ZDNET’s key takeaways The Plantaform Rejuvenate is a smart indoor garden available for $540. It’s an all-in-one garden structure that only requires power for the grow lights and for you to add water and the included fertilizer when it runs low; thankfully, the app gives you notifications and detailed instructions. Unfortunately, you can’t easily DIY seed pods if you want to, though each 15-pod pack is $30. I love plants, but I definitely wasn’t born…

Amazon If you’ve ever picked up the latest book in a series and couldn’t remember characters or what happened in the last book, Amazon has a new feature that might help you. Also: Want free ebooks? These 10 sites offer thousands of options Starting today, your Kindle is getting “Kindle Recaps,” something Amazon says is similar to the “Previously on…” segment before a TV show. How it works For certain books, Kindle Recaps make it easier…

Apple Apple’s latest version of iOS seems to be causing hiccups with CarPlay. Some users who installed the update are complaining on X and Reddit about random connection problems and other issues. Also: A bizarre iOS 18.4 bug is surprising iPhone users with random app installs As spotted by 9to5Mac, several discussion threads have popped up since Apple released iOS 18.4 this past Monday. The problems so far In one discussion thread on Reddit, people are…

He said that in the past, Intel designed hardware, then partners had to figure out developing the software to make it work. “The world has changed. You have to flip that around. Going forward, we will start with the problem, what you’re trying to solve, and the workloads you need to handle enable. Then we work backward from that, that require embrace the software 2.0 mentality, which means that having a software-first design,” said Tan….

@phantomofearth/X Microsoft is testing a dramatic overhaul of the controversial Windows 11 Start menu. Potentially rolling out later this year, the changes aim to address some of the many criticisms that have dogged the menu over the years. Also: Want free AI training from Microsoft? You can sign up for its AI Skills Fest now As spotted by Windows latest, an X post from phantomofearth (who looks at Windows insider builds) takes us on a…

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET There are thousands of songs about staying up all night to have fun, yet fewer about how nice it is to go to bed early. After a long day of work, nerve-inducing headlines, and strenuous exercise, all I want is sleep. That’s when the lyrics of Hall and Oates’ song, “When the Morning Comes,” a tune mainly about rejection that can be interpreted as an ode to a good night’s…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Tessan 65W GaN Universal Travel Adapter retails for $42. It’s the perfect size, weight, and power output for traveling. It doesn’t convert mains AC voltage, and the USB ports on the bottom can be tricky to use. Gone are the days of packing multiple chargers with different connectors when traveling. Now, universal travel adapters are the way to go: one adapter that works in over 220 countries and compatibility with both…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Nitecore NB Air is is available now for $37. Weighing just 3.14 ounces, it’s the lightest power bank I’ve tested. There’s no USB-C cable or pouch included with the power bank. For hikers and runners, every ounce you’re carrying counts. Power banks can be a big challenge because you need something powerful enough to charge your devices, but still lightweight and compact enough to take with you.  Also: Want to extend…

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Most people know that the famous Turing Test, a thought experiment conceived by computer pioneer Alan Turing, is a popular measure of progress in artificial intelligence. Many mistakenly assume, however, that it is proof that machines are actually thinking. The latest research on the Turing Test from scholars at the University of California at San Diego shows that OpenAI’s latest large language model, GPT-4.5, can fool humans into thinking that…