Robotics

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The EcoFlow River 3 is a new compact portable battery It is available for $239. It’s portable and lightweight, making it easy to carry, it features fast charging, going from 0% to 100% in 55 minutes, and has a 245Wh output capacity Since portability is a priority for the River series […] More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETDealing with customer support at any company often feels like an exercise in frustration and futility. You often have to contact the company multiple times or talk to a host of different representatives to get the problem fixed. Now Verizon is looking to improve the support experience by using both people and AI.Also: Verizon will give you an iPhone 16 Plus (or 4) with no trade-in – here’s howOn Tuesday, the carrier revealed several changes to its support process, all designed with one goal in mind. Customers only need to contact Verizon support once, and the company will make sure the problem is resolved from there.1. AI assistantAn AI assistant will handle most common, simple support calls. If you just want to renew your service, activate a PIN, or troubleshoot a device, you can turn to the AI 24/7 instead of waiting on hold for a support rep. Of course, working with AI can be annoying if it’s unable to understand your issue. That leads us to the next change.2. Customer championFor more complex problems, a dedicated “Customer Champion” will take ownership as part of a personalized type of support. With AI-powered help from Google Gemini, that champion will update you on the status of your problem through the method of your choice–callbacks, text messages, or updates in the My Verizon app. The aim is to keep you in the loop until the problem is fully resolved.Also: Get a free pair of Meta Ray-Bans when you sign up for Verizon 5G home internetUnder a new “ValU” training program, Verizon’s champions will specialize in one product or brand instead of struggling to learn them all. Assigned to specific types of support issues, they should then have the necessary expertise to diagnose and resolve the problem more effectively. More

When it comes to buying a new TV, it can feel like every brand offers the same suite of preloaded apps and smart features. But ZDNET readers have zeroed in on their favorite TV models from brands like LG, Vizio, Samsung, and Hisense, which vary from high-end OLED screens to budget-friendly TVs for secondary displays. Features like AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync VRR support for console gaming, screen sharing via AirPlay or Chromecast, and Bluetooth connectivity allow you to create a well-rounded entertainment space in your living room or dedicated home theater.Also: The best TVs to buy in 2025Our team has put together a list of the top-selling TVs for ZDNET readers from different retailers in order of units sold via links in our product reviews (note that your privacy is protected: We only have access to aggregate data from our user base, and there is no way for us to identify individual people’s purchases). Read on to find out more about ZDNET’s most popular TV models in 2025 so far. Adam Breeden/ZDNETThe 6 most popular TVs among ZDNET readers this year The G4 OLED is LG’s latest addition to its line of high-end, flagship OLED TVs, featuring an updated panel for enhanced color accuracy and contrast, a brighter picture, and support for Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound. Console gamers will love the high refresh rate and support for both AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync VRR to prevent screen tearing and stuttering. “I’m not usually a fan of LG TVs, but since testing the LG G4 OLED TV last year, I have to admit that it has the most impressive picture quality of any TV I’ve ever bought, used, or tested,” ZDNET editor-in-chief Jason Hiner writes. The LG G4 OLED is available in a variety of sizes, but ZDNET readers gravitate toward the 65- and 83-inch models.Also: The LG G4 OLED is one of my favorite TVs for picture quality
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Some people want every aspect of their health and fitness measured and graded, like it’s a test they’re trying to ace. Other people simply want to know that their health is in a generally good shape and receive notifications when something is off. I like the Apple Watch most for this reason. There’s much talk on the internet about how endlessly monitoring your health data can cause excessive stress in wearers and users. Because a lot of this tech, like Oura’s smart ring, Whoop’s fitness band, and Samsung’s ring and smartwatches, provides scores for factors like sleep, fitness, and stress, users report that they experience heightened pressure to achieve high scores—and that pressure is stressing them out. Apple takes a more holistic approach to its data capture and scoring mechanisms. For one, it doesn’t score anything out of 100, unlike the devices I’ve mentioned above. If you wear the smartwatch to bed, Apple’s Vitals app tells you if your overnight vitals, that is, your heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and sleep duration, are within normal or abnormal ranges, notifying you when something is off and keeping you carrying on when nothing is. The watch tracks your time asleep and the various stages you fall into throughout the night, as well as heart rate graphs. Also: Your Apple Watch is getting a major upgradeI don’t use the Apple Watch much for sleep, but I always use it for exercise. The Activity Rings are a simple encouragement to stay active and move throughout the day, and the Fitness app’s seamless workout logging capability, which displays heart rate zones throughout the workout and active calorie burn, is great for quick glances mid-workout. I like the Apple Watch as a health tracker, yes, but also as an iPhone that’s wrapped around my wrist. I can receive calls and texts, set timers, ask Siri questions, and check the weather all through my Apple Watch. It’s a convenient device, especially for workers who can’t check their phone on the job or for people who want to leave their iPhone behind on walks or social outings while still staying minimally connected, if need be. There are a few Apple Watches to choose from, but I prefer the Series 10 over the SE and Ultra 2 thanks to the Series 10’s quick-charging capabilities, long battery life, and an appropriate amount of features for the price. The other two options are either too minimal for my tastes or too expensive for my budget.   More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Baseus MC1 earbuds are availble now on Amazon for $69 Although the sound of the MC1 earbuds won’t blow you away, the comfort and ease of control make up for it You really need to use the Baseus app to get the most out of these earbuds. –> The Baseus […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Perfect way to share 100W of power between three devices. This cable does exactly what it says it will on the box – something that a lot of cables can’t claim. Some might find the 65W limit a bit restrictive for charging laptops. more buying choices Over the past couple of […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Lenovo’s 10th-Gen Yoga Slim 9i retails for $1,760. It’s a lightweight laptop with a striking design and an even more striking 4K OLED touchscreen. However, some will find its lack of ports limiting and the webcam low-quality. more buying choices One of the things I appreciate about Lenovo is its willingness […] More

Lance Whitney/ZDNETMany popular AIs offer a voice mode that enables you to carry on live conversations with a chatbot. Often, chatting by voice is more convenient, more natural, and more fun than trying to converse through text prompts. Plus, you can typically review a transcript of the conversation after you’re done, so you still have access to the actual text.But which AIs are the best conversationalists? I tried chatting by voice with ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Meta AI, and Grok using their respective mobile apps. I started with the same topic to see how each one would react and where the conversation would go.Also: ElevenLabs’ new AI voice assistant can automate your favorite tasks – and you can try it for freeSpecifically, I told each one that our cat, Mr. Giggles, was acting very nervous and anxious lately and that I was worried and didn’t know what to do. This is partly true. Our cat always feels a bit traumatized after he returns home from a vet checkup. That effect goes away after a day or two, but I thought it would be a good topic of conversation.I judged the AIs’ conversational abilities not just on knowledge but on tone and personality, two factors that are important when you’re speaking with a person or a bot. Here’s how the conversations went and which AI I liked best. More