NETWORKING

As someone who experiences regular power outages due to storms and random occurrences, I’ve learned that having a backup plan for electric outages is essential for my home. While you can always use a gasoline- or propane-powered generator, a battery system can be a renewable, zero-emissions way to provide your home with an efficient backup solution. Also: The best portable power stations of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed A set of backup batteries can offer…

ZDNET’s key takeaways Ohsnap’s new Snap Grip Wallet combines style and function, and is available now for $80. It comes in five colors, can store up to eight cards, and doubles as a phone stand. If the price turns you off, you’re better off with a more affordable MagSafe cardholder. One of the best parts of working in tech is getting to test out the most popular tech items each year. From MagSafe batteries, MagSafe…

Kerry Wan/ZDNET When Meta teased its prototype Orion smart glasses at Meta Connect, CEO Mark Zuckerberg confidently said they were “the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen.”  The prototype glasses are an attempt to bridge the gap between the popular Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses — which are lightweight and practical but limited in features — and the Meta Quest, a full-fledged VR/AR headset with an augmented reality display that’s also bulky and impractical for…

Maria Diaz/ZDNET A keen eye for detail is quintessential when choosing between two of the biggest names in the VPN world. NordVPN and ExpressVPN are high-value providers, and they’re two of our favorite VPNs for their outstanding performance on benchmarks like security, streaming, and speed. Also: The best VPN services: Expert tested and reviewed Based on my hands-on experience testing both services, one may offer a slight advantage over the other, depending on what you want to achieve…

ZDNET In 2023, I reviewed Ultramarine Linux, which was based on Fedora 39, calling it the “desktop of the year.” Since then, the developers have released a new version based on Fedora 40 (which is one release behind the official Fedora distribution). This new release vastly improves the documentation experience, fixes numerous bugs, and polishes the distribution to a gleaming, sparkling shine. Also: Want to save your old computer? Try these 6 Linux distros As with my…

ZDNET’s key takeaways With plans as low as $120 for three years, TunnelBear is an affordable VPN with a free version The software is hassle-free, with minimalistic settings and an outlook that makes setting up and navigating the app easy. Server distribution is smaller than the competition and may not be ideal for streaming. TunnelBear‘s intuitive design greatly appeals to VPN newbies. Advanced users might find it too basic as there aren’t many app customizations….

ZDNET’s key takeaways With plans as low as $120 for three years, TunnelBear is an affordable VPN with a free version The software is hassle-free, with minimalistic settings and an outlook that makes setting up and navigating the app easy. Server distribution is smaller than the competition and may not be ideal for streaming. TunnelBear‘s intuitive design greatly appeals to VPN newbies. Advanced users might find it too basic as there aren’t many app customizations….

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Blackview Tab 90 Wi-Fi is certified for streaming DRM HD content. I found the battery life of the tablet to be decent enough for content consumption. The battery charging, however, is notably slow. more buying choices It’s that time of year when I get a lot of questions about tablets. They seem to be a popular gift around the holidays. While those in the Apple ecosystem are limited to the iPad…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The TCL Tab 10 Nxtpaper 5G is a full-color, color paper, and ink paper tablet available at Verizon for $239. It’s a great entertainment tablet for daily use that also functions very well as an e-reader. Although the screen is versatile, don’t expect the graphics to compare to those on an iPad or other high-end tablets. Reading is my favorite hobby and something I’ve come to rely on to wind down before…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The DJI Neo is available from DJI and Amazon for $199 for the basic kit, and $289 for the Combo kit. This 135-gram drone is incredibly portable and highly capable, making it perfect for bloggers, YouTubers, and social media types. The Neo’s wind resistance is lower than other DJI drones, and real-world battery life is significantly lower than advertised. more buying choices Drone operators generally fall into two categories: those who use…