NETWORKING

Kerry Wan/ZDNET After 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: The tablet that replaced my Kindle and iPad is getting a big refresh – and it’s much…

The 11th-generation iPad has a similar design as the 10th-generation model (pictured), but the internal upgrades are still noteworthy. Kerry Wan/ZDNET Apple has unveiled the 11th-generation version of its base iPad at a price that may be too good to resist. Starting at $349, the new 11-inch iPad sports a Retina Display, is powered by an A16 chip, and comes with 128GB of storage. No Apple Intelligence or Face ID The most prominent features missing…

ZDNET’s key takeaways Nomad’s ChargeKey V2 is on sale for $25 each. This version of the handy accessory provides charging speeds up to 240W for laptops and data transfer speeds up to 10Gbps. However, some may find its short length too restrictive. As often as I rely on USB-C cables to charge my devices or help with work, I hardly think about them. My mindset has been that they’re all mostly the same with negligible…

The growth comes despite considerable headwinds facing data center operators, including higher construction costs, equipment pricing, and persistent shortages in critical materials like generators, chillers and transformers, CRBE stated. There is a considerable pricing disparity between newly built data centers and legacy facilities, reflecting the premium placed on modern, energy-efficient infrastructure. Specifically, liquid/immersion cooling is preferred over air cooling for modern server requirements, CRBE found. On the networking side of things, major telecom companies made…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro is available for $180 for the Wi-Fi version and $200 for the PoE version. This indoor/outdoor security camera doubles as a smart home hub, features 1520p resolution for crystal-clear images, RTSP support, and has a built-in NPU to process video with AI for visual recognition. The camera is wired, so placement is limited, and there is no expandable storage, so you need a subscription to access…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The EarFun OpenJump earbuds are available now on Amazon for $79. After creating a custom profile and EQ curve, these earbuds produce outstanding sound with punchy lows and well-defined highs. The mids are a bit tricky to get right with OpenJump earbuds and the EarFun app. Of all the types of earbuds I’ve reviewed, the open-ear concept has been my least favorite. There are three reasons I find them less viable than…

ZDNET’s key takeaways This range of universal travel adapters suits all needs, compatible with over 220 countries These GaN chargers feature USB-C and USB-A ports and are high quality, robust, and safe These universal chargers DO NOT convert voltages, so be careful with what you plug in. Digital gadgets have become an essential part of modern travel. From smartphones and tablets to e-readers, cameras, drones, and Bluetooth speakers, these devices share one common requirement: power….

No matter how careful I am, my screens end up covered in smudges. My wall-mounted TV magically ends up with handprints, while the streaks on my laptop screen look like they’re taking off into hyperspace by the end of the day. And don’t even get me started on my kids’ tablet screens.  You can probably relate. That’s why a good TV screen cleaner is a must-have for every household. But not all cleaners are created…

In my conversations with IT and business leaders, I’ve seen a significant increase in interest in re-thinking data resilience. It’s always been important, but the Russia-Ukraine war put a magnifying glass on where data was stored and how fast it could be recovered. Since then, the growth of ransomware, the CrowdStrike breach, and other events have only added fuel the data resiliency fire. In fact, it was one of the top topics of discussion at…