<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Formovie Cinema Edge 4K UST projector is available now for $1,799 at Amazon. It has a sturdy construction and sleek design. It’s great for cinematic viewing, although it could greatly benefit from having a dedicated sound system. –> The first ultra short-throw (UST) projectors hit the mainstream market in the […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Soundpeats PearlClip Pro earbuds are available now on Amazon for $59. The PearlClip Pro earbuds offer high-quality sound and a design that holds to your ear, no matter how active you are. The controls of the PearlClip Pro earbuds take some getting used to. –> As a runner and a […] More
Nintendo Nintendo has officially confirmed the highly anticipated Switch 2, and we’ll get our first look in a matter of hours. We don’t know many specifics about the successor to the company’s popular handheld console, but a two-minute first-look trailer on YouTube shows off quite a bit. Here’s what we know so far. What’s new with the […] More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETGoogle is purposefully limiting the battery life of its new Pixel 9a phone, set to debut in about a week — and that’s not a bad thing.Also: I replaced my Pixel 9 Pro with a $379 Android phone while traveling – and didn’t mind itAll lithium-ion batteries degrade over time, eventually to the point that they need to be replaced. A recently updated Google Pixel support page details a new feature called battery health assistance that is designed to help your battery last as long as possible by limiting its maximum voltage.Software update”Your Pixel 9a will receive a software update that automatically helps manage the long-term health and performance of its battery as it ages,” Google explains. The software will start adjusting the battery’s voltage after 200 cycles and continue until 1,000 cycles. Also: Google’s latest Pixel phone is so close to being my perfect budget phone – here’s whyBattery health assistance will also tune your phone’s charging speed based on its new capacity, and you may eventually notice a change in your battery’s charging performance. More
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan Intel On Monday, chip giant Intel’s new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan — who took over from outgoing CEO Pat Gelsinger only 15 days earlier — laid out in broad terms his strategy to return the company to greatness. Speaking at Intel Vision, the company’s annual event for customers and partners in Las Vegas, Tan […] More
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETHave you ever run into trouble trying to boot up your Windows PC? Boot-up errors are among the most challenging to troubleshoot and fix. Now, Microsoft is launching a new tool that will step in when your computer refuses to boot properly.Also: Microsoft just blocked this popular Windows 11 local account trick – but workarounds remainKnown as Quick Machine Recovery, or QMR, this feature is ready for testing in the latest Windows 11 Insider build. Though Microsoft touts it as a tool for IT administrators, it is also available for home use, where it is turned on by default. How it worksThe Windows Recovery Environment, or WinRE, is a dedicated recovery partition on your computer that attempts to repair boot-up problems. Normally, you might have to trigger WinRE manually, but with QMR, the process is designed to be more automatic. When a critical boot-up problem occurs, your PC will enter WinRE mode, connect to your network, and then send diagnostic data to Microsoft. Based on that data, a specific fix for the issue is sent to your PC via Windows Update. If the fix is successful, your PC should then be able to boot without further trouble. Also: 6 things I always do after setting up Windows 11 – and why you should tooOne key benefit is that the recovery process is designed to run automatically and even remotely. In an organization, IT administrators can send targeted fixes to problematic PCs without requiring physical access. For a home user, the fixes are managed by Microsoft. In either scenario, you do not have to spend time manually diagnosing or trying to resolve the glitch. QMR is part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative that Microsoft announced last November at Ignite 2024. The company is asking IT staffers and other Windows Insiders to start testing the new feature and provide their feedback through the Feedback Hub built into Windows. Insiders should also expect a test remediation package over the next few days, which will let them see how QMR performs. More
OnePlus Nord N30 June Wan/ZDNETMidrange smartphones like the OnePlus Nord N30 are a nice alternative to high-end devices like Samsung’s Galaxy S25. They provide a premium experience without the exorbitant cost. And now, thanks to a new deal, this already affordable phone is even cheaper.Also: These Bluetooth trackers for Android work than AirTags – and they’re on saleTypically, the device costs $300. But by entering the code “SPRING25” at checkout, you shave $70 off the Nord N30’s price tag, making it a cool $230 More
Maria Diaz/ZDNETApple Home is finally compatible with robot vacuums, thanks to multiple upgrades — from Apple, Matter, and robot manufacturers. Apple released iOS 18.4 yesterday, which includes support for robot vacuums via the Home app. Robot vacuum manufacturers, like iRobot and Roborock, have already released their firmware upgrades for their Matter-compatible robots to support Apple Home.Robot vacuum compatibility for Apple Home was delayed for months after being announced last year as a feature coming with iOS 18. With iOS 18.4, however, robot vacuums are finally welcome in Apple Home. The compatibility allows iPhone users to control their robot vacuums via the Home app instead of juggling multiple apps for different devices. Also: This Eufy robot vacuum with a built-in handheld unit is a steal at $200 offIt also makes it easier to run robot vacuums, as you can use voice control and say, “Siri, clean the kitchen,” to have your robot clean up after making dinner. You can also ask Siri to start, stop, and schedule cleaning sessions. Many robot vacuums are already compatible with Amazon Alexa, which lets you use voice control for commands, while a smaller number are compatible with Google Home. But this is the first time Siri and Apple Home are directly compatible (without using Shortcuts). More
