**ZDNET Recommends: What It Means and Why It Matters**
When you see the phrase “ZDNET Recommends” attached to a product or service, it’s more than just a casual endorsement. ZDNET, a reputable technology news and review site, bases these recommendations on extensive, hands-on research and rigorous testing. The editorial team spends many hours comparing products, analyzing specifications, and evaluating customer experiences. They draw on a wide array of resources—vendor and retailer listings, independent review sites, and, most importantly, real user feedback—to determine what truly works best for consumers.
ZDNET’s primary mission is to serve you, the reader. Their editors are committed to delivering clear, accurate information and expert advice, with the ultimate goal of helping you make smart buying decisions, especially when it comes to technology products and services. Every article undergoes thorough review and fact-checking to ensure it meets the site’s high editorial standards. If errors or misleading information are discovered, ZDNET pledges to correct or clarify the content promptly. The editorial team encourages readers to report any inaccuracies they spot, reinforcing their commitment to transparency and trustworthiness.
**Editorial Independence and Affiliate Links**
To support their work, ZDNET sometimes earns affiliate commissions when readers click through from their site to a retailer and make a purchase. However, they emphasize that this does not influence their editorial coverage or the products and services they recommend. The presence of affiliate links does not affect the price you pay, nor do advertisers have any say in the reviews or recommendations published on the site. In short, ZDNET’s recommendations are independent and solely focused on providing the best advice to consumers.
**A Quick Note for Starlink Dish Owners: An Important Update Required**
If you own a Starlink dish—especially if it’s sitting unused somewhere—it’s important to pay attention to a recent announcement from SpaceX, the company behind Starlink. Some older Starlink hardware, specifically units running the 2024.05.0 firmware, require a critical update. If this update isn’t performed by November 17, 2025, the affected dishes will become “permanently inoperable,” according to a SpaceX support document. That means if you miss the update window, your dish will never work again.
The urgency is even greater for users currently running the 2024.05.0 or 2024.12.26 firmware versions. If these dishes aren’t updated by the deadline, they will lose internet connectivity. The good news is that connectivity can be restored after the update is performed, but only if the dish isn’t already beyond the deadline for permanent inoperability.
**How to Check and Update Your Starlink Dish**
Updating your Starlink hardware is a straightforward process, and you don’t need an active subscription to complete it—there are no associated charges for the update itself. Here’s how you can check your dish’s firmware and ensure it’s up to date:
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