I’ve tested robot mowers for years – here’s my expert advice for every yard type

I’ve tested robot mowers for years – here’s my expert advice for every yard type

Maria Diaz/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Your yard matters more than the robot mower’s brand. Navigation type can make or break a robot mower. Match the mower to your terrain, budget, and obstacles. A robot lawn mower is quite an expensive purchase, and one that shouldn’t…

I spent 30 days working without a laptop – here’s what it taught me about real productivity

I spent 30 days working without a laptop – here’s what it taught me about real productivity

Adam Doud/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways If you don’t want to carry a laptop around, there are other options. They range in size from an AR headset to your phone. Here are some ways you can do that, and what works best for each situation. I’m…

Uber wants to turn its millions of drivers into a sensor grid for self-driving companies

Uber wants to turn its millions of drivers into a sensor grid for self-driving companies

Uber has a long-term ambition that goes well beyond shuttling passengers: the company eventually wants to outfit its human drivers’ cars with sensors to soak up real-world data for autonomous vehicle (AV) companies — and potentially other companies training AI models on physical-world scenarios. Praveen Neppalli Naga, Uber’s chief technology officer, revealed the plan in…

This portable computer is the Raspberry Pi alternative I didn’t know I needed

This portable computer is the Raspberry Pi alternative I didn’t know I needed

pros and cons Pros Neat, well-made, and portable. Has a large, active support and development community. Very competitively priced. Cons Quite a steep learning curve. Limitations compared to the Raspberry Pi or Flipper Zero. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Mention a computer you can fit into your pocket, and people seem to…

How we test AI at ZDNET

How we test AI at ZDNET

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways ZDNET tests AI with hands-on, real-world use. No vendor influence, no pre-publication review access. Standardized tests drive fair “best of” comparisons. Here at ZDNET, we know we have an awesome responsibility. We know that you often make purchasing decisions…

Google Maps vs. Waze: I compared the two best navigation apps, and this one wins

Google Maps vs. Waze: I compared the two best navigation apps, and this one wins

When should you use Waze over Google Maps? If you care most about avoiding traffic, hazards, and speed traps, Waze is your app. It’s faster at rerouting and more focused on drivers. But if you need a navigation app that will give you oodles of information about businesses, parking, nearby things to do, and landmarks,…

Samsung will give you a free 32-inch Odyssey monitor right now – how to qualify

Samsung will give you a free 32-inch Odyssey monitor right now – how to qualify

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. The Samsung M9 combines the best of both a premium monitor and a smart TV, letting you run entertainment and productivity apps on the same desktop. And right now, when you order directly from Samsung, you can save $800 on the M9 smart monitor and…

Meta buys robotics startup to bolster its humanoid AI ambitions

Meta buys robotics startup to bolster its humanoid AI ambitions

Meta has acquired humanoid robotics startup Assured Robot Intelligence (ARI) for an undisclosed sum, the social media giant said. “We acquired Assured Robot Intelligence, a company at the frontier of robotic intelligence designed to enable robots to understand, predict, and adapt to human behaviors in complex and dynamic environments,” a Meta spokesperson told TechCrunch in…

Replit’s Amjad Masad on the Cursor deal, fighting Apple, and why he’d rather not sell

Replit’s Amjad Masad on the Cursor deal, fighting Apple, and why he’d rather not sell

Amjad Masad has been building Replit for a decade, but the last 18 months have been something else entirely. The AI coding assistant company went from $2.8 million in revenue in all of 2024 to tracking toward what Masad describes as a billion-dollar annual run rate. At TechCrunch’s sold-out StrictlyVC event in San Francisco on…

Musely secures $360M from General Catalyst without giving up equity

Musely secures $360M from General Catalyst without giving up equity

Musely, a direct-to-consumer telemedicine platform, has secured over $360 million in non-dilutive capital from General Catalyst’s Customer Value Fund (CVF). The company specializes in compounded treatments for skin, hair, and menopause care. Musely co-founder and CEO, Jack Jia, told TechCrunch that when CVF investors reached out to him last year, he wasn’t looking to raise…