Author: Michael Comaous

Kerry Wan/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysAmazon hosted a Devices & Services event on September 30.The event featured new Ring cameras, Echo speakers and displays, Fire TV devices, and a new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft.ZDNET was on-site at the event to provide the most up-to-date coverage.Amazon has just wrapped up its next Devices and Services event, an invitation-only event held on September 30 in New York City. The company uses these events to introduce new products, including Echo speakers and displays, Kindle e-readers, and Fire TVs.  Also: The best Alexa devices: Expert testedThe e-commerce company announced a new…

Do you remember whatever became of your old Peloton bike or tread? The at-home fitness company was one of the most famous casualties of the postpandemic bust. After the company made huge bets on home gyms, many of us returned to our in-person or outdoor workouts. Peloton floundered. The company’s equipment was featured as the cause of death in multiple TV shows. CEO and cofounder John Foley stepped down. Amazon, Apple, and Nike were all floated as possible acquirers.However, under the leadership of new CEO Peter Stern (formerly of Ford and Apple), Peloton’s stock has slowly risen over the past…

Switching names In November 2022, the WHO decided to change the name. The United Nations health agency noted that it had received reports from individuals and countries about the “racist and stigmatizing language online, in other settings, and in some communities.” The WHO decided to switch to the name “mpox” with a one-year grace period. The agency also clarified its authority to make such a change, saying: “Assigning names to new and, very exceptionally, to existing diseases is the responsibility of WHO under the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the WHO Family of International Health Related Classifications through a…

Fortnite maker Epic Games said that Apple’s new installation workflow, implemented in iOS 18.6, has had a positive impact on its user growth, with a 60% decrease in drop-offs. Apple started allowing EU users to install alternative marketplaces earlier this year under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). At that time, the installation process was lengthier and involved multiple “scare screens” — warnings about the potential dangers of installing apps from sources other than the App Store. Image Credits: Epic Games Developers complained that Apple’s tactics resulted in people abandoning the installation process. Earlier this year, the EU slapped a $568…

Roland has largely decided sit out the analog synth renaissance of the last decade. But it’s (belatedly) making amends for that error with the launch of the TR-1000 Rhythm Generator. Unlike previous instruments that tried to cash in on Roland’s long legacy through digital technologies like its Zen-Core engine, Analogue Circuit Behavior (ACB) modeling, and Roland Cloud subscription service, the TR-1000 embraces the true analog sound of iconic Roland machines like the TR-808 and TR-909,Unlike other TR instruments from Roland over the last several years that simply invoke the branding, the TR-1000 actually recreates 16 analog sound circuits from the…

Jared Leto is known for a lot of things at this point, but one thing that he’s perhaps very known for is his approach to getting in character on-set. Leto is a tried and true method performer, and his turn as the titular program in the upcoming Tron: Ares was no exception to that process. Which might mean you’re bracing yourself to hear how Leto could possibly have gotten into method acting for playing a digital warrior made up of code that comes from a computerized alt-world. After all, this is the man who hobbled about on crutches during the production…

J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty ImagesFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET’s key takeawaysBusinesses are embracing AI tools despite a lack of trust.Governance, skills, and data infrastructure determine trust.This misalignment could be hindering ROI on AI initiatives.It’s no secret by now that many businesses are struggling to achieve tangible ROI from their AI initiatives. A recent study from MIT, in fact, found that as many as 95% of enterprise use cases of the technology have been essentially completely fruitless.Also: 43% of workers say they’ve shared sensitive info with AI – including financial and client dataWhy the huge rate of failure?According…

Keeping my house clean can feel like an impossible task with a litter-kicking-happy cat and a two-year-old on a mission to throw everything, whether it’s Cheerios or pizza, onto the floor. One of the things that has made it easier, though, is my Shark handheld vacuum. The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus is one of our favorite handheld vacuums, and it’s made it easy to clean up messes from both my cat and tiny human without needing to lug my old vacuum out for every mess. If you want a mess-free home for less, check our Shark coupon code.Get Up…

AI poses an obvious danger to millennia-long human fight to find the truth. Large language model “hallucinations,” vocal deepfakes, and now increased use of video deepfakes have all had a blurring effect on facts, letting bad actors around the globe brush off even recorded events as mere “fake news.” The danger is perhaps most acute in the political realm, where deepfake audio and video can make any politician say or appear to do anything. In such a climate, our most senior elected officials have a special duty to model truth-seeking behavior and responsible AI use. But what’s the fun in…

The U.S. Department of Energy has taken equity stakes in Canadian company Lithium Americas and its Nevada mining joint venture with General Motors as part of a renegotiation of a federal loan. Under the new terms, the U.S. government will take a 5% equity ownership in Lithium Americas and a 5% ownership in the Lithium Americas-GM joint venture. The equity stakes will be acquired through no-cost warrants, which are financial instruments that give the government the right to purchase shares at a set price. The new terms came out of a renegotiation with the DOE’s Loan Programs Office over a…