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Kerry Wan/ZDNET Along with the usual security updates and bug fixes, the latest Android update is quietly introducing a new feature that will help prolong your phone’s battery life. Similar to Apple’s recent “80% Limit” feature, Android is releasing a feature that lets you cap your phone’s charge at 80%.  As ZDNET’s Senior Reviews Editor Kerry Wan explained last year, it’s not that phone batteries aren’t lasting as long as they used to, “it’s just…

Jason Hiner/ZDNET iPhone users who want to check out the second round of AI-powered features via Apple Intelligence can now download the new public beta for Apple’s iOS 18.2. Assuming you have a supported iPhone, you’ll be able to try the integrated ChatGPT and a few other AI-inspired tidbits. However, certain features won’t be available immediately. The latest features are also available in iPadOS 18.2 for iPad and MacOS Sequoia 15.2 for Mac. Though you can…

Thanasis/Getty Images After months of beta testing, Microsoft officially released its major 2024 update for Windows 11 on October 1. Known as Windows 11 24H2, the latest version enhances the Copilot AI, spruces up File Explorer, promises faster performance and greater stability, and kicks in other improvements. Also: Microsoft blocked your Windows 11 upgrade? This tool can fix that With the update rolling to some Windows 11 users, you may find it appearing on your…

AI chatbots like ChatGPT have taken the world by storm because they can generate nearly any kind of text — including essays, reports, and code — in seconds. AI image generators, however, are even more fun because they can take a simple prompt and generate a visual representation of whatever you’re imagining. Use cases for text-to-image AI generators can range from personal projects, such as creating greeting cards, event invites, and wallpapers, to professional projects, such as…

In a 2021 blog about the technology, Fluidmesh Network’s co-founder and former CEO Umberto Malesci gave several examples of how the technology was being used, including use cases that make possible a 1,000-device IP camera network on moving trains in France, enabling wireless control of port cranes in Malta, and as part of infrastructure supporting driverless metro trains in Milan. “Imagine remotely monitoring and controlling moving assets on trains, subways, public transit, mines, or ports….

Lenovo/ZDNET Tablets can be an expensive investment. Many go for several hundred dollars (over $1,000, in some cases), but realistically, you don’t need to spend that much on a device, especially if you plan on using it to watch movies and do a bit of work. As it happens, we recently discovered a great deal on a compact, low-cost tablet. You can purchase Lenovo’s Tab M11 for $150 (a $70 discount) online at Walmart. Also: The…

Yuichiro Chino/Getty Images Once a lifeline for millions of Americans seeking affordable internet access, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended on May 31, 2024. While it was around, the program provided affordable internet for about 23 million households with monthly subsidies of $30 for eligible households and $75 for those on Tribal lands. This enabled people to access the internet at a price they could afford. You see, internet access is no longer a luxury. It’s a…

Microsoft Were you thinking Microsoft has added AI to virtually its entire software lineup except for Notepad? Well, here comes an update to prove you wrong. Now rolling out to Windows Insiders in Windows 11 is a new Rewrite option for Notepad that promises to spruce up your text with the help of AI. Using an AI model called GPT, Rewrite can revise sentences, modify the tone, or alter the length of your text, explains…

Nina Raemont/ZDNET What’s the deal?  The Ultrahuman Ring Air is at a record-low price right now on QVC’s website, discounted to $280. That’s a $70 discount and a major steal ahead of holiday shopping season. But you’ll need to be speedy if you want to jump on this deal — it’s a one-day deal that will end after Nov. 7.  ZDNET’s key takeaways The Ultrahuman Ring Air is the brand’s first foray into the smart…

Jason Hiner/ZDNET Extension cords are generally a safe solution for running power to electronics that are too far from the nearest wall outlet. But the operative word here is “electronics,” which is not as all-encompassing as some people might think. Also: I changed these 5 TV settings to lower my electric bill. Here’s why they work Appliances (like refrigerators and toaster ovens) are obviously electronic devices, but they’re in a different class from most electronics because…