ZDNet Robotics
Enterprise-focused reporting on robotics automation and integration for business impact
My Favorite MagSafe Car Charger Easily Handles Bumpy Roads (and It's on Sale)
The Scosche MagicMount Charge Pro is a Qi2‑compatible magnetic car charger that reliably delivers up to 15 W to an iPhone 17 Pro Max, even through thick cases. It uses neodymium magnets and offers both a vent‑clip and an adhesive dash mount, handling rough roads without losing grip. The package includes a built‑in two‑foot USB‑C cable and a 20 W USB‑C car adapter, making installation straightforward. Priced around $40, the reviewer rates it among the best in‑car magnetic chargers after testing over a thousand miles.
5 Easy Ways You Wouldn't Think to Automate Your Home - but You Really Should
The article highlights five often‑overlooked smart‑home automations that boost convenience, cut energy waste, and improve safety. It walks readers through setting up motion‑triggered pantry lights, humidity‑driven bathroom exhaust fans, scheduled coffee‑maker control via smart plugs or SwitchBot button pushers, pet‑care...
This Robot Vacuum Mops so Well, It Cleaned up the Mess My Roomba Left Behind
The ZDNET review spotlights Ecovacs' Deebot X8 Pro Omni, a high‑end robot vacuum‑mop that combines 18,000 Pa suction—the brand’s strongest—to date with a self‑washing mop roller. The Omni docking station automatically empties the dustbin, washes the mop, and refills clean‑water while...
Google Pixel Phones Have a Useful Voicemail Feature That's Hidden by Default - How to Enable It
Google’s Pixel phones include a hidden voicemail‑replacement called Take A Message, which aggregates voicemails, spam calls, and real‑time transcripts in the Phone app’s Home tab. The feature works alongside Android’s call‑screening to streamline call handling without carrier voicemail. Android Authority...
The New Roku City Screensaver Game Has Me Hooked - and It's Free to Play
Roku introduced Roku City Dash, a free, remote‑controlled game embedded in the Roku TV home screen. The title lets users pilot a spaceship through the iconic Roku City screensaver, with gameplay that mirrors the Flappy Bird craze and speeds up...
There's a Right Way to Wear Your Apple Watch - and It Affects Your Data
Apple Watch users can dramatically improve health‑tracking accuracy simply by adjusting how tightly the device sits on their wrist. The watch’s green‑light optical sensor, which measures heart rate, is sensitive to ambient light and skin contact, so a snug fit...
The Best Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair for 2026: Expert and Lab Tested
ZDNET’s latest roundup identifies the Mova P50 Pro Ultra as the top robot vacuum for pet hair, thanks to its 19,000 Pa suction, anti‑tangle brush and hands‑free self‑emptying system. The guide also highlights the budget‑friendly 3i G10+, the bag‑less Eureka E20...
I Tried to Wipe My Digital Footprint without Paying for a Data Removal Service - 5 Free Ways
The article outlines how data brokers legally collect personal details from public records, apps and social media, then sell them to third parties. While opting out is possible, the process is fragmented, requiring separate requests and identity verification for hundreds...
Why I'm Recommending Last Year's Phones over 2026 Models - with One Exception
The 2026 smartphone market is being squeezed by a global DRAM and NAND shortage, pushing memory costs up 3‑fold and forcing manufacturers to raise prices or trim specs. Mid‑range models like Google’s Pixel 10a and Samsung’s Galaxy A57 show little hardware progression...
Your Old iPad or Android Tablet Can Be Your New Smart Home Panel - Here's How
Turning an unused iPad or Android tablet into a dedicated smart‑home control panel is a low‑cost way to centralize lighting, climate and security devices. The article walks readers through hardware basics, mounting options, and how to lock the device to...
This Stroller Turns Into a Carry On-Suitcase, and I Recommend It for Traveling Parents
The TernX is a premium stroller that collapses into a carry‑on‑size suitcase, weighing 17 lb and priced at $699. It earned the 2026 Red Dot Design Award and was named one of Time’s Best Inventions, supporting toddlers up to 48.5 lb. The...
The Best Small Business VoIP Providers of 2026: Expert Tested and Reviewed
The 2026 guide ranks Grasshopper as the most affordable small‑business VoIP, launching at $14 per month with core calling, voicemail transcription and mobile apps. Zoom Phone follows for teams already using Zoom, offering seamless video‑call escalation at $10‑$15 per user. Enterprise‑focused options...
I Love Sony's New Bluetooth Turntable, so Why Do I Feel so Conflicted Using It
Sony’s new PS‑LX5BT Bluetooth turntable blends a traditional belt‑drive design with modern features such as aptX Adaptive high‑resolution wireless audio, USB digitization, and an all‑metal chassis. The reviewer praises its impressive sound quality and easy setup but notes the lack...
I Love AirTags, but This Alternative Slips Right in My Wallet and Solves Their Biggest Flaw
The UAG Metropolis is a slim, polycarbonate tracker card that slides into a wallet alongside credit cards. It offers a five‑month, wireless‑rechargeable 110 mAh battery and a 95 dB speaker that outshouts first‑generation AirTags. The device integrates with both Apple’s Find My and...
I Bought an Earwax Camera for My Toolkit and Use It for Everything but My Ears
The Bebird Earsight Plus D39R is a $47, USB‑C‑charged inspection camera that combines a flexible, length‑marked head with IP67 dust‑ and water‑proofing. Its built‑in gyroscope locks the image horizon, delivering clear, stable video via a dedicated iOS/Android app. The device...
I Walked 3,000 Steps with My Apple Watch, Google Pixel, and Oura Ring - This Tracker Was Most Accurate
A quick experiment in Brooklyn compared step counts from the Apple Watch Series 11, Google Pixel Watch 4, and Oura Ring across three 1,000‑step intervals. The Pixel Watch 4 recorded the smallest mean absolute error—just 18 steps—outperforming the Apple Watch (53‑step error) and...
How I Check, Test, and Charge My AA and AAA Batteries - and Sift Out Defective Ones
Olight’s new Ostation 2 Pro is a premium AA/AAA rechargeable battery charger featuring a 2.8‑inch touchscreen, USB‑C PD 12 V/1.5 A input, and an accompanying iOS/Android app. It tests, charges, and automatically sorts up to four batteries at a time, diverting defective or alkaline...
Your AirPods Are Gross. This $6 Tool Will Keep Them Sparkling Clean
ZDNET highlights a $6 dual‑ended cleaning tool designed for AirPods and similar earbuds. The gadget combines a soft‑bristle side with a scraper and brush, making it easier to remove earwax and debris. It carries a 4.5‑star rating from over 11,000...
Apple, Google, and Microsoft Join Anthropic's Project Glasswing to Defend World's Most Critical Software
A coalition of tech giants—including Apple, Google, Microsoft, AWS, Nvidia, Cisco, and others—has launched Project Glasswing with Anthropic to defend the world’s most critical software. The initiative will deploy Anthropic’s unreleased Claude Mythos Preview AI model, which has already identified thousands of...
I Tried Google Photos' New AI Enhance Tool: How It Crops, Relights, and Fixes Your Shots - Sometimes
Google Photos has launched AI Enhance, an one‑tap editing feature that automatically adjusts lighting, color, framing, and cropping. The tool, introduced last year, is now rolling out to every Android device worldwide. Users receive three AI‑generated versions of each photo and...
How I Calibrated My Subwoofer Placement for Peak Impact in Awkward Room Setups
The ZDNET guide outlines how to position a subwoofer for maximum bass impact, emphasizing the rule‑of‑thirds placement away from corners and in the front quadrant of a room. It recommends the “subwoofer crawl” test to pinpoint the spot where low...
We Still Highly Recommend These 3 Older Laptop Models - Especially While They're on Sale
Amazon’s Spring Sale ends tonight, featuring deep discounts on older laptop models that still deliver strong performance. The M1 MacBook Pro is available for $707, a 53% reduction, while Samsung’s Galaxy Book5 360 and Dell 16 Plus are discounted 12% and 35% respectively....
I Love Sony's Latest Headphones. But Its Older Ones Are Nearly as Good (and Cheaper)
Sony's WH‑1000XM6 headphones deliver top‑tier active noise cancellation and premium sound, but carry a $400 price tag. The older WH‑1000XM5, now discounted to about $225 during Amazon's Spring Sale, offers comparable battery life and solid ANC at roughly $300 regular...
The Robot Lawn Mower I Recommend Most Is $347 Off for Amazon's Spring Sale
The Husqvarna Automower 430X robot mower is on Amazon’s spring sale for $2,153, a $346 discount off its $2,499 list price. It can autonomously tend up to 0.8 acres and handle slopes as steep as 45 %, eliminating the need for...
What Is Antivirus Software and Do You Still Need It in 2026?
Antivirus software remains relevant in 2026 as cyber threats grow more sophisticated, with AI‑driven phishing, malicious app bundles, and polymorphic malware outpacing built‑in defenses. While Microsoft Defender and macOS XProtect provide a solid baseline, they often miss newer variants and...
Roku's Ad-Free Streaming Service Was Already a Great Deal - Now It's Adding Disney Movies
Roku’s ad‑free streaming service Howdy, priced at $3 per month, is expanding its catalog with new licensing agreements that will bring Disney movies, Warner Bros. titles, and Sony content. The service currently offers a mix of older films and TV shows...
Using an Infrared Light to Improve Your Productivity Sounds Bizarre - so I Put that Claim to the Test
SunLED’s Sunbooster SLS2000 is a $265 USB‑C‑powered infrared lamp that clips onto a laptop and delivers near‑infrared (NIR) light for two to four hours a day. The author tested the device during a New England winter and found it easy...
This Free Privacy Tool Makes It Super Easy to See Which Sites Are Selling Your Data
Global Privacy Control (GPC) is a free, browser‑based signal that lets users automatically opt out of companies selling their personal data. Major browsers such as Brave, DuckDuckGo, and the Firefox Nightly build now include GPC natively, while extensions like OptMeowt...
Bluetti AC240 Review: One of the Most Durable Power Stations I've Tested
The ZDNET review crowns the Bluetti AC240 as a top‑tier portable power station, highlighting its IP65 rating and 1,536 Wh LiFePO₄ battery. It delivers 3,600 W of continuous power, can charge to 80 % in just 45 minutes, and supports up to 1,200 W of...
The Best Note-Taking Apps for iPad of 2026: Expert Tested
The 2026 roundup evaluates the top iPad note‑taking apps, highlighting Notability as the overall winner for its media‑rich capabilities and flexible subscription plans. The review tested over a dozen apps, weighing cost, functionality, design, and cross‑device continuity. Alternatives such as...
The Best AR and MR Glasses in 2026: Expert Tested and Reviewed
ZDNet’s 2026 roundup evaluates the fastest‑growing AR and MR glasses market, naming Meta Ray‑Bans 2 as the overall best choice thanks to its 3K video, longer battery and sleek design. The guide also highlights niche leaders such as Viture Beast for...
My Favorite Budget-Friendly Robot Vacuum Is From a Brand You've Never Heard Of
ZDNET’s review highlights the 3i G10+ robot vacuum‑mop as a standout budget option priced around $230. It combines 18,000 Pa suction, a 1‑liter dust‑compactor bin and intelligent obstacle avoidance, delivering up to 60 days between emptying. Lab tests recorded 86.53% floor coverage,...
What Does a Blue USB Port Mean? I Learned the Truth Behind All the Colors, and It's Wild
USB ports use a standardized color scheme to signal their generation and data‑transfer capabilities. Blue indicates USB 3.0 SuperSpeed (up to 5 Gbps), while teal, red, orange, yellow, black and white denote other speeds and power features. The colors help users match...
Physical AI Is the Next Frontier - and It's Already All Around You
Physical AI, the integration of perception and reasoning into hardware, emerged as the tech industry's newest frontier at CES 2026. Executives likened its impact to the ChatGPT launch, signaling a shift toward machines that can understand context and act autonomously....
I Tried Lumus' AR Waveguide Prototype at CES, and Saw Where AR Glasses Go Next
Lumus unveiled a 70‑degree field‑of‑view ZOE prototype and an upgraded Z‑30 at CES 2026, showcasing waveguide optics that combine wide immersion with thin, lightweight form factors. The Z‑30 2.0 iteration is 40% thinner and 30% lighter, while the original Z‑30...