5+ day, 9+ hour ago (428+ words) The Toniebox has become a sensation among kids, but it's also beloved by parents who appreciate its screen-free entertainment offerings. My own children love their Toniebox, so they were delighted when we upgraded to the Toniebox 2. Now, you can upgrade your older Toniebox or dive into screen-free play this holiday season with a Black Friday deal. Also:Our favorite Black Friday deals live now At $100, the Toniebox 2 starter set is $40 off, offering a great opportunity to score a wonderful gift for the little ones in your life. The Toniebox is a portable audio player covered in soft, padded fabric, making it easy for kids to handle and protecting them from inevitable falls. The older Toniebox 1 is also on sale with a 30% discount, bringing its price down to $70. It's light enough for my four-year-old to carry and older-kid-friendly enough for my…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago (364+ words) Google's NotebookLM and Deep Research are both handy tools to help you research any topic using websites, as well as your own documents and other files. Now Google is pairing the two as a way to automate complex or challenging online research. Also:I turned a YouTube video into flashcards with NotebookLM - here's how In NotebookLM, you can influence Deep Research as little or as much as you want. You may prefer to sit back and watch while the tool carries out its research, or you could continue to add more sources or direct it to specific sites and files to help shape the final report. Google said that the new Deep Research mode should be available in NotebookLM to all users within a week. Here's how it will work. Also:Upgrade your study game with NotebookLM - here's how At…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago (404+ words) OpenAI has entered into a multi-year strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services, enabling it to tap into the cloud services provider's infrastructure and compute resources as it ramps up its efforts to build artificial general intelligence (AGI). Valued at $38 billion, the deal will go into effect "immediately," according to a Monday blog post from AWS, and is expected to scale up over the next seven years." Also: 8 ways to make responsible AI part of your company's DNA The partnership, announced less than a week after OpenAI finalized its structural transition into a nonprofit with a subsidiary for-profit arm, will give the company access to hundreds of thousands of Nvidia GB200 and GB300 semiconductors running on Amazon data clusters." The new organizational structure also means OpenAI has more leeway in its relationship with Microsoft, which, from 2019 to 2023, was its sole source of computing…...

3+ week, 6+ day ago (280+ words) Patent searching is a lengthy, extensive, and imperfect process for innovators. If someone wanted to find patents in a certain area, they'd have to use several tools, like Google Patents, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or a global patent database. Then, they'd have to search using specific keywords or codes -- or even rely on a patent attorney for supreme accuracy." Also:"Why AI coding tools like Cursor and Replit are doomed - and what comes next Perplexity Patents, the AI company's latest tool, aims to not only democratize but also speed up that process. Released Thursday, the AI-powered database uses natural language to help researchers find the patents they're looking for. "Perplexity Patents ushers in a new era, in which anybody can access patent intelligence and get clear answers quickly, maintaining context across multiple questions," the Perplexity team wrote…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago (905+ words) Zorin OS experienced a significant increase in downloads following the release of Windows 10. Within a two-day stretch, Zorin OS had over 100,000 downloads, which was a record for the distribution. Meanwhile, Linux Mint has been one of the most popular distributions for some time." Also: The best Linux distros for beginners in 2025 make switching from MacOS or Windows so easy Given that both of these distributions are enjoying a continued rise in popularity, along with the end of Windows 10 support, you might be looking at one or the other to serve as either your first or your next Linux distribution. Do a quick search and you'll find countless articles claiming why one is better than the other (or why one is better than them all)." That probably doesn't help you decide which Linux distribution to try. Let me see if I…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (544+ words) Everyone loves a good smartwatch, and Apple's most affordable option, the Apple Watch SE, recently received an upgrade that earned it a ZDNET Editors' Choice award. The Apple Watch SE 3 features new enhancements, including improved brightness, 18-hour battery life, sleep tracking, an always-on display, and more." Also: Buying an Apple Watch? Don't check out until you consider this As an early Black Friday deal, you can get the Apple Watch SE 3 for $49 off on Amazon, making it cost just $200. This deal first became available at the beginning of the month, but was only applicable to the 40mm Starlight colorway -- that just changed. As of Nov. 11, Amazon is now selling both the Midnight and Starlight Apple Watch SE 3 40mm and 44mm for $49 off." The Apple Watch SE 3 is the smartwatch first-time buyers and budget shoppers should get. This smartwatch is ideal for individuals seeking…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (455+ words) Also: Our favorite early Black Friday deals" And as ZDNET's deals and shopping editor, I have a trained eye for the best offers on top tech, and our team of experts will be keeping track of the best offers that continue to arise through Cyber Week 2025. In the meantime, here are the best early Black Friday Amazon deals I've found so far." The new Watch SE 3 was released in September, and it's seeing it's first major discount since. Grabbing it at this price makes it one of the best smartwatch buys on the market." Also:"I compared every Apple Watch in 2025 - here's why I recommend this model the most Audio expert Jada Jones highly recommends these Google earbuds, and they've hit a great price." Also:"These Google earbuds offer the ultimate listening experience for Android users - even on non-Pixel phones…...

40+ min ago (475+ words) Just like that, Black Friday is technically over, but Cyber Monday deals are ramping up. This year, the sales include an emerging product category: AI-powered smart glasses." Also:"The absolute best Cyber Monday deals we've found Yet, the smart glasses category extends beyond AI, with XR/AR glasses becoming increasingly capable, offering a fun way to bridge the gap between the virtual and physical worlds, while also boosting productivity. For Cyber Monday, you can score a deal on some of the most popular pairs, which you can take advantage of to try the tech out for yourself or get someone a holiday gift that stands out." Also:"I tested the Oakley Meta Vanguard on a 5-mile walk - here's how it beat my Ray-Bans The biggest downfall is the battery life, which lasts only four hours, half that of the Meta…...

3+ week, 6+ day ago (422+ words) Did someone on Reddit just uncover one of the best-kept secrets of Samsung Galaxy phones? OneUI, the software launcher that powers Samsung phones, is best known for its abundance of features -- so much so that you'll either never use some of them because there's simply too much or they're just hidden from plain sight. Also: 5 bloatware apps you should uninstall from your Samsung phone ASAP (without regrets) A recent discovery may take the crown for best hidden feature. The feature is called "Connectivity Labs," and it's only accessible with a secret gesture within your phone's Wi-Fi settings. Cool, right? The capabilities within Connectivity Labs are even cooler; they include a home Wi-Fi inspection tool, AI-powered mobile data switching, developer options, and more. Here's how to access them, which Samsung models are compatible, and some of the best features you should…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago (888+ words) Zorin OS saw a dramatic uptick in downloads after the end of Windows 10. Within a two-day stretch, Zorin OS had over 100,000 downloads, which was a record for the distribution. Meanwhile, Linux Mint has been one of the most popular distributions for some time." Given that both of these distributions are enjoying a continued rise in popularity, along with the end of Windows 10 support, you might be looking at one or the other to serve as either your first or your next Linux distribution. Do a quick search and you'll find countless articles claiming why one is better than the other (or why one is better than them all)." That probably doesn't help you decide which Linux distribution to try. Let me see if I can help you with that decision. Since it's so popular, let's start with Linux Mint. Linux…...