Robotics

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways A Shine Turbine kit, which includes a turbine, stand, guy lines, and pegs, costs $399, while the Essentials Kit, which adds a few more bits such as a wind speed meter, costs $488 – though both are on sale right now The kit includes everything you need to turn wind into […] More

David Gewirtz / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETA few days ago, I showed you an amazing new ChatGPT feature available to paying users. Plus, Pro, and Team tier users can now point Deep Research at an entire GitHub repo and get back analysis reports. Also: I test a lot of AI coding tools, and this stunning new OpenAI release just saved me days of workAs I showed, this capability helps speed up the process of coming up to speed on existing codebases. You might need to do this if you acquire a product from another developer or if you’re brought onto a project and need to learn the codebase quickly. It’s also good for reviewing your own codebase and refreshing yourself on how sections work — especially if you’ve moved on to other things for a while and are now coming back to the original code. I promised I’d show you how to bring a codebase into GitHub specifically for analysis by Deep Research. That’s what we’re about to do in this article. Moving my code into GitHub To demonstrate this, I’m moving My Private Site into GitHub. My Private Site is a freemium WordPress plugin with about 20,000 active users I’ve been working on for about a decade. WordPress, for historical reasons, uses SVN instead of GitHub as a code repository, so I haven’t really had a need to put My Private Site into GitHub. Also: I put GitHub Copilot’s AI to the test – its mixed success at coding baffled meBut given the opportunity to perform deep analysis on it, I decided to set it up. I’ll go through that process with you here. Getting started with GitHub Desktop Before we start, let’s clarify some things. Git is a distributed version control system that runs on a programmer’s local computer. GitHub is a cloud-based service that stores an enormous library of open-source and proprietary coding projects. Those projects are moved into GitHub (the cloud service) using Git (the tool). Real programmers only use Git on the command line, where it’s known as git. No real programmer would dare to capitalize git. Real programmers command git via a range of options, creating specialized command lines that do their bidding. Failure to use git on the command line will result in your real-programmer card being revoked by the International Society of Programmers Who Are Smarter Than You. Also: How I used GitHub Spark to build an app with just a one-sentence AI promptI am apparently not a real programmer. I might as well get that out of the way before the comments erupt in disdainful RPs (real programmers) mocking my lack of command-line acuity. I don’t use Git via the command line. I don’t like it. I believe humans left the cave long ago and adopted graphical user interfaces as tools of civilized society. I, therefore, prefer using GitHub Desktop, which is a point-and-click version of Git for those not worthy of the title real programmer. And yes, my official real-programmer card has been revoked. I can live with it.  You can download GitHub Desktop here. More

tolgart / Getty Images Half of global technology leaders believe their organization has an AI skills shortage, and the capability gap has almost doubled in a year. The newly released Nash Squared/Harvey Nash Digital Leadership Report found that almost twice as many technology leaders (51%), compared with last year (28%), said their business has an […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The finder tag is equipped with a rechargeable battery, so you won’t have to throw away old button cells It features a bright LED for finding things in low light. The tag is on the pricier side. more buying choices I have a habit of putting things down and forgetting where […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The new Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni originally launched for $799, but is on sale at $400 This midrange robot vacuum and mop features auto-emptying, mop washing and drying, and strong suction, which we were able to confirm during testing The downside is that the Deebot N30 Omni doesn’t boast the best […] More

Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETThink that Apple’s Siri snooped on your private conversations in the past? If so, you may be able to snag a slice of the $95 million that Apple is paying out to settle a class action lawsuit.Also: Apple’s big, next-gen CarPlay Ultra upgrade is here – if you drive these carsA settlement page published Friday in the case of Lopez v. Apple Inc. explains the steps and deadlines for people who want to make a claim. The settlement is geared toward current or former users of a Siri device in the US whose conversations with the voice assistant were captured by Apple or shared with third parties due to an “unintended Siri activation.” How to qualifyTo qualify, you must have been using the device between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024. How to enter a claimIf you’re in the qualifying group, you should receive an email or postcard with a Claim Identification Code and a Confirmation Code alerting you to the settlement. The email should be sent from an account called info@lopezvoiceassistantsettlement.com with a subject line of “Lopez Voice Assistant Class Action Settlement,” according to The Verge. So, if you receive such an email, don’t delete it. You may also want to check your spam folder to see if the message is trapped there.If you do receive the email, go to the claim submission page, enter both claim codes, and then log in to proceed.Also: 7 ways to lock down your phone’s security – before it’s too lateIf you don’t receive either the email or postcard, you can still try to put together a claim. To do that, enter a new claim at the submission page. You’ll be asked to provide your contact information along with a serial number and model name for the Siri device or proof of purchase. You can add as many as five different devices, including an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, or any other gadget that uses Siri. Either way, you’ll be asked whether you want to receive your payout by direct deposit to your bank account or by electronic check. Don’t wait too long to file a claim; the deadline is July 2, 2025. You can also opt to do nothing, in which case you simply won’t collect anything.Following the filing deadline, the court still has to approve the settlement before payouts can begin. A final approval hearing is scheduled for Aug. 1 with US District Judge Jeffrey White in the federal court in Oakland, California. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETAhead of this Tuesday’s Google I/O developer conference, where AI is expected to be the star of the show, Google unveiled a massive Gemini update on its Android Show event, further expanding the AI assistant’s availability across the Google ecosystem of devices.Here’s a rundown of the most notable features coming to various products, from smartwatches to cars. More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETFew things ruin the joy of watching a good show more than suddenly seeing that rotating asterisk symbol or swirly icon that tells you your TV is buffering. Or maybe it’s stuttering, or altogether freezing. If this is happening on your Roku TV, don’t give up on it just yet.Also: CNET survey shows Americans spend over $1,000 a year on subscriptions, and they’re sick of itLike phones and computers, Rokus have caches that accumulate temporary data, which inevitably slows them down over time. There are simple ways to clear up this hidden clutter and get your Roku TV behaving like its normal, healthy self.Here are a few methods to clear your Roku’s cache, improve its speed, and make shows play smoothly again.1. Start by unplugging it More