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The new, more compact, more powerful Mac Mini (2024) is as good as we hoped it would be.  That’s my first impression of this long-awaited redesign of one of Apple’s quirkiest and most utilitarian products. The Mac Mini has long been the lowest-priced and lowest-friction way to jump into the Mac ecosystem.  Also: I replaced my M1 MacBook Pro with a base model M4 – and it blew my $3,000 system away It’s also been…

I have largely ignored Samsung’s Galaxy Book laptop series, but recently I learned that was a mistake. I should’ve been paying closer attention to the lineup because the tech giant offers some impressive tech. The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360, a convertible laptop with a stellar design, has opened my eyes. Also: I tested Samsung’s flagship laptop and it gave my MacBook Pro a run for its money It sports a 16-inch 3K touchscreen running at…

Ant Pruitt/ZDNET Regardless of how great your video may look, audio is a priority. Professional creators understand that high quality matters more to viewers than crispy pixels of 8K footage. Saramonic has announced its Ultra wireless lavalier microphone kit, which aims to provide optimal audio for creators and viewers.  Also: I’ve been a professional live streamer for 10 years. These are my favorite studio lights The $300 Saramonic Ultra’s two biggest features are its IPX…

PM Images/Getty Images 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….

Kerry Wan/ZDNET If you’ve been missing Google Assistant since Gemini took over, you’ll want to know about a major upgrade coming to your phone. One of the biggest complaints about Gemini on Android is that it lacks a lot of the basic functionality that Google Assistant had like setting alarms and timers and controlling media. Also: Why I recommend this Google Pixel phone to most people A new “Utilities” extension aims to fix that. As Google…

It’s been several years since I evaluated the first-generation Moto G Stylus, and a lot has improved. My ZDNET colleague Kerry Wan covered all of the specifications of the latest model, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024), and what to expect in the $399 Android smartphone, so I won’t repeat all that here. Instead, I’ve been testing the phone for a couple of months with my T-Mobile SIM and will share my experience with it…

Lance Whitney/ZDNET Have you recently checked the notes in Apple Notes on your iPhone only to discover that they’ve mysteriously disappeared? You’re not alone. The problem is apparently hitting other iPhone users as well. But fear not for there is a fix. Based on reports from 9to5Mac and other tech outlets, the hiccup pops up after you accept new iCloud terms and conditions presented to you on your phone. After opening Apple Notes, you then…

Buena Vista Images/Getty Images In today’s fragmented social media landscape, staying active across multiple platforms can feel like a full-time job. Many people have started seeking alternatives with the recent shifts at X (formerly Twitter), including the rise in toxicity, relaxed moderation, and decisions that undermine the blocking feature.  Also: How to easily fly away from X to Bluesky without losing your flock – for now Mastodon, Bluesky, Threads, and other networks have grown in popularity as users…

Today’s state-of-the-art drones do more than just capture stunning aerial photos and video. Many boast advanced features like autonomous flight modes and obstacle avoidance systems. What was once the stuff of science fiction is now a reality, highlighting the incredible strides made in drone innovation. Whether you’re a hobbyist, a tech enthusiast, or someone whose job requires them to take photos from above (engineer or realtor, for example), drones are fast becoming a must-have. Also: The…