Information Technology

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Nina Raemont/ZDNETLooking to take some novels on your next vacation? If you’ve got several books you’re hauling on flights, to the beach, or between classes, I can think of one lightweight solution to your book-induced back ache. A Kindle. A Kindle is a portable, e-reading powerhouse that can be loaded with every book on your to-read list. Ahead of next week’s October Prime Day, Amazon is running a deal on its Kindle Essentials bundle More

ZONEofTECH/X Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source<!–> on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Rechargeable batteries are incredibly safe, but things can and do go wrong. Don’t cut a stuck smart ring off your finger because it usually makes things worse. If your wearable is acting weird, stop wearing it. Rechargeable batteries are everywhere. In our homes […] More

Nina Raemont/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysOura Ring 4 users report shorter battery life.The claims come a year after its debut. Oura seems to be quickly responding to this issue. When Oura unveiled its fourth-generation smart ring last October, its eight-day battery life was a major draw for those upgrading from the Oura Ring 3. But a year after its release, it seems like that eight-day battery claim is weakening. Reddit users on the r/ouraring forum report that their smart rings aren’t holding a charge, only lasting a few days before dying. Others say that the battery is completely shot and unrevivable. “I went from probably a five day charge cycle to seemingly every other day,” one Reddit user wrote. Also: Oura Ring 3 vs Oura Ring 4: Opt for the older, discounted smart ring or the newest?I’ve also had my Oura Ring 4 for around a year and have noticed the smart ring averages around two to three days before needing to be recharged. These battery shortages are coupled with more frequent battery notifications introduced in recent updates. The app now tells users when their smart ring will run out. I’ve seen my battery percentage hit a little over 50%, prompting the battery button to turn orange and signaling me to charge the device. “The thing will literally be at like 20% and send me a ‘critically low battery’ notification like it’s about to flatline lmao. Meanwhile I’m getting another full day out of it easy,” another user writes.  Oura’s weakening battery and the newer battery notifications that urge users to charge the device more frequently could be the reason battery life is the hot topic du jour on Oura’s Reddit. Also: This smart ring is half the price of the Oura Ring 4 – here’s what to knowIn an email to ZDNET, Oura addressed the reason behind the reported battery life issues, explaining that the smart rings use lithium-ion batteries, which chemically age over time to reduce maximum battery capacity. Performance varies depending on the smart ring’s age, usage, feature settings, and charging habits, an Oura spokesperson said. “We are continuing to make improvements in our software and features to help reduce battery aging. Most members continue to experience between 5-8 days of battery life, as expected. We encourage members to contact customer support, where we handle issues on a case-by-case basis, troubleshooting and replacing rings as needed,” the spokesperson said. When I initially reviewed the smart ring last year, I mentioned how its eight-day battery life claims didn’t live up to the reality of regular usage. During the first few weeks of testing, I got around four to five days out of the ring before needing to recharge. I have a size 6 ring, which is one of the smaller ones. So my battery life could be shorter than larger sizes with larger battery capacity. How to get help from OuraThe good news is the company is fairly responsive and has messaged Reddit posters directly to address the issue. Plus, those who contact Oura about these battery problems receive a free replacement. ZDNET’s Aly Windsor messaged Oura about the issue, and customer support immediately approved her replacement request. Once the virtual customer support assistant detected an issue with Windsor’s battery, it kick-started a free replacement. One user said the replacement process took “less than five minutes.” A scroll through Oura’s Reddit shows this to be the typical experience of ring users with weakened battery life. Oura has a social care team member sifting through these complaints on Reddit to guide users to customer support and fix these issues. Want to follow my work? Add ZDNET as a trusted source on Google. More

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Anchiy/E+ via Getty Images Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source<!–> on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said AI will “change literally every job.” That doesn’t mean that huge layoffs are inevitable, however. Recent data shows that AI could transform more jobs than it replaces. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon has good news and […] More

Opera Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source<!–> on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Opera’s agentic browser Neon has started shipping to users. The AI-enabled browser requires a monthly subscription.  Interested users can join a waitlist. Browser maker Opera announced today that the first stable release of its agentic browser Neon is starting to reach […] More