Tech

A collection of 4110 posts

Tech

ZDNET names six browsers that can speed up older, sluggish PCs

ZDNET highlights six web browsers that can improve performance on older or slow PCs and on limited network connections. The article suggests lightweight or resource-managing browsers can help machines and networks that lag compared with modern hardware and broadband. Microsoft Edge is noted for efficient memory use (about 790 MB

Tech

Suno CEO Mikey Shulman defends interactive AI music as legal challenges continue

Mikey Shulman, CEO and co-founder of generative AI music company Suno, has defended the firm’s vision of “music you play with, not just play” while speaking from his home in the US as the company faces legal and commercial scrutiny. Suno, founded just over two years ago, lets users

Tech

Meta reportedly cuts Reality Labs staff and pivots from metaverse to AI

Meta reportedly laid off roughly 1,500 employees from its Reality Labs division — about 10% of the unit’s staff — and shut down several VR game studios, according to The Wall Street Journal. Multiple outlets reported studios and projects affected: CNBC named Armature Studio, Twisted Pixel and Sanzaru as casualties

Tech

Ars reporter says intensive use of AI coding agents led to burnout after dozens of projects

Benj Edwards, Ars Technica's senior AI reporter, writes that extensive use of AI coding agents left him burned out after he produced dozens of hobby projects over a short period. In an opinion piece, he describes both the exhilaration and the exhaustion of pushing these tools hard. Edwards

Tech

How to reduce the risk of smart home hacking

Smart homes and internet-connected devices are at risk of being hacked, though such attacks are generally opportunistic rather than targeted, ZDNET reports. The outlet notes that attackers typically search randomly for easy targets and that many high-profile incidents stem from basic security lapses. Recent reports cited in the piece said

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Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow debuts with self-washing roller mop and 20,000Pa suction

Roborock's Qrevo Curv 2 Flow robot vacuum and mop is now available, ZDNET reported, with an introductory price of $849 and a regular price of $999. The device introduces Roborock's SpiralFlow mopping system and a self-washing roller mop that continuously sprays clean water from an internal

Tech

Wine lets you run Windows apps on Linux; version 11 adds key improvements

Wine, a compatibility layer for running Windows applications on Linux, remains a primary option for users who want to keep using Windows apps after Windows 10 was officially sunsetted and amid Windows 11 system requirements concerns. The article notes Linux adoption rose quickly after Windows 10's end‑of‑

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Micron signs $1.8 billion deal for Taiwan Tongluo fab

Pcgamer reports Micron has signed a letter of intent to acquire Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation’s (PSMC) Tongluo chip foundry in Taiwan for $1.8 billion. The company’s statement to investors says the purchase includes an existing 300 mm wafer cleanroom measuring 300,000 square feet, but does not

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Linux RAM in 2026: expert guidance on 8GB, 16GB and 32GB

ZDNET reporter Jack Wallen lays out recommended RAM amounts for Linux PCs in 2026, arguing the ideal quantity depends on the user's tasks and usage patterns. Wallen notes that Ubuntu Desktop's minimum requirement is 4GB of RAM and that he has run Ubuntu in a virtual

Tech

ZDNET reviewer switches to CoMaps, an open-source, privacy-first maps app

ZDNET's Elyse Betters Picaro said she has replaced Google Maps with CoMaps, a free, open-source mapping app for Android and iOS that the reviewer described as not tracking users and as using less battery than Google Maps. CoMaps is a fork of Organic Maps, which itself was based

Tech

How to run an accurate home internet speed test and use the results

Kyle Kucharski at ZDNET outlines how to accurately test home internet speeds using Speedtest by Ookla and how to use those results to improve Wi‑Fi performance. The guide defines key terms readers will see in a test — Mbps, download and upload speed, bandwidth, Wi‑Fi bands, ping/latency, jitter

Tech

ZDNET tester builds a basic text-analysis app with Lovable after trials of Cursor and Replit

A ZDNET writer experimented with AI "vibe coding" tools — including Cursor, Replit, Microsoft Visual Studio with GitHub Copilot, and Lovable — to try to build a simple data-analysis app on a Mac, and ultimately produced a minimal viable product using Lovable. The reviewer found these tools can automate many

Tech

Soundcore Q30 headphones on sale at Amazon for $53.99

As of Jan. 19, Amazon is selling the Soundcore Q30 by Anker headphones for $53.99, a $26 reduction from their usual $79.99 list price. The sale price is close to the model's lowest-ever price of $49.99, and other colors (Beige, Blue, and Pink) are available

Tech

Polymarket and Kalshi surge as billions trade on prediction markets

Polymarket and Kalshi, online prediction markets where users wager on events from Iran's political future to celebrity wedding dates and election outcomes, have surged in prominence and attracted huge trading volume. Donald Trump Jr. is an adviser to both firms. The platforms sell yes-or-no contracts priced between $0

Tech

ZDNET's 2026 laptop testing methodology

ZDNET explains how it tests dozens of laptops each year, pairing technical benchmarking with hands‑on assessments of ease of use, form factor, durability and battery life. On arrival, reviewers record first impressions during operating‑system setup, Wi‑Fi connection and login, noting how smooth the startup process is. ZDNET

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Epic Games Store offers the first two Styx stealth games free

Polygon reports that the Epic Games Store is offering the first two Styx stealth games free on PC this week. Both games star Styx, a two-centuries-old goblin who seeks to understand his past in Styx: Master of Shadows. He sneaks, steals, gathers information, and assassinates while exploring the miles-high Tower

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Sims 4 Royalty and Legacy expansion adds dynasties, Backroom lots and throne play

Polygon reports Electronic Arts released the first cinematic trailer for The Sims 4: Royalty and Legacy, which launches for all platforms on Feb. 12. The expansion places Sims in Ondarion, a realm of three neighborhoods — Dambele (an artsy quarter that values kindness and community), Bellacorde (a neighborhood built around romantic

Tech

Yakuza 3 Remastered tied to Complete Series bundle, studio says

Pcgamer reports Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio confirmed on Saturday: "Those who already own Yakuza 3 Remastered will still be able to continue playing it," the company posted on X, "but for those new to the series who wish to experience the original version, it will be available

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Microsoft adds tables to Notepad on Windows 11; AI streaming limited to Copilot+ PCs

Pcgamer reports Microsoft has rolled out table support in Notepad for Windows 11 users and also introduced an AI text streaming feature that is currently restricted to Copilot+ PCs. Notepad has seen several additions since 2022, including spell checking, a dark mode, tabbed windows, state preservation and basic formatting, and

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Sony Inzone H9 II review: ultra-light headset with strong ANC but steep MSRP

Pcgamer says the Sony Inzone H9 II is a very lightweight, very accomplished gaming headset, but its $350 MSRP pushes it into low-end audiophile territory. The review highlights exceptional comfort and low weight (260 g without the microphone), a gentle clamping force, and soft foam earcups. Sony's active

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ZDNET roundup: free AI courses and certificates to upskill

ZDNET published a roundup of free online AI courses and certificates and says the writer tested at least one class from each provider. The guide highlights options for building generative AI and machine learning skills without paying for expensive programs. Providers covered include LinkedIn Learning (more than 1,500 AI

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Chipolo’s One Point and Card Point bring Google Find My Device support to Android for $21–$23

Slovenia-based Chipolo has released two Bluetooth "finder" devices for Android users: the One Point fob and the Card Point card, priced at $21 and $23 respectively, that integrate with Google’s Find My Device network, ZDNET reported. The One Point is a 37.9mm (1.49in) fob, 6.

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Nightreign patch buffs Executor, Guardian, Revenant and Raider

Pcgamer reports that Elden Ring: Nightreign's latest patch buffs the Executor class alongside the Guardian, Revenant, and Raider. Executor received boosts to its ultimate that should make it hit harder and gained a temporary immortality window while transforming, improving its defensive 'oh crap' option. Guardians have

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One-click 'Reprompt' attack could exfiltrate Microsoft Copilot user data

Varonis Threat Labs published research detailing a one-click attack called "Reprompt" that bypassed Microsoft Copilot security controls and could exfiltrate user data from Microsoft's Copilot Personal, the team said. The attack required only a user to click a link and abused the 'q' URL

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Amazon Game Studios to delist New World and shut servers on Jan. 31, 2027

Polygon reports that Amazon Game Studios announced in a blog post that New World has been removed from digital storefronts and will officially go offline on Jan. 31, 2027. Anyone who currently owns New World can continue to play until the servers shut down, but purchases of in-game currency will