We've reached the final day of Amazon's Spring Sale, but there are still plenty of great deals to shop. That list includes a $50 price cut on our pick for best MacBook overall this year, Apple's 2025 MacBook Air M4. The 13-inch, 16GB model is available for $949, down from $999. Apple only released the new MacBook Air M4 in mid-March. It scored a 92 in our review, thanks to features like its M4 chip. The 13-inch base model boasts a 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. It also has an excellent battery life, lasting more than 18 hours while playing HD video. The 2025 MacBook Air M4 is also well done from an exterior standpoint. It has a 13.6-inch liquid retina display and it's very lightweight. The smaller model (it's also available, and on sale, in a 15-inch option) is 0.44 inches thick and weighs 2.7 pounds.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-m4-macbook-air-is-50-off-in-the-amazon-spring-sale-132413964.html?src=rss

Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.

Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.

AI's vibe-coding era: How the shift to apps changed the race

Elon Musk gave out $1 million checks on Sunday to two Wisconsin voters, declaring them spokespeople for his political group, ahead of a Wisconsin Supreme Court election that the tech billionaire cast as critical to President Donald Trumps agenda and the future of civilization.Its a super big deal, he told a roughly 2,000-person crowd in Green Bay on Sunday night, taking the stage in a yellow cheesehead hat. Im not phoning it in. Im here in person.Musk and groups he supports have spent more than $20 million to help conservative favorite Brad Schimel in Tuesdays race, which will determine the ideological makeup of a court likely to decide key issues in a perennial battleground state. Musk has increasingly become the center of the contest, with liberal favorite Susan Crawford and her allies protesting Musk and what they say is the influence he wants to have on the court.I think this will be important for the future of civilization, he said. Its thats significant.He noted that the state high court may well take up redistricting of congressional districts, which could ultimately affect which party controls the U.S. House.And if the (Wisconsin) Supreme Court is able to redraw the districts, they will gerrymander the district and deprive Wisconsin of two seats on the Republican side, Musk said. Then they will try to stop all the government reforms we are getting done for you, the American people.A unanimous state Supreme Court on Sunday refused to hear a last-minute attempt by the states Democratic attorney general to stop Musk from handing over the checks to two voters, a ruling that came just minutes before the planned start of the rally.Two lower courts had already rejected the legal challenge by Democrat Josh Kaul, who argues that Musks offer violates a state law. Wisconsin law prohibits offering anything of value to induce anyone to vote, Kaul argued in his filing. Yet, Elon Musk did just that.But the state Supreme Court, which is currently controlled 4-3 by liberal justices, declined to take the case as an original action. The court gave no rationale for its decision.Kaul had no immediate comment on the courts order.Musks attorneys argued in filings with the court that Musk was exercising his free speech rights with the giveaways and any attempt to restrict that would violate both the Wisconsin and U.S. constitutions.The payments are intended to generate a grassroots movement in opposition to activist judges, not to expressly advocate for or against any candidate, Musks attorneys argued in court filings.Musks political action committee used a nearly identical tactic before the presidential election last year, offering to pay $1 million a day to voters in Wisconsin and six other battleground states who signed a petition supporting the First and Second amendments. A judge in Pennsylvania said prosecutors failed to show the effort was an illegal lottery and allowed it to continue through Election Day.Liberals currently hold a 4-3 majority on the court. All four liberal justices have endorsed Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, the Democratic-backed candidate.Musks attorneys, about four hours before the rally was to begin, asked that two liberal justices who have campaigned for Crawford Jill Karofsky and Rebecca Dallet recuse themselves from the case. His attorneys argued their work for Crawford creates the specter of inappropriate bias. If they did recuse, that would leave the court with a 3-2 conservative majority.Both justices rejected the request and said they would spell out their reasons why at a later date.One of the courts conservative justices has endorsed Schimel, who wore a Make America Great Again hat while campaigning Sunday.Schimel said in a national television interview that he does not control any of the spending from any outside group, whether its Elon Musk or anyone else and that all Trump asked was whether he would reject activist judges and follow the law.Thats exactly what Ive committed to anybody, whether its President Trump, Elon Musk or any donors and donors or supporters or voters in Wisconsin. Thats my commitment, Schimel told Fox News Sunday.The contest has shattered national spending records for a judicial election, with more than $81 million in spending.It comes as Wisconsins highest court is expected to rule on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power and voting rules that could affect the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election in the state.Associated Press writer Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report.Thomas Beaumont and Scott Bauer, Associated Press

On Friday, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar in the northern part of the country. Reuters reports the quakes epicenter was about 17.2 km (about 10.6 miles) from Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city with a population of about 1.5 million people.The quake destroyed buildings, roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure in the country. So far, 1,700 people have been confirmed dead and 3,400 injured, but officials say the final death toll may pass 10,000. The quake also hit neighboring Thailand, bringing down a 33-story building with people inside.In Myanmar, the effects of the natural disaster are intensified due to the civil war the country has been engulfed in since 2021. As a result of the conflict, many of the countrys public services, infrastructure, and access to aid were already operating under reduced efficiency. Outside observers, including journalists, have also been limited, which now makes it hard to get a full sense of the true devastation in the Southeast Asian nation.How to donate to Myanmars earthquake victimsThere are ways people outside the country can help Myanmar earthquake victims. This comes via donating to various international relief organizations. Here are five agencies you can donate to right now to help the earthquake victims in Myanmar.Doctors Without Borders (Mdecins Sans Frontires): The non-governmental organization (NGO) provides doctors on the ground to help those who are injured. You can donate to Doctors Without Borders here.International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: The IFRC is accepting donations for Myanmar earthquake initiatives on its dedicated Myanmar earthquake portal. Donations will help the agency provide the urgent support that is needed on the ground. You can donate to the IFRC here.Project HOPE: The humanitarian organization is deploying staff in the region to help with supply chains and to get health professionals, medicines, and other medical supplies to the people who need it the most. You can donate to Project HOPE here.Save the Children: There are a large number of children in Myanmar who have been affected by the quake. The organizations Save the Childrens Emergency Fund is designed to provide assistance, including shelter. You can donate to Save the Children here.UN Crisis Relief: Run by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN Crisis Relief collects donations to distribute to organizations working on the front lines of humanitarian crises. Donations will go to support life-saving assistance for the victims of the quake. You can donate to UN Crisis Relief here.

Wearable tech is now common, arguably thanks to the Apple Watch. That product struggled upon its 2015 launch, but the eventual additions of features people wantedhealth and fitness monitoring, ecosystem integrationpushed it into the mainstream within a few years.Competitiors have since popped up, and the wrist is now as viable a product battleground as the pocket or desktop. But one wearable tech location that no one's cracked yet is the finger. Many have tried. By our count at least six companies have attempted to launch a smart ring that would allow gesture control, dating as far back as 2009. The Loop Pointer, the Nod Ring, the Padrone Ring, the Tap Strap, the AirPoint Ring; have you heard of any of them? And the Mycestro ring from 2013 failed at spectacular cost, garnering $354,000 in pledges before struggling to deliver and eventually evaporating.But the tech world is filled with optimists, so here we go again. This time a startup called Ring Mouse is holding a Kickstarter for their eponymous product. "This one happens to control your entire digital universe," the company promises. Offered in stainless steel or titanium alloy, the Ring Mouse is offered in sizes 4 thru 15. It features a swipeable touchpad for scrolling, and two buttons for tapping, zooming, advancing, etc.The idea is that you can use it for interacting with apps or media while you're doing other things, like washing, cooking, exercising or strolling around a presentation stage.Here are some projected use cases:The included charging case provides 10 hours of battery life. The Ring Mouse has been succesfully Kickstarted, with 23 days left to pledge at press time. Buy-in starts at $90, and they expect to ship in June.

Customers in today's markets have high expectations in terms of functionality, performance and usability. Successful products and services must be innovative and connect with their audience to encourage adoption and embrace new ideas. That's where Psycho-Aesthetics (P/A) comes in, a human-centered innovation methodology that bridges the gap between psychology, design, and business strategy. Originally developed by Ravi Sawhney, founder and CEO Los Angeles-based design firm RKS Design, he and his team have been using P/A for more than 40 years across industries to create products, services, and experiences that deeply resonate with people.While many organizations are familiar with design thinking, which emphasizes empathy, ideation, and prototyping, Psycho-Aesthetics takes it a step further by integrating deep psychological insights into the innovation process. Unlike traditional design thinking, which often focuses on usability and problem-solving, P/A is rooted in human perception and emotional connection, ensuring that innovations are not only functional but also deeply resonant with users. By prioritizing the way people feel about an experiencerather than just how they interact with itP/A helps businesses craft solutions that inspire long-term engagement and loyalty.What is Psycho-Aesthetics?At its core, Psycho-Aesthetics is about understanding how design influences human perception and emotion. By applying psychological principles, it helps innovators develop solutions that not only attract users but also foster trust, engagement, and long-term adoption.Unlike traditional design-thinking approaches, P/A focuses on visual collaboration and emotional connection, making innovation accessible to entire organizationsnot just design teams.Sawhney created the P/A methodology after a stint working at the legendary Xerox PARC office developing the first touch screen interface. He saw first-hand how challenging it was to convince people to interact with hardware in a way that had never been done before. The lessons learned at that time led to a deeper understanding of what it takes to convert tentative users into life-long customers.The P/A process was first published in a Harvard Business School case study in 2006. At that time RKS had released a line of innovative electric guitars. The case study showcased how RKS used the P/A process to reinvent the electric guitar, blending emotional insight and human-centered design to create a more expressive, customizable instrument. The design also introduced an ecologically sustainable approach through modular construction and the use of environmentally conscious materials.The P/A process was later released in book form in 2019. The KOR water bottle case study in that first edition used to show design students how to design a product. The new P/A 2.0 edition expands the methodology beyond product design with more case studies, showing its application in various products, places, and services. Psycho-Aesthetics isn't just for designersit's a methodology for anyone involved in creating innovative solutions. Whether you're launching a new product, refining a brand, or improving a service, P/A provides a structured yet flexible framework to ensure your ideas truly connect with people.By focusing on the human experience, P/A doesn't just generate creative ideasit makes sure those ideas succeed in the real world.Psycho-Aesthetics 2.0 is available on Amazon (free for Kindle Reader) and you can learn more about the process on the RKS website.

PlayStation version of the Backbone One was released way back in 2022, and ever since, Xbox users wished they had one specifically made for Microsofts platform. That wish has been granted now with the Backbone One Xbox Edition that has been completely reworked from the ground up for a smooth experience. That means Xbox Game Pass titles will now be accessible on your Android device for a quick stint of gaming without any hassles. This comes as a valued perk for keen gamers who were eagerly waiting for the official Microsoft x Asus Xbox handheld.The Backbone collaboration with Microsoft turns your Android or iPhone (iPhone 15 or later) into a portable Xbox controller, which is a great utility for gamers who love occasional gaming sessions on the morning commute or are always on the go. The gaming special edition controller costs $110, and is up for grabs from the official Backbone website and Best Buy. The controller costs $10 more than the standard or PlayStation version, but thats completely justified given its distinct appeal. One also has to consider that there are third-party options too (priced cheaper) on the market that suffice the needs of Xbox gamers.Designer: Backbone and XboxBackbone has given the Xbox Edition controller a translucent green exterior, which partially shows off the innards. The accessory matches the Xbox aesthetic by every stretch of imagination possible. The functionality of the controller is also close to the official Xbox controller, as the button mapping is exactly the same as on the official console version. Being an official licensed controller, this one is more consistent with cloud gaming and the Game Pass app. The controller also supports Xbox Remote Play to stream games directly from the console. Another perk to consider if you want to sway the way of unofficial options is the one-month free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for new members.Like other Backbone One gaming controllers, this one is aimed at a premium mobile gaming experience. The accessory comes with a dedicated X button that brings titles like Halo Infinite, Forza, and Indiana Jones right to your phone. The functionality of this Backbone Ones unique button doesnt end there. It can be used to pull up the Xbox Guide (with long press), or start/stop screen recording action (using the double tap). To keep the Xbox game playing experience unified, there is an offset analog stick, tactile buttons and a responsive D-pad. In the press release, emphasis was on showcasing your gaming style while tapping into Xboxs storied legacy of innovation.The post Backbone One Xbox Edition gaming controller brings Game Pass and Remote access on your phone first appeared on Yanko Design.

Learn this unique pro technique for better sketching.