Eliana Willis

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETSamsung’s Ballie might soon be the smartest thing rolling around your living room. The tech giant announced today that it’s partnering with Google to bring Google Cloud’s generative AI technology to its Ballie AI companion home robot.Also: The top 20 AI tools of 2025 – and the #1 thing to remember when you use themIf you’re not familiar, Ballie first rolled out at CES 2020. It’s like a souped-up Alexa on wheels — a small robot about the size of a basketball that rolls around your home. As it moves, Ballie can manage lights and temperature, interact with smart appliances, send video updates of pets or loved ones, project videos or websites on the wall, play music, answer phone calls, and more. [embedded content]ZDNET’s Senior Editor Sabrina Ortiz got an up-close look at Ballie last year, calling it “a serious attempt at making a robot assistant without being overly ambitious.” She said Ballie can essentially replace several pieces of smart equipment from your home, including a projector, a robot dog, a home security camera, a smart home hub, and more.Also: The best Android phones you can buy: Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and moreThe injection of Google AI means Ballie can engage in conversation, personalize your schedule, intelligently manage smart home devices, set reminders, and even greet you at your door. Samsung Electronics Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business, Yongjae Kim, said this partnership would allow Ballie to move with you, anticipate your needs, and interact dynamically.  More

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETI’m not a smartwatch person, and I gave up on them three years ago for one simple reason: I didn’t want unsolicited notifications on my wrist. Over the years, I’ve only worn a smartwatch to review it or check out new features. However, I returned to the Apple Watch with its latest iteration — Series 10, in Jet Black — two months ago, and I don’t mind having it on my wrist daily anymore. Also: Apple Watch Series 10 vs Apple Watch Series 9: Should you upgrade to the latest model?It turns out Apple has resolved most of my Apple Watch annoyances, both hardware and software, over the years. Plus, three years changed a lot of things in life, and tracking health data outweighs the inconvenience of unsolicited notifications (which can be turned off) now. Sure, I can choose one of the more affordable options, but I trust the Apple Watch more for its track record of saving lives through irregular heartbeats, and alerts that matter. Just to be clear, I’m not using it as a medical device substitute. Instead, it’s a nice-to-have, but also a reliable companion for health tracking. Also: 3 Apple devices you definitely shouldn’t buy this month (and 10 to get instead)After wearing the Apple Watch Series 10 More

Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images This year is not like last year. Yes, I know. Anyone who follows the news or buys eggs knows that this year is different. But I’m not talking globally. Instead, I’m talking about Google and its Gemini Code Assist announcements at the Google Next get-together. Last year, I discussed Google […] More

Withings/ZDNETHealth tech provider Withings recently launched its FDA-cleared BPM Vision. The device, which costs $150 on Withings’ website More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Asus ProArt P16 is available now, starting at $1,900. It pairs powerful hardware with a suite of customizable options designed for creatives. The deep personalization requires engagement from the user, the huge trackpad won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, and the ultra-glossy display tends to glare. more buying choices Asus’ […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The OnePlus Pad 2 is the company’s latest Android tablet with a premium design and flagship specs for $550. It’s compatible with a keyboard and pen that OnePlus sells separately, so you can turn it into an Android-powered laptop. While the multitasking features are excellent, and the Pad 2 checks all […] More

Matthew Miller/ZDNETThe Pixel Watch 3 is getting a first-of-its-kind, potentially life-saving feature, and users will see it starting on Tuesday. The FDA-cleared Loss of Pulse Detection feature works by tracking your heartbeat. If your heart stops beating — due to cardiac arrest, respiratory or circulatory failure, overdose, or poisoning — your watch will automatically turn on more accurate infrared LEDs and look for motion data. To use the feature, watch users must manually opt-in to the feature through the Google Pixel Watch App, then select Safety and Emergency and hit Loss of Pulse Detection to enable. Also: My new favorite Android smartwatch outperforms Google and Samsung in a crucial wayIf the watch determines you’re not responsive, it will start a countdown and audio alarm. If you still don’t respond, the watch will place a call to emergency services using your LTE or phone connection, inform them that you don’t have a pulse, and share your location. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways What the Sony Bravia X90L lacks in eye-popping specs, it more than makes up for in real-world picture performance and Sony upscaling technology, which delivers great video for movies, sports, cable, and streaming. Regarding the features you’ll love for daily use, the X90L has an excellent remote that feels premium, is […] More