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      I’m bringing this Bluetooth speaker to every cookout this summer – and you should too

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      <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The JBL Charge 6 will be available for purchase on April 6 for $199 in Black, Blue, White, Red, Camo, and Purple. The Charge 6 offers great sound, durability, battery life, and in-app features. Although it’s waterproof, constant, untreated exposure to salt and chlorine can incur internal damage, just like any […] More

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      Google Pixel 8a vs. Pixel 9a: We tested both midrange phones, and the winner is not so obvious

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      Jason Howell/ZDNETGoogle’s A-series Pixel phones have consistently offered exceptional value, bringing premium features to the mid-range segment. With the recent launch of the Pixel 9a, consumers now have a choice between two compelling devices at similar price points. The Pixel 8a, released in 2024, remains a strong contender despite its successor’s arrival. Also: I replaced my Pixel 9 Pro with the 9a for two weeks – here’s my buying adviceThis decision is particularly relevant for current Pixel 8a owners considering an upgrade, as well as new buyers weighing their options. While both phones share Google’s software excellence and AI capabilities, they differ in several key areas, from design philosophy to hardware specifications. Let’s break down the key differences.  Specifications Pixel 8aPixel 9aDisplay 6.1-inch OLED Actua Display with up to 120Hz6.3-inch OLED Actua Dispay with up to 120HzWeight 190g187g Processor Google Tensor G3Google Tensor G4RAM/Storage8GB with 128GB/256GB8GB with 128GB/256GBBattery4,492mAh with 18W wired charging, 7.5W wireless charging5,100mAh with 23W wired charging, 7.5W wireless chargingCamera64MP wide, 13MP ultra-wide, 13MP front48MP wide, 13MP ultra-wide, 13MP frontConnectivity5G Sub 6GHz, Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2.4GHz+5GHz+6GHz, HE80, MIMO5G + Sub 6GHz, Wi-Fi 6E with 2.4GHz+5GHz+6GHz, 2×2 MIMOPriceStarting at $499 More

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      This handy USB meter tells you what’s actually going on with your ports – and it’s only $20

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      ChargerLAB Power-Z AK001 USB-C cable with power meter. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNETIf you’re a professional repair technician, then having one or more USB power meters in your toolkit is essential. These devices are invaluable as they provide a quick and efficient means of diagnosing issues. A USB power meter can instantly read voltage and amperage, what power protocols are being used, and much more, helping technicians pinpoint power-related problems with various devices. This capability makes them an indispensable, time-saving tool in the fast-paced environment of electronic repairs.Also: I expected this cheap multitool to be a waste of money, but it’s my new a toolbox essentialBut if you’re a hobbyist, investing over $100 in a high-end, feature-packed USB power meter might not make sense. For most enthusiasts, a simpler power meter that covers the basics is more than sufficient. Such a device can provide essential readings like voltage and current, which are typically all that’s needed to carry out routine checks and minor repairs. This way, hobbyists can enjoy the practical benefits of a USB power meter without the steep cost associated with more advanced models.This is what the ChargerLAB Power-Z AK001 More

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      My two favorite AI apps on Linux – and how I use them to get more done

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      Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETWhen AI first hit the scene in its current form, I was dead set against it because of the generative nature of what was being sold to the public. I considered any shortcut to creating art to be offensive to the craft.But then I realized I could use AI for something that traditional searching was starting to fail at: Research. Also: Claude AI can do your research and handle your emails now – here’s howWith both sides of my writing career (fiction and nonfiction), I have to do quite a bit of research, and Google was becoming a hindrance to that process. Instead of being fed helpful information, I was inundated with ads, sponsored content, and its own AI-based answers (which were rarely helpful). I first kicked the tires with Opera’s Aria, which showed me that AI could actually be helpful. At the same time, I realized that AI also had to be supervised because it could be wrong as easily as it could be right. I also found another helpful thing about AI in that it could lead me down some fun rabbit holes, where I might discover something really cool to investigate. Ultimately, that journey led me to two AI tools, both of which could be installed and used on Linux for free. Those two tools have helped me get more done on a daily basis. 1. Ollama/Msty Ollama is an open-source AI tool. Its open-source nature is one of the primary reasons I was drawn to it because I know developers around the world can vet its code, and to date, no one has come out to say they’ve discovered anything untoward in the code. On top of the open-source nature of Ollama, it’s just easy to install and use. And the fact that you can download and use several different LLMs is a bit of delicious icing on an already sweet cake. I can use Cogito, Gemma 3, DeepSeek R1, Llama 3.3, Llama 3.2, Phi 4, QwQ, and many more. Also: How I feed my files to a local AI for better, more relevant responsesBut the main reason I prefer Ollama over any other AI tool is that it can be used locally, which means my queries aren’t accessible by a third party. I like that level of privacy. But how does Ollama help me get things done? First, there’s the prompts library, which gives you access to several quick prompts and even allows you to create custom prompts. One prompt I often type is “Do a deep dive into the following topic and make sure to explore any relevant side topics:”. Instead of always having to type that prompt, I can create a quick prompt for it, so all I have to type is the subject matter. On top of that, I don’t have to remember to prompt Ollama to explore relevant topics. Also: How to run DeepSeek AI locally to protect your privacy – 2 easy waysI create that quick prompt within the library so I can easily call upon it whenever I need. This saves me time and ensures I always get the prompt right every time. I don’t have to think about what the prompt needs to say, and I can make the prompt as easy or complicated as I need. More