Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images I’ve worked from home, on and off, for most of my career. I put in my time commuting down the 101, sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and taking two hours to make a 20-minute drive to work. But for the past two decades, I’ve exclusively worked from home. Special Feature In […] More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETGoogle’s Chrome browser for MacOS and Windows is receiving an infusion of new Gemini-powered capabilities, including an AI browsing assistant contextually sensitized to a user’s browsing activities. Google made the announcement this week at Google I/O 2025.Dubbed Gemini-in-Chrome, the feature will be available May 21 to Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers in the US as well as Chrome Beta, Dev, and Canary users. Also: Everything announced at Google I/O 2025: Gemini, Search, Android XR, and moreThe general idea behind Gemini-in-Chrome is to reorganize, aggregate, and then more sensibly redisplay the data found on one or more browser tabs while also embellishing the final output with additional but relevant Gemini-generated information.For example, during a pre-event press briefing attended by ZDNET, Google director of Chrome product management Charmaine D’Silva demonstrated how Gemini-in-Chrome could not only organize a head-to-head feature comparison chart of individual sleeping bags — to which multiple Chrome tabs (one tab per sleeping bag) were pointing — but could respond to text prompts about each bag’s suitability to the expected temperatures for an upcoming camping trip in Maine. More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways EZQuest’s 6-in-1 USB-C Slim Hub Adapter is available now for $80. It’s super thin and light, the host input cable is removable, and the cable can be replaced if damaged. The writing on the ports is small –> The shift to thin and light laptops has ushered in a host of […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways HSFTools’ HF96V thermal camera is available now for $219, with a $50 off coupon on Amazon. It has a broad temperature range and a high level of accuracy with an eight-hour battery life. It has an IP54 rating for dust and water-resistance, but it’s not waterproof. –> Regular readers will know […] More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETGoogle’s Project Starline, first announced years ago, subsequently evolved into an AI-forward 3D video conferencing platform in partnership with HP. Now, Google is rebranding Project Starline into Google Beam and hopes to make the platform available to select customers later this year.Google Beam leans on artificial intelligence (AI) much more heavily than Project Starline did. It uses the power of Google’s AI volumetric video model to transform traditional 2D video streams into realistic 3D experiences. According to Google, the company’s AI expertise, coupled with Google Cloud’s scalability, delivers enterprise-grade reliability that makes true-to-life 3D video conferencing compatible with existing workflows. Also: Everything announced at Google I/O 2025 Communicating via Google Beam, Google noted, will offer a more natural experience than you’d get with traditional video conferencing software or hardware. Google Beam adds depth and dimensionality to the image, thanks to the combination of its AI video model and a light field display. As someone who works remotely, I couldn’t be more excited about this technology, especially when and if it gets condensed into something more applicable in a home office space. More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Perfect way to share 100W of power between three devices This cable does exactly what it says it will on the box – something that a lot of cables can’t claim Some might find the 65W limit a bit restrictive for charging laptops. –> Over the past couple of years, I’ve […] More
Getty Images/400tmax The Google I/O keynote took place earlier this week, and the company took the stage to unveil new features across all of its product offerings. This included AI upgrades to the Google Workspace suite of applications, which millions of users rely on every day to get their work done, including Google Docs, Meet, […] More
Wireless earbuds are popular purchases for many, but are certainly a staple for college students. Remember when I said we’d come back to the campus never being quiet bit? Well, here we are. Not only did I attend the University of Alabama, which is full of lots of noise generated by a bustling campus, a large Greek community (the music from Fraternity Row rarely ceases), and constant traffic, but I also spent two years living next to Bryant-Denny stadium, which notably can reach volumes of over 90 dbs often. The point here is that a pair of noise-canceling earbuds is essential because, on most campuses, the noise never stops, and you’ll want a way to cut it out when you need to sleep, study, work, or relax. I upgraded to these AirPods Pro only recently this year, but I used various other noise-canceling alternatives during my four years as a student. I use my AirPods Pro to listen to music during my commute, watch videos and shows, and simply drown out the outside sound of the train and daily hustle, which makes them also perfect for dulling the noise of any busy college or university. Also: The best earbuds of 2025: Expert testedThese AirPods have two times more noise cancellation than the previous version and feature an upgraded adaptive transparency mode, which automatically lowers the volume of harmful noises above the 85dB threshold. I enjoy using all of these features and especially appreciate conversation awareness, which makes it easy to talk to friends without taking my earbuds out. Redditors said the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) are the best buy out of the entire AirPods lineup currently, thanks to the upgraded features, new chip, and new USB-C charging option. One truck driver on Reddit who describes himself as an audiophile said the improvements of the 2nd Gen Pros were noticeable, to the point where he couldn’t even hear his truck’s engine running like usual. Other Redditors said these AirPods provided pretty good noise cancellation and overall value for using on airplanes and long flights More
