Eliana Willis

Maria Diaz/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Narwal Freo Z Ultra will be available for purchase on October 8 for $1,500. However, early bird benefits and discounts can now be accessed on the company’s website.Narwal’s new flagship robot vacuum and mop has a self-cleaning function, baseboard cleaning, AI-enabled obstacle avoidance, a quiet performance, and even a pet-friendly mode.While it performs very well at cleaning and reaching corners, its roller brush often gets stuck on objects around the floor, demonstrating a lack of obstacle-avoidance features.Narwal just announced the Freo Z Ultra during IFA 2024. This is the company’s new flagship robot vacuum and mop, with a large dock that encloses a self-cleaning system and the strongest suction power Narwal has ever made. The Narwal Freo Z Ultra features a 12,000Pa suction power, which works great on hard floors and carpets, yet it’s pretty quiet compared to other robot vacuums. I’ve tested many robot vacuums, and this is one of the quietest I’ve ever tried. It moves swiftly across my floors and is so quiet while running in Normal suction that I sometimes don’t even hear it and forget it’s cleaning, which is a big plus. Also: Shark’s new vacuums promise the most hands-free cleaning experience yetOne of my favorite things is to test robot vacuums and watch them explore my house in search of unnoticed dust bunnies burrowing under furniture and lurking in corners. However, many robot vacuums don’t effectively reach into corners and edges, as their side brush often kicks debris around rather than directs it toward the vacuum’s nozzle. The new Narwal Freo Z Ultra impressed me with its thoroughness in every corner of my home. More

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysDell’s 2024 Inspiron 14 2-in-1 More

David Gewirtz/ZDNETIt’s hard to believe I’ve had my M1 Max Mac Studio for almost two years. I still think of it as my new machine, because it’s the most recent machine I’ve bought. At the time, it was ideal for my workload.Also: I bought a Mac Studio: Here are the specs I chose and whyI ordered the M1 Max version instead of the M1 Ultra version, saving me $2,000. Here’s what I said back in 2022: “I did think about buying the M1 Ultra model simply to future-proof the machine for a few more years. But I would have spent so much more that, from a pure cost perspective, it will probably make more sense to upgrade again in a few years and save the $2,000 now.”And yeah, we’re now at the “few more years” stage — and I’m thinking of upgrading. More

Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images Welcome to ZDNET’s Innovation Index, which identifies the most innovative developments in tech from the past week and ranks the top four, based on votes from our panel of editors and experts. Our mission is to help you identify the trends that will have the biggest impact on the future.  For once, a […] More

amgun/Getty Images In the rapidly evolving landscape of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI’s GPT-4, Google’s Gemma, Meta’s LLaMA 3.1, Mistral.AI, Falcon, and other AI tools are becoming indispensable business assets.  Also: Make room for RAG: How Gen AI’s balance of power is shifting One of the most promising […] More

Qualcomm showcased its reference AR glasses, made by Goertek, at Mobile World Congress 2024. Kerry Wan/ZDNETWe’ve only heard murmurs about Qualcomm, Samsung, and Google’s joint project since the three first made things official early last year. What once started as an XR headset competitor to Apple’s then-unofficial Vision Pro was met with internal disagreements that led to reset after reset after reset. Recently, in an interview with CNBC, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon cleared the air and painted a more vivid picture. And it’s not exactly what most people imagined.Also: I saw the future of AI at Qualcomm’s headquarters, and Copilot+ PCs were only just the beginningInstead of an XR headset that would be self-powered or tethered to a battery pack, the chip maker is partnering with Samsung and Google to develop a pair of mixed-reality smart glasses. Most importantly, the wearable will be linked to a smartphone, offloading much of a traditional headset’s weight, processing, and battery needs onto a device we’re already used to carrying around. More

Jada Jones/ZDNETCredible reports assert that Apple has two new versions of AirPods in its back pocket, ready to launch during its annual hardware event on Monday, Sept. 9. Rumors also swirl that Apple will announce the second generation of its over-ear headphones, AirPods Max, during the same hardware event. The annual event is when the company unveils the latest iPhones, iPads, Macs, and AirPods.Also: What to expect from Apple’s iPhone 16 ‘It’s Glowtime’ event, and how to watch the livestreamApple’s current AirPods lineup consists of one premium over-ear option, one premium in-ear version, and two base model options with minimal upgraded features. Reports say that Apple’s new earbuds will replace the second and third-generation base model AirPods. Here are the features I’d like to see in the upcoming releases.1. Angled tips onlyThe AirPods Pro and third-generation AirPods sport angled ear tips, compared to the second-generation AirPods with straight ear tips. Angled ear tips enhance audio clarity, promote a more comfortable fit, and provide a better seal between the earbuds and the ear canal for improved noise isolation.Also: I used my iPhone 15 Pro without a case for a year. Here’s how it looks todayI want Apple to retire the second-generation AirPods’ design altogether or at least reserve it only for wired EarPods. The design can be uncomfortable and cheap-feeling, leaving customers asking why they’re paying $129 for glorified EarPods More

The Aventho 300 headphones in Black and White. Beyerdynamic/ZDNETPopular consumer audio brand Beyerdynamic announced new flagship headphones and true wireless earbuds during IFA 2024 in Berlin, Germany. On Thursday, the German audio brand debuted the Aventho 300 over-ear headphones and the Amiron 300 true wireless earbuds.  The new flagship headphones offer listeners modern features and upgrades. According to Beyerdynamic, the Aventho 300 headphones prioritize comfort with their high-grade swivel, aluminum yokes, and ergonomic design. According to a press release, the headphones are built with all-day comfort in mind, and the brand’s Stellar.45 drivers are embedded into the headset for a rich sound experience. The Aventho 300 are compatible with a host of audio codecs, like AAC, LE Audio, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless. Also: The new Soundcore Space One Pro are smaller and mightier in all the right waysThe Aventho 300 offer up to 50 hours of battery life, noise-canceling and transparency modes powered by dual Sony chipsets, and spatial audio with Dolby Head Tracking technology, an increasingly popular audio feature for premium headphones. Beyerdynamic’s new over-ear headphones are equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, which promises more stable connections and higher-quality audio playback.Beyerdynamic’s new true wireless earbuds, the Amiron 300, also include several advanced features within a light and wireless package. According to Beyerdynamic, the Amiron 300 earbuds are designed with a flat back, so you can listen to them while lying on your side with no discomfort. The company says the Amiron 300 prioritizes “deep bass, precise mids, and crystal-clear highs.”  More