Eliana Willis

Jack Wallen/ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways Localsend makes sharing files on Android a breeze.You can share and receive files.Localsend works with Android, Linux, MacOS, and Windows.Android is my mobile OS of choice. As far as the desktop is concerned, I switch back and forth between Linux and MacOS (depending on what I’m doing). Often, I need to transfer files between Android and my two desktop operating systems, but finding the easiest method of doing so has been a bit of a chore.Until I found Localsend. Also: I found a better way to transfer files between Android and Linux – and it’s freeLocalsend makes transferring files between Android and Linux/MacOS/Windows about as easy as it gets. If your phone/tablet and desktop/laptop are on the same network, Localsend automatically finds each instance of the app, so you don’t have to manually add them. In other words, open Localsend on your phone and your desktop, and the app will auto-discover any other instance of the app on the network. Once discovered, you can send or receive files/folders, text, or even paste from your clipboard. It’s as easy as it gets… and it’s free. Let me show you how to use Localsend so you don’t have to cobble together a solution on your own. How to install Localsend What you’ll need: The only things you’ll need are an Android phone (or tablet) and a desktop computer. I’m going to demonstrate this on Linux, because installing on MacOS and Windows is as easy as opening the app store, finding Localsend, and installing. Also: My 6 favorite open-source Android apps from the Google Play Store More

Getty Images / NurPhoto / Contributor ZDNET’s key takeaways Gemini can now remember chat context for personalized answers. Users can use Temporary Chat for added privacy. Google also added new data control settings you’ll want to look at now.  You can now reference your past chats with Google’s Gemini AI chatbot for more personalized responses, […] More

Adam Breeden/ZDNETNetflix wasn’t the first streaming platform, but it was the first to make video-on-demand mainstream. Fourteen years ago, as it phased out its mailing service, it took a massive bite out of the global market.Also: This 30-second fix made my Roku TV run like new again (and why it works)Remember that? Physical DVDs showing up in your actual mailbox — the one at the end of your driveway (or your hallway)? To my surprise, that was still actually a thing up until late 2023. Whaaat?Streaming introduced a slew of new entertainment options and, most importantly, unparalleled convenience. These days, Netflix is one of many platforms that offer a staggering amount of titles to choose from — and yet, there is more there than meets the eye.Did you know Netflix has secret cheat codes?As it turns out, Netflix has a plethora of shows and movies available that you don’t normally see when booting up the app. Our personalized, algorithm-based menus confine us to viewing only a fraction of the entire Netflix library.Also: How to clear your TV cache (and why it makes such a big difference)You can find special cheat codes to unlock more content on resources like Netflix-Codes and the website What’s On Netflix. Either is a good place to start massively multiplying your viewing options. The categories associated with these codes range everywhere from “Deep Sea Horror Movies” (code 45028) to very specific subgenres like “Feel-good Sports Movies for Ages 8 to 10” (code 855).  More

Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysGPT-5 now offers four different modes.You can still choose Auto to let ChatGPT determine how to respond.New choices add complexity to a model that was supposed to be simple.With the recent release of GPT-5, OpenAI touted its new model as a more efficient one that decides on its own how best to respond to your queries. Gone were the array of different modes that forced you to direct the AI based on whether you wanted a quick answer, longer and deeper thinking, or another variation. Also: A year after Altman said superintelligence was imminent, GPT-5 is all we get?Well, with all the user complaints about GPT-5, OpenAI has decided that maybe simplicity isn’t such a good thing.GPT-5 gets four new modesOn Tuesday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced via X that GPT-5 has been updated with four different modes. The Auto mode is still there for people who don’t want or need to tell the AI how to respond. But now there’s also the Fast mode for quick answers, a Thinking mode for longer thinking, and a Thinking mini mode for quicker thinking. As Altman said, “most users will want Auto, but the additional controls will be useful for some people.” Also: This free GPT-5 feature is flying under the radar – but it’s a game changer for meDebuting almost a week ago, GPT-5 was an attempt by OpenAI to create a model in which you didn’t have to choose among a variety of different modes. The company programmed the new model so it would know when to respond quickly and when to think longer. That meant you could just submit your prompt and let ChatGPT handle the rest. “GPT-5 is a unified system with a smart, efficient model that answers most questions, a deeper reasoning model (GPT-5 thinking) for harder problems, and a real-time router that quickly decides which to use based on conversation type, complexity, tool needs, and your explicit intent,” OpenAI said when introducing GPT-5. “The router is continuously trained on real signals, including when users switch models, preference rates for responses, and measured correctness, improving over time.” Stung by severe criticismBut that desire to reduce complexity landed with a thud. Following its launch, GPT-5 has been stung by severe criticism, much of it from people who bemoaned the sudden loss of GPT-4 and found GPT-5 less than capable in comparison. In an interesting twist, some of the complaints seemed emotional, with some mourning the death of GPT-4 as they might mourn a close friend they had grown to trust and rely on. In response to the criticism, OpenAI reinstated the legacy GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, o4-mini, and o3 models, but only for Plus and Pro subscribers. For free users, GPT-5 is still the only option. And now GPT-5 has the four new modes, but again only for paid users. Also: GPT-5 bombed my coding tests, but redeemed itself with code analysisThe dilemma now is that ChatGPT has reverted from a simple and unified process to one with multiple choices. Depending on your query, should you use GPT-5, GPT-4o, o4-mini, or o3? And if you choose GPT-5, should you use one of the specific modes or just set it to Auto and hope for the best? “4o is back in the model picker for all paid users by default,” Altman said in his X post. “If we ever do deprecate it, we will give plenty of notice. Paid users also now have a ‘Show additional models’ toggle in ChatGPT web settings which will add models like o3, 4.1, and GPT-5 Thinking mini. 4.5 is only available to Pro users — it costs a lot of GPUs.” An update to GPT-5’s personality With all these recent and sudden changes, OpenAI is clearly struggling to figure out what to do with its latest model. Simplicity? Complexity? A balance between the two? That all remains to be determined. But Altman’s last comment in his X post does provide a clue to the future of ChatGPT. Also: Here are all the GPT-5 updates OpenAI has rolled out since launch”We are working on an update to GPT-5’s personality which should feel warmer than the current personality but not as annoying (to most users) as GPT-4o,” Altman said. “However, one learning for us from the past few days is we really just need to get to a world with more per-user customization of model personality.” Artificial Intelligence More

Asus Zenbook Duo 14 <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Asus Zenbook Duo is on sale now starting at around $1,499, with pricier configurations available. This laptop is a creator’s dream machine, with dual-OLED touchscreens, a highly configurable form factor, and a great battery. It takes time and effort to get the most out of this […] More

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysSolar-powered power banks can be unreliable and potentially unsafe.They are ineffective at charging devices, even after prolonged sun exposure.Safer and more reliable alternatives, like a solar power station, are recommended.Solar-powered power banks seem like a fantastic idea; attach some solar panels to a power bank, and you have a free power source whenever the sun is shining.However, the reality is different from this idyllic vision of limitless energy.Also: I jump-started a bus from the 1930s with this power bank – here’s the verdictI’ve tested nearly two dozen solar-powered power banks, ranging from devices purchased online to ones bought from camping and outdoor supply stores. Unfortunately, every single device has been disappointingly ineffective — and some have even been potentially dangerous.Using such a device means placing a power bank, a box filled with lithium-ion batteries, in direct sunlight. And that’s a big problem. I’ve found that a power bank left in the sun on a modestly hot day can hit temperatures as high as 80°C/176°F, which is incredibly hot for lithium batteries.  More

Google TV Streamer <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Google TV Streamer is a streaming device that typically sells for $100. The Google TV Streamer offers beautiful image, fast performance, and the best smart home integrations of any Google streaming device. It’s built for Android users but can work with iOS, with some compromise, and there […] More