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Android Auto: How to Connect Google Maps and Apps in Your Car
CNET· 2025-08-02 12:01
Android Auto Connectivity - Android Auto is a popular way to use Google Maps and audio streaming apps in cars [2] - Wired connections require Android 60 or later, while wireless connections need Android 10 or 11, depending on the manufacturer [3] - Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones offer the best compatibility [3] - Using a USB 31 Gen 2 cable ensures the best bandwidth for wired connections [5] - Wireless connectivity is suitable for short trips, while wired connections are recommended for longer trips to avoid battery drain [10][11] Setup and Troubleshooting - Connect the USB cable to the car and phone, and approve the connection on the phone while parked [6] - Some cars, like BMWs, support fast pairing, while certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles have NFC points for automatic pairing [8] - Holding down the voice command button can pull up the Bluetooth pairing menu [9] Android Auto Interface - The Android Auto interface is flexible and may display differently depending on the screen size [12] - Apps can be rearranged or removed from the Android Auto list in the phone's settings [13] - Voice commands can be activated by tapping the microphone, holding the voice command button, or using "Hey Google" [14]
NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 Launch: Everything That Happened in 12 Minutes
CNET· 2025-08-01 18:00
Mission Overview - Crew 11 mission launched successfully aboard Dragon and Falcon 9, heading to the International Space Station [1][2] - Falcon 9 propelled by 1.7 million pounds of thrust [1] - The flight lasted approximately 9 minutes [2] Key Events & Performance - Falcon 9 engines throttled down to pass through max Q (maximum aerodynamic pressure) [2] - Stage separation confirmed, with ignition of the Merlin vacuum engine for stage two [6] - First stage booster successfully landed at Landing Zone 1 [20] - Second engine cutoff (SECO) achieved, followed by Dragon separation and nominal orbital insertion [22] Vehicle Status & Trajectory - Dragon and Falcon 9 are reported to be on track to orbit [9] - Second stage accelerated Dragon to over 17,000 mph [14] - Dragon heat shield is made up of similar materials [23] Crew & Mission Objectives - Crew 11 is heading to the International Space Station to join Expedition 73 [1][26] - Crew 11 reached microgravity [22] - The mission aims to honor mentors and team members [28]
Apple’s 26 Hidden Features in iOS 26 🔍 | One More Thing
CNET· 2025-08-01 12:01
The latest iPhone operating system has a lot of hidden gems and settings changes that Apple did not talk about in the big iOS 26 presentation at WWDC. Now, everyone knows about the bouncy liquid glass and the cool wallpaper effects and the live language translations. But now that the public beta is released to the world, folks like me are learning about all sorts of smaller changes that are pretty useful.This is our weekly Apple show called One More Thing, but I'm sorry, this is going to be 26 more things t ...
How to Add the Epic Games Store on Steam Deck
CNET· 2025-07-31 12:01
Here I am playing 33 Immortals on my Steam Deck, a game exclusive to the Epic Games Store on PC. I'm going to show you how to install this other storefront and play that library of games on the go. The Epic Game Store is a great storefront to add to your deck since they offer multiple free games every week and even get some games that Steam doesn't.Let's begin. I'm here in game mode on my Steam Deck, but you'll need to switch over to desktop mode. To do that, go into the Steam menu, down to power, then sele ...
UBTECH's Humanoid Robot Can Swap Its Own Battery
CNET· 2025-07-28 13:22
Robotics Technology - UBtech's Walker S2 is claimed to be the first autonomous humanoid robot capable of changing its own battery [1] - Walker S2's hot-swap capabilities potentially allow for 24/7 operation without powering down [1] Company Focus - UBtech is a Chinese robotics manufacturer [1] Media & Engagement - CNET promotes its YouTube channel, browser extension, Amazon storefront, and various social media platforms [1]
Humanoid Robots Can Swap Their Own Batteries Now | What The Future
CNET· 2025-07-27 12:00
Robot Technology & Innovation - Ubitech's Walker S2 robot features autonomous battery swapping, enabling near 24/7 operation [1] - The Walker S2 utilizes five-finger end effectors and a dual-battery system for continuous power during battery changes [2] - The robot exhibits hypermobility, similar to Atlas from Boston Dynamics and G1 from Unree [3] Swarm Intelligence & Collaboration - Ubitech developed "Swarm Intelligence," allowing multiple robots to collaborate on tasks [4] - Demonstrations show robots lifting objects and handing items to each other [4][5] - Figure's Helix AI showcases similar collaborative capabilities in humanoid robots [5] Industry Applications & Competition - Ubitech and Figure are testing robots for automotive manufacturing, partnering with Zeer and BMW respectively [5][6] - Ubitech's robots have been shown performing various tasks, including delivering flowers and training for a robot half marathon [6] - The humanoid robot games in China will likely push robots to their limits, potentially requiring battery swapping stations [6][7]
How Roleplaying Can Improve Your ChatGPT Results
CNET· 2025-07-26 12:01
So you asked ChatGPT a question and the answer is not right. Maybe the AI chatbot gave you a bunch of unverified or even made up results. Or maybe it just doesn't make any sense.Here are some tips on how to talk to ChatGPT or any AI. While you can't control the AI itself, you can control how you prompt it. To start off, you want to be brief and clear – the vaguer your prompt is, the vaguer the answer you'll get.So you want to make sure you provide all the necessary contextual information, but keep a narrow ...
Apple's Biggest Product Win Isn't What You Think It Is
CNET· 2025-07-25 12:01
Financial Performance - Apple's service-based revenue reached approximately $2666 billion in the latest earnings report, marking a 12% increase year-over-year [2][3] - Service revenue surpasses the combined revenue from Macs, iPads, wearables, and accessories [3] Subscription and Services Growth - Apple is adding new features to its services without raising prices, offering bundled subscriptions like Apple One [4][5] - Apple One is considered a good value, especially for iPhone users, providing access to multiple services in one plan [5] New Features and Updates - iOS 26 will bring updates to Apple Music, including automix for smoother transitions and language translation for lyrics [7] - Apple TV will allow users to turn their iPhones into handheld microphones for karaoke [8] - Apple Fitness Plus will offer custom workout plans based on user preferences [9] - Apple News Plus is adding puzzles, games, and a food section with recipes and kitchen tips [11] - iCloud Plus now includes Apple Invites for creating and tracking event RSVPs [13] - A new app called Apple Games will highlight games played by friends, potentially driving Apple Arcade subscriptions [13][14] Pricing and Value - The starter plan of Apple One, which includes Apple Arcade and 50 GB of iCloud storage, costs less than subscribing to Apple TV Plus ($10/month) and Apple Music ($11/month) separately [15] - The full Apple subscription bundle with 2 TB of storage costs $38/month and can be shared with a household [16] Customer Retention - Apple's services are crucial for retaining customers within the Apple ecosystem, even if they don't upgrade to new devices [17]
Nothing Phone 3: Still Quirky, But Can It Beat Pixel & iPhone? | All Things Mobile
CNET· 2025-07-24 12:00
Product Assessment - Nothing Phone 3, priced at $799, is the company's most expensive phone to date, featuring a more powerful processor, better cameras, and extended software support [1] - The phone's Glyph Matrix, a small dot matrix display on the back, is considered a fun but limited feature, replacing the regular Glyph lights from previous models [2][3][4][5] - The design includes an off-center telephoto camera and a non-functional semicircle, raising concerns about attention to detail [7][8][9] - Camera performance is generally disappointing, except for its macro mode, which outperforms rivals like the iPhone 16 Pro [10][11][12][13][14] - The phone uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, performing similarly to last year's flagships but behind current models [14] Battery and Software - The 5150 mAh battery with silicon carbon technology shows average battery life in testing [16] - The phone runs Android 15 with Nothing's monochrome interface and includes AI tools like Google's Gemini [16][17] - Essential Space, a repository for voice notes and screenshots, is not a unique feature compared to the cheaper Nothing Phone 3a [18][19] - Nothing promises 7 years of software and security updates, ensuring usability until 2032 [19] Market Positioning - The industry views Nothing Phone 3 as not a true flagship, lacking the performance expected at its price point compared to competitors like iPhone 16, Galaxy S25, or Pixel 9 [20][21] - The phone is considered overpriced, needing either better performance or a price reduction of at least $100 to be competitive [22]
Toe-Spacers Can Help You Sleep?
CNET· 2025-07-21 15:12
Do you have any weird habits or tricks that you use to fall asleep at night. A guy I work with wears toe spacers to bed and he swears that it helps his legs feel more comfortable and he wakes up in the middle of the night less. Someone else I work with uses um audio books, fantasy novels to help her fall asleep.One thing you might not know about CNET is that we have several certified sleep coaches on our team. We also have a warehouse in Reno, Nevada, where we test mattresses and other sleep accessories wit ...