Robotics

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds offer clear and strong sound, powerful noise cancellation, and a battery life that will last you your entire work week. The earbuds come with many improvements, like a Smart-Charging Case compatibility that plugs into in-flight entertainment or laptops for instant Bluetooth connectivity, as well as […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways At $12, this is the cheapest quality USB meter I’ve tested. It’s as accurate as meters that cost ten times as much. The display is on the small side, but it’s still completely readable. –> This $12 USB-C Power Meter<!–> has quickly become one of my absolute must-have tools. These little […] More

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETMicrosoft has been pushing people to upgrade to Windows 11 but it doesn’t want you running the OS on an unsupported system. For security reasons, only PCs with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 are supported by the latest version of Windows. To dissuade you from skipping past that requirement, the company has removed the steps for a Registry hack workaround from a Windows 11 support page.Also: Microsoft has a big Windows 10 problem, and it’s running out of time to solve itTitled “Ways to install Windows 11,” the page has been around for several years. The current version explains how to install the OS using Windows Update, the Installation Assistant, and a USB drive or DVD. However, a previous edition of the page also included steps for changing the Registry to bypass the TPM requirements, as spotted by Neowin.Seen through the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, a version of the page from Dec. 12, 2024, shows the following now missing information, albeit with several warnings from Microsoft:Warning: Microsoft recommends against installing Windows 11 on a device that does not meet the Windows 11 minimum system requirements. If you choose to install Windows 11 on a device that does not meet these requirements, and you acknowledge and understand the risks, you can create the following registry key values and bypass the check for TPM 2.0 (at least TPM 1.2 is required) and the CPU family and model.Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMSetupMoSetupName: AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPUType: REG_DWORDValue: 1Note: Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.This doesn’t mean the Registry hack no longer works; simply that Microsoft no longer wants to publicize it. Beyond the Registry tweak, there are other ways to sneak past the hardware restrictions to install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC. I’ve used third-party tools such as Rufus and Flyby, which I’ve found more effective than other methods. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Nomad’s Universal Cable for Apple Watch lets you charge your favorite Apple devices in multiple configurations. This 1.3m, Kevlar outerwoven cord features an Apple Watch fast charger and USB-C ends This cable is travel-friendly, and lets you charge devices from your iPhone. –> If you’re an Apple user who’s on the […] More

Antivirus and anti-malware are two names for the same thing. Traditionally, antivirus software protects against known security threats, but as threats evolve, so do the programs that fight them. Most current antivirus software stands up to more sophisticated malware like spyware, rootkits, and ransomware, and cloud-based programs can be frequently updated as threats emerge. Malware removal is part of anti-malware, and paid antivirus, along with some free plans, typically offers on-access or real-time protection. Alternatively, you can use an on-demand scanner that will detect and clean up any threats that are present.  More

ZDNETSome time ago, I mentioned in an article how I believed AI could replace a traditional search engine, and the reasons behind that were focused on the lack of advertisements, improved results, and better information.To that claim, I’ll add this: I only use AI for specific types of searches, mostly research, where I find Google and DuckDuckGo to be less than helpful. For everything else, I’ll go with a traditional search tool.Recently, I discovered I could set Perplexity as my default search engine in my web browser, and it’s been a game-changer. I’m not going to say the results are 100% helpful and 100% accurate, but the same thing could be said of Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and every search engine on the market. In fact, I take this one step further. With the Arc browser, I can set a specific search engine for different profiles. To that end, I have Perplexity set as the search engine for my writing profile and DuckDuckGo set for my user profile. This way, when I’m in my writing or work Workspaces (which are associated with my writing profile), I get the power of AI for searches, and when I’m in any other Workspace, I get the simplicity of a traditional search engine.Also: Zen Browser is the customizable Firefox I’ve been waiting for – here’s whyBut with Perplexity, you get more than just a search engine. You get news summaries (“What’s in the news today?”), a deep research tool that allows for follow-up questions, and you don’t have to worry about ads or paid sites bubbling to the top of your search queries. For example, in my current book, which is a sci-fi series about rehousing the population on the moon, I have to find out what can cause a “dust storm” of regolith on the moon. With Perplexity, I get my answer, but then I can follow up by asking questions regarding the answer, while still retaining the original answer.For me, this combination of AI and traditional search has done wonders for my ability to get the information I need quickly, and as long as I always vet any suspect AI answer, it’s all good.Let me show you how I added Perplexity to both Chrome and Firefox.How to add Perplexity as a search engine for ChromeWhat you’ll need: The only thing you’ll need for this is a running instance of the Chrome (or Chromium) web browser. More

Getty Images / SOPA Images / Contributor The skyrocketing popularity of short-form video has transformed social media. LinkedIn says video on LinkedIn is bring watched 36% more year over year, with video creation growing at twice the rate of other post formats. As a result, the professional networking platform is leaning into video content.   On […] More

Matthew Miller/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?Amazon has discounted the OnePlus Watch 2 by $50, making its new price $250 More