Robotics

Chris Bayer/ZDNETIn 2005, about 3.3 million cars sold that year included at least one USB port. Twenty years later, more than 200 million cars have embedded connectivity outlets (USB-A), and these days, a significant portion of them have USB-C ports. Some vehicles have as many as nine ports! Even many newer-model motorcycles have USB outlets.Also: Google is upgrading Android Auto in 5 useful ways – including a big one for voice inputsUsually situated on the front or rear consoles (and sometimes inside the glove compartment), USB ports offer more than just a way to charge devices. They enable music playback, phone connectivity, access to navigation systems, and more. I’ve put together a few common — and maybe not-so-common — ways you can utilize the ports in your car, along with some helpful notes. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETIn honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Google announced it’s helping people access their devices in new ways. There are two accessibility features for both Android and Chrome.  Also: Your Meta Ray-Bans just got two seriously helpful upgrades for free – how they workHere’s what’s new. New accessibility features for Android Improved Gemini in TalkBack: Last year, Google added image description capability powered by Gemini to TalkBack, the Android screen reader that lets people with vision impairments interact with their devices through spoken words, vibrations, and other audio feedback.  Also: This hidden Google Earth slider lets you travel back in time – up to 80 years. How to try itGoogle has expanded that integration to let people go beyond a description and ask questions about an image. For example, if a friend texts you a photo of their new guitar, you can get a description and ask questions about the make and color (or anything else in that image). If you’re shopping, you can ask Gemini about the material of an item on screen or if there’s a sale. GoogleBetter Expressive Captions: With a feature called Expressive Captions, users can go beyond a simple transcription of words and get a sense of the feeling of those words. For example, “Oh my gosh, MOM!” on a video from family, or “Catch it, James! OH MY GOODNESS! YES!” on a high school football game video.  Also: How to blur your house on Google Street View (and 4 reasons why people do it)Google explained that captions will now have an AI-assisted duration feature that adds text like, “Oh nooooooooo!” or “GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!”. You’ll also see more labels for sounds like [clearing throat] or [applause].   More

Keeping your devices smudge-free can seem almost impossible. No matter how careful I am, my screens end up covered in smudges. My wall-mounted TV magically ends up with handprints, while the streaks on my laptop screen look like they’re taking off into hyperspace by the end of the day. And don’t even get me started on my kids’ tablet screens. Maybe you can relate. That’s why a good TV screen cleaner is a must-have for every household. But not all cleaners are created equal. Most screen cleaners these days are designed to clean all screens — including TVs, phones, laptops, desktop monitors, and tablets. Still, it’s a good idea to make sure the cleaner you’re purchasing is intended for the device you’re cleaning.Also: Best 85-inch TVs of 2025What is the best TV screen cleaner right now?Our pick for the best TV screen cleaner overall is the WHOOSH! 2.0 Cleaner More

Image: Garmin Regular 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 […] More

jewhyte/Getty Images I know you’ve heard of gamification, but have you ever heard of festification? That’s what Microsoft did last month and is continuing until May 28, with the Microsoft AI Skills Fest. It’s a little odd, but it also looks like it might be a heck of a lot of fun. And you still […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETThe thought of upgrading your phone can be both exciting and slightly stressful. Phones seem to be getting more expensive, and the upgrade options seem endless. But Verizon has got you covered with a new trade-in deal. Also: Here’s how to get a free iPhone 16 Pro from T-Mobile with no trade-in requiredThrough this offer, new and existing customers on Verizon’s Unlimited myPlans can trade in any phone More

Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETThe iPhone 16 comes with a physical Action button that you can program to launch a specific task. By default, the button switches your phone between Ring and Silent mode. But you can change that to trigger other features, including the camera, the flashlight, or the magnifier. You can also program the button to activate a certain control or Siri shortcut.Also: Here’s how to get a free iPhone 16 Pro from T-Mobile with no trade-in requiredI’ve tried using the Action button for different tasks. Here’s how this works, and here are the ones I like best. How I use the iPhone’s Action buttonThough I own an iPhone 16 Pro, the Action button is available on any iPhone 16 model, including the iPhone 16e as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. It works the same on all supported devices, so my experience with it will apply no matter which of these phones you own. More

Adam Breeden/ZDNETAfter the initial setup, most people rarely engage directly with their smart TV. With wireless connectivity, phone apps, and remote controls, there’s little need to. Tucked next to the essential HDMI ports, a USB 2.0 port — likely sitting unnoticed on the back or side panel — offers more potential than you might expect.  Also: Your car’s USB port has hidden superpowers: 5 features you’re not taking advantage ofUSB ports are easy to overlook, but they’re a standard feature on most TVs — and more useful than you might think. Here are five clever ways to make the most of them. More