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Kerry Wan/ZDNET Considering how much personal information we store on our smartphones, I wouldn’t be surprised if the demand for privacy screen protectors is at an all-time high. From bank statements to email credentials to photos and videos, the need to keep our digital footprint safe and secure, especially from the prying eyes of strangers, has never been more necessary. Also: I tried to replace my laptop with the Galaxy S25 Ultra – and I’d…

ZDNET OpenAI released its o3-mini model exactly one week ago, offering both free and paid users a more accurate, faster, and cheaper alternative to o1-mini. Now, OpenAI has updated the o3-mini to include an “updated chain of thought,” and here’s why it matters. The update OpenAI announced via an X post that free and paid users would now be able to view the reasoning process the o3-mini goes through before arriving at a conclusion. For example, in…

Amazon/ZDNET Amazon recently announced a new lineup of Kindles, including a new Kindle Paperwhite, my favorite Kindle model since it launched in 2012. The Kindle Paperwhite provides a crisp and contrasted reading experience that feels almost like reading a paper book, and the 2024 model offers a higher contrast ratio and 25% faster page turns compared to the previous version. Now, you can get the new Kindle Paperwhite on sale for $135. Also: This $279…

Artie Beaty/ZDNET Gemini Flash 2.0 just debuted last week, but it’s already getting an upgrade — the ability to watch YouTube for you. If you use YouTube as a resource for cooking, home repairs, crafting, or research, you know how frustrating it can be when it takes someone forever to get to the point. That may soon be a thing of the past because Gemini Flash 2.0 can now watch a YouTube video, extract the…

Dyson/ZDNET If you’re constantly on the hunt for a low-heat, high-reward hairstyling tool, you probably know that the Dyson Airwrap is the styling tool to beat, and it has been for a while. The Airwrap uses air and Dyson’s top-of-the-line technology to style your hair flawlessly and with ease (if you’ve got a vendetta against heat tools, like me).  Also: These are the top 25 products ZDNET readers bought in January 2025 Despite its popularity, the…

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Not too long ago, there was an entry-level, low-cost iPhone model ideal for people who didn’t need all of the bells and whistles but still wanted to be part of the Apple ecosystem — the iPhone SE. After a two-year hiatus, a new model may be around the corner. Also: Can rebooting your iPhone really make it run faster? I tried it every day to find out On Thursday, Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman reported that…

ZDNET Microsoft and its users still can’t seem to catch a break with updates to Windows 11 24H2. Since its official debut last October, the 2024 version has been saddled with problems. But each new update designed to fix a bunch of bugs ends up introducing even more of them. Also: Windows 11 24H2’s wild ride: Some fixes are in but other bugs still linger The latest issue centers around the Windows 11 24H2 preview update…

AI data centers must support much higher power densities than traditional data centers: Nvidia’s GB200 NVL72 systems are estimated to consume up to 120kW per rack, for instance, with classic computing infrastructure consuming perhaps one-tenth of that. On top of that, the AI-enabled data center will need liquid cooling, advanced networking infrastructure, and advanced infrastructure management software. And AWS isn’t the only cloud service provider that is ramping up its investments into AI-enabled data centers….

Is rebooting the key to a faster, smoother iPhone experience? Maria Diaz/ZDNET A common bit of advice floating around is that rebooting your iPhone will magically speed it up, making it feel like a new device. But is it really that simple? Over the past few months, I decided to put this idea to the test by regularly rebooting my iPhone. I’m a heavy iPhone user — seriously, that thing is practically glued to my…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Garmin eTrex Solar is available now for $250, while the eTrex SE without solar sells for $150. Potential for unlimited battery life, extensive GNSS support, rugged build, and affordable. Small monochrome display, no turn-by-turn directions of TopoActive maps. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I gained a deep affection for the great outdoors. The forest is my happy place. I have a good sense of direction, too — even in nature…