Brandon Bell/Getty Images 2025-03-26T16:52:40Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? An SEC filing shows Dell's head count has fallen by 12,000 in the last year and 25,000 in the past two.Since February 2023, the tech company's employee numbers have fallen by almost 19%.The Texas-based tech company held layoffs in August and rolled out numerous RTO policies in 2024.Computer maker Dell's staff numbers have fallen by 25,000 in the last two years.In its latest 10-K filing, published on Tuesday, the company said that it had about 108,000 global employees as of January 31, 2025.In February 2024, that number was 120,000, marking a 10% annual reduction in the workforce.Looking back two years, Dell's head count stood at 133,000, meaning that since February 2023, the Texas-based tech company has reduced its workforce by 19%.The decline in Dell's head count comes after a year of both layoffs and RTO mandates.In August, the company significantly restructured its sales division, which it told workers was necessary to prepare for "the world of AI." As part of the restructuring, Dell laid off workers, though it did not specify how many.The company has also carried out a series of RTO mandates throughout 2024, gradually encouraging workers back to the office during the year before finally ordering all who live within 90 minutes of an office to return to their desks five days a week this January.The RTO mandates have proved unpopular with some Dell employees. When they were asked to classify as either hybrid or remote in February 2024, roughly 50% of Dell's full-time employees in the US opted to stay remote, even though that meant they would forgo promotions to do so. Several employees have told BI that the RTO policies were prompting them to look elsewhere for work."Through an ongoing series of actions, we are becoming a leaner company. We are combining teams and prioritizing where we invest across the company," Dell told Business Insider. Dell CEO Michael Dell has seen his net worth drop more than $16 billion in 2025. Dell Dell's annual revenue was up 8% in its 2024 financial year, but the company's shares have dropped 15% so far in 2025.According to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, CEO Michael Dell's net worth has fallen by $16.6 billion in 2025 the second-biggest drop in personal wealth after Elon MuskDell notably upheld its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in the SEC filing.Several leading tech companies, including Meta, Alphabet, and Salesforce, have rolled back their DEI programs and reporting practices amid the wider diversity backlash that has gathered pace since the Trump administration entered office."At Dell Technologies, we believe wide-ranging perspectives are powerful," the company said. "We believe that a workforce diverse in experience and background drives innovation and growth."Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at pthompson@businessinsider.com or Signal at Polly_Thompson.89. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.Recommended video

submitted by /u/esporx [link] [comments]

The Lumon Terminal Pro the computer used in Apple TVs hit series Severance has appeared on Apples retail website. When shopping Apple.com, youll see the new device, adorned with a red New label, when you click to view the available Mac computers Apple has for sale from the top-level navigation. But sorry, Severance fans: The Lumon terminal computer isnt actually for sale.Instead, its appearance on the retail website serves as an advertisement for Apples streaming service, Apple TV+, which is available as a free three-month trial with any purchase of a Mac computer. The streaming offering is a part of Apples growing services business, which grew by 4% in the most recent quarter to reach $26.34 billion, helping push Apples gross margin to the highest on record. Given its pop culture appeal, the Cupertino-based tech giant has been heavily marketing Severance, now Apples most-watched TV series ever, with a number of official tie-ins, including free e-books on Apple Books, a Severance podcast with Ben Stiller and Adam Scott, a LinkedIn profile for Lumon Industries (the fictional company in the show), a Severance-themed playlist, an NYC pop-up, and more.On Wednesday, the company also showcased how one of the shows editors, Geoffrey Richman, uses an iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro to work on the series, whether on location, at home, or on the go. Alongside the Lumon Terminal Pro listing, theres a link to a short film offering a behind-the-scenes look at his editing process. Explore the online world of Apple TVs Severance

Silicon Valley used to take a backseat to Washington, D.C. But now,the people disrupting technology have taken the wheel at the highest echelons of government. And thats thanks, in large part, to the Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE.Much reporting on DOGE hasfocused on its staffers ties to Musk,the billionaire bestie of President Donald Trump.However, theres another major nexus: the Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors who have joined its clarion call of slashing government spending.TechCrunch has compiled a comprehensive list of the founders and VCs who have worked with DOGE, identified through a combination of personal declarations, court records, and other reporting.Our research also reveals one previously unreported DOGE member, Mike Gonzalez, the former founder of an HR startup called TraceHQ.And Gonzalez is far from the only Silicon Valley founder to find a new role in public service. Our roster of founders-turned-DOGE workers spans from the co-founder of Airbnb to a guy who sold his startup for nearly $1 billion only to join DOGE to find a higher meaning after breaking up with his girlfriend.Then there are the VCs. This contingent includesSilicon Valley titan Marc Andreessen aself-described unpaid intern at DOGE and one man who spent seven years working for Thiel Capital before joining the top levels of government.Regardless of how you feel about DOGE, theres no question that Silicon Valleys influence on the federal government is stronger than ever. To find out who is shaping that future, read on.FoundersNate CavanaughCavanaugh is the co-founder of two startups: Brainbase, an enterprise SaaS business which he sold in 2022, and FlowFi, which raised $9 million last year to build a marketplace of finance experts for entrepreneurs.He is part of a DOGE team tasked with auditing some would say dismantling the USADF and IAF, two U.S. government agencies that fund development projects in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, according to a lawsuit from USADF president Ward Brehm.Although Cavanaugh has no public history of political activities, he looks to Trump backer Peter Thiel for a lot of his thinking about the world and business, he said in an interview with VC firm Differential Ventures.(back to top)Stephen EhikianEhikian has sold two companies to Salesforce: Airkit.ai in 2023 and RelateIQ in 2014. Ehikian worked in product at Salesforce twice after the acquisition of his companies, most recently serving as VP of AI products.Trump appointed Ehikian as acting administrator and deputy administrator of GSA in January. This agency is the cornerstone of purchasing contracts for the federal government.In his role, Ehikian manages GSAs real estate portfolio and doles out government contracts for technology. He has said that the GSA would terminate leases and cut consulting contracts, and has been firing GSA employees.California Senator Alex Padilla and New York Congressman Joseph Morelle wrote a letter in March to Ehikian, opposing his work with DOGE on such matters.(back to top)Justin FulcherFulcher is the founder of RingMD, a Singapore-based telehealth startup. Fulcher made headlines in 2013 after the government of Singapore funded RingMD with $500,000 when he was only 21.Despite expanding to multiple countries in Asia, RingMD has since gone bankrupt, according to Forbes.Fulcher, now 32, was installed by DOGE to oversee reforms at the Veterans Administration (VA), which cut 1,000 staff soon after DOGEs arrival.(back to top)Joe GebbiaGebbia is the billionaire co-founder of Airbnb and Samara, a pre-fab tiny home startup that raised $41 million in 2023. He is also a personal friend of Elon Musk, who had been deliberating buying one of Samaras tiny homes last year, according to Tesla filings.At DOGE, Gebbia will work as a volunteer in the Office of Personnel Management, he confirmed in a post on X after his involvement was reported by The New York Times. My first project at DOGE is improving the slow and paper-based retirement process, Gebbia wrote.Gebbia is a longtime Democratic donor, but said he voted for Trump in 2024 and supports Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new health secretary.(back to top)Mike GonzalezGonzalez founded HR startup TraceHQ in 2019 and sold it to Paylocity in 2023 for an undisclosed sum. Gonzalez says on his website that he started his career as a Facebook product manager and worked at Zenefits with David Sacks when he was CEO there, all before launching his own company.VC Sacks has joined the Trump administration as its crypto and AI czar. Gonzalez was working on the finance team when they worked together at Zenefits.Gonzalezs LinkedIn profile previously mentioned that he joined DOGE full-time earlier this month as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Shortly after TechCrunch reached out to Gonzalez for comment, the mention of DOGE was removed from his LinkedIn profile.Gonzalez has not said what hes doing at OPM. But in February he wrote a post on LinkedIn lamenting the state and process of the federal budget.(back to top)Vinay HiremathHiremath is the co-founder of video recording startup Loom, which was sold to Atlassian in 2023 for $975 million.According to a blog post on his personal website titled I am rich and have no idea what to do with my life, Hiremath says that after breaking up with his girlfriend, he decided to externalize his emotions by climbing a mountain in the Himalayas. After that, he decided to work for DOGE.His stint at DOGE lasted about a month and involved making hundreds of recruiting calls.Hiremath wrote that he was added to Signal groups run by DOGE and immediately put to work.Hiremath praised DOGEs work as extremely important, but said he quit the job as he needed to focus on himself. He called off plans to move to Washington, D.C. and went to Hawaii instead, his post states.(back to top)Brooks MorganMorgan is the co-founder and former CEO of an Austin-based edtech startup called Podium Education, a press release from last year shows, although he is not currently listed as a leader on the companys website.His social media presence is extremely minimal but he has reportedly been involved in edtech for well over a decade, previously working for a long-since acquired company that offered a Facebook app for schools.Morgan is said to be involved in DOGEs efforts at the Education Department, especially around efforts to augment perhaps replace some of the workers there with AI, The New York Times reports.(back to top)Kyle SchuttSchutt is listed by Crunchbase as a co-founder of a Virginia-based software company called KAMM, which state records say has been inactive as of late November 2024.Schutt has also worked on WinRed, WIRED reports, a for-profit fundraising site that says its helped raise $1.8 billion for Republican party candidates since 2023. He also served as the CTO at online fundraising platform REVV, also used by the Republican party.He is a member of DOGE and is now on staff at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, according to an internal staff directory viewed by Politico. He was previously at the GSA. He is said to have access to FEMA systems and to have worked for a company called Outburst Data which hosts several Musk-related sites, and hosts parts of the DOGE website.(back to top)Ethan ShaotranShaotran was previously the founder of Energize.ai, though its website no longer loads. He also developed several iPhone apps, including a Donald Trump-themed running game called Donald Dash.In 2024, Shaotran told Business Insider that he was a 22-year-old Harvard computer science student working solo on his startup, which offered an AI scheduling assistant and had landed a $100,000 grant from OpenAI.Shaotran was one of a number of DOGE workers named in a lawsuit by federal employees that sought to prevent DOGE workers from accessing federal records, although he was not a defendant.Shaotran reportedly has a working GSA email address and requested access to a decades worth of GSA data. Shaotran also has access to email systems at the Department of Education and access to the departments back-end website, NBC reported.(back to top)Smith is a longtime healthcare entrepreneur who co-founded the palliative care company Aspire Health (later acquired by Anthem) and co-founded CareBridge, which provides at-home service to Medicaid patients (and is said to have struck a deal with Elevance Health to sell for $2.7 billion).He also co-founded healthcare VC firm Russell Street Ventures and served as CEO of Main Street Health, which offers primary care services to those in rural areas.Smith led the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation during President Trumps first term. He is said to be one of the leaders of DOGE, alongside close Musk ally Steve Davis.As ABC News reported, Smith has been an advocate for privatizing aspects of Medicaid and Medicare. At DOGE, Smith has requested access to the payment systems at Medicare, according to The New York Times.(back to top)Jordan WickWick is the co-founder of Y Combinator startup Intercept. He also worked as an engineer at Alphabets self-driving car company Waymo, he told a podcast in 2024.He is among the DOGE staffers granted extensive access to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus data, according to a lawsuit from former USAID contractors which names him (but not as a defendant).Wick graduated from MIT with a degree in computer science in 2019 and also has a masters degree from there, according to an archived version of his website. He also worked at YC-backed logistics startup Flexport.(back to top)Venture CapitalistsBaris AkisAkis is a co-founder and president of Silicon Valley VC firm Human Capital.He reportedly led inquiries into the Treasury Departments payments systems, The New York Times reported. He was also named in a lawsuit about DOGEs legality, although not as a defendant.Akis is the second link to DOGE from Human Capital. The VC firms former head of talent, Amanda Scales, is now chief of staff at the powerful Office of Personnel Management, the federal governments HR department.(back to top)Marc AndreessenAndreessen is the co-founder of prominent VC firm Andreessen Horowitz. He famously backed Trump for president in 2024, despite previously endorsing Hillary Clinton in 2016.Andreessen described himself as an unpaid intern for DOGE in a podcast with the Hoover Institution earlier this year, reportedly helping recruit for DOGEs early hires, the FT reported.In the Hoover Institution podcast, Andreessen described former a16z managing partner Scott Kupor and incoming OPM head as very aligned with DOGEs mission.(back to top)Antonio GraciasGracias is the founder and CEO of Valor Equity Partners, and a longtime close associate of Elon Musk. Valor has invested in a whos who of buzzy startups (including Anduril, Dataminr, Eight Sleep, and Reddit) but is particularly known for backing Musk companies like SpaceX, Neuralink, SolarCity, The Boring Company, and Tesla.Gracias is well known as a Tesla board member from 2007 to 2021, on the board prior to its IPO as well as when Tesla bought the Musk-controlled company SolarCity for $2.6 billion.On a February episode of the VC All-In Podcast, Gracias said that he was working with DOGE. Im not there full-time, he said. Im in and out a little bit and trying to help where I can. He also mentioned that DOGE had 80-plus full-time people at that time.He is apparently now working with DOGEs efforts at the Social Security Administration, The New York Times reported, and is one of nine DOGE associates there. Other Valor employees are also part of the Social Security crew, the NYT reports.(back to top)Michael KratsiosUntil recently, Michael Kratsios served as managing director at Scale AI, the data labeling startup that began working with the Pentagon last year to test and evaluate AI tools for the military.From 2010 to 2017, Kratsios worked for Thiel Capital, the office that manages VC Peter Thiels many investments, per his LinkedIn; Thiel was one of Trumps early backers in 2016. Kratsios also served as CTO of the U.S. during Trumps first administration.Kratsios helped lead efforts to staff DOGE in late 2024 by conducting interviews of prospective staff, Bloomberg reported.He is Trumps pick to lead the Office of Science and Technology Policy. During his confirmation hearing, Kratsios responded to questions about mass firings of federal workers by saying he believes its reasonable for the current administration to evaluate current talent.(back to top)Scott KuporKupor is a managing partner at VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, and was a16zs first employee. He serves on the boards of a number of a16z investments. He is also a former chairman of the National Venture Capital Association the VC industrys lobbying organization.Trump announced in December 2024 that he picked Kupor to serve as the director of the Office of Personnel Management. The same day, Kupor confirmed that he was helping DOGE.As the federal governments HR department, the OPM has become ground zero for DOGEs mission to slash the federal workforce.DOGE workers are using OPMs data and computer systems to obtain information about federal workers across agencies, according to a CNN report.(back to top)Shaun MaguireMaguire is a partner at Sequoia Capital and formerly co-founded cyber firm Expanse, which was sold to Palo Alto Networks for $800 million in 2020.Maguire has reportedly helped screen potential candidates for DOGE. Hes a frequent and vocal supporter of DOGE on X.Maguire is an outspoken supporter of President Trump, and announced that he donated $300,000 to his campaign last summer.(back to top)Adam RamadaRamada was previously a managing director at SpringTide Capital, where he was part of a $12 million deal to fund the probiotic drink company ZBiotics. His firm also invested in a SpaceX supplier last year.He was identified as a member of DOGE in a temporary restraining order after the American Federation of Teachers sought to block DOGEs access to privileged information. The restraining order was later denied by a federal judge.In a signed declaration, Ramada said he started working for DOGE in January, assigned to audit contracts and programs at the Department of Education for waste, such as federal student loans. President Trump, a critic of the Department of Education, recently signed an executive order to start its closure very soon.In another declaration, Ramada, who is also listed as a GSA employee, said he was assigned to the Labor Department, too, to improve its information technology and data organization system.(back to top)Amanda ScalesScales worked for two and half years at Silicon Valley VC firm Human Capital, advising the firms portfolio companies on talent and HR, according to her her LinkedIn profile. Her boss at Human Capital, its co-founder Baris Akis, served as a DOGE advisor.Scales is now chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management, the federal governments powerful human resources department, according to an OPM memo.Scales previously worked on talent at Uber before joining Human Capital, according to her LinkedIn.(back to top)Topics

Hey, i was looking for courses recommendations for complete beginners that want to start in VFX for gaming industry, mainly UE5 1 post - 1 participant Read full topic

As corporate culture evolves, theres an increasing incentive to bring people back to the office. For Google, where office perks include fitness centers and free food, the concept of play has long been a part of the on-site benefits. At a Google office in Venice, California, the fun radiates on the outside as well. Since 2011, Googlers have occupied the Binoculars Building by Frank Gehry. (For those looking to relax on the job, a 2020 blog post showcases some of the tech giants recreational provisions, including a tea lounge, a giant rooftop chess board, and a micro-kitchen inside of a freestanding wooden tunnel.)Now, another company has the opportunity to see the building through a new lens, as Googles cubicles and cafe could soon depart the space. According to an offering memo obtained by The Real Deal (TRD), Net Lease Office Propertiesa spin-off of real estate investment trust W.P. Careyhas hired CBRE to sell the building.Designed by Frank Gehry in collaboration with artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, the 1991 building was completed as the headquarters for the advertising agency Chiat/Day (now TBWA\Chiat\Day). The three-part complex began as two disparate facades, with copper-clad columns on one side and a curved white screen wall on the other. By happenstance the binoculars, the center component, became the necessary mediator for the two designs. The sculpture was originally conceived as part of an academic project for an island community in Venice, Italy. Oldenburg and van Bruggen created a small model of a theater and library that mimicked the form of a standing pair of binoculars, which found its way to Gehrys desk. As noted in the sculptors artist statement, during a meeting with founder Jay Chiat, Gehry placed the little model in the center of the facade to illustrate the binding concept; it then became the solution.Connected by a central conference room, the lenses of the binoculars house two tall curvilinear rooms with bulbous light fixtures and, fittingly, the eyepieces form skylights. Streetside, the exterior space between the lenses creates an archway, with both a pedestrian entrance and access to the underground parking garage directly behind the sculpture.According to TRD, Googles triple-net-lease at the building is up for renewal in October 2030. While at this time an asking price has not been disclosed, the 78,578-square-foot building situated off the Venice Beach Boardwalk is a fitting option for companies seeking character and looking to turn some eyes.

Given digital technology is so central to how we live, work, transact and communicate, we have recently seen the finalisation of an unprecedented amount of digital regulation in both the UK and the EU.In such a fast-moving environment, this begs the question; how should companies stay ahead of the curve? Although the exact response will obviously be company specific, a proactive and strategic approach is key.As an overriding theme, 2025 is set to be a pivotal year in terms of the regulatory implementation of many new digital rules.This includes online safety and competition obligations, where we will see both the relative maturing of the EU regimes and the corresponding UK regimes (e.g. the Online Safety Act) coming into effect.Taking the Online Safety Act as an example, this requires that online services build in safety by design and move from a reactive to a proactive response to online harms. Online services should be preparing now, given Ofcoms timeline for completion of risk assessments in 2025. Ofcom has estimated that approximately 100,000 online services are within scope.From a broader consumer protection perspective, this year will usher in the new powers of the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to directly enforce a range of consumer law. The CMA is expected to prioritise activity to ensure that consumers are treated fairly when purchasing online. This should be high on the board and executive agenda of consumer facing companies that have a significant online presence, in particular given the new financial penalties that the CMA has at its disposal, including up to 10% of world-wide turnover.It almost goes without saying that there will also be a continuing regulatory focus on AI, which we see as coalescing around the key themes of risk, growth, competitiveness, protection of human rights and freedoms, and accountability. Taking just one example, a significant amount of implementation activity under the EUs AI Act will take place. Firms with activities in the EU should already be assessing which of their current and planned AI systems and models fall within the scope of this regulation and conducting a gap analysis against key requirements.Regulators are also focused on interventions to unlock economic growth and promote innovation. One example is in relation to cloud computing, which is so integral to the economy today. New EU regulatory requirements under the EU Data Act will go live during the year, designed to address concerns about a lack of cloud service provider competition, customer lock in and limited interoperability, all of which are believed to act as barriers to multi-cloud adoption. In the UK, similar concerns in respect of the largest cloud service providers have been highlighted by the CMA enquiry team, with a recommendation that they be investigated under the UKs new digital markets regime that went live in January.Another example is in relation to data sharing, with new rules for sharing connected product data, such as connected cars or smart home devices, going live in the EU. The UKs Data (Use and Access) Bill is also likely to become law in the UK, which is expected to lead to the introduction of new Smart Data schemes in certain areas of the economy like the energy market. This aims to generate benefits such as those achieved via open banking, for example.One thing is clear - the role of digital regulation in todays society will continue to be central to the public, political and economic debate for the remainder of the year ahead.Deloittes Digital Regulatory Outlook 2025 is available here.Suchitra Nair is partner and head of Deloittes EMEA centre for regulatory strategyRobert MacDougall is director in Deloittes centre for regulatory strategy

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETZDNET's key takeawaysSennheiser's latest flagship earbuds, the Momentum True Wireless 4retail for $299.95. The Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds offer exceptional sound quality packed into small, portable buds.The ANC is weak, and there are better alternatives on the market at this price point.The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 is currently on sale for $245 -- that's nearly $55 off the original price -- at Amazon.When I find songs or albums I love, I listen to them on repeat until I'm absolutely sick of them. I love being fully immersed in a song, hearing every small detail, and getting lost in the lyrics. So when Sennheiser announced a new pair of flagship earbuds at CES, I was excited to see how well they appeal to the music lover in me.Also: I selected the 130+ best deals for Amazon's Spring SaleSennheiser is known for embedding its high-quality sound into its consumer headphones and earbuds and the new Momentum True Wireless 4, which I'll refer to as the Momentum 4 earbuds, are the latest addition to Sennheiser's Momentum series. There are plenty of premium true wireless earbuds out there, so follow along with me as I see if these earbuds are worth the hefty $300 price tag. details View at Walmart Sennheiser emphasizes its sound technology, and as someone who prefers lyrics over instrumentals, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the listening experience. The Momentum 4 earbuds allowed me to hear various elements of a song more clearly than I've ever experienced.When I listened to Karol G's Gucci Los Paos, every element of the song had a crystal-clear presence in the mix, from rich midrange sounds like guitar strums, piano chords, and background synths, as well as a warm and well-balanced bassline. The result is a full-bodied listening experience regardless of genre, thanks to the Momentum 4 earbuds' 7mm dynamic drivers.Like most earbuds in this price range, the Momentum 4 earbuds are equipped with active noise canceling (ANC) technology. The Momentum 4s use hybrid adaptive ANC, so the microphones listen for external noise, while internal components employ ANC depending on the noise level of your surrounding environment.However, I found this noise-canceling tech to be the earbuds' Achilles heel. When I sat in the office during peak hours, I hoped the earbuds would decrease the noise around me so I could focus on my work. Yet, I could still hear my colleagues speaking around me, and even with ANC enabled, I could hear exactly what they were saying.In even louder environments, like New York City's busy streets and subway stations, the earbuds' noise-canceling capabilities disappointed me by merely muffling the ambient noise. Compared to other earbuds in a similar price range, like Apple's AirPods Pro 2, the ANC in the Momentum 4 earbuds couldn't match up.However, Sennheiser's weaker ANC ultimately didn't surprise me. ZDNET has tested many of Sennheiser's over-ear headphones and earbuds, and a common factor remains: You'll get remarkable sound quality in exchange for underwhelming ANC.Also:Soundcore's Space One headphones impressed me with solid quality (and they're on sale)The disappointing ANC was almost entirely offset by one of the earbuds' biggest wins: its strong Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, which allowed me to connect the earbuds to two devices simultaneously.As a working professional, I value being able to seamlessly switch between my laptop and smartphone. However, when testing other earbuds that market Bluetooth multipoint, I'm often frustrated by their finicky connectivity. The Momentum 4 buds are an exception, as switching between my laptop and my phone didn't require me to tinker with the Bluetooth settings.Regarding connectivity, the earbuds sport the latest version of Bluetooth (5.4) and are powered by Qualcomm's S5 Sound Gen 2 chipset, which allows for Auracast, LE Audio, and low-latency gaming support. Even though Auracast will likely be the next big thing in Bluetooth audio, allowing users to connect to sounds in public places such as a bar TV, it won't be available on the Momentum 4 earbuds until a firmware update later this year, as well as LE Audio capabilities.Sennheiser claims the Momentum 4 earbuds can offer about 30 hours of playtime, an upgrade from the Momentum 3 earbuds, which offered 28 hours. In my testing, the earbuds lasted for several days without needing to be charged, even after all-day use in the office and on my daily commute. Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETAdditionally, after wearing the earbuds all day, the earbuds were comfortable and secure in my ear. The buds have a stemless design requiring a gentle twist to secure them in place. The ergonomic design, four ear tip sizes, and three rubber fin sizes guarantee a comfortable, secure, tight fit in your ear that helps combat sound leakage.The touch controls are on the outside of the earbuds, and their actions are fully customizable in the Sennheiser Smart Control app. The earbuds' large, flat surface area allows for responsive touch controls activated by a series of short taps and long presses.Also: My favorite budget earbuds are on sale for $35 thanks to Amazon's Big Spring SaleSennheiser upgraded the Momentum 4 earbuds' IP rating, as they sport an IP54 rating, making them more dustproof than their predecessor. The Momentum 4 buds' IP rating also makes them splashproof, so you can count on these earbuds to accompany you from the office straight to a sweaty workout.The case has fabric on the outside, giving it a premium, elevated feel. It fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, making it suitable for on-the-go pocketing. The Momentum 4 earbuds are available in black graphite, copper graphite, and white silver and feature sharp-looking metallic accents that add to their elevated design.ZDNET's buying adviceIf you're looking for high-quality sound from a portable pair of earbuds, the Momentum True Wireless 4 offers exceptional audio in an elevated design.However, for $300, I'd expect more from the Momentum 4 earbuds' noise-canceling properties. If you want earbuds with stronger ANC, you'll need to look elsewhere, but you may be compromising sound quality. If you want strong ANC at a similar price, consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. Consider the JLab JBuds ANC 3 or the Apple AirPods Pro 2if Sennheisser's devices are too expensive for you. When will this deal expire? Deals are subject to sell out or expire anytime, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on this deal, but don't fret -- we're constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you atZDNET.com. Show more Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites withZDNET Recommends.Amazon Spring Sale 2025

With this machine, you can skip the coffee shop and save hundreds of dollars, and it's on sale now.

When encrypted chats become government backchannels, transparency becomes the real casualty.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesRecent events seem more like a Silicon Valley satire than a serious governance failure. By now, youre probably aware that high-ranking Trump administration officials recently used a Signal group chat to discuss sensitive military planning. The problem? They accidentally included Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, in the conversation.The scandal is still unfolding, but what has followed so far is a cascade of damage control, political deflection and, ultimately, distraction. Everyone wants to know: Was classified information shared? That is a valid question, but it is not the only question we need to answer. The real issue here isnt just about classification its about transparency and accountability.Signals Double-Edged SwordSignal is a remarkable tool. Praised by privacy advocates, journalists and dissidents alike, it offers end-to-end encryption, open-source transparency and a user-friendly experience that puts privacy within reach of the average user. In a world of ubiquitous surveillance, the Signal Messenger app, owned by the Signal Foundationan organizations with a stated mission to protect free expression and enable secure global communication through open source privacy technologystands out as a lifeline for private communication.But that doesn't make it invulnerable or foolproof. Especially not for state secrets. Government intelligence services can still exploit device-level vulnerabilities, access backups or leverage metadata to uncover patterns and participants. As Zak Doffman noted, Russias GRU recently exploited group invite links to secretly join Signal chats.Encryption protects the message in transit, not the device it lives on. And when national security is at stake, using a personal cell phone with a consumer-grade app even one as robust as Signal is grossly irresponsible.Integrity in ContrastGoldberg, the journalist mistakenly added to the Signal group, now possesses a record of the conversation that may or may not contain classified information.Some of the officials involved have embraced a tactic of impugning Goldberg as a strawman diversion from the real controversy. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, who seems to have inadvertently invited Jeffrey Goldberg into the Signal chat, called him the bottom scum of journalists in a Fox News interview. It does seem curious that Waltz seems to have the contact info for this scum journalist readily available on his phone, but that is an issue for a different article.In response to the claims and accusations, Goldberg has published the full Signal transcript in The Atlantic, revealing that the chat did include specific details about planned military operations missile strike targets, launch logistics and strategic goals. Though the administration continues to insist nothing was technically classified, the operational nature of the conversation clearly falls within what most intelligence and defense experts would consider sensitive.By releasing the more complete exchange, Goldberg has proven his credibility. At the same time, he demonstrated greater care for truth, transparency and OPSEC than the cabinet members involved. His decision to delay publication until well after the operation contrasts sharply with officials who used the insecure tool and pointing fingers when they got caught.The Red Herring of ClassificationLets be clear, though: whether administration officials shared classified information is not the only point. The obsession with that question serves as a convenient distraction from the broader implications of cabinet members or government officials communicating through private or unsanctioned channels.Officials have rushed to claim that they didnt discuss anything classified, as if that absolves them of wrongdoing. But, as Senator Mark Kelly explained to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe in a Senate hearing looking into this controversy, DOD policy prohibits discussion of even what is called controlled unclassified information, or CUI, on unsecured devices.Aside from the fact that their claim is doubtful, based on the transcript Goldberg shared, in a government accountable to the people, all official communication is subject to documentation, preservation and oversight. The moment a conversation veers into government business, it becomes a public record.Intentional or not, using of Signal in this context was an act of erasurebecause without Jeffrey Goldberg being accidentally added to the list, the general public would never have any record of these communications or any way to know they even occurred.Obscured Communications and AccountabilityThe foundation of democratic governance rests on transparency. Official channels exist not just for security, but for history, accountability and the peoples right to know. When senior leaders choose encrypted group chats on private phones over secure, sanctioned systems, theyre not protecting state secrets theyre shielding themselves from public scrutiny.It doesn't matter if they were discussing a Houthi strike or a cookie recipe for a state dinner. What matters is the process. If its government work, it belongs to the American people.The Freedom of Information Act isnt optional. Its a legal framework designed to prevent exactly this kind of obfuscation.Lessons from History and the Threat AheadWe've seen this movie before. From Hillary Clintons private email server to disappearing messages on encrypted apps during the Trump era, the erosion of formal communication protocols has become a bipartisan affliction. Each instance chips away at public trust. And every time we let it slide, we normalize the idea that public service can be conducted in private shadows.This latest Signal scandal is a symptom of a deeper problem: a growing willingness among officials to use technology not to serve the people, but to sidestep them.Tech is a Tool, Not a LoopholeSignal is not the villain here. In fact, it's one of the few digital tools that empowers citizens to reclaim privacy. But when public officials co-opt it as a backchannel for state business, theyre not using it as intended. Theyre abusing it.Good governance demands more than just secure apps it demands secure habits, documented decisions and a culture of accountability.This isnt about Signal. This is about transparency and trust. And the next time a government official opens an encrypted chat app to do the peoples business, we should all be asking: what are they trying to hide?