Eliana Willis

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

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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

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Jason Hiner/ZDNETI always find it a tad disconcerting when an article I carefully planned out doesn’t end up anything like the plan. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes an article can take on a life of its own.This was one such article. The assignment was simple. In honor of this week’s quiet VisionOS 2 release, I was to write about my view of the best VisionOS 2 features available now (and what’s delayed). More