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Is It Legal to Record Audio or Video on a Home Security Camera? Here Are the Rules

The core purpose of a security camera is to keep eyes on your home -- but how do privacy laws affect their use? You should know if you could get in trouble before getting a security camera that could watch anyone from joggers on the street to babysitters in your home. The good news is that your security monitoring should be fine in most cases, especially with a little common sense. But there are rules everyone should know before using live views or downloading video clips. Let's start with the

JBL just announced its largest-ever battery-powered party speaker

JBL just announced the PartyBox 720, which is an extremely chonky party speaker. As a matter of fact, it's the company's largest-ever battery-powered party speaker. The thing is bigger than many human children. It boasts 800W of power with up to 15 hours of playtime via a replaceable battery. There are two 9-inch woofers and a pair of 30mm dome tweeters, which should provide for robust audio. The company has included its proprietary AI Sound Boost technology, which increases audio without disto

NotebookLM can now argue with itself over your notes

Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR NotebookLM is adding new Audio Overview formats: Brief, Critique, and Debate. Each format changes how two AI hosts present your notes, from summaries to arguments. The update is rolling out now. NotebookLM has quickly become a favorite of ours. We’ve used it to cut through everything from apartment contracts to car manuals, and it’s consistently proven to be one of Google’s most practical AI tools. But it’s also got a creative side, especially with its p

5 ways to instantly boost your soundbar audio quality (without spending a dime)

Jada Jones/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Soundbars are gaining in popularity because of their sleek design and ability to provide an ample boost in audio quality compared to built-in TV speakers. Even with their plug-and-play nature, you can make a few modifications to help unleash the best possible sound quality. Also: I tried Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds' AI noise cancelling, and can't go back to regular ANC Whether you're new to soundbar setups or a self-p

This Gemini upgrade will soon make Google Docs even more useful on Android (APK teardown)

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Google Docs on the web recently received a new feature that lets users listen to their documents with Gemini. We spotted code that enables this feature on the Google Docs Android app and activated it ahead of release for an early look. The current mobile implementation lacks some features from the web version, but they could be added later. Google recently released a new feature for Google Docs that allows users to listen to their documents using Gem

Beats Studio Pro deal: $170 off, still the best Beats headphones

We know many of you are Beats fans, and the Beats Studio Pro are still the best headphones the brand has to offer. If you’ve been looking to get these awesome cans, today is your lucky day. You can catch a 170.04 discount today! Buy the Beats Studio Pro for just $179.95 ($170.04 off) This offer is available from Amazon. The maximum savings only apply to the Navy color version. All other colors cost $199.95, except for the Sand Gray model, which has no discount. Beats Studio Pro Beats Studio Pr

Are smart glasses with built-in hearing aids viable? My verdict after months of testing

Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses ZDNET's key takeaways The Nuance Audio hearing glasses are available in two styles and colors for $1,200 at participating retailers. They provide a stylish and discreet way to aid mild to moderate hearing loss. However, they provide six to eight hours of battery life and a three-hour charging period, which might frustrate power users. View now at Nuance Audio Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Since the US Food and Drug Administration approved

I tested smart glasses with built-in hearing aids - and they worked surprisingly well

Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses ZDNET's key takeaways The Nuance Audio hearing glasses are available in two styles and colors for $1,200 at participating retailers. They provide a stylish and discreet way to aid mild to moderate hearing loss. However, they provide six to eight hours of battery life and a three-hour charging period, which might frustrate power users. View now at Nuance Audio Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Since the US Food and Drug Administration approved

The best audio editing software of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

You have the quiet area, the top-quality microphone, excellent speakers, and a reliable recording platform -- but without the right audio editing software or Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to back you, your new audio production might fall short. Many of us now expect clear, quality sound when we listen not only to songs, but also when we listen to podcasts, social media videos, YouTube content, film and TV shows, and marketing materials. Listeners -- and potential subscribers -- are far more l

Why the wireless mic I recommend to content creators is made by a drone company

DJI Mic 3 ZDNET's key takeaways Big upgrade on the previous-generation hardware 32-bit float makes recording tricky situations a lot easier Battery life has been significantly improved. View now at Amazon Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. DJI isn't just the best civilian drone maker; it also makes some of the best cameras and microphones available for creatives. The company has just unveiled its third-generation microphones, packed with advanced features that make captu

DJI's ultralight wireless Mic 3 captures great audio - even in tricky situations

DJI Mic 3 ZDNET's key takeaways Big upgrade on the previous-generation hardware 32-bit float makes recording tricky situations a lot easier Battery life has been significantly improved. View now at Amazon Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. DJI isn't just the best civilian drone maker; it also makes some of the best cameras and microphones available for creatives. The company has just unveiled its third-generation microphones, packed with advanced features that make captu

Your Windows PC just got a big Bluetooth audio upgrade from Microsoft - hear the difference

Picture alliance / Getty Images Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Microsoft's new Bluetooth standard will improve audio quality. The new standard is designed for online games and virtual meeting apps. You can chat via a Bluetooth headset with no drop in sound quality. Here's a question for those of you who enjoy online multiplayer games: Have you ever tried chatting with a fellow gamer via your Bluetooth headset, only for the sound from the game to

DJI’s new Mic 3 aims to make multicam audio recording pain-free

DJI TL;DR DJI has launched its new wireless microphone, featuring improved functionality and a compact design. The DJI Mic 3 now supports setups with up to four transmitters and eight receivers for cohesive multi-cam audio. It also features on-device tone adjustment, along with adaptive gain, for cleaner recordings. After recently exploring unfamiliar territories with a new robot vacuum, DJI is back to its forte with a new portable wireless microphone. The new DJI Mic 3 comes with improved e

AirPods Max in 2025? The biggest rumors hint at familiar flaws, big upgrades, and a pro-level surprise

Jason Hiner/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Can switch quickly and seamlessly across an unlimited number of Apple devices. The low-latency upgrade in iOS 18.4 makes the AirPods Max a lot more viable for pro multimedia producers (and gamers). Comfort, battery life, and audio quality match high-end competitors from Sony, Bose, and others. Even with their imperfections and elevated price tag ($549), I have to admit that the AirPods Max are a p

This ‘Training Day’ Meme Is Getting Me Through the Collapse of American Democracy

The U.S. isn’t doing very well right now. The nation’s capital is under military occupation, the president is pursuing a campaign of retribution against his political enemies, and the wealthiest people in the country have suddenly embraced government ownership of their companies if it means they don’t have to pay more in taxes. But through it all, we still have our memes, the true opiate of the masses. And the latest meme that I can’t get enough of involves audio from an old movie, cute dogs, a

Elehear Beyond Pro Review: Big Hearing Aids

In the world of hearing aids, size is second only to audio quality. Manufacturers regularly tout when they shave a few hundredths of a gram off a model, and many jockey for top position as “the smallest hearing aid on the market.” Never mind any of that, Elehear said in 2024 when it released its Elehear Beyond. At 4.75 grams, the devices were some of the largest I’ve ever tested (nearly double the weight of some competing models), which made them cumbersome and uncomfortable, a major theme in m

Windows 11 now has better Bluetooth quality for game chat and voice calls

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Microsoft is addressing muffled audio quality on Bluetooth headsets by introducing a new LE Audio feature for Windows 11. Built on top of the Bluetooth Low Energy radio spec, LE Audio uses a new compression algorithm that results in higher quality audio that Microsoft says will “drastically

Sonos Era 300 Sale: The Big Sonos Speaker Is 20 Percent Off

Looking to upgrade your Sonos setup? The Sonos Era 300 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is 20 percent off from Amazon, bringing it down to just $359 and tying its lowest-ever price. That's a great deal on our editors’ favorite surround sound Sonos speaker, and it would make a perfect upgrade to your existing Sonos configuration or a place to start building your audio empire. The big draw here is spatial audio, which our team feels performs even better than Apple's Homepod (5/10, WIRED Review) when it c

A bug saved the company

In the realm of computers, bugs are generally a bad thing. Every year, our team ships dozens of free updates to eliminate bugs that are an inescapable byproduct of the countless variables in software development. Rarely, though, a bug can be beneficial. Back in 2002, a software bug saved Rogue Amoeba. It started when we shipped the very first version of Audio Hijack. We wanted to give potential customers the ability to fully test the app prior to purchase, but we weren’t sure how best to limit

NotebookLM’s Video Overviews go global with support for over 80 languages

Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Video Overviews for NotebookLM now support over 80 languages. Audio Overviews are now longer and more engaging. Only about a month after Google introduced Video Overviews to NotebookLM, the feature is already getting an update. That update will make Video Overviews more accessible to a larger number of users. The Audio Overviews feature is also getting an update. Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority? Set us as a preferred source in Google S

NotebookLM’s Video Overviews feature now supports 80 languages

Google announced on Monday that it updated NotebookLM’s Video Overviews feature to support 80 languages, including French, German, Spanish, and Japanese. The company also upgraded Audio Overviews, enhancing non-English audio summaries to be more detailed. Last month, NotebookLM launched Video Overviews so users could turn their notes, PDFs, and images into video presentations. Previously only available in English, this update is beneficial for non-English speakers who want to learn from visual

NotebookLM’s Video Overview feature now supports 80 languages

Google announced on Monday that it updated NotebookLM’s Video Overviews feature to support 80 languages, including French, German, Spanish, and Japanese. The company also upgraded Audio Overview, enhancing non-English audio summaries to be more detailed. Last month, NotebookLM launched Video Overviews so users could turn their notes, PDFs, and images into video presentations. Previously only available in English, this update is beneficial for non-English speakers who want to learn from visual s

Don't Expect New AirPods Max 2 at Apple's iPhone 17 Event, Report Says

Some of us have been waiting for Apple to announce a new second-gen version of the AirPods Max, its high-end over-ear noise-canceling headphones that were released in December 2020. They were refreshed last year with USB-C connectivity, some new color options and USB-C audio in April of this year. But if a recent report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who's usually a reliable Apple whisperer, proves accurate, we won't be seeing the AirPods Max 2 at Apple's iPhone 17 Event, which is likely to take pl

Report: Don't Expect New AirPods Max 2 at Apple's iPhone 17 Event

Some of us have been waiting for Apple to announce a new second-gen version of the AirPods Max, its high-end over-ear noise-canceling headphones that were released in December 2020. They were refreshed last year with USB-C connectivity, some new color options and USB-C audio in April of this year. But if a recent report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who's usually a reliable Apple whisperer, proves accurate, we won't be seeing the AirPods Max 2 at Apple's iPhone 17 Event, which is likely to take pl

You can customize your NotebookLM Audio Overview outputs in-app now - here's how

peshkov/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways: The NotebookLM app now offers new customization options. The platform is positioned as an AI-powered research assistant. More updates can be expected soon, according to the platform. The NotebookLM mobile app just got a little more customizable. You can now specify more elements within the Google-owned platform's Audio Overview tool, which debuted in September of

AirPods Max in 2025? Same drawbacks, now ready for pros, and one killer feature

Jason Hiner/ZDNET Key takeaways The ability to switch quickly and seamlessly across an unlimited number of Apple devices is still the best feature of the AirPods Max. The low-latency upgrade in iOS 18.4 makes the AirPods Max a lot more viable for professional multimedia producers (and gamers) when using a wired connection. Comfort, battery life, and audio quality match high-end competitors from Sony, Bose, and others. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Even with their im

Control shopping cart wheels with your phone (2021)

About Play the below sounds through your phone speaker and hold it next to a Gatekeeper Systems wheels to lock/unlock. Check me out on twitter @stoppingcart How It Works Most electronic shopping cart wheels listen for a 7.8 kHz signal from an underground wire to know when to lock and unlock. A management remote can send a different signal at 7.8 kHz to the wheel to unlock it. Since 7.8 kHz is in the audio range, you can use the parasitic EMF from your phone's speaker to "transmit" a similar cod

The Best Gaming Headsets for Xbox, PS5, and PC (2025)

Microphones are common on most headphones and earbuds, but on gaming-specific headsets you're more likely to find boom mics sticking out from one of the ears. These tend to provide better audio quality, as well as a few other features you may want to consider when buying a new headset. The first is a visual indicator for whether your mic is muted. I know that sounds a little funny, but it serves a dual purpose of letting you know that you're being heard when you're talking, and also ensuring yo

Google can read your Docs to you now

Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET ZDNET's key takeaways You can listen to your Google Docs documents read aloud. Control the playback and let other people listen to the document. Feature is available to Workspace, AI Pro, and AI Ultra users. Get more in-depth ZDNET tech coverage: Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers. Listening to your own documents is a helpful way to catch typos and other mistakes, and learn how your writing actually sounds. Now,

Google Gemini can now read your Docs aloud

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. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Google Docs will now let you generate an audio version of your documents using AI. In a post announcing the rollout, Google says you can customize Gemini’s AI audio output with different voices and playback speeds. This feature isn’t just for a document’s creat