Robotics

I haven’t splurged on a red light therapy mask … yet. In the interim, though, I’ve become accustomed to the popular treatment with Solawave’s red light therapy wand. According to UCLA Health, red light can potentially reduce signs of aging, encourage hair regrowth, minimize acne, and more. Complete transparency — I never would have purchased this wand full price. I could scoop it up during an Ulta sale for half off, which made “trying it out” an easier pill to swallow. I’ve been using this consistently for about a year, and I think it helps with some factors like acne, dark marks, and wrinkles. However, you have to be consistent, using this wand for the recommended amount of time and cycles, and as much as possible, mainly because it isn’t designed for your entire face simultaneously. This little wand works wonders on fading particular scars and spots, plus it’s somewhat therapeutic to use thanks to a massage feature. But ultimately, I don’t feel the bulb size and design are ideal for actual benefits from red light therapy, so I’ll be upgrading to a mask soon. Other users on Reddit agree, saying it’s a nice handheld option that is more for the self-care experience, though some customers say it has helped with skin texture, appearance, and more. These tools are try at your own risk, but consulting a dermatologist with your questions or concerns before using at-home treatments of any kind is a good idea. Remember that, like anything, red light can have some risks, like mild pain or skin irritation, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association.  More

M3 iPad Air running iPadOS 26 Developer Beta. Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETMy biggest takeaway from WWDC 2025 is that I can finally use my iPad Air to its full potential. For the longest time, the iPad has been a product that I’ve wanted to add to my workflow but couldn’t due to its rigid operating system — one that doesn’t necessarily complement the iPad’s flexible hardware. But iPadOS 26 is finally bridging the gap between the Apple tablet and a computer.  Also: ZDNET’s WWDC 2025 recap with Sabrina Ortiz and Jason HinerI recently installed the first developer beta on my 13-inch M3 iPad Air to see if I could use it for my usual productivity workflow. The new multitasking system, better support for mouse or trackpad, an improved file management system, and subtle additions to the UI tell me yes. And within hours of usage, I could sense that iPadOS 26 is the update I’ve waited years for. (Note: Since I’m testing on the developer beta of iPadOS, this is more of a first-hand demonstration of its latest features, and not a review or testimonial. The experience using the software will likely undergo several more changes before it’s ready for the public.)Multitasking on the iPad gets a meaningful boost More

Jason Hiner/ZDNETApple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, is a momentous occasion for Apple fans. The tech giant held its keynote speech on Monday at Apple Park, with the full conference running through June 13. It also marks one year since the company entered the AI space with the announcement of Apple Intelligence.Also: ZDNET’s WWDC 2025 recap with Sabrina Ortiz and Jason HinerAs WWDC is a developer conference, the keynote focused on software. Apple revealed it’s planning to make sweeping UI changes to all its operating systems, add new features and apps, and enhance Apple Intelligence.  How to rewatch WWDC 2025 More

 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

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Valerion’s VisionMaster Pro 2 retails for $2,999. This premium-built laser TV projects up to a 300-inch screen. It’s still not ideal for brightly lit rooms (like all projectors). –> <!–> may / 2025 I chose the word “glorious” in the headline for this review because that word sprang to mind when […] More

Jason Cipriani/ZDNETAt least for one device, the battery problems that have plagued some Pixel phones may be ending – but the fix is coming at a price.According to Alex Moriconi, communications manager at Google (Pixel phones), Google will soon release an update that will purposefully limit the battery capacity of some Pixel 6a phones, hopefully also limiting issues with overheating.Also: 4 exciting features Google just announced for Android phones (and why they’re a big deal)In an emailed statement, Moriconi said, “A subset of Pixel 6A phones will require a mandatory software update to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating.” He went on to explain that the update will reduce the device’s battery capacity and charging performance after 400 charge cycles.When asked why only a “subset” of 6a devices were seemingly affected by this issue, Google didn’t offer any details. The issues weren’t rampant by any means, but I found several different reports from users saying their 6a devices caught on fire. There are almost certainly more reports than the ones publicly posted (I found plenty of reports of overheating), and given that Google is also having battery issues on other phones, it makes sense why it’s taking action. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Sabrent USB SSD 4-bay docking station is available now on Amazon for $80. This docking station makes adding external drives to your system a total plug-and-play affair. The case is plastic, so it feels a bit cheap but that doesn’t get in the way of performance. –> At Amazon, the […] More

[embedded content]Apple has established itself as a tech-giant with over 2.35 billion active devices worldwide. Much of the devices’ appeal lies in the operating systems underlying it — and that’s why Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference is always one to keep up with. At this year’s WWDC, Apple unveiled a slew of new features across iOS, MacOS, WatchOS, VisionOS, and iPadOS, including the first major iOS redesign in 13 years, which will give your iPhone an entirely new feel and look based on Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” motif inherited from the Vision Pro. And this year, the same redesign will propagate across all of Apple’s operating systems, which all get a common renaming scheme based on the year (iOS 26, MacOS 26, WatchOS 26, etc.). Catering to years of user requests, Apple also released highly anticipated iPadOS features geared toward iPad power users by making the iPad more like the Mac. And of course, there were plenty of Apple Intelligence updates. Also: Apple’s de-chatbot-ification of AI is nearly completeThe AI race is in full swing, with nearly every tech company competing to build the public’s AI tool of choice, and yet, Apple has been an outlier. Apple continues to take a different approach from competitors — but not necessarily in a bad way. To get a recap of all of the best announcements across the products, and learn more about Apple’s strategy towards Apple Intelligence and beyond, you can watch us (ZDNET Editor in Chief Jason Hiner and Senior AI Editor Sabrina Ortiz) talk through what we saw live at the event. You’ll also learn the list of features we can’t wait to install on our devices.At ZDNET we attend all of the major tech events, closely track tech trends, go hands-on with the newest products, and talk to experts everyday. We now want to share these insights and experiences with you and invite you to join in on conversations we would have if we could all be together in the same space. So watch the YouTube video and jump into the comments on YouTube or here on ZDNET and let us know your thoughts on WWDC 2025.This video is the first of many. More