Robotics

Maria Diaz/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysUnplug at 100%, keep battery between 20% and 80%.Avoid draining to 0%; store unused tablets at 50%.Use certified chargers to prevent stress and overheating.As someone who uses a tablet daily, I’m constantly looking for ways to make its battery last longer. However, some habits you don’t think twice about could actually be hurting your battery over time. There are ways to extend your tablet’s battery life, and there are some things you should avoid that do the opposite.Also: These 7 common household items were draining power all day – until I pulled the plugMost tablets offer six to eight hours of use on a single charge, though battery life diminishes with age and continued use. While there are many things you can do to conserve battery life, here are the ones you should avoid to ensure your battery’s longevity. 1. Leaving your tablet plugged in overnight This isn’t always a problem with newer tablets, but most tablets on the market will suffer from being left plugged in overnight. Tablets typically charge to 100% and stop using electricity. However, leaving your tablet plugged in can cause it to continue trickle-charging to keep the battery full, which can stress the battery over time and diminish its lifespan. Instead, unplug your tablet when its battery reaches 100%. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to keep your battery charged between 20% and 80%. Also: Why I recommend this Samsung tablet over pricier models – especially the UltraLike all the common charging mistakes we make with our tablets, leaving it plugged in overnight once or twice won’t permanently damage it. Battery damage happens when these incorrect practices become a habit and are followed often. 2. Letting the battery drain to 0% (and forgetting it) More

Natalya_Yudina/Getty Images ZDNET’s key takeaways Google’s Jules coding agent is out of beta, with clear pricing tiers. Even the free tier has newer, more generous usage limits. Updates include improved AI and better setup management. Google’s coding AI Jules is out of beta. Announced in a blog post on Wednesday, the coding helper will be […] More

Nuki Smart Lock <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Nuki Smart Lock is now available for $159 on its own, and $229 when combined with the Keypad 2. This smart lock fits into an existing deadbolt, supports Matter for easy integrations with smart home systems, and features hands-free unlocking. Though innovative, the Nuki smart lock requires […] More

What about Focus Modes – do they help battery life? Yes. Focus Modes help by letting you whitelist specific apps and contacts; during “Work” or “Sleep,” only critical alerts light up your display. That means fewer wake-ups and less background processing. I already mentioned disabling notifications above, but you can take it a step further with Focus Modes. Also: The best Apple deals right now: Save on MacBooks, iPhones, and moreHow to set up a Focus Mode:Open Settings > Focus > tap + to create a profile.Under Allowed Notifications, choose People and Apps.Optionally schedule it by time, location, or app. How do I identify the biggest battery hogs on iPhone? To see what might be draining your iPhone’s battery, go to Settings > Battery. There, you’ll see usage by app and how much time each spent on screen or in background. Also: How to fix an iPhone alarm that’s not going off – and why it might be happening Can removing my case while charging help? Possibly — mainly if your device gets hot while charging. Removing the case can improve heat dissipation, which might speed up charging and protect your iPhone’s battery health. Should I try a battery pack or a power bank? Yes! I always travel with one. All the settings tweaks in the world won’t help if you’re stranded somewhere, staring at a red battery icon, far from an outlet. Here are the top picks ZDNET’s editors recommend: Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter. More

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETWe’ve probably all bumped into boot-up problems when Windows fails to load properly. That’s when a recovery drive can come in handy. But how many of us take the time to set one up? Well, Windows itself offers a recovery feature that you may not even realize exists.Known simply as Recovery Drive, this legacy tool lets you create a recovery environment to store on an external USB drive. If Windows ever has trouble launching, you’ll be able to boot up your PC with the recovery media. The tool works the same in both Windows 10 and 11.Also: Why you need a data backup plan for your Mac or PC – before disaster strikesThere are a couple of conditions to keep in mind. Using Recovery Drive resets Windows back to its initial factory state. Specifically, the recovery stores all built-in Windows files, any updates installed at the time you set up the drive, and any customizations from the PC maker. Your own customizations, your personal files, and any apps you’ve installed are not included, so you’ll want to be sure you have separate backups of those items. I recommend Ed Bott’s step-by-step guide to protecting yourself from data-related catastrophes. More

Ugreen M.2 NVMe Enclosure <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Ugreen’s M.2 NVMe Enclosure is on sale on Amazon for $75. It’s an easy to use enclosure that doesn’t rely on minute fasteners, and features USB4 speeds of up to 40Gbps. If you need a device that supports up to 80Gbps, you’ll want to upgrade. –> For […] More

Lance Whitney/ZDNETI like to read in bed before I nod off to sleep. Though I enjoy the feel and texture of a good, old-fashioned printed book, I typically turn to ebooks because they’re easier on the eyes. And what do I use as a reader? No, not a Kindle, but my trusty iPad mini.Also: I finally found a tablet that can easily replace my iPad and Kindle (and is affordably priced)I’ve tried a couple of Kindles in the past, but didn’t quite take to them. For me, the iPad mini is a more versatile device that offers certain advantages over a Kindle. First, though, I’m going to discuss the ways in which the Kindle beats an iPad mini. Yep, I’m playing devil’s advocate to start.4 ways Kindle beats iPad mini for readingTo start, there’s the price. Kindles come in different sizes, formats, and price tags. But even the most expensive Kindle, the 64GB Kindle Scribe More

Dell 14 Premium <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Dell’s latest high-performance laptop is currently on sale starting at $1,500. It’s superbly designed, with a sleek, modern build and powerful, but accessible, hardware. It runs warm, and requires power management from the user to get the most out of the battery. –> Dell’s laptop rebrand may have […] More