Robotics

ZDNETMicrosoft users who still rely on Skype will soon have to find a different service. On Friday, the company announced that Skype will be retired on May 5 so that it can focus on the free version of Teams. Sign into Teams with your Skype credentialsTo encourage this transition, Microsoft will soon allow users to sign in to the free version of Teams with their Skype username and password. By using the same credentials, users will be able to access their existing chats and contacts if they want to pick up where they left off. Also: Microsoft is testing a free desktop version of Office – but there’s a catchUntil the official retirement, Skype users will still be able to call and chat with people on Teams, and vice versa. If you’re not fond of Teams, you can export your data from Skype, including your chats, contacts, and call history. More

ZDNETAfter all the chaos we have seen in the Kindle world over the last week, I’ve noticed that there tend to be two types of reactions from users.The first reaction is that some people want to move off the Kindle platform as quickly as possible. Their whole interest is setting up a new reading environment where ebook ownership means having all their books’ files on backup media somewhere. The second reaction, fueled by either old Kindle devices or unregistered Kindle devices, is the desire to get a new Kindle. As part of the bulk download process many of us went through before Amazon cut off that ability, my wife realized that although she has three devices, the newest Kindle she owns is a Paperwhite she bought back in 2012. Also: Want free ebooks? These 10 sites offer thousands of optionsHer favorite device, the large-format Kindle DX, can no longer load Kindle books because it lacks connectivity to Amazon. We tried registering an old Kindle Keyboard from 2010. Even though it has Wi-Fi connectivity, the security protocols in that machine are so out of date that it wouldn’t authenticate with Amazon. This article is for those with active Kindle libraries or those who want to get started in the Kindle ecosystem. As it turns out, if you want to buy a new Kindle, there are a number of ways you can save big on the purchase. First, I’ll show you the ways you can save. Then, I’ll build a couple of configurations, and we’ll do some math on the savings. 1. Save 20% with trade-in (plus bonus bucks) Amazon has an offer where you can trade in an old device and get a 20% discount — plus a few bucks for your old device. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Acer’s Aspire 14 AI is available now at Costco for $699. It has a fantastic battery and some of the latest hardware: all for a very approachable price point. I suggest opting for the OLED, since the low-end display isn’t the best. –> I went hands-on with Acer’s Aspire Go 15 […] More

zf L/Getty Images A recent survey of 1,050 CIOs revealed that 93% of IT leaders will implement AI agents in the next two years, with IT leaders working to implement the technology by focusing on removing data silos. The average number of apps used by respondents was 897, with 45% reporting using 1,000 applications or […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETI’ve tested many tablets, but few have made such a huge difference as the TCL Nxtpaper technology. So I was glad to learn that a new version of one of my favorite tablets, the TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus, is coming to the market. TCL is launching the new tablet as the next generation of the company’s Nxtpaper 4.0 display; however, one of the biggest changes is that this will be TCL’s first AI-powered tablet. The 11.5-inch device will feature various AI functionalities woven into apps, including Text Assist, Writing Assist, Google’s Circle to Search, and many more.Also: What to expect at MWC 2025: Best phones I’m anticipating from Xiaomi, Honor, Samsung, moreThe TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus will also use AI to create transcriptions and summaries for Voice Memos and real-time translations for videos while offering a Smart Translator feature for voice, text, and images. More

ZDNETWe’re just a day away from Mobile World Congress (MWC), but the news cycle is already churning. Off the heels of Samsung and OnePlus’ recent smartphone launches, expect more announcements from industry leaders during this year’s trade show for all things cellular.Also: This tri-foldable phone at MWC 2025 is the most bizarre thing I’ve seen yetAs always, global brands, including Xiaomi, Honor, and Huawei, will be present — and they’ll likely occupy a large part of the show floor. Google and Samsung are also expected to have a presence, but the chances of any major announcements are slim. And there’s almost always a showstopper that no one sees coming. We’re kicking things off with a roundup of the best products the ZDNET team has seen during MWC week so far, including several smartphone releases, Wi-Fi-powered wireless earbuds, and more. Stay tuned as we update this list, which is bulleted in no particular order, throughout the week.1. Xiaomi’s 200-megapixel camera phone More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETMWC 2025, or the Mobile World Conference, has officially kicked off in Barcelona. It’s an annual conference where tech companies come together to showcase upcoming mobile devices.Lenovo has joined the festivities by unveiling a slew of new laptops, from lightweight machines like the convertible ThinkPad T14s to powerful workhorses such as the Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition. In addition to these computers, the company showed off some very interesting prototypes.Also: The best Lenovo laptops: Expert testedIt’s unknown if the concept hardware will ever be made into official products, but it provides interesting insight into what may be coming in the not-so-distant future. Something to keep in mind is the information in the following list could change. A few models have expected starting prices and release dates, but nothing is set in stone.1. ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1 More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETLenovo’s on a bit of a tear lately at Mobile World Congress, so long as success is measured by the level of imagination and risk. Just a year ago, it showcased a laptop with a transparent screen. The year before, a rollable laptop that, believe it or not, is finally coming to market this summer. At MWC 2025, the company has several more tricks up its sleeves, including a solar-powered ThinkBook and another with an elongated display that flips open and close. Also: What to expect at MWC 2025: Best phones I’m anticipating from Xiaomi, Honor, Samsung, moreI spent an intimate morning with the latter just weeks before the show, mindful that the mere concept device existed for research and development and less for profits. Here’s how that experience went and why this may be Lenovo’s most confusing invention yet. More