Robotics

Chartchai Sansaneeyashewin/Getty Images Windows 11 is about to celebrate its fourth anniversary and runs on hundreds of millions of PCs worldwide. When it debuted in 2021, the new version of Microsoft’s flagship operating system was arguably an incremental change to Windows 10, with a fresh look and feel on top of core code that was […] More

Erikona/Getty Images Our story begins, as many stories do, with a man and his AI. The man, like many men, is a bit of a geek and a bit of a programmer. He also needs a haircut. The AI is the culmination of thousands of years of human advancement, all put to the service of […] More

filo/Getty Images You’ve probably been there before: there’s a song stuck in your head and you can’t remember the words, or you hear a song that you want to remember but don’t know the name. Fortunately, it’s never been easier to identify music around you if you have an Android phone.  All but one of […] More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETA friend of mine recently told me, “I always keep my phone on silent mode… which doesn’t matter because I compulsively look at it every three minutes anyway.”He’s not the only one. From becoming a text addict to having full-blown smartphone dependency, the urge to look at and interact with our “flat things” has been deeply ingrained into our collective behavior for some time now.Also: I ditched my phone for this E Ink handset for two weeks – here’s my buying advice nowMonitoring your phone to check whenever it lights up seems innocent enough — a minor habit, utterly devoid of consequence. But is this seemingly harmless gesture actually working against you, subtly undermining your privacy, focus, and even your phone’s longevity?Placing your phone face down is a small change that can have surprising ripple effects on your digital well-being and device health. Here are five solid arguments for putting your phone to bed, screen-first.1. Reclaim your privacy Every notification that pops up on your screen is a potential billboard for anyone within viewing distance. A text from your significant other, a banking alert, an email from work — these fleeting glimpses can offer more information than you intend to share. When your phone is face up, your private world is literally on display. Even with a quick glance, someone nearby might catch a snippet of a sensitive message or a confidential meeting reminder.I’m not a hyper-vigilant, paranoid type, but identity security is a real thing. Placing your phone face down instantly shuts this window into your digital life, keeping your personal business, well, personal. It’s a simple, effective privacy shield in an increasingly exposed world. More

How do I install the iPadOS 26 public beta?Once Apple releases the public beta of iPadOS 26, you will not need to go through the above steps to to test the developer beta. Instead, you can follow the steps below. You’ll need an iPad running iPadOS 16.4 or later.Go to your iPad’s Settings and select General.Tap Software Update.Enable Beta Updates by choosing the iPadOS version you’d like to access.Select iPadOS 26 Public Beta. Your iPad will then receive automatic updates to the latest public beta version as it’s released. Which iPads are compatible with iPadOS 26? You’ll need an iPad with iPadOS 16.4 or later, which means one of these models: iPad Pro (M4)iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or later)iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)iPad Air (M3)iPad Air (M2)iPad Air (3rd generation and later)iPad (A16)iPad (8th generation and later)iPad Mini (A17 Pro)iPad Mini (5th generation and later)Also: Every iPad model that supports iPadOS 26 (and which ones won’t be compatible) When will iPadOS 26 release? Apple released the third developer beta of iPadOS 26 on July 7, exclusively for registered developers. The public beta is expected to go live in July, opening up early access to anyone to test. The final general release is slated for this fall, most likely in September. Also: Apple just gave me a compelling reason to ditch my MacBook for an iPad. Here’s why What to do before installing the iPadOS 26 developer beta? You can always join the Apple Beta program to get the latest beta versions of iPadOS. Before you download a beta version of an operating system, keep these housekeeping items in mind: Back up your device and personal information.Don’t download beta software, which will likely have bugs and glitches, on your everyday iPad.Beta versions are released so you can test new features and share feedback to improve iPadOS.How to submit beta feedback to AppleBy the time the public beta is released, Apple will have two beta versions of iPadOS: iPadOS 26 public beta and iPadOS 26 developer beta. Both come with a built-in Feedback Assistant app, which can be opened from the Home screen on your iPad. When you experience an issue or something does not work as expected, send your feedback directly to Apple with Feedback Assistant.Editor’s note: This article was originally published in June 2025. It was fact-checked and thoroughly updated on July 8, 2025.Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter. More

Jiojio/Getty Images Business is on a never-ending quest to boost efficiency, cut costs, and increase productivity. Some of the earliest known businesses — ancient Mesopotamian traders — inspired the invention of writing. (Record keeping — now that’s a competitive advantage!) Similar needs have existed in every economic period. The big difference now is that AI technology […] More

Wong Yu Liang/Getty Almost two-thirds (63%) of organizations are unsure they have the right data management practices for AI, according to research firm Gartner. This lack of readiness has an impact: the analyst predicts 60% of organizations will abandon AI projects through 2026. Also: 5 ways to be a great AI agent manager, according to […] More

How do I install the MacOS 26 public beta?Once Apple releases the public beta of MacOS 26, you will not need to go through the above steps to to test the developer beta. Instead, you can enroll your Apple ID in Apple’s Beta Software Program and:Open System Settings > General > Software Update.Click “Beta Updates” and select “MacOS 26 Public Beta.”Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install.Then you’ll begin receiving automatic software updates to the latest public beta version of MacOS 26.Which Macs are compatible with MacOS 26?You’ll need a Mac with Apple Silicon (not Intel) running MacOS 15, which is generally from after 2020. Here’s the complete list of compatible models: MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)MacBook Pro (16‑inch, 2019)MacBook Pro (13‑inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)iMac (2020 and later)Mac mini (2020 and later)Mac Studio (2022 and later)Mac Pro (2019 and later)My Mac isn’t on that list, but I’m running Sequoia. Is it compatible?Unfortunately, some Macs from 2020 or before that are compatible with Sequoia won’t work with MacOS 26. The following models fall into that category: MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019)iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2019)iMac Pro (2017)Mac mini (2018)When will MacOS 26 release?Apple released the developer beta series during WWDC 2025 and seeded beta 3 (build 25A5306g) on July 7, 2025. The public beta is expected to drop in July, with the final general release launching this September.What should I do before installing the MacOS 26 beta?You can always join the Apple Beta program to get the latest beta versions of MacOS. Before you download a beta version of an operating system, keep these housekeeping items in mind:Also: MacOS 26 envy? 4 best features that Windows PC users can already useBack up your device and personal information.Don’t download beta software, which will likely have bugs and glitches, on your everyday Mac. Beta versions are released so you can test new features and share feedback to improve MacOS.How to submit feedback to AppleBy the time the public beta is released, Apple will have two beta versions: MacOS 26 public beta and MacOS 26 developer beta. Both betas come with a built-in Feedback Assistant app. Whenever you experience an issue or something does not work as expected, send your feedback directly to Apple with Feedback Assistant.Also: Your Mac is about to get a huge Spotlight upgrade – finallyEditor’s note: This article was originally published in June 2025. It was fact-checked and thoroughly updated on July 8, 2025.Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter. More