ZDNet tests SelectBlinds smart blinds, spotlights Incogni data-removal deal

According to ZDNet, its reviewer chose SelectBlinds' motorized shades after moving into a new home, as full-service blind companies were beyond budget and manual blinds were both difficult to clean and impractical for daily operation. SelectBlinds offers a wide range of colors, patterns, materials and styles, with options for lift type, roll position, headrails and no-drill mounting. A classic vinyl blackout roller shade with smart automation costs $121 per shade, and 66 shade styles are compatible with the SelectConnect Bridge, which connects motorized window treatments to Alexa or Google Home for control via smartphone, voice, automated schedules and personalized routines.

The reviewer installed two motorized Roman shades in William Morris' Strawberry Thief pattern in the kitchen, a large blackout roller shade on a double window near the entryway, two motorized blackout roller shades in a street-facing bedroom, and five motorized light-filtering roller shades in the main living area, all connected to SelectConnect. The double-window shade proved the hardest to install, requiring two people, a ladder, a barstool and patience with notches that needed to be pressed in to secure the rod; single-window rollers were easiest, ZDNet said.

In a separate article, ZDNet said Incogni remains its top recommendation among data removal services. The company currently offers an exclusive 58% discount with code ZDNET through Aug. 31, reducing the Standard plan to $6.79 per month, billed as $81.48 for the first year. The service sends automated removal requests to more than 420 data brokers and resubmits them regularly, with monthly progress reports, 24/7 live chat, Deloitte-verified coverage and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

ZDNet also detailed Incogni's Unlimited plan at $12.74 per month with the code, adding an Exposure Scanner, a downloadable monthly Risk Assessment report and upgraded Custom Removals handled by specialists. Family plans extend coverage to five people, and the Protect plan adds credit and dark web monitoring plus identity theft insurance, though it is limited to eligible U.S. residents. The discount applies to the first year only, and Incogni cannot remove court records, government websites or social media accounts. The article disclosed that an advertiser paid for editorial consideration of the deal, but ZDNet's editors independently vetted it.