Information Technology

91Mobiles / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETWe might be getting new Google smartwatches very soon.Also: The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 is $100 off on Amazon – get it while the deal lastsGoogle recently confirmed its next Made by Google event, the tech giant’s annual hardware launch, typically held in August. Made by Google’s X account confirmed it will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m. ET. What can we expect from the Pixel Watch 4? Google could debut new Pixel phones (including a foldable if the rumors are true), Pixel Buds, and maybe even a Google Pixel Watch 4, if I’m lucky. As ZDNET’s wearables editor, I’m keeping my eye on the Pixel Watch 4 chatter. Also: Google will announce its next lineup of Pixels on August 20 – here’s what we knowWhile Google has kept the details of its next hardware release discreet, a few leaks give hints about what to expect with the fourth-generation smartwatch. I’ve contacted the company for comment and will report back if I get any confirmation. For now, let’s dive into the most exciting and notable features we could see in the Pixel Watch 4. 1. Sizing According to rumors, the Pixel Watch 4 is expected to ship in the same sizes as its predecessor: 41 mm and 45 mm. 2. Same chipset, new processor Another rumor suggests that the Pixel Watch 4 will keep the chipset from the Watch 3, the Snapdragon W5 + Gen 1. However, there are murmurs of a new processor entering the smartwatch: Google’s M55 processor. Also: The best smartwatches 2025: I wore these for weeks and found the perfect one for your wristThis processor should enable the Watch 4 to handle five times the AI power, according to Android Headlines. The Watch 4 is going to need all the AI-processing power it can get, as Gemini arrives on the new smartwatch after debuting on the Galaxy Watch. 3. Thicker watch (but bigger battery) The Pixel Watch 3 is a hefty smartwatch already — and the thickest I’ve worn. It could get even thicker, according to 91mobiles, to make room for a larger battery. The site says the fourth-gen watch has a thickness of 14.3 mm. As someone with a small wrist, this is one unwelcome change I hope won’t come to fruition. The major smartwatch competitors, Samsung and Apple, have gone slimmer with their Galaxy and Apple Watches to make the devices more comfortable to sleep in, exercise in, and wear anywhere. That thinness and levity directly relate to comfort and wearability. Also: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 3: Which Android smartwatch should you buy?However, battery life is a major wearability factor as well, and it’s a draw for some users, so what we may sacrifice in chunkiness we make up for in an extended battery. 4. Breathing emergencies feature According to the folks at Android Headlines, Google will expand its personal safety features with Emergency Satellite Communications and a Breathing Emergencies feature. The SPO2 sensor on the Pixel Watch 4 will monitor blood-oxygen levels and wave the red flag when they’ve gone too low. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Apple’s MacBook Air M4 (13-inch) is on sale at Amazon for $850, a competitive price for Apple’s latest ultraportable. The M4 Air supports up to two external monitors with the lid open, and scales up to 32GB of unified memory. There are still only two USB-C ports on the left side, […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways It can charge four devices simultaneously It features two retractable USB‑C cables that can rotate and swivel It is a bit bulky, so it might not fit in some vehicles. –> Your car probably has a couple of built-in USB ports, so you’d think that the days of the dedicated car […] More

BlackJack3D/Getty The hair dryer routinely trips the breaker and kills power to the second floor. The kitchen lights dim when you run the microwave. The air conditioner can only cool one room at a time on a sweltering night.  You don’t have adequate power in your house to support your daily needs; we’ve all been […] More

GIGABYTE ZDNET BrandX for GIGABYTE For the modern on-the-go professional, there are two non-negotiables when it comes to laptops: It has to be light, and it has to be powerful. Until recently, these two demands were in conflict. The lighter a laptop was, the less likely that it could make it through a long remote […] More

Adam Breeden/ZDNETLast year, I was emphatic that my time with Pixel phones was over because Google had announced it was planning to inject even more AI “goodness” into Android. I saw that as an opportunity to jump ship.My goal was to buy the Nothing Phone 3. Then, as fate would have it, Nothing CEO Carl Pei announced that his company was going all-in on AI, and the next Nothing Phone would leverage the technology in ways no other device had.Foiled again.Also: This hidden Pixel camera setting makes my photos absolutely pop – here’s howShortly after, I looked into the Pixel 9 Pro series More

The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) pictured with the Spigen Crystal Liquid Pro Apple Watch band.  Kayla Solino/ZDNETApple’s popular watch devices are available in several models, and the Watch SE (2nd Gen) is still the latest base model watch to hit the market. Despite Apple unveiling the Watch Series 10 in September 2024, the SE did not get an upgrade as originally rumored. While it’s not packed with all the Series 9 or 10 features, it offers great value for those looking to track basic health and fitness metrics, keep in contact with ease, and benefit from connection to the Apple ecosystem.  Also: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the premium smartwatch I prefer – here’s whyI own the Watch SE (2nd Gen), and it’s been the perfect smartwatch companion to my mostly low-key tech lifestyle. It’s proven great for tracking my workouts, steps, and other health metrics, and it has been a great introduction to sleep tracking. Right now, you can grab my favorite watch model (and Apple’s most up-to-date base model), the Watch SE (2nd Gen) More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETAn iPad can help with success in many areas, such as school, professional work, content creation, and more. With the new school year just around the corner, there’s no better time to scoop up the most recent iPad model from Walmart.Also: Why I like the base iPad more than the Pro and Air – especially at this priceRight now, the 11th-Gen 128GB iPad More