Robotics

Sony is known for their high-quality OLED TVs, which feature excellent picture and audio quality as well as high refresh rates for smoother motion while watching sports and fast-paced TV and movie scenes or console gaming. The latest Sony TVs also have exclusive VRR support for gaming on the PlayStation 5 to prevent screen tearing and stuttering that can ruin your immersion. While Sony TVs can get expensive, especially at larger screen sizes, there are more affordable options that still offer premium-grade features like Acoustic Surface Audio+, which turns the whole screen into a speaker for better syncing and object-tracking sound. With a variety of screen sizes available, from 43 inches to an impressive 98 inches, you’ll be able to find a fit for just about any space. What is the best Sony TV right now? I chose the Bravia 8 II More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETFrom smartwatches to smart rings, it’s ramping up to be a busy product launch season. Ahead of some of the bigger events coming in the next few months, several rumors and leaks are swirling around the season’s hottest wearable tech. I’ve rounded up some of the top stories to watch (and read) this week.What’s next for Galaxy Watches More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETOlder Google TV and Chromecast devices are finally getting the Home Panel feature, allowing you to control your smart home devices from your TV. The feature was initially launched with the Google TV Streamer last year, but Google opened a public preview program to let users enroll older devices. Now, the feature appears to have launched widely and quietly. The latest update began rolling out earlier this week, and reports indicate users are using the Home Panel feature on discontinued Chromecast devices and Google TV sets, including Hisense TVs.Also: New Google Labs experiments help you learn new languages in ‘bite-sized’ lessonsThe Home Panel on Google TV lets you control Google Home-compatible smart devices by accessing them on the right side of your TV. These devices include smart thermostats, video doorbells, security cameras, speakers, smart lights, and more. Like Apple’s tvOS and Amazon’s FireOS, the Home Panel can also show smart home notifications, such as a person ringing your Nest Doorbell.  More

Writing NFC tags with a smartphone. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNETOne of my favorite technologies is NFC. I’m blown away that I can write data to a little chip and then access that using a smartphone or tablet. I’ve embedded NFC tags into all sorts of things, from documents to business cards to 3D-printed objects. Also: I gave my Android phone thermal vision superpowers with this accessoryAnd it’s easy! What you needYou need two things: NFC tags: These come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from stickers More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Asus Zenbook Duo is on sale now starting at around $1,499, with pricier configurations available. This laptop is a creator’s dream machine, with dual-OLED touchscreens, a highly configurable form factor, and a great battery. It takes time and effort to get the most out of this laptop, and you’ll need […] More

EschCollection/Getty Images LinkedIn’s chief product officer, Tomer Cohen, oversees product management, user experience, design, and customer operations. Having worked for the company for 13 years and managed LinkedIn’s move to mobile devices, there’s little he doesn’t know about the platform. I  spoke with Cohen at the firm’s London office near Farringdon Station. He chatted about […] More

My keychain essentials. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNETI’ve collected my fair share of multitools and gadgets, but I’ve lost track of how often I’ve needed one — only to realize it’s sitting at home or in the car. Carrying a full toolbox everywhere just isn’t practical.What I do have with me almost all the time, though, is my keychain — and it turns out, it’s the perfect way to keep essential tools within reach.Also: I found AirTag alternatives that are tough, loud, and compatible with Android phonesMy keychain is the one bit of kit I get asked the most questions about. People are often surprised at the things I carry around. I guess most people just carry their keys on their keychains. Weird.Here’s a tour of what I carry on mine. Don’t feel like you need everything on this list. Remember, the beauty of this approach is that you can customize your EDC to suit your needs.1. KeySmart Air More

Nina Raemont/ZDNETSmart ring brands Ultrahuman and RingConn have been found to infringe on Oura’s patent, according to an initial determination from the US International Trade Commission’s Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).  According to an Oura spokesperson, both products infringe on “every element of every asserted claim of Oura’s patent. “Dishonest tacticsThe ALJ found that the patent, which relates to the form factor of the smart ring, is valid as an invention that existed before the Ultrahuman and RingConn smart rings. The two competitors participated in “dishonest tactics,” Oura says in a blog post, to develop their own smart rings. Also: Oura Ring users are customizing their wearables with this clever design hackIn the initial determination, Oura claims that the competitors purchased and deconstructed Oura Ring devices for their own testing and product development. Falsified evidenceOura meets the ALJ’s standard as a domestic industry, and the ALJ also found that Ultrahuman had falsified evidence of a manufacturing facility in Texas, although Ultrahuman testified against this claim.Also: Why the Oura Ring 4 is still the best smart ring on the market – and I’ve tested dozens of them”We respectfully but firmly disagree with the recent initial determination and remain confident in our position. Our fast-scaling Texas facility is set to cover 100% of US demand within the next 2-3 months — underscoring our commitment to domestic operations and customer-first innovation,” an Ultrahuman spokesperson wrote in an email to ZDNET. More