Information Technology

Samsung’s Running Coach on the left, and Apple’s Workout Buddy on the right. Nina Raemont/ZDNETApple just released its latest Apple Watch software, the public beta for WatchOS 26, and one feature I was eager to try is finally available. Workout Buddy is an AI-powered feature that offers spoken encouragement, stats, and a host of metrics on the Apple Watch, and works in conjunction with Apple-owned earbuds like AirPods or Beats. It delivers sporadic bits of data, tries to motivate you, and announces when you’ve closed your Rings during your workout. Within 12 hours of installing the new software, I jumped at the chance to go on a morning run with it.   Also: The best smartwatches 2025: I wore these for weeks and found the perfect one for your wristBut Apple isn’t alone with this kind of feature. Samsung launched Running Coach, a similar AI-powered feature with the Galaxy Watch 8, its flagship smartwatch that launched earlier this summer. While they’re actually rather different in functionality, Running Coach and Workout Buddy share some similarities: they are both AI-powered, they guide you through your workout with stats, and they announce your fitness data back to you. I wore both watches on my morning run this morning to see which I preferred and which fitness companion worked better. Here’s what I found. What sets Samsung’s Running Coach apart More

Jmgo N1S Ultimate 4K Projector <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Jmgo’s N1S Ultimate 4K projector is typically sold for $2,899 at Amazon. It features astounding color and brightness, and is particularly portable. The case won’t win any durability awards, and it needs a soundbar to really sound cinematic. more buying choices For a limited time, the […] More

Bose SoundLink Max <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Bose SoundLink Max retails for $399 in the colors Black and Blue Dusk This unassuming Bluetooth speaker delivers the high-quality sound that Bose is known for, with the battery life to keep the party going all night. The regular price might be a turn-off, given you can […] More

Carles Navarro Parcerisas/Getty Images The next time you travel through an airport, you should probably be a little leery of using the public Wi-Fi or USB charging ports, according to the TSA. In a reminder posted on Facebook, the TSA warns that while these freebies are designed to be useful, they can actually be dangerous […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETLenovo’s rollable laptop turned heads when it debuted at CES two years ago, and now, it’s finally available to consumers on Lenovo’s website. The 14‑inch ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable More

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is available now for $999 for the 32GB of RAM configuration. It pairs a myriad of customizable features with a nice display, surprisingly beefy speakers, and a marathon battery. A few physical design choices might be of concern […] More

Boox Note Max <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Boox Note Max comes bundled with the pen and case for $649. It’s thin and light, has a high-contrast display, and has a long list of features that make it a very versatile device. Theres no backlight, it’s monochromatic, and there’s a bit of a learning curve […] More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETApple finally launched the iOS 26 public beta, and with that comes a slew of new AI features you can try out today — and their usefulness may surprise you. While the new features may not be as flashy as the promised Siri 2.0 update, which has yet to be released, many address issues Apple users have long had with their devices or in their everyday workflows, while others are downright fun. For example, don’t you like waiting for customer service calls? Want your song transitions in Apple Music to sound better? Are you envious of Android’s Circle to Search? The new features address all of these points. Also: Apple’s iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 public betas are here: How to access and why you’ll want toI gathered the AI features announced and ranked them according to what I’m most excited to use and what people on the web have been buzzing about. 1. Visual Intelligence More