Tech

A collection of 4117 posts

Tech

Top AI models fall short when tasked with playing classic Pokémon

Time reports that live on Twitch three of the world’s smartest AI systems—GPT 5.2, Claude Opus 4.5, and Gemini 3 Pro—are attempting to beat classic Pokémon games but, by human standards, are slow, overconfident and often confused. The experiment began last February when an Anthropic

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Ohsnap begins shipping $150 Mcon magnetic phone controller after CES demo

Ohsnap is finally shipping its $150 Mcon controller after a year of tweaks, ZDNET's Kerry Wan wrote after trying the device at CES. The Bluetooth controller magnetically mounts an iPhone or Android to a top plate; plopping a phone onto the pad and flicking outward reveals an assembly

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ZDNET hands-on: Asus ZenBook Duo (2026) gains sturdier build, bigger battery

ZDNET's Prakhar Khanna tried Asus' updated ZenBook Duo at CES 2026 and reported meaningful design and battery improvements that make the dual-screen laptop an appealing option for work travel. The ZenBook Duo (2026) features two 14-inch OLED touchscreens at 2,880 x 1,800 (2.8K), a

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Roku Channel adds six new free channels, including sports and game shows

The Roku Channel has added six new free channels to its lineup, expanding the streaming options available on Roku devices. The channel is available for free on any Roku device and comes preinstalled on most. Three of the additions are dedicated to single shows: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,

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JBL Endurance 2 earbuds on Amazon for $49.95 — 44% off and record low

Amazon is selling the JBL Endurance 2 earbuds for $49.95, down from the list price of $89.95 — a 44% discount and a record-low price at Amazon, the article says. The earbuds are positioned as workout-focused, with a secure fit designed to stay in place during movement and waterproofing

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Statik Snap-n-Charge review: small magnetic power bank for cable-free top-ups

ZDNET reviewed the Statik Snap-n-Charge, a compact 3,200 mAh/16 Wh power bank that uses magnetic connector tips so users can top up devices without carrying cables. The review says the unit is designed for quick top-ups — roughly a 50% recharge for a smartphone or about three to four

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Lego Spring Festival Good Fortune set 42% off at Amazon

As of Jan. 13, the Lego Spring Festival Good Fortune set is on sale at Amazon for $52.60, down from the list price of $89.99 — a 42% discount that saves $37.39. The 1,021-piece build is designed to celebrate the Spring Festival and to be educational: its

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Roku Streaming Stick Plus vs Fire TV Stick 4K Plus: key differences and who they suit

ZDNET compared the Roku Streaming Stick Plus and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, two popular TV streaming dongles that the outlet said are on sale right now. The comparison notes both devices support 4K output and 60 FPS, but list distinct specs: the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus

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Dreame L50 Ultra robot vacuum and mop reduced to $849.98 at Amazon

As of Jan. 13, Amazon has marked down the Dreame L50 Ultra robot vacuum and mop to $849.98, a $550.01 discount off its list price of $1,399.99, returning the model to its lowest-ever price at the retailer. The deal applies to the standard model; the white

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Neoteck TS20D pen multimeter offers full features for about $23

ZDNET reviewed the Neoteck TS20D 3‑in‑1 pen multimeter, which the outlet says is available now for $22.79 and aims to provide full multimeter functionality at a low price. According to ZDNET, the compact TS20D handles AC and DC voltages, resistance, diode testing, non‑contact voltage detection, capacitance,

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Salesforce unveils AI-powered Slackbot to answer questions and take actions

Salesforce unveiled a new Slackbot AI agent built into Slack, which the company said is now generally available. Salesforce also said the experience is rolling out to Business+ and Enterprise+ customers starting today. The company says Slackbot uses the context of conversations, files, channels and more to answer questions about

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Verizon offers free iPhone 17 Pro Max with new Unlimited Ultimate plan

Verizon is offering a free iPhone 17 Pro Max to new customers who sign up for its Unlimited Ultimate phone plan, according to ZDNET. The promotion applies only to the 256GB model of the 17 Pro Max. The phone includes features ZDNET highlights such as a 39-hour battery life, Super

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Best Apple Watches for iPhone users in 2026: SE 3, Series 11 and Ultra 3

The Guardian’s consumer technology coverage sets out the best Apple Watches to buy in 2026, highlighting the Apple Watch SE 3 as the best choice for most people, the Series 11 as the strongest mid-range option, and the Ultra 3 for the longest battery life. The piece notes the

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ZDNET reviewer finds tiny 'advanced electromagnetic' car de-icer ineffective

ZDNET's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes examined a small gadget marketed as an "advanced electromagnetic antifreeze snow removal device" and found it did not remove snow or prevent icing on a windshield. The product's packaging promises things like using "active electron interference" to stop water

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Lego debuts Star Wars Smart Play sets; preorders now available at Amazon

Lego has introduced Star Wars–themed Smart Play sets, announced at CES in Las Vegas, and the three builds are available for preorder at Amazon. The Lego Smart Play system adds interactive sounds, lights and behaviors to traditional builds using a single Smart Play brick. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck

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Eric Migicovsky says Pebble reboot Core Devices is 'not a startup'

Eric Migicovsky, founder of Pebble, said his revived Pebble brand and new company, Core Devices, is "not a startup," speaking to TechCrunch on the sidelines of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. He said the team is small, there is no outside funding and inventory isn’t

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Bluetooth SIG at CES 2026: Bluetooth 6.2 released, Channel Sounding slow, Auracast rising

At CES 2026, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group and its team discussed the state of the technology, highlighting the publication of Bluetooth 6.2 and the differing adoption rates of new features such as Channel Sounding and Auracast. The Bluetooth SIG published Bluetooth 6.2, which includes features named Shorter

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Jackery unveils all‑weather Explorer 1500 Ultra, Solar Gazebo and Solar Mars Bot

Jackery used CES 2026 to unveil three new off-grid power products: the all‑weather Explorer 1500 Ultra portable power station, a Solar Gazebo designed as an independent outdoor living space, and the autonomous Solar Mars Bot. The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra is a 1,536 Wh power station offering 1,

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MSI debuts Prestige AI+ and Modern ultraportables at CES 2026

MSI introduced two new business-focused laptop lineups at CES 2026: the flagship Prestige AI+ series and the more affordable Modern series, both built around Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" processors. The Prestige AI+ family includes 13-, 14- and 16-inch models, with the 14- and

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Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold's 10-inch display pushes foldables into phone‑tablet territory

ZDNET's Kerry Wan tried the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold in a private showroom at CES and said the device felt like the future of foldables. The TriFold unfolds to a wider 10-inch AMOLED with a 4:3 aspect ratio that Wan found made split-screen multitasking, browsing and video

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How to disable ACR on smart TVs to stop background viewing tracking

ZDNet explains how to turn off automatic content recognition (ACR) on smart TVs to stop the background tracking that feeds targeted advertising. ACR runs like a constant, Shazam-like service that captures screenshots of what’s on your screen and matches them to a database, identifying programs, ads and other content.

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Bose will stop updating SoundTouch speakers on Feb. 18, 2026; API released

Bose told SoundTouch customers in an October 2025 email that all SoundTouch speakers will become "dumb" devices on Feb. 18, 2026, when they will stop receiving updates. Once that date arrives, the speakers will no longer receive updates, including security updates, and will only work via HDMI, Aux,

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Physical AI spotlighted at CES as smartglasses and robots aim to act in the real world

Physical AI — AI implemented in hardware that perceives and acts in the physical world — was on full display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), with companies including Nvidia and Qualcomm among those presenting models and hardware to advance the field. Physical AI is defined in the source material as systems

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Meta reportedly to cut about 10% of Reality Labs staff as it shifts focus to AI

Meta is reportedly set to lay off around 10% of staff from its metaverse arm, Reality Labs, this week, the New York Times reported, citing sources close to the matter. Reality Labs has around 15,000 staff, and the cuts are expected to hit about 10% of the division — roughly

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Samsung phones hide a Connectivity Labs menu with advanced Wi‑Fi tools

Samsung buries a hidden Connectivity Labs menu in its One UI interface that unlocks advanced Wi‑Fi tools on Galaxy S20 series phones and newer models. The menu is intended for users who want deeper network diagnostics and control. To access it you need a Samsung phone running One UI