Information Technology

Google / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETTwo weeks ago, Google and OpenAI touted their models’ award-winning performance at the International Math Olympiad (IMO). Now, Google is making a version of its model available to the public. Also: This one feature could make GPT-5 a true game changer (if OpenAI gets it right)On Friday, Google launched Deep Think in the Gemini app for Google Ultra subscribers, a premium subscription tier that costs $250 per year or $125 for the first three months. Although the model is a variation of the one that achieved the gold-medal standard at IMO, it is faster for everyday tasks. Internal evaluations suggested the model reaches bronze-level on the 2025 IMO benchmark. More

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysSystem performance is key to getting the most out of Linux.There are several command line and GUI tools to make this task easy.Here you’ll learn about htop, glances, Mission Center, and more apps. Linux users are notorious for wanting to know as much information as they can about their systems and how they run. There are even apps and widgets (such as Conky) that can be installed and configured to display such information right on the desktop.Also: 5 lightweight Linux distributions that will bring your old PC back to lifeIf you want to monitor system performance on your Linux desktop, what apps should you use? Well, there are several, but not all of them are created equal. There are GUI apps and command-line apps, each of which has its pros and cons. I’m going to introduce you to the apps I prefer for this task — some GUI, some command-line based. 1. htop For the longest time, top was my tool of choice. Eventually, however, I realized that top could be a bit frustrating to use and didn’t include features like color or mouse interaction. For those features, I turn to htop, which is one of the best command-line–based system monitoring tools for Linux. Also: The Linux tool you forgot about: How Synaptic makes software installation a breezeWith htop, you can kill and filter processes, view processes in a tree view, view memory and CPU usage, sort processes by CPU usage, view tasks, system load averages and even uptime. One very handy feature is the ability to kill processes within the htop interface. You can view the process with a command like htop -p 1234, select the listed process and then press F9 to kill it. The htop tool is free to use and can be installed via your distribution’s standard repositories. More

JuSun/Getty ZDNET’s key takeaways Linux is highly secure, but you should still have a firewall. You should know if your ISP’s hardware (gateway) uses a firewall. One of the easiest Linux firewalls is UFW and its GUI sidekick, GUFW. I’ve been using Linux for nearly 30 years. Over those years, I’ve experienced only one security […] More

Voltme Hypercore 10K power bank <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Voltme’s Hypercore 10K power bank is available on Amazon for $23. It’s very compact and easy to carry, with both USB-C and USB-A ports to charge two devices simultaneously. Its small but chunky, as some might prefer a flatter charger. –> Power banks are a tradeoff: […] More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETZDNET’s key takeaways New iPhones and Apple Watches are inbound.New AirPods Pro and HomeHub hardware are also rumored.Expect pricing tweaks to offset tariff costs.It’s August, and that means we’re now in the home stretch to Apple’s biggest yearly update. New iPhones are weeks away, and it’s likely we’ll see new Apple Watches, and possibly new AirPods Pro and a HomeHub device. Also: The best Apple deals right now: Save on MacBooks, iPhones, and moreFor the savvy buyer, this situation means that there are a lot more items on the “don’t buy” list than usual. But fear not, as this guide will ensure you don’t spend your money on something outdated in a few weeks. Tariffs and trade wars Tariffs still dominate the news. One moment they’re on, next they’re off, then they’re on again with a list of ifs, buts, and exceptions that may or may not stick around. CNET: Tracking tariff prices: See how the new tariffs are hitting these 11 popular productsAccording to Apple’s July 31 earnings call, tariffs have cost the company approximately $800 million for the last quarter, with this figure expected to rise to $1.1 billion for the current quarter. So far, Apple is shouldering that burden.So far. More

TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways This budget Android phone features a large, paper-like display, 128GB of storage, and more. It has a feature set that promotes minimalism and digital wellbeing. I just wish the camera system and general performance were better. –> Looking at smartphones all day can be exhausting on […] More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETCosts are steadily rising in the US, and energy costs are a prominent example. This is made worse by summer temperatures being at record highs, with heat waves wreaking havoc across various states in the past few weeks. As someone who’s gone through a few of these this summer alone, I’m constantly looking for ways to conserve energy.There are many little things you can do that can shave dollars off your monthly energy bill, and they go beyond switching off the lights when you leave the room. Did you know you can save 3% on cooling costs for every 1°F increase in your thermostat? As a fan of data, I’ve looked into multiple quantifiable ways to save energy and how these translate into saving money. Also: Apple’s tariff costs and iPhone sales are soaring – how long until device prices are too?Unplugging a single device when not in use isn’t going to save you a bucket of cash. But unplugging multiple devices adds up quickly to help you save, especially when you make a habit of it. Here are the devices you should unplug when they’re not in use, and how doing so could save you almost $200 a year, depending on your local rates.1. TVs, gaming consoles, and office devices More

Fender Rockster Cross <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Fender x Teufel Rockster Cross speaker is available now on Amazon for $250 (currently $200). With massive sound and an immersive option to punch up the highs and lows, this speaker is a brilliant option for those who love it loud. The Rockster Cross immersive option might […] More