Robotics

ZDNETHave you ever experienced a problem with your operating system — one that was self-inflicted? You might have misconfigured something, only to find that whatever you did caused a cascade failure of other services or apps.When that happens, you might not even remember what you did to cause the problem. Maybe it was a config file in /etc, which is often the case.Also: 10 Linux apps I always install first – and you should tooWhat if I told you there’s an app to restore your Linux distribution to a working state, and it’s easy to use?That app is called Timeshift. It creates restore points you can use to return your computer to a working state.Before I continue, it’s important to note that Timeshift is not a backup tool. Rather, it’s an application to help you recover from self-inflicted situations where you need to get your system back up and running.Let’s install Timeshift and see how it’s used.How to install TimeshiftWhat you’ll need: The only things you’ll need for this are a running instance of Linux and a user with sudo privileges. More

ZDNETIf you’re displaced by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, Spectrum is offering free Wi-Fi to help you stay connected.Also: The best travel VPNsIn the midst of power outages and cell tower loss, it’s getting difficult for many people to contact loved ones or to do necessary things online. More than 100,000 people have been evacuated, nearly as many are on standby to evacuate, and more than a million people are without power.Free internet accessLast week, Spectrum opened 35,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in Los Angeles to the public, providing free internet access to anyone that needs it. The hotspots cover a large portion of the city, and you can find them in places like restaurants, parks, cafes, retail stores, city streets, and more. In most locations, you should even be able to access the internet in your vehicle outside.Also: How to use public Wi-Fi safelyThese networks are already free for Spectrum customers, but non-customers usually need to pay a small fee. Users who have taken advantage of the service report being online in seconds with good speeds. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Creative Aurvana Ace Mimi earbuds are available now for $129 on Creative’s official site. With rich, dynamic bass, well-blended mids, and crisp highs, these earbuds are a perfect match for any type of music you can feed them. The LE audio feature on these earbuds can cause brief disconnects, but […] More

Large tablets often feel large and unwieldy, but some manufacturers have taken this into consideration by combining lightweight designs with premium materials and excellent viewing angles. These top-tier models excel in performance and can easily be paired with keyboards or even second displays. But nothing beats the convenience of picking up a large tablet and hitting the road.Also: The best cheap tablets Tablets are considered “large” if they are 10-15 inches. The larger the screen size, the larger the working area is, which is especially useful if you’re using a tablet as a laptop replacement. Not all tablets approach 15 inches, but there’s more than enough screen real estate in the tablets available today.What is the best large tablet right now?Through our hands-on testing combined with our researched tablet picks, we did our due diligence to deliver you a list of tablets with wide displays and tip-top performance. Our pick for the best large-screen tablet is the 13-inch iPad Pro More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Satechi’s Mini NVMe SSD Enclosure is on sale for $60. It’s a handy travel accessory for moving large files between multiple devices quickly However, getting the most from the device can be an expensive endeavor. more buying choices Data transfer is a large aspect of my day-to-day life. I’m constantly moving […] More

Kayla Solino/ZDNETIf you’re aiming for organization and decluttering this year, don’t forget your favorite tech. In a world where it’s easy to pile up dozens of cords, wall adapters, cables, chargers, accessories, and more, your tech can be an easy thing to ignore when simplifying your essentials.Also: I tested the viral ‘tangle-free’ USB-C cable, and it’s my new travel essentialAs ZDNET’s mobile accessory expert, I have a mountain of small tech gear that I regularly use for testing, as well as my own personal collection of everyday essentials. After countless trips commuting and traveling — with no real solution for storage besides shoving cords and cables into different pockets of my carry-on — I’ve dedicated 2025 to streamlining my daily essentials and giving each item a dedicated “home.”Multifunctional and structuredHere’s where Orbitkey’s 2-in-1 tech accessory pouch More

bgwalker/Getty Images Extension cords are generally a safe solution for running power to electronics that are too far from the nearest wall outlet. But the operative word here is “electronics,” which is not as all-encompassing as some people might think. Also: Slow home internet? 3 simple things I always check first for faster Wi-Fi Appliances […] More

Panasonic’s new 4K OLED and Mini LED TVs were a sleeper hit at the shot, but not one of my picks. Kerry Wan/ZDNETWhile this year was only my fourth time at CES, you don’t need to physically be in Vegas to know just how much vaporware floods the show floor. Also: CES 2025: ZDNET’s 25 products that impressed us the mostAt this point, it’s almost an expectation for the flashiest, most promising products at the show to be ones that will either never go on sale or cease to exist in a matter of years — when companies, small and large, shift their focuses to the next big industry buzzword.But if I put all that doubt aside and looked at CES as if it were weeklong QVC programming, here are three products that would make me yell, “Take my money!”. 1. Mcon MagSafe phone controller More