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Your Samsung TV is getting a huge feature upgrade - 3 AI tools launching right now

Kerry Wan/ZDNET ZDNET's key takeaways Samsung is rolling out a redesigned version of Bixby on smart TVs. The new Bixby will have upgraded conversational abilities. You'll also be able to control smart home devices. If you have a Samsung television, you're about to get a big upgrade to your TV's built-in Bixby assistant. In a recent announcement, Samsung detailed a redesigned Bixby that brings a host of new features, including the ability to look up information, utilize Click to Search, and

This USB-C accessory gave my Android and iPhone an ingenious emergency tool

Heat It Smartphone-Powered Insect Bite Healer ZDNET's key takeaways The Heat It is available on Amazon for $40. It heats up from your smartphone and reduces swelling and itchiness from bug bites. While its power consumption is modest, it will take some charge from your phone. $39.95 at Amazon As someone who spends a lot of time outdoors (and someone who got hit with Lyme disease), it's astonishing how often I forget to apply insect repellent. Just the other night, I spent the last half of a f

Sonos’ smart assistant is expanding from music to home control

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. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Since its launch in 2022, the capabilities of Sonos Voice Control have expanded to include setting timers and checking the weather. But by the end of this year, the smart assistant will introduce compatibility with the Philips Hue smart home platform allowing

Google’s Smart Home Ecosystem Is Crumbling

When I started using a Google smart speaker six years ago, I was all in. Voice assistants have never been perfect—in fact, they always kind of sucked—but I found (having also used Alexa and Siri) that Google Assistant sucked just a little bit less than the competition. And the fact that it was actually linked to Google search for real web queries made it even better. Flash forward to now, and everything I just wrote couldn’t be further from the truth. Things are arguably worse for the Google As

Your Samsung TV is getting a huge Bixby upgrade - 3 AI features rolling out today

Samsung ZDNET's key takeaways Samsung is rolling out a redesigned version of Bixby on smart TVs. The new Bixby will have upgraded conversational abilities. You'll also be able to control smart home devices. If you have a Samsung television, you're about to get a big upgrade to your TV's built-in Bixby assistant. In an announcement today, Samsung detailed a redesigned Bixby that brings a host of new features, including the ability to look up information, utilize Circle to Search, and even c

Whatever you do, don’t buy a Google Pixel Watch right now

Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority I’ve spent nearly a year touting the Pixel Watch 3 as the best smartwatch for Wear OS shoppers, so if you’re thinking about picking one up, trust me when I say, I get it. Google’s smartwatches have made major strides in just a few short years, and with the third generation, the company delivered a more refined, more capable, and more comfortable wearable than either of its predecessors. For most people, it’s the best Wear OS watch available. It packs a powerfu

Sengled’s downfall shows the peril of relying on cloud connections for smart home control

is a senior reviewer focused on smart home and connected tech, with over twenty years of experience. She has written previously for Wirecutter, Wired, Dwell, BBC, and US News. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. After repeatedly leaving customers without smart control of their lights, Sengled has been booted from Amazon’s Works With Alexa program. As first reported by TechHive, beginning August 1st, Sengled’s Alexa skill for controlling its l

Amazon pulls the plug on Sengled’s Alexa skill after months of outages

is a senior reviewer focused on smart home and connected tech, with over twenty years of experience. She has written previously for Wirecutter, Wired, Dwell, BBC, and US News. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. After repeatedly leaving customers without smart control of their lights, Sengled has been booted from Amazon’s Works With Alexa program. As first reported by TechHive, beginning August 1st, Sengled’s Alexa skill for controlling its l

VR Is in a Really Bad Place Right Now and Smart Glasses Are to Blame

Remember VR? It’s that thing where you put on a headset and… You remember VR, right? If you don’t remember VR, you couldn’t be blamed, because things have taken a turn since way back in 2023, and right now, VR seems to be on the back burner, cold, with the heat turned off, while its sister tech, XR/AR is front and center, getting all of chef’s Michelin-starred attention. That’s not just a feeling, either; there are numbers to bear that trend out. Year over year, Meta said last week that Meta Re

SAP is acquiring SmartRecruiters

In Brief SAP announced Friday that it has reached an agreement to acquire recruiting software company SmartRecruiters. In a press release, the European software giant said that SmartRecruiters “powerful, user-friendly interfaces and seamless workflows” will complement SAP’s existing HR tools. Muhammad Alam, the SAP executive board member who leads product and engineering, said in a statement that with this acquisition, “Customers will be able to manage the entire candidate lifecycle — from so

6 ridiculous promises we were sold about 5G

Kris Carlon / Android Authority Despite some speed and network coverage improvements, 5G hasn’t really lived up to the hype. You know it, I know it, and deep down, even the carriers know it. In fact, a few of the industry’s bigwigs would probably rather we all forget about some of the absolutely outlandish claims and overenthusiastic visions they tried to sell us about 5G. But the internet never forgets, so it’s time for us to play “where are they now” with some of the worst nonsense from the

This is my favorite Android launcher, and it’s not the one you think

Nathan Drescher / Android Authority We’re probably a lot alike when it comes to launchers. I’ve been bouncing between them for years, trying each one out, getting excited about updates and then being let down when they offered nothing new. I’ve paid for pro launchers and tried going with the locked down stock launcher on a Google Pixel, but nothing really stuck, until Smart Launcher 6. My Redmagic 10 Pro is my current daily driver. However, its stock launcher is the definition of “just good en

I put the Galaxy Ring to the test - and it's better than my Apple Watch in one critical area

Samsung Galaxy Ring ZDNET's key takeaways The Samsung Galaxy Ring is a smart ring that excels at wellness tracking, especially for delivering actionable insights to help you improve areas of your health that could use some attention. People interested in digital health tracking will appreciate the Galaxy Ring's minimalism, comfort, long battery life, and minimal notifications. At $399, the Galaxy Ring is more expensive than some of its competitors, but it does not require a $5.99-per-month sub

The best smartwatch and fitness tracker deals to shop now

Marathon season is right around the corner, and if you've willingly entered yourself into a race this fall, whether it's a 5K, 10K, half, or full marathon, you've probably already begun training for it (or should start doing so as soon as possible). A fitness tracker, like a smartwatch, smart band, or smart ring, can help monitor your pace, distance, gains, and recovery. These devices have become more comfortable than ever (as someone who has tested lots of them), and the brands behind them, li

Google Home Is So Bad That a Lawsuit Could Be on Its Way

There’s been some trouble at home lately. Not your home, hopefully, but if you live in Google HQ, then maybe. Last week, people using the Google Home app flooded Reddit with complaints over smart home products that mysteriously stopped working—lights, cameras, smart plugs, you name it. Those complaints were so numerous, in fact, that Google even bothered to address them and do better. Things in the Googleverse were (or are) bad, to say the least. But just because they’re bad right now doesn’t me

I tried underwater AR goggles to track my workouts - and they worked surprisingly well

Form Smart Swim 2 Pro ZDNET's key takeaways The Form Smart Swim 2 Pro is available for $329, with the premium subscription for $119/year or $15/month. The included solution keeps the goggles fog free, and the annual subscription provides extensive training and analysis features. Peripheral visibility is limited, the glasses are rather expensive, and the anti-fog spray needs to be applied before each swim. View now at Formswim I've been exercising since I was a young boy in the 80s, and never

Meta’s Rumored Smartwatch May Actually Be a Huge Win for Ray-Ban Glasses

Meta has been on a bit of a tear lately, snapping up AI researchers from Apple and OpenAI on an express train towards… something? What that something is, only time and a watchful eye will reveal, but apparently, a part of that future vision is a smartwatch. According to a report from DigiTimes, Meta is working on reviving its plans to make a smartwatch with a camera on it, and that watch could be revealed later this year. This isn’t the first time Meta has been rumored to enter this space. Seve

Your Circular Ring just got a big health tracking update - for free

French smart ring brand Circular has launched its Immunity Index feature that could notify you ahead of your next cold. The feature, available on the smart ring's app, uses health data the ring already aggregates, such as heart rate variability, resting heart rate, sleep-breathing regularity, and temperature stability, to predict strain on the body ahead of illness. Also: This subscription-free smart ring gave my Oura a run for its money (and it's cheaper too) Immunity Index monitors these bi

The best smartwatches for 2025

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 . Smartwatches do more than just track your steps and deliver phone alerts to your wrist. The best smartwatches go even further, giving you the ability to pay for a cup of coffee, take calls and connect to apps like Spotify all without whipping out your smartphone. Chances are, if you

This subscription-free smart ring gave my Oura a run for its money (and it's cheaper too)

RingConn Smart Ring ZDNET's key takeaways The RingConn Smart Ring is available now in three colors for $259 (regularly $279). One week battery life, lovely matte finish, powerful smartphone app, and no subscription fee. No readiness score and does not sync with third-party fitness apps other than Apple Health $169 at Amazon While I wear watches on both of my wrists, that type of wearable isn't the best for tracking sleep without being disruptive. For more than two years, I have also had an Ou

Google is rolling out a fix for Home smart light voice control

TL;DR Google Home has been suffering from multiple connectivity issues going back about a week. Users have complained in particular about not being able to control smart lights via voice command. Google is currently deploying a fix for that smart light issue, but it sounds like others might remain. Google has a smart home problem. When you’ve got an entire household of smart devices all configured and running through Google Home, it’s no surprise that glitches will occasionally pop up. Any wh

Futurehome smart hub owners must pay new $117 subscription or lose access

Smart home device maker Futurehome is forcing its customers’ hands by suddenly requiring a subscription for basic functionality of its products. Launched in 2016, Futurehome’s Smarthub is marketed as a central hub for controlling Internet-connected devices in smart homes. For years, the Norwegian company sold its products, which also include smart thermostats, smart lighting, and smart fire and carbon monoxide alarms, for a one-time fee that included access to its companion app and cloud platfo

China’s Newest Pair of Smart Glasses Are Meta’s Biggest Threat Yet

It’s official: Alibaba is entering the smart glasses game. After rumors that percolated late last week, Alibaba unveiled its official plans to put out frames that look awfully similar to Meta’s Ray-Bans, but with a few key advantages that could help them blow way past U.S. competition. The smart glasses, called Quark AI, are actually a lot more similar to Meta’s Ray-Bans than I expected. For one, they do not feature a display of any kind and instead focus more on here-and-now features like call

Futurehome smart hub owners must pay new $117 subscription or lose access

Smart home device maker Futurehome is forcing its customers’ hands by suddenly requiring a subscription for basic functionality of its products. Launched in 2016, Futurehome’s Smarthub is marketed as a central hub for controlling Internet-connected devices in smart homes. For years, the Norwegian company sold its products, which also include smart thermostats, smart lighting, and smart fire and carbon monoxide alarms, for a one-time fee that included access to its companion app and cloud platfo

I Lived With Alexa+ for a Week. Here’s How It Went (2025)

I've had Alexa, Amazon's cloud-based voice service, in my house for the better part of a decade. I had the original rounded tower in my first post-grad apartment, and now the second-generation Echo Spot (7/10, WIRED Review) has a permanent place in my office as I cycle among different smart speakers while testing for my guide to the Best Smart Speakers. For years, Alexa's been a constant for controlling my many smart lights and allowing me to jam to my playlist of choice. There was always a lot

India overtakes China in smartphone exports to the U.S. as manufacturing jumps 240%, report shows

Workers assemble smartphones at Dixon Technologies' Padget Electronics Pvt factory in Uttar Pradesh, India, on Jan. 28, 2021. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images India has overtaken China to become the top exporter of smartphones to the U.S., according to research firm Canalys, reflecting the shift in manufacturing supply chain away from Beijing amid tariff-fueled uncertainty. Smartphones assembled in India accounted for 44% of U.S. imports of those devices in the second quarter, a significant

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses revenue tripled over the year, EssilorLuxottica says

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses on display in the window of a Ray Ban store in London, UK, on Friday, July 19, 2024. Revenue from sales of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses more than tripled year over year, EssilorLuxottica revealed Monday as part of the company's most recent earnings report. EssilorLuxottica said the success of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, built via a partnership with the Facebook parent stemming back to 2019, contributed to its first-half overall sales of 14.02 billion euro (US$16.25 billi

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses sales triple as EssilorLuxottica doubles down on wearables

EssilorLuxottica, Meta’s partner in the smart glasses market and owner of brands such as Ray-Ban and Oakley, just reported stronger-than-expected quarterly revenue, driven in part by rising demand for the Ray-Ban Meta. Here’s the breakdown. In its quarterly results, EssilorLuxottica reported a 7.3% revenue increase, beating a Bloomberg-compiled analyst estimate of 5.9%. It is worth mentioning that at current exchange rates, however, revenue rose by just 3.2%, reflecting the impact of a stronger

Deal: Take $100 off the Samsung Smart Monitor M7, which can replace your TV

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority If you’re looking for a monitor, you’ll quickly realize the market is flooded with options. How do you find the right one? I am a big fan of options like the Samsung 43-inch Smart Monitor M7 (M70F). It’s large, capable, and even doubles as a TV! More importantly, it is also at a pretty nice price, thanks to today’s $100 discount. Buy the Samsung 43-inch Smart Monitor M7 M70F for just $399.99 ($100 off) This offer is available from Amazon as a “limited time d

Bankrupt Futurehome suddenly makes its smart home hub a subscription service

Smart home device maker Futurehome is forcing its customers’ hands by suddenly requiring a subscription for basic functionality of its products. Launched in 2016, Futurehome’s Smarthub is marketed as a central hub for controlling Internet-connected devices in smart homes. For years, the Norwegian company sold its products, which also include smart thermostats, smart lighting, and smart fire and carbon monoxide alarms, for a one-time fee that included access to its companion app and cloud platfo