Information Technology

Max Buondonno/ZDNETWhen I got my first Apple Watch (a Series 2) back in 2017, I didn’t care much about its ability to display notifications. In my mind back then, notifications were for my iPhone, and that was that. Fast forward to 2024, and I’m on my third Apple Watch, a Series 9. I am all about the notifications. In fact, the Watch’s notification capability is one of the features I find most important. That’s because I can get Slacked no matter where I am or what I’m doing. Also: Slack now offers four iPhone widgets – here’s how you can use themIt’s very important to me to be able to stay in touch with my team, but I don’t necessarily like to carry my phone everywhere or stay tethered to my computer. With the Apple Watch and its notification feature, I can work in the workshop without having to carry my phone. I can be in the necessary. I can be out with the dog. I can be cooking. I can be curled up under the blankies in bed. That may seem excessive, but it’s actually freeing. If I want a quiet spell, I can turn on Do Not Disturb. If I want to go on with my life, and stay connected when I have to, having my Watch means I don’t have to lug my phone or even think about how I’m going to be reached. If I have my watch, I’m good. More

If you’re looking for the ultimate combo of style and function — the Casely Power Pod battery pack is for you.  This battery pack uses MagSafe technology to snap onto the back of your iPhone or other device. It will also attach to and charge through any case that is MagSafe compatible or any case that is wireless charging compatible, and Casely even includes an adhesive magnetic ring that attaches to any non-MagSafe case or device, which will turn it into a MagSafe-compatible accessory. It offers 5,000 mAh of battery capacity and a max wireless output of 15W that can be used three ways: as a MagSafe battery pack, as a Qi charging pad for things like wireless earbuds, or as a traditional battery pack with a USB-C cord. When I tested the Power Pod last month, I couldn’t get enough of it. After starting with a fully charged Power Pod, my iPhone 14 Pro went from 47% to 83% after an hour of MagSafe charging, and I still had 50% charge left in the Power Pod. The magnetic grip is plenty strong, too, and the on/off button on the front of the pack makes it super easy to find and use.  Also: Finally, a MagSafe battery pack that doesn’t look like a brick (and it charges fast, too)But the Power Pod’s crown jewel isn’t any of the above features. Instead, unlike its brick-esque competitors, the Power Pod features a clean, curved, ergonomic design available in 50 different colors, patterns, and prints. It also has a smaller overall footprint compared to other MagSafe battery packs I’ve tested, making it easy to toss into a going-out purse or small bag. After all, why should your battery pack have to look boring? Current Power Pod reviewers on Casely’s website like the endless designs and seamless compatibility (both physically and aesthetically) with their phone cases and the easy, reliable power boost the pack offers. This battery pack certainly isn’t going to give your phone the biggest power boost out of the options on this list, but you’ll definitely get the most compliments and the best aesthetic appeal. Author’s Note: At the time of publication, Casely is offering a BOGO on their power pods, as well as 25% off sitewide with promo code LUNCHBOX. Casely Power Pod MagSafe battery specs: Capacity: 5,000mAh | Charging Port: USB-C | Power button: Yes  More

When your car battery dies, traditional jumper cables are a great solution to boost it, assuming you can call roadside assistance or find a kind person who can help you. However, relying on them isn’t always practical for maintaining or repairing your vehicle, especially if you find yourself stuck on the side of the road with no one around. Fortunately, many manufacturers now offer portable jump starters. These are essentially portable power banks, storing energy to boost your vehicle’s battery in an emergency without the need for another car’s help. Many feature lightweight and compact designs that are perfect for keeping in your car, while others are big and bulky, with more robust features like built-in air compressors, USB charging, and even wall-style AC outlets. Also: The best dash camsWhat is the best portable jump starter right now?To help you find the best portable jump starter for your car, I’ve researched and compared different models for peak amps, size, weight, price, and additional features like flashlights and air compressors. My top pick for best portable jump starter is the Everstart Maxx 1200A More

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Onyx Boox Page More

Jonathan Kitchen/Getty Images A popular strategy for engaging with generative AI chatbots is to start with a well-crafted prompt. In fact, prompt engineering is an emerging skill for those pursuing career advancement in this age of artificial intelligence. However, there is an alternative. For developers who have a budget to spend on the development of […] More

Finding the right earbuds to work out in is challenging, especially if you sweat a lot. Bone conduction headphones might be the perfect solution. By wrapping around your head and sitting near instead of entirely in your ear, the Shokz OpenRun Pros transmit sound through the bone architecture, allowing your ears to breathe. This is great for anybody who exercises for a long time, like people training for a half marathon or cyclists going on hours-long bike rides. The headphones deliver a 10-hour battery life, and according to Jack Wallen’s testing, he’s gotten close to a week’s worth of running without needing to charge. In addition to the long-lasting battery, Wallen was also impressed with their sweatproof capabilities, especially given his track record of ruining running earbuds and their quality sound performance. Review: Shokz OpenRun Pro”The OpenRun Pro sound offers more bass than you’d expect for a pair of bone-conducting headphones, and the fit is so minimal that you forget they’re on your head,” says Wallen. Finally, another ‘pro’ of bone-conducting headphones is the ability to hear your surroundings. This is especially important for outdoor runners who should be constantly aware of their surroundings, and Wallen assured that the OpenRun Pros helped him “avoid disaster.” Bone conduction headphones aren’t for everyone, but if you love exercising outdoors, rain or shine, want environmental awareness, decent sound for your music and podcasts, and a long battery life, the OpenRun Pro headphones are the platonic ideal of a workout headphone. Shokz OpenRun Pro specs: Weight: 1.02 ounces | Battery life: 10 hours | Bluetooth version: 5.1 | Waterproof: IP55 | Noise cancellation: Dual noise cancellation More

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysDell’s Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 More

Jack Wallen/ZDNETI’ve been using Linux for decades and even though the GUIs have all become good enough that I could go without ever running another command, I still often depend on the terminal and CLI (Command Line Interface) when I want to get things done quickly.Not everyone is as familiar with the command line, though, and some find it overwhelming.Also: The first 5 Linux commands every new user should learnIt doesn’t have to be so, as there are new applications that make learning and doing at the same time possible…thanks to AI. One such app is called AI Shell. Now, before we get into this application, know that it depends on OpenAI and, as such, it’s not free. To use this app you must have an OpenAI account with sufficient credits. If using a paid service isn’t up your alley, you can always turn to an app like Warp. If, however, you already have an OpenAI account, AI Shell is a great option because it works with any terminal app you might want to use (so you’re not locked into using one specific terminal).So, if you like the idea of a terminal app that can teach you how to use Linux commands, AI Shell might be what you’re looking for.The only other caveat is AI Shell is a bit tricky to install for new users. That’s fine because I’m here to show you how.How to install AI ShellWhat you’ll need: The only things you’ll need for this are a running instance of Linux, a user with sudo privileges, and an OpenAI API key. I’ll demonstrate this on Linux Mint, so if you’re using a different distribution, you might have to modify the installation process. More