Robotics

June Wan/ZDNETFor years, Apple users juggled a collection of Lightning cables: one for the iPhone, maybe another for an older iPad, and then a USB-C for their MacBooks. Thankfully, times have changed since the release of the iPhone 15.A generation later, the iPhone 16 is now firmly in the USB-C camp. That little port at the bottom of your device is more than just a power inlet; it’s a gateway to a surprising array of functionalities that can transform how you use your phone. Also: Your car’s USB port is seriously underrated: 5 features you’re not using enoughIf you’ve only been using it to charge up, you’re missing out on a world of convenience and capability. Let’s dive into what that single port can really do.1. Streamline your charging setupThis is the most obvious (and probably most universally appreciated) benefit: one cable to rule them all. The move to USB-C means iPhone owners can finally use the same charger and cable for their iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and a slew of other gadgets, such as cameras, headphones — even many Android devices. Say you’re packing for a trip. Instead of a tangled mess of different wires, one USB-C cable and a compatible power brick might be all you need. This standardization was partly nudged along by regulations like the European Union’s common charger mandate, which went into effect in December 2024. Consequently, this transition isn’t just convenient; it’s a win for reducing electronic waste. Fewer cables manufactured only to end up in a landfill is a small but significant step in the right ecological direction. More

Photo by I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images Nvidia co-founder and chief executive Jensen Huang kicked off the annual Computex conference in Taipei, Taiwan on Monday with several announcements showcasing how its technology is being deployed across the island nation. The sum total of the announcements is nothing less than Taiwan being a giant engine of Nvidia […] More

OpenAI / ZDNETOpenAI’s new Codex agent is essentially a vibe-coding environment based on a ChatGPT-like comment interface. As much as the vibe-coding idea seems like a meme for wannabe cool-kid coders, the new Codex agent is impressive as heck.Also: What is AI vibe coding? It’s all the rage but it’s not for everyone – here’s whyOpenAI described Codex as a research preview still under active development. Right now, it’s available to Pro, Enterprise, and Team-tier ChatGPT users, but it’s expected to release to Plus and Edu users “soon.” According to the recording of OpenAI’s announcement livestream, the Codex name has been applied to an evolving coding tool since as far back as 2021. That said, when I refer to Codex in this article, I’m talking about the new version being announced now. What is Codex?I haven’t had the opportunity to get hands-on with Codex yet, so I’m taking everything I’m sharing with you from information provided by OpenAI. When I watched the announcement, I noticed that even the engineers seemed a little shocked at how capable this tool is. Codex lives on OpenAI’s servers and interacts with your GitHub repositories. If the demo is to be believed (and OpenAI has repeatedly proven that unbelievable demos are real), Codex basically acts like another programmer on your team. Also: 10 professional developers on vibe coding’s true promise and perilYou can tell it to fix a series of bugs, and it will go off and do just that. It asks you to approve coding changes, although it looks like it can also just go ahead and modify code. You can ask it to analyze and modify code, look for specific problems, identify problem areas and room for improvement, and other coding and maintenance tasks. Each assignment spawns off a new virtual environment where the AI can go all the way from concept and design to unit testing. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Asus Zenbook A14 with 16GB of memory is on sale at Best Buy for $799. Asus’ new ultraportable is a fantastic balance of innovation and value with a brilliant OLED display, competitive hardware, and a satisfying physical form. While its use case is clearly defined, the laptop has its limits […] More

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETWhen I first picked up the Asus Zenbook A14 More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETWelcome back to another busy week of health tech news. I’m rounding up some of the most notable news to come out of the health wearables space every week. There’s a lot to talk about, so let’s dive in.  Two years of Apple Watch shipment declineAmid growing global smartwatch shipments from competitors, Apple is seeing two years of smartwatch shipment declines, according to a report by Counterpoint Research. In 2024, shipments declined by 19%. Counterpoint says that a lack of a new SE model option, that is, Apple’s most budget-friendly smartwatch, drives part of this decline. Also: I switched to the Apple Watch after a four-year hiatus – here’s why it’s near perfect nowCould the release of an updated SE model alongside feature improvements across the Apple Watch lineup turn things around? We’ll have to wait for Apple’s September event, where it debuts the latest wearable hardware to see. That said, I’m interested in what our ZDNET readers would like to see in an Apple Watch update, so leave a comment below if you have some ideas on your Apple Watch wishlist. Speaking of Apple Watch, Apple released watchOS 11.5 this week, and while there aren’t many groundbreaking features hitting this update, you should still get around to updating your Apple Watch when you can. Software updates like watchOS 11.5 keep everything running smoothly and ensure that features and bugs are optimized or fixed for long-term use. Acer’s FreeSense Ring takes on Oura More

Last year’s Garmin Forerunner was one of my favorite smartwatches. Matthew Miller/ZDNETRegular readers know that I always wear a Garmin with an LED flashlight on one of my wrists, and I use it daily. It’s exciting to see, for the first time, that Garmin now has a Forerunner model with this flashlight, which serves as an important safety feature for runners.Garmin’s new Forerunner 570 More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The CMF Buds 2 Plus are the most premium pair of earbuds from the Nothing sub-brand. At $69, they’re one of the best-sounding and most feature-rich earbuds in the price segment. The way these earbuds are designed makes them not ideal for side sleepers. –> The new Nothing CMF Buds 2 […] More