Eliana Willis

Adam Breeden/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Google Pixel 9 Pro XL More

It depends, but you usually don’t need to empty the dustbin after each use. Many robot vacuums can self-empty at their docking station, so you don’t have to clean the actual robot. Self-emptying robot vacuums can collect anywhere from 30 to 60 days’ worth of dust and allergens, which makes cleaning a breeze. Other robot vacuums don’t offer self-emptying features but are more affordable. Depending on how much dust and pet hair is on your floors, you may be able to go a few uses before emptying the dust bin.It’s worth reading the product description, as it will state whether it offers a self-cleaning option alongside how long the bin will last between sessions. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETPixel phone owners who enjoy taking photos in the great outdoors will appreciate a new Google Camera app upgrade rolling out now that enables manual control for Astrophotography mode within Night Sight. The new options will first appear with the Google Camera 9.5.118 update, so until the app updates, you won’t see the features. With this new update, the Google Camera app gets manual controls so you can adjust low-light exposure as needed. There’s also a new “Astro mode,” which sets the exposure to four minutes when your phone is pointed toward the stars. With Astro mode, you cannot set a manual time frame for the exposure (as it’s locked at four minutes). Instead, Android attempts to capture the most prolonged time frame possible for the best shot.Also: The Pixel phone camera was already the best, but these new features make it even better.Why does this matter? Longer exposure times make it possible to capture better images in low-light settings (such as taking a photo of the night sky). With the combination of manual low-light exposure and Astro mode, the likelihood of getting a fantastic shot of your starry starry night is considerably better.Keep in mind that when working with such long exposures, your phone must be on a tripod (or other stabilizing device) because the slightest movement will ruin the shot. You will get warning prompts about using a tripod when in Astrophotography mode. More

Score a Microsoft Office license now for 89% off.  StackSocial Whether you’re setting up your new laptop or using a machine you’ve had for years, access to Microsoft Office is a necessity for many of us to get things done. Right now, you can buy a lifetime license to the 2019 version of Microsoft Office Professional Plus for […] More

Pramod Khargonekar, distinguished professor of electrical engineering and computer science and vice chancellor for research at the University of California, Irvine Image: UC Irvine Last year, ZDNET ran a special feature called, “The Intersection of Generative AI and Engineering,” which explored the tremendous potential of generative AI for software development and product development. This intersection […] More

The Delta Pro Ultra is EcoFlow’s latest portable battery unit. Its true beauty lies in combination with the new EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2 to become a seamless whole-home backup solution. The DPU is a combination inverter and battery, and the system is expandable from 6kWh to 90kWh capacity. Each Smart Home Panel 2 can support up to three inverters, and each inverter can handle up to five stackable batteries. Even without the expanded storage capacity, a single EcoFlow DPU can provide essential power for a home for up to two days. I went hands-on with the DPU and Smart Home Panel 2 and found that it provides a seamless transfer from the grid to backup power in case of a power outage.Review: EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra & Smart Home Panel 2One of the outages I experienced with the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra and Smart Home Panel 2 happened during this past winter’s coldest weeks. This home battery backup system gave my family the power to eat warm meals and stay warm through the night. My young kids also slept with their night lights and sound machines while we charged essential devices. The Delta Pro Ultra is also portable and can be transported to campsites, with an RV, or remote locations. Its LFP battery means you can even bring it inside to run appliances or charge devices in a pinch without worrying about emissions. However, one Reddit user who purchased the DPU said the solar aspect is good enough for top-off but not enough to be 100% off-grid reliant. EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra + Smart home panel 2  features: Estimated cost per kWh: About $750 | Capacity: 13.5kWh | Battery type: Lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) | Scalability: Up to 5 batteries per inverter and up to 3 inverters per panel | IP Rating: IP65 More

olaser/Getty Images Back-to-school season is in full swing; alongside the Old Navy commercials and backpack sales are a flood of artificial intelligence (AI) learning tools, released just in time for the fall semester.  On Wednesday, education publisher McGraw Hill joined the trend with two generative AI features for students and teachers: AI Reader and Writing […] More

Chris Gilbert / 500px/Getty Images Hong Kong: At Open Source Summit China, Greg Kroah-Hartman, maintainer of the Linux stable kernel, wants you to know that on an average week, the Linux security team issues sixty — 60 — Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) security bulletins. Don’t stress. That’s just life in Linux.  Also: Windows update breaks Linux […] More