Tech

A collection of 1931 posts

Tech

0patch offers micropatches to protect Windows 10 after official updates end

Microsoft officially ceased regular updates and security patches for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, and ZDNET tested a third-party alternative called 0patch that delivers targeted micropatches to continue protecting systems. 0patch, a Europe-based company, creates tiny updates that address single vulnerabilities and distributes them to users when flaws become

Tech

Elevation Lab Vault Strap Compact: a discreet, rugged AirTag holder for bags

ZDNET reviewed Elevation Lab's Vault Strap Compact, a low-profile AirTag holder designed to attach securely to fabric and webbing on travel bags and similar gear. The holder is constructed from a fiber-reinforced polymer shell that ZDNET says is water- and dust-resistant and built to withstand impact. It has

Tech

RetroBox startup proposes a faux CRT VHS combo TV priced at $399

Gamesradar reports a startup called RetroBox is pitching a new faux CRT "VHS combo TV" that it says will play videotapes and support legacy video connections while mimicking a '90s/2000s combo set. The product is listed with a $399 price and promises a recreated look, feel

Tech

ZDNet identifies five preinstalled Samsung apps users may want to remove

ZDNet writer Sabrina Ortiz says many Samsung Galaxy phones ship with preinstalled apps that some users rarely use, and she highlights five first‑party apps she recommends uninstalling or disabling. Ortiz notes that preinstalled apps can vary by device, price and lineup; you might not be able to uninstall all

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Hosting.com named ZDNET's top cheap web host in 2026 guide

ZDNET's updated 2026 guide to budget web hosting names Hosting.com (previously branded A2 Hosting) as its top pick for cheap web hosting, highlighting entry prices from $2 per month and features aimed at beginners and small businesses. ZDNET says Hosting.com's Starter package includes free

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Google's AI began treating Chuck Wendig's fictional cat as fact

Pcgamer reports that author Chuck Wendig discovered that, after weeks of searches, Google's AI overview feature started treating a fictional pet—"Sir Mewlington Von Pissbreath," described as six years old and able to speak "limited Cantonese"—as if it were factual. Wendig's

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ZDNET's 2026 cloud hosting guide names AWS top pick

ZDNET updated its cloud hosting guide for 2026 in a January revision and selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its top pick for cloud hosting. ZDNET praises AWS for its comprehensive range of services, global network of data centers, and pay-as-you-go pricing, saying the platform can serve businesses of all

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Mewgenics to launch on Steam with 280 achievements

Pcgamer reports that co-creator Edmund McMillen posted a screenshot on X confirming Mewgenics will launch on Steam with 280 achievements. After more than a decade in development, the game — described as breeding bizarre cats and pitting them in turn-based combat — was previewed last year by Tyler Wilde, who said it

Tech

As winter sweeps the US, what to include in a winter emergency kit

Authorities are warning people to prepare for outages, tricky driving conditions, travel delays and more as winter weather sweeps across most of the US, with current and incoming Arctic blasts and prolonged cold that could cause serious problems. The article says technology can make a difference and lists home-kit essentials

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Perplexity offers free Enterprise AI seats to police, prompting expert concerns

Perplexity has launched a program it calls Perplexity for Public Safety Organizations that offers one free year of its Enterprise Pro tier for up to 200 seats to public safety professionals, including police, with discount options for larger agencies. The company says the service is intended to help officers make

Tech

London experiment: a month without a smartphone left the writer calmer but inconvenienced

A Guardian writer in London spent a month without her iPhone, swapping it for a basic Nokia for calls and texts, a Walkman, a film camera, paper maps and physical books, and using a laptop only for work between 9 and 5. The experiment followed a moment when the writer

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Anthropic CEO criticizes US approval of Nvidia chip sales to China at Davos

At the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei sharply criticized the U.S. administration and chipmakers over last week’s decision to approve sales of Nvidia’s H200 chips and a chip line by AMD to approved Chinese customers. The chips, while not necessarily the

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Google's Gemini offers free, full-length SAT practice tests in chatbot

Google's AI assistant Gemini now offers free, full-length, on-demand SAT practice tests in the chatbot, the company said. Starting Wednesday, students can access the exams directly in Gemini at no cost. Google said it partnered with The Princeton Review to use "rigorously vetted content from leading education

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Snap settles California lawsuit accusing app of causing social media addiction

Days ahead of a scheduled trial, Snap has reached a settlement in a lawsuit accusing the company of causing social media addiction, the New York Times said. The settlement was announced Tuesday in the California Superior Court in Los Angeles County, according to the outlet. The suit was brought by

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ZDNET: Acer Veriton NUC AI mini PC praised for compact design and ports

ZDNET reviewed the Acer Veriton NUC AI PC, a tiny Copilot PC aimed at business users, and said it delivers a very small footprint while offering multi-monitor support and a broad selection of ports. ZDNET noted the model is currently on sale for $829. The Veriton measures 5.16 x

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Gore Verbinski says Unreal Engine set back movie CGI

Director Gore Verbinski told Pcgamer that he considers the Unreal Engine "the greatest slip backwards" for movie CGI. He contrasted that view with earlier effects work, citing examples such as Terminator 2's liquid metal T-1000, Jurassic Park's dinosaurs and Starship Troopers' swarms, which

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Lenovo LOQ 15AHP10 review: capable midrange gaming laptop for work and play

ZDNET's review finds the Lenovo LOQ 15AHP10 is a budget-friendly midrange gaming laptop that delivers smooth 1080p gaming, a 144Hz refresh rate and fast charging, making it suitable for both work and play. ZDNET said the model is currently available for $1,000, with prices varying by configuration.

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Geekom X16 Pro review: lightweight 16-inch Windows laptop for about $1,300

ZDNET reviewed the Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro, a 16-inch Windows laptop available from Geekom for just over $1,300, and found it to be a lightweight device the reviewer considered a strong alternative to a MacBook Pro. The reviewer noted the X16 Pro is offered with Intel Core U9-185H or

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Deloitte: Companies are deploying AI agents faster than safety measures are keeping up

Businesses are adopting AI agents faster than they are building safety protocols, Deloitte said in its State of AI in the Enterprise report, based on a survey of more than 3,200 business leaders across 24 countries. The report found 23% of companies are currently using AI agents "at

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Ten Samsung Galaxy settings to change for a smoother One UI experience

Kerry Wan at ZDNET recommends 10 settings (plus a bonus) to adjust on Samsung Galaxy phones to improve the One UI user experience and better tailor the device to individual needs. Her recommendations include turning off pop-up notifications; switching from three-button navigation to gesture navigation; setting the display to the

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Bolna raises $6.3M seed to scale India-focused voice orchestration platform

Bolna said it has raised a $6.3 million seed round led by General Catalyst to expand its India-focused voice orchestration platform. The round included participation from Y Combinator, Blume Ventures, Orange Collective, Pioneer Fund, Transpose Capital, Eight Capital and several individual investors such as Aarthi Ramamurthy, Arpan Sheth, Sriwatsan

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Heartopia developers disclose AI-generated content on Steam

Kotaku reports that Heartopia, a new Animal Crossing–like cozy life sim from XD International, now acknowledges the use of AI-generated content after launching on Steam; the game dropped on January 17 following closed betas in November and December 2025 and is one of the biggest new releases on Steam

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Seven Samsung settings to extend Galaxy phone battery life

ZDNET's Kerry Wan outlines seven settings that can extend battery life on Samsung Galaxy phones, noting many Galaxy devices include features users rarely need. The recommendations include enabling Dark Mode to reduce power on AMOLED panels; turning on Adaptive Brightness so the ambient sensor adjusts screen luminosity; uninstalling

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Arknights: Endfield to launch worldwide on Jan 22 with PC client

Pcgamer reports that Arknights: Endfield, Hypergryph's 3D spin-off, will launch at 11 am (UTC+8) on Thursday, January 22, with a simultaneous global release across PC and mobile platforms and a dedicated PC client. Players in Pacific time can access the game at 7 pm PST on Wednesday,

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Chinese modder builds triangular console housing PS5, Xbox and Switch 2

Kotaku reports Chinese tech and computer expert 小宁子 XNZ has built a triangular "Ningtendo PXBOX 5" that contains a PS5, an Xbox, and a Switch 2, and can swap between them with the press of a button. First spotted by Tom’s Hardware, XNZ said the idea came