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The JBL Tour Pro 2’s innovative touchscreen case is so user-friendly and ahead of its time that even Apple is (reportedly) taking notes. Pause or play, reduce or increase the volume, switch from noise-canceling to ambient aware to talk-through mode, accept or reject calls, or even locate that missing left earbud, all through the touchscreen case. The first time I wore these earbuds during my morning commute to work, I was surprised while waiting at the subway platform when I looked up from my phone to find the subway had shown up — I barely heard its arrival. Needless to say: the noise cancelling on the Tour Pro 2s is legit, and the buds deliver clean and crisp sound. Review: Forget AirPods: These wireless earbuds offer clever features that Apple doesn’tWhile exercising with the Tour Pro 2s, I could lightly touch the right earbud to pause or play music and switch between noise canceling (ideal for deep concentration, but not-so-ideal for jogging outside) to ambient aware (great for environmental awareness) with ease. The buds stay in your ears while you’re on the go but get a little slippery as you begin to sweat with them (which you can do without any worry of water damage since the earbuds have a water-resistant IPX5 rating). The call and microphone quality isn’t as good as other high end earbuds, like Apple’s, but the Tour Pro 2s are a little less expensive than other noise-canceling earbud options on this list, and they offer a slate of features that some of the more popular tech brands, like Apple, simply don’t have yet. One Reddit reviewer said that the noise cancellation is great — “maybe better than I remember my [first generation] AirPods Pros ever being.” Though many reviewers, myself included, say that the transparency mode could be improved. JBL Tour Pro 2 tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: 8 hours with ANC on and 10 hours with ANC off | Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof rating: IPX5 More

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers more exclusive features than any other Apple Watch model. The most notable and useful difference between the Ultra and the other Apple Watch models is the larger, brighter, flatter screen that’s covered by a sapphire crystal face and surrounded by a titanium case to considerably increase the amount of wear and tear it can handle. It’s also IPX6 dust resistant, works underwater up to 100 meters (328 feet), and has military grade (MIL-STD 810H) certification for ruggedness. Plus, the Ultra 2 can handle high altitudes, shocks, vibrations, and temperatures as low as 4 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 130 degrees Fahrenheit.Review: I spent a week with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and here’s what stood out the mostZDNET contributing writer Matthew Miller also tried out the Apple Watch Ultra 2 when it was released last year, and said he enjoyed the watch “for its long battery life, brighter display, expanded connectivity, and new watch bands” while also being impressed by the improved mental health functionality via the Mindfulness app.The Ultra 2 adds more exclusive features as well, including a programmable Action Button with a variety of workout and adventuring functions (it can also simply activate the flashlight), dual-frequency GPS that can overcome interference from mountains and skyscrapers, and dual integrated speakers that are much louder for taking phone calls, playing music, or interacting with Siri. Many Amazon reviewers who have bought this watch say that it’s the best Apple Watch model they have ever used, calling out the watch’s quality and large 49mm screen with 3,000 nits of brightness in particular. Beyond that, the Ultra offers one key addition to the Apple Watch Series 9 lineup: an emergency siren (activated by holding down the Action Button), which belts out an 86-decibel sound pattern that can be heard up to 600 feet (180 meters) away. This can help if you get lost or take a fall on a hike, to ward off wild animals, or to scare off attackers.Apple Watch Ultra 2 tech specs: Display Size: 49mm | Battery life: Up to 72 hours | Storage capacity: 64GB | Features: Sturdy titanium case and sapphire crystal face, enhanced safety features including a built-in siren, dual-frequency GPS, works up to 100 meters underwater More

Amazon’s fire tablets–specifically the Fire HD 8 and HD 8 Plus–are among the most affordable tablets you’ll find, and the Fire HD 8 Plus is the cheapest tablet on our list at $120. The company redesigned the formerly square and hard-edged tablets, adding a more round design that looks and feels fantastic. What’s the difference? The HD 8 comes with 2GB of memory, while the HD 8 Plus comes with the same features as well as 3GB of memory, wireless charging support, and a faster-wired charger in the box. Amazon customers praise this affordable tablet for its image quality, mentioning that the display is very crisp, and that the charger is snappy and quick.Review: Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus (2022) review: Primed for Amazon superfansWan also reviewed the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus, and said that “for $120, you really can’t complain about the performance of the Fire HD 8 Plus.” He recommends the tablet for casual browsing, mobile entertainment, or even for a child.The Fire HD 8 runs Amazon’s Fire OS. This means it runs Android apps, but you’re limited to apps that are available in Amazon’s own Appstore. Like with most tablets in this price range, performance can be sluggish at times, but you’ll have no issues shopping, browsing Facebook, or checking your email on the Fire HD 8 Plus. And, the battery life of 13 hours means you can go longer without having to charge the tablet.Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tech specs: Display: 8-inch, 1280×800 display | Processor: Quad-core 2.0GHz | Storage: 32GB or 64GB | Memory: 3GB | Colors: Black | Cameras: 2MP front and rear | Weight: 0.78 pounds | Dimensions: 8.0 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C | Battery: 13 hours More

screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETGathering and managing research for any type of project can be a daunting task as you have to try to organize the different kinds of information you collect. One tool that aims to ease the process is Google’s NotebookLM. Using AI, NotebookLM will collate the various sources of information you add, summarize the key details, and even answer any questions you ask about the research you’ve gathered.Also: Have 10 hours? IBM will train you in AI fundamentals – for freeAvailable to anyone through Google’s experimental Labs service, NotebookLM acts as part note taker, part collaborator, part data collector, and part librarian. The tool works by prompting you to create a virtual notebook designed to hold all the text, documents, and other research that you compose or collect. The goal is to provide easy access to all of the information you need as you write your paper, conduct your research, or develop your project.For now, NotebookLM is available only in the US for people 18 and over. Here’s how it works.How to use NotebookLM More

Adam Breeden/ZDNETIn the age of smart TVs, convenience reigns supreme. We can access a world of entertainment with just a few clicks, but this comes at a cost: accumulating cache data. Just like on your phone or computer, a cluttered TV cache can lead to sluggish performance, app crashes, and even hinder new content from loading properly.Also: Don’t buy the wrong TV on Prime Day: 4 things I consider when shopping dealsWhat is a cache?A cache (in any digital device) is a temporary storage area where data is kept for quick access. In your smart TV, the cache stores information from apps, websites, and system processes to help them load faster every time you turn it on. Think of it as a bunch of temporary files intended to speed up loading times for frequently accessed information. For instance, when you open a streaming app, the cache might store thumbnails, login details, or recently watched shows. Caches are designed to help your TV load this content more quickly. But over time, the cache can become overloaded with outdated or unnecessary data, which can consequently slow down your TV’s performance. More

Don’t miss this Sam’s Club membership to save big on everything from groceries to electronics. Sam’s Club/ZDNETA Sam’s Club membership will get you discounts on groceries, clothing, electronics, and just about everything else you might need. And right now, StackSocial is offering a deal that will get you a Sam’s Club membership for $25 for the year with auto-renew — down from the usual price of $50. This deal ends after this weekend.Your Sam’s Club membership will work at nearly 600 US Sam’s Club locations. This deal is only open to new Sam’s Club members in the US, or those whose membership lapsed more than six months ago. The membership will expire one year from the activation date, and will automatically renew at the full price of $50 per year after that unless you cancel it. To cancel, you can visit SamsClub.com or a club or call 1-888-746-7726. To take advantage of this deal, you’ll redeem your unique code through the link above, and then sign up for the membership. Once you purchase your code, you must redeem it within 30 days. The limit is one membership per person, but you can buy an additional membership as a gift.I signed up for a similar deal for a Costco membership through StackSocial, and can confirm the process was easy, and I’d vouch for the deal. Don’t miss out on 50% off a Sam’s Club membership right now. Also: The best TV deals right now More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETChatGPT is the generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool that’s taken the world by storm. While there’s always the possibility it will simply make stuff up, there’s a lot you can do when crafting prompts to ensure the best possible outcome. That’s what we’ll be exploring in this how-to.In this article, we’ll show you how to write prompts that encourage the large language model (LLM) that powers ChatGPT to provide the best possible answers. Also: I’ve tested dozens of AI chatbots since ChatGPT’s debut. Here’s my new top pickWriting effective prompts, known as prompt engineering, has even become a highly-paid discipline. Who knows? These tips could help you build the skills to become a prompt engineer. Apparently, these gigs can pay from $175,000 to $335,000 per year.  How to write effective ChatGPT prompts More

Sony Bravia X90L TV Jason Hiner/ZDNETThe Sony Bravia X90L More