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ZDNET’s key takeaways The MSI Prestige 13 AI Plus Evo is on sale now for $1,399 for the Intel Core Ultra 7, 32GB of RAM, 2TB SSD config. It’s a lightweight laptop with next-gen hardware capable of handling almost everything you throw at it. The small, 13-inch display can be limiting. more buying choices MSI doesn’t always get the attention it deserves when up against some of the flashier laptop manufacturers. It’s a shame, because…

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past year, it’s that generative AI is playing a pivotal role in technological advancements, including where people spend much of their day — automobiles. Today, Google and Qualcomm have announced a partnership to upgrade the popular Android Auto experience with new, more intuitive generative AI capabilities.  Also: Qualcomm’s new chipset that will power flagship Android phones makes the iPhone seem outdated On Tuesday, at the chipmaker’s Snapdragon Summit,…

Maria Diaz/ZDNET Ecobee isn’t just a smart thermostat manufacturer — the smart home company also offers a Smart Doorbell Camera and a Smart Security system. This subscription-based Smart Security service uses the Ecobee Smart Thermostat, Smart Doorbell Camera, Smart Camera, and smart sensors to monitor your home. Ecobee has now partnered with Yale and August to further expand its security system. The new Yale and August integrations will let you disarm and arm your home’s Smart…

porcorex/Getty Images When you replace your old but still functional Windows PC with a shiny new model, you have several options for that gently used device. You can give it away to a friend or family member. You can donate it to a charitable organization like Goodwill (which partners with Dell Reconnect). You can even trade it in for credit or sell it on a third-party site like Swappa or Back Market.  Also: Microsoft blocks…

Artificial Intelligence continues to dominate this week’s Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, as well as the research firm’s annual predictions list.  “It is clear that no matter where we go, we cannot avoid the impact of AI,” Daryl Plummer, distinguished vice president  analyst, chief of research and Gartner Fellow told attendees. “AI is evolving as human use of AI evolves. Before we reach the point where humans can no longer keep up, we must embrace how much…

With nights getting colder and longer, now is the perfect time to make your home the coziest it can be, from watching movies next to a crackling fire to cooking a warm meal while listening to your favorite songs. As every music-lover knows, nothing compares to listening to vinyl; the rich, clear, and decompressed sounds that seem to make the music resonate more deeply than it would if it was played from another medium.  Also:…

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, and OnePlus Open Kerry Wan/ZDNET The FCC wants to require all mobile carriers to unlock mobile phones within 60 days of activation. But neither AT&T nor T-Mobile are on board with that idea. In June, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the proposal, arguing that unlocking phones within just two months would give people more freedom and flexibility to switch their existing phones to another compatible…

Max Buondonno/ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways The Pixel 8 offers a flagship-level experience with Google’s latest AI and machine learning features, and right now, it’s marked down to $499 on Amazon. With fast performance, amazing cameras, and Google’s Actua display, it’s one of the best smartphone deals available. Compared to similarly priced phones, like the Nothing Phone 2, the Pixel 8 is a far better value. The Google Pixel 9 might be getting all the attention…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The HMD Skyline is the first Android phone to support Qi2 wireless charging, which means it can be magnetically attached to compatible accessories. It’s also user-repairable, with the company offering spare displays, batteries, and other parts for at least seven years. At $500, tradeoffs are to be expected, such as the middling camera and graphical performance and buzzy vibration motor. more buying choices In between testing the Google Pixel 9 Pro and…

Kerry Wan/ZDNET The FCC wants to require all mobile carriers to unlock mobile phones within 60 days of activation. But neither AT&T nor T-Mobile are on board with that idea. In June, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the proposal, arguing that unlocking phones within just two months would give people more freedom and flexibility to switch their existing phones to another compatible carrier. After floating that concept, the FCC invited interested parties to offer their…