Robotics

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNETWorries over Trump tariffs and the end of support for Windows 10 both contributed to a rise in PC shipments during the first quarter of 2025, Gartner said Monday. In a new report, the research firm pegged the increase at 12.6% over the same quarter in 2024, totaling more than 16 million computers shipped over the past three months.Also: Windows 10 PC can’t be upgraded? You have 5 options and 6 months to take actionAs the Trump administration takes the US on a roller coaster ride of on-and-off tariffs, businesses have been unsure how to react. But in anticipation of new and severe tariffs, PC makers increased their inventory, resulting in more products available to individual and enterprise customers.At the same time, the end of support for Windows 10 in October is forcing more people to upgrade to Windows 11. With many older PCs unable to support Windows 11, consumers and companies alike have had to purchase replacement computers. Gartner’s data includes desktop and laptop PCs equipped with Windows, MacOS, or Chrome OS. However, the market remains on shaky ground as customers are cautious about their PC spending. Also: The best laptops: Expert tested and reviewed”In the US, the PC market experienced a surge in shipments as vendors increased inventory in anticipation of tariff announcements, resulting in 12.6% year-over-year growth,” Gartner research principal Rishi Padhi said in the report. “Despite this increase and the subsequent strong topline growth, underlying end-user demand remained cautious, even with the added boost from enterprises upgrading PCs for Windows 11.” More

Getty Images/NurPhoto/Contributor Last week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman teased that he was dropping a new feature. Paired with reports and spottings of new model art, many speculated it was the long-awaited release of the GPT-4.1 model. It turned out to be a massive ChatGPT update that introduced new memory capabilities — but now, OpenAI’s new family of […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Hoto 12-in-1 electric screwdriver is typically priced at $60, but is currently 30% off for $39. This electric screwdriver has a fast 220 RPM motor, two buttons for screwing in and out for ease of use, three torque settings for different tasks, a circular LED shadowless lamp for better visibility. […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETClosing your Apple Watch’s activity rings could be good for your health. That’s according to a new data analysis in the Apple Heart and Movement Study, which found positive associations between activity rings’ closure and sleep, heart health, and mental well-being. The analysis of data, contributed by more than 140,000 participants, found that people who regularly closed their activity rings were 48% less likely to wake up frequently during the night, 73% less likely to experience an elevated resting heart rate, and 57% less likely to report elevated stress. Also: The best Apple Watches of 2025While Apple’s Heart and Movement Study’s findings are new, the notion that exercise is good for your sleep, heart, and stress isn’t. Smartwatches and fitness trackers like the Apple Watch encourage healthy and active behavior through constant reminders and incentives to exercise and make health-minded lifestyle decisions. That’s especially top of mind ahead of the Apple Watch’s 10th anniversary on April 24. On the smartwatch’s birthday, Apple Watch users can earn a Global Close Your Rings Day limited-edition award and an animated sticker for Messages by closing their activity rings. Go on a bike ride, get your steps in on a long walk, or swim laps in a pool; then share your activity using #CloseYourRings on social media.  More

kutubQ/Getty Images For years, Ubuntu Server has been my go-to server operating system. It is one of the most widely used server OSs on the planet (especially when you add cloud deployments to the mix) and one of the most user-friendly server platforms available. To make Ubuntu Server even more appealing, you can download and […] More

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETWhen I attended my first Linux convention, a company named Loki Games had a booth that was rather popular. Linux users flocked to the booth to see if a company could bring to the operating system one thing it was sorely missing: Games.Also: The best VPN for gaming: Expert tested and reviewedLoki Games had already delivered several titles by porting them from Windows to Linux. I played several of those games (I still have a few, I believe) and found them to be very well done. The problem wasn’t the company’s ability but the users’ willingness to pay for their products. In the end, Linux users didn’t want to buy software. They had become so accustomed to getting all of their software for free that the idea of shelling out hard-earned cash was shocking. Loki Games failed. After that, gaming on Linux stumbled and stuttered. Sure, there was Wine, and with some effort, you could get games to play. I remember the first time I was able to play Diablo on Linux — what a thrill and, back then, an accomplishment.Also: How to install Steam on Linux to start playing thousands of gamesToday, there’s Steam, which makes gaming on Linux exponentially easier. Steam also makes a large number of games available for Linux. Some Linux distributions have also taken it upon themselves to make gaming as easy as possible for users, such as Bazzite. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Amazon Basics’ 15-in-1 stainless steel multitool is available at Amazon for $13. It’s a well-made 15-in-1 with a myriad of useful tools, and the price can’t be beat. Not every tool will be useful for everyone – I’ve never used a fish scaler or hook remover. –> I’ve been covering lots […] More

DrPixel/Getty Images Have you ever wanted to build your own custom application but didn’t want to take the time to do any of the pesky learning that software development requires? If so, a new experimental project from GitHub might just make your dreams come true. GitHub Spark lets you build what the company calls “micro […] More