Eliana Willis

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETPhone accessory brand Anker is issuing a recall for three of its power banks: the 334 MagGo Battery (PowerCore 10K), the Power Bank pack, and the MagGo Power Bank. The impacted power banks sport model numbers A1642, A1647, and A1652, respectively. Also: The best power banks you can buy: Expert testedAccording to the recall notice, these devices “may pose a fire risk.” The lithium-ion batteries inside reportedly have a “manufacturing defect” that could cause the power banks to overheat and melt components. Because of the high temperatures, the hardware may begin to smoke and fumes from lithium-ion batteries are toxic.Anker states the battery defect is only present on a batch of products sold “from January 3, 2024, to September 17, 2024”. Although only “a small number of batteries” are affected, the company is asking customers to enroll in its Recall program “out of an abundance of caution.”  More

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETiPhone owners eager to check out Apple Intelligence can now download a public beta of iOS 18.1. Packed with Apple’s first round of AI-powered features, the new release was previously available only for developers but is now ready for the general public.That’s the good news. So what’s the bad news?Also: 6 AI features iPhone users can expect first on iOS 18 (and what’s coming later)Well, you’ll need the right type of iPhone to try out Apple Intelligence. For now, that means either an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max. Starting tomorrow, though, anyone who snags one of the four new iPhone 16 models will also be able to install iOS 18.1 and take Apple’s AI for a spin.Though Apple plans to release Apple Intelligence in stages, you will find an array of AI features in iOS 18.1. Writing tools will help you rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in Mail, Notes, and other supported apps. New photo tools will help you search for photos using natural language, while a Clean Up Tool will try to seamlessly remove unwanted elements from an image. More

John Lund/Getty Images Even the smartest AI models are prone to hallucinations, which can be amusing when provoked. May I remind you of glue pizza? However, if you try to induce hallucinations in OpenAI’s advanced o1 reasoning models, you may lose access to the model altogether.  OpenAI unveiled its o1 models last week, which were […] More

Nina Raemont/ZDNETOpen earbuds have become my recent audio obsession because of how magical the technology feels. You can simultaneously listen to your music while also listening to the sounds and environment you’re in. Open earbuds feel different than bone conduction headphones, which offer aware listening but compromise audio quality and volume. The cool thing about open earbuds is that they offer both great audio quality and awareness. My favorite open-ear earbuds are the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, which I consider a great alternative to bone-conduction headphones. They’re ideal for outdoor runners looking to enjoy amazing music while staying aware of their environment. Also: Why I run with these Bose earbuds instead of bone-conduction headphonesThe Ultra Open More

Jack Wallen/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysMojawa’s Run Plus More

Download a lifetime license to Microsoft Office at a deep discount with this deal. Stack Social If you need access to Microsoft Office but don’t want to pay the yearly fee to access Office 365, you’re in luck: Stack Social is offering a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows or Mac, starting […] More

However, the game is far from up for CIOs. While line-of-business employees might believe they can spot discrete digital solutions to their organizational challenges, CIOs have experience integrating systems and services. Effective digital transformation requires a close relationship between CIOs and their line-of-business colleagues. “Digital transformation is all about outcomes,” said Nick Woods, CIO at MAG, a UK airport group that owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands Airports. “It comes back to the partnerships and allegiances you’re forming,” he told ZDNET. “As a CIO, you can’t be successful on your own. The business still needs to own its outcomes.”With companies now looking to get more from recent digital transformation projects, even greater focus will be placed on the tech leadership capabilities of CIOs, which means building even stronger bonds with the chief executive and the rest of the C-suite.Also: Coworker conflict? 5 ways to deal with a difficult colleagueVogel told ZDNET that Gartner’s 2024 CIO Agenda highlights how CIOs should base their partnership with CXOs on a franchise model, where they co-lead, co-deliver, and co-govern digital delivery. Gartner reports that 63% of digital initiatives meet or exceed outcome targets when CIOs set up franchise models. However, Vogel said only 12% of CIOs currently use a franchise model where they create digital solutions with the business.The good news is CIOs who help their business colleagues reap the benefits of digitalization will be valued. Helen Fleming, executive director of search and specialisms at recruiter Harvey Nash, told ZDNET that CIOs who get the right approach could end up rising to the top of the business and fulfilling other senior roles in the organization, such as COO or even CEO. “CIOs are diversifying or progressing into the COO role,” she said.Fleming pointed to the example of Nash Squared, where CEO Bev White began her CIO career at one organization and progressed to COO and MD roles. White then took CEO positions at other companies. For most CIOs, this careful progression is the likely route to the top in an age of digital transformation. More

Lance Whitney/ZDNETI sometimes want to check in with my wife to let her know where I am or how I’m doing. Sure, I can always call or text her at specific moments. But maybe I’m driving or working out at the gym or otherwise occupied and would like her to automatically receive a text at a certain point. With an Apple Watch running watchOS 11, I can do just that.Also: The best Apple Watches: Expert tested and reviewedNew with the latest version of watchOS is a feature called Check In. Accessible from the Messages app and the Workout app, Check In alerts someone if you’ve reached a specific destination based on your arrival time or location. Plus, if you’ve finished a workout and want to let someone know, Check In will notify that person. Here’s how this works.How to check in with a friend or family member from your Apple WatchWhat you’ll need:  To use Check In, you have to be running watchOS 11 or higher on your Apple Watch, which requires iOS 18 or higher on your iPhone. These Apple Watch models can run watchOS 11. More