<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Tineco Pure One Station 5 vacuum cleaner is available for $459. It’s a powerful cordless vacuum with a self-emptying base station, perfect for pet owners and parents. Some parts can be finicky, like lining up the floor brush on the base station, or its accessories getting stuck and not easily […] More
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETOpenAI is now bringing GPT-4.1 to the Plus, Pro, and Team tiers of ChatGPT. GPT-4.1 was previously available only to API users. Since I’m throwing a whole lot of buzzwords at you, let’s spend a minute deconstructing all these terms.GPT-4.1 is a large language model (LLM). It’s the actual code that is the AI. Think of it as an engine in your car. A more powerful engine might have more vroom, but even a less powerful engine will move the car. Each of the GPT versions refers to AI models with more or less power.ChatGPT is the chat interface. It’s the software that takes in your prompts, sends them to the large language model, and shows you the results. In our analogy, ChatGPT is the car, with GPT-4.1 (or GPT-4o, or GPT-3.5) being the engine.API (or application programming interface) is the way programs communicate with other programs. In the case of GPTs, it’s how programs by many companies can call on an LLM to get results. A very rough analogy is the wiring harness between a car’s dashboard and its engine.OpenAI is the company that makes the GPT and the chatbot. It’s like Ford. Ford makes cars, but it also sells very fast crate engines to other companies, which incorporate those engines into customized vehicles. Likewise, OpenAI makes ChatGPT, but it also licenses its large language models to any developer who wants AI without writing it from scratch.OK, so that should bring you up to speed. Back in April, OpenAI released GPT-4.1 for developers to use via the API. That’s roughly the equivalent of Ford coming out with a new engine but selling it only to mechanics to put in custom cars. Now OpenAI is releasing GPT-4.1 for use in ChatGPT. This is basically like Ford selling the engine to car buyers as an upgrade option when they pick up their new Mustang. Also: I test a lot of AI coding tools, and this stunning new OpenAI release just saved me days of workPlus, Pro, and Team tiers are the for-pay versions of ChatGPT, usually with better features or more usage capabilities than the free version. Sadly, I don’t have a really good car analogy here, except to say that (and this is a stretch) it’s like offering a car feature only to fleet buyers. Understanding GPT versions An easy answer is that GPT-4.1 is the new, better version of GPT that exceeds the performance of the more mainstream GPT-4o. Give me a minute here. It’s time to hurt your brain. Hey, my brain hurts, so I might as well share the joy. There was once GPT-1 and then GPT-2. That made sense. But since then, OpenAI has released GPTs called GPT-3.5, GPT-3.5 Turbo, GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-4o, GPT-4o Mini, o1, o1-mini (with a dash, lower case “m”), o1 pro (no dash), o3-mini, o3-mini-high, GPT-4.5, GPT-4.1 (which is newer than GPT-4.5, because, go figure), o3, o4-mini, o4-mini-high, and, well, isn’t that enough? I mean, seriously, OpenAI. What the living heck-bomb are you thinking? Don’t try to understand where one GPT fits compared to another by its version number. There is some internal method to the madness, but thinking about it will hurt and yield you no useful information. In practice, there are big differences in terms of how much compute power is used and how big a problem they can solve, but those nuances are mostly of concern to programmers who are paying OpenAI based on their usage.Also: The best AI for coding in 2025 (including two new top picks – and what not to use)For chat users, I’ve found it’s just easier to recommend you think of each like a car model name, each with its own characteristics. Today, we’re going to mostly talk about two models, GPT-4o and GPT-4.1. GPT-4o is the fully multimodal (text, images, audio as input and output) version of GPT that has been in mainstream use by paying ChatGPT customers for about a year. Free-tier users are also using GPT-4o but with restrictions (free users can’t ask ChatGPT to generate images, for example). More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Lenovo’s fifth-generation ThinkPad T14s is available now for $2,649. It’s a particularly hardy laptop and boasts solid battery life. However, the Intel chipset delivers puts a cap on high-end performance. more buying choices On Lenovo’s official website, multiple configurations of the ThinkPad T14s Gen 5–> have received significant discounts. The base model now […] More
Maria Diaz/ZDNETIf you’re choosing a VPN, you may come across two strong options in Proton VPN and IPVanish Both VPNs are secure, have reliable connectivity, and offer access to geo-restricted streaming. IPVanish will appeal to beginners and gaming enthusiasts the most. It’s also cheaper for extensive use, though the pricier one-month subscription (without a money-back guarantee) may be a dealbreaker for some.Meanwhile, Proton VPN is the more rounded service of the two, stealing the show with top speeds and robust features to safeguard privacy on desktop and mobile devices. It’s one of our best VPN contenders, offering unrivaled free tier service without bandwidth restrictions. So, when narrowing down on which one you should pick, the answer depends on where or what you intend to use the VPN for.Also: The best VPNs for streamingNote: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s parent company. For more, see our Editorial Guidelines. Specifications Proton VPNIPVanishStarting price$4.49/month (for one-year plan)$3.33/month (for one-year planServers10,000+2,400+Countries117108Dedicated serversStreaming, P2P, Secure CoreDouble HopProtocolsOpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, WireGuard, Stealth (obfuscation)OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, WireGuard, SOCKS 5 proxySecurityAES 256-bit encryption, Perfect Forward Secrecy, Secure Core, kill switch, leak protection, full disk encrypted serversAES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, all in-house serversAd & malware blockYes (NetShield)Yes (Threat Protection)No-logs policyYes (audited)Yes (audited)JurisdictionSwitzerlandUnited States (Five Eyes member)Free / trial / money-back guaranteeFree app, 30-day refund policy30-day refund policy for 1- and 2-year plansSimultaneous connections10UnlimitedCompatible devicesWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chromebook, browsers (Chrome and Firefox), Smart TVs (Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV Stick)Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chromebook, Smart TVs (Apple TV, Fire TV), routers, Apple Vision Pro You should choose Proton VPN if… More
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETApple’s latest entry-level iPhone 16e features Apple Intelligence, an A18 chipset, a new cellular modem, a larger battery capacity, Face ID, and much more. Also: I found an Android phone that can convince iPhone users to make the switch – and it’s not a flagshipThe best part — it is all packaged into a $599 handset, sold for hundreds of dollars less than the base iPhone 16 model More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETWhether you’re considering buying a new TV or your old flat panel seems to be doing fine, there are still ways to optimize your viewing experience, and it all begins with your television’s settings. Let’s explore some of the key factors determining how your TV performs and what you can do to make it look even better.1. Turn down the sharpnessThe sharper the picture, the better. Right? Not necessarily.Contrary to popular belief, the “sharpness” setting on your TV doesn’t affect the actual sharpness of the displayed image. True sharpness is determined by factors such as screen resolution, source material resolution, and contrast. Instead, the sharpness setting alters the artificial edge enhancement — a processor-driven adjustment that can introduce unwanted noise and, ironically, distort details in the image.Also: The default TV setting you should turn off ASAP – and why experts recommend itEdge enhancement is designed to make onscreen objects more distinct by emphasizing the boundaries between them, theoretically creating a more lifelike image. However, this feature acts like a universal Instagram filter, potentially leading to an unnatural appearance in some media. More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways HSFTools’ HF96V thermal camera is available now for $219, with a $50 off coupon on Amazon. It has a broad temperature range and a high level of accuracy with an eight-hour battery life. It has an IP54 rating for dust and water-resistance, but it’s not waterproof. –> Regular readers will know […] More
As stated earlier, I’ve been working from home for the past five years, and I review a lot of tech products, including but not limited to laptops, monitors, smartphones, and PC accessories. One thing I’ve learned in that time is that I’m picky. Even if I like a device, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I will buy one for myself and use it on a regular basis. I have pretty strong opinions on what makes a product worth purchasing. For example, I’ve tried several keyboards before ultimately sticking with the HyperX Alloy Origins.I am a cheap person. I don’t like spending money on random things, especially now when there is a lot of economic uncertainty. So, before I buy something, I always make sure to do my homework. I do my research, check multiple shopping platforms, and consult with other ZDNET experts who know way more than I do.For the main list, I have either tested each product personally or used it for years. I can say with total confidence that these are some of the best tech products I have ever used, and I fully endorse them. Below, I have included a couple of alternative devices. I haven’t used them myself, but they come highly recommended from my fellow colleagues here at ZDNET. More
