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    One of the most powerful ultraportable laptops I’ve tested isn’t a MacBook Pro or ThinkPad

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways HP’s 14-inch EliteBook X G1a features AMD’s latest Ryzen AI Pro chip, starting at $2,184. It’s a powerful enterprise laptop with lots of I/O, a sleek form factor, and comfortable keyboard. It’s expensive, and can run warm under a heavy workload. –> HP reorganized its laptop lineup last year, renaming its […] More

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    This Beats small speaker delivers big sound and fresh style, and it’s on sale right now

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Beats’ latest Pill speaker is available for $150 in five colorways: Statement Red, Matte Black, Champagne Gold, Navy Blue, and Blush Pink. An impressive battery life and a subtle, clean design set the Beats Pill apart from its competitors. However, Beats’ overemphasized, bass-forward sound can mask the other aspects of a […] More

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    You could get a cut of Apple’s $95 million Siri settlement – here’s how

    Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETThink that Apple’s Siri snooped on your private conversations in the past? If so, you may be able to snag a slice of the $95 million that Apple is paying out to settle a class action lawsuit.A settlement page published Friday in the case of Lopez v. Apple Inc. explains the steps and deadlines for people who want to make a claim. The settlement is geared toward current or former users of a Siri device in the US whose conversations with the voice assistant were captured by Apple or shared with third parties due to an “unintended Siri activation.” How to qualifyTo qualify, you must have been using the device between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024. How to enter a claimIf you’re in the qualifying group, you should receive an email or postcard with a Claim Identification Code and a Confirmation Code alerting you to the settlement. In that case, head to the claim submission page, enter both codes, and then log in to proceed.Also: 7 ways to lock down your phone’s security – before it’s too lateIf you don’t receive either the email or postcard, you can still try to put together a claim. To do that, enter a new claim at the submission page. You’ll be asked to provide your contact information along with a serial number and model name for the Siri device or proof of purchase. You can add as many as five different devices, including an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, or any other gadget that uses Siri. Either way, you’ll be asked whether you want to receive your payout by direct deposit to your bank account or by electronic check. Don’t wait too long to file a claim; the deadline is July 2, 2025. You can also opt to do nothing, in which case you simply won’t collect anything.Following the filing deadline, the court still has to approve the settlement before payouts can begin. A final approval hearing is scheduled for Aug. 1 with US District Judge Jeffrey White in the federal court in Oakland, California. More

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    This Windows 11-like Linux distribution is aimed squarely at developers

    Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETIf you’re looking for a Linux distribution to wean you from Windows, there are a lot of options. Even distributions that don’t look and feel like Windows 10 or 11 can be tweaked to resemble Microsoft’s OS.And then there are some Linux distributions that resemble Windows out of the box. Among those distributions is a rather new player on the field, AnduinOS. Version 1.3 was just released, and after giving it a test, I’m impressed. The latest version of AnduinOS is based on Ubuntu 25.04, so it has the same underpinnings as Canonical’s celebrated distribution. That means it enjoys solid hardware support, a user-friendly package manager, a sound and stable base, and support until 2026. Also: Why this Linux distro is my new favorite Windows replacementAnduinOS achieves its Windows 11-like look with GNOME 48, and it does an outstanding job of that (while still maintaining the same level of simplicity that you’ll find on most GNOME-based Linux distributions). At the same time, it opts to add a few touches you don’t typically find on the GNOME desktop (such as the weather app as a clickable button in the bottom left corner of the desktop), which is a nice touch. More

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    10 passkey survival tips: Prepare for your passwordless future now

    emretopdemir/Getty Images Sooner or later, it’s coming: You’ll be logging into one of your favorite websites or applications, and you’ll find no option to supply a user ID and password. There won’t even be a password field. (The jury is still out on the user ID field.) You’ll simply choose from a personalized dropdown list […] More

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    7 ways to lock down your phone’s security – before it’s too late

    Eshma/Getty Images In June 2017, as NotPetya malware ripped through Ukraine’s business and government technology infrastructure, I reported from the capital, Kyiv, for ZDNET’s then-sibling publication TechRepublic, moderating panel discussions about geopolitical cyber defense at the Global Cybersecurity Summit. The city was a charming, modern startup hub with innovative thinkers and smart technology. It was also […] More