Driverless Cars Will Be Subject to Moving-Violation Tickets in California Soon
California’s Department of Motor Vehicles approved rules that will let police issue moving‑violation tickets to driverless cars, directing the citations to the manufacturers. The regulation, part of a 2024 autonomous‑vehicle bill, also imposes testing milestones of 50,000 miles for light‑duty and 500,000 miles for heavy‑duty vehicles. A “notice of AV non‑compliance” will serve as the official ticket, clarifying who is legally responsible when an autonomous vehicle breaks traffic law. The move follows high‑profile incidents involving Waymo and other robo‑taxis that highlighted enforcement gaps.
A Japanese Tea Master's Guide to Perfect Matcha
Japanese tea master Yoshitsugu Nagano outlines the essentials for perfect matcha, from high‑quality powder to bamboo whisk, bowl, sifter, and precise water temperature. He walks readers through a traditional four‑step ritual that emphasizes posture, foam creation, and mindful sipping. While...
Microsoft Is All-In on Agentic AI and Vibe Coding Now That It's 'Working'
Microsoft’s earnings call highlighted the company’s aggressive rollout of agentic AI, with the new "edit with Copilot" (formerly Agent Mode) now default in Excel, Word and PowerPoint for Premium users. Nearly 90% of Fortune 500 firms have deployed custom low‑code agents,...
We Meet Ultimate Grogu: The $600 Lifelike Star Wars Toy That Moves Like a Child
Hasbro unveiled the $600 Ultimate Grogu animatronic, a lifelike Star Wars collectible set to hit pre‑order on April 29. The figure packs four motors, 14 sensors and 250 programmed animations that let it toddle, coo, and react to touch, sound and accessories....
Spotify Is Adding Artist Verification Badges on Profiles
Spotify announced the rollout of a "Verified by Spotify" green check‑mark badge that will appear next to artist names in search results and on profile pages. The company says more than 99% of the artists listeners actively search for will...
Best VR Headsets of 2026: My Favorite Hardware Right Now
The 2026 VR roundup highlights Meta’s Quest 3S ($350) and Quest 3 ($600) as the best value choices despite Meta’s recent price hikes and service cutbacks. Apple’s Vision Pro remains a premium, $1,800 mixed‑reality device aimed at professionals, while Sony’s PSVR 2 and Samsung’s...
Best Smart Plugs for 2026: An Upgrade for Any Home
CNET’s 2026 roundup tested 12 smart plugs and highlighted five stand‑outs. The Emporia 15W model leads with sub‑$15 pricing and detailed energy‑use tracking, while the TP‑Link Tapo Mini offers a tiny footprint at the same price point. Leviton’s D215P‑2RW brings...
The Best Blue Light Glasses to Wear if You Stare at Screens All Day Long
Blue‑light glasses have become a staple accessory for screen‑heavy workers seeking eye comfort and better sleep, though scientific proof of their benefits remains limited. Consumer guides highlight Benicci as the best overall, Warby Parker for prescription wear, Peepers for budget...
Ikea Is Back With Its Own Smart Plug, the Most Affordable Model I've Ever Tried
Ikea has launched the Grillplats smart plug, priced at about $8, making it the cheapest smart plug on the market. The device offers full Matter compatibility, a built-in remote control, and a setup process that takes seconds via QR code...
Lost an AirPod? This Trick Will Help You Find It
Apple’s Find My app lets users locate lost AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max with a few taps. Users must enable Find My beforehand, then select the earbuds in the Devices tab to view their map location and play a chirping sound....
Best Verizon Plans: How to Choose and Which Ones to Pick in 2026
Verizon’s 2026 unlimited lineup consists of three base plans—Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, and Unlimited Ultimate—each with a three‑year price‑lock guarantee. Welcome is the low‑cost option, offering unlimited data on low‑band 5G but no hotspot or 5G Ultra Wideband (UW). Plus...
How to Keep Your Plants Alive in Colder Temperatures
Winter temperatures can stress outdoor plants, so gardeners should move them indoors before night lows hit 45 °F (7 °C) and, for tropical varieties, before 50 °F (10 °C). Inside, the right location balances light, heat, and humidity; sun‑loving species may need supplemental grow...
How to Clean Your Headphones and Earbuds (and Yes, You Should)
CNET provides a detailed, step‑by‑step guide for cleaning wireless earbuds, their charging cases, and over‑ear headphones, stressing the use of microfiber cloths, mild soap, and gentle brushes while avoiding submersion. It advises detaching silicone tips for a 30‑minute soak, cleaning...
Flying Somewhere This Spring? A Burner Phone Might Save You From a Border Headache
U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspected over 55,000 mobile devices last fiscal year, using forensic tools to clone and extract data from more than 4,000 phones. The deep‑scan capability means even deleted messages, photos and app data can be recovered,...
Best Identity Theft Protection Services We've Tested in 2026
CNET’s 2026 roundup names Aura as the top identity‑theft protection service, citing its three‑bureau credit monitoring, unlimited family coverage, and a low entry price of $13 per month. Competing providers such as LifeLock, IdentityForce, IDShield and Zander offer higher insurance...
These States Will Let Your iPhone Be Your Driver's License
Apple is expanding its Apple Wallet to store driver’s licenses and state IDs, a feature now available in roughly half a dozen states and territories. Users need an iPhone 8 or newer, Face ID or Touch ID, two‑factor authentication, and the latest iOS,...
Is Your Passport Expiring? Skip the Panic and Renew It From Your Bed
The U.S. State Department now lets eligible passport holders renew online through MyTravelGov, cutting the need for paper forms and in‑person visits. Applicants must be at least 25, have a 10‑year passport issued within the past 15 years, and upload...
I Finally Found an AI Health Coach Worth Listening To
Whoop’s latest MG band bundles an AI health coach that moves beyond generic tips, offering real‑time, personalized guidance based on continuous biometric data. The coach proactively suggests workout adjustments, sleep windows, and recovery limits, even flagging hormonal changes and peak‑heart‑rate...
Best Smart Locks of 2026: Your High-Tech Security Starter
CNET’s 2026 roundup names the Yale Assure 2 as the top overall smart lock, citing its compact design, robust app, and broad platform support including Apple HomeKit, Alexa and Google Assistant. The guide also highlights budget‑friendly options like the Ultraloq U‑Bolt Pro...
Tapo Releases Ultrapowerful Dual-Lens Camera Kit for Complete Yard Coverage
Tapo has launched the C675D dual‑lens camera kit at $230, delivering full 4K resolution on both lenses with a 169‑degree top view and a 360‑degree bottom view. Integrated AI detection identifies humans, zooms in, and tracks them day or night...
So You Missed the Tax Deadline. What Happens Now?
Tax Day passed, and taxpayers who missed the April 15 deadline face different outcomes. Those expecting a refund incur no penalties, though the refund may be delayed. Taxpayers who owe money risk a 5% monthly failure‑to‑file penalty (up to 25% or...
Whoop 5.0 Review: A Fitness Tracker Focused on Performance and Longevity
Whoop’s fifth‑generation band adds a two‑week battery, faster processor and a new Healthspan suite that estimates biological age. The device remains screenless, streaming all data to a subscription‑based app with three membership tiers—One, Peak and Life—priced from $199 to $359...
RedMagic 11 Air Unboxing: What's in the Box for the $499 Gaming Phone Video
RedMagic unveiled its 11 Air gaming phone at $499, positioning it as a budget-friendly alternative to premium gaming devices. The handset retains flagship features such as an 80W wired fast‑charging system, a built‑in active cooling fan, and a massive 7,000 mAh...
Spring Cleaning? Don't Forget About These 15 Hidden Spots
Spring cleaning season has prompted a fresh look at the 15 hidden spots most homeowners overlook, from shutters and door frames to the backs of appliances. Angie Olive, owner of Alliance Building Services, warns that dust accumulates in these out‑of‑sight...
Coachella 2026 Live: How to Watch the Festival for Free and Who's Performing
Coachella 2026 sold out in just two days, drawing an estimated 125,000 fans per day across two weekends in early April. Headliners include pop star Sabrina Carpenter, pop‑R&B icon Justin Bieber, reggaeton trailblazer Karol G and rapper Young Thug, with a diverse...
These AI Glasses Switch Between ChatGPT and Gemini. They're Better Than Meta, but Not Great Yet
Rokid’s AI glasses, now on sale for $279, let users toggle between ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini through a companion app, a flexibility Meta’s $379 Ray‑Ban Gen 2 lacks. Unlike Meta’s glasses, which lock users into a proprietary AI ecosystem and raise...
7 Ways to Boost the Privacy of Your Home and Gadgets
Privacy concerns are infiltrating everyday homes as smart devices collect more data than users realize. Experts advise treating gadgets as computers, disabling unused features, and favoring physical controls like camera shutters. Storing video locally rather than in the cloud reduces...
The Sharpness Control Doesn't Do What You Think
The sharpness control on most modern TVs does not increase true resolution; it applies edge‑enhancement that adds a thin halo around objects. When set too high, this artificial boost masks fine textures and can introduce noise, making the picture look...
Should You Shut Down Your Laptop or Just Close the Lid?
Closing a laptop lid puts most modern devices into sleep mode, preserving open apps while using only a small amount of power. Sleep mode is convenient for short breaks, but it does not fully reset the system, leading to potential...
How to Turn Your iPhone Into a Dumb Phone and Reduce Your Screen Time
CNET writer Prakhar Khanna outlines how to transform an iPhone into a low‑distraction device using built‑in iOS features and the third‑party Dumb Phone app. He walks readers through Focus mode, Screen Time limits, Downtime scheduling, and Assistive Access to curb...
New to Mac? You Should Learn These Keyboard Shortcuts ASAP
The article lists essential macOS keyboard shortcuts for both new and seasoned users, covering basic editing commands, screenshot and video capture, accented character entry, and web‑browser navigation. It highlights the Command key as the primary modifier, replacing the Windows Control...
My 3 Eggcellent Smart Home Tricks to Prep for Easter Fun
Easter celebrations can be enhanced by temporarily adjusting smart‑home settings. Homeowners should disable autolocking doors and human‑detection alerts to avoid interruptions as kids dash in and out. Smart speakers can broadcast real‑time clues, turning indoor hunts into interactive experiences. Color‑changing...
How to Turn Off AI on Your Google Account
Google lets users mute its Gemini‑powered AI by disabling Workspace smart features and turning off the AI Overviews experiment in Google Labs. The toggle is accessed through Gmail settings and removes AI assistance from Gmail, Docs, Drive, Sheets, Slides, and...
7 Lesser Known iPhone Features That Can Improve Your Sleep
Apple’s iPhone bundles a suite of built‑in tools that turn the device into a comprehensive sleep aid, from health‑tracking dashboards to automated bedtime routines. The Health app consolidates data from Apple Watch and other wearables, displaying metrics such as heart...
Best Laptop for College Students: Top Laptops for School in 2026
The 2026 college‑laptop roundup highlights Apple’s MacBook Neo as the most affordable premium option, retailing at $499 with the education discount. ARM‑based devices like the Neo, HP OmniBook 5 and Asus ZenBook A14 dominate battery‑life rankings, while Windows models such as the Dell...
This Portable Streaming TV Turns My Patio Into an Entertainment Oasis, and It's $60 Off for Amazon's Spring Sale
Skyworth’s 24‑inch P100 Companion Series portable TV is on sale during Amazon’s Spring Sale, dropping from $450 to $390 with a coupon. The battery‑powered device runs Google TV, includes built‑in Chromecast, and offers up to three hours of unplugged viewing....
I Was Amazed That This Oppo Camera Slammed the iPhone 17 Pro in My Tests
CNET’s Andrew Lanxon compared Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro with Oppo’s Find X9 Pro across a series of real‑world photo missions in Edinburgh. Using each phone’s default JPEG mode, the reviewer found the Oppo often produced brighter, more vibrant images with stronger sharpening, while the...
I Tried a Scan-to-Cook Meal Delivery Service. Right Now, the Smart Oven Is Free
Tovala pairs a subscription meal service with its Smart Oven Pro, a six‑mode appliance now offered for free when users activate a meal plan with code SPRINGEATS26. Meals cost $10‑$14 each, with $11 shipping per box, and are delivered single‑serve,...
I'm Already Spending Nights Outside With Ninja's Patio Heater-Fire Pit Mashup
Ninja’s Fireside360 is a dual‑function patio heater and fire‑pit that runs on propane, delivering 80,000 BTU of heat. Weighing about 40 lb, it can be set up in under ten minutes and moved around the yard with ease. The unit offers three...
I Swear by This Travel Backpack and Can't Believe It's Down to Just $20 for Amazon's Spring Sale
The Dinictis 28‑liter travel backpack is now $20 on Amazon’s Spring Sale, a 20% discount from its regular $25 price. Weighing just 2.49 lb, it holds up to 10 kg (22 lb), meeting most low‑cost carrier carry‑on limits. Its three‑side clamshell opening, front‑mounted...
How to Buy an AV Receiver in 2026
CNET’s buying guide breaks down the essential features for a 2026 AV receiver, spotlighting the Onkyo TX‑NR6100 as the best‑value model thanks to its 8K‑ready HDMI, Dolby Atmos support, and built‑in streaming. It stresses that HDMI port count and future‑proof standards...
Monitor Your Blood Pressure With This Key Apple Watch Feature
Apple Watch cannot measure blood pressure directly, but it can sync with Bluetooth‑enabled cuffs through the Health app, letting users log readings on their wrist. Three popular monitors—Omron Evolv ($75), Withings ($130) and iHealth Feel ($50)—offer clinical‑grade data that automatically...
Anthropic's AI Piracy Settlement Is Getting Close to Final Approval
Anthropic is nearing final court approval of a landmark settlement that resolves the Bartz v. Anthropic copyright case. The company will pay $1.5 billion, distributing $3,000 to each qualifying author, after nearly 100,000 claims were filed. The agreement requires Anthropic to...
Samsung's 2026 QLED and Mini LED TVs Boast AI Soccer Mode
Samsung introduced four 2026 TV models—QLED QN80H, QN70H and Mini‑LED M80H, M70H—spanning 43‑inch to 100‑inch screens. All units, except the M70H, feature an AI‑driven Soccer Mode that automatically optimizes picture settings for live matches. The QLEDs pair mini‑LED backlighting with...
Apple Watch Series 11 Vs. Series 10: Is the New Smartwatch Worth the Upgrade?
Apple unveiled the Series 11 smartwatch, keeping the same aluminum and titanium price points as the outgoing Series 10, with base models starting at $399 and premium titanium versions at $699. While the exterior design, case dimensions and core S10 processor remain...
The 24 Essential iOS Changes That'll Make Your iPhone Feel 100 Times Smarter
CNET outlines 24 iOS tweaks that let iPhone owners boost performance, privacy, and battery longevity without buying a new device. The guide walks users through settings such as disabling precise location, enabling Back Tap shortcuts, and adjusting charge‑limit sliders on...
The 10-Second Hack to Make Your Geriatric Roku Feel Brand New Again
CNET outlines a quick, ten‑second remote shortcut and other easy steps to revive lagging Roku TVs. Users can perform a system restart via the Settings menu, use a hidden remote sequence, uninstall problematic channels, or execute a full factory reset....
The 8 Worst Blind Spots for Your Security Cameras
Home security cameras are only as effective as their placement, and common blind spots can render even high‑definition devices useless. The article outlines eight critical errors, from filming private areas and neighbors’ yards to mounting cameras behind windows, in direct...
The 9 Best Grocery Delivery Services of 2026
CNET’s 2026 roundup evaluates nine grocery‑delivery platforms, from Amazon Fresh and Walmart+ to niche players like Misfits Market and Hungryroot. Test orders measured selection breadth, pricing, delivery speed, and freshness, revealing Amazon Fresh’s extensive catalog and Prime‑free shipping, Walmart+’s rural...
The One Smart Tech Step I Always Take Before Leaving Home on Vacation
Tyler Lacoma explains that the single most reliable pre‑vacation habit for smart‑home owners is a quick walkthrough of every control app. By opening each app, checking Wi‑Fi connectivity, firmware status, and live device feeds, users can catch dropped connections or...