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Amazon Kuiper second satellite launch postponed by ULA due to rocket booster issue

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is shown on its launch pad carrying Amazon's Project Kuiper internet network satellites as the vehicle is prepared for launch at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., April 28, 2025. United Launch Alliance on Monday was forced to delay the second flight carrying a batch of Amazon 's Project Kuiper internet satellites because of a problem with the rocket booster. With roughly 30 minutes left in the countdown, ULA announc

MagSafe Monday: ArmorGo Magnetic Wallet Stand adds a solid kickstand and RFID protection in a slim design

MagSafe accessories continue to be a mix of great ideas and daily annoyances, but I keep trying them all. I’ve tried enough wallets to fill a drawer in my desk, and most of them get something right, but miss on a few minor things. Recently, I’ve been trying some new wallets that do more than hold credit cards. That’s what caught my eye with the BENKS ArmorGo Magnetic Wallet Stand, and I’ve been using it for the past few weeks. Some of my favorite gear Abode Home Security System Abode is the bes

Threads is testing out a way to hide spoilers

Meta is testing a way to hide spoilers on Threads, according to a new post from Mark Zuckerberg. The feature lets you obscure text or an image so that they're only viewable once they're tapped or clicked. In the current version being tested, you have to highlight your chosen text or tap on the image and then tap "Mark spoiler" to hide it. Inside the Threads app there's even a swirling particle animation that covers text and images before flittering away when you tap on them. Meta Meta suggest

I told ChatGPT more about myself - here's how the AI used that personal info

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET ChatGPT offers several ways to customize and personalize your conversations. You can share your name, your profession, and other tidbits about your life. You're able to tell it what traits it should possess, such as patience, sympathy, or understanding. You can add and save certain facts about yourself and tell it to reference memories from past conversations. That all sounds helpful. But what does ChatGPT do with the information it knows about you? I shared certai

Grab this 230-piece Craftsman tool set for 50% off at Amazon

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or

Meta Oakley smart glasses could arrive this week. Here's everything we know

Several months ago, reports emerged that Meta was looking to expand beyond its current smart glasses lineup into sportier versions. It appears those reports were correct, as an official unveiling of a Meta-Oakley partnership is coming this week. Also: I tested the best AR and MR glasses: Here's how the Meta Ray-Bans stack up Meta confirmed the upcoming glasses today when an official "Oakley Meta" profile emerged on Instagram. (That account is following the Instagram accounts for Meta, Oakley,

Bye bye, Wi-Fi: How to add a wired network to your home without running Ethernet

Supersmario/Getty Wireless internet connections are convenient, but they're also notoriously unreliable. Nothing proves that point more emphatically than a glitchy video conference call, especially if it's tied to a crucial business meeting. The answer is to run a wired network connection to your home office. Wi-Fi is great for mobility, but a wired connection offers many advantages when it comes to working from home. It's faster and more reliable, with lower latency, all of which matters if y

I'm taking my favorite portable vinyl player on all my summer trips, and it's $25 off at Amazon

ZDNET's key takeaways The Audio-Technica Sound Burger retails for $199 and comes in yellow, black, or white. The Sound Burger has unparalleled portability, a long battery life, and provides a novel listening experience. It doesn't have a counterweight, and also doesn't have an auto-return feature. $174.95 at Amazon The Audio-Technica Sound Burger is $25 off on Amazon, making it cost $175. Note: This discount only applies to the black color. Technology is all about embracing the now. So, even

Scientists genetically engineer a lethal mosquito STD to combat malaria

Mosquitoes have long been among humanity’s most formidable adversaries, plaguing us for thousands of years and causing more deaths than any other animal. With traditional control methods facing mounting resistance, researchers are seeking innovative ways to combat mosquito-borne disease. Now, entomologists at the University of Maryland have bioengineered a deadly fungus that spreads sexually in Anopheles (malaria-spreading) mosquitoes. The naturally occurring fungus called Metarhizium produces

Meta's AI-Powered Ad Machine Is Coming for WhatsApp Next

WhatsApp, the Meta-owned messaging app used by close to 2 billion people worldwide, is ramping up its advertising efforts. While the app has long promised a privacy-first experience free from traditional ads, recent updates suggest that's changing, and changing fast. In a blog post published Monday, WhatsApp announced an expansion of its "Channels" discovery and business tools, designed to help you find more content and shops directly within the app. Alongside this rollout, Meta is preparing to

Ads are “rolling out gradually” to WhatsApp

For the first time since launching in 2009, WhatsApp will now show users advertisements. The ads are “rolling out gradually,” the company said. For now, the ads will only appear on WhatsApp's Updates tab, where users can update their status and access channels or groups targeting specific interests they may want to follow. In its announcement of the ads, parent company Meta claimed that placing ads under Updates means that the ads won’t “interrupt personal chats.” Meta said that 1.5 billion pe

Threads will let you hide spoilers in your posts

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Threads is rolling out a test that will let you hide images or text that contain spoilers, according to a post from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. With the test, you’ll be able to blur content by tapping an image or highlighting text and selecting the “mark spoiler” option. Other users can view the hidden content by tapping or clicking the spoiler. Redd

Instagram users complain of mass bans, pointing finger at AI

Instagram users have for weeks complained about a significant increase in accounts being mistakenly banned or suspended. Many suspect, without direct evidence, that the issues may have to do with the use of AI automation. Reached for comment, Meta has so far not offered an on-record statement. According to a growing number of social media posts, including on sites like Reddit and X, Instagram users report that their accounts were banned even though they had not violated the company’s terms of

Character.AI and Meta "therapy" chatbots spark FTC complaint over unlicensed mental health advice

What just happened? Chatbots can do a lot of things, but they're not licensed therapists. A coalition consisting of digital rights and mental health groups isn't happy that products from Meta and Character.AI allegedly engage in the "unlicensed practice of medicine," and has submitted a complaint to the FTC urging regulators to investigate. The complaint, which has also been submitted to Attorneys General and Mental Health Licensing Boards of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, claims t

Meta and Oakley tease a smart glasses announcement for June 20

Reports emerged earlier this year that Meta was working with Oakley on smart glasses and it seems we're about to see the fruits of those labors. A new Instagram account called @oakleymeta has popped up and its first post teased an announcement for this Friday (June 20). Instagram's own official account and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared the clip on their stories, as did Oakley on its social channels, so this is legit. The end of the video shows the Oakley and Meta logos side by side in a very

This $11 keychain flashlight is the most versatile accessory I've tested (and it's cheap)

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or

Getting free internet on a cruise, saving $170

Internet on a cruise ship is insanely expensive, but a little bit of DevTools knowledge and some simple Python scripting can go a long way when it comes to getting free internet Picture this, you’re a teenager in the middle of the ocean on a cruise ship. All is good, except you’re lacking your lifeblood: internet. You could pay $170 for seven days of throttled internet on a single device, and perhaps split it via a travel router or hotspot, but that still seems less than ideal. I’ve been trave

Threads is testing spoiler text, Zuckerberg says

Threads, Meta’s microblogging platform, is testing spoiler text, according to a post from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Spoiler text refers to words (or images) that are greyed out in a post and only become readable if you manually click to see them. As the name suggests, spoiler text is often used on platforms like Discord or Reddit to help people communicate about new movies, TV shows, or books without accidentally revealing plot points and twists for people who aren’t caught up. Image Credits:T

OpenTelemetry for Go: Measuring overhead costs

Everything comes at a cost — and observability is no exception. When we add metrics, logging, or distributed tracing to our applications, it helps us understand what’s going on with performance and key UX metrics like success rate and latency. But what’s the cost? I’m not talking about the price of observability tools here, I mean the instrumentation overhead. If an application logs or traces everything it does, that’s bound to slow it down or at least increase resource consumption. Of course,

Mortgage Rates and the Fed: Everything to Know Before This Week's Meeting

The Fed's interest rate decisions impact mortgages, but the relationship isn't straightforward. Tharon Green/CNET On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve is expected to extend a pause on interest rate cuts for a fourth consecutive time this year. Though mortgage rates could see some volatility, many economists expect them to stay somewhat flat until the economic picture drastically changes. Rates will stay in the 6.75% to 7.25% range unless the Fed signals multiple cuts soon and backs it up with dat

Your Passwords Are Lazy and Hackers Love It. CNET Survey Finds 49% of US Adults Have Risky Password Habits

It feels like I have a password for everything: my bank account, my Amazon Echo Show and even my Netflix app. With so many different devices and accounts, coming up with unique, strong passwords -- and remembering them -- can be overwhelming. It's tempting to get lazy and use the same password for multiple accounts. It's a relatable move, and it's one scammers are counting on. The risks of using old passwords or including personal information in a new one is a big risk to your data and identity

Packed with seven drivers, you’ll enjoy a seamless audio experience with the Kiwi Ears Septet

Finding high-quality audio can be quite a challenge. Even though wireless earphones are super popular, true audiophiles still prefer wired options for the best sound experience. This is especially true if you’re a musician or a sound engineer, as precision and quality are key. There are differences even then. While you can find many good in-ear monitors, the top-rated ones can often come with a hefty price tag, making them less accessible for the average consumer. That’s the challenge that Kiwi

viaim RecDot AI earbuds now on Amazon — with more smart meeting tools to come

AI is everywhere. And while the goal is to help people work smarter and more efficiently, it’s not the most easily accessible. Different tools perform different tasks, so you’re either struggling to find the best option or stuck footing a hefty bill for various services. What if there was a device that could take your work efficiency to the next level, making attending virtual meetings a breeze, and you could carry it around in your pocket? That’s exactly what you get with the viaim Recdot AI e

WhatsApp has ads now, but only in the Updates tab

It has been a long time coming — seven years since Meta first announced its plan to do so , in fact — but ads are starting to appear in WhatsApp as of Monday. They'll only be visible on the Updates tab and the company says those who use the app only to chat with family and friends really won't see any change to their WhatsApp experience. The same goes for two other new features: channel subscriptions and promoted channels. "We've been talking about our plans to build a business that does not int

Amazon is selling this 230-piece Craftsman toolset for just $99

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or

My search for the ultimate keychain flashlight is over. This $11 model does it all

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or

Starlink vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Battle of the Broadband Disruptors

So, what makes Starlink and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet the biggest names in rural broadband? One word: Availability. Both providers offer solid options for rural communities. While Starlink has effectively revolutionized satellite internet with its fleet of low Earth orbit satellites and has reportedly doubled its speeds compared to two years ago. We would still recommend T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. Not only is it a crowd-pleaser, but it's also often favored in customer satisfaction surveys. Acco

WhatsApp is officially getting ads

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. WhatsApp is rolling out ads. In an update on Monday, Meta announced that it will now show ads from businesses through its Stories-like status feature. The status feature lives within WhatsApp’s “Updates” tab and allows users to share disappearing text, photo, voice notes, or video messages. But now, you might see sponsored content in addition to th

Meta is finally bringing ads to WhatsApp

It took 11 years since Facebook acquired it for $19 billion, but Meta is finally bringing ads to WhatsApp, marking a major change for an app whose founders shunned advertising. Meta announced Monday that businesses will now be able to run so-called status ads on WhatsApp that prompt users to interact with the advertisers via the app's messaging features. The ads will only be shown to users within WhatsApp's "Updates" tab to separate the promotions from people's personal conversations. Additiona

RP1 says that metaverse needs its own browser

Join the event trusted by enterprise leaders for nearly two decades. VB Transform brings together the people building real enterprise AI strategy. Learn more RP1 has been trying to make the metaverse happen for a while. It was touting its tech for bringing a lot of people into a digital space in 2022, and it’s still trying hard to make it happen today. And this time, RP1 CEO Sean Mann believes that the world needs a metaverse browser. And he and his cofounder Dean Abramson touted the idea at t