Robotics

niphon/Getty Images If you are seeking an alternative to corporate life, self-employment — sometimes called “solopreneuring” — may be the answer for you. You can ply your software development, design, or business skills as an independent contractor — and make a decent living.  Or, taking it a step further, you can build your own company […] More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETPutting on Project Moohan, an upcoming XR headset developed by Google, Samsung, and Qualcomm, for the first time felt strangely familiar. From twisting the head-strap knob on the back to slipping the standalone battery pack into my pants pocket, my mind was transported back to February 2024, when I tried on the Apple Vision Pro on launch day. Also: I tried Google’s XR glasses and they already beat my Meta Ray-Bans in 3 waysOnly this time, the headset was powered by Android XR, Google’s newest operating system built around Gemini, the same AI model that dominated the Google I/O headlines throughout this week. The difference in software was immediately noticeable — from the home grid of Google apps like Photos, Maps, and YouTube (which VisionOS still lacks) to prompting for Gemini instead of Siri with a long press of the headset’s multifunctional key. Designed to compete with Vision ProWhile my demo with Project Moohan lasted only about 10 minutes, it gave me a clear understanding of how it’s challenging Apple’s Vision Pro and how Google, Samsung, and Qualcomm plan to convince the masses that the future of spatial computing does, in fact, live in a bulkier space-helmet-like device. For starters, there’s no denying that the industrial designers of Project Moohan drew some inspiration from the Apple Vision Pro. I mentioned a few of the hardware similarities already, but the general aesthetic and hand feel of the XR headset would easily pass as one made in Cupertino — only it’s much better than the Vision Pro. More

Google began rolling out AI Mode in Search earlier this year, and the feature will now be widely available in the US, with no Labs sign-up required. It’ll come with some new capabilities, too.Deep Search in AI Mode, for example, expands the number of background queries from tens to hundreds to put together a more robust and thought-out search response. The result is a fully cited report that Google says will take just minutes to research and create.Also: Your Google Search experience will never be the same, thanks to 8 new AI featuresFor visual assistance, the Google Search experience is also getting Project Astra’s multimodal capabilities, so users can simply point their camera at an object or setting and ask about it like they would with a Google image search. There’s also a new AI Mode shopping experience that helps you find inspirations, narrow down buying options, and see yourself in an outfit (via image generator) when you upload an image of yourself.Project Mariner’s agentic functions will also transfer to AI Mode, allowing users to prompt Google to find the best event ticket deals or book restaurant appointments. While the AI won’t complete the purchase for you, it will present multiple options, including the one that best fits your inquiry (say you searched for the cheapest option), for you to approve.Finally, Google has expanded AI Overviews to over 200 countries and territories, and more than 40 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Malay, Urdu, and more. More

Jason Hiner/ZDNETThe Apple Watch Ultra 2 More

OnePlus Buds Pro 3 OnePlus/ZDNETYou don’t have to shell out the big bucks for studio-grade audio. Plenty of top-notch headphones and earbuds cost less than $200, such as the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 More

Current price: $200Original price: $250The nice thing about buying one of Oura’s earlier model smart rings is you’ll get the same app and software experience — just a different form factor and one less day of battery life. If prospective Oura Ring buyers don’t mind this, they should opt for the Oura Ring 3, which has reduced its price by around 20% since the Oura Ring 4’s debut.The Oura Ring tracks your daily sleep, stress, activity, and readiness to deliver scores, insights, and recommendations. It’s a great health tracker for people looking to optimize their sleep and activity routine, but who want gentle recommendations and encouragements that won’t make them feel bad about a poor night of sleep or a day of low activity. It’s constantly innovating with new features, like a Cardiovascular Age feature that tells you if your physiological age is ahead, behind, or at your chronological age. Plus, it partners with other health brands, like Dexcom, so you can keep track of your glucose levels on the Oura app if you use its Stelo continuous glucose monitor. The smart ring is compatible with Android and iOS phones, so everybody can use it to capture data. The only downside of an Oura Ring is its $70 annual subscription (which is not on sale) to unlock all that data it collects and displays. The Ring Gen 3 is also an sale in select finishes and sizes at Oura.  More

When is Memorial Day? Memorial Day in the US is on Monday, May 26, and while most of the event’s deals happen during the weekend, major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Target often start listing them earlier.How did I choose these Memorial Day deals? I focused on deals that not only saved you a notable amount of money (especially if it’s on a phone that typically isn’t discounted) but were on devices that I’ve personally tested and recommended. Whether it’s a non-Pro iPhone or a budget Android device, I’ve spent enough time throughout the market to know what’s truly worth investing in.What are the tariffs in the US? The recent US tariffs on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India aim to boost domestic manufacturing but are likely to drive up prices on consumer electronics. Products like smartphones, laptops, and TVs may become more expensive as companies rethink global supply chains and weigh the cost of shifting production.CNET: Tariff Pricing Tracker: We’re Watching 11 Products You Might Need to BuyThe new US tariffs also hit laptops and PCs hard, with import duties potentially increasing prices by up to 35%. Many major brands still rely on Chinese and Vietnamese factories for assembly, meaning consumers could soon pay significantly more for everything from budget Chromebooks to high-end gaming rigs. These tariffs may accelerate efforts to move production to regions like Mexico or India, but shoppers can expect higher costs and fewer discounts in the short term.What are the best Memorial Day 2025 deals?ZDNET’s experts are searching through Memorial Day deals across retailers to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.    More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Twelve South ButterFly SE is available for $100 in Midnight Plum, Iridescent, White, Black, and Pink. This charging station is highly compact, making it ideal for travelers and habitual end-of-night nightstand charging folks. You can only charge two devices at the same time, which may not be enough power for […] More