Robotics

ZDNETThose of you who regularly use Microsoft Office might want to try an upcoming new feature designed to speed up your favorite program. Rolling out in May, an option called Startup Boost will reduce the amount of time you have to wait for a Microsoft Office application to launch.The first volunteer for this mission will be Microsoft Word, with other applications in the Office suite joining via future updates. Popping up as a scheduled task, Startup Boost will be completely optional so you can easily disable it if you don’t want an Office program chewing up memory.Also: Microsoft’s new AI agents aim to help security pros combat the latest threats”Microsoft is introducing a new Startup Boost task to optimize Office applications’ performance and load-time,” Microsoft said in a message on Wednesday. “It will roll out in May 2025, initially for Microsoft Word. The task is optional, visible in Windows Task Scheduler, and can be disabled via in-app settings.” More

When is Amazon’s Big Spring Sale 2025? The second-annual Spring Sale runs from Tuesday, March 25, through Monday, March 31. Unlike Prime Day sales events, it’s open to everyone, not just Prime members. Are deals really better during Amazon sales?For some big-name brands, Amazon sale events are the only time specific devices go on sale throughout the year. This is especially true for Amazon devices like Kindles, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Amazon Echo devices, etc. According to one study, the average Amazon Prime Day discount is 16.2%, a fairly good discount for most products–and while this isn’t Prime Day, it’s still an Amazon-exclusive sales event, so we’re expecting the same discount numbers. How did we choose these Spring Sale deals?ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy — devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. What are the best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 deals?ZDNET’s experts are searching through Amazon Spring Sale deals to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:You can also find the best Amazon Spring Sale deals by price:And the best deals from other retailers this week:Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETSamsung’s Frame TV lineup is popular for a reason; It’s unique, makes practical use of all the idle space a TV typically leaves behind, and looks great doing so. And right now, during Amazon’s Spring Sale event, you can save up to $1,800 on the flagship TV. That’s right. Amazon is selling every size of The Frame TV at a discount. Also: The 150+ best Amazon Spring Sale tech deals liveThe smallest 32-inch display More

ZDNETIn October, after months of beta testing, Microsoft officially released its major 2024 update for Windows 11. Known as Windows 11 24H2, the latest version enhances the Copilot AI, improves File Explorer, promises faster performance and greater stability, and introduces other improvements.Also: How to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro – without overpayingThe update, which is rolling out to eligible Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2 users, may appear on your PC’s Windows Update screen. If so, you can certainly install it from there. Otherwise, the new version is accessible on Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page, where you can grab it through the Installation Assistant, installation media, or as an ISO file. Before you dive into the 2024 update, know that you may run into some problems and conflicts. The new version has been plagued by bugs that could prevent you from using Windows reliably and effectively. Microsoft has documented many of the glitches, and Windows users have reported a lot more. In response, Microsoft has put the update on hold for problematic PCs that could encounter blue screens and other issues.Windows 11 24H2 bugs still causing troubleDespite the latest updates, several bugs persist. Here are the ones that could still cause issues for anyone running the 2024 version of Windows 11. 1. AutoCAD 2022 might not open On some PCs running Windows 11 24H2, Autodesk AutoCAD 2022 might not open. Users have reported error messages when trying to launch the application. In response, Microsoft has blocked the update for affected PCs and is currently working on a fix. Also: How to do a clean install of Windows 11: See which option is best for you and why More

<!–> Adam Breeden/ZDNET When does Amazon’s Spring Sale end? The 2025 Big Spring Sale is slated to end Monday, March 31. However, as with most Amazon sales, we expect to see some lingering offers after the sale officially ends, as well as live offers from other retailers. We’ll keep you updated with all the best […] More

Krisp / ZDNETKrisp, an AI startup known for its noise cancellation and transcription services, is launching a new AI tool that can convert a speaker’s accent to American English in real time. The company claims the tool can help native speakers better understand non-native English speakers “more easily, without changing [their] natural voice and vocal traits.”Tested in call center enterprisesThe company is initially rolling out support for altering 17 Indian dialects into US English but plans to expand in the future with Filipino and more. The tool is compatible with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and other meeting app platforms. So, as long as users have access to Krisp’s existing desktop app, the tool can “clarify” accents.Also: Deepfake detection service Loti AI expands access to all users – for freeAccording to Krisp’s website, Indian accents were the first accents the company wanted to work on because people from the region are a large segment of the global workforce, especially within STEM fields. The tool was tested in call center enterprises prior to its widespread release and trained on thousands of speech samples that covered different accents and dialects. More

I have been exercising with fitness trackers like smartwatches and smart rings for over a year, and the technology has helped me track my progress over time, check my vitals during workouts, understand my recovery, and motivate me to keep my activity streaks alive. Whether you’re dialing into your fitness routine or interested in learning more about your activity patterns, a health tracker can uncover the details of your activity and sleep throughout the day, week, and month. Also: The best Amazon Spring Sale deals live nowWhile the price of some of these trackers can easily surpass $300, Amazon’s Big Spring Sale could reduce select products, and we’re already seeing record-low savings on the latest Apple Watch More

Wyze Wyze just introduced a new feature called the “No Big Deal” (NBD) filter to reduce unnecessary notifications. This is meant to address the excessive notifications that come with a security camera, including false alerts and unimportant NBD events. Also: The hardest-working floodlight and security camera I’ve tested is $70 off right now Imagine you have […] More