Eliana Willis

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If you’ve cut the cord with your cable or satellite provider and moved exclusively to streaming, the TCL QM8 is an excellent option. It uses the Google TV platform to give you a preloaded suite of popular apps, including Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and Disney+, and access to thousands of other apps to turn your TV into the ultimate entertainment hub. Review: TCL QM8The 120Hz refresh rate provides smooth action for sports, high-intensity movies and shows, and gaming. The QLED panel provides bold, bright colors, sharp contrast, and fine details that make everything from the latest blockbusters to 20-year-old cartoons like Teen Titans look their best. With Dolby Vision support, you’ll get enhanced detailing and contrast with upscaled, sub-4K media.I got to do some hands-on testing with the TCL QM8, and the screen looks just as good in person as it does in photos. Colors pop in shows, movies, and games, and both music and dialogue sound clean, crisp, and clear, even at higher volumes.TCL QM8 tech specs: Screen size: 75 inches | Panel type: QLED | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Resolution: 4K | HDR: Dolby Vision | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Voice controls: Alexa, Hey Google More

The 2020 Galaxy Z Fold 2 set the bar for foldable devices that also serve as mini-tablets. The Z Fold 3 improved on that phone with two of the most highly requested features from Fold users (S Pen support and IPX8 water resistance), while the Z Fold 4 improved the rear cameras and form factor of the phone, and the Z Fold 5 upgraded the processor. The Z Fold 6, unveiled at Samsung Unpacked in July, brings the most polished version yet, with flatter edges, a wider internal display, and a lighter weight than its predecessor. It’s also more durable, with a new Dual Rail Hinge design with improved shock distribution, a folding edge for enhanced resistance to pressure and sharp objects, enhanced armor aluminum for scratch resistance, and, for the first time, an IP rating for dust resistance, scoring at IP48.Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6One of the biggest upgrades in the Z Fold 6 is the new Galaxy AI features, including Circle to Search, Note Assist, Interpreter (live translations and transcriptions), PDF overlay (transcribe and overlay copy on a PDF), Sketch to Image (apply generative AI on top of images), and more. These hybrid AI tools — meaning they run on-device and on the cloud — are powered by a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and 12GB of RAM.While the cameras on the Z Fold 6 are the same as the Z Fold 5, you will find new AI image processing and editing tools. The Z Fold 6 is one of the most expensive phones on the market, starting at $1,900. However, Samsung has some good trade-in deals to drop the price down.Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 tech specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Main display: 7.6 inches | Cover display: 6.3 inches | RAM/Storage: 12GB RAM with 256GB/512GB/1TB internal options | Cameras: 12MP ultrawide, 50MP wide angle, 10MP 3x telephoto, 10MP cover screen, 4MP under main display | Battery: 4,400mAh  More

Get a Babbel lifetime language subscription at a big discount right now.  StackSocial Learning a new language can be daunting. But right now, you can buy a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning from Stack Social that lets you choose from 14 languages and access more than 10,000 hours of online language education for just $140 […] More

Screenshot by Nina Raemont/ZDNETApple has been touting the artificial intelligence (AI) features heading to the iPhone (as well as the iPad and Mac) since its WWDC event in June. Known as Apple Intelligence, the technology promises to simplify daily tasks, integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT, help fine-tune your writing, and improve Siri. Unfortunately, Apple users won’t get to enjoy these features when the new OS versions arrive in September.According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company plans to start rolling out Apple Intelligence to users in a software update scheduled for October. Citing “people with knowledge of the matter,” Gurman said that the new AI features will likely arrive with iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, a few weeks after the debut of the latest OS versions.Even now, Apple is preparing developer betas of iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 for launch as soon as this week, according to Gurman. This move is unusual, as the company doesn’t typically release previews of software updates until the initial version has already reached the public.Also: How iOS 18 will impact your iPhone’s battery healthA lot is riding on Apple’s entry into the AI landscape, meaning the company needs to test and get feedback from developers as early as possible, especially amid concerns over the reliability of the new features. With major players like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI firmly entrenched in the world of generative AI, Apple is in the awkward position of playing catchup. The company is counting on Apple Intelligence to prove that it can compete, and Apple users who are tired of Siri’s embarrassing flaws are waiting to see if AI will deliver much-needed improvements to the voice assistant.Apple has been busy with the usual beta versions of its upcoming operating systems. For the iPhone, the company released the public beta of iOS 18 on July 17. Following the first developer beta launched in June, the fourth iteration for developers rolled out last week.These beta versions don’t include the much-anticipated AI features — another reason Apple wants to release the developer beta of iOS 18.1 as soon as possible.Also: Every iPhone model that can be updated to Apple’s iOS 18 (and which ones can’t)The delay in the rollout of Apple Intelligence also means that the iPhone 16 won’t include the AI features when it launches, likely in mid to late September. That’s also unusual as most new iPhones incorporate the latest features.Even when iOS 18.1 lands in October, certain key AI upgrades will be missing. In a June 16 release of his Power On newsletter, Gurman said that some AI features related to Siri will arrive in 2024, but others won’t pop up until the first half of 2025.As for Siri, the updates you can expect this year include a new interface, the ability to understand you if you make a mistake, more natural conversation, and a “Type to Siri” option that lets you type a request instead of speaking it.  More

Jorg Greuel/Getty Images The rise of generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) is colliding with elections all over the world, and consumers are worried. Singapore, Mexico, the US, and the UK are all holding general elections this year — and voters are concerned they will not be able to identify deepfakes. According to a report released by […] More

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Vivobook S 15 More