NETWORKING

So, what are the areas where enterprises think a network startup could win their business today? That depends on how enterprises view risk and reward. The space where enterprises today are least satisfied with incumbent vendors is security. Of the 321 enterprises, 295 said they’d examine a strong security offering from a network startup, by far the highest level of acceptance. But that group stressed the point that “strong” here meant compelling, because enterprises have…

Earbuds are everywhere and come in every configuration, feature set, price point, color, and shape. You’ll find inexpensive earbuds as cheap as $20 and as expensive as $11,000. Most people aren’t going to opt for a pair of earbuds with a price tag that includes three zeros, but when you hit the $100 to $200 range, you’re looking at the sweet spot. Also: One of the best budget earbuds I’ve tested can make everything sound good…

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways The EcoFlow Power Hat does a good job of transforming sunlight into power. It features two ports for charging multiple devices simultaneously. The hat is on the heavier side due to the tech within.   I’ve reviewed a lot of solar panels over the past few years, including big panels that unfold to harvest the sun’s rays and store it in power stations. They work really well, but they’re hardly…

Getty Images/nopparit The generative AI boom might have started with the launch of ChatGPT, but the technology has now been integrated into all kinds of productivity platforms designed to make our everyday workflows easier. A fear many people have when they hear about AI use in the workplace is that the technology will replace them. However, the tools I’m talking about here won’t do the work for you — rather, they can increase your work productivity. Also:…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Eero Outdoor 7 is an exterior Wi-Fi 7 router available for $400. This Eero is built for outdoor environments with an IP66 rating, up to 15,000 square feet of outdoor coverage, and Wi-Fi 7 support. Unlike the Eero Max 7, the Eero Outdoor 7 is dual-band, not tri-band; its Power over Ethernet (PoE) adapter is sold separately. more buying choices The Eero Outdoor 7 is a mesh Wi-Fi router built to…

Save big on this lifetime Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro bundle.  Kerry Wan/ZDNET It doesn’t matter if you’re upgrading to a new laptop or just upgrading your existing system — access to Microsoft Office and Windows is a necessity for getting things done on your computer these days. And right now, you can buy a bundled lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro from Stack Social for $53…

Kerry Wan and Jason Hiner/ZDNET While Google launched the Pixel 9 series during its Made by Google event in August, it’s among the hottest Android phones going into the holiday season. If you’re in the market for a flagship Android, your attention should go straight to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which is currently selling for $1,099 over the tech giant’s storefront. Also: I upgraded my Pixel 9 Pro to Android 15. Here are my 5…

Kevin Carter/Getty Images Businesses run on the Internet, but enterprises that take security seriously use software-defined wide area networks (SD-WANs) to create virtual private connections. This approach enables them to use their internal network services over the Internet without anyone looking over their virtual shoulders. Now, MetTel, the managed network service, is working with Starlink to deliver its SD-WAN services to government and commercial enterprises globally.  This strategic partnership allows MetTel to offer fully managed…

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET The biggest benefit of using an AI chatbot is being able to input and receive conversational queries. Combine that with real-time access to the Internet, and you have a more efficient search engine. That’s exactly what ChatGPT Search is — and now you can make it your default search engine.  With ChatGPT Search, your results look similar to those of the standard ChatGPT chatbot. The major differences are that it includes in-line citations…