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Kerry Wan/ZDNETDexcom announced its first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor (CGM) device at CES 2025, while Abbott showcased its device launched at CES 2022 and available to consumers since last year. Many people with diabetes and insulin-related health issues struggle to find accessible and affordable care, making these products a potential game changer in the healthcare sphere. Also: CES 2025: The most impressive products so farPeople without diabetes also use glucose monitoring to help make adjustments to their eating habits and improve overall health. So, the Lingo by Abbott and the Stelo by Dexcom could benefit a wide variety of users.  More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETThe biggest week in tech is here: the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES). ZDNET is on the ground in Las Vegas and also keeping a virtual eye on the products and concepts that debuted on the show’s first day.Also: The best CES 2025 products you can buy right nowSo far, we’ve seen announcements from big names like Samsung, Abbott, and Dell, as well as new and innovative brands with cool concepts. Here’s the tech gear that has impressed us the most.1. AI-integrated TVs More

Garmin/ZDNETAt CES 2025, Garmin debuted a new series of rugged smartwatches. The Instinct 3 consists of four hardy wearables that share many of the same components while each offering a handful of distinct features.Garmin Instinct 3Each of the four models sports a fiber-reinforced polymer case, scratch-resistant glass, plus a metal-reinforced bezel. Everything comes together to create a tough device capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, shock, and underwater submersion up to 100 meters. For outdoor assistance, Garman is giving the wearables a built-in flashlight with various intensities. Instinct 3 even has a red light mode to help you navigate in the dark and a strobe effect.Also: CES 2025: The most impressive products so farSoftware features include around-the-clock health monitoring. Each smartwatch can track your daily steps, heart rate, and sleep habits, among other things. Smart notifications for texts or emails appear on the screen, according to Garmin, when paired with a compatible Apple or Android smartphone. Multi-band GPS supporting Garmin’s SatIQ tech is present to help guide you home. More

Satechi’s OntheGo Power Banks (5K and 10K)  deliver 15W fast wireless charging to a plethora of devices, including the latest iPhone 16 and AirPods models. And if you’re an Android user, they are supported through a USB-C cable connection or wirelessly with a compatible magnetic sticker or case accessory. These banks offer simultaneous charging for up to two devices through a magnetic connection for Qi-, Qi2-, and MagSafe-enabled devices or via the USB-C port for wired charging. According to Satechi, heat dissipation ensures your devices stay cool during charging, and pass-through charging capability allows users to keep their devices powered while docked, which is perfect for streaming, scrolling, video calling, and more. Also: Satechi’s new MagSafe accessories charge all your mobile devices on the goLike Satechi’s other accessories, OntheGo Power Banks feature premium vegan leather, a slim design, an LED indicator light, and more. The built-in stand configuration is adjustable up to 120 degrees in portrait or landscape mode. ZDNET’s Sabrina Ortiz was impressed by how slim these packs were on the back of her phone when she saw them in person this week. Satechi’s OntheGo collection of travel charging solutions will be available at Satechi.com starting sometime between April and June (Q2) of 2025 with prices ranging from $70-100. More

OWC ThunderBlade X12 OWC Who needs a RAID storage unit or a hub with a handful of Thunderbolt 5 ports? I’ll tell you who: Video editors, 3D animators, and digital artists who generate gigabytes of data and must move that data between devices at a decent speed. These are the professionals OWC is targeting with […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETLet’s face it: In this always-connected age, we’re forever on our phones checking texts, emails, social media, and more. As a result, we also have a steady appetite for accessories designed to tackle the constant problem of not having enough charge. CES 2025 has a fix.Also: CES 2025: The 10 most impressive products so farThe Swippitt, unveiled at CES, resembles a tissue box, except that when you insert your phone into the opening, it comes out in two seconds with a fresh battery. Sound like a CES gimmick? The product was on full display at CES, and we can confirm: It did the thing. Here’s how it works.To use the device, a user needs the Hub as well as the case, which Swippit refers to as the Link. On the case’s back is a battery, which —  when inserted into the Hub — gets swapped out for another fully charged 3,500 mAh battery, ready to give you the juice you need for the day. Meanwhile, the depleted battery starts getting charged.  More

Baseus EnerGeek 4G Mifi Power Bank Baseus What two things are essential to our tech-oriented lives? Power for our devices and a reliable internet connection. While most modern smartphones come with hotspot capabilities, there are times when nothing quite compares to the flexibility and convenience of having a separate hotspot. Also: CES 2025: The 12 […] More

ZDNETFacebook owner Meta is killing off its current third-party fact-checking process in favor of a new system similar to the community notes used by X, formerly Twitter. Also known as Community Notes, Meta’s process will take a more hands-off approach, aiming to limit the number of posts taken down or restricted based on user complaints and other red flags.Initially rolling out in the US over the coming months and eventually expanding to other countries, Meta’s Community Notes will replace the existing fact-checking method used across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. In touting the new process, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg criticized the current system, calling it one that makes too many mistakes and censors too many posts.Also: Meta’s latest update is a devastating blow to advertisers – what you need to know”We built a lot of complex systems to moderate content, but the problem with complex systems is they make mistakes,” Zuckerberg said in a video posted on Facebook. “Even if they accidentally censor just 1% of posts, that’s millions of people, and we’ve reached a point where it’s just too many mistakes and too much censorship.”Current process smacks of censorshipIn a Meta page explaining how fact-checking works, the company said the current process uses independent fact-checkers who rate a post or ad for accuracy. Based on the review, Meta then decides whether the content should be taken down, labeled, or otherwise restricted. But that method has long triggered complaints from conservatives, who argue that it smacks of censorship. With the new political climate in the US, those voices are growing louder.Also: The one feature Bluesky really needs”The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech,” Zuckerberg said in the video. “So we’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms.”In a news post titled “More Speech and Fewer Mistakes,” Meta Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan also criticized the current process, saying too much harmless content is censored, too many people wind up in “Facebook jail,” and Meta is slow to respond to correct such mistakes. Toward that end, the new Community Notes feature will work similarly to the one on X, where the broader user community decides which posts are misleading or inaccurate and which ones need more context. More