Spotify’s New Miniplayer Desktop App Aims to Be a ‘Perfect Productivity Companion’

Want to listen to music and podcasts while using other apps? Streaming music service Spotify is rolling out a miniplayer for desktop which enables you to do just that. The new player, which is set to “always on top,” enables Premium users to change tracks, choose playlists, control volume and watch videos and podcasts. Spotify says … Read more

My top 5 user-friendly GUI backup tools for the Linux desktop (and why you need one)

David Merron Photography/Getty Images I have particular folders on my desktop that contain very important folders (such as my book manuscripts). Those folders must be backed up at all times, otherwise, I run into the possibility of losing hundreds or thousands of hours of work. Ergo, I depend on a backup tool. Also: The first … Read more

Google Meet’s face touch-up filters come to desktop

You can choose from two different filters: subtle and smoothing. While Google says the subtle filter applies “very light” complexion smoothing, under-eye lightening, and eye whitening, the smoothing filter makes all three effects slightly more noticeable. Judging by the GIF provided by Google, it doesn’t look like either option dramatically changes your appearance like some … Read more

These desktop lamps beam near-infrared light, in a bid to improve your mood

As humans spend increasing amounts of time indoors, we lose access to the sun’s natural benefits. Recognition of season affective disorder has grown accordingly. While the actual occurrence of the condition is low (around 5% — or 10 million or so Americans),  it’s led to increasing awareness of the sun’s impact on the production of … Read more

Deepin 23 aims to reclaim the title of the most beautiful Linux desktop

Deepin Desktop is still one of the most beautiful and user-friendly environments on the market. Jack Wallen/ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways Deepin Linux 23 beta 3 is available now to download and install for free.It’s beautiful, it’s seamlessly integrated, and it’s easy to use.As has been the case, over the years, there are security concerns when … Read more

Apple Vision Pro review: the infinite desktop

In 2000, Paradox Press published “Reinventing Comics: How Imagination and Technology Are Revolutionizing an Art Form.” The book was Scott McCloud’s follow-up to his seminal 1993 work, “Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art.” Where the earlier title explored the history and visual language of sequential art, the second volume finds the medium at a crossroads. The … Read more

Here’s the best way to transfer large files between your laptop and desktop

PashaIgnatov/ZDNET If you do a lot of video and photo editing on location, you know what a hassle it is to move media files between your laptop and your desktop PC or Mac.  So, what’s the best way to transfer those files from one device to another? As with just about every tech-related question ever, … Read more

HP Envy Move All-in-One 24 Review: The Desktop You Can Take With You

Pros Battery, handle and flip-out feet make it easy to tote from room to room Bright, crisp touch display High-res 1,440-pixel webcam Cons Display has no height and very little tilt adjustment Audio output is underwhelming No headphone jack HP isn’t afraid to experiment with PC designs, as evidenced most recently by the HP Spectre … Read more

Makera is releasing a baby sibling of its Carvera desktop 4-axis mill

In the depth of the pandemic, 500 or so backers chipped in to make Makera’s Carvera Kickstarter campaign, a fully automatic desktop CNC machine, hit its goal. Since then, the company has sold another 2,500 or so of them — but with a hefty $6,000 price tag and a huge amount of interest from education, … Read more