Robotics

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Super smooth and highly responsive app The tiny carry case can be attached to a keyring for easy transportation Needs the supplied USB-C extension cable to connect to most ruggedized smartphones –> Regular readers will know that I am a big fan of thermal cameras. They are cool and give you […] More

Holiday shopping season is my time to shine, and beyond testing lots of tech products for ZDNET, I love a good sale. And while everyone knows Black Friday is the shopping extravaganza of the season, you no longer have to wait for the deals. Thankfully, several retailers, including Target, are starting their Black Friday sales early, which means even more time to keep shopping savings. Also: The best Black Friday deals live nowYou might think Amazon More

Save big on this lifetime Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro bundle.  Kerry Wan/ZDNETIt doesn’t matter if you’re upgrading to a new laptop or just upgrading your existing system — access to Microsoft Office and Windows is a necessity for getting things done on your computer these days. And right now, you can buy a bundled lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro from Stack Social for $53 — that’s 87% off. Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021 includes all of the classic and essential Microsoft offerings, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access, and Teams. If you don’t need all the bells and whistles, check out this deal for Microsoft Office 2019, which offers all the same features except for Teams. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is an operating system perfect for working professionals or at-home users. Get an easy-to-navigate interface, biometrics login, Smart App Control, Windows Studio Effects, DirectX 12 Ultimate, and top features like snap layouts, desktops, seamless redocking, improved voice typing, and a powerful search experience. You’ll also get access to Microsoft Copilot, an AI platform designed to upgrade your workflow experience. Also: How to use Copilot (formerly known as Bing Chat)There’s one caveat, though. While Stack Social is an authorized Microsoft partner and offers “lifetime” access to Office, it is possible that Microsoft could end the license. But the site has been running these Microsoft deals for years now, and ZDNET’s Alison DeNisco Rayome can personally vouch for them — she purchased an Office license from Stack Social about two years ago, and it’s still working on her personal MacBook today. While this bundle deal offers a lot, you won’t get the benefits of the latest Microsoft Office 365 subscription, so if you’re looking for Microsoft 365, this deal may not be for you (though Stack Social does have a discount on Office 365, too.) Windows users must update their OS to Windows 10 or 11 to access these software deals. Get your lifetime license bundles for Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro right now. More

Screenshot by ZDNETMore people have been flocking to Bluesky lately, with many likely joining as an alternative to Elon Musk’s X. One week after the US presidential election, Bluesky snagged more than 1 million new members, a company spokesperson told The New York Times on Tuesday.  The user count keeps growing. According to the newest stats, it has shot up to more than 16.7 million since Tuesday, up from 9 million in early September and 12 million around mid-October. You can even watch the numbers climb in real time.Also: How to get started using Bluesky Social: Everything you need to knowOn the mobile front, Bluesky’s iOS app is currently at the top of the charts among all free apps in Apple’s App Store. As Number 1, it’s ahead of other popular free apps like Threads, ChatGPT, Google, TikTok, and Instagram.At the same time, X has watched its numbers dwindle. This past April, the Musk-owned platform had around 611 million users, according to stats from Statista and other sources. At last count in September, that number had dropped to 586 million. The decline has been especially felt in the US and UK, according to The Financial Times, as spotted by Social Media Today. But even in the EU, the number of X users fell by 5% over the first half of 2024.In contrast, Bluesky has enjoyed steady and sometimes sudden growth in its audience since its launch around two years ago. This past February, the user count surged by more than 800,000 after the network removed its invite-only requirement. Last month, the audience jumped by half a million in just one day. But that was just after X activated a new feature to let blocked accounts still see posts from the person who had blocked them.That brings us to the present day. Why another sudden exodus of users from X to Bluesky? There are a few likely reasons.Also: How to migrate from X to Bluesky without losing your followersThere are the usual complaints about X’s increased toxicity and polarization, probably more keenly felt during the run-up to this year’s US presidential election. As people with different political and social beliefs have duked it out on X, others caught in the crossfire have likely left for safer ground.Bluesky has “become a refuge for people who want to have the kind of social media experience that Twitter used to provide, but without all the far-right activism, the misinformation, the hate speech, the bots and everything else,” media scholar Axel Bruns said, according to The Guardian. “The more liberal kind of Twitter community has really now escaped from there and seems to have moved en masse to Bluesky.” More

Get Microsoft Project 2021 Pro or Visio 2021 on sale right now.  Stack Social Project management is the bread and butter of the professional world, but actually getting things done can be a challenge. Professional software can optimize many operations to maximize efficiency and productivity when you need it most. You might want to consider […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Puts you in the pilot’s seat, with a wide field of view. Great battery life that plays well with most DJI drones. Can sometimes be disorientating, especially if you’re new. –> I’ve been flying drones for a couple of decades, and for most of that time, I’ve been looking at a […] More

Price: $24 (save $10)As one of our top picks for the best smart notebook, the Rocketbook saves your pages to the accompanying app’s cloud by tapping the included pen on the icon at the bottom to make it easy to find later.In my own testing, I appreciated the different page styles, such as weekly and monthly planners, goal setting, task trackers, an ideas page, dot grids, and lined pages so that I could carry around one notebook instead of three.  More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Samsung’s Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is available for $1,700. I recommend this laptop for professionals who want great performance, a high-quality touchscreen, and long battery life. To get the most out of it, you’ll need to own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone. –> I have largely ignored Samsung’s Galaxy Book laptop series, […] More