Robotics

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Amazfit Active 2 is available in a premium package for $129.99 and standard for $99.99 It will start shipping to customers in mid-January The watch is small, lasts up to 10 days, has a brilliant AMOLED display, measures an extensive amount of data, and is inexpensive The small size is […] More

photo_Pawel/Getty Images I’ve been around technology for long enough that very little excites me, and even less surprises me. But shortly after Open AI’s ChatGPT was released, I asked it to write a WordPress plugin for my wife’s e-commerce site. When it did, and the plugin worked, I was indeed surprised. That was the beginning […] More

ZDNETWhile an official announcement is still pending, Linux Mint 22.1, codenamed Xia, has been released. The new Mint’s ISO images are now ready to be downloaded and installed. I’m eager to get it up and running.Linux Mint 22.1 is built on Ubuntu 24.04 Long Term Support (LTS) distro and powered by the Linux kernel 6.8. While most Linux users know that the Linux kernel developers no longer support the 6.8 kernel, it’s still safe to use. Canonical, Ubuntu’s parent company, will support this kernel until April 2029 and offer extended support until March 2034. Mint will also stand behind this release until April 2029. Also: This portable, lightweight Linux distro has an old-school feelIf you want to upgrade in the future, Mint will make it easy: “Until 2026, future versions of Linux Mint will use the same package base as Linux Mint 22.1, making it trivial for people to upgrade.”Mint 22.1 includes a major overhaul of Debian Linux’s Advanced Packaging Tool (APT). This command and its dependencies and relatives work in the background when you install new software or update old programs. Many of these programs have grown rusty, so Mint is replacing them with the next generation of these tools: Aptkit and Captain. These changes aim to enhance system reliability. Also: How to keep Linux optimized (and save time) with StacerUsers who never go deeper than Mint’s graphic Software Manager won’t need to worry about these changes. They’re all under the hood. The Mint team said: “This modernization ensures that Linux Mint’s package management remains robust, user-friendly, and ready for the future.” More

ZDNETTask managers and to-do lists are a great way to keep you organized. I’ve used various tools for keeping track of the things I need to get done for a long time, and they’ve really made a difference.However, not all to-do lists and task managers are created equal. Some task managers offer little more than bulleted or numbered lists to keep track of your tasks, while others offer so many features that they quickly become overwhelming.Also: 5 to-do list apps on Android I recommend for staying on trackAnd then there’s the sweet spot, where the ideal mixture of features and simplicity lives. One task manager that exists in that zone is Super Productivity.Super Productivity is for those who really need to be productive. This task manager features to-do lists, time tracking, insights, timesheets, work summaries, integration with services such as Jira, Gitlb, GitHub, Open Project and more; CalDAV integration; focus mode; break reminders; notes; bookmarks; file attachments and more.Super Productivity is also open-source, which means you can download, view, and even edit the source code for the app. Super Productivity is free and available for Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android and iOS. Installation of Super Productivity is quite simple on all platforms. For example, you can install the app on Linux with Snap like so:sudo snap install superproductivityInstalling on Windows, MacOS, Android and iOS is just a matter of opening the respective app store, searching for Super Productivity and installing. More

ZDNETIn most cases, I’m not a big fan of “optimizers.” This is especially true with mobile operating systems and Windows. But with Linux, most optimizers are apps you can count on to do exactly what they claim.According to the Stacer website, “Stacer is an open source system optimizer and application monitor that helps users to manage entire system with different aspects, it’s an all in one system utility.”Also: The 4 most Windows-like Linux distros to try because change is hardAnd that, my friends, is exactly what Stacer is. This handy little app allows you to:Manage startup appsClean caches, logs, and trashManage services and processesUninstall appsCheck system resourcesManage apt repositoriesStacer is available for Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch-based distributions and is free to install and use. I will give you one word of warning about this app: As with any system cleaner, your mileage may vary. I’ve not found any problems when using Stacer, but if you delete your Application Caches and Logs, the app launch could slow down. After using those apps, the speed should pick up again. Even with that caveat, I tend to like having the ability to clean a system.How to install StacerWhat you’ll need: The only things you’ll need for this are a running instance of Linux and a user with sudo privileges. More

Richard Drury/Getty Images ZDNET’s key takeaways Monarch Money<!–> is one of the most feature-rich personal financial programs I’ve tested, and it offers a free week-long trial.  Pros: It’s easy to set up and has powerful tools for analyzing finances and building a budget.  Cons: It’s one of the more expensive Mint alternatives I’ve tested. In […] More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETLast August, Google rolled out a feature for Gmail that lets you use Gemini to fine-tune your drafts and replies. With the tap of a button, you can summarize an email, have Gemini write a reply on its own, rewrite a draft that you wrote, and more.Also: Gemini’s latest AI feature could be the future of web browsingThe feature is convenient and works well, but is a little clunky in actual use because you have to copy and paste Gemini’s work into the reply pane — not the easiest thing to do on a phone.Simple ‘Insert’ buttonGoogle is making steps to fix that problem by adding a simple “Insert” button on the Android version of Gmail that you can click to approve the AI-written message and move it to the reply window where you can make any edits. It’s a small change, but one that makes using Gemini a little easier.You’ll see the new button to the right of the screen on the bottom, on the same row as the thumbs up and thumbs down, and just below tools like formalize, elaborate, and shorten. When you tap it, Gemini sends the current version of what it has written into your reply window, ready to send.The feature was first spotted in December, but appears to be getting a wide rollout now. If you don’t see it yet (it was visible on my Google Pixel 8 Pro), you should soon.Also: Google TVs are getting a major Gemini upgrade in 2025If you’re not using Gemini on Gmail, you should know that it does more than generate messages. You can find information from Google Drive files, search for certain types of emails (like “Show unread emails only from the past 5 days” or “Emails from Chris sent last week”), get information about Google Calendar events, summarize entire email threads, and even create events in your Google Calendar. More

Microsoft Microsoft’s Office 365 apps have been the cornerstone for many working professionals’ day-to-day workflows for years. As a result, when the company developed its AI assistant, Copilot, it was only natural to infuse it across the 365 apps, and now, it is getting even more helpful.  Also: Microsoft’s Copilot AI is coming to your […] More