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5 Chromecast features that maximize your TV's potential (and a smart home hack)

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Since 2014, Google's Chromecast has been an affordable means for helping viewers turn their older model TVs into smart TVs, allowing them to stream content from their phones, tablets, and computers to a bigger screen. Also: Is your Roku TV spying on you? Probably, but here's how to put an end to it Alas, the era of the Chromecast has come to an end. Google is replacing it with the Google TV Streamer, promising a faster processor, Thread and Matter integration, and the ability

Google and Lenovo Created the 'Most Advanced Chromebook Plus Yet'

Hot on the heels of Google I/O, the company's annual developer conference, Google is rolling out updates to ChromeOS and a new flagship laptop to showcase them: the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14. Designed to help take advantage of AI software like Gemini and NotebookLM, the new Chromebook Plus has some impressive specs for a $650 laptop. Not just dirt-cheap and simple devices for the absolute basics, there are Chromebooks among some of the best laptops currently available. I don't doubt that when I

Google brings new Gemini features to Chromebooks, debuts first on-device AI

Google hasn't been talking about Chromebooks as much since AI became its all-consuming focus, but that's changing today with a bounty of new AI features for Google-powered laptops. Newer, more powerful Chromebooks will soon have image generation, text summarization, and more built into the OS. There's also a new Lenovo Chromebook with a few exclusive AI goodies that only work thanks to its overpowered hardware. If you have a Chromebook Plus device, which requires a modern CPU and at least 8GB o

Nintendo’s Switch 2 is available online at Best Buy

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been difficult to find in stock since its June 5th launch, though restocks are beginning to ramp up. If you’re looking for one, head over to Best Buy’s site or use the app. Those who have a free account can get the standalone system ($449.99) and a console bundle ($499.99) that includes Mario Kart World available. The latest Mario Kart costs $79.99 on its own, so picking up a system with the game included will end up saving you $30 compared to buying them separately. T

New York State wants more nuclear power in a big way

New York governor Kathy Hochul announced Monday that her state will host a large new nuclear power plant designed to generate at least 1 gigawatt of electricity. “If you take nuclear off the table, you have to burn more fossil fuels,” Hochul said at a press conference. “That’s not going to work for us here in New York.” The governor is directing the New York Power Authority (NYPA), which owns and operates two dozen power plants — mostly dams and gas turbines — to develop the new facility. The

We Asked ChatGPT to Be Mean

Two and a half years after it was unleashed upon the world, ChatGPT is both the poster child for AI’s utopian promise and a walking, talking cautionary tale. It can plan your vacation, find a recipe, and even act as a low-budget therapist. It’s also subjected to a daily firehose of humanity’s worst impulses: insults, gotchas, and commands to do harm. Ever wondered what it really thinks when you do that? I recently asked ChatGPT to spill the tea on the worst things users say to it. But to get t

This Magnetic 10000mAh Power Bank Is 88% Off, Amazon Holds a Final Clearance Sale

Power banks are a great method of keeping your devices charged on the go, but they typically come with the hassle of cables which can be a pain and a drag. The ultimate luxury is to have a power bank that is Magsafe compliant so that you can wirelessly charge your devices without having to use cables. That is exactly what this magnetic portable charger does—and it is currently on sale for a very reasonable price. It also has two built-in cables, a USB-A and a USB-C ports so that you can charge

This 42,800mAh Solar Power Bank at a Near-Free Price, Listed Among Amazon Best-Selling Portable Chargers

Power banks rose in popularity massively alongside the mighty Pokémon Go. We’re pretty sure there are other reasons that might have affected the popularity of these devices, but there’s no denying the fact that catching all of those little monsters had an impact on the whole thing. Since then, a lot of companies have been getting in on the action, and it means there are some really good power banks available now. See at Amazon A great example of this is this Sudrov solar charger power bank, be

Scientists Just Found a New, Incredibly Rare Blood Type

Step aside A, B, and O—there’s a new player in town. Scientists in France have just reported the discovery of a novel, rare blood type, only recorded in a single person to date. The French Blood Establishment (EFS), the country’s sole civilian blood transfusion organization, announced the discovery over the weekend. The blood type, nicknamed “Gwada negative,” was found in a French woman originally from Guadeloupe. It’s the 48th distinct blood group system to be established. “This discovery was

Best Internet Providers in Long Beach, California

What is the best internet provider in Long Beach? Frontier Fiber is CNET's top pick of the best internet providers in Long Beach, California. It's our top recommendation because it offers fast, symmetrical speeds, unlimited data and competitive pricing. Plans start at $30 monthly and go up to $110 monthly for the 7-gig plan. If you need alternatives, Spectrum is also an excellent option and has the same starting price, with coverage across most of Long Beach. Just be prepared for price increase

$1,400 can get you a powerful (and huge) HP Omen laptop with an RTX 5070

Acer’s Chromebook Spin 714 has long been a technical showcase, at least as far as Chromebooks are concerned. And now the company’s latest model, the, is down to $579 at Best Buy , which is $220 off its original $799 price. You’re not alone in thinking that even the discounted price is costly, but it’s one of the best models you can buy if you’re looking for something that’s built like a premium, long-lasting laptop. The 714 features a 14-inch 1,920 x 1,200 touchscreen with Intel’s Cure Ultra 5 1

Amazon launches second batch of Kuiper internet satellites, taking on Elon Musk's Starlink

An Atlas V rocket of United Launch Alliance (ULA) lifts off from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on June 23, 2025. Amazon 's second batch of Kuiper internet satellites reached low Earth orbit on Monday, adding to its plans for a massive constellation and ramping up competition with SpaceX's Starlink. A United Launch Alliance rocket carrying 27 Kuiper satellites lifted off from a launchpad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 6:5

Take a good look at the Galaxy Watch 8, Watch 8 Classic, and Watch Ultra 2025

TL;DR Veteran leaker Evan Blass has posted renders showing the Galaxy Watch 8, Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025. The images show that all three models have a squircle-shaped case and a round screen. Samsung is expected to launch its new foldable phones next month at its Unpacked event, and we’ve just seen leaked Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Flip 7 FE renders via a trusted source. Now, this same source has revealed leaked renders showing off Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Watch models. Ve

McLaren Health Care says data breach impacts 743,000 patients

McLaren Health Care is warning 743,000 patients that the health system suffered a data breach caused by a July 2024 attack by the INC ransomware gang. Although the attack was discovered on August 5, 2024, forensic investigations determining who was impacted were only completed on May 5, 2025, with the notice circulation starting last Friday. McLaren is a nonprofit health system in the U.S. with $6.6 billion in annual revenue, operating a network that spans 14 Michigan hospitals (2,624 beds). I

This 2-Pack of 40W Wall Chargers (USB-C/A) Is Now Just $7 Each, Amazon Launches Early Prime Day Deals

Not all charging blocks are created equal and finding the sweet spot between power, safety, outputs, and price can be tricky. Amazon is hosting some of its most aggressive deals ever leading up to Prime Day so now’s a great time to upgrade your charging kit – and they’re not just for Prime members. One of the best bargains available currently is for a 2-pack of 40W wall charger blocks by MateStar which is now selling at an all-time low price. The normal price on this pack of 2 40W charger block

Hinge is planning its own mobile payment system to avoid App Store fees

is a news editor covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme. As part of his appearance on the Decoder podcast, Hinge co-founder and CEO Justin McLeod says that the company would like to introduce an alternative payment service by the end of this year. With a Hinge-run alternative payment service, Apple won’t be able to take a cut of any purchases, and that “changes the equation” for Hinge on “many fronts,” according to McLeod. Not only

Netflix Games’ Squid Game: Unleashed announced for Chromebook

Google announced today that it is bringing Squid Game: Unleashed, formerly exclusive to Netflix, to Chromebooks as well as large-screen Android devices. The 32-player multiplayer adaptation of the popular show, developed by Netflix Games studio Boss Fight Games, is set to launch on Chromebooks in the coming weeks. According to Google, it’ll launch with updated controls, keyboard and mouse support and graphics that take advantage of the Chromebook display. In an interview with GamesBeat, Marisol

It’s a Chromebook thing: Hands-on with new ChromeOS AI features

Ryan Haines / Android Authority As an elder member of Gen-Z, every screen in my life has its purpose. My small screen (my phone) is there for personal communication, ordering food, and mindlessly scrolling memes on the internet. My big screen (my TV) takes on the role of in-home entertainment, whether it’s a giant Spotify hub, a way to keep up with the Club World Cup, or endlessly streaming reruns of Letterkenny. Left in the mushy middle between the two, however, is room for a medium screen, l

Google is giving your Chromebook Plus its own version of Circle to Search

Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR A bevy of new features are coming to Chromebook Plus laptops. These features include Select to search, Text capture, Simplify, and more. Those who get the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 will get two extra features: Smart grouping and AI image editing in the Gallery app. Google keeps churning out AI-powered features faster than anyone can keep up with. If you own a Chromebook Plus, be on the lookout because the company’s latest slate of AI tools is on the way.

Lenovo promises 17 hours of battery life on its new Chromebook Plus 14

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . For years now, most Chromebooks have run some variety of Intel or AMD processor. The occasional device used a MediaTek chip, but they were often underpowered and cheap devices that were hard to recommend. ARM-based processors have worked tremendously well for Apple on the Mac, and they

Your Apple Watch is getting a big upgrade for free - 8 features I can't wait to use on WatchOS 26

Jason Hiner/ZDNET Your iPhone, Apple Watch, and other Apple-owned devices are getting a big overhaul soon. The best part? You won't have to pay a dime for them. The tech giant recently rolled out all of the newest apps and updates coming to its devices over the next few months. Apple announced several new features coming to WatchOS 26 at its annual software conference, WWDC, earlier this month. The features touch everything from Fitness to Messages, and include a major design update across App

The ‘Most Advanced’ Chromebook Has an AI Chip That’s Just Pure Overkill for ChromeOS

What do you need your Chromebook to do for you? If you’re like most people who buy the cheaper ChromeOS-based laptops, you want it to access a browser and—if you’re feeling particularly spicy—maybe a few select Android apps. The most important elements for these lightweight clamshells are normally whether it can load webpages fast, has a long-enough battery, and if it has a quality display for your average Netflix and chill session. With its latest update, Google and Lenovo are asking consumers

The New OceanGate Doc Hit Netflix's Top 10, but There's Another Titan Doc You Should See

Every week, Netflix unveils its Top 10 lists for the week before, ranking TV shows and movies by viewership. Netflix's Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster was the no. 2 film on Netflix's Top 10 the week of June 9, but the documentary about the deadly 2023 Titan submersible implosion isn't the only film about the catastrophic undersea tragedy. Another, Max's Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster, started streaming in May. Both reveal the lengths that explorer and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush

Google adds AI features to Chromebook Plus devices

Google’s adding a slew of AI features to its productivity-focused Chromebook Plus line of devices, including a screen selection tool for search and text capture, a tool that explains complex text, and NotebookLM. The new screen selection tool works similarly to Google Lens and the “Circle to search” feature in Chrome on smartphones: long-press the launcher button or use the screenshot tool to select what is on your screen, and Google will instantly search for it. The tool also lets you select t

Japanese shipping firm NYK acquires Kadmos, a salary payment platform for seafarers

Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, or NYK Line, is acquiring Germany’s salary payment platform for seafaring workers, Kadmos, as it seeks to further expand the reach of its fintech services in the maritime sector. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the acquisition deal, which is expected to be completed in the next few weeks. MIT alumni Justus Schmueser and Sasha Makarovych founded Kadmos in 2021, aiming to provide businesses, including shipowners and s

My Apple Watch band gave out before year two - and it could've been bad

The weak link! Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET My Apple Watch Ultra 2 is, as of today, 626 days old, and apart from charging, it has been on my wrist pretty much continuously. It's accompanied me on many an adventure, been in several countries, found itself deep inside loads of car engine bays, been covered in dirt and mud, and it still looks like new. Regular readers will have seen it in countless photos here on ZDNET. But the other day, something broke, and while it wasn't serious, it could ha

‘Death Stranding 2’ Is Hideo Kojima’s Most Refined and Relentless Vision Yet

When Hideo Kojima—the man fashioned into a video game auteur out of his work on Metal Gear Solid—launched his debut title under the newly formed Kojima Productions in 2019, Death Stranding arrived shrouded in mystery and hype. Every Death Stranding trailer was full of cryptic imagery and spectral apparitions, and its stacked cast featuring Norman Reedus, Léa Seydoux, and Mads Mikkelsen set expectations sky-high. It was also the first title to come from the creator following a messy and public ex

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Prime Day Arrives Early: Bluetti 1000W Power Station Hits an All-Time Low at Amazon

As summer arrives, having a portable power station by your side is a lifesaver for camping excursions, van trips and outdoor parties with friends. Among the reputable brands playing in this niche, Bluetti joins the ranks of EcoFlow and Anker and provides solid and robust options for those who require power in the field. Today, Amazon is discounting the fantastic Bluetti AC70 1000W portable power station at an all-time lowest price: Originally priced at $599, this giant is available for a paltry

Forget Anker, Baseus MagSafe Portable Charger Is Practically Free as Amazon Offers It at Almost 50% Off

If you’ve ever found yourself juggling a low phone battery, a tangle of cords, and a bulky power bank, you know how frustrating on-the-go charging can be. First you have to make sure your charger is ready to go. Then you have to make sure you actually have a cable. Because chances are when you need one, it’s nowhere to be found. That’s exactly the kind of daily headache this currently discounted charger was made specifically to resolve. And you can act fast to get one right now for a great price