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ZDNET's key takeaways

Smart TVs track viewing habits with ACR tech.

Collected data fuels billions in targeted ads.

Turning off ACR protects privacy but takes effort.

How to disable ACR on your TV - and why it makes such a big difference Your Samsung, LG, and even TCL TV comes with risks you should know about. Here's how to avoid one of the biggest.

Understanding Your Internet: Bandwidth, Speed, Connectivity

Internet Speed Test Test your internet speed instantly with TestMySpeed, the leading broadband speed test. Get real-time results for download, upload, and ping.

In January 2026, reports confirmed that Microsoft discontinued phone-based activation, effectively removing the last official method to activate Windows without a direct internet connection. This change impacts Windows 11, Windows 10, and even legacy versions like Windows 7.

Microsoft quietly killed the last way to activate Windows without internet.

This one hits close to home because I installed Smart Tube on mine and all customer streaming devices 😱

The developer of the popular third-party YouTube app SmartTube has confirmed that several official versions released in November 2025 were unintentionally distributed with malware. This occurred after the developer's computer, used to create the app's APK files, was compromised.

https://www.google.com/knowledgegraphshares?smstk=ChhWeXBrSDc2WGhiZ3ZrVUFNTFBGVmNhWT0QAQ%3D%3D&smstidx=0&q=SmartTube+developer+confirms+malware+was+in+recent+versions.&udm=50&csuir=1&aep=34&shndl=37&shmd=H4sIAAAAAAAA_3XNsQ3CMBCFYdIyApVripgUUCC2gN6...

Yes, recent Windows 11 updates are causing various flashing or flickering issues, including white flashes in File Explorer and, previously, a bug that caused screens to turn red. Microsoft has acknowledged these problems and is working on fixes, while temporary workarounds can often resolve the issue.

Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update has a flashing bug

Microsoft adds a long-overdue feature to Windows 11 taskbar in build 27971 - Neowin

Here is the changelog:

[Notification Center]
We are extending the functionality of Notification Center to secondary monitors. This means you will be able to see your calendar on any of your monitors as well as the option to show a bigger clock with seconds above calendar. You will be able to open Notification Center on any monitor by clicking the date and time in the system tray of your taskbar.

Microsoft adds a long-overdue feature to Windows 11 taskbar in build 27971 Microsoft is rolling out a new Windows 11 Canary build with a long-requested taskbar feature and some quality improvements.