Robotics

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETMacOS has several handy features you might not know about. One such feature is Smart Folders. You create these virtual folders (they’re saved searches rather than actual folders) and configure exactly what you want to store in them, and MacOS will continuously update the folder as files are created or saved that match the criteria.Let me explain with an example. Say, for instance, you create and save a lot of documents with different applications and want a folder that makes it easy for you to quickly access those documents. Also: I thought MacOS 15.4.1 was a minor update until it made my iMac better in 4 big waysInstead of you having to manually save those documents in a specific location, smart folders will automatically categorize and display those files.You can even get more specific with smart folders. Suppose you regularly create, save, or open documents containing the word Recipe. You could create a smart folder specifically for that. Open the folder and you’ll see all your documents that contain Recipe. That’s pretty handy.You can create smart folders based on:Last opened dateLast modified dateCreated dateNameContentsAuthorsAuthor email addressCityCodecsColor profileComposerContact keywordsDurationFile sizeFontsFull NameGenreGroupHeadlineAnd much more More

Adam Breeden/ZDNETAmazon confirmed on April 29 that its annual July Prime Day event will return this summer. Despite looming tariffs and potential increased prices, Amazon is full steam ahead on its first Prime Day event of the year. Also: Amazon just confirmed its July Prime Day sale will be back, despite looming tariffsAmazon just wrapped up its second annual Big Spring Sale in March, which was extended from five days in 2024 to seven days this year. In a similar fashion, some early leaks suggest that Prime Day will be extended from the usual two days to four days as well. Though Amazon has not publicly announced the dates of the 2025 July Prime Day event or commented on the length of the sale, competing retailers already take advantage of similar savings events that extend prior to, during, and after the dates Amazon selects. Also: Sorry shoppers, Amazon says tariff cost feature ‘Is not going to happen’In 2024, Prime Day ran from July 16 to July 17. I’ve covered plenty of sale cycles over the last few years, and I’m placing my best estimate for this year’s Prime Day event to land either from July 8-9 or July 15-16 — after Fourth of July, but not too late into the month. It’s typically a two-day sale running on a Tuesday and a Wednesday. If Amazon chooses to extend it like with their Big Spring Sale, I’d expect more days to save within the same weeks as those dates. We’ll have to wait and see. What is Amazon Prime Day?Prime Day is Amazon’s flagship sale event, and it happens twice a year: July and October. Shoppers can expect tons of savings across nearly every product category on the site, including popular Amazon products. Typically, Prime members can shop for new deals that are refreshed throughout the event and partake in exclusive invite-only deals. Plus, market competition with Prime Day has turned the month of July into a true shopping extravaganza that mimics holiday-like sales in the heat of the summer, making it a great time to be a consumer. I’ll be keeping up with all the best Prime Day news through the end of the sale, so be sure to keep up with our team on ZDNET.com. We’ll be updating the site with all the details you need to shop savvy — including the best deals on products we’ve personally tested and would recommend.  More

neirfy/Getty Images Research suggests almost everyone wants an AI agent — they’re the coolest thing since sliced data. But what exactly are these agents doing within enterprises? In many cases, their job may be to help build even more agents. In most instances, agents help IT departments manage system performance, presumably including the technical underpinnings […] More

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETThe MacBook Air with the M4 chip is only a few months old, but Apple has already dropped its pricing in hopes of keeping consumers’ attention on Apple products, especially with this latest dose of economic uncertainty. Apple’s MacBook line of laptops aren’t historically known for being the most cost-friendly options out there, but right now, that reputation might not apply. Case in point: the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 More

Jada Jones/ZDNETIf you want a pair of premium headphones that deliver impeccable sound, all-day comfort, and a sleek design, consider picking up the Sonos Ace, especially while they’re on sale. These headphones retail for $449 but are now $349 at Sonos More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Shokz OpenDots One are the company’s first clip-on earbuds, available in Black and Grey for $199. They sport a comfortable, nondescript design with Shokz’s industry-leading bone conduction audio technology. However, the earbuds’ touch controls are unreliable and awkward to use. –> I used to not be a Shokz believer; the […] More

Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) Maria Diaz/ZDNETIf you have an older Google Nest thermostat, it might be losing its smart capabilities later this year. In a post last week on the official support blog, Google announced that it would end support for three thermostat models: The original first-generation Nest Learning Thermostat from 2011, the second-generation Nest Learning Thermostat that followed a year later in 2012, and the second generation of the European version of the Nest Learning Thermostat from 2014. No more smart featuresNot only is Google stopping future software updates for those devices, it is pulling all smart features. The thermostats will still work, including existing schedules, and you can continue to control the temperature and set schedules directly on the device, Google says, but you will not be able to control anything with the Nest app or Google Assistant. Support ends on Oct. 25, 2025. No other devices are affected at this time. An olive branchTo lessen the blow a little, Google is making an offer to affected customers. If you are still using one of these thermostats, Google will send you a $130 off promo code to purchase the fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat (which ZDNET’s Maria Diaz called “a beautiful piece of tech that works” and one that “you can count on working for years — or maybe even decades”). With an MSRP of $280, that cuts the price to $150. Google said it was making the change to “fully invest” in the latest generation of thermostats. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways SDesk is available now, free of charge, and you can install it on as many computers as you need. It’s a fast and dependable Linux distribution with a user interface that anyone will be instantly familiar with. I experienced some minor issues during my setup, which were simple to resolve. –> […] More