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9 Rules For Keeping Your Kitchen Cool During a Heat Wave

Record-breaking heat has descended upon the Midwest and Northeast yet again. Scorching temps in spring and early summer are now the norm, not the exception, which makes keeping your home cool while cooking a daunting task. Before you reach for the takeout menu or delivery app, consider my bible for keeping the kitchen cool while cooking, even during a heat wave. Read more: Best Foods for Staying Hydrated During Hot Weather Using the right appliances and cooking at certain times will help keep

Tuesday Telescope: A new champion enters the ring

Welcome to the Tuesday Telescope. There is a little too much darkness in this world and not enough light—a little too much pseudoscience and not enough science. We’ll let other publications offer you a daily horoscope. At Ars Technica, we’ll take a different route, finding inspiration from very real images of a universe that is filled with stars and wonder. After a decade of construction a large new reflecting telescope publicly released its first images on Monday, and they are nothing short of

Google’s new robotics AI can run without the cloud and still tie your shoes

We sometimes call chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT "robots," but generative AI is also playing a growing role in real, physical robots. After announcing Gemini Robotics earlier this year, Google DeepMind has now revealed a new on-device VLA (vision language action) model to control robots. Unlike the previous release, there's no cloud component, allowing robots to operate with full autonomy. Carolina Parada, head of robotics at Google DeepMind, says this approach to AI robotics could make robot

The 5 Best Essential Oil Diffusers (and One to Avoid)

I first learned about Pura from a friend whose house always smelled like a high-end boutique under every circumstance. Cooking project, water leak … no matter what was going on in her house at the time, I only ever smelled berries. I have two cats and a multi-sports-playing tween—I knew I needed this. Now, about 17 months into my Pura journey, I have some thoughts. While most of my time has been with the now discontinued Pura 3, I have also since used the Pura 4 and new large-room Pura Plus, al

Google DeepMind’s optimized AI model runs directly on robots

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. Google DeepMind is rolling out an on-device version of its Gemini Robotics AI model that allows it to operate without an internet connection. The vision-language-action model (VLA) comes with dexterous capabilities similar to the one released in March, but Google says “it’s small and efficient enough to run directly on a robot.” The flagship Gemini

I skipped every Death Stranding cutscene and I’ll do it again

I beat the original Death Stranding, but please don’t ask me what happened in it. There was a cataclysm — not quite a Gommage — that made the US more divided than ever, and you play as a babysitter-meets-delivery-guy who has special awareness of invisible, hostile creatures called BTs that are “beached,” which isn’t as relaxing as it sounds. There are grenades filled with pee, poop, and blood, and everyone who’s anyone was motion-captured to be in the game. There are whales, Guillermo del Toro (

Android’s youthful new design will change the way you make and answer calls

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. Google is freshening up its Phone app with a new interface that’s supposed to make it easier to find contacts and your calls. The test is gradually rolling out to some of Google’s public beta users, and also includes some style changes that align with Android’s more youthful Material 3 Expressive design language. For starters, Google has changed up

Microsoft planning ‘major’ Xbox layoffs next week

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft is planning to cut jobs in the company’s Xbox gaming business, as early as next week. I first reported in Notepad earlier this month that Microsoft was planning Xbox layoffs “potentially by the end of the month,” and now Bloomberg says a round of “major layoffs” is due next week. I understand managers at Microsoft have been briefed about Xbox cuts and wider layoffs i

Nintendo’s wheelchair basketball game will be out in August

is a reporter who covers the business, culture, and communities of video games, with a focus on marginalized gamers and the quirky, horny culture of video game communities. Drag x Drive is the next Switch 2 exclusive to get a release date. Nintendo, via its Nintendo Today news app, announced that the 3 v 3 wheelchair basketball game would be out August 14th. Since the launch of the Switch 2 earlier this month, most of the new console’s catalogue has been third party releases like Deltarune and

Google rolls out new Gemini model that can run on robots locally

Google DeepMind on Tuesday released a new language model called Gemini Robotics On-Device that can run tasks locally on robots without requiring an internet connection. Building on the company’s previous Gemini Robotics model that was released in March, Gemini Robotics On-Device can control a robot’s movements. Developers can control and fine-tune the model to suit various needs using natural language prompts. In benchmarks, Google claims the model performs at a level close to the cloud-based

UK may require Google to give users alternative search options and rank its results ‘more fairly’

The U.K.’s competition regulator said on Tuesday it is considering a new market designation for Google that would require the search giant to provide alternative search options to users, rank search results “more fairly,” and offer greater control to publishers over how their content is used in search and AI Overviews. Under the new Digital Markets Competition Regime that went into force earlier this year, the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it is launching a consultation on

Amazon to spend over $4B to expand Prime delivery to rural communities in the US

Amazon announced on Tuesday that it is expanding its Same-Day and Next-Day delivery services to over 4,000 small cities and towns across rural U.S. This expansion will bring its fast Prime delivery service to millions of customers in places such as Asbury, Iowa; Fort Seneca, Ohio; Lewes, Delaware; North Padre Island, Texas; and Sharptown, Maryland. The e-commerce giant plans to invest more than $4 billion to triple the size of its delivery network by 2026. Amazon has recognized a growing demand

US warns of Iranian cyberattacks and propaganda in wake of airstrikes

TL;DR: The Iranian government has been behind several cyberattacks on US organizations over the years. Now, the Department of Homeland Security has warned of an increased threat of both cyberattacks and physical attacks from the nation following US strikes on its nuclear facilities over the weekend. Homeland Security has warned that low-level cyberattacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government are likely. The advisory adds that th

How war-torn Myanmar plays a critical role in China's rare earth dominance

Illustration of the national flag of the People's Republic of China and a mining site. Craig Hastings | Moment | Getty Images Beijing has been stepping up controls on rare earth exports, triggering global shortages and exposing industries' dependence on Chinese supply chains. However, over recent years, China itself has become reliant on rare earth supplies from an unexpected source: the relatively small and war-torn economy of Myanmar. While China is the world's top producer of rare earths, it

Outright Games teams with animation studio Aardman to make Chicken Run: Eggstraction

Outright Games, a publisher of family-friendly interactive entertainment, is working with animation studio Aardman on the game Chicken Run: Eggstraction. Based on Aardman’s iconic Chicken Run franchise, this top-down, heist game picks up where Aardman’s 2023 film Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget left off, as the gang works together to save chicken-kind. Chicken Run: Eggstraction will launch this autumn, on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through S

75 million deepfakes blocked: Persona leads the corporate fight against hiring fraud

Join the event trusted by enterprise leaders for nearly two decades. VB Transform brings together the people building real enterprise AI strategy. Learn more As remote work has become the norm, a shadowy threat has emerged in corporate hiring departments: sophisticated AI-powered fake candidates who can pass video interviews, submit convincing resumes, and even fool human resources professionals into offering them jobs. Now, companies are racing to deploy advanced identity verification technol

Yale’s new Smart Lock with Matter is the perfect smart home upgrade for people with app fatigue

Yale TL;DR Yale is releasing its new Smart Lock with Matter support. The lock can be set up and operated entirely within Google Home. Operation requires the use of a Matter hub with a Thread border router. How many times have you considered a new addition to your smart home, but stopped yourself at the last moment? Do I really need another app in my life? Another account I’ll have to create? App fatigue is a real thing, and with as many as we need to interact with on a daily basis, sometimes

Two wearables are better than one, according to Amazfit’s latest launch

Amazfit TL;DR Amazfit has launched the new Balance 2 fitness tracking watch and screen-free Helio Strap. The devices are available now for $299.99 and $99.99, respectively, or bundled for $379.99 for users who want an integrated tracking experience. Highlights include the company’s new BioCharge scoring and no subscription fees. Amazfit has officially kicked off the summer with the launch of two new devices, the Balance 2 smartwatch and the Helio Strap, a screen-free tracker designed for tra

Mosyle announces AccessMule to solve a major blind spot in SMB security

One of the most common blind spots in small business security is access management for various company resources. Today’s IT teams are moving fast (and often understaffed), solving customer problems, and juggling shifting responsibilities as the business grows and evolves. Many SMBs also don’t have a dedicated IT team. They might be fixing things by committee or just trusting that vendors have these problems solved. Behind the scenes, there’s usually little visibility into who still has access t

Creative clash pauses McConaughey & Harrelson Apple TV+ comedy series

Apple TV+ has halted production for its upcoming untitled “brothers” comedy starring Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, The Lost Bus) and Woody Harrelson (True Detective, Natural Born Killers). Here’s what happened. Creative differences on season conclusion halt production According to an exclusive report by Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva, filming on the project was suspended late last week, with the cast sent home. The production hiccup is due to the departure of showrunner David West Read (Schi

HDMI 2.2's full specs have been finalized, with better support for modern displays

The new cables have to be labeled 'Ultra96' to indicate they support up to 96Gbps in bandwidth. The HDMI forum, which develops and manages HDMI specification, has officially launched the final and full specifications for HDMI version 2.2. First revealed at CES 2025, version 2.2 was designed to make it significantly easier to send videos with higher refresh rates and resolutions to modern TVs, such as those with 4K and 8K displays. Version 2.2 cables are required to be branded with the Ultra96 f

The xMEMS 'fan on a chip' is ready for smart glasses

As AI reignites Big Tech's push for smart glasses, here's a tech that could play a central role. xMEMS, which debuted a solid-state "fan on a chip" last year, has a new one for wearables. This could help future smart glasses melt your face figuratively — and not literally. Founded in 2018, xMEMS specializes in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The California-based company started with solid-state speakers. Last year, it introduced its µCooling "fan on a chip" for phones and oth

US House bans WhatsApp on staff devices over security concerns

The U.S. House of Representatives has banned the installation and use of WhatsApp on government-issued devices belonging to congressional staff, citing concerns over how the app encrypts and secures data. The ban covers mobile phones, laptops, desktop computers, and any web browsers used on those devices. Congressional staff are still free to use WhatsApp on their personal devices, which existing policies dictate are not allowed in sensitive areas such as classified briefings or secure facilit

As a golfer, this is the smartwatch I recommend most on the course

ZDNET's key takeaways The Amazfit Balance 2 smartwatch is available now for $249. The watch has a vivid AMOLED display with sapphire glass, 21-day battery life, dual speakers, and advanced golf features. Subscription music services are not supported and the app store is still limited. View now at Amazon Late last year I bought a lovely Woodland Brown Amazfit Balance and still marvel at the look, feel, and performance of that $200 smartwatch. For the past couple of weeks, I've been using its s

This premium Lenovo Chromebook made me forget about my MacBook and Windows PC

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus with an OLED display. Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET Chromebooks are continuing to level up. Google just announced a host of new AI features live in ChromeOS now, along with the Lenovo Chromebook Plus, an all-new device with an OLED display, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 17 hours of battery life -- the most of any Chromebook to date. Also: The best Chromebooks for students in 2025: Expert tested and reviewed I recently had a chance to go hands-on with the Lenovo Chromebook P

Want a free VPN? How to use ProtonVPN on Android without having to pay

June Wan/ZDNET I'm going to start off by saying that when presented with a free VPN service, I typically turn and run because most of those services cannot be trusted one bit. Even some paid VPN services aren't always what you think they should be. However, there are some VPNs that carry with them a reputation for being secure, stable and trustworthy. Nearly all of those VPNs have an associated cost, some of which can only be used for free during a trial period. And then there's ProtonVPN. A

The camera I recommend to most new photographers is not a Nikon or Sony - and it's on sale

ZDNET's key takeaways The Canon EOS R100 mirrorless camera is a great starter for aspiring photographers. It features a 24-megapixel sensor for great image quality and color and can capture 4K (UHD) video at 24 frames per second. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a flip-out preview screen. View now at Canon View now at Best Buy View now at Amazon more buying choices For a limited time, Amazon is selling the Canon EOS R100 with RF-S18-45mm bundle for $50 off. It's a great time to be a photograph

Is mathematics mostly chaos or mostly order?

Last winter, at a meeting in the Finnish wilderness high above the Arctic Circle, a group of mathematicians gathered to contemplate the fate of a mathematical universe. It was minus 20 degrees Celsius, and while some went cross-country skiing, Juan Aguilera, a set theorist at the Vienna University of Technology, preferred to linger in the cafeteria, tearing pieces of pulla pastry and debating the nature of two new notions of infinity. The consequences, Aguilera believed, were grand. “We just do

Retrieval Augmented Generation Based on SQLite

Haiku SQLite RAG A Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) library on SQLite. Features Local SQLite : No need to run additional servers : No need to run additional servers Support for various embedding providers : You can use Ollama, VoyageAI, OpenAI or add your own : You can use Ollama, VoyageAI, OpenAI or add your own Hybrid Search : Vector search using sqlite-vec combined with full-text search FTS5 , using Reciprocal Rank Fusion : Vector search using combined with full-text search , using