Robotics

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Google Pixel 9a is the latest midrange phone from the company and retails for $499. It features a new Tensor G4 chip, helpful AI tools, an improved main camera, and the largest battery of any Pixel. You’ll have to settle for some budget trade-offs, including the lack of a telephoto […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETA new PC or Mac is a major purchase. Buying a high-quality device that’s built to perform well and last for years can easily cost you $1,500 or more. How much more? Well, Microsoft’s most expensive business laptop costs roughly $3,000, and a fully loaded MacBook Pro tops out at a cool $4,000.But you don’t have to pay those sticker prices. With a little preparation and some patience, you can save up to 50% off those high price tags without sacrificing quality. That’s especially important these days, because PCs and Macs are typically made in China and are subject to supply chain disruptions and tariffs that can make pricing uncertain, to say the least. Also: If you’re planning to upgrade your phone, you might want to buy one now – here’s whyOver the years, I’ve bought dozens of PCs and have learned a few tricks that I share in this article. I’m partial to Dell PCs and Surface devices, and I always have at least one Mac in my office, but the information here should apply to any vendor.1. Do your homework earlyIf you wait until your old PC or Mac is dead or dying, your money-saving options are limited. Your selection (and price) will be whatever is available to fill the empty space on your desktop where that defunct device used to sit.A better strategy? Give yourself a few months to do some research while your aging PC is still useful. That gives you time to check specs and read reviews so you can assemble a short list of devices you might want to buy as a replacement. Armed with that short list, you can then begin watching prices to see when deals appear.Also: How to upgrade an ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11Apple rarely marks its merchandise down, but you can occasionally get a discount from a third-party seller. The AppleInsider Price Guides are a good resource for tracking those bargains.If you’re looking for a Windows PC, on the other hand, you have a much better chance of finding discounts on all but the newest, most supply-constrained devices. Resellers, including the Microsoft Store Online More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Oukitel WP200 Pro is currently available for $599 on the company’s website and will soon be sold via Amazon. A detachable Bluetooth earpiece with a touch screen that also attaches to a watchband makes this phone incredibly fun. The WP200 Pro is very heavy. –> Oukitel has produced some of […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Sony Ult Field 3 speaker is a mid-range powerhouse with great sound and ample bass. With a 24-hour battery life and features that encourage speaker syncing, the Ult Field 3 would be perfect for regular hosts and music lovers. I can’t think of anything wrong with this incredible speaker, and […] More

Apple / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET”May you live in interesting times” is a phrase often attributed as a Chinese curse. In reality, the phrase can be traced back to Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen, who was the British ambassador to China in 1936. In his 1949 book, Diplomat in Peace and War, he attributes the phrase to something a friend told him. The friend apparently told him of the so-called Chinese curse before Ambassador Knatchbull-Hugessen took his posting in China.Also: Worried about a $2,300 iPhone? How US tariffs are causing tech buyers to scrambleThe irony of the phrase, of course, is that “interesting times” sounds like a nice thing to say, but it could be interpreted as a dark way of wishing someone to live in times of trouble and unrest. We, dear reader, are living in interesting times. The tariff unknownsAs you are undoubtedly aware, tariffs are at the top of the economic news. My wife and I have run our small businesses together for a very long time, through a number of recessions and periods of economic unrest. I even wrote a book, The Flexible Enterprise, which talked about how to run a business that is responsive and agile, particularly in response to economic forces. Also: Why I returned to the Apple Watch after a four-year hiatusWhile we have been tracking the tariffs issue fairly closely, the news that China is being hit with 125% tariffs was at the top of today’s planning meeting agenda. Tariffs applied to other countries were also of concern because we do not know how vendors will respond to these sweeping economic changes. We also do not know how long the tariffs will last or whether there will be lasting price increases even if they are withdrawn. (Update: Since publishing, the US has announced a 90-day pause on tariffs, lowering rates for some countries to 10% and raising China from 104% to 125%.)I purchase a lot of robotic motion control equipment from Turkey-based vendor Edelkrone. Turkey was only hit with 10% tariffs, but Edelkrone’s response has been to eat those costs so it does not pass the added rates on to its customers. From a consumer point of view, this is great, but I worry about the company. It is a small company with a very niche product and a high cost of goods, and it is unclear how long it can withstand a hit to its margins like this.Also: Why Temu’s bargain prices are about to hit a tariff wallAnd then we get to Apple. Apple produces its gear in many countries. The Mac Studio, which is my main production machine, may be produced in Malaysia, but many of the components, and rare earth minerals, come from China. Malaysian goods have been hit by 24% tariffs while, as I said, China’s rate is now 104%.Mission-critical machineMy M1 Max-based Mac Studio has started feeling its age. I have been experiencing slow-downs during video production and 3D modeling, and last month when I tried to modify a complex model to prepare it for 3D printing, the machine slowed down to an unusable crawl.Even so, last month when Apple introduced the new M4 Mac Studio, I said I was going to wait. I wanted to see how the year turned out financially for my small business before plunking down $5,300 for an upgrade.Also: I spent $4K on my Mac Studio 3 years ago – should I upgrade to the 2025 model?But then, there are the tariffs.My wife and I discussed this. We know that I need a new machine. Let us be clear. This is not a hobby or an optional purchase. I make the bulk of my living through my main desktop machine. Yes, I have a bunch of other machines, including some Windows machines and Linux boxes, but my day-to-day production income is produced using that machine. It is a mission-critical device. I initially wanted to delay an upgrade because $5,300 is a lot of money, and I thought I could limp by for another six months or so. That strategy made sense before the imposition of the new tariffs. What would happen if I waited to upgrade?Here is the question we discussed at length. If I wait to buy an upgrade, will that $5,300 machine cost me nearly $11,000? Also: Are tariffs about to make your next iPhone way more expensive? It’s complicatedThe jurisdictional basis for Mac Studio tariffs is not clear. The M1 Mac Studio is made in Malaysia, but the shipping tracking information for my machine said the unit I ordered back in 2022 was shipped from China. Some other users have reported that their Mac Studios ship from China if the configuration ordered is not the base configuration. My Mac Studio is far from a base configuration, so there is a good chance the new one will also be assembled in China. This level of uncertainty is troubling. For my own decision, I had to factor in that while I do not want to spend $5,300 now, it is a necessary business expense. For the economy as a whole, uncertainty is a key component that fosters recession, and the more uncertain we all are, the more the economy will likely contract.While $5,300 is a stretch financially, double that would be an unreachable expense. Even if the tariffs were calculated based on Malaysian tariff surcharges, the new machine would cost me north of $6,500. More

Samsung Samsung just announced three new gaming monitors to join its impressive lineup, and they come with a sweet deal: a $300 gift card from Best Buy if you pre-order now.  If you’ve been looking for a new gaming monitor, Samsung’s got you covered with two new models and a refresh of its 49-inch curved […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Asus ProArt P16 is available now, starting at $1,900. It pairs powerful hardware with a suite of customizable options designed for creatives. The deep personalization requires engagement from the user, the huge trackpad won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, and the ultra-glossy display tends to glare. more buying choices Asus’ […] More

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETSince I made the jump to Linux all those years ago, I have never once found myself missing out on applications. Sure, there have been moments early on when I thought there were better options available on other platforms, but those days are in the past. Now, I have everything I need, and every app works exactly as expected.Before I continue, know this: I do not only define “productivity” as it relates to business, because I believe that is being shortsighted. Productivity can be applied to personal and even creative endeavors. And because much of my life revolves around creativity, being productive in that arena is pretty important to me. Also: I have used Linux for 30 years. Here are 5 reasons why I will never switch to Windows or MacOSWith that said, I want to share with you my favorite Linux apps I use to stay productive. 1. LibreOffice Office suite More