Robotics

ZDNETIn September 2024, United Airlines announced its partnership with SpaceX to offer faster, more reliable, and free access to Wi-Fi for all MileagePlus members sometime this year. Now, it appears the airline is fast-tracking its program, targeting the second quarter of 2025 to mark its debut for customers.Testing begins next monthIn fact, United plans to begin testing the service next month, with the first commercial flight on an Embraer E-175 expected sometime between March and June. By the end of the year, the airline aims to equip its entire regional fleet with Starlink technology. Regional flights typically seat fewer than 100 passengers and have inferior amenities compared to “mainline” aircraft, which carry more than 100 people and have longer-haul flights between major cities and international destinations.Also: I just experienced actual high-speed internet on a plane – for free, thanks to StarlinkUnited claims at least one mainline aircraft will also offer the new service within the same timeframe. The goal is to eventually equip all of United Airlines’ more than 1,000 aircraft with Starlink. Currently, United’s Wi-Fi service varies by aircraft and is not free. This new partnership will standardize the service across the fleet, offering a breakthrough upgrade for many flyers.’Living room in the sky’Grant Milstead, United VP of Digital Technology, described Starlink’s capabilities as enabling a “living room in the sky” experience. The service will allow passengers to perform tasks like accessing work documents, checking home security cameras, and playing games with low latency, marking a substantial improvement over its current capabilities. United promises to roll out seatback screens across all its mainline aircraft, which will, of course, be integrated into the new Wi-Fi system. More

TCL QM6K TV at CES 2025 Kerry Wan/ZDNETToday at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, TCL unveiled its latest QM6K series of TVs. The most important thing to know here is that TCL is bringing it’s high-end Mini LED technology to it’s entry-level product line at very aggressive prices. And for the first we can ever remember at CES, the QM6K TV is immediately available to pre-order More

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNETA man page is a manual page dedicated to a specific command and every Linux distribution includes them. Say, for example, you wanted to learn about the chmod command. You could either run a Google search or read the man page. Man pages are set up the same way, so once you get used to the layout, you’ll have no trouble. Also: 5 ways to get the best Linux support, no matter your skill levelBut there’s always a way to make things a bit easier. With a nod to irony, some users would prefer to use a GUI to read about commands they’ll have to work with from within a terminal window. There were once some decent GUI apps for man pages (such as xman). Many of those GUIs have vanished from sight, but there are still tools that make it possible to view man pages within a GUI. Although the layout of the man pages doesn’t change within a GUI app, these apps make it possible to search through a man page for a string, so you don’t have to scroll to find what you’re looking for.Also: This Linux distro could let your old laptop ‘shine on’ after Windows 10’s sunsetI want to introduce you to two tools that could help you read man pages more easily: one for GNOME and one for Plasma Desktop. Each app is installed by default, so you can jump right into using them on your respective desktop.Let’s get into it. More

A Belkin Stage PowerGrip prototype attached to an iPhone at CES 2025.  Jada Jones/ZDNETConsumer electronics brand Belkin unveiled and upgraded several products across its audio and mobile portfolio this Sunday at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.  Also: CES 2025: What is it, what to expect, and how to tune inThe standout of Belkin’s CES 2025 lineup could well be its Stage PowerGrip. Belkin’s new PowerGrip is a MagSafe phone accessory designed to incorporate both MagSafe wireless and wired charging, fun colors, and a nostalgic point-and-shoot design that echoes the iconic picture tools of the past (the Nikon Coolpix, the Fujifilm Instax, the forever-loveable disposable camera, and more). Say cheese! The PowerGrip, which resembles other products like ShiftCam’s SnapGrip and SnapGrip Pro, features a 10,000 mAh battery capacity, 7.5W magnetic wireless charging, USB-C output ports, a retractable USB-C charging cable, and an LED screen to show battery percentage. It comes in five colors — powder blue, sandbox, fresh yellow, pepper, and lavender — and attaches with MagSafe via a magnetic ring on iPhone 12 models or newer. [embedded content]Not only does it feature wireless and wired charging, but the PowerGrip can be used as a phone stand or a stabilizer grip for shooting content. Fully embracing nostalgia, it features a shutter button when paired with the iPhone,The Belkin Stage PowerGrip won’t be available until May 2025 for a price yet to be determined; however, this tech-loving Gen-Z is certain the accessory will make waves this summer — as it looks to be a promising travel companion (perfect for #EuroGirlSummer). More

Schlage Smart home security brand Schlage unveiled two new smart door locks at CES 2025 that help modernize house access. The first is the Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt, which has the unique ability to unlock doors automatically.  According to the announcement, the Sense Pro utilizes Ultra Wideband (UWB) radio signals and a “user’s paired and […] More

AMD AMD made a bold statement at CES 2025 by revealing the “world’s best” processors in their respective categories: the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Ryzen AI 300 Series. Putting all hyperbole aside, these chipsets could blow users away if the preliminary test results are to be believed. Also: CES 2025: What is it, what to expect, and how […] More

HP/ZDNETAt CES 2025, HP announced several new laptops, desktops, and an AIO computer. They range from consumer-grade and gaming hardware to office machines with interesting designs. From the looks of things, the company isn’t going to reinvent or totally overhaul any of its products, instead taking everything that worked well in 2024 and upping the ante with improved hardware.Also: ZDNET joins CNET Group to award the Best of CES, and you can submit your entry nowAI remains a major force in the space, as its new EliteBook laptops feature the latest Intel Core Ultra processors. The same goes for the revamped OmniStudio X and the OmniDesk PC — building on the previous release with an emphasis on accessible AI features.These products have a lot to cover, so to keep things concise, we’ll focus on specs, key features, and design.HP EliteBook Ultra G1i 14-inch More

Kerry Wan/ZDNET2024 is over, with the holidays and New Year’s Eve now consigned to memory. It’s been quite a year for Apple, with the company releasing a whole slew of products, updating old favorites such as the iPhone More