Android's Emergency Alerts Just Got a Major Map Upgrade - but Change This Setting First
Google’s March 2026 Android update adds a map view to Wireless Emergency Alerts, letting users see the exact footprint of weather, AMBER or other public safety alerts and their own location within it. The feature replaces vague text descriptions with a visual overlay, improving situational awareness as the U.S. heads into its peak storm season. By default, not all alerts break through Do Not Disturb, but users can toggle an “Always alert at full volume” setting to ensure critical warnings are heard. The change is rolled out via the standard system update.
I Built Two Apps with Just My Voice and a Mouse - Are IDEs Already Obsolete?
Software developer David Gewirtz demonstrates that AI‑driven voice and terminal workflows can replace traditional integrated development environments. By prompting an AI assistant through Wispr Flow and using iTerm2, he built two multi‑platform Apple apps— a filament‑management tool and a sewing‑pattern manager—within...
This Privacy-First Chatbot Is Taking Off - Here's Why and How to Try It
Duck.ai, DuckDuckGo's privacy‑first chatbot, saw a 300% traffic surge to 11.1 million visits in February, according to Similarweb. The service anonymizes queries and routes them through frontier models from Anthropic, OpenAI and Meta, preventing data exposure. Recent feature upgrades—including image generation...
Don't Ignore Your Desktop PC's Empty M.2 Slots - They're More Useful than You Think
Desktop PCs built in the last decade often include one or more unused M.2 slots, which are wired directly to PCIe lanes. These slots can host high‑speed Ethernet adapters, USB‑C/A expansion cards, secondary GPUs, or additional NVMe SSDs, delivering noticeable...
My Favorite Smart Notebook for To-Do Lists Is Currently on Sale
Tech reporter Allison Murray highlights the Boox Note Air 5C e‑ink tablet, now $41 cheaper in Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. The bundle adds an orange folio cover for just $10, bringing the total to $540. The device features a Pen 3 stylus...
No Internet? This 'Survival Computer' Has Everything You Need Offline - Including AI
Project NOMAD is an open‑source, self‑contained platform that delivers a searchable knowledge base and local AI assistant without an internet connection. It installs on any Debian‑based Linux distribution using a single script and runs six Docker containers that power services...
AirPods Pro 3 Vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2: I Listened to Both, and There's a Sonic Difference
Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 and Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra 2nd‑Gen earbuds launched within weeks of each other, prompting a side‑by‑side review. The AirPods Pro 3 cost $249, offer Apple‑centric features like heart‑rate monitoring, Spatial Audio and automatic device switching, and provide eight hours of...
This iPhone Charger From Anker Comes with a Nifty Smart Display - and It's on Sale
Anker’s Nano 45W Smart Display charger is on sale for $28, a 30% discount on the black and white models, with blue and orange versions at $30. The compact charger features a tiny touchscreen that shows real‑time power delivery and battery...
Yes, You Need a Smart Bird Feeder in Your Life - and This One's on Sale
The Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder, an AI‑powered device that records and identifies over 6,000 bird species, is now $60 off (about 30% discount) during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale ending March 31. It streams 1080p video with 8× digital zoom and full‑color...
YouTube Premium Cost Me 30% Extra for Months Until I Noticed - Check Your Plan ASAP
A ZDNET writer discovered they were paying $29.99 per month for YouTube Premium instead of the standard $22.99 because the family plan was billed through Apple’s App Store, which adds a roughly 30% surcharge. The article explains how to verify...
I Can't Stop Talking About the Ninja Creami Swirl - and It's on Sale at Amazon Right Now
ZDNET reviewer tested the Ninja Creami Swirl, a countertop soft‑serve ice‑cream maker. Amazon’s Big Spring Sale offers a 14 % discount, pricing the unit at $299, near its historic low of $279. The appliance includes 13 programs—including a low‑sugar CreamiFit line—and...
Noi Brings All Your Favorite AI Tools Together in One Desktop Interface - No More App Switching
Noi is a free, cross‑platform GUI that consolidates popular AI services such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity into a single desktop interface. The app adds multi‑window management, session isolation, prompt libraries, and a built‑in terminal that can connect to...
Bose's Flagship Headphones Just Dropped to the Lowest Price I've Seen on Amazon
Bose’s second‑generation QuietComfort Ultra headphones have hit Amazon’s Big Spring Sale at a record low of $399, a $50 discount off the launch price. The Ultra 2 model adds a 30‑hour battery, USB‑C audio, and an auto‑low‑power mode while retaining Bose’s...
How High of a Refresh Rate Does Your TV Really Need? An Expert's Buying Advice
Refresh rate is the most marketed TV spec after panel type, but higher numbers don’t automatically guarantee a better picture. A 60 Hz panel meets the needs of most streaming viewers and casual gamers, while 120 Hz delivers smoother motion for sports...
My Personal Data Has Been Leaked Several Times - This Service Helped Clean It All Up
DeleteMe is a subscription‑based data‑removal service that scans the web for personal information and files opt‑out requests on behalf of users. In a ZDNET test, the platform examined 371 listings and successfully removed 44 within five days, with additional takedowns...
This Viral Wireless Dongle Lets You Share Your Audio on a Flight - How It Works
Twelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 is a compact Bluetooth dongle that turns any 3.5 mm audio source—such as an airplane’s entertainment jack—into a wireless feed for personal headphones. The device supports dual‑headphone pairing, features an upgraded Qualcomm chip for clearer sound and...
OpenAI's GPT-5.4 Mini and Nano Launch - with Near Flagship Performance at Much Lower Cost
OpenAI unveiled GPT‑5.4 mini and nano, lightweight models that deliver near‑flagship performance at a fraction of the cost. The mini runs more than twice as fast as GPT‑5 mini and scores 54% on SWE‑bench, approaching the full GPT‑5.4’s accuracy, while...
Amazon Just Slashed the Price on 4K Fire TV Sticks up to 50% Off
Amazon slashed prices on its Fire TV streaming sticks ahead of the Big Spring Sale, offering the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus for $25 (50% off) and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $35 (over 40% off). The Max...
This Security Flaw Could Affect 1 in 4 Android Phones - How to Check Yours
Researchers at Ledger’s Donjon team discovered a hardware flaw in MediaTek’s trusted execution environment that affects roughly 25 % of Android smartphones. The vulnerability lets an attacker connect a phone to a laptop via USB and extract cryptographic keys in under...
How to Set up a Smart Switch to Power Your Home (and What to Avoid when You Do)
SwitchBot offers a battery‑powered, adhesive‑mounted robot that mechanically flips existing light and appliance switches, eliminating the need for rewiring or professional installation. Users can control the device via direct Bluetooth for short‑range use or add a SwitchBot Hub to enable...
Whisker Litter-Robot 5 Pro Review: This $900 Litter Box May Be Almost Too High-Tech for Me
Whisker’s new Litter‑Robot 5 Pro, priced at $899, adds a dual‑camera system, LCD screen, larger waste drawer and the Waste ID feature that separates urine from feces using AI and weight sensors. The AI camera can recognize individual cats and record usage, but...