Apple Apple has officially revved up its next-generation CarPlay Ultra, an integrated system that promises to change the way you control your car. Uniting key functions of both your car and your iPhone, the new flavor of CarPlay will let you view and access a variety of options from your dashboard and touchscreen. Also: This touchscreen display adds Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to any car “CarPlay Ultra builds on the capabilities of CarPlay and provides…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The OnePlus Pad 2 is the company’s latest Android tablet with a premium design and flagship specs for $550. It’s compatible with a keyboard and pen that OnePlus sells separately, so you can turn it into an Android-powered laptop. While the multitasking features are excellent, and the Pad 2 checks all the boxes when it comes to entertainment, it still suffers from the pitfalls of using Android on a big screen. more…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Boox Note Max comes bundled with the pen and case for $649. It’s thin and light, has a high-contrast display, and has a long list of features that make it a very versatile device. Theres no backlight, it’s monochromatic, and there’s a bit of a learning curve to use it to its fullest. more buying choices I went hands-on with the Remarkable Paper Pro last year and thought that was a…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The NexTool multitool is blade-free, making it TSA and airport security friendly. The tool is compact and can be attached to a keychain All the tools are decent quality, and can actually do the job they claim to be able to do. I like my EDC (everyday carry) gadgets, but when I travel by air, I almost always end up having to empty my pockets of a lot of useful stuff. I…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Sony Ult Field 1 is a portable speaker available for $130 (but it’s currently $88 on Amazon) The speaker prioritizes crystal-clear sound and pronounced bass, with vibrant audio that sounds like it’s coming from a much more expensive device It doesn’t boast as long a battery life as its predecessor, but what it lacks in battery, it makes up for in stellar sound. Amazon is discounting this Sony Ult Field 1…

Jada JonesZDNET A pair of headphones with strong noise-canceling capabilities is essential for anyone who needs to occasionally tune out the world around them. If noise cancellation is at the top of your “must-haves” when buying a pair of over-ear headphones, two options offer the best of the best. Also: Best headphones of 2025: Bose, Sony, Beats, and more The new Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra offer the industry’s best noise cancellation. However, there are…

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET On Thursday, Google announced three updates to Cloud Marketplace, its online platform where users can buy and sell cloud software solutions. What’s new? Each of the changes is designed to make it easier for customers to navigate the online marketplace while saving them money on purchases. They’re also, of course, part of a broader effort to keep vendors and buyers loyally within Google Cloud’s ecosystem. 1. Variable revenue share model…

Jada Jones/ZDNET Audio geeks, rejoice. Sony has finally released the successor to its popular WH-1000XM5 headphones, and the new headphones bring worthy improvements and Sony’s stellar sound to a new generation.  Also: The 13 best headphones of 2025 The WH-1000XM6 headphones are here, and their key highlights include classically rich sound, improved noise cancellation, and a reformed headset design for comfort and portability. The headphones share some similarities to their predecessor, including battery life capacity and…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Sony WH-1000XM6 are available in Black, Silver, and Midnight Blue for $450. These headphones provide exceptional noise cancellation, practical software features, and an enjoyable sound. A tight fit and non-adjustable noise cancellation are noticeable pitfalls for premium headphones. more buying choices may / 2025 It’s been three years since Sony released the last iteration of its revered WH-1000X series over-ear headphones, and there couldn’t be bigger shoes to fill. The WH-1000XM5 are…