Robotics

Cyber threats were once limited to suspicious links, spam, and pop-ups. Now, we have to be aware of sophisticated malware, ransomware, malicious websites, and sketchy mobile apps. Android faces more cyberattacks than iOS. While Google recommends that you only download apps from the official Play Store, sometimes malicious apps slip through the security net. On top of that, the internet is full of dangerous software that could infiltrate your handset. Keeping your smartphone or Android tablet malware-free may require a trustworthy antivirus app. Thankfully, plenty of options are around.What is the best Android antivirus software right now?The best Android antivirus app right now is Bitdefender Mobile Security More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Elevation’s TagVault keychain and security cable are available now for $20 and $25 respectively. They’re robust, made of hard composite fiber and quality fasteners, and fit AirTags perfectly, with no rattling. Enclosing your AirTags will inevitably reduce the volume of their chirping. –> I make no secret of the fact that […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Amazon Basics’ 15-in-1 stainless steel multitool is available at Amazon for about $17. 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 […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETI’ve spent large portions of my life looking for ways to extend the battery life on my Android phones. Admittedly, that sounds rather dramatic, but growing up with only budget models meant I was constantly tweaking device settings to squeeze every bit of juice out of their batteries. Thanks to this micromanaging, I successfully pushed the batteries on all my past smartphones to their absolute limit. I don’t want to hoard this knowledge to myself, so I’ve decided to share it with everyone.Also: I changed 10 settings on my Pixel phone for an instant performance boostThere are many different methods for saving battery life. However, there are 12 key settings that you can change right now to see improvements immediately. The following list highlights the most effective, easiest, and quickest tweaks to improve device longevity regardless of the Android phone you’re rocking, whether it’s the latest model from Samsung or a fancy Google Pixel. Plus, you won’t have to sacrifice the high-quality experience of using your phone.Although the power settings are practically the same on every Android phone you can buy, the process for adjusting them can vary between devices. Be sure to keep this factor in mind when following the steps I lay out because the approach might be slightly different depending on the model you’re using.1. Turn off the always-on displayOne of the biggest battery drainers for any smartphone is the always-on display. Companies regularly tell you that this display setting only drains about 1% to 2% an hour, but let’s be honest — it’s always way more. It may be nice to glance at your phone while it sits on a table to check the time, but it’s probably not worth sacrificing battery life.Also: How to factory reset your Android phone without unlocking it firstHow to: Open the Settings app and locate the Lock Screen portion. You’ll likely find this portion in the main Settings list or under “Display.” From there, locate the option to “always show info” or a simple toggle to enable the Always On Display. Either way, turn the option off and check to make sure your screen goes completely blank when you lock it.2. Enable Adaptive BatteryThere’s a handy feature built into Androids called Adaptive Battery, and it’s available on most devices. Adaptive Battery can automatically manage your phone’s performance and efficiency in the background using special processes to extend your battery life. For example, when you don’t need maximum performance for something simple like scrolling through your inbox, the setting will throttle things down and save you some juice.How to: Go to Settings > Battery > Adaptive preferences and check to ensure “Adaptive battery” is enabled. If it’s not, flick it on. More

Chris Bayer/ZDNETIn 2005, about 3.3 million cars sold that year included at least one USB port. Twenty years later, more than 200 million cars have embedded connectivity outlets (USB-A), and these days, a significant portion of them have USB-C ports. Some vehicles have as many as nine ports! Even many newer-model motorcycles have USB outlets.Also: Finally, I found an Android Auto adapter that’s highly functional, lag-free, and priced wellUsually situated on the front or rear consoles (and sometimes inside the glove compartment), USB ports offer more than just a way to charge devices. They enable music playback, phone connectivity, access to navigation systems, and more. I’ve put together a few common — and maybe not-so-common — ways you can utilize the ports in your car, along with some helpful notes. More

Getty Images / SOPA Images / Contributor A few years ago, LinkedIn users mostly relied on text posts, accompanied by the occasional photo, to network with other working professionals. However, since vertical video exploded in popularity with the rise of TikTok, LinkedIn quickly added video sharing — and now it is expanding its offering further […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Crucial X10 portable SSD is available now, starting at $139 for the 1TB version. It’s a super small SSD drive that will go anywhere, and the IP65 rating means that it can shrug off rain and dirt. It’s not exactly cheap, as the durability comes with a cost. –> SSDs […] More

Opera / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETOpera has announced that it will release one of the first agentic browsers. Called Neon, this browser will serve two purposes: use AI to automatically perform tasks for users, and serve as an AI playground for future development.Also: Opera’s Android browser just got a major tab management upgradeThe purpose of an agentic browser is to use AI agents to understand user intent, automate complex tasks, and act on behalf of the user. Agentic browsers move from being a passive tool to access information to an active digital assistant. Not the first NeonThis isn’t the first time Opera has released a browser called Neon. Nearly a decade ago, the company released a concept browser that was intended to serve as an experimental platform for testing new ideas and user interface innovations.Also: The best secure browsers for privacy: Expert testedThis time around it’s all about AI, and Opera Neon will be able to work with you or for you to help you get things done. The announcement by Opera comes on the heels of Google’s I/O, where they announced Shopping Mode for Chrome, which uses AI to tie into a user’s searches. Opera Neon will go farther than that. According to Henrik Lexow, senior AI product director at Opera, during the Opera Neon press briefing:”We’re at a point where AI can fundamentally change the way we use the internet and perform all sorts of tasks in the browser. Opera Neon brings this to our users’ fingertips. We see it as a collaborative platform to shape the next chapter of agentic browsing together with our community.” More