This Exec Offers 4 Ways to Be a Successful Innovator in the Age of Agentic AI
American Express’s head of global innovation, Luke Gebb, outlined four practices for thriving as an innovator in the era of agentic AI. He highlighted a growth mindset, deep technical immersion, willingness to take risks, and strong internal partnerships as essential habits. Amex’s Digital Labs is operationalizing these ideas with the launch of an Agentic Commerce Experiences Developer Kit and new Agent Purchase Protection to enable AI‑driven transactions for card members. The initiative positions Amex to lead the emerging market of AI‑mediated commerce over the next 12‑18 months.
After Wearing Sennheiser's Momentum 5, I'll Never Doubt the Company's Competitive Edge Again
German audio maker Sennheiser has launched the Momentum 5, its latest flagship over‑ear headphones, adding Dolby Atmos support, enhanced active noise cancellation with four microphones per ear cup, and an eight‑band equalizer in its Smart Control Plus app. The new model retains...
51% of Professionals Say AI Workslop Lowers Their Productivity - Stop It in 2 Steps
A Zety "Workslop Trust Report" finds 45% of U.S. professionals view AI‑generated "workslop" as a productivity drag, citing lower trust, reduced output, and reputational risk. Executives at Thomson Reuters, Ricoh Europe, and Segro argue the remedy lies in an "AI‑first,...
Mobile Phishing Is a Bigger Threat than Email Now - How to Stay Protected
Verizon’s 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report reveals mobile‑centric phishing now outpaces email, delivering a 40% higher click‑through rate. The study, based on 31,000 incidents, shows the human element involved in 62% of breaches, while vulnerability exploitation has become the leading...
Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker Vs. Sonos Era 100: I Compared Both Models, and Here's the Winner
The ZDNet review pits Bose’s new Lifestyle Ultra Speaker against Sonos’s Era 100. Bose commands a $349 price tag, $130 more than Sonos’s $219 model, and differentiates itself with native Google Cast, wired aux and USB‑C inputs, and a cross‑platform app....
Can Hackers Break Encrypted USB Drives? I Tried to Find Out
The Kingston IronKey Locker+50 G2 is a hardware‑encrypted USB flash drive that protects data with a dedicated encryption chip. It uses 256‑bit AES‑XTS and wipes its keys after ten failed password attempts, ensuring data is unrecoverable. The drive includes an on‑screen...
I Use Sonos Voice Control Every Day in My Home - Here Are My 5 Favorite Commands
Sonos Voice Control, built into Sonos speakers, lets users manage daily tasks like alarms, weather updates, timers, and music playback without relying on cloud services. Jada Jones highlights practical commands for bedroom, living‑room, and kitchen setups, showcasing how the on‑device...
The Patching Treadmill: Why Traditional Application Security Is No Longer Enough
Traditional find‑and‑fix and defend‑and‑defer security models are being outpaced by rapid continuous deployment and AI‑assisted coding. Vulnerability backlogs are swelling, with 45% of large‑company flaws remaining unfixed after a year and average remediation times stretching beyond two months. Exploitation is...
Beyond the Cleanup Job: Redefining Application Security for the Modern Enterprise
The article argues that modern enterprises must move application security from a post‑release fix to a board‑level, secure‑by‑design mandate. It highlights CISA’s recommendations for a chief security‑by‑design officer, regular board reporting, and incentive structures. Culture and clear developer communication are...
Stopping Bugs Before They Ship: The Shift to Preventative Security
The software industry is shifting from reactive patching to a preventive security model known as secure‑by‑design, embedding threat modeling and clear trust boundaries early in the development lifecycle. Government agencies like CISA now promote security as a core business requirement,...
Linux Is Getting a Security Wake-Up Call - Why It Was Inevitable and I'm Not Worried
Linux’s historic reputation for impenetrability is being challenged as two high‑severity kernel bugs—Copy Fail and Dirty Frag—were disclosed within a week. The surge in vulnerabilities stems from Linux’s explosion into cloud, AI, and consumer markets, making it a prime target for...
I Lost My Roku Remotes Constantly Until I Found This Simple Fix
Roku users often misplace the sleek remote, but the platform now offers multiple ways to locate it. Voice‑enabled Roku remotes respond to a spoken “Hey Roku, where’s my remote?” with a chirp, while the Roku mobile app can ping any...
Roku Apps Loading Slow? 9 Quick Fixes I Try Before Blaming My Wi-Fi
Roku users experiencing slow app launches can often fix the issue with a series of simple steps before blaming their Wi‑Fi. The article outlines nine fixes, starting with a system restart or full power cycle, clearing cache via a remote...
Sony Vs. Samsung: My Buying Advice After Testing Both Home Theater Systems
Sony and Samsung each offer distinct home‑theater ecosystems. Sony focuses on modular, cinema‑grade audio with PlayStation 5 optimization, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, and a build‑over‑time approach. Samsung delivers all‑in‑one bundles, tight SmartThings integration, and Q‑Symphony syncing for users who want...
Your Claude Agents Can 'Dream' Now - How Anthropic's New Feature Works
Anthropic unveiled a "dreaming" capability for Claude Managed Agents, enabling the agents to automatically review past sessions, identify recurring patterns, and refine their memory stores. The feature can either auto‑apply memory updates or present them for manual approval, aiming to...
3 Ways AI Can Help You Ace Your Next Job Interview
AI tools are emerging as interview assistants, helping candidates research companies, anticipate questions, and craft answers. Career coaches like Cord Harper and Araceli Pérez‑Ramos illustrate how prompts can pull company data, generate role‑specific questions, and produce answer outlines. However, they...
Trojan Abuses Microsoft Phone Link App to Steal Your Passwords
Researchers at Cisco Talos have identified CloudZ, a modular Remote Access Trojan that targets Microsoft Phone Link (formerly Your Phone) on Windows 10/11. The malware deploys a malicious "Pheno" plugin to monitor active Phone Link sessions and hijack its SQLite database,...
What You'll Pay for AI Agents Will Be Wildly Variable and Unpredictable
A new University of Michigan study reveals that AI agents consume dramatically more tokens—and at unpredictable rates—than traditional prompt‑based interactions. Agents can use up to 3,500 times more tokens, with the same model sometimes doubling its token count on identical...
How We Test AI at ZDNET
ZDNET outlines a rigorous, hands‑on AI testing methodology for 2026 that prioritizes unbiased, real‑world evaluations without vendor influence. The process follows three stages—defining criteria, selecting 5‑10 candidate products, and running standardized tests—followed by normalization and weighting of results. Comparative "best...
I Stopped This Common Charging Habit that Was Quietly Killing My iPhone's Battery
The author stopped most car charging of his iPhone 17 Pro Max and saw the battery health remain at 100 % after roughly 200 recharge cycles. He explains that high temperatures inside vehicles can quickly exceed Apple’s recommended 95 °F (35 °C) limit, accelerating lithium‑ion degradation....
The Best Cloud Phone Systems of 2026: Expert Tested and Reviewed
The 2026 roundup of cloud phone systems highlights a market projected to hit $73.23 billion by 2034 as businesses replace on‑premise PBXs with internet‑based UCaaS platforms. RingCentral tops the list for large, multi‑site teams, while Dialpad stands out for AI‑driven transcription...
The Case Against an Imminent Software Developer Apocalypse
Despite sensational headlines, AI is expanding rather than shrinking the software developer labor market. U.S. developer employment hit a record 2.5 million in February, a 19% rise since ChatGPT’s debut, while global counts jumped 20% to 20.8 million. Productivity gains from AI...
I Tried This Bluetti Power Station with Wheels - Now Every Other Charger Feels Outdated
The Bluetti Elite 400 portable power station packs a 3,840 Wh LiFePO₄ battery and delivers up to 2,600 W continuous power, positioning it as a robust solution for home backup, camping, and RV use. Its standout feature is a built‑in wheel‑and‑handle system that...
Samsung Wallet Just Got a Travel Feature that I Hope Google Wallet Copies ASAP
Samsung introduced a new "Trips" feature in its Samsung Wallet app that automatically aggregates travel‑related entries—such as flight confirmations, hotel bookings, car rentals and event tickets—into a single, time‑ and location‑sorted itinerary. The feature, exclusive to compatible Galaxy devices, rolls...
6 MacOS Settings I Immediately Change on Every New Mac - and Why
The ZDNET piece outlines six macOS tweaks that the author applies to every new Mac, ranging from custom gestures via BetterTouchTool to hot corners, tap‑to‑click, key repeat speed, battery‑percentage display, and a minimalist dock. Each setting is adjusted through System...
I Used a $4 Timer to Reboot My Router, and It Actually Made My Internet Faster
Router Rebooter is an inexpensive inline power‑cutting dongle that automatically shuts off a router for five seconds every 24 hours, restoring peak performance without user intervention. Priced at $8 for a pair, it works with 5‑15 V DC supplies and the common...
I Tested ChatGPT Images 2.0 Vs. Gemini Nano Banana to See Which Is Better - This Model Wins
OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT Images 2.0, a next‑generation image generator that adds real‑data context and embedded text. In a head‑to‑head test against Google Gemini’s Nano Banana, ChatGPT Images 2.0 achieved a 97% normalized score (150 points) while Nano Banana fell to 85% (131 points). The...
This Machine Is the only Way to Make Nitro Cold Brew Coffee at Home - and It's on Sale
The Cumulus cold brew coffee machine, priced at $695, is now 20% off at $556 for Mother’s Day. It brews single‑cup cold brew, nitro cold brew, and cold espresso using proprietary pods, cooling water in 15 minutes and delivering a...
Get a Month of 5G Home Internet on T-Mobile and $300 Cash Back - Here's How
T‑Mobile is promoting its 5G Home Internet service with a month of free service and a cash‑back rebate up to $300 when customers enroll in AutoPay and add a voice line. The offer spans three plan tiers—Rely at $35/month, Amplified...
I've Tested Sony Headphones for Years, and These Tweaks Get Me the Best Audio - Always
Sony’s WH‑1000XM6 headphones remain a premium offering at roughly $400, praised for sound quality, active noise cancellation, and deep software customization. The article outlines practical tweaks—powering the unit before wired use, selecting optimal Bluetooth codecs, and swapping foam eartips for...
I Tried This Free Windows Cleanup Tool to See if It'd Speed up My PC - and It Worked
ZDNet tested the free Windows utility Winhance on a Windows 11 PC loaded with apps and files. The tool lets users view, uninstall, and replace built‑in and third‑party software, tweak privacy, power, and performance settings, and customize the Start menu, Taskbar,...
How Indirect Prompt Injection Attacks on AI Work - and 6 Ways to Shut Them Down
Indirect prompt injection attacks embed malicious instructions in web pages, emails or other external content that large language models (LLMs) automatically read. Unlike direct attacks, they require no user interaction, allowing threat actors to exfiltrate data, execute commands, or hijack...
Don't Wait to Buy a MacBook Neo for School - Here's Why
Apple’s MacBook Neo, launched in March, is experiencing severe backorder delays, with shipments now pushed to mid‑May. The shortage stems from a limited supply of the A18 Pro chip, which Apple does not currently produce in volume. Demand is especially...
The Best Earbuds of 2026: Expert Tested and Reviewed
The 2026 roundup crowns Apple AirPods Pro 3 as the best overall earbuds, highlighting new health sensors, stronger active‑noise cancellation and an IP57 rating without a price hike. Sony’s WF‑1000XM6 is positioned as the top Android choice, thanks to LDAC and...
Google Brings Auto Browse and Skills to Chrome Enterprise - and a New 'Gemini Summary'
Google announced three new AI‑driven features for Chrome Enterprise: Auto Browse, which lets Gemini act across open tabs to automate tasks like creating CRM contacts; Skills, a one‑click library for saving and reusing frequent Gemini prompts; and Gemini Summary, an...
New Firefox Update Patches a Whopping 271 Bugs, Thanks to Claude Mythos
Mozilla released Firefox 150, adding split‑view, enhanced tab sharing, real‑time translations, and a built‑in PDF editor. The update also patches a record 271 security vulnerabilities, many uncovered by Anthropic’s Claude Mythos AI model. Mozilla has been using frontier AI since February, accelerating...
I Set up This Linux 'Watchdog' And Now My System Auto-Reboots when It Locks Up
Jack Wallen’s ZDNET guide explains how the open‑source Watchdog utility can automatically reboot a Linux machine when it stops responding. By installing the softdog kernel module and configuring /etc/watchdog.conf, users set a countdown timer that triggers a reboot if the...
Lenovo Vs. Dell: My Buying Advice After Testing Dozens of Laptops From Both
The ZDNet review compares Dell and Lenovo laptops, highlighting Lenovo’s superior typing experience, lower price points, and extensive configuration options, while Dell excels in gaming performance, high‑end displays, and premium aesthetics. Specific examples include the $279 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 versus...
An AI App Prepares Me for My Day Now - and I've Never Been More Organized
Former Google NotebookLM engineers launched Huxe, a free AI app that turns a user’s calendar, email, and news interests into a short, daily podcast. The setup takes under five minutes, and the AI hosts can be customized to skip or...
Why This MagSafe Battery Pack Is Our Readers' Favorite Model Right Now - Especially at Its Price
The Torras MiniMag Power Bank has emerged as ZDNET’s top‑rated MagSafe battery, offering 5,000 mAh in a remarkably thin 0.3‑inch, 4‑ounce package. Priced around $55 (often discounted to $36), it delivers 7.5 W charging via MagSafe and up to 18 W through USB‑C,...
T-Mobile Will Give You a Google Pixel 10a for Free - Plus an Extra Gift
T‑Mobile is offering new and existing customers up to four free Google Pixel 10a smartphones plus a complimentary pair of Pixel Buds 2a. The cost is spread over 24 monthly bill credits, and the devices must remain on an active plan for the...
Want to Build a Startup that Gets Acquired? This Founder Shares 5 Proven Tips
Fintech veteran Jem Walters co‑founded the money‑saving app Snoop in 2019 and sold it to banking group Vanquis in July 2023. Drawing on a 23‑year career at Virgin Money, Walters outlines five proven tactics for founders who aim for an...
A Data Removal Service Helped Me Reclaim My Privacy - See if You Need One, Too
Personal data is routinely harvested by thousands of data brokers and sold without consumer consent. Manual opt‑out requests are impractical, prompting the rise of paid data‑removal services such as PrivacyBee and DeleteMe. These platforms scan the web, submit takedown requests,...
I Asked 5 Data Leaders About How They Use AI to Automate - and End Integration Nightmares
Data leaders across industries are turning to generative AI and automation to tame complex data‑integration projects. Thomson Reuters is piloting an internal AI tool for M&A due diligence, while Create Music Group runs more than 600 pipelines with Astronomer’s Astro...
Pebblebee Halo Vs. AirTag: One of These Trackers Has a 130dB Siren and Strobe Light
Pebblebee introduced the Halo tracker, a key‑chain device that combines standard Bluetooth locating with a 130 dB siren, 150‑lumen strobe, flashlight and live‑location alerts. It works with Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub, offers up to 500 ft Bluetooth range and a rechargeable...
3 Red Flags that Job Posting Is a Scam - and How to Verify Safely
Job scammers stole roughly $220 million in the first half of 2024, according to the FTC, and the problem is growing as remote work expands. The article outlines three red flags—overly vague or high‑pay promises, requests for money or personal data,...
Want Wireless Android Auto for Cheap? This Motorola Adapter Is 60% Off Right Now
Motorola’s Sound MA1 wireless Android Auto adapter is currently on sale for about $35, a steep drop from its original $75 price. The USB‑A dongle lets drivers pair their Android phones via Bluetooth and 5 GHz Wi‑Fi, eliminating the need for...
Why I Left Evernote for Notion After 14 Years - and a 900% Price Creep
Evernote’s latest pricing overhaul jumps the annual fee to $250—a 900% increase from its original $25 plan—forcing longtime users to reassess value. The company bundled AI tools, tighter notebook limits, and reduced storage into higher‑priced tiers, prompting the author of...
Does Your Android Auto Keep Disconnecting? What to Do About It - for Now
Android Auto users are reporting frequent disconnections on both wired and wireless links, primarily affecting Google Pixel devices and Samsung Galaxy S26 phones. The issue surfaced after the March Pixel software drop and has spread across multiple phone generations. Temporary work‑arounds...
This 11-in-1 DeWalt Multi-Tool Can Do Everything - and It's Under $30
DeWalt’s MT21 11‑in‑1 multitool bundles pliers, screwdrivers, cutters, saw, and more into a 4‑inch folded device, targeting both professionals and DIY enthusiasts. Amazon’s Big Spring Sale reduces the price by 25%, bringing the tool to $30, the lowest point this...