Robotics

Maria Diaz/ZDNETWhile 2024 was the year of self-cleaning robot vacuums, 2025 promises to be the year of robotic limbs. At CES 2025, Roborock had spectators doing double and triple takes when it unveiled a new flagship robot vacuum with a mechanical arm that removes obstacles. While the company got the most attention for its innovation, it wasn’t the only one displaying this technology at the show. Also: The best robot vacuum we saw at CES 2025 – and 4 others that impressed usDreame, one of Roborock’s major competitors, also used CES to debut a robot vacuum with a mechanical arm that can do more than the similarly armed Roborock Saros Z70. Dreame’s mechanical arm can lift objects weighing up to 500 grams, or 17.6 ounces, almost twice as much as the Roborock, and also can use different tools to scrub stubborn stains during cleaning and trap dust more efficiently. This Dreame robot with a mechanical arm also features retractable legs to climb small steps and obstacles, similar to the Dreame X50 Ultra, which can climb up to 2.4 inches. It is also designed to autonomously grab each tool and return it to the dock when finished. According to the product demonstrators at the Dreame booth, this robot will get more tools by the time it launches. More

Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images Red Hat, the IBM-owned open-source software giant, has completed its acquisition of Neural Magic, a pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) optimization startup. Initially announced in November 2024, the deal closed on January 13, 2025, marking a significant step in Red Hat’s strategy to enhance its AI capabilities across hybrid cloud environments. […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Xgimi’s Horizon S Max offers sharp and vibrant picture quality that’s well above its price tag. The new gimbal design is convenient and easy to set up. Minimal port selection might be a problem for some more buying choices The Xgimi Horizon S Max–> is one of the brightest projectors I’ve […] More

Mecha/ZDNETI’ve been around long enough that I remember testing Linux PDAs. I even had one set up to run an Apache server — carrying around a server in my pocket was pretty cool. Other than that neat trick, most of those Linux PDA devices were pretty bad. (That was the early days of handhelds, so they were all bad by today’s standards.)Naturally, I was excited this morning to see an announcement about the Mecha Comet handheld Linux computer. This new device is powered by a Debian-based distribution called Mechanix OS; you not only get the stability of Debian, but you can easily upgrade the OS (unlike a lot of handheld devices). Also: Thanks to Nvidia, there’s a new generation of PCs coming, and they’ll be running LinuxThe really interesting thing about the Mecha Comet is that it’s all about hardware and software modularity. With the help of “snap-in” extensions, you can transform the Comet into a gaming handheld — or a more traditional handheld with the keyboard extension. There are also extensions for GPIO for a serial console over USB-C, which means you can connect the Comet to any sensor or device. Because the Comet is open source, you can build your own extensions. If you dream it, you can make it.The Mecha Comet runs a full-blown version of Linux, so you can turn this device into just about anything that suits your fancy, such as a Linux phone (with the help of an LTE modem), a drone controller, an interface for your car, and more. Mecha claims you could even launch the Comet into orbit as part of a nanosatellite project. More

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETWith the winter holidays in the rearview and the new year finally here, many retailers like Best Buy More

Leonid Korchenko/Getty Images Meta’s upcoming move to replace its third-party fact checkers with a Community Notes feature isn’t sitting well with everyone. Following CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement last week, a host of users took to Google to search for help on how to delete their Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts, according to Google Trends data spotted by […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways HP’s Envy x360 2-in-1 16-inch (2024) comes in a variety of configurations, but the version with 1TB of storage and an OLED display is on sale for $949. It sports one of the most gorgeous displays I’ve seen on a convertible laptop in this price range. It’s a little on the […] More

How do I care for my new Lenovo laptop?A new laptop is an investment, and making it last is essential to maximizing its value. To care for your new laptop, you’ll want to minimize the amount of bumps and vibrations it’s exposed to and keep it closed when not in use to protect the keys and screen, which can be fragile. Maximizing your laptop’s battery life is also part of its longevity, as it’s best to keep it between 30% and 80% to optimize battery life. Besides these obvious factors, you’ll want to keep the software and drivers up to date, and get a backpack and sleeve for safe, efficient transport. How long does the battery typically last? Battery life depends on various factors, such as what tasks you’re doing and whether your computer is in a battery-saving mode or high-performance mode. Lenovo laptops, particularly the ThinkPad and IdeaPad line of devices, are known for having solid batteries. Also: I’m a hybrid worker, and my laptop of choice is not a MacBook or a DellWhen looking at a laptop’s battery, take into account its watt-hour number (written as Wh), which measures how much power a battery uses over one hour. The higher the number, the longer the battery should theoretically last; however, how fast the computer burns through that power is another story.For example, the Legion Pro7i features a 99Wh battery, but the powerful hardware on board will demand lots of power from the battery. Conversely, the 70Wh battery in the Yoga Slim 7x will drain at a trickle in comparison thanks to the AI on board the Snapdragon X Elite processor. Which Lenovo laptop is most durable?Lenovo’s ThinkPad series of laptops is regarded as some of the most durable laptops on the market for their sturdy, well-built design and unpretentious form factors. They’re also known to be more repair-friendly than many other computers, as you can replace parts with relative ease. Also: This Lenovo laptop is ultraportable, lasts all day, and has a MagSafe-like superpowerRegarding the laptops on this list, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon and X1 Extreme are made from partially recycled magnesium, aluminum, and carbon fiber and have been MIL-STD 810H certified in torture tests against travel hazards like shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures.Can you game on a Lenovo laptop?You can game on any Lenovo laptop, but you’ll get the best performance from a computer designed for gaming, like the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro. The reason for this has a lot to do with graphics processing and whether or not the device is designed to mitigate heat well. Also: This Lenovo 2-in-1 is one of the most versatile business laptops I’ve testedMost Lenovo laptops are fine for casual or entry-level gaming, but once you start running graphically-intense games, you’re going to run into performance issues, and the laptop will not be able to compensate for the heat generated by the hardware. Lenovo’s own gaming options come with dedicated graphics cards, high refresh rate displays, and a robust cooling system. However, if you truly want the best gaming laptop, there are a host of other options out there, especially for demanding games. Check out the Razer Blade 15, for example, or a desktop computer.How do you access the BIOS on a Lenovo laptop?Restart your computer, and when the Lenovo startup screen appears, you’ll want to press either F1, F2, or Enter, depending on your model. It will often specify on the screen but note that this screen may only appear for a second or two before Windows starts up.  More