15. Depending on which Pixel model and Android version you’re using, the exact menu locations may vary slightly, but the settings themselves are widely available across recent Pixel generations. 1. Enable Smooth Display More