News/Reviews
Lenovo’s $700 Yoga Tab Plus struggles with outdated specs against competitors
Lenovo has released the Yoga Tab Plus, a $700 Android tablet positioning itself as a premium alternative to the iPad Air and Galaxy Tab S11 series. Despite an attractive design and solid build quality, the device suffers from underwhelming AI features, a two-year-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and limited software support that undermines its value proposition in the competitive tablet market. What you should know: The Yoga Tab Plus offers impressive hardware specs but falls short on performance and longevity for its price point. Features a 12.7-inch 3K LCD display with 144Hz refresh rate and comes bundled with accessories...
read Sep 30, 2025Amazon’s $100B AI bet stumbles as Alexa Plus disappoints users
Amazon's AI-powered Alexa Plus has launched with significant performance issues, including slow response times of up to 15 seconds and persistent hallucination problems that undermine its reliability for smart home control. The upgrade represents Amazon's attempt to compete with ChatGPT-like conversational AI, but early reviews reveal the technology isn't ready for the predictable, instant responses users expect from home automation systems. Key performance issues: The new Alexa Plus struggles with basic functionality that users have come to expect from smart assistants. Simple requests like checking the weather can take over 10 seconds, compared to instantly accessing smartphone apps. Complex smart...
read Sep 26, 2025LG’s TV for senior citizens costs $127 more but misses core usability issues
LG has launched the Easy TV in South Korea, targeting senior citizens with a $1,964 65-inch smart TV that includes a simplified remote and adjusted interface features. The device represents LG's attempt to create a dedicated "senior TV market," though it comes with a significant price premium over the standard model it's based on and includes questionable additions like an AI button. What you should know: The Easy TV is essentially LG's existing QNED85A model with senior-focused modifications and a $127 markup.• The 65-inch version costs 2,769,000 won (about $1,964) compared to 2,590,000 won ($1,837) for the standard model.• LG...
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Only 5% of AI researchers believe technology will cause extinction. (But what a 5%.)
AI safety researchers Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares have published a stark warning about artificial intelligence development in their new book If Anyone Builds it, Everyone Dies, arguing that current AI progress will inevitably lead to human extinction. Their central thesis is that major tech companies and AI startups are building systems they fundamentally don't understand, and continued development will eventually produce an AI powerful enough to escape human control and eliminate all organic life. The core argument: The authors contend that AI development resembles alchemy more than science, with companies unable to comprehend the mechanisms driving their large language...
read Sep 11, 2025WIRED tested the $129 AI necklace that alienates users and fails technically
The Friend, a $129 AI necklace created by 22-year-old entrepreneur Avi Schiffmann, continuously records conversations and responds with intentionally rude commentary designed to combat loneliness. Two WIRED reporters who tested the device found it to be a social disaster that alienated people at gatherings and suffered from significant technical problems, highlighting broader issues with always-on AI wearables. What you should know: The Friend pendant hangs around users' necks and records everything they say, then uses AI to provide snarky commentary about their conversations. The device is designed with a deliberately foul mood, as Schiffmann believes moodiness makes AI more engaging...
read Sep 10, 2025Acer’s €4,499 Predator Helios 18P blends gaming with AI workstation features
Acer has unveiled the Predator Helios 18P AI at IFA 2025, a gaming laptop that incorporates enterprise-grade features like ECC memory and Intel vPro processors typically found in professional workstations. This hybrid approach creates an unusual proposition where gamers may pay premium workstation prices for hardware that could actually deliver slower gaming performance than traditional gaming laptops with standard components. The big picture: Acer appears to be testing whether the market will embrace a single machine that serves both gaming and professional AI workstation needs, blurring traditional product category lines. Key specifications: The Predator Helios 18P AI maintains aggressive gaming...
read Aug 27, 2025Review: Google Pixel 10 Pro’s AI integration moves beyond chatbots
Google's Pixel 10 Pro represents a significant evolution in smartphone AI integration, moving beyond the chatbot-centric approach that defined the previous generation. While last year's Pixel 9 Pro required users to actively seek out AI features by opening specific applications, the Pixel 10 Pro weaves artificial intelligence naturally throughout the core user experience. This comprehensive review examines how Google has transformed AI from an optional add-on into an integral part of daily smartphone usage, creating what may be the first truly integrated AI mobile device. Hardware foundation for AI processing The Pixel 10 Pro's hardware improvements, while noticeable, serve primarily...
read Aug 27, 2025Google’s Pixel 10 Pro weaves AI throughout Android
Google's latest flagship smartphone represents a significant shift in how artificial intelligence integrates with mobile devices. Unlike previous generations where AI features felt like add-ons requiring separate apps, the Pixel 10 Pro weaves machine learning capabilities throughout the core user experience. This comprehensive review examines how Google has evolved from prompt-based AI interactions to contextually aware assistance that anticipates user needs. The device showcases what happens when a company controls both hardware design and software development, creating opportunities for deeper AI integration that third-party manufacturers struggle to match. Hardware foundations for AI processing The Pixel 10 Pro's physical design reflects...
read Aug 18, 2025GPT-5 disappoints users with “cold” responses as OpenAI restores older models
OpenAI's GPT-5 has disappointed power users and developers who found the model to be "cold," less capable than expected, and failing to deliver the dramatic improvements CEO Sam Altman had promised. The lukewarm reception has forced OpenAI to backtrack on design choices and restore access to previous model versions, raising questions about whether the company can justify its projected half-trillion-dollar valuation amid growing concerns about an AI bubble. What you should know: GPT-5's release has been marked by widespread user dissatisfaction and performance concerns that fall short of OpenAI's ambitious promises. Users complained about the model's "cold" and formal demeanor...
read Aug 13, 2025In compensatory move, ChatGPT gets 3 speed modes and higher limits after GPT-5 backlash
OpenAI is rolling out significant updates to ChatGPT in direct response to user complaints about its latest GPT-5 model. The changes, announced by CEO Sam Altman on X, address key frustrations around limited flexibility, removed features, and the model's interaction style. The updates come after users criticized OpenAI for removing popular features when GPT-5 launched, particularly the disappearance of GPT-4o from the model selection menu and restrictive usage limits on the new reasoning-focused capabilities. These modifications represent one of the fastest corporate responses to user feedback in recent OpenAI history. New speed modes give users control over performance ChatGPT now...
read Aug 7, 2025POV: I tried Google Gemini as my AI coach and boosted productivity 50%
Two months of using Google's Gemini AI as a personal performance coach transformed both my productivity metrics and daily routine in ways that surprised even my skeptical boss. After tracking detailed results across 60 days, the data tells a compelling story: my monthly article output jumped from six to nine pieces, while my wife noticed increased energy levels and engagement at home. This wasn't just another productivity experiment. As someone with ADHD who has tried countless organizational systems, I found something that finally made all my scattered coping mechanisms work together as a cohesive whole. The experience offers practical insights...
read Jul 21, 2025PDFgear Scan delivers free AI document scanning with OCR and math solving
Document scanning apps have become essential tools for modern professionals, but most force users into expensive subscription models for basic features like text recognition or multi-page PDF creation. PDFgear Scan, a new AI-powered scanning application, challenges this norm by offering enterprise-grade scanning capabilities completely free of charge. This comprehensive scanning solution goes beyond simple photo-to-PDF conversion, incorporating artificial intelligence to automatically classify documents, extract editable text, and even solve mathematical problems found within scanned materials. For business users juggling contracts, receipts, invoices, and other critical paperwork, PDFgear Scan represents a significant departure from the subscription-heavy alternatives that dominate the mobile...
read Jul 21, 2025How 5 AI platforms perform as strategic thinking partners
Artificial intelligence tools have evolved beyond simple content generation and productivity tasks. Recent experiments reveal these systems can serve as sophisticated thinking partners for complex decision-making, particularly when wrestling with ambiguous problems that lack clear solutions. This capability matters for business leaders who regularly confront strategic questions without definitive answers: How should we balance short-term profits with long-term sustainability? What ethical frameworks should guide our AI implementation? How do we maintain company culture while scaling rapidly? By testing five leading AI platforms—ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and Pi—with fundamental philosophical questions, patterns emerge that reveal each tool's strengths as a thinking...
read Jul 18, 2025Not at all shook up: London’s AI-enhanced Elvis show flops without the King’s charisma
Elvis Evolution, a new immersive show at London's Excel Waterfront complex, attempts to bring the rock icon back to life through AI-enhanced video footage and recreated sets. The experience fails to capture the energy and charisma that made Elvis legendary, delivering a lackluster spectacle that feels more like a theme park attraction than a meaningful tribute to the King of Rock and Roll. What you should know: Elvis Evolution represents a growing trend of immersive entertainment experiences that blend theater, amusement park attractions, and interactive spectacles. The show takes place at Immerse LDN and has been heavily advertised across London's...
read Jul 15, 2025$159 AI voice recorder transforms note-taking with GPT-4o transcription
Jack Wallen, a contributing writer at ZDNET, has reviewed the Plaud Note, a $159 AI-powered voice recorder that combines hardware and software to transcribe and summarize voice recordings. The device transforms traditional voice note-taking by automatically syncing recordings to a mobile app that uses GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet to generate transcriptions and AI-powered summaries, though these features require a separate paid subscription. What you should know: The Plaud Note is a credit card-sized recording device that offers one-press recording with advanced AI capabilities for transcription and summarization. The device costs $159 and works with both Android and iOS apps,...
read Jul 11, 2025Agentic or pathetic? Gartner warns of “agent washing” as only 130 AI products truly behave agentically
Gartner analysts have identified a new deceptive practice called "agent washing," where vendors falsely market basic automation tools and chatbots as advanced AI agents. Out of thousands of supposedly agentic AI products tested, only 130 genuinely possessed the autonomous capabilities they claimed, highlighting a widespread misrepresentation that threatens to undermine trust in AI innovation. What you should know: True AI agents differ fundamentally from standard automation tools by their ability to reason, plan, and execute complex tasks with minimal human intervention. Genuine agentic AI can complete multi-step processes, interface with external systems, and adapt to new situations without pre-programmed instructions....
read Jun 26, 2025ChatGPT with o3 beats specialized AI research tools
Artificial intelligence has fundamentally transformed how professionals conduct research, with AI-powered search tools now handling everything from competitive intelligence to technical due diligence. But with dozens of options available—from ChatGPT's web search to specialized "deep research" platforms—choosing the right tool for your needs isn't straightforward. A comprehensive evaluation by FutureSearch, an AI research organization, recently tested 12 different AI research tools across challenging real-world tasks, revealing significant performance gaps and unexpected findings that could reshape how businesses approach AI-assisted research. The results challenge conventional wisdom about which tools work best and when to use them. The clear winner: ChatGPT with...
read Jun 24, 2025We tested 3 AI travel agents and here’s what actually works
Vacation planning traditionally involves hours of research, comparing prices, reading reviews, and coordinating complex itineraries. Now, artificial intelligence promises to streamline this process through specialized travel agents that can generate personalized recommendations and handle booking logistics. But do these AI-powered platforms actually deliver on their promise of stress-free trip planning? Recent testing of three prominent AI travel agents reveals significant differences in capability, accuracy, and value proposition. These platforms—ranging from established travel companies integrating AI features to dedicated AI-first services—demonstrate both the potential and current limitations of automated vacation planning. How AI travel agents work AI travel agents function as...
read Jun 24, 2025Think locally, scrape globally: Web scraping gets easier with Oxylabs’ 175M proxy pool and AI tools
ZDNET's David Gewirtz tested Oxylabs, a web scraping proxy service that offers over 175 million residential proxies across 195 countries, significantly outpacing competitors like IPRoyal (32 million) and MarsProxies (1 million). The platform combines extensive proxy infrastructure with AI-powered data parsing tools, positioning it as a comprehensive solution for enterprise-scale web scraping operations. What you should know: Oxylabs distinguishes itself through both scale and ethical sourcing practices in the competitive proxy services market. The company maintains 175 million residential proxies across 195 countries, dwarfing competitors' offerings. Residential proxy access is obtained ethically by paying computer owners small amounts for bandwidth...
read Jun 20, 2025Google adds song identification to Gemini but clunkily kicks users out of the app
Google has added song identification capabilities to Gemini on Android, allowing users to ask "What song is this?" to trigger the same Song Search interface used by Google Assistant. However, the feature currently launches a separate full-screen interface through the Google app rather than staying within Gemini itself, creating a less seamless experience compared to existing alternatives. How it works: The new feature leverages Google's existing Song Search technology but requires users to leave the Gemini interface. Users can ask Gemini "What song is this?" which then opens the Google app's full-screen listening interface. The tool can identify music from...
read Jun 16, 2025Dia browser impresses with speed but lacks basic features
A forum user has shared their initial experience with Dia, a new AI-powered browser that appears to be positioning itself as an alternative to Arc browser. The early feedback highlights both promising features and current limitations that could influence its adoption among users seeking AI-integrated browsing experiences. What you should know: Dia browser offers impressive performance and AI capabilities, but several key features remain underdeveloped. The browser delivers fast performance with a sleek interface design that users find appealing. AI features show promise but haven't been tested extensively enough to determine if they could replace dedicated AI tools like Perplexity...
read May 26, 2025NotebookLM Android app falls short of its AI desktop counterpart
Google's NotebookLM stands out in the AI landscape by offering users control over their information sources, making it uniquely valuable for research and reference tasks. While the tool has gained a devoted following for its ability to help users parse complex documents like insurance quotes and technical manuals, its newly released Android app falls significantly short of the web version's capabilities. This disconnect between platforms highlights the challenges tech companies face when translating feature-rich web applications to mobile environments. The big picture: Google's NotebookLM distinguishes itself from general-purpose AI chatbots by allowing users to specify which sources the AI draws...
read May 22, 2025Thems the Jules: Google’s new coding agent completes 4 hours of work instantly
Google's new AI coding agent Jules has demonstrated remarkable capabilities in real-world software development, allowing a user to implement entire features through simple text instructions. This advancement signals a significant shift in how software development might work in the future, potentially transforming developer workflows while raising questions about the role of human programmers as AI becomes increasingly capable of complex code modifications. The big picture: Google has released Jules, a free AI coding agent that can modify GitHub repositories, representing the latest in a series of powerful coding assistants released recently. Jules joins other newly released tools like OpenAI Codex...
read May 16, 2025Too much of a good thing? Motorola Razr 2025 impresses, but AI features overwhelm
Motorola's 2025 Razr lineup resurrects an iconic design with impressive hardware innovation but stumbles with its AI implementation. The new foldable phones combine nostalgic appeal with modern technology through spectacular displays, pocket-friendly form factors, and distinctive design elements. While the phones excel in style and usability, Motorola's excessive AI features and limited long-term support policy detract from an otherwise compelling package that might just be the coolest option on the market despite its compromises. The big picture: Motorola has refined its foldable Razr series into stylish, functional devices that balance nostalgia with cutting-edge technology. The 2025 Razr models feature large...
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