Robotics

 A decent drill is still a must-have in my opinion, especially one that can do triple duty — drill into wood and metal, hammer drill into concrete, and also drive screwdriver bits.I prefer cordless tools not only because they are more convenient, but also because I won’t trip and fall over the cord. For the screwdriving job, my brand of choice has got to be Dewalt. Its tools are durable, last years of use and abuse (this drill has been used as a hammer more than once!), and are reasonably priced. This 20V Max Cordless Drill Driver is currently priced at $100 (and discounted by $60). It offers two speeds, a 2.0Ah battery, and comes packed with a charger.  More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETPixel phones have an excellent reputation for smart software, but battery life has been a common complaint with Google’s smartphones. Thankfully, that same smart software is now improving battery life and longevity, though many features aren’t set up for maximum endurance out of the box. I’ve found that a handful of features can dramatically improve how long your Pixel lasts, both in a single day and over the long haul.Also: 6 hidden Android features that make my life easier – and that you’re overlookingHere are the battery tweaks I rely on with my Pixel, and how you can set them up for the best results.1. Use Battery Saver and Extreme Battery Saver modes More

Stocktrek Images/Getty Images The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, the first stealth aircraft, had a striking design driven by radar invisibility rather than intimidation. Its flat, triangular surfaces minimized radar detection but caused instability in yaw, pitch, and roll — the three dimensions of flight control. Most aircraft are designed to be stable, allowing pilots to easily […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETThe Google Pixel 9a might be the best-value phone of 2025, especially now that it brings flagship-level AI tools, a bright 120Hz display, and a massive battery into a more affordable price tier. But, just like any Pixel phone, the best features often aren’t enabled by default. Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2025These tips are based on a Pixel 9a running Android 15. Depending on which Pixel model and Android version you’re using, the exact menu locations may vary slightly, but the settings themselves are widely available across recent Pixel generations. 1. Enable Smooth Display 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, on Samsung’s website, you can save nearly $2,000 on the flagship TV ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Also: Samsung Frame TV 2024 vs. 2023: Comparing the key differencesThe smallest 32-inch display More

Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images Michael Dell is pitching a “decentralized” future for artificial intelligence that his company’s devices will make possible.    “The future of AI will be decentralized, low-latency, and hyper-efficient,” predicted the Dell Technologies founder, chairman, and CEO in his Dell World keynote, which you can watch on YouTube. “AI will follow the […] More

Current price: $200Original price: $250The nice thing about buying one of Oura’s earlier model smart rings is you’ll get the same app and software experience — just a different form factor and one less day of battery life. If prospective Oura Ring buyers don’t mind this, they should opt for the Oura Ring 3, which has reduced its price by around 20% since the Oura Ring 4’s debut.The Oura Ring tracks your daily sleep, stress, activity, and readiness to deliver scores, insights, and recommendations. It’s a great health tracker for people looking to optimize their sleep and activity routine, but who want gentle recommendations and encouragements that won’t make them feel bad about a poor night of sleep or a day of low activity. It’s constantly innovating with new features, like a Cardiovascular Age feature that tells you if your physiological age is ahead, behind, or at your chronological age. Plus, it partners with other health brands, like Dexcom, so you can keep track of your glucose levels on the Oura app if you use its Stelo continuous glucose monitor. The smart ring is compatible with Android and iOS phones, so everybody can use it to capture data. The only downside of an Oura Ring is its $70 annual subscription (which is not on sale) to unlock all that data it collects and displays. The Ring Gen 3 is also an sale in select finishes and sizes at Oura.  More

Nina Raemont/ZDNETOura might be a stellar sleep tracker, but it hasn’t always been a reliable activity tracker. Reddit users under the r/ouraring subreddit regularly lament this situation, saying the Oura Ring miscounts steps during activities and workout sessions. One recent Reddit post called the step tracker “wildly inaccurate.” Also: I took these sleep trackers to bed to find out which is bestOura has seemingly listened to these complaints. The company has announced it is upgrading the smart ring’s step-tracking feature. That’s right: activity enhancements and upgrades are coming to the app, including new trends for viewing your active time, integrations from partners like Apple and Android for heart rate data, and more accurate calorie- and step-counting mechanisms. Let’s run through some of the activity upgrade highlights.  Improved accuracy for calorie and step counting The new step-counting algorithm functions like a pedometer to track movements and interpret steps. The algorithm should improve average daily step count errors; Oura said it cuts that metric by 61%. Additionally, users can expect to see 20% fewer steps logged with this updated algorithm.  Also: Oura Ring 3 vs Oura Ring 4: Opt for the older, discounted smart ring or the newest?Calorie tracking now considers movement intensity (heart rate zones). This update should allow the ring to accurately track calories burned during exercise, slashing median active calorie error by 53%, according to Oura. More