Eliana Willis

Taylor Clemons/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?The Hisense U8N More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETAI has enabled a big leap forward for voice assistants, and as a result, many companies have released their own versions, including ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, Google’s Gemini Live, and Microsoft’s Copilot Voice. Microsoft’s offering just got an update, giving it more of a competitive edge. Also: Gemini Live just got much easier to talk to – here’s howOn Thursday, Microsoft launched updates to Copilot Voice including voices in 40 new languages and improved real-time information when chatting with the AI. Together, these updates will allow users to experience a more seamless and helpful conversation.Copilot Voice, unveiled in October, can be interrupted to engage in multi-turn conversations and respond to your emotions. Starting a conversation in the app is as easy as clicking the microphone button, and you can select from four voices and different voice speeds. The biggest perk? It is free for all users. In terms of features, I have tested Gemini Live, ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, and Gemini Live extensively, and, they are very similar in performance. The latest Copilot Voice updates bring it more on par with its competitors. You’ll find any of them to be a major step up from traditional voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. Which one you should select really depends on which chatbot you’re already using, and how much you’re willing to pay. Also: Are ChatGPT Plus or Pro worth it? Here’s how they compare to the free versionTo access OpenAI’s counterpart, ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, you need to become a subscriber, which costs at least $20 per month on ChatGPT Plus. However, if you are a ChatGPT power user, the subscription makes sense because you get access to OpenAI’s latest offerings, including Sora, o3-mini-high, and o1.Gemini Live is free, but like Copilot Voice, it requires you to download the app. Therefore, choosing between the two is mostly a matter of which chatbot and interface you like better. In my testing, all three experiences were very similar.  More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Roborock Flexi Lite is available for $400 This vacuum and mop can tackle wet and dry messes, juice spills, pet hair, and more; it’s also self-cleaning, so you only have to empty the dirty water and add clean water The Roborock Flexi Lite seems only to mop when pulled back, […] More

The Raspberry Pi is often the star of the show when you need a powerful brain and control hub for your DIY projects, but there are plenty of alternative models to the popular single-board computer, or SBC. Also: Meet the most affordable Raspberry Pi ever: What’s new and why it’s so cheapWhy use an SBC at all? SBCs are computers built on a single circuit board and contain all the essentials: A processor, memory, storage, and more. Some SBCs offer better bang for your buck than a Raspberry Pi or have extra features suitable for specific uses, such as video streaming or artificial intelligence applications. Others offer a fun way to learn programming. The Raspberry Pi is now in its fifth generation, and while these SBCs are very affordable, stocks can become limited, especially during sales events or with a new product launch.We’ve researched to help you find the perfect SBC for your home automation, custom gadget creation, or robot you’ve always wanted to build. The ZDNET team is well-versed in SBC use and combines hands-on testing, research, and a thorough examination of customer feedback to provide the best Raspberry Pi alternatives. What is the best Raspberry Pi alternative right now?We tested and researched the best Raspberry Pi alternatives based on performance, connectivity and storage, ease of use, and price. After examining the market’s most popular options and customer feedback and reviews, the Libre Computer Board More

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better humidifier at this price point. Jack Wallen/ZDNETWhat’s the deal? Amazon is currently offering the Dreo Smart 5L Humidifier More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Battery is available for $230 but is currently on sale for $180 This Pro-level Ring camera has a removable rechargeable battery pack, top-of-the-line audio performance, and supports dual-band Wi-Fi, 2.4 and 5.0 GHz Unfortunately, the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro falls short on image quality, topping out […] More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?The Anker Prime 100W USB-C Charger More