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The future of the retail industry is becoming increasingly clear, and consumers are demanding rapid advancements. They seek a shopping experience that is both convenient and personalized, tailored to fit seamlessly into their diverse lifestyles and unique preferences. To provide this smooth, secure, omni-channel retail journey, retailers are tasked with the challenge of integrating their entire value chain from start to finish. What serves as the fundamental catalyst for this streamlined and cohesive retail model?…

Stack Social/ZDNET Project management is key for companies, no matter the size, but can be a challenge. Software solutions can help maximize precision and efficiency. Two popular options are Microsoft Project Professional 2024 and Microsoft Visio Professional 2024 for Windows — both of which are currently on major discount through StackSocial. Both platforms are on sale for $80, down from their usual prices of $1,130 for Project Professional and $580 for Visio Professional. Microsoft Project…

Get a one-year subscription to Microsoft 365 at a big discount right now. StackSocial If you’ve recently upgraded your laptop, you may have suddenly found yourself without access to Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, and the rest of Microsoft’s near-necessary software. And since Microsoft switched from the traditional Office suite to a Microsoft 365 subscription service, it’s become more expensive to access those programs. But right now, Microsoft partner StackSocial is offering a one-year subscription to…

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…

Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images Every year, Deloitte releases its Tech Trends report, which takes a deep dive into the past year’s technological landscape and identifies macro industry trends that will play a pivotal role in digital transformation in the upcoming 18 to 24 months. Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence (AI) was a key area in this year’s edition, released today — just not in the same way as in the past.  Even though AI is just…

Jason Hiner In May, Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence, the company’s take on artificial intelligence (AI). However, with the release of iOS 18.1, users didn’t get to see many of the AI features Apple touted at WWDC. Now, iOS 18.2 is finally delivering some of the most exciting features.  Also: Stop paying full price for PCs and Macs: 7 ways to save money on your next purchase On Wednesday, Apple released iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and…

DJI DJI is a name synonymous with drones and action cameras, but this year the company launched its first set of power stations — the DJI Power 500 and Power 1000. These power stations were the first to be aimed specifically at drone pilots, offering them a way to charge their drone’s batteries much faster than using conventional means. Now the company is bolstering that lineup with an expansion battery aimed at people who need…

Hisense/ZDNET If you’re looking to upgrade your home entertainment system this holiday season (or shopping for someone who is) and you have a tight budget, this $89 Hisense 5.1 Ch 510W soundbar and subwoofer combo may be the most accessible deal that I’ve seen so far.  For less than a Benjamin, you get a relatively powerful soundbar, a wireless subwoofer for enhanced bass and depth, and two rear surround speakers. The system typically sells for $180,…

Cheng Xin/Getty Images Two screens. Two worlds.  On one screen, an urban professional in Oslo taps through ultra-secure banking apps, relies on an AI-powered personal assistant, and streams media seamlessly over high-speed 5G using their iPhone.  On the other screen, a farmer in Malawi scrolls through a modest Android phone — likely costing less than a week’s wages — just to read the news, check tomorrow’s weather, and send WhatsApp messages over a patchy mobile…

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET One of the many wonderful things about Linux is that you can make it look how you want. If you want to go crazy and create a desktop that looks and feels unlike any other, you can. But there are also distributions for people who’d rather have a user-friendly and instantly familiar desktop environment. Wubuntu is one such distribution, and I’m sure you can figure out what operating system it mimics….