When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. The Ecosia search engine has just come up with a replacement for its tree counter Paul Hill Neowin · May 15, 2025 05:10 EDT The search engine that uses its income to plant trees, Ecosia, has just introduced a seed counter system to help users understand their impact a bit better. Previously, Ecosia used to have a tree counter that increased after a certain number of searches, but it was phased out a while ago to put more emphasis on the collective impact represented in the total trees planted counter. In its announcement, Ecosia said that many users missed the tree counter that used to be present, so it has decided to reimagine the impact counter. The company said that it does more than just plants trees nowadays, so its new impact counter has been designed to reflect this. It said: “Ecosia has always been about turning your everyday digital habits into real climate action — and that action now goes way beyond planting trees. Today, we support farmers who are restoring soil through regenerative agriculture, protect endangered animals and plants in biodiversity hotspots, invest in bold climate tech, and grow renewable energy capacity to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels.” The seed counter will increase daily when you use Ecosia, but if you’d like to save your score more securely, or view it across devices, then you need to make an account and login on your devices. There is no need to make a whole new account, you can just sign in with Google if you want (I know, it’s ironic). Once you’re logged in, you can go to your profile page and see your impact dashboard. You can see your level, which you can increase by getting more seeds, how many seedlings you’ve helped to plant (Ecosia plants 6 per tree to account for failure), how much energy you’ve helped produce via Ecosia’s solar panels, hours of tree care you’ve supported, and your impact on the amount of area restored. The latter two impacts are not unlocked until you reach level 5 and level 10, respectively. You can read in more depth about each of these stats on the help page. Ecosia is not giving up on displaying your collective impact. It has a section under the one mentioned above which says how much money has been raised and where it is being spent. While the new counter is not as simple as the tree counter, the presence of a dashboard is nice as that never existed before. The new setup also better reflects the other ways users are contributing to climate restoration. Switching to Ecosia is relatively straightforward if you want to give it a go. You can install the Ecosia extension for your browser to be switched over, or if you’re on Chrome, you can choose Ecosia from the search providers list - other browsers may or may not have it as a choice, in that case, get the extension. Tags Report a problem with article Follow @NeowinFeed

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If you’re getting excited for spring and summer home improvement projects, or if you plan to expand your yard care equipment collection, the expense of new tools can be an important consideration. Getting deals on new cordless tools is a game-changer for DIYers everywhere, and the following deals can get you up to 67% off right now. Ryobi cordless tools are a go-to for many DIY enthusiasts because of the variety of tools they make that fit their batteries, their affordability, and their quality, so saving some money on this brand will allow you to add to your quality cordless tool kit as you go.DriversPower drivers have come a long way from back when you only had a drill with one or two speeds and a few attachments. These days, you can use power drivers on much larger hardware and on a wider range of parts, including nuts and bolts.The 18-volt Ryobi ⅜ inch impact wrench is on sale for $99, 67% off its regular price. The driver kit comes with 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery and a charger. This is a good deal if you need batteries or if you are planning on building a larger kit—it comes with everything you need to operate the tool as well as batteries you can use with all other 18-volt Ryobi tools.The Ryobi 18-volt powered ratchet is on sale for $99, 65% off its usual price. This set comes with two 4-amp-hour batteries and a charger, and it’s good for driving nuts in tight spaces where a larger tool wouldn’t fit. 18-volt Ryobi ⅜ inch impact wrench $99.00 at Home Depot $302.94 Save $203.94 Get Deal Get Deal $99.00 at Home Depot $302.94 Save $203.94 Cutting and trimmingHaving the right type of cutting tool for your job and material is crucial for DIY success. Here are some deals of cutting tools that will get you through almost any DIY job.The Ryobi 18-volt jig saw is on sale for $99, 60% off its usual price. This saw comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery and a charger. A jig saw is good for making cuts that aren’t in a straight line and can be handy for trimming pieces that need custom shapes, like flooring cut to fit around a doorway.The Ryobi 18-volt, 18-inch hedge trimmer is on sale for $99, 65% off its usual price. This trimmer comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery.The Ryobi 18-volt oscillating tool is on sale for $99, 65% off its typical price. This tool comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery and a charger. The oscillating tool is more than just a cutting tool that can be used for plunge cutting and trimming, it can also be used for sanding and buffing, making it one of the more versatile tools in your cordless kit.The Ryobi 18-volt angle grinder is on sale for $199, 41% off its usual price. This kit comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and two 4-amp-hour batteries. An angle grinder can be used for cutting metal or nipping off screw tips that poke out.The Ryobi 18-volt reciprocating saw is on sale for $199, 59% off its regular price. This kit comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and two 4-amp-hour batteries. A sawzall can take a variety of blades for cutting many materials and can be used to trim material in tight spots where a circular saw might not fit.Sanding and finishingGetting a polished look on your DIY projects can feel satisfying after all your hard work, and smoothing everything out can also help to avoid splinters. Here are some deals on sanding and finishing cordless tools.The 18-volt Ryobi hand planer is on sale for $99, 69% off its regular price. This kit comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery, and a charger. A hand planer can be used to smooth and shape rough boardsThe 18-volt Ryobi orbital sander is on sale for $99, 62% off its usual price. This kit comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery, and a charger. A random orbital sander can help smooth rough surfaces and prep for paint. 18-volt Ryobi hand planer $99.00 at Home Depot $223.94 Save $124.94 Get Deal Get Deal $99.00 at Home Depot $223.94 Save $124.94 Batteries, chargers, and accessoriesWhile it might be an afterthought when investing in cordless tools, batteries and accessories can really make a difference in the amount of time and effort it takes to complete a project. Having extra fresh batteries means you can use multiple tools at a time without stopping to swap batteries, allowing you to work faster. The Ryobi 18-volt battery starter kit is on sale for $99, 67% off its regular price. It comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and two 4-amp-hour batteries. This is a good kit if you're starting out or if you’re expanding your kit to allow you to use multiple tools simultaneously.The Ryobi gutter cleaner attachment for your Expand-It yard maintenance tool allows you to use the base edger/string trimmer handle to clear leaves and debris from your gutter. It’s on sale for $79, 39% off its usual price.The Ryobi 18-volt 7 and ½ inch fan is on sale for $99, 62% off its typical price. The fan comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery, and a charger. Having a fan can do more than just cool you down while you’re working. You can use it to help dry paint faster or blow dust away from where you’re working to keep your paint dust-free.

John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorMay 14, 20255 Min ReadNicoElNino via Alamy Stock PhotoWhen it comes to AI, yesterday's comprehensive skillset may already be obsolete. Considering AI's ultra-rapid evolution, it's now important to help team members understand and utilize the latest skills without disrupting their already heavy workloads. A mix of hands-on experience and guided learning is the best way to build AI skills, advises Justice Erolin, CTO at software outsourcing company BairesDev. "Traditional education isn't keeping up with the rapid evolution of AI, so microlearning and peer learning programs can be more effective than a university course on AI," he says in an email interview. You no longer need AI experts; you need people who know their way around AI, says Mike Loukides, a vice president at technology and business training firm O'Reilly Media. "With appropriate training, the types of people you need can be developed from the staff you already have," he explains in an online interview. "Look for data engineers -- people who know how to build data pipelines, who know how to analyze data." Keeping Pace The AI landscape changes monthly, observes David Brauchler, technical director and head of AI and ML at cybersecurity consultancy NCC Group. To stay up to date on the latest advances, engineering teams should establish a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration, he advises in an email interview. "AI improvement is a continual process, not one that occurs piecewise." Related:It's a continual process, Loukides says. "Even if you manage to hire the perfect team of outsiders, their skills will start to go out of date immediately," he observes. "Continuous learning was never more important than it is now." Dive into hands-on projects using pre-built examples with data and evaluation techniques that are readily accessible, recommends Vamsi Duvvuri, technology, media, and telecommunications leader at business advisory firm at EY Americas. "Collaborating with diverse teams across the organization during this stage is critical, especially folks from teams that typically do not work with each other," he explains in an online discussion. A mix of perspectives can reveal blind spots and spark ideas. Consider bringing in challenger hires or even exploring acquihires, Duvvuri suggests. "Bringing in new talent who aren’t entrenched in the status quo can disrupt traditional thinking and introduce fresh, unexpected approaches." Essential Skills New team members often challenge existing processes and help spark innovation, Duvvuri says. "In some cases, if you spot an innovative startup or a talented team, acquiring them -- or even doing an acquihire -- can rapidly inject cutting-edge expertise into your organization," he notes. "This isn't just about filling a gap, it's about shaking up the norm and accelerating learning." Related:Learning how to collaborate with AI is becoming a skill in itself, Erolin observes. "Beyond technical expertise, soft-skill development will help hone the ability to collaborate with AI." Critical thinking, problem-solving, and business knowledge are key to understanding when it makes sense to use AI. A handful of universal skills stand out, Erolin says. These include: Prompt engineering for working with generative AI models. AI model evaluation and fine-tuning to ensure that models align with business goals. AI governance and ethics, especially around bias, privacy, and explainability. MLOps skills to integrate AI into production reliably and at scale. Frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or LangChain. Avoiding Mistakes A trap many IT leaders fall into is treating AI training as a one-off event, such as holding a single course or workshop. "If you skip the continuous cycle of learning, reflection, and even disruptive talent acquisition, you risk becoming stagnant and falling behind," Duvvuri warns. "In contrast, a culture that embraces ongoing education, diverse team dynamics, and bold moves, like challenger hires, fosters innovation and resilience." Related:Application architects and developers should consider the intricacies AI introduces to application threat models and skill-up in low-sensitivity environments, Brauchler suggests. "For example, AI presents new concerns related to data risk, including its inability to reliably distinguish between trusted and untrusted content," he says. "Consequently, application designers need to consider new risks that they might not be used to addressing in traditional software stacks." A Final Thought The companies that thrive in the AI era won't be the ones with the fanciest models, but the ones with the most adaptable teams, Erolin says. "The real differentiator is your people's ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn fast." At BairesDev, we've built our success around that belief, Erolin states. "We scale AI talent globally, but we also help our partners build internal cultures that keep pace with innovation. In this space, the only real risk is standing still."About the AuthorJohn EdwardsTechnology Journalist & AuthorJohn Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.See more from John EdwardsWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like

John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorMay 14, 20255 Min ReadNicoElNino via Alamy Stock PhotoWhen it comes to AI, yesterday's comprehensive skillset may already be obsolete. Considering AI's ultra-rapid evolution, it's now important to help team members understand and utilize the latest skills without disrupting their already heavy workloads. A mix of hands-on experience and guided learning is the best way to build AI skills, advises Justice Erolin, CTO at software outsourcing company BairesDev. "Traditional education isn't keeping up with the rapid evolution of AI, so microlearning and peer learning programs can be more effective than a university course on AI," he says in an email interview. You no longer need AI experts; you need people who know their way around AI, says Mike Loukides, a vice president at technology and business training firm O'Reilly Media. "With appropriate training, the types of people you need can be developed from the staff you already have," he explains in an online interview. "Look for data engineers -- people who know how to build data pipelines, who know how to analyze data." Keeping Pace The AI landscape changes monthly, observes David Brauchler, technical director and head of AI and ML at cybersecurity consultancy NCC Group. To stay up to date on the latest advances, engineering teams should establish a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration, he advises in an email interview. "AI improvement is a continual process, not one that occurs piecewise." Related:It's a continual process, Loukides says. "Even if you manage to hire the perfect team of outsiders, their skills will start to go out of date immediately," he observes. "Continuous learning was never more important than it is now." Dive into hands-on projects using pre-built examples with data and evaluation techniques that are readily accessible, recommends Vamsi Duvvuri, technology, media, and telecommunications leader at business advisory firm at EY Americas. "Collaborating with diverse teams across the organization during this stage is critical, especially folks from teams that typically do not work with each other," he explains in an online discussion. A mix of perspectives can reveal blind spots and spark ideas. Consider bringing in challenger hires or even exploring acquihires, Duvvuri suggests. "Bringing in new talent who aren’t entrenched in the status quo can disrupt traditional thinking and introduce fresh, unexpected approaches." Essential Skills New team members often challenge existing processes and help spark innovation, Duvvuri says. "In some cases, if you spot an innovative startup or a talented team, acquiring them -- or even doing an acquihire -- can rapidly inject cutting-edge expertise into your organization," he notes. "This isn't just about filling a gap, it's about shaking up the norm and accelerating learning." Related:Learning how to collaborate with AI is becoming a skill in itself, Erolin observes. "Beyond technical expertise, soft-skill development will help hone the ability to collaborate with AI." Critical thinking, problem-solving, and business knowledge are key to understanding when it makes sense to use AI. A handful of universal skills stand out, Erolin says. These include: Prompt engineering for working with generative AI models. AI model evaluation and fine-tuning to ensure that models align with business goals. AI governance and ethics, especially around bias, privacy, and explainability. MLOps skills to integrate AI into production reliably and at scale. Frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or LangChain. Avoiding Mistakes A trap many IT leaders fall into is treating AI training as a one-off event, such as holding a single course or workshop. "If you skip the continuous cycle of learning, reflection, and even disruptive talent acquisition, you risk becoming stagnant and falling behind," Duvvuri warns. "In contrast, a culture that embraces ongoing education, diverse team dynamics, and bold moves, like challenger hires, fosters innovation and resilience." Related:Application architects and developers should consider the intricacies AI introduces to application threat models and skill-up in low-sensitivity environments, Brauchler suggests. "For example, AI presents new concerns related to data risk, including its inability to reliably distinguish between trusted and untrusted content," he says. "Consequently, application designers need to consider new risks that they might not be used to addressing in traditional software stacks." A Final Thought The companies that thrive in the AI era won't be the ones with the fanciest models, but the ones with the most adaptable teams, Erolin says. "The real differentiator is your people's ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn fast." At BairesDev, we've built our success around that belief, Erolin states. "We scale AI talent globally, but we also help our partners build internal cultures that keep pace with innovation. In this space, the only real risk is standing still."About the AuthorJohn EdwardsTechnology Journalist & AuthorJohn Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.See more from John EdwardsWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like

VPN discount campaigns are all across the internet. Honestly, it feels tiresome to sift through them after a while. However, NordVPN’s biggest price reduction yet sticks out like a healthy thumb, amongst the sore ones. With the biggest discounts yet, NordVPN slashes its price by at least 72% and up to 77% depending on the chosen plan. Better yet, everything else is the same — security, privacy, speed, performance, and compatibility. Let’s see why everyone’s rushing to get NordVPN at a record-breaking low price and lift off the curtain of mystery. Explore NordVPN Discounts Now NordVPN’s Biggest Discounts Uncovered Judging by current prices, that won’t last long, by the way, it’s clear as day why so many are dazzled. First of all, biennial plans now come with 3 free months, and the Basic one starts at a meager $3.09/mo or $83.43 upfront. This price affords you a world-class VPN with all of its advanced and basic features. But, NordVPN spices up the deal with the Plus plan at 73% off. Simultaneously the best option, it costs $3.99/mo with a few extras. NordVPN Plus blocks ads and malware with Threat Protection Pro, while also including NordPass as a nifty password manager. Up the ladder is NordVPN complete at $4.99/mo which sprinkles 1 TB NordLocker on top. If you’re brave, the Prime plan at a whopping 77% drops in NordProtect as ID theft insurance and a considerable privacy boost. At $6.99/mo for 27 months, it’s easily the most capable VPN package you can buy in 2025. 30 Days to Test It Risk-Free Did you know that each initial purchase is risk-free? Well, now you know. It’s another piece of the puzzle — the one with millions rushing to lock in their privacy with NordVPN. Once you obtain the chosen plan, you have 30 days to get a refund if you’re unsatisfied. The money-back guarantee is… well, a guarantee! This means you don’t have to justify your reasons for getting a refund. Not like it? Don’t need it? Contact NordVPN, get your money back, and forget about it. NordVPN is confident it won’t come to such hard feelings, though. What Can You Do With NordVPN? While you certainly can’t take it out on a date, you can get some things that an ordinary date usually doesn’t come with: Stream geo-restricted content Share files over P2P anonymously Protect your general online privacy Stay safe on public WiFi hotspots Play games online with no lag, and much more. NordVPN can always do these things, whether it’s on sale or at its priciest. When you think about it, you want to be on the cheaper side of it. This sale is an adequate opportunity to live your dreams at a bottom-shelf price. Try NordVPN Risk-Free

Sorry, Affordable, Evenly Deployed Fiber Optic Broadband Is Illegal Now Under Our Shitty, Ignorant Government from the The-U.S.-is-an-ignorant-embarrassment,-part-7000 dept Tue, May 13th 2025 05:28am - Karl Bode The Trump administration has illegally declared the Digital Equity Act of 2021 “racist and unconstitutional,” and called for it to be dismantled. The grant program had been helping push affordable fiber optic broadband into communities long neglected regions by regional telecom monopolies, be they minority, low-income, rural, suburban, or urban. It’s the latest effort by the administration to destroy whatever was left of U.S. consumer protection, and any and all efforts to address our sagging, uncompetitive broadband markets. Trump, who, I’d guarantee, has no idea how the program worked or what it does, took to his personal propaganda platform to whine about the program: The Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion for three beneficial grant programs aimed at bringing affordable broadband access to rural communities, disadvantaged urban communities, schools, and anchor institutions. Much of this money still hadn’t been doled out yet, but in many instances the money was funding affordable fiber to long-neglected communities. These kinds of investments usually have significant downstream economic benefits thanks to expanded access to education, health care, and remote employment opportunities. Republicans also recently killed the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provided $30 broadband discount for low-income users. Republicans also claimed they killed that program for cost savings, but a follow up study found the program generated three times the economic benefits ($29.5 billion) than the program cost. Just not to the sort of people Republicans like. Consumer groups like Public Knowledge were quick to note that Trump lacks any authority to kill the Digital Equity Act (passed by Congress as part of the infrastructure bill, which is the dictionary definition of legal), and that its destruction will heavily harm many of his own constituents, including red state veterans. Republican FCC boss Brendan Carr is also destroying FCC efforts to finally acknowledge longstanding racial discrimination in broadband deployment. Data clearly illustrates how many big ISPs have refused to upgrade or repair service in minority neighborhoods, and in many places actually charge low income and minority residents more money for slower service than in less diverse, more affluent neighborhoods. The FCC under Biden had only just started doing something about these problems. Those efforts are dead now under Trumpism. Republicans are also attempting to destroy the FCC’s Universal Service Fund (USF), which also helps bring affordable broadband to disadvantaged schools. And they’re destroying a program that helped disadvantaged school kids obtain Wi-Fi access via remote hotspots provided by schools. More broadly, they’re also destroying the FCC’s ability to hold telecom giants accountable for any bad behavior. In the case of the Digital Equity Act of 2021, Republican Senator Ted Cruz falsely claimed it is “impermissible race-based discrimination under the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.” That’s gibberish by racist imbeciles who aren’t bright enough to even understand what they’re destroying. In many of these examples, Republicans are claiming that efforts to prevent discrimination are in fact discriminatory, an argument that will struggle to gain traction in anything other than our most rightward-lurching court (which, unfortunately for those of us with empathy, is a growing part of our legal system). The Digital Equity Act barely mentions race; simply including some vague language stating that deployments must be even and non-discriminatory. That was enough to set ignorant racists off. This program was hugely beneficial to red states, and veterans, and rural and urban dwellers alike. Its destruction, assuming it stands, is immeasurably ignorant and yet another broad policy embarrassment. Republican policies are directly making your broadband access shittier and more expensive. But in most press coverage Republicans never have to take true or consistent ownership of said shitty policies. Republicans will be allowed to pretend this sort of destruction is about cost savings, but it’s usually either about bigotry, ignorance, or coddling terrible, unpopular telecom giants like AT&T and Comcast. U.S. education and journalism (especially local) is so shitty, most of the electorate will then never tether their shitty and expensive broadband access to their own electoral choices. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Tennis players know the struggle of finding consistent practice partners who match their skill level and availability. Traditional ball machines offer repetitive feeds but lack the dynamic interaction that makes tennis truly engaging and effective for skill development. While these machines can help with basic shot repetition, they fail to simulate the unpredictability, movement, and strategic elements that define real match play, leaving serious players with a significant gap in their training options. Enter Acemate, the revolutionary tennis robot that transforms solo practice into an authentic rally experience. Unlike conventional ball machines that simply shoot balls in predetermined patterns, Acemate actively moves across the court, tracks your shots with 4K binocular vision, and returns balls with human-like groundstrokes that respond to your play style. This breakthrough technology creates a training experience that closely mimics actual match conditions, allowing players to develop not just technical skills but also the tactical awareness and decision-making abilities essential for competitive success. Designer: Acemate Click Here to Buy Now: $1499 $2329 ($830 off). Hurry, only 28/290 left! Raised over $1,001,000. The robot’s 4K binocular camera system represents a quantum leap beyond the monocular vision found in other training devices. By capturing depth and speed similar to human eyes, Acemate achieves centimeter-level accuracy in tracking both the ball and your movements across the court. This precision enables the robot to position itself optimally for returns while analyzing your technique in real time, providing an experience that feels remarkably natural and responsive compared to the static drills of traditional practice methods. Players of all levels will appreciate Acemate’s versatile training modes designed to target specific aspects of the game. The Baseline Rally mode delivers customizable groundstrokes that keep you moving laterally and testing your consistency from the back of the court. Mini-court Rally offers gentler exchanges perfect for beginners or warm-up sessions, while Net Rally mode focuses on volleys with controlled feeds that enhance your reactions and hand-eye coordination at the net, addressing the full spectrum of skills needed for complete player development. Advanced players seeking higher-intensity training will love the Pro-level Simulation mode, which recreates iconic rally patterns inspired by ATP and Grand Slam matches. This feature allows you to experience the rhythm and intensity of professional exchanges, pushing your footwork, shot selection, and stamina to new heights. For serve practice, Acemate functions as both ball boy and coach, delivering balls directly to your hand while measuring serve speed and tracking placement accuracy, eliminating the tedious ball collection that typically interrupts valuable practice time. This versatility is thanks to Acemate’s mobility system, featuring four Mecanum wheels that allow omnidirectional movement, enabling the robot to glide across the court with surprising agility. This movement capability means you’ll be challenged to hit shots to different court positions just as you would against a human opponent, improving your court coverage and shot placement under realistic conditions. The robot adjusts its positioning based on your shots, creating the dynamic back-and-forth that makes tennis so engaging and developing the spatial awareness that static training simply cannot provide. The companion app transforms your smartphone or Apple Watch into a powerful training command center, offering real-time performance metrics and customization options from ball velocity to landing spots to shot types. After each session, receive comprehensive reports detailing your performance, as well as actionable insights that guide your improvement with the precision of professional coaching. The robot’s compact form and retractable handle make it surprisingly portable, and compatibility with all court surfaces without special setups maximizes your valuable practice time. With Acemate, your tennis practices transform from monotonous ball feeding into dynamic, responsive training that mirrors match conditions. Players gain a consistent, tireless partner that adapts to their level while providing detailed performance analytics previously available only to professionals. This breakthrough technology finally solves tennis’s fundamental training challenge, allowing players to develop complete game awareness and tactical skills even when hitting solo on the court. Click Here to Buy Now: $1499 $2329 ($830 off). Hurry, only 28/290 left! Raised over $1,001,000.The post Ace Your Tennis Training with Acemate’s Revolutionary Rally Robot first appeared on Yanko Design.

Robot mops aren't really a new concept; they've existed for a few years now with mopping pad attachments and dispensers for cleaning solution and water. However, many are just glorified Swiffers. They smear dirty water around your floors and call it "cleaning." But Ecovacs' Deebot X9 Pro Omni and T80 Omni try to fix that problem with a self-washing mop that, in theory, won't turn your floor into a petri dish. "With Ozmo Roller Mop technology, we're addressing the hygiene gaps traditional mops leave behind, while innovations like Blast suction and ZeroTangle 3.0 take performance and convenience to the next level," David Qian, CEO of Ecovacs Robotics, said in a news release.I got an early look at these robot mops in a Brooklyn coffee shop ahead of their launch. While they're not cheap, starting at $1,200 for the T80 Omni and $1,600 for the X9 Pro Omni, they have a lot of mopping tech that should help make mopping your living space quicker and more hygienic.  The X9 Pro Omni tackled a milk spill with ease. Ajay KumarSelf-washing robotsThe headline feature here is Ecovacs Ozmmo Roller Mop, which first debuted in this year's X8 Pro Omni model. Unlike older robot mops that drag a damp cloth around until it's disgusting, this one has separate clean and dirty water tanks and scrubs the mop pad clean mid-job. It also applies 16 times more pressure than a typical robot mop, so it's closer to an actual hand-scrubbing than a Swiffer.  The Ozmo mop roller on the robot vacuum can pop out to hit corners.  Ajay KumarThis means your floors get cleaned with fresh water each time instead of reusing old, dirty water. I watched this happen with both the X9 Pro Omni and T80 Omni, where the two robots cleaned up spilled milk from the concrete floor of a coffee shop. I was impressed that, for the most part, they left no mess or streaks behind, though concrete flooring likely isn't the type of surface you have in your home, so the real test will be on tile, vinyl and other hard flooring. I was also impressed by their ability to navigate the fairly crowded coffee shop. I never saw them bump into people's feet or get caught on furniture or carpets.  The Omni docking station comes with hot air drying.  Ajay KumarX9 Pro Omni: The flagship robot mop The X9 Pro Omni is Ecovacs' new flagship and will set you back the most at $1,599. Here are some of the key features:  The X9 Pro Omni zeroed in on the milk spill.  Ajay KumarBlast suction: Its 100-watt motor and redesigned airflow path give it more vacuuming power. The motor has a high-torque, wider air inlet and more precise fan blades. SuperBoost battery: It comes with Ecovacs' proprietary SuperBoost battery, which the company says can deliver 50% higher discharge current, a 2.5 times longer battery lifespan, and reduced heat output. ZeroTangle 3.0 brushes: This self-maintaining brush system has a main brush and inward-curved side brush that's designed to eliminate pet hair and other debris from wrapping around it.  The Deebot did a good job of making sure it didn't hit carpet with the mop by lifting the mopping pad.  Ajay KumarTruEdge 2.0 3D navigation: Corners are usually a challenge for robot vacuums and mops, which TruEdge is designed to address. It has edge sensing and an extending mop and side brush for cleaning corners and along walls. Mop lifting: The X9 Pro can detect carpets and automatically raise the mop to prevent your carpets from getting soggy. That's a pretty common feature these days, but it's still nice to see it. Hot-air drying: The Omni docking station blasts the mop with 145-degree Fahrenheit air, drying it out between uses and preventing bacteria growth.Is all this necessary? Maybe not, unless you're doing frequent wet mopping at home. (Personally, I usually just vacuum, and my floors are lucky if they get mopped more than once a month.) But if you want the closest thing to a "set it and forget it" robot cleaner -- one that vacuums and mops without you babysitting it -- the X9 Pro Omni might be a good option, though we'll need to put it through its paces at our Louisville vacuum testing lab to see how it performs.  TruEdge 2.0 3D navigation is enhanced by AI to help tackle obstacles and corners.  Ajay KumarT80 Omni: Less expensive, still feature-packedThe T80 Omni strips out some of the X9's features but keeps all the important ones. This includes the Ozmo Roller self-washing mop and AI remopping (where it spots sticky spots and hits them twice). According to Ecovacs, it has 16 times more downward pressure than traditional mops and self-washes with every pass, just like the X9 Omni. There's also the ZeroTangle 3.0 brush, which minimizes tangling and picks up debris better. So what's missing? Well, the docking station uses slightly cooler 113 degrees Fahrenheit air to dry the mop, and the suction isn't quite as strong, but it's still way more capable than some of the more affordable robot vacuums we recommend.