Robotics

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge starts at $1,099 for the 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage configuration. It’s an ultra-slim and lightweight flagship phone that makes any other device feel outdated. You’ll have to settle with subpar battery life and the absence of a telephoto lens due to […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETIf you’re a Pixel phone user, be prepared for some cool new features. With the June Pixel Drop, your Pixel will become more helpful, personalized, and accessible. These new features will start rolling out today; however, you can expect the rollout to take a few days (or weeks) to reach every supported Pixel device.What’s new in the June Pixel Drop? Let’s dive in.Also: Your Android phone is getting 4 big upgrades for free, thanks to Android 161. Pixel VIPsWith this new feature, you can turn specific friends and family members into VIPs. The VIPs widget makes it easier to stay connected to your favorite people. You’ll want to add as much information as you can for each VIP  — such as birthdays, email, home addresses, and preferences — to get the most out of the feature. Once you’ve made someone a VIP, you’ll be able to view your last call and message with them and even allow them to bypass Do Not Disturb. You can keep notes on your VIPs, view their locations, and find things to do together.  More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETAndroid 16 is officially here, and Google has some big upgrades on the way.  Instead of releasing a new OS and a new phone lineup at the same time, Google is making the same move it did with Android 15 and giving both software and hardware their time to shine. Also: T-Mobile is giving away the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus for freeThis is the earliest Google has launched a major Android release in a while (for comparison, Android 15 was released on Oct. 15, 2024, and Android 14 was released on Oct. 4, 2023).  Here’s a look at four of the biggest upgrades in Android 16. All of these features will drop for Pixel devices first and other devices later in the year.  1. Streamlined updates and lock screen app updates: Don’t want to unlock your phone every time you check to see when your late-night food order is arriving? Feeling uneasy in a new city and want to make sure your ride-share is close? Streamlined app updates give you the ability to see real-time updates from your lock screen. Google says it’s working with app partners to bring this capability to Android, including in Samsung’s Now Bar and OnePlus’ Live Alerts.Also: The best Google Pixel phones to buy: Expert tested and reviewedGoogle says it’s also automatically grouping notifications that come from a single app to make sure you don’t get information overload. More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETI use the Music app on my iPhone just about every day, and one challenge I face is swiping through my vast library to find the album or artist I want to hear. Now, Apple has unveiled a new option that saves me a lot of swiping time.Apple introduced a pinned music feature with iOS 26 at WWDC on Monday. With this option, you can pin your favorite albums, artists, and playlists for quick, easy access. Pressing an item displays a menu with commands to Pin Playlist, Pin Album, or Pin Artist, depending on what you select. From there, the pinned item appears at the top of your music library. Also: Every iPhone model that can be updated to Apple’s iOS 26 (and which ones can’t)For now, you can pin up to six items — any combination of playlists, albums, and artists. That may not seem like a lot, so hopefully Apple will increase that number over time. The pin option isn’t the only new feature for the Music app in iOS 26.Ever play a song for which you can’t quite make out the lyrics (like Elton John’s “Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza”)? A new Lyrics Translator will help you better understand the actual words, and a Lyrics Pronunciation option will encourage you to sing along with your favorite tunes. Also: Your iPhone is getting a major upgrade for free. Here are the best features in iOS 26An AutoMix feature uses AI to segue smoothly from one song to the next, the same way a DJ might transition between tracks. And if you’re playing music while your phone is locked, the Lock screen will display animated cover art for the current album. To try the pin option and other new Apple Music features, you’ll need the first developer beta of iOS 26.Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter. More

Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 26? Apple removed the iPhone XR and XS from its list of supported devices with iOS 26, so any iPhone 11 or newer is compatible with the new operating system, including the iPhone SE. When will iOS 26 be released? Apple is releasing the iOS 26 developer beta during WWDC 2025, and the public beta version will likely be released in July. If past years are any indication, the general release of iOS 26 will take place in September. What to do before installing the iOS 26 developer beta? You can always join the Apple Beta program to get the latest beta versions of iOS. 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 iPhone.Beta versions are released so you can test new features and share feedback to improve iOS. How do I install the iOS 26 public beta version? You’ll need an iPhone running iOS 16.5 or later. Since not all iPhones are compatible with iOS 18, you’ll also need a model newer than the iPhone 11. Go to your iPhone’s Settings and select General.Go to Software Update in Settings.Enable Beta Updates. To enable Beta Updates, go to Beta Updates and select the iOS version you’d like to access. This setting is turned off by default on iPhones.Select iOS 26 Public Beta. Then you’ll begin receiving automatic software updates to the latest beta version of iOS 26. By the time the public beta is released, Apple will have two beta versions of iOS: iOS 26 public beta and iOS 26 developer beta. Once you do this, return to the previous page. If an update is available now, your iPhone will prompt you to download and install it.Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter. More

Bill Atkinson in 1987  Michel BARET/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images This week, as Apple fans pore over every last bit of news from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), we should remember the passing of one of Apple’s all-time greats: Bill Atkinson, who passed away from pancreatic cancer on June 5.  Also: Is this the end of Intel-based Macs? Apple […] More

Shoe Goo is great for a lot more than repairing shoes! Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNETI’ve covered a lot of different adhesives, from the cyanoacrylate superglues and hot melt glues to UV setting adhesive. There are even specific silicone adhesives for electronic repairs. They all have their place in a workshop or toolkit. But one important thing to realize is that there’s no one universal adhesive. It’s definitely one of those things that you get the best results by using the right adhesive. And there’s one unsung hero that I use a lot that deserves attention.Shoe Goo More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Plugable’s 140W USB-C charger is available now for $50 from multiple retailers. It’s some 14% smaller than Apple’s counterpart and less than half the price. I wish it had adapters for different outlets found worldwide, because it would be a great travel charger. more buying choices One question I get all […] More