Eliana Willis

ZDNETIs your Chromecast device having issues? You’re not alone. Google says a fix is rolling out, though. Second-generation Chromecast and Chromecast Audio devices are facing a problem that prevents them from casting content. If you try to use an affected device, you’ll see one of two errors — either, “Untrusted device: [name] couldn’t be verified. This could be caused by outdated device firmware,” or “We couldn’t authenticate your Chromecast.” Also: Your Android phone just got a major audio upgrade for freeBoth error messages link to separate Google support pages, but those pages don’t address this issue. The only other option is to close the dialogue box.Older Chromecast devices affectedThe issue seems limited to older Chromecast devices, as no third-generation or Chromecast Ultra users have reported the problem. Frustration is mounting on Reddit, where users have reportedly tried a number of fixes, including restarting the device, reinstalling Google Home, removing the device from Google Home and adding it again, restoring the device to factory settings, clearing cache data, and changing networks, but nothing works. Also: Is your live TV streaming service still worth it? I review the options for every budgetSome users have even wondered if Google has quietly ended support for the older Chromecasts, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, as the company says a fix is on the way. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETSetting up a new Windows 11 PC — or resetting a gently used Windows 11 PC, so it’s as good as new — is pretty easy. Deceptively easy, in fact. After you click through the dialog boxes and adjust the few available settings as part of the out-of-the-box experience, you end up at the Windows 11 desktop.But your work is not complete. Microsoft’s default settings aren’t necessarily tuned for you, and a default setup comes with a handful of annoyances that you can quickly fix. Also: Windows 11 FAQ: ZDNET’s upgrade guide and everything else you need to knowWhen you get to the Windows desktop, I recommend taking a few minutes to do these six things before you go any further. More

ZDNETTiling window managers are one of the most efficient ways to interact with your operating system — depending on how you prefer to work. If you’re someone who wants to keep your fingers on the keyboard and doesn’t mind learning a host of new keyboard shortcuts, then a tiling window manager is for you.If, on the other hand, you prefer using your mouse, I’d advise against a tiling window manager. Also: This fun tiling window manager may be rough around the edges – but it has big potentialCuriosity piqued? If so, there’s a particular Linux distribution that can help you learn the ins and outs of one particular tiling window manager — i3. The Regolith Desktop is a productivity-focused Linux distribution that combines i3, Say, and GNOME to create the fast, keyboard-driven workflow of a tiling window manager, while infusing it with a bit of traditional desktop environment features. Regolith includes features like gnome-session for system management, regolith-look for theming and configuration adjustments, and support for both X11 (i3) and Wayland (Sway). Choose between i3 and SwayYup. Regolith Linux gives you the choice between the i3 and Sway tiling window managers. Think of Sway as a drop-in replacement for i3 that works with Wayland. Because Regolith Linux ships with both i3 and Sway, you can be sure that, no matter which window server you need (X11 or Wayland), you’ll have a similar experience. Because Sway and i3 are similar (but not identical), if you can get up to speed with one, you’ll be up to speed with the other. Also: The best old-school Linux window managers that still hold upThe differences between i3 and Sway are as follows: i3 uses X11, whereas Sway uses Wayland.Sway includes built-in gaps functionality and supports multiple non-modifier keys for key bindings.Sway can create containers from floating windows for group movement and resizing.Sway handles input, output, and wallpaper options without relying on separate applications.Sway offers slightly better battery life on laptops.Some X11 apps might not work on Wayland, which means i3 has much broader application support.Sway is more actively developed than i3 and offers a bit more in the GUI department.Here’s the thing to keep in mind: once upon a time, Regolith was available via an ISO. Unfortunately, that ISO install is an outdated version. To get the latest version of Regolith, start with a running instance of Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 and install the necessary packages. To do that, you have to run the following commands: wget -qO – https://archive.regolith-desktop.com/regolith.key | gpg –dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/regolith-archive-keyring.gpg > /dev/nullecho deb “[arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/regolith-archive-keyring.gpg] https://archive.regolith-desktop.com/ubuntu/stable noble v3.2” | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/regolith.listsudo apt updatesudo apt install regolith-desktop regolith-session-flashback regolith-look-lascaille -yYou can optionally install the Sway version with: sudo apt-get install regolith-session-sway -y If you install the Sway version (which I would recommend), select Regolith on Wayland at the login screen. Also: If you’re ready to break up with Windows, this is the Linux distro I suggest for new usersOnce those packages are installed, reboot your instance of Linux and select either i3 or Sway at the login prompt. I’d much prefer it if the developers of Regolith would release an ISO image with the latest version, but the installation isn’t difficult, as long as you already have a running instance of Ubuntu (Debian will work just fine). The total time for the installation shouldn’t take you more than five minutes. Once you have the latest version of Regolith installed, you should now be able to switch between i3 or Sway (the older version only offers i3 because it doesn’t support Wayland/Sway). More

David Tramontan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Spotify wants to make it easier than ever for audiobook authors to have their work heard. The audio-streaming platform has a new website for independent authors to submit short-form books.  If Spotify likes what you send, it will publish the audiobook, pay you an advance and royalties, manage book […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Planck SSD gives your connected device quick access to up to 2TB of storage. It has read and write speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s, giving it support for Apple 4K ProRes recording. It’s not cheap at a starting price of $125, and due diligence is required for any Kickstarter […] More

Nina Raemont/ZDNETDuring last year’s summer edition of Samsung’s Unpacked hardware event, the company announced the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro with a new yet familiar design. Traditionally, Samsung’s premium earbuds sported a round bud design, but the third generation debuted with a bud-and-stem design.Also: This $399 Samsung Galaxy is the mid-range phone most people should buyAccording to rumors and insider sources, it appears Samsung is again shaking up its earbud form factor, this time with open-ear earbuds that use bone conduction sound technology. Open-ear earbuds have soared in popularity, with Sony, Shokz, Bose, and Nothing releasing premium versions. More

ZDNETThe smartwatch market just experienced its first-ever decline, according to a recent report by Counterpoint. The report says 7% fewer smartwatches were shipped in 2024 than in 2023, and Apple’s dwindling popularity might be to blame. Also: The Apple Watch Series 10 is on sale for its lowest price ever at every major retailerAccording to Counterpoint, tighter competition and weaker upgrade cycles fueled a 19% decline in Apple Watch’s shipment rate during that period. “Apple Watch witnessed a decline in momentum on its 10th anniversary, despite the launch of the S10 series. The biggest driver of the decline was North America, where the absence of the Ultra 3 and minimal feature upgrades in the S10 lineup led consumers to hold back purchases,” Senior Research Analyst Anshika Jain said in the Counterpoint report. Also: Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Apple Watch Series 9: Should you upgrade to the latest model?There are several reasons why Apple’s smart wearable has seemingly lost its appeal over the past year. From a blood oxygen sensing feature that couldn’t escape patent disputes, to growing competition in the wearables space, the tech behemoth is fighting several forces that could keep its shipments lower.  More

Open AI CEO Sam Altman chats with Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott at Microsoft Build 2024. Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETSince OpenAI launched ChatGPT over two years ago, it has retained its position as one of the frontrunners in the AI race, constantly developing smarter models and spin-off products. The company has no intention of slowing down, with its ultimate goal being to achieve Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) or AI with autonomous, human-level intelligence.  “Our mission is to ensure that AGI benefits all of humanity,” said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in a blog post last month. “In some sense, AGI is just another tool in this ever-taller scaffolding of human progress we are building together.” Also: Generative AI is finally finding its sweet spot, says Databricks chief AI scientistHowever, OpenAI’s biggest strategic partner, Microsoft, has taken a different approach. In a recent interview, CEO Satya Nadella shared that the company is not working on the long-term goal of achieving AGI because it believes AGI to be overhyped. With a long-standing partnership and Microsoft investing billions in OpenAI, it raises the question: how are the two still managing to work together?In an SXSW panel titled “Building Trustworthy AI: Evolving Safety Practices for GenAI,” Microsoft CPO of Responsible AI Sarah Bird shed light on the companies’ dynamics. Despite the deviating approaches, she shared that there was no “tension.” More