Robotics

Kerry Wan/ZDNETI’ve spent a significant part of my life finding new ways to extend battery life on Android phones. It might sound dramatic, but growing up with only budget Android devices meant I was constantly tweaking settings to maximize battery performance and squeeze every bit of life out of a single charge. to nothing but poorly made Android devices meant I’ve always tinkered with their settings to maximize charge and push my phone’s battery life to the limit.Also: Android Automotive users are about to see a lot more apps in their vehiclesSo, when I started writing this guide on the settings you should use to save battery life, it all came naturally to me. These settings are the most effective, easiest, and quickest ways to save battery life regardless of the Android phone you’re rocking, whether it’s the latest device from Samsung, a fancy Google Pixel, or a cutting-edge OnePlus device. Plus, you won’t have to sacrifice the high-quality experience of using your phone.Note: While all these settings are available on practically any Android phone you can buy, the process for adjusting them can vary between devices. Keep this in mind when following the steps I lay out because the approach might be slightly different depending on which phone you’re using.1. Turn off the always-on displayOne of the biggest battery drainers for any smartphone is the always-on display. Companies regularly tell you that this display setting only drains about 1% to 2% an hour, but let’s be honest — it’s always way more. It may be nice to glance at your phone while it sits on a table to check the time, but it’s probably not worth sacrificing battery life.Also: 6 ways Google’s Digital Wellbeing could be so much betterHow to: Open the Settings app and locate the Lock Screen portion of the app, whether it’s in the main list of settings or under “Display”. From there, you’ll find the option to “always show info” or a simple toggle to enable the Always On Display. Either way, turn the option off and check to make sure your screen goes completely blank when you lock it.2. Enable Adaptive BatteryThere’s a handy feature built into Androids called Adaptive Battery, and it’s available on most devices. Adaptive Battery can automatically manage your phone’s performance and efficiency in the background using special processes to extend your battery life. For example, when you don’t need maximum performance for something simple like scrolling through your inbox, the setting will throttle things down and save you some juice.How to: Go to Settings > Battery > Adaptive preferences and check to ensure “Adaptive battery” is enabled. If it’s not, flick it on.3. Activate Battery SaverAlongside Adaptive Battery, Battery Saver mode is another helpful feature that can extend the longevity of your smartphone between charges. The feature makes sweeping changes across your device’s software, like limiting visual effects, restricting apps in the background, and turning on dark mode if it isn’t already on. Also: The best power banks you can buy: Expert testedPixel phones take this effort further by having an Extreme Battery Saver, which deactivates more features and pauses most apps. However, because it greatly restricts an Android phone’s performance, I recommend only using Extreme Battery Saver when it’s absolutely necessary, such as when the phone’s charge is in the single digits.Most, if not all, Android phones possess a Battery Saver function, although they may have different names. On Galaxy phones, for example, it’s called Power Saving mode. Others may refer to it as low-power mode. Be sure to visit your phone’s manufacturer’s support website for help on your model.How to: On Pixel phones, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver. You can also choose a schedule for when the feature will activate or turn off automatically. On Galaxy phones, go to Settings > Battery and device care > Battery. Flip the toggle switch next to Power Saving to activate the feature.4. Switch to dark mode More

If you’re in the market for an iPad Air this year, you’ll also need to outfit it with a case to protect against scratches, dents, and accidental drops. While some cases add unnecessary bulk, making the tablet feel less sleek and portable, many can enhance its functionality with features like keyboards, track pads, and built-in stands. Review: iPad Air (2024): Apple’s M2 tablet is even better than my $1,200 AndroidThat’s why we’ve gone hands-on with iPad Air cases from brands like Casetify, Apple, Logitech, and more to find the best ones to suit your needs and wants while still providing great protection. Also: Apple iPad Air (2024) vs. iPad Air (2022)What is the best iPad Air case right now?The Zugu iPad Air case More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Asus’ ProArt PA27 is on sale at Amazon for $800. This 5K monitor delivers stunning visual quality and color reproduction on par with Apple’s monitors. Power users, however, may be frustrated with the display’s limited array of ports and low refresh rate. more buying choices High-quality 5K monitors have been around […] More

Philippe TURPIN/Getty Images Have you ever struggled to cancel a service you don’t use? That’s hopefully going to be a thing of the past.  The FTC’s final ‘click-to-cancel’ ruling went into effect this week, on January 15. This means businesses — including streaming services, cable TV, home shopping platforms, and gyms — must make canceling […] More

Allison Murray/ZDNETWhat’s the deal? Save $30 on the Petlibro Polar Wet Food Automatic Feeder More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Roborock Flexi Lite is available for $400 This vacuum and mop can tackle wet and dry messes, juice spills, pet hair, and more; it’s also self-cleaning, so you only have to empty the dirty water and add clean water The Roborock Flexi Lite seems only to mop when pulled back, […] More

Once you get home from work, it’s the perfect time to settle in and enjoy listening to your favorite music. Vinyl has made a comeback in recent years (though it never really went away), and for a good reason. As tech experts and music lovers know, nothing compares to listening to vinyl – its rich, clear, and uncompressed sound brings a level of intimacy that other mediums just can’t match. Also: Everything you need for a vinyl setupBut not all speakers were created equal, and not all speakers were created for vinyl. Experts and enthusiasts agree that the best speakers for listening to vinyl have specialized features, including multiple inputs, built-in phono preamps, and silk dome tweeters to ensure your records sound as crisp as possible. Impress your loved ones or enjoy your music solo with the best speakers for listening to vinyl. What are the best speakers for vinyl right now?As a vinyl enthusiast with a vintage setup, I combined my own hands-on experience, expert recommendations from music industry professionals, and extensive research to choose the best speakers for vinyl. My pick for the best vinyl speakers overall is the PSB Alpha iQ speakers More

ZDNETTasks is a new beta feature for the paid-for versions of ChatGPT. This feature allows you to schedule a prompt to run at a certain time. In this article, I’ll explain that feature. Then I’ll take you through the incredibly frustrating process of trying to get ChatGPT to do what you want it to do using Tasks.Also: The five biggest mistakes people make when prompting an AII hesitate to anthropomorphize the AI, but in this round of testing, ChatGPT has been singularly uncooperative. Rather than whining about it here, let’s first dig into this new feature.  How tasks work in ChatGPT Tasks are prompts that are triggered at a given point in time. They can occur once or repeat. For example, you can say, “At 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, tell me the current weather,” and ChatGPT will process the prompt “tell me the current weather” at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow and either display a browser notification (if you have that enabled) and/or send you an email. To enable tasks, you need a Plus (or better) paid account to ChatGPT, and you’ll need to select the GPT-4o with scheduled tasks model. It also wouldn’t hurt to have a good therapist. More