#product-testing

#product-testing

I don't ever want to think of this as a popularity contest, Palmquist said. I want it to be a way that agents can experience and be introduced to new technology, whether that's in additional types of writing or other ways that we showcase something. I think that by having interviews as a function of the website, showcasing their tech stack, that gives real estate agents in the industry a roadmap to say, I'm going to follow this, or I'm going to emulate this.'

Buying a vacuum cleaner isn't as easy as you might think. With so many brands and models to choose from, it can be bewildering. Sticking with established brands isn't necessarily a safe bet, with past performance being no guarantee that the latest models will be as good. Meanwhile, prices can be deceptive, with some affordable models now closing the gap on top-of-the-range brands when it comes to cleaning performance.

Amount of Storage: Do you want a little storage? Do you need a lot of storage? If you're someone who has a collection of games, accessories, or blankets and pillows, then you'll want one with more real estate. On the other hand, if you're a minimalist who just doesn't have much space to work with in the first place, you can get away with less.

How do I use a water flosser without spraying water everywhere? Fill the reservoir with water, lean over the sink (you should be looking down, not straight ahead), and keep your lips mostly closed around the tip so water can drip out instead of spraying. Start on the lowest pressure, turn it on only after the tip is in your mouth, and trace along the gum-line-pausing briefly between teeth-then turn it off (or wait until it automatically turns off) before removing it from your mouth.

Google is testing the ability to add color to your search results page with a color palette picker. There is this palette icon at the top of the results that when clicked on says "Add a splash of color to the top of Search," and "Pick color." When you click on pick color it loads 10 colors to "Choose an accent color for the top of Search."

The ZDNET team spent this past week on the ground at CES 2026, going hands-on with hundreds of products and services in Las Vegas. From massive TVs and AI gadgets to the weird and wacky, we tested all the headlining tech expected to define the year ahead. Also: CES 2026 live: Biggest news on TVs, laptops, weird gadgets that stole our attention That firsthand reporting helped inform CNET Group's official Best of CES 2026 awards, selected in partnership with the Consumer Technology Association.

Cherry pie: It's one of the most classic desserts that you can order at a diner, and your grandmother probably had her favorite recipe recorded for posterity. With its bold, red hue, cherry pie is seductive, and it tastes best when made with in-season fruit. Nonetheless, if you're craving a cherry pie in the middle of winter, you wouldn't be wrong to seek out a high-quality store-bought pie filling to pick up the slack.

Skiing is an expensive, gear-heavy sport, but take it from someone who's been on the slopes her whole life: Investing in the right equipment from the start will save you time and money in the long run. It's important to choose wisely, since some gear could even serve you for life. The challenge is knowing which products are built to last, which ones you'll like, and which have features skiers actually need-from thoughtfully placed pockets to hoods that fit comfortably over a helmet. That's where Travel + Leisure's team of powder hounds comes in. Made up of both novice and expert skiers, we put hundreds of ski pants, ski jackets, goggles, gloves, and bags to test in a range of climates and conditions.

To help you avoid a game of green bean roulette, I recently tried 10 kinds of canned green beans so you don't have to. There are more options out there than one might think. From Del Monte to Libby's to store brands, plenty of players throw their beans in the ring and in multiple styles too, including French-style, Italian-style, whole green beans, and more. I picked up a hearty sampling and ranked them all based primarily on tenderness and texture, flavor, and ingredient add-ins.

While I started my career working alongside a tabloid agony aunt, giving people answers to their sex and relationship-related queries, I turned my focus to commerce three years ago. My 9-to-5 now consists of reviewing new sexual wellness releases. To ensure I'm an authority on all things sexual wellness and menstrual health, I regularly attend press days and product launches, interview sexual wellness experts, and have personally tested hundreds of products to ensure they live up to their designers' claims.

Baking a spice cake from scratch can sometimes seem more tedious than it's worth. You crave cozy, fall-inspired flavors but don't want to pull out every spice jar in your cabinet, let alone wait for your butter and eggs to come to room temperature or make a run to the grocery store. As a former bakery owner, I know how much effort goes into making a delicious homemade spice cake.

ZDNET chooses deals based on the percentage of discount compared to the original price ($5 off a $20 item is just as good as $250 off a $1,000 item), how significant the discount is compared to pricing history, and whether our experts have tested and recommended the product. We also examine deals from a broader perspective, considering alternative options, unique use cases, stock availability, and existing customer reviews on websites such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Reddit.

"We're experimenting with a new feature that makes it easy for you to share videos you love (long-form, Shorts and live streams) and have conversations about them directly on the YouTube mobile app," reads the YouTube post. "By messaging on YouTube, you accept that messages may be reviewed to ensure they follow our Community Guidelines. Community Guidelines apply to all content on YouTube, including on-platform video shares and messages."

Tinned tomatoes are a staple product, and it's easy to assume that there isn't much difference between the different ones on the supermarket shelves. And if you are using them to make a bolognese sauce or adding them to a stew or curry, are you really going to notice the difference?

Internet hype can be hard to trust. More often than not, products that go viral are nowhere near as worthy, perfect, or must-have as the paid influencers who hock them claim. But every once in awhile a viral product is truly worth your money, and you'd be smart to jump on the bandwagon. So I checked out the buzz and ran these Amazon sensations by the Bustle shopping team who test and review products for a living.

As you can see in this example, posted by creator economy expert Lia Haberman, more users are now being prompted to try out the updated UI, which puts more focus on "your favorite spaces" in the app. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri says that option is coming to all users shortly, so if you haven't seen this prompt as yet, you soon will.

Since we launched a year ago, we've run, hiked, camped and swum; we've drunk 455 cups of coffee; washed 34 loads of clothes; slept on mattresses for 2,240 hours, and much more, testing a total of 2,040 products from coffee machines to gin to bring you the most rigorous, informed and entertaining buying advice. We've even had a decent stab at identifying the preferred lipstick of a global icon.

Cottage cheese is one of those foods you either love or hate. It's a quick source of protein - perfect for breakfast, a mid-afternoon snack, or a post-workout boost. But some brands make it more hassle than help. We tested eight popular cottage cheeses from stores like Target and Walmart, tasting each plain on the same day to see which ones actually make your fridge feel stocked with something worth eating.

Is there a piece of furniture more important to your aesthetic than one of the best sofas? We know that having (or not having) a top-tier couch can make or break your home's decor, and to help ensure you never, ever end up with a sad sofa selection-or worse, a futon-we've curated a list of best-selling silhouettes to support your search for pieces with major star quality.

Of course you want headphones that sound good. That's a given. When purchasing headphones specifically for travel (or just living the jet-set lifestyle), there's a bit more to it than that. These are the most important factors to consider. Comfort: When you plan on wearing your headphones for hours at a time, they need to be comfortable. Or else what is the point?

Starbucks is currently testing two drinks: the Coco Matcha and Coco Cold Brew. These are part of the company's new initiative to create products that have a greater focus on health and wellness. The two beverages are made with a coconut water base, which offers extra hydration as well as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. To see how customers are enjoying the new drinks, Starbucks is testing them in 400 stores across New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and several cities in the Midwest.

Whether you're heading off on an international adventure or to your local campground, a portable projector can be a fun addition to your packing list. I use projectors everywhere from home to hotel rooms to create a movie theater-like atmosphere when it's time for a quiet night. Most recently, I brought one to Mexico where I was able to create fun and cozy evenings on a girl's trip.

Outdoor projectors are specially designed with high-powered lighting, enabling use even in less-than-ideal light conditions. They are lightweight, water- and dust-resistant, making them effective for outdoor use.

"Crumbl’s unique menu is driven by a rigorous testing program involving franchise partner stores, allowing for real-time feedback from both employees and customers before a cookie is launched."

Testing of popular food dehydrators was conducted, covering various food items such as jerky, fruit leather, and dried flowers. The effort revealed insights into their performance and utility.