Information Technology

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

The best part of having an e-reader is taking dozens, if not hundreds, of books with you while you travel for work, errands, family gatherings, or vacations. Ayman from @aymansbooks on TikTok is one of BookTok’s most successful accounts, with over 900,000 followers. She creates content and memes about novels and recommends the books she reads on the platform. Ayman told ZDNET that the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is her Kindle of choice. Whether she’s at the DMV, sitting at a cafe, or waiting in a line, she always takes along her Paperwhite Signature Edition and pulls it out when she has a spare second to read. “I love how I can easily highlight and make annotations as I’m reading; it feels just as though I’m reading a physical book,” Ayman said. Review: Kindle Paperwhite Signature EditionThe Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is built with travel in mind. It supports USB-C and Qi wireless charging, so you don’t have to keep a special charging cable for a single device. The internal battery can also last up to 10 weeks on a full charge, allowing you to enjoy your beach reading even if you forget your charging cable.The screen features an anti-glare coating for better visibility in direct lamplight or sunlight and an auto-adjusting backlight to suit dim rooms. With 32GB of internal storage, you can store tens of thousands of titles on the tablet. However, some Reddit owners say extra storage is unnecessary, given how many books the Kindle Paperwhite already holds. The water-resistant tablet is excellent for reading by the pool, on the beach, or anywhere accidental spills may happen. Additionally, it has a screen reader function for blind and visually impaired users and supports Bluetooth headsets for audiobooks.When former ZDNET contributor Jason Cipriani reviewed the Signature Edition, he said: “If you opt to spend a little bit more for the signature edition, you’re gaining some notable features in wireless charging and a light sensor, improving even more on an already reliable experience.” Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition specs: Screen size: 6.8 inches | Storage: 32GB, Amazon Cloud | Battery life: Up to 10 weeks at 30 minutes per day | Lock screen ads: Yes, removable with fee | microSD card support: No More

Bet_Noire/Getty Images Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a factor in education, from ChatGPT’s college-specific large language model (LLM) to new generative AI-powered writing coaches. Apple and Google offer AI training resources for students; Georgia Tech even has an Nvidia AI supercomputer students can use.  However, educators themselves haven’t picked up the tech as quickly […] More

Smart rings are better than smartwatches when it comes to sleep tracking, period. They are easier to wear, less obstructive as you toss and turn in your bed, have longer battery life, and are screenless. All these factors make for a light, inobtrusive wearable that will easily track your sleep. This Horizon ring from Oura is a competitive sleep tracker, with insights into everything from sleep efficiency, restfulness, readiness, latency, and more. I’ve been using the Oura Ring for a while now, and it’s not only given me deeper insight into my sleep but supplements those data points with explanations behind the numbers. Oura claims to accurately track sleep cycles, total sleep time, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and movement. Every morning I get a sleep score for last night’s sleep, can view my heart rate, my sleep efficiency, and my suggested bedtime range for the day. The sleep score helps me understand my energy levels for the day and understand my activity bandwidth, like whether I should exercise or rest.  The lightweight build of the ring makes it a perfect bedtime companion — I barely notice it on my finger as I fall asleep, and I eagerly wake up every morning to check my sleep data and get my score. But it’s not just deep sleep it can track and point out; the Oura Ring can detect the shortest of naps as well and factor those into your sleep score for the day. Plus, the sleep tab on the app offers up information on sleep efficiency, restfulness, REM, deep sleep, latency, and timing, so you can dig deep and go beyond viewing only a sleep score and your time spent in bed. As if there aren’t enough sleep-friendly features through the Oura Ring, Oura also unveiled a body clock feature that teaches you more about your circadian rhythms and body clock. The feature measures my sleep chronotype, calculated by my body temperature, sleep-wake cycle, and physical activity, and through this data gathered that I’m most productive during the late morning Also: The best smart ringsThe battery life is masterful. It charges quickly and stays charged for days on end. The one downside to the ring is the extra $72 you spend on the Oura subscription a year, on top of the $350 you just spent on the ring itself. Best Buy reviewers say the ring has helped them improve and further understand their sleep, and they appreciate the lighter build of the ring compared to smartwatches like the Apple Watch. Redditors also agree that the Oura Ring, as a sleep tracker, is worth it. “If you struggle with sleep quality, overtraining, or anything else that affects recovery, I’d say it’s worth it,” one user wrote in a thread on the topic. One Best Buy reviewer noted, however, that the ring doesn’t offer half sizes, which could be an issue if your fingers swell, because the ring won’t accurately measure your biometric data, so keep that in mind as you shop for a sleep tracker. Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon specs: Up to 7 days battery life | Sleep cycles | Bluetooth | 7.9mm wide, 2.55mm thick | Up to 100m water resistant | Blood oxygen, skin temperature sensor, heart rate monitoring | iOS and Android compatible More

The Samsung QN90D is one of the newest additions to the brand’s lineup, offering plenty of reasons to upgrade. Along with 4K resolution, you’ll get a base refresh rate of 120Hz that can be boosted to 144Hz for PC or console gaming as well as UHD streaming. It also offers virtual 3D surround sound with support for Dolby Atmos and Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound Lite technology for a more immersive experience. You can set up a virtual assistant via Alexa, Samsung’s Bixby, or Hey Google for hands-free controls over your new TV. And console gamers can take advantage of AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR technology to help prevent screen tearing and stuttering that can ruin your game. It also supports Samsung’s Multi View feature, which lets you watch up to 2 additional video sources simultaneously with your game, movie, or show; which is great for fantasy sports leagues, game walkthroughs, and catching up with the news while streaming music or following along with a workout.Samsung QN90D tech specs: Panel type: Neo QLED | HDR: Neo Quantum HDR+ | Audio: Dolby Atmos, Object Tracking Sound Lite | Refresh rate: Up to 144Hz | Voice controls: Alexa, Bixby, Hey Google | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4x HDMI, 2x USB, RF, Optical  More

Amplify your dev work with this deal on Visual Studio Pro 2022 right now.  StackSocial Having in-house development is a massive advantage for many businesses. And having software on hand to help streamline workflows, amplify productivity, and keep projects on track is a must — especially when you can get it at a discount. Right […] More

The Dreame X40 Ultra is hands-down the best two-in-one robot vacuum mop I’ve tested. One of its few downsides is that it’s priced steeply at $1,900, so you’ll need a good chunk of change to get it (or you can wait for a sale).  However, for the price, the Dreame X40 features an industry-leading 12,000Pa of suction and dusts the competition. This robot vacuum and mop is so versatile that you can set it up to drop its mop pads at the base station, go off to vacuum rugs and carpets first, and then return to pick up its mop pads and vacuum and mop the remaining hard floors — all with no intervention on your part.Review: I tested a $1,900 robot vacuum and mop for a month. Here’s why it’s worth itIt features a self-emptying dustbin, self-washing mop pads with customizable water temperature, a side-reaching sweeper brush, and an extendable mop pad to reach tight corners. The app has many settings and customizations, from thorough carpet vacuuming to AI-guided cleaning. The Dreame X40 Ultra is so smart that it can detect wet messes and automatically lift its sweeper brush to keep it from getting wet or spreading germs.Other customers love the Dreame X40 Ultra too; one remarks, “As an everyday person, my carpets are looking like that fresh vacuum look as they definitely look very clean. Had glitter everywhere, now gone. Kitchen floor… I didn’t think to take before and after, but before was a hot mess, now WOW.”We’ve also tested this robot’s predecessor, the Dreame X30 Ultra, and it’s almost as impressive as the X40, with slightly lower suction power at 8300Pa, a 180-minute run time, and Mop Extend technology.Dreame X40 Ultra specs: Price: $1,900 | Battery life: 180 mins | Base station dimensions: 13.4 x 17.9 x 23.2 inches | Suction power: 12,000Pa | Dustbin volume: 300 ml | Water tank capacity: 80 ml More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETMicrosoft’s Copilot tool is freely available as a dedicated webpage, mobile app, and built-in Windows tool, offering quick and easy access to an AI chatbot that will answer your questions, generate content, and create images. But Microsoft also offers a Pro version of Copilot that kicks in more features and better access for $20 per month.Also: Microsoft adds Copilot Pro support to iPhone and Android appsThe free flavor offers the following features:Copilot use on the web and in Windows, MacOS, and iPadOS.Access to GPT-4.Access to GPT-4 Turbo and GPT-4o during non-peak times.Use of text, voice, and images in conversational search.Ability to create and edit AI images with 15 boosts (15 images) per day with the Designer tool.Ability to use plugins.Also: How to use Image Creator from Microsoft DesignerThe Pro version kicks in several additional benefits:Faster performance and priority access to GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, and GPT-4o during peak times.Copilot availability in core Microsoft 365 desktop (subscription required) and web apps (Microsoft account required).Faster AI image creation with 100 boosts (100 images) per day using Designer.Ability to resize AI-created images between square and landscape formats without leaving Designer.Previously, Microsoft offered Pro users a Copilot Builder to create their own custom GPTs for personal use or to share with specific people. In July 2024, Microsoft retired the Copilot Builder and removed all the associated GPTs. Beyond using Copilot Pro on the Copilot website through any browser, you can launch it directly in Windows 10 or 11. Simply click the Copilot icon on the Taskbar. The Pro flavor is also accessible in the iPhone and Android Copilot apps. You can use Copilot Pro with a Microsoft 365 subscription in Windows, MacOS, and iPadOS. And you can even tap into the Pro flavor with the free Microsoft 365 apps on the web.You should use Copilot free if… More