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cofotoisme/Getty Images Southeast Asian digital economies are projected to expand to $263 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) this year — and artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to fuel further growth, if greater business value is extracted from the technology.   According to the latest iteration of the e-Conomy SEA report, the region’s digital economy will also be fueled by increasing user sophistication and the importance of cybersecurity.  Also: How Singapore’s SMBs and AI sustain a robust digital…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 are now available for $999 and $700, respectively Both products are available in Black and White The Arc Ultra’s new sound technology delivers an impressive spatial audio listening experience, turning any room into a home theater The Arc Ultra and Sub 4 are quite large and sound best at loud volumes, making them unsuitable for shared living spaces. more buying choices Nothing beats the audio…

PM Images/Getty Images While working on a master’s degree not long ago, I found one of the greatest challenges was getting used to learning complex topics outside my comfort zone. Even today, as a tech journalist, getting up to speed quickly on unfamiliar topics is an essential skill in my line of work. Also: Google’s new AI tool transforms dense research papers into accessible conversations Recently, Google has been developing — within its Google Learning platform —…

Kerry Wan/ZDNET If you’re in the market for a new MacBook, you may wonder which model best suits your needs: the MacBook Pro or the MacBook Air. Apple is consistently refreshing its lineup, adding new configurations every year. And with more powerful processors coming out, there have never been more factors to consider when buying a new Apple laptop. Also: The 30+ best Black Friday Apple deals 2024: Early sales available now When buying a…

Eugene Mymrin/Getty Images I’ve been using Google Drive for decades, but over the past couple of years, I’ve decided that some of my content (especially my novels) has no business on a service that may or may not decide to train its LLMs with my work. To that end, I went looking for an alternative for those precious files. Also: How to organize your Google Drive: 5 tips and tricks to know I was surprised at…

This comes along with the news last week that the company’s auditor, Ernst & Young, resigned, causing Supermicro’s stocks to plunge more than 30%. The accounting firm said it reported to Supermicro’s auditing committee in July “concerns about several matters relating to governance, transparency and completeness of communications.” EY only just signed on as Supermicro’s auditor earlier this year, but it claimed that it could “no longer” rely on management’s and its audit committee’s representations…

Proton Most everyone uses a cloud service. While some of us use those services daily, others use them sporadically, and others don’t even realize they’re using one. In the end, it’s about keeping your files safe and accessible from anywhere. Also: Proton VPN review (2024): A very solid VPN with robust leak protection One cloud storage service that you may only now be hearing about is Proton Drive. The big thing about Proton Drive is that…

Amazon’s problems are more mundane: the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected an application to draw additional power from the Susquehanna, Penn. nuclear facility to operate the adjacent Cumulus data center it acquired in March from Talen Energy for $650 million and planned to expand. The application from grid operator PJM Interconnection and the plant, which is majority owned by Talen, had requested permission to up the power to the co-located data center from…

While Black Friday doesn’t officially begin until later this month, the biggest retailers and carriers have already begun discounting the latest phones, tablets, smartwatches, and more. Among the carriers is Verizon, which stands out for its extensive network coverage in the US, as well as perks for new and existing customers. As a bonus, you’ll also see promotions at the Big Red that bundle streaming services, data and family plans, and more. Also: The best…