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Tharon Green/ZDNET Do you need to be an Amazon Prime member to get deals?  For the most part, no, you do not need to be a Prime member to shop holiday savings. Unlike Prime Day events, Cyber Week and the lingering sale events are not members-only sale events and are open to non-Prime members. However, keep in mind that there may be some exclusive Prime-member-only offers and perks you won’t have access to without a…

Chesnot/Getty Images A debilitating service outage has hit several of Meta’s apps, with thousands of people across the United States having reported issues accessing their Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp accounts. According to the monitoring website DownDetector, the outage appears to have started at around 12:36 p.m. EST, with Facebook being hit first before moving on to the platforms. Facebook, in particular, seems to have been affected the worst, as service interruption reports peaked at 107,005…

Winter is the perfect time to curl up under a blanket with a good book — or an entire library. A great reading tablet will let you carry hundreds of titles in a lightweight device, and it will have a battery that lasts days. It should also be lightweight enough that you can hold it for hours without straining your wrists.  Also: The best tablets of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed E-readers allow you to…

The Bose Soundlink Max looks like an unassuming speaker, but it delivers in all the right areas. Jack Wallen/ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways The Bose Soundlink Max is on sale at Amazon and Bose for $299. This unassuming Bluetooth speaker delivers the high-quality sound that Bose is known for, with the battery life to keep the party going all night. The regular price might be a turn-off, given you can get perfectly capable speakers for less….

Jason Hiner/ZDNET Soundbars are gaining in popularity because of their sleek design and ability to provide an ample boost in audio quality compared to built-in TV speakers. Even with their plug-and-play nature, you can make a few modifications to help unleash the best possible sound quality.  Also: The best soundbars of 2024: Expert tested and recommended Whether you’re new to soundbar setups or a self-proclaimed audiophile, familiarizing yourself with some key settings can take your viewing…

It’s very likely that nation states will deploy quantum computers to crack the most sensitive messages even before the technology is widely available for commercial use. Plus, there are the “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks where adversaries vacuum up valuable communications or data, then decrypt them when the technology becomes available, says Forrester analyst Brian Hopkins. “Even if quantum decryption is a decade away, attackers could steal encrypted data today,” he says. “Companies should begin…

Yes, holiday hosting can be a ball, but it can also be a pain in the neck. You’re cleaning before guests arrive and deep cleaning after they leave. There’s constant commotion in the kitchen as you prepare food and mix drinks. There’s the music and overall vibe curation that takes lots of time and energy to get right. And, there’s always that one person who spills red wine on the sofa or breaks your favorite…

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET I handle and review a bewildering array of gadgets throughout the year, from cables to satellite communicators. However, I feel that the real test for any product is whether it can make the shift from something I reviewed into something that I use long-term. That is what this list represents — gadgets that transitioned from mere review assignments to become essential parts of my kit. These are the things that live in my…

Alcuin/Getty Images I’ve been on Bluesky for some time now, and I’ve found it to be exponentially better than X. It offers a similar layout without the deluge of ads, algorithm-driven feeds, and irrelevant (and often offensive) content.  Bluesky also offers features that X doesn’t (and likely never will). Notably, Bluesky puts moderation in your hands — and that makes a big difference.  Also: 7 things to know about Bluesky before you join – and…

MirageC/Getty Images I’m always taking notes. Whether it’s for a book I’m writing, an idea for a book to be written, an item I need to add to a shopping list, or just about anything else that pops to mind, I turn to my Android phone to jot things down. Without a good note-keeping app, I’d have a heck of a time remembering those all-too-important ideas or thoughts I need to keep track of.  Also:…