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    Are smart planters legit? I tested one at home for 45 days, and here’s how it went

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Plantaform Rejuvenate is a smart indoor garden available for $540. It’s an all-in-one garden structure that only requires power for the grow lights and for you to add water and the included fertilizer when it runs low; thankfully, the app gives you notifications and detailed instructions. Unfortunately, you can’t easily […] More

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    Your TV’s USB port is seriously underrated: 5 benefits you’re not taking advantage of

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETAfter the initial setup, most people rarely engage directly with their smart TV. With wireless connectivity, phone apps, and remote controls, there’s little need to. Tucked next to the essential HDMI ports, a USB 2.0 port — likely sitting unnoticed on the back or side panel — offers more potential than you might expect.  Also: 5 easy ways to instantly improve your soundbar’s audio (without spending a dime)USB ports are easy to overlook, but they’re a standard feature on most TVs — and more useful than you might think. Here are five clever ways to make the most of them. More

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    I tested a $49 OTC continuous glucose monitor for two weeks – here’s what I learned

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Abbott Lingo is a $49 continuous glucose monitor that tracks your blood sugar for two weeks It can help people understand how their diets impact their glucose levels and make changes accordingly The app’s suggestions and recommendations could be more insightful to promote daily use. –> There are plenty of […] More

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    5 ways to manage your team more effectively in the AI-enabled enterprise

    zhengshun tang/Getty Images Experts agree that artificial intelligence (AI) will change the workplace forever, but there’s little consensus on how employees will cope with this transformation.  Research suggests only 30% of C-suite leaders feel confident in their change capabilities, and even fewer (25%) believe their teams are ready to embrace change. Also: Is your business […] More

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    5 expert-backed tips to get better sleep – especially if you own a health-tracking wearable

    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

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    I found a smart ring that rivals the Oura 4 but costs less (and has no subscription)

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The RingConn Gen 2 is a subscription-free smart ring that retails for $300. 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 battery lives […] More