Robotics

Qi Yang/Getty Images At this point in my life, I don’t feel the need to be productive 100% of the time. But during those times I am working hard, I need the right tools at the ready, whether I’m at my desk or on the go.  Standing at my desk or seated with my laptop, […] More

This base-model iPad is the best option for most students, and Apple recently reduced the price to a more affordable $349. It offers almost the same high-end features as the more expensive iPad Pro and iPad Air models, but with a lighter form factor and a crisp 10.9-inch Liquid Retina, True Tone display.Review: iPad 2022 (10th Gen)In his hands-on testing, ZDNET editor June Wan determined that if you’re shopping on a budget (as most students are), this iPad should “make the most sense,” especially given the A14 Bionic processor, USB-C support, 5G support for on-the-go tasks, and a new 12MP ultra-wide camera. There’s also a Magic Keyboard Folio made specifically for this iPad. It’s perfect for turning your tablet into a laptop for studying or essay writing. It includes an adjustable kickstand with a 14-key function row for shortcuts. However, one callout to note that some verified customers make is that this iPad doesn’t support the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, which means you’ll have to use a dongle to use it. However, students can still use the 1st-gen Apple Pencil or any other compatible iPad stylus. Apple iPad specs: Display: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone | Processor: A14 Bionic chip with 16-core Neural Engine | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Memory: Colors: Silver, Pink, Blue, Yellow  | Cameras: 12MP f/1.8 wide, 12MP Landscape f/2.4 front | Weight: 1.05 pounds | Dimensions: 9.79 x 7.07 x .28 inches | Connections: USB-C, Smart Connector |  More

Sure, you could use a traditional tablet to organize your calendar and to-do’s for 2025, but this smart notebook impressed us this year with its pen-to-paper-like feel and note-taking templates. Aside from the templates, there is audio recording, color-coding, inserting links and attachments to notes, and more. Plus, built-in artificial intelligence allows for text recognition, shape perfection, and a strike-through erase feature that makes erasing much easier.Review: I’ve been journaling on this color ePaper tablet for over a month – and it’s better than RemarkableDiaz also went hands-on with this device and called it “great for professionals and creatives,” adding, “it is perfect for note-takers who like handwriting, journalers, reading enthusiasts, and even designers.” More

Perplexity If you’re a college student looking to get hands-on experience in the world of AI, collaborate with other students around the world, and learn from industry leaders passionate about AI, you’ll want to be aware of Perplexity’s Campus Strategist program.  Perplexity is a leading name in AI these days, and the company says this […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETIt’s probably happened to you before: Your phone has received too many notifications, and as you instinctively tap on the “Clear all” button, you realize one or two of those alerts were actually very important. If you have a good memory, you’ll know exactly which apps and pathways to dig into to interact with those now-gone notifications. But if you’re like me, you’ll accept defeat, take a breather, and then remember that notification history exists.Also: How to enable notification history on your AndroidTo be clear, I’m not actually pitching Android’s “notification history” feature in this story; my colleague Jack Wallen already did a fantastic job breaking it all down, from how it works to setting it up. If you haven’t already turned on the feature — which logs all your notifications over the past 24 hours and automatically resets to preserve local storage — you absolutely should. More

ZDNETOne of the most fun applications of AI is using it to generate images because it can bring anything you can think of to life visually. OpenAI kicked off the image generation craze with the release of DALL-E 2, but since then, it has paywalled unlimited access to its latest model, DALL-E 3. Now, Microsoft is offering a workaround.On Wednesday, Microsoft unveiled several upgrades to its Bing Image Generator. The biggest standout is that it is now powered by OpenAI’s latest DALL-E 3 model, PR16. This will guarantee users an improved experience that is twice as fast and of higher quality.Also: The best AI image generators of 2024: Tested and reviewedThe experience is free and accessible on the Image Creator standalone site, which has now been redesigned to have a more intuitive, clean, and minimalistic UI for easier navigation. Previously, the site was black, pink, and slightly overwhelming, making this upgrade much welcome.Users can also create images directly from the Bing and Microsoft Edge search bar, making image creation even more accessible. All you have to do is type a prompt such as “create an image of [insert what you want generated]” into the search bar to get results. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways TCL’s 98-inch Class S5 Series TV is one of the most accessibly-priced TVs of its size, and it’s currently on sale for $1,500 off. Watching movies and TV shows on such a big display is as close to a theatre-like experience as one can get at home. With such a large […] More

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETWindows 11 has been around for a few years now, and if you were an early adopter like I was, there’s a good chance your computer has slowed down significantly since then. There are several reasons why a device’s performance may plummet. It could be the result of too many apps taking up resources, unoptimized settings, or even a virus infecting the hardware. The easiest thing you can do in the short term is restart your computer. A simple reboot restores the RAM and re-establishes connections.Also: The ultimate Windows 11 upgrade guide: Everything you need to knowBut to enjoy improved performance over the long term, you’ll need to alter how your computer operates. The advice I’m about to give you is all the things you can do right now to enhance your Windows 11 experience. And you won’t need to go into a device’s BIOS or download some random app from an unverified source; these changes can be made right from the system menus.1. Download the latest updates More