Latest Tech News

Stay updated with the latest in technology, AI, cybersecurity, and more

Filtered by: und Clear Filter

Microsoft Accidentally Replaces Windows 11 Startup Sound With Vista Chime

Microsoft has temporarily transported users back to 2007 this week when the company mistakenly swapped Windows 11's familiar startup chime with the iconic Windows Vista boot sound. The mix-up appeared in a recent Windows 11 Insider Preview build in the Dev Channel. Users who rebooted their systems noticed that instead of the modern Windows 11 tone, they were greeted by Vista's distinct (and now nostalgic) startup sound. Microsoft has since acknowledged the issue, calling it an unintentional ch

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

Microsoft Accidentally Replaces Windows 11 Startup Sound with Vista Chime

Microsoft briefly transported users back to 2007 this week when the company mistakenly swapped Windows 11's familiar startup chime with the iconic Windows Vista boot sound. The mix-up appeared in a recent Windows 11 Insider Preview build in the Dev Channel. Users who rebooted their systems noticed that instead of the modern Windows 11 tone, they were greeted by Vista's distinct (and now nostalgic) startup sound. Microsoft has since acknowledged the issue, calling it an unintentional change and

Obsidian Entertainment has big ambitions for Grounded 2's small world

Obsidian Entertainment has been an incredibly versatile game developer over the years, even venturing outside its RPG comfort zone with the original Grounded. As a survival adventure game where you're shrunken down and explore the hidden, vast world of a backyard, it became a well-loved hit, and it evolved even further throughout its early access period. But now, the developers have big plans for Grounded 2, which has new features and a larger scope that was too big for the original to contain.

These sleep earbuds have not one but three secret weapons to help you get more rest

Soundcore / ZDNET Soundcore's newest sleep earbuds come with features that could get you to sleep faster. The mobile accessories brand announced today its third-generation sleep earbuds, the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds, that at long last come with active noise cancellation. Smart ANC and AI binaural beats The new Sleep A30 minimizes up to 30 decibels of noise with its Smart ANC technology. Its case also features adaptive snore-masking technology, which detects snoring and generates noise-mask

Philips Fidelio FB1 soundbar is just for audiophiles, and it's on sale

Allison Murray/ZDNET You can buy the Philips Fidelio FB1 soundbar for $300 ($100 off) on Amazon. ZDNET's key takeaways The Philips Fidelio FB1 soundbar retails for $400. This soundbar comes with plenty of customizable EQ options to fully optimize your sound for whatever you're listening to. It's large in size, and the setup can be a little complicated. Good sound is easily detectable -- you know it when you hear it. While the Philips Fidelio FB1 soundbarproduces dynamic sound, it lacks th

5 easy ways to instantly improve your soundbar's audio (without spending a dime)

Kerry Wan/ZDNET 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: Your car's USB port is more useful than you think. 5 features you're missing out on Whether you're new to soundbar setups or a self-proclaimed audiophile, familiarizing yourself with some key settings

Microsoft accidentally swapped Windows 11’s startup sound with Vista’s

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. If you’ve been having flashbacks to 2007 while using your PC over the past few days, you’re not alone. Microsoft has mistakenly replaced Windows 11’s boot sound — in test versions of the OS — with the startup chime from Windows Vista. Windows testers started noticing the issue shortly after Microsoft released its latest Dev Channel build of Windows 11 on Friday afternoon. The

Studio555 raises $4.6M to build playable app for interior design

Studio555 announced today that it has raised €4 million, or about $4.6 million in a seed funding round. It plans to put this funding towards creating a playable app, a game-like experience focused on interior design. HOF Capital and Failup Ventures led the round, with participation from the likes of Timo Soininen, co-founder of Small Giant Games; Mikko Kodisoja, co-founder of Supercell; and Riccardo Zacconi, co-founder of King. Studio555’s founders include entrepreneur Joel Roos, now the CEO, C

Anker’s Soundcore Sleep earbuds finally feature active noise canceling

is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid. Anker has announced a new version of its wireless sleep buds that could be even more effective at delivering a peaceful slumber by blocking out disturbing noises using active noise cancellation. Previous versions of the Soundcore Sleep earbuds blocked external sounds passively using just a snug fit inside the ear, but the new Sleep A30 finally ad

Bioprospectors mine microbial genomes for antibiotic gold

In brief The discovery of penicillin nearly 100 years ago started a gold rush to find new antimicrobials. Scientists mined microscopic bacteria and fungi for compounds that could help fight off infection. But over time the rate of antimicrobial discoveries slowed to a crawl. Now, modern-day bioprospectors are using genomics, synthetic biology, and AI to dig deeper than they ever have before. A new golden age of antibiotics may be upon us, say some on the hunt, though getting a drug candidate int

At last, wireless earbuds that sound great, feel comfortable, and won't break the bank

ZDNET's key takeaways The Baseus MC1 earbuds are availble now on Amazon for $69 Although the sound of the MC1 earbuds won't blow you away, the comfort and ease of control make up for it You really need to use the Baseus app to get the most out of these earbuds. $69.99 at Amazon The Baseus Bowie MC1 earbuds are now on sale at Amazon for $49, down 29% from the usual price of $69. I've been wooed to the dark side of clip-on earbuds. I resisted the urge for a long time, but eventually could figh

Sony’s Waterproof Speaker Is Nearly Free before Prime Day, Perfect Chance to Prep for Summer Travel

Whether you’re heading out on a weekend hike, setting up camp by the lake, or just need a reliable speaker to bring tunes to your backyard, having a compact yet capable Bluetooth speaker on hand can really elevate the moment. But with so many options out there, finding something that’s both affordable and actually sounds good is easier said than done. You can get the Sony SRS-XB100 wireless Bluetooth portable speaker for just $38 at Amazon right now, down from its usual price of $60. That’s $22

The investor experience at TechCrunch All Stage: One floor, infinite deal flow

TechCrunch All Stage isn’t a waiting room for warm intros — it’s a floor full of founders, ideas, and breakout potential. For VCs, it’s a rare chance to skip the filters and meet the future of tech in one place, on one day, with no layers between you and the next standout story. Whether you’re deploying early-stage capital, leading a Series B, or mentoring emerging fund managers, TechCrunch All Stage offers you more than access — it offers acceleration. And you can get both July 15 at Boston’s

Caltrain official lived in secret apartment built illegally inside train station

Joseph Navarro’s apartment was a typical Bay Area bachelor pad: on the small side, somewhat lacking in homey touches or creature comforts. But the location was hard to beat: stashed away inside the Burlingame Caltrain station. Images released Thursday by the San Mateo County district attorney’s office show the interior of the secret dwelling that Navarro, a former Caltrain deputy director, built illegally using public funds. Navarro lived in the snug chambers for years, but he will now reside

Rice University students design high-tech vest to help blind dogs navigate

What just happened? A playful Houston dog named Kunde inspired a group of Rice University engineering students to tackle a challenge faced by countless pets: how to help blind dogs explore their world without fear or frustration. Their answer is a high-tech vest that could soon offer new independence to visually impaired animals – without the discomfort of traditional aids. The project began when Kunde's owners, Grant Belton and AJ Price, reached out to Rice University's Oshman Engineering Desi

Forget JBL, This LG 5.1.1 Soundbar Bundle Hits Its Best Price Yet Only at Best Buy

One thing a lot of us forget when looking at a good home theater setup is the audio side of things. It’s all good and well going out and buying the shiniest and most powerful television you can find, not to mention the dopamine hit from doing so, but you should always put some time and budget into treating your ears as well. See at Best Buy One of the simplest ways to do this without too much hassle is to get a soundbar, but even better than that is to get a soundbar that works with rear speak

Best Gaming Chair for 2025

Why I like it The Titan Evo builds on a top-rated design with smart, user-friendly upgrades. Its magnetic headrest and armrests simplify customization and maintenance, while the internal adjustable lumbar support and locking 4D armrests provide ergonomic comfort and stability. The wide seat, deep recline, and multiple upholstery options make it adaptable to different needs. It’s also available in three sizes: small (up to 5 feet, 6 inches and 200 pounds), regular (5 feet, 7 inches to 6 feet 2 i

Zero-Shot Forecasting: Our Search for a Time-Series Foundation Model

Introduction In the last few years, the field of time-series forecasting has seen a fundamental shift. Where we once depended solely on classic statistical methods, think ARIMA, SARIMA, and Prophet, new “foundation” models have emerged, promising to bring the power and flexibility of large language models (LLMs) into the world of time-series data. The allure is obvious: can we build a single, reusable forecasting model that works across a variety of datasets and domains, instead of painstakingl

Roundtable (YC S23) Is Hiring a President / CRO

Roundtable is a research and deployment company building the proof-of-human layer in digital identity. Roundtable seeks to research and build real-world Turing Tests, and to productize these developments in bot detection, fraud prevention, and continuous authentication. You’ll be joining Roundtable’s C-suite alongside CEO Mayank Agrawal and CTO Mathew Hardy. The primary job will be to design, manage, and execute the commercial muscle of the company. You should be prepared to spend your time do

NBA Finals 2025: When Is Game 4 and How to Watch Without Cable

It's a quick turnaround for game 4 of the NBA Finals. Instead of the regular cadence of two days between games, there's only one off-night before the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder are back on the court for game 4. After splitting the first two games in Oklahoma City, the Pacers defeated the Thunder last night in front of a raucous home crowd in game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is set for Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on ABC. Here's everything you need to know to watch or

After a string of successes, early-stage fund Felicis raises fresh $900M

In Brief Felicis founder Aydin Senkut is celebrating his 20th year as an institutional early-stage investor by announcing the firm’s biggest fund yet: a $900 million Fund X. This follows the $825 million Fund IX raised in 2023 and the $600 million Fund XIII raised in 2021. Felicis, a seed and Series A firm, is known for backing a long string of successes, including Ayden, Bonobos, Ring, Shopify, and Twitch, among others. Since being founded in 2006, Felicis has backed over 50 unicorns and had

This Marshall Bluetooth speaker I tested sounds better than audio systems twice the price

ZDNET's key takeaways The Marshall Killburn III Bluetooth speaker is available on Amazon for $379. With rich, dynamic bass and a wide soundstage, you'll enjoy music of all genres with this speaker You might run into trouble pairing the speaker with the Marshall app (as I had). $379.99 at B&H Photo-Video $379.99 at Crutchfield more buying choices I'm quite familiar with the Marshall brand and its lineup of audio products. I have a Marshall amp that sounds brilliant (much better than I sound wi

Bose's second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have AI-enhanced adaptive ANC

On Thursday, Bose unveiled its next-gen premium wireless earbuds. The latest QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have enhanced adaptive noise cancellation, thanks to AI. Among their other upgrades over the originals are boosted call quality and wireless charging. Since AI is the tech world's obsession, it's no surprise that Bose is jumping on that bandwagon. Here, the company uses it to improve adaptive noise cancellation. AI algorithms in the new model can smooth out sudden spikes in background noise w

Bose’s New Bluetooth Speaker Looks Like a Solid Way to Annoy Everybody at the Beach

The only thing I love more than foisting my music on other people at the park is doing it with a speaker that delivers solid or above-average sound quality. While I haven’t had a chance to use Bose’s new portable Bluetooth speaker, it seems like it could be a great option for doing just that. Bose’s SoundLink Plus is a midrange Bluetooth speaker that is very clearly designed for outdoor excursions since it can float and has an IP67 rating that makes it damn near waterproof and dustproof. Per Bo

Apple is salvaging Image Playground with a boost from ChatGPT

When Apple unveiled Image Playground last year, the company touted it as a quick and easy way to generate personalized, original images with the help of Apple Intelligence. Upon launch, the app was met with skepticism, as some users were disappointed by its limitations and low-quality results. For example, one Reddit user was surprised to find that Image Playground kept generating an image of a hand with six fingers when prompted to create an “up close image of a hand.” In another instance, a u

Gecko Robotics raises $125 million in deal valuing critical infrastructure startup over $1 billion

Gecko Robotics announced on Thursday that it raised $125 million in a Series D funding round, raising the AI and robotics company's valuation to $1.25 billion. The new round of funding means the Pittsburgh-based company has reached unicorn status, roughly twelve years after it was founded by Jake Loosararian. The company's previous round of funding, a $173 million Series C in December 2023, valued it at $633 million. To date, the company has raised $347 million from investors including USIT, X

From festivals to weddings: Why drone shows are booming

From festivals to weddings: Why drone shows are booming 2 days ago Share Save Chris Baraniuk Technology Reporter Share Save Drone show opens Glastonbury Festival in 2024 The wedding ceremony was almost over when newlywed Bobby Underwood stepped on a napkin-covered glass to break it, as is Jewish tradition, and everyone shouted "Mazel Tov!". But as he and his new wife Siobhan turned to walk back down the aisle, their wedding officiants said, "Wait." There was a surprise. "All of these drones s

The latest Android 16 QPR1 beta finally organizes Android’s messy sound settings

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google is cleaning up Android’s “Sound & vibration” settings page in the upcoming Android 16 QPR1 update. Instead of one long list, the new layout groups settings into distinct categories like “sound patterns” and “Audio.” The volume sliders also get a modern design, while other options are relocated to make the page feel less cluttered. After more than 16 years of development, the Android OS is packed with features. If they weren’t organized, navigat

Apple will let third-party developers use Apple Intelligence models to empower their apps

Apple today announced a new framework, called Foundation Models, that will allow developers to access the same models that power on-device Apple Intelligence. This will let third-party apps easily offer AI features. Because these models run locally using the Apple Silicon chips on your iPhone or iPad, they can be made available wholly offline, and with no associated cloud API costs. This is the first time Apple is giving developers direct access to the power of these on-device foundation model