Robotics

Whether you’re taking algebra, geometry, calculus, or anything in between, a graphing calculator is an essential tool. Plus, if you’re in high school (or heading to college soon), you’ll need a one handy for standardized tests like the ACT and SAT.Also: The best iPads for college studentsWhile many schools offer graphing calculators for classroom use, having your own at home can give you the edge when it comes to practice and improving test scores. If you’re planning to dive into advanced math in high school or pursue a math – or science-heavy degree in college, investing in a quality graphing calculator is a wise step for your academic future. What is the best graphing calculator right now? Our top pick is the Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETAt this year’s CES, ZDNET has teamed up with the rest of CNET Group (CNET, PCMag, Mashable, and Lifehacker) and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) to name the official best Best of CES 2025 award winners in 12 categories.Also: CES 2025: The most impressive products you don’t want to miss More

Being in the dark is disorienting and can be dangerous if you hurt yourself. That’s why flashlights are an essential item for emergency preparedness. Flashlights can help you see your surrounding clearly during power outages, walking the dog, or during nighttime outdoor activities like camping or hiking. While the average handheld or phone flashlight shines a decent beam, there are significantly brighter options available built for more pressing circumstances or simply easier navigability. “A super bright flashlight is good for anytime you need to travel in the woods at night, or if you need to find something at night.”
Jason Hitchcock, founder of Survival Stoic
Also: The best portable power stationsAn outdoor enthusiast myself, I rounded up some of the best and brightest flashlights I’ve come across, keeping in mind real-life factors that can decrease a light’s output, which raw lumen outputs don’t usually represent. I also spoke to survivalists, campers, and flashlight enthusiasts who have used and recommended some of their favorite models. What is the brightest flashlight right now?The world’s brightest flashlight, the Imalent MS32 More

ZDNETSince September 2008, Google Chromium, an open-source web browser project, has served as the foundation for many popular web browsers, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. It has also remained primarily a Google-driven initiative. Also: The best secure browsers for privacyNow, the Linux Foundation has announced the creation of a new initiative called “Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers.” Set to launch on Jan. 9, 2025, this project aims to strengthen open development and encourage the creation of new Chromium-based web browsers.’Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers’The Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers will provide a neutral space where developers and the broader open-source community can collaborate to support Chromium projects. Existing Chromium projects will remain under their current owners, while any new browsers will be housed under the Linux Foundation.Chrome will remain an independent Google project. There are numerous differences between Chrome and Chromium. These include:No Automatic Updates: Chromium lacks the automatic update feature present in.No Google Service Integration: Chromium doesn’t include deep integration with Google services like Chrome Sync by default.Codecs: Chromium doesn’t include licensed codecs for H.264 video and AAC audio formats.Digital Right Management (DRM): Google’s Widevine DRM module is not included in Chromium.Major tech companies, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Opera, have already pledged their support for this initiative. Together, they will provide crucial funding and development support for open-source projects related to Chromium-based browsers.Google’s VP of Chrome, Parisa Tabriz, said in a statement, “With the incredible support of the Linux Foundation, we believe the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers is an important opportunity to create a sustainable platform to support industry leaders, academia, developers, and the broader open-source community in the continued development and innovation of the Chromium ecosystem.”Also: 5 browser extension rules to live by to keep your system safe in 2025Jim Zemlin, the Linux Foundation’s executive director, added, “With the launch of the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers, we are taking another step forward in empowering the open-source community. This project will provide much-needed funding and development support for open development of projects within the Chromium ecosystem.”Microsoft is also clearly on board. “Microsoft is pleased to join this initiative, which will help drive collaboration within the Chromium ecosystem. This initiative aligns with our commitment to the web platform through meaningful and positive contributions, engagement in collaborative engineering, and partnerships with the community to achieve the best outcome for everyone using the web,” said Meghan Perez, VP of Microsoft Edge. More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETAs ZDNET’s Maria Diaz reported, the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas revealed some interesting innovations in the realm of robot vacuums. Roborock’s new flagship model, for example, has a robotic arm that uses precision sensors and a camera to pick up socks.Also: CES 2025: The most impressive products so farAccording to Dreame, its new flagship model, the X50 Ultra, can “literally climb stairs.” That marketing claim is technically accurate — if the stairs are less than two inches tall.A step forward for robot vacuumsIt’s surely a step forward in robot vacuum engineering, but let’s not envision a bot that can clean your ground-level living space, empty itself, clean your staircase, and then continue sweeping your bedrooms on the second floor. Not just yet.Still, the X50 Ultra’s ability to cross harmlessly over cords and more efficiently surmount the threshold of a doorway makes it an eye-catching addition to Dreame’s portfolio. Many budget robot vacuums stutter at the challenge of moving from one room to another if the entryway presents an elevated barrier, like a transition strip. More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETThe Ultraloq Bolt Mission is this year’s most groundbreaking smart lock at CES. It is the first to market that supports ultra-wideband and unlocks hands-free. This means that whenever an approved device, like your phone in your pocket, approaches within 10 feet of the smart lock, it will unlock.We named it the official Best of CES winner in the Privacy & Security category. See all 12 of the official Best of CES winners named by the CNET Group (ZDNET, CNET, PCMag, Mashable, and Lifehacker) in partnership with the organization that runs CES. Also: CES 2025: The 17 most impressive products you don’t want to missThe Ultraloq Bolt Mission lock is smart enough to know when a user is on the indoor or exterior side of the door. In addition to UWB, the Ultraloq Bolt Mission also supports NFC-enabled devices to unlock it. This allows you to unlock your door with a single tap of your compatible phone or smartwatch. It is initially compatible with Android phones, but U-Tec, the company behind Ultraloq, plans to support Apple Home Key.Doesn’t require a separate hubSince the lock connects to Wi-Fi, it doesn’t require a separate hub but supports Matter over Thread. The lock can connect and conserve battery over a low-power connection if you already have a Matter gateway with Thread support at home. The Matter over Thread connection can extend the battery life to a year. With Wi-Fi only, the eight AA batteries inside the lock can offer about six months of use. More

Lance Whitney/ZDNETGoogle is capturing the items and areas that most interest you and turning them into AI-generated podcasts for your listening pleasure. Now rolling out to iOS and Android users, a new experimental feature called Daily Listen will feature daily podcasts hosted by two AI bots.How Daily Listen worksTo generate the content, Google will use subjects that you search for as well as news stories that appear in your Discover feed.Summarizing your top topics through AI, each daily podcast will run for about five minutes, according to The Verge. The audio will provide scrubber controls to let you play, pause, mute, go back, or jump ahead to the next story. A text transcript will also appear so you can read the summaries as well.Also: The best AI tech of CES 2025″Hey there, and welcome to your Daily Listen, a new experimental audio show by Google,” one of the AI hosts announces in a trailer for the new podcast. “We’re your hosts, powered by AI and prepared to deliver a quick update each day exclusively for you. It’s personalized to your interests, so we’ll cover the topics you follow and the things you search often. The show features info from across the web and will include related stories so you can easily keep exploring.” More

ESR/ZDNETESR has unveiled a new affordable iPad stylus option at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and it looks super promising for the price. Also: CES 2025: The 15 most impressive products so farESR’s Geo Digital PencilApple’s popular Apple Pencil lineup is often the first choice for many iPad users, but they aren’t the most affordable, ranging upwards of $130 for the newest Pencil Pro. And while there are certainly alternatives on the market, ESR just shook it up with its latest release at CES 2025.ESR’s Geo Digital Pencil is equipped with Apple-certified FindMy integration, which means you won’t have to worry about losing or misplacing your stylus. A simple tap of a button will allow for easy location, “blending high performance, peace of mind, and functionality perfect for creative professionals,” according to ESR. Apple Pencil alternativeThe stylus is widely compatible with all iPad models released after 2018 (excluding iPad 10th Gen for magnetic attachment), making it an affordable choice for plenty of iPad users. More