NETWORKING

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET If you need to be connected to the internet but there’s no Wi-Fi or cellular signal nearby, and not even an Ethernet port in sight, then you have to look up to the skies — to the satellites whooshing 340 miles above your head at dizzying speeds. Also: Do wind power generators actually work at home? My firsthand experience says it all I’ve tried a number of systems, from basic messenger units like the Garmin…

Kerry Wan/ZDNET MSI’s Claw 8 AI+ has been redesigned for a grippier, more grown-up-looking form factor with Intel’s “Lunar Lake” Core Ultra 7 processor and some physical improvements based on user feedback. The result is a lightweight, versatile gaming handheld with access to a wide variety of titles and good battery performance. Meaningful upgrades I had a chance to take the Claw 8 AI+ for a spin ahead of CES 2025 and immediately noticed the step up…

ZDNET Affiliate links have become hugely popular among internet content creators. In many ways, they’ve replaced or strongly augmented advertising and sponsorships as a way to support publications and productions. I recently added affiliate links to my newsletter and YouTube channel but made an undocumented mistake that cost me the holiday boost I was hoping for. In this article, I’ll show you what that mistake was and how to avoid it. But first, let’s quickly…

Metz noted that in addition to vendor participation growth there was a lot of technical innovation. Significant developments were made across the physical, link, transport, and software layers, including innovative congestion schemes, built-in security and optimized packet delivery.  “More than 25 individual projects contributed to the development of a finely tuned Ethernet stack designed to meet the demands of the most intensive workloads in history,” Metz said. 2025 will be a big year for UEC. …

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Lenovo Tab Plus retails for $330. Contrary to its small size, the model houses a booming eight-speaker system and a long-lasting battery. The MediaTek Helio chipset and dim display won’t be winning any awards. more buying choices If you’re in the market for a new tablet that won’t break the bank, may I recommend the Lenovo Tab Plus? This is Lenovo’s latest lightweight tablet, capable of doubling as a mini-home theater….

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Echo Show 21 is a $400 smart display designed to be mounted. It includes a 13MP camera for video calls with a privacy shutter and Fire TV integrations. If you choose not to wall-mount the Echo Show 21, you’d have to buy a separate stand. more buying choices A great smart display is a sight to behold, but it doesn’t need to be huge to be outstanding. I love the idea…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The OnePlus Open is available for $1,300 OnePlus also offers various trade-in deals on a range of existing phones, saving up to $900 This foldable phone has a vibrant large main display, customizable ringer switch, ample RAM and storage, and three powerful rear cameras While the hardware supports a stylus, OnePlus doesn’t provide access to one; it only supports an IPX4 water-resistant rating; and there is no wireless charging capability. more buying…