Google The economics of artificial intelligence have been a hot topic of late, with startup DeepSeek AI claiming eye-opening economies of scale in deploying GPU chips. Two can play that game. On Wednesday, Google announced its latest open-source large language model, Gemma 3, came close to achieving the accuracy of DeepSeek’s R1 with a fraction […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The SwitchBot Wallet Tracker Card is on sale right now for under $20. This slim wallet tracker works with Bluetooth and the Apple Find My network, is IP67 waterproof, and is almost as reliable as an Apple AirTag. It only works with iOS, not Android, and its battery isn’t replaceable or […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways ESR’s Aura Halo-Lock MagSafe wallet and stand combine style and function at a fair price point. The $40 MagSafe wallet stores up to five cards, doubles as a phone stand, includes an ID window, and comes in five colorways. If you’re after smaller capacity wallets or more premium materials, you’re better […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Acer’s Aspire 14 AI is available now at Costco for $699. It has a fantastic battery and some of the latest hardware: all for a very approachable price point. I suggest opting for the OLED, since the low-end display isn’t the best. –> I went hands-on with Acer’s Aspire Go 15 […] More
NoSystem images/Getty Images AI tools and news just don’t seem to mix — even at the premium tier. New research from Columbia’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism found that several AI chatbots often misidentify news articles, present incorrect information without any qualification, and fabricate links to news articles that don’t exist. The findings build on initial research Tow […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The magnetic USB-C connector now supports a 180-degree swivel, and it’s only $13 at Amazon. It can pump out as much as 240W of power. I just wish it was suitable for data transferring or powering monitors. –> A hill I’m always willing to fight on — and maybe even die […] More
Beth Mauder/ZDNETiRobot was long overdue for a product redesign to win back its once overwhelming share of the robot vacuum market. The company just announced such a reinvention for its complete product line; it turns out this was a Hail Mary move.iRobot’s latest SEC filings paint a grim financial landscape for the company’s next 12 months. In them, we learn that iRobot, maker of Roomba robot vacuums, is in significant financial trouble, as evidenced by heavy debt, loan challenges, market struggles, and declining revenue. Also: iRobot just launched four new Roomba models to reimagine its entire product lineThe company already laid off 40% of its workforce in 2024, cut back on hiring, closed offices, subleased part of its HQ, and reduced marketing costs. These measures saved iRobot $126.4 million, but not enough to stabilize the company. Now, iRobot is banking on the launch of a completely new product line this year to reestablish the spot in the robot market that has been weakened by the strong competition from Roborock, Dreame, and Ecovacs. More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Sabrent USB SSD 4-bay docking station is available now on Amazon for $89. This docking station makes adding external drives to your system a total plug-and-play affair. The case is plastic, so it feels a bit cheap but that doesn’t get in the way of performance. more buying choices It […] More
