Robotics

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

Philips Home Access At CES 2025, Philips Home Access announced an enhanced version of its flagship 5000 Series, launched last year. This smart lock already led the industry with palm vein recognition to unlock, but the new version now features video capabilities. Philips 5000 Series Video Palm Recognition smart lock  The Philips 5000 Series Video Palm […] More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETLike most people, the minute I heard of an AI-powered wristband that listens to you all day and night, my immediate concern was privacy. However, as I went through the Bee Pioneer Band’s demo, those concerns faded, with the value becoming evident.Bee Pioneer BandThe Bee AI wearable looks like an ordinary fitness tracker; however, it uses a dual microphone system to listen to all of your conversations and interactions. This information is used to get to know you better, transcribe and summarize your interactions, and more.Also: The best AI tech of CES 2025: Neural wristbands, smart mirrors and moreThe conversations and summaries are all accessible on the app in a clean, organized, and digestible manner. You can also ask the app questions regarding your conversations, much like you would after recording on Otter.ai. In my opinion, this is the most helpful use case for the band, as I often find myself wondering if I remembered something correctly or wanting to reference back to what someone said.How it uses your conversationsThe Bee Pioneer uses all of your conversations to better answer your questions, much like ChatGPT’s Memory feature. The major difference is that ChatGPT only has the context of your conversations in the chatbot, while the Bee Pioneer has context of everything in your day, allowing you to ask much deeper questions.Also: The best AI chatbotsFor example, in the app, you can ask something about your personal life, such as, “How is my parenting approach?” or “What can I do to improve these behaviors?” Based on its transcriptions, it could give you feedback, referencing your actions. Beyond answering questions, it provides actionable insights such as suggested to-dos, daily summaries, and reflections. More

Adrienne Bresnahan/Getty Images Researchers at Stanford have been using artificial intelligence (AI) to dive deeper into diabetes diagnosis — and the results could mean better, more accessible care.  We commonly understand diabetes as being either Type 1 or Type 2. But in recent years, scientists have discovered important variations, or subtypes, within Type 2 — which […] More

Alekseyliss/Getty Images Picture this: you’re in a peaceful slumber, enveloped in the warmth of your dreams. Gradually, you become aware of a sound — a gentle yet persistent alarm that begins to build in intensity, rising slowly to a dramatic crescendo. You slowly open your eyes, blinking as you transition into a semi-conscious state. But […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETLet’s face it: In this always-connected age, we’re forever on our phones checking texts, emails, social media, and more. As a result, we also have a steady appetite for accessories designed to tackle the constant problem of not having enough charge. CES 2025 has a fix.Also: CES 2025: ZDNET’s 25 products that impressed us the mostThe Swippitt, unveiled at CES, resembles a toaster box, except that when you insert your phone into the opening, it comes out in two seconds with a fresh battery. Sound like a CES gimmick? The product was on full display at CES, and we can confirm: It did the thing. Here’s how it works.To use the device, a user needs the Hub as well as the case, which Swippit refers to as the Link. On the case’s back is a battery, which —  when inserted into the Hub — gets swapped out for another fully charged 3,500 mAh battery, ready to give you the juice you need for the day. Meanwhile, the depleted battery starts getting charged.  More