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Crunch time—we’ll soon find out if Amazon’s launch providers are up to the job

For the second time in two months, United Launch Alliance sent a batch of 27 broadband Internet satellites into orbit for Amazon on Monday morning. Just like the last flight on April 28, an Atlas V rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and delivered Amazon's satellites into an on-target orbit roughly 280 miles (450 kilometers) above Earth. This was the second launch of a full load of operational satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper, a network envisioned to become a competitor to Spa

Microsoft surprises MS-DOS fans with remake of ancient text editor that works on Linux

Last month, Microsoft released a modern remake of its classic MS-DOS Editor, bringing back a piece of computing history that first appeared in MS-DOS 5.0 back in 1991. The new open source tool, built with Rust and simply called "Edit," works on Windows, macOS, and—in a twist that would have seemed unlikely three decades ago—Linux. The cross-platform availability has delighted longtime users who never expected to see Microsoft's text editor running on their preferred operating system. "30 years

House staffers can’t have WhatsApp on their devices

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. The House of Representatives has banned staff members from using WhatsApp on government devices, according to a report from Axios. In an email viewed by the outlet, the House’s chief administrative officer (CAO) tells staffers that the Office of Cybersecurity “has deemed WhatsApp a high-risk” because of a “lack of transparency in how it protects use

Microsoft’s Xbox UI update lets you pin games and customize your homescreen

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft is rolling out a new update to its Xbox Home UI that allows Xbox owners to pin apps and games on the homescreen. It’s part of a number of customization changes to the Xbox Home UI, including the ability to hide system apps and reduce the number of apps and games listed in the most recently used section. You can pin up to three of your recently launched games or apps

Here are the best Apple Watch deals available right now

In September, Apple launched its latest smartwatch, introducing the Apple Watch Series 10 alongside a black rendition of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Each wearable has its own pros and cons, as does the second-gen Apple Watch SE, but the introduction of Apple’s newest wearables also means there are now more Apple Watch models on the market than ever before — and a lot more deals to be had. But with all of those options, which one should you pick? Generally speaking, you want to buy the newest watch

Over a million people now have access to the gen-AI powered Alexa+

More invites to Amazon’s upgraded digital assistant, Alexa+, powered by generative AI, have been steadily rolling out. The service, first announced in February, now reaches over a million users, Amazon confirmed to TechCrunch on Monday. However, Alexa+ is not yet publicly available. Instead, Amazon has been working through its waitlist, sending out invites to those customers who originally signed up to test the service when it became available. Over the past several weeks, many people have shar

MIT engineers use 3D-printed steel to repair corroded bridge

The big picture: According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, more than half of the 623,218 bridges in the US are in a state of significant deterioration. Getting them back in good standing would cost north of $191 billion – no small chunk of change. For researchers at MIT, finding a more cost-effective solution using modern technology is a worthy cause. Using a laser-based additive manufacturing technique called cold spray, the team successfully repaired a corroded section of a bridge

A Chinese firm has just launched a constantly changing set of AI benchmarks

Development of the benchmark at HongShan began in 2022, following ChatGPT’s breakout success, as an internal tool for assessing which models are worth investing in. Since then, led by partner Gong Yuan, the team has steadily expanded the system, bringing in outside researchers and professionals to help refine it. As the project grew more sophisticated, they decided to release it to the public. Xbench approached the problem with two different systems. One is similar to traditional benchmarking:

Gemini’s homescreen could take this idea from its biggest rival (APK teardown)

Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Gemini is taking some inspiration from ChatGPT. There are now suggestion chips on Gemini’s homescreen. Google also appears to have made a tweak to the greeting text. Save for a brief, friendly greeting and text box at the bottom, Gemini’s homescreen is fairly empty. However, Google could fill up some of that unused space by taking an idea from one of its rivals. Authority Insights story on Android Authority. Discover You're reading anstory on Android Au

US House reportedly bans WhatsApp on government devices

US congressional staffers have reportedly been told that they're no longer allowed to use WhatsApp on government devices. The House of Representatives' chief administrative officer (CAO) is said to have informed workers on Monday that the app — including the mobile, desktop and web-based versions — is not permitted on House-managed devices. "The Office of Cybersecurity has deemed WhatsApp a high risk to users due to the lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data e

US Homeland Security warns of escalating Iranian cyberattack risks

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned over the weekend of escalating cyberattack risks by Iran-backed hacking groups and pro-Iranian hacktivists. This warning was issued as a National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin on Sunday and cautions that the Iranian conflict is causing a "heightened threat environment" in the United States, with "low-level" cyberattacks targeting networks in the U.S. likely. "The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing

Google just gave Chromebooks a big upgrade for free - 4 features you can use on ChromeOS now

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

This simple Kindle accessory has seriously upgraded my reading experience - and it's on sale

ZDNET's key takeaways The Strapsicle silicone straps upgrade the grip options on your Kindle and provide a secure hold to prevent drops. At $21, Strapsicle is an easy and affordable Kindle accessory to make your reading experience even more comfortable. If you prefer more ergonomic grips or don't like the look of straps across the back of your Kindle, an alternative security option may be best. $20.9 at Amazon For a limited time save up to 50% on Strapsicle gear at Strapsicle's website in cel

How I use VirtualBox to run any OS on my Mac - including Linux

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET I depend on virtual machines. With them, I can easily use and review any Linux distribution on the market. I can also deploy various services on my network. For example, I have an instance of InvoicePlane that runs as a virtual machine (and I use daily to bill clients). I've used virtual machines for all sorts of things, and they have made my life considerably better. One of the tools I use to run virtual machines is VirtualBox. This application makes

How to turn on Android's Private DNS mode - and why it's an absolute must for security

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Nearly everything you do on your desktop, laptop, phone, and tablet begins with a Domain Name System (DNS) query. Essentially, DNS turns domain names (such as ZDNET.com) into an IP address so web browsers and apps know where to get the information you want. Also: How to enable earthquake alerts on your Android phone (including these Samsung models) Without DNS, you'd have to type 34.149.132.124 every time you wanted to go to ZDNET.com or 74.125.21.10

How Apple's biggest potential acquisition ever could perplex AI rivals like Google

Bloomberg/Contributor/Getty Images Executives at Apple are weighing the possibility of buying buzzy AI start-up Perplexity, Bloomberg reported on Friday. Citing anonymous sources close to the matter, the report said that talks within Apple to bid for an acquisition of Perplexity were still in early stages. A spokesperson for Perplexity told Reuters that the company had no knowledge of any acquisition-related plans or discussions. Also: Apple vs. generative AI: Who needs who? If Apple were to

I used Google's Flow AI to create my own videos with sound and dialogue - Here's how it went

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or

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

Transparent Ambition: on translucent user interfaces

Translucent user interfaces is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake. Aside from movie visual effect trickery, it started out in Mac OS X's Aqua, followed by Windows Vista's Aero, followed by (then) OS X's Vibrancy, followed by Windows 10's Acrylic. Over time, more and more of the user interface has become translucent similar to foggy/privacy-preserving sheets of glass. The unstated goal has always been to "look cool". The stated goal has always been to "give more pixels to your content"

Launch HN: Reducto Studio (YC W24) – Build accurate document pipelines, fast

Hi HN! We’re Adit and Raunak, co-founders of Reducto (YC W24, https://reducto.ai ). Reducto turns unstructured documents (e.g., PDFs, scans, spreadsheets) into structured data. This data can then be used for retrieval, passed into LLMs, or used elsewhere downstream. We started Reducto when we realized that so many of today’s AI applications require good quality data. Everyone knows that good inputs lead to better outputs, but 80% of the world’s data is still trapped inside of things like messy

Backyard Coffee and Jazz in Kyoto

One of the things I read about while getting ready for our vacation in Japan were these famous tiny businesses: bars or izakayas with four seats, narrow little bookstores or record shops in people’s houses or the bottom floors of small buildings, hyper-specialized or themed bars owned by one passionate guy. (There’s one that’s chock-full of Star Wars memorabilia, for example.) We got to visit a couple of such places, and saw many more from the street. I’m planning to write a longer, more themat

Frequent Nightmares Linked to Faster Aging and Premature Death

If you often have nightmares, you may need to worry a bit more about your health. New research presented today at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025 links frequent nightmares to faster biological aging and an over three times higher risk of premature death, even when taking into account other medical conditions. The researchers claim to be the first to demonstrate this association, which could have significant implications for how seriously one should consider persistent nigh

Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Oppo Find N5 Camera Comparison: Which Pictures Look Better?

Foldable phones like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Oppo Find N5 have redefined smartphone design. But ultimately, what most people just want to know: How good are the cameras? I snapped photos on both book-style foldables to see how the cameras stack up. Each phone had its strengths, from sharpness to texture to life-like colors, and they took turns claiming the "winner" title. In general, you won't find the best phone cameras on foldables because of their design. A thinner phone calls for a smalle

Topics: cnet fold n5 pixel pro

Best Internet Providers in Asheville, North Carolina

What is the best internet provider in Asheville, North Carolina? AT&T Fiber is CNET’s top pick for internet in Asheville thanks to its high-speed fiber plans, symmetrical upload and download speeds and strong overall value. Plans start at $55 per month and scale up to $245 for the blazing-fast 5,000Mbps tier. If AT&T Fiber is available at your address, it’s the best option for speed and performance. If AT&T Fiber isn't available in your area, Spectrum is a dependable backup, with wide coverage

Microsoft Is Ditching Passwords for Passkeys: How to Switch Before the August Deadline

Did you know there's a safer alternative to passwords? Some companies are implementing passkeys, which essentially use your biometric data, like fingerprint or facial recognition to log into your account as the first step. Passkeys can cut out risky password habits that 49% of US adults have, according to a recent CNET survey. Using the same password for multiple accounts and even using personal information, like your name, as a part of your password can lead to hackers guessing it or your pass

Tesla's Robotaxi Service Hits the Road in Austin, With Riders Sharing Their Experiences

Table of Contents Tesla's Robotaxi Service Hits the Road in Austin, With Riders Sharing Their Experiences Tesla's robotaxi service kicked off in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, with the cars picking up paying passengers without a driver behind the wheel for the first time. "The @Tesla_AI robotaxi launch begins in Austin this afternoon with customers paying a $4.20 flat fee!" Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted to X on Sunday. Earlier this month, Musk had said Tesla's robotaxi service would "tentatively" laun

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

Best Internet Providers in New York, New York

If you’re living in the city that never sleeps, you’ll need an internet connection that's both fast and reliable. New York has several internet service providers, but not all are worth your money. What is the best internet provider in New York? After hours of research and testing, Verizon Fios is CNET's recommendation for the best internet service provider for most New Yorkers thanks to its fast, symmetrical fiber-optic speeds and competitive pricing. New York City also boasts a variety of oth

Tesla launches robotaxi service in Austin

Tesla’s robotaxi service, touted by Elon Musk as the future of his flagging electric-car maker, launched in the company’s home city of Austin, Texas, on Sunday with about 10 vehicles and a human safety driver on board amid regulatory scrutiny of its self-driving technology. Shares in Tesla have risen about 50 percent from this year’s low in early April, with investors hopeful the autonomous ride-hailing service will help revive a company that has suffered declining sales and a consumer backlash