<!–> 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 […] More
Cesar Cadenas/ZDNETI’ve never really been an Apple guy. Most of the tech I have owned has either been Windows- or Android-related. I’ve never had an iPhone, and outside of a few instances, I never used a Mac for an extended period of time. However, writing for ZDNET has given me opportunities to try out hardware I may never have touched. And a week into testing Apple’s new M4 Max Mac Studio More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETIf you’re a T-Mobile customer, your rates might be on the rise.After announcing a price bump less than a year ago, the mobile carrier is doing it again — and once again, it’s affecting customers on older plans. Also: Want free Starlink satellite texting? T-Mobile’s got a deal, but there’s a catchAccording to an internal memo to T-Mobile employees obtained by CNET, some legacy plans (plans that aren’t offered to new subscribers but are still available to existing subscribers) will see a $5 per-line increase starting April 2, 2025. Since these legacy plans are retired, it means those subscribers are among the company’s most loyal and long-term. T-Mobile blamed the increase on “rising costs.”Legacy plans will see the increaseLegacy plans include offerings like Magenta, Magenta MAX, Magenta 55+, ONE, and Simple Choice, but it’s not clear which of these will see the increase. The new rates will not impact current plans like Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, and Essentials. Also: The best phonesIf this increase affects you, you’ll receive a text from T-Mobile as soon as March 13. “For the first time in nearly a decade,” the text reads, “we’re making an update to the price of some of our older monthly service plans.” If you don’t get a notification today, your rates aren’t going up. More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Super-fast SSD that’s speedy enough to handle Apple ProRes video recording The drive is small, thin, and light enough to attach to an iPhone without adding too much bulk or weight Systems that don’t support USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 will see significantly slower speeds. –> The iPhone is a fantastic tool […] More
ZDNETIs Google collapsing right before our eyes? Legal battles are mounting, its AI products are “meh” at best, and the traditional search model faces real disruption from AI. Things don’t look great.But despite all that, what if I told you I’m still bullish on Google — just not for the reason you think? 🤓☝️ Also: Google launches Gemini with Personalization, beating Apple to personal AIHear me out. I know this sounds unbelievable, but YouTube, not AI, might be Google’s saving grace. Amid the tumultuous past 12 months, YouTube has quietly achieved remarkable success in the world of podcasting. With over 1 billion monthly views — yes, billion with a B — YouTube is quietly becoming the leading platform for podcast consumption. Here’s what’s fascinating about that stat. These podcast episodes are often available elsewhere in audio-only formats. Yet, audiences are choosing YouTube, a visual platform. This tells me people are seeking personal connections with podcast hosts. They don’t just want to hear hosts; they want to see them in action. It shows people still value human connection more than the next AI trend. 🤔 It’s so easy to get caught up in whether this is a video or a podcast and ignore what’s happening, which is our desire as humans to connect. Also: How to download YouTube videos for free – 2 waysIn this article, we’ll pull on the thread of what Google’s future could look like, why I’m bullish on Google even with all the drama, and how this might be your big opportunity to thrive in the years ahead. 🚀 This story is way more fascinating than a billion podcast views.Before we jump in, let me introduce myself. I’m Lester, but you can call me Les. 👋 I’m a founder with a successful exit, executive chairman of several DTC brands, and an award-winning performance marketer. My job is analyzing data and spotting trends, so we’ve built tools to do that precisely. If you like data-driven marketing insights, check out my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. All that said, let’s get into why I’m so bullish on Google. More
Jada Jones/ZDNETIf you’re ready to upgrade to premium headphones with great sound, superb noise-canceling, and all-day comfort, I recommend the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. They’re my top pick for over-ear headphones and noise-canceling headphones, and you can get them on sale at Amazon More
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETAlthough AI technology capable of taking over the world is limited to science fiction literature and movies, existing artificial intelligence is capable of wrongdoing, such as producing hallucinations, training on people’s data, and using other people’s work to create new outputs. How do these shortcomings align with rapid AI adoption?That question was heavily explored at SXSW, with most AI-related sessions either touching upon — or diving deep into — the topic of AI safety. Company leaders from IBM, Meta, Microsoft, and Adobe, to name a few, had insights to share on the future of AI. The consensus? It’s not all doom and gloom. Also: Microsoft is an AGI skeptic, but is there tension with OpenAI?”AI needs a better PR agent; everything we have learned is from sci-fi,” said Hannah Elsakr, founder of Firefly for Enterprise at Adobe. “We think AI is going to take over our lives; that’s not the purpose of it.” Regardless of the panel, the leaders from some of the largest AI tech companies discussed three overarching themes about how safety and responsibility fit in the future of the technology. What they had to say may help put your concerns at ease. 1. The use case matters There is no denying that AI systems are flawed. They often hallucinate and incorporate biases in their responses. As a result, many worry that incorporating AI systems into the workplace will introduce errors in internal processes, negatively impacting employees, clients, and business goals. The key to mitigating this issue is carefully considering which task you delegate to AI. For example, Sarah Bird, CPO of responsible AI at Microsoft, looks for use cases that are a good match for what the technology can do today. More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are on sale now for $129 They’re a reboot of the previous model with an even more comfortable, light fit, improved ANC, and booming, rich sound The app is a little clunky, the touch controls take some getting use to, and the voice commands can be finicky. […] More
