Robotics

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways The best business leaders ensure people have a platform to air views.Employees need to feel their opinions are heard and valued.Reach out to customers and partners for their sentiments.Great managers don’t just talk a good game; they also deliver results — and great outcomes are often tied to an ability to listen to people effectively.Harvard Business Review suggests that leaders who listen well create company cultures where people feel heard, valued, and engaged. HBR also reports that employees who experience high-quality listening have higher levels of job satisfaction. Also: How AI-enabled autonomous business will change the way you work foreverHere are five techniques you can use to ensure people feel like you’re listening to them effectively. 1. Practice active listening Tim Chilton, managing consultant at Ordnance Survey, the UK’s national mapping service, said he’s chatty but practices active listening every day. He told ZDNET about how some of his earlier workplace experiences, including as a product manager and business analyst, have shaped his current approach to leadership. “You talk to people, but the whole point is, you also let them talk, so you can find out what their requirements are, and then you play those objectives back,” he said. “The whole idea of active listening is that you listen, you learn, and then you say, ‘Here’s my understanding. Is that correct?'” Also: 5 ways to ensure your team gets the credit it deserves, according to business leadersChilton has used that technique for many years. The strategy helps people feel they’ve been listened to because they hear their suggestions played back. “It gives them a chance to refine and comment, and you build a relationship that way, because it’s an interactive conversation,” he said. Chilton said the key to listening actively is spending time with the people you interact with. “Before you go in with your PowerPoint slides saying, ‘This is what you need,’ you do a large round of coffees to find out what’s going on in their world,” he said. “And that initial phase must be a little bit slower than going in all guns blazing. So, success is about active listening and taking your time in that initial relationship-building phase.” More

Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images ZDNET’s takeaways Perplexity’s new feature lets you make a restaurant reservation straight through OpenTable. The feature uses OpenTable’s system, so you don’t have to trust the AI to do it for you. Instead of navigating between apps or tabs to find a restaurant and then book a table, Perplexity handles everything. […] More

JBL Bar 1000MK2 <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The JBL Bar 1000MK2 includes a soundbar, two detachable rear speakers, and an external subwoofer for $1,200. It’s a versatile system, with powerful audio performance suitable for large rooms. It’s not an ideal option for people who want permanent rear speakers. more buying choices The original JBL Bar […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETApple has been busy prepping iOS 26 for its likely debut in September. Until then, the iPhone’s upcoming new OS has been accessible for anyone to try via a developer beta (now up to version 5) and the initial public beta. Though iOS 26 still has at least a month of tweaks before it’s finalized, the beta flavors already provide a peek at what to expect.You can download iOS 26 beta on your iPhone now. Here’s how to install it — and which models support it.Also: The best MagSafe accessories of 2025 for your iPhoneI’ve been running the public beta since its release on July 24. Among the new and improved features in iOS 26, these are my five favorites so far.1. Liquid Glass More

Siro Rodenas Cortes/Getty Images ZDNET’s key takeaways Self-learning and self-improving technology will transform enterprise activities. From augmented leadership to machines as customers, analyst Gartner identifies key trends. While true autonomous business is a long way off, smart business leaders are preparing now. The future of your business is autonomous. While there’s a lot of debate […] More

Jack Wallen/ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways Google is developing another Linux terminal app.The app runs a full Debian environment.Developers will be able to build Android apps on device.For some time, Android has had access to a terminal app that ran a full-blown, text-only Linux environment. This app is enabled via Android’s developer options feature and makes it possible for users to run Linux commands (even SSH).From Google’s perspective, that wasn’t enough. Also: 5 Linux terminal apps better than your defaultBut it seemed a bit odd when they went mum on the Linux Terminal app at the annual I/O developer conference. Even with that silence, a bit of new news has surfaced that points to Google releasing a new take on the Linux terminal app, one that targets developers. Build directly on Android devicesThis new Linux terminal app will allow developers to build Android apps directly on Android devices. That’s a huge change from having to build on emulators running on top of a desktop OS. Also: 5 surprisingly productive things you can do with the Linux terminalThe new Linux terminal app uses the Android Virtualization Framework to boot into a Debian image running on a virtual machine. This new terminal app provides a full-blown Linux development environment that allows developers to leverage the tools they need to build native apps. That includes Android Studio. 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

Samsung/ZDNETWhether a console or PC gamer, your display can make or break your gaming experience. The Samsung Odyssey Ark More