Nomic has announced the release of Nomic Embed Multimodal, a groundbreaking embedding model that achieves state-of-the-art performance on visual document retrieval tasks. The new model seamlessly processes interleaved text, images, and screenshots, establishing a new high score on the Vidore-v2 benchmark for visual document retrieval. This advancement is particularly significant for retrieval augmented generation (RAG) applications working with PDF documents, where capturing both visual and textual context is crucial.Breaking New Ground in Visual Document RetrievalThe Nomic Embed Multimodal 7B model has achieved an impressive 62.7 NDCG@5 score on the Vidore-v2 benchmark, representing a 2.8-point improvement over previous best-performing models. This advancement marks a significant milestone in the evolution of multimodal embeddings for document processing.Unlike traditional retrieval systems that primarily rely on extracted text and often miss crucial visual elements, Nomics new model captures the full richness of documents by embedding both text and visual components directly. This approach eliminates the need for complex, error-prone processing pipelines commonly used in document analysis.Solving Real-World Document ChallengesDocuments are inherently multimodal, conveying information through text, figures, page layouts, tables, and even fonts. Traditional text-only systems struggle with this complexity, often requiring separate encoders for visual and text inputs or complex preprocessing pipelines.Nomic Embed Multimodal provides an elegant solution by supporting interleaved text and image inputs in a single model, making it ideal for:PDF documents and research papersScreenshots of applications and websitesVisually rich content where layout mattersMultilingual documents where visual context is importantA Complete Embedding EcosystemWith the release of Nomic Embed Multimodal, Nomic has finalized a comprehensive suite of embedding models that achieve state-of-the-art performance across multiple domains:Nomic Embed Multimodal: The latest addition that achieves state-of-the-art performance on interleaved text, images, and screenshots. It is ideal for document retrieval workflows.Nomic Embed Text v2: A powerful multilingual text embedding model that achieves state-of-the-art performance on the MIRACL benchmark. It is ideal for text retrieval workflows in any language.Nomic Embed Code: An embedding model that is specialized for code search applications, achieving a state-of-the-art score on the CodeSearchNet benchmark. It is ideal for code agent applications.This complete ecosystem provides developers with cutting-edge tools for handling diverse data types, from pure text to complex multimodal documents and specialized code repositories. Each model in the ecosystem is designed to work seamlessly with modern RAG workflows while delivering best-in-class performance in its domain.AvailabilityNomic has made their multimodal embedding models available on Hugging Face, along with the corresponding dataset and GitHub repository, making this cutting-edge technology accessible to researchers and developers worldwide.This release represents a significant step forward in multimodal representation learning and document understanding, completing Nomics vision of providing state-of-the-art embedding solutions across the full spectrum of data modalities.Availability is upcoming in the (Nomic Atlas Data and Embedding Platform)Thanks tothe Nomic teamfor the thought leadership/ Resources for this article.Nomic team has supported us financially and by content for this article. Asif RazzaqWebsite| + postsBioAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.Asif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Meta AI Proposes Multi-Token Attention (MTA): A New Attention Method which Allows LLMs to Condition their Attention Weights on Multiple Query and Key VectorsAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Meet ReSearch: A Novel AI Framework that Trains LLMs to Reason with Search via Reinforcement Learning without Using Any Supervised Data on Reasoning StepsAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/How to Build a Prototype X-ray Judgment Tool (Open Source Medical Inference System) Using TorchXRayVision, Gradio, and PyTorchAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/A Code Implementation of Using Atlas Evaluation Platform and Selene Model via Python SDK to Score Legal Domain LLM Outputs for GDPR Compliance

Nintendo has officially announced that Switch 2 preorders will start on April 9 in the United States, and April 8 in the UK. Available on June 5, 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2 was fully revealed today and will cost $449.99. There's also a Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle with a suggested retail price of $499.99 in the United States, which includes a system and a download code for the Mario Kart World game, available from Nintendo Switch 2 launch day on June 5. If you'd prefer to purchase Mario Kart World separately, however, Nintendo's recommended retail price for its fan-favorite racer is an eye-watering $79.99.Get notified when a Nintendo Switch 2 console, game, or accessory preorder listing goes live by following IGN Deals on Twitter/X or Bluesky. When anything go live, we'll post links the moment they become available.You can currently register your interest with Nintendo to be notified about preorders for Nintendo Switch 2 and accessories from My Nintendo Store. Invitations to purchase will be sent via email on a first-come, first-served basis, prioritizing users with a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online membership and at least 50 gameplay hours as of April 2, 2025. Once priority users receive invites, remaining eligible registrants will be considered. Invitations are non-transferable and valid for 72 hours. Purchases are limited to one system and one of each accessory per account. All major retailers are also expected to open up preorders on April 9, 2025, as well.Play"Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch, said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa."With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches."Nintendo Switch 2 Includes:Nintendo Switch 2 consoleJoy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)Joy-Con 2 GripJoy-Con 2 StrapsNintendo Switch 2 DockUltra High-Speed HDMI CableNintendo Switch 2 AC AdapterUSB-C Charging CableYou can catch up on everything from today's Nintendo Direct right here, and read our full guide on how to secure your preorder for the Nintendo Switch 2.Nintendo Switch 2 Prices:Nintendo Switch 2: $449.99Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World: $499.99Switch 2 microSD Express Card: $44.99 (128GB), $59.99 (256GB)Switch 2 Pro Controller: $79.99 Joy-Con 2: $89.99Camera: $49.99Dock Set: $109.99Mario Kart World: $79.99Donkey Kong Bananza: $69.99Switch 2 microSD Express CardsIt was also confirmed that the Switch 2 will only be compatible with microSD Express Cards. This means that you wont be able to bring your old standard microSD storage cards over when you pick up the console this summer. To expand your storage, you'll need microSD Express cards, such as the cards SanDisk has listed on Amazon right now. This includes a 128GB ($44.99), and 256GB ($59.99) version, and are already available to buy.Switch 2 CompatibleSanDisk 256GB microSD Express CardSanDisk 256GB microSD Express Card - $59.99 (was $64.99)SanDisk 128GB microSD Express Card - $44.99 (was $49.99)Follow IGN Deals for Switch 2 Preorder UpdatesWhen a major piece of gaming hardware goes up for preorder at a retailer, theres no telling how long it will be available. Weve seen sought-after hardware sell out in seconds. The best and most reliable way to know when a listing goes live is to follow IGN Deals on Twitter/X or Bluesky (IGN UK Deals on Twitter as well) and keep an eye on those accounts in real time. When preorders go live, we'll post links the moment they become available.Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

After today's Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, Nintendo confirmed the Nintendo Switch 2 price: $449.99.Available on June 5, 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2 was fully revealed today ahead of pre-orders going live on April 9.Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch, said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa.With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches.PlayNintendo Switch 2 comes with the following:Nintendo Switch 2 consoleJoy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)Joy-Con 2 GripJoy-Con 2 StrapsNintendo Switch 2 DockUltra High-Speed HDMI CableNintendo Switch 2 AC AdapterUSB-C Charging CableThe Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle has a suggested retail price of $499.99 in the United States, and includes a system and a download code for Mario Kart World, available from Nintendo Switch 2 launch day on June 5. Mario Kart World on its own costs $79.99, which means if you get the bundle you're buying Mario Kart World $30 cheaper.While it's normal to hear lots of curiosity as to how much a new console will cost, the Nintendo Switch 2 in particular has been the focus of a lot of debate due to the unusual economic environment it's releasing in. As experts told us back in January, factors such as supply chain constraints and uncertainty around tariffs could have impacted Nintendo's decision around price setting. However, analysts have also said that Nintendo is likely to sell lots of consoles at launch, regardless of the price.You can catch up on everything from today's Nintendo Direct right here.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

What do you think? asks a drunk and sickly Doc Holliday, staring down Johnny Ringo, a man rumored to be the fastest gunslinger in the West. Should I hate him?When Holliday poses that question, a shiver runs through everyone in the saloon. After all, the confrontation occurs in Tombstone, a 1993 Western about an infamous gunfight, and from the very first scene, director George P. Cosmatos starts beating the drum, moving retired lawman Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) and brutal outlaw Curly Bill (Powers Boothe) toward their inevitable, bloody confrontation. So when Ringo (Michael Biehn) begins to challenge Doc in this moment, and Doc refuses to back down, we think were going to see a preview of the big fight. Ringo prepares for the battle by showing off his gun skills, twirling his pistol in an ostentations pattern. Everyone, especially Earp (who holds his own weapon secretly beneath the table), expects Holliday to draw.Instead Doc pulls out his tiny handled shot glass and replicates the routine, widening his eyes to accentuate the mockery of Johnnys mad-eyed glower. With this simpl display, this specific version of Doc Holliday became one of the greatest characters in Western fiction, as well as a signature role for the man who realzied him: Val Kilmer. And we are finding ourselves thinking a lot about Doc, Wyatt, and of course Kilmer, after the actor who passed away on April 1 at the age of 65.Brief But BrilliantTombstone came at the height of an impressive run of fantastic performances from Kilmer. With his tall frame, surfer hairdo, and distinctive lips, Kilmer was a natural at cool, collected heroes, as he personified in his first movie Top Secret! (1984) and his earliest hits. He was Mavericks (Tom Cruse) foil Iceman in 1986s Top Gun and adventurer Madmartigan in the Ron Howard and George Lucas fantasy, Willow (1988).But Kilmer soon showed that he could do much more than look cool and handsome. In 1991, Kilmer played pop icon Jim Morrison for Oliver Stones iconoclastic biopic The Doors. Not only does he embody the charisma that made Morrison a fixture on dorm room walls but he also captured the arrogance and self-destruction that made him a pop culture legend.Yet just as soon as The Doors and Tombstone made him into a Hollywood favorite, Kilmers star began to fall. He repeatedly got overshadowed by his co-stars, even when he was cast in the lead. He was boring as Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever (1995), buried by over-the-top takes from Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones. A wacky late-period Marlon Brando made him look like a stuffed shirt in The Island of Doctor Moreau, and even Michael Douglas got to be the fun one in The Ghost in the Darkness, both from 1996.Hes excellent in Michael Manns epic Heat (1995), but no ones paying any attention to him when Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are onscreen. And The Prince of Egypt (1998) has its fans, but the animation and story stands out more than his vocal role. 1997s The Saint made money, but critics hated it. Between these little loved projects and his (by his own admission) tendency to be difficult on set, Kilmers time as Hollywood leading man came to an end.But even in his post-success phase, Kilmer stood out, with notable performances in 2002s The Salton Sea, the 2005 Shane Black comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, the Saturday Night Live spinoff MacGruber (2010), and Francis Ford Coppolas experimental Twixt (2011), in which he gives an entirely over-dubbed performance due to the throat cancer that would take his voice.By the time he reprised his role as Iceman for 2022s Top Gun: Maverick, his final screen appearance, audiences were glad to have him back. Its not just that he operated as something of a memento mori for Maverick and an ageless Tom Cruise, Its that theres a warmness to his silent performance. Kilmer relates regret, sadness, and gratitude in a few minutes of screen time, reminding us that hes still capable of giving complex performances.Playing it CoolI am in my prime, Doc Holliday declares in Tombstone, a rejoinder to Ringos challenge that hes lost a step. Kilmer delivers the line with the syrupy sophistication of a Southern aristocrat, his confidence unshaken by his pallor and ever-present sweat.None of us would disagree. Despite all the interesting performances that Kilmer gave throughout his lifetime, none topped Doc Holliday. Like the historical Holliday, the Doc of Tombstone came to the territory with his friend Earp, hoping that the climate would ease his tuberculosis. He made his living as a gambler and brought with him a reputation as a fast draw, a reputation that may or may not be rooted in fact.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!The part required Kilmer to play two contrasting conditions. First he had to be a man suffering from constant malaisehot spells, chills, shortness of breath. Secondly he had to play a man of complete confidence, able to bluff his opponents and retain perfect control of the way hes perceived. Kilmer displays those qualities in an early scene from Tombstone, in which Doc wins a game of cards. Docs opponent Ed (Frank Stallone) tries to bluff, which Holliday calls with aplomb. Doc reveals his winning hand and coos, Isnt that a daisy?In the hands of a lesser actor, Holliday in this scene would be a disaster. The part allows for so many ticks, so many chances for the actor to show the audience how hard hes working, showing off his charm and his ability to play charming. But Kilmer doesnt give in, doesnt distract from the character. He keeps his Holliday cool and collected, even when Ed stands up and accuses Doc of cheating.You know, Ed, if I didnt think you were my friend, I just dont think I could bear it, he continues, barely moving at allthat is until he pulls two pistols before his opponent even notices. Yet even then Kilmer immediately returns to a calm state, placing the guns onto the table and leaning back. There, he declares. Now we can be friends again.The Tombstone script, written originally by Kevin Jarre, is full of moments such as these. Killer one-liners, acting showcases, exchanges full of meaning. And Kilmer approaches them all with calm control. He never lets the audience forget that Doc is sick and dying. But he also knows that Doc wouldnt let his condition control him, wouldnt let his sickness diminish his gentlemanly charms.Tombstone gives Kilmer a complicated character and instead of showing off, Kilmer plays the truth of the person, making Doc Holliday one of the great figures in the history of movie Westerns.A Legend ForeverLate in Tombstone, Johnny Ringo prepares for what he assumes will be a duel with Wyatt Earp when he hears Doc Holliday instead approaching.Well, I didnt think you had it in you, sneers Ringo, mocking who he believes to be Russells lawman. Im your Huckleberry, snaps back Doc after taking a drag of his cigarette.Again Doc gets an incredible line, one so iconic that it continues to be quoted today. Kilmer even used it as the title of his autobiography. And yet, Kilmer doesnt say the line like hes delivering an iconic movie quote. He delivers it like hes Doc Holliday, a guy who says stuff like this every day.Kilmer modulates his performance to make Doc Holliday a person first and an icon second. Thats why Doc Holliday one of the legendary screen characters. Thats why Val Kilmer will always be our huckleberry.

From Solitaire to Game Pass gaming has been a driving force of innovation at Microsoft for decades. And since the creation of Xbox over 20 years ago, weve been innovating to bring the joy of gaming to everyone, introducing new ideas and finding more ways to empower players and creators around the world.As we get ready to celebrate Microsofts 50th Anniversary on Friday, April 4, we honor the game-changing memories youve made, and the games youve played, over five decades with us. This journey was only made possible by you our players and developers around the world.As a thank you for 50 years together were launching new dynamic backgrounds, profile themes, badges, and even a new Microsoft Solitaire theme, all available now:50th Anniversary Dynamic BackgroundCelebrate some of the iconic characters that have been part of our shared gaming story over the last five decades including Master Chief, Marcus Fenix, Vault Boy, and many more brought together with a new dynamic background.Find out how to apply Dynamic Backgrounds here.Nostalgic Profile ThemesGo nostalgic with brand new profile themes, including three new Gamerpics featuring an old Windows cursor, a floppy disc and, of course, Clippy. Match your Gamerpic with a new profile background to complete the look.Find out how to update your profile theme here.50th Anniversary BadgeAs a thank you for 50 years of experimenting, innovating, tinkering, and playing together, weve created a special Microsoft 50th Anniversary badge that you can add to your Xbox profile.Heres how to claim your badge:First, you must join or be an existing member of the Xbox Insider Program. See here for how to join.Launch the Xbox Insider Hub on console or PC (if you dont already have the app, search for it in the store).Select Previews on the left navigation menu.Click 50th Anniversary Badge under the Available section.Join the preview!50th Anniversary Theme for Microsoft SolitaireCelebrate with the game that started a love of gaming for so many. Available now for Windows devices, the Microsoft 50th theme adds a custom background, deck style, and card backs to the game.Heres how to download and apply the theme:Open Microsoft Solitaire (or download from the Microsoft Store)Hit Menu in the top-leftNavigate to ThemesClick Microsoft 50th to download and apply the themeTo learn more about Microsofts 50th Anniversary and how you can join in on the celebration, visit the 50th Anniversary website.

In 2017, Academy Award-winning actress and repeat house flipper Diane Keaton offered fans a peek inside her 9,200-square-foot Los Angeles farmhouse, which she built from the ground up and designed over the course of three and a half years, in her book The House That Pinterest Built. (Diane was introduced to the platform by none other than the OG of the "Coastal Grandmother" aesthetic, Nancy Meyers, and used it to find inspo for the build-outhence the book title.) Not surprisingly, the home is full of Pinterest-worthy designs and featuresand now, it's up for sale! Per Realtor.com, the Annie Hall star recently listed the property for a cool $29 million. Related StoryIf you're a fan of black-and-white decor schemes, outdoor fireplaces, and massive kitchen islands, be prepared to fall in love. With just a quick look around, youll see just how talented Diane is when it comes to design. The farmhouse-style residence showcases her knack for style and structures, and brings together tons of our favorite modern modern farmhouse decor elements. Inside youll find distressed brick, chicken wire cabinet fronts, raw wood beams, old chicken feeders repurposed into pendant lights, shiplap-covered walls, subway tile, and a plethora of antiques. Beyond the beautifully executed design and Diane's celebrity star power, covetable features of the gated Sullivan Canyon property also include a guest house and a heated outdoor pool. Curious to see what could be yours? Head over to our Tour of Diane Keaton's Pinterest-Perfect Farmhouse and get ready to have major farmhouse FOMO. More Real Estate News:Sarah ZlotnickSarah Zlotnick is the Lifestyle Director at Country Living, where she has run point on travel, rural lifestyles, and all things vintage and antiques since 2021. Previously a lifestyle editor at Washingtonian and Philadelphia magazines, she has been championing small businesses and regional destinations for 15 years. She also holds a bachelors degree in American Studies from Georgetown University, a major her younger self would be quite surprised to learn has come so in handy. First and foremost a service journalism enthusiast, she loves an in-depth explainer on an everyday topic or a deep dive into the history of vintage objects. When shes not editing and writing, youll find her needling her husband to pull off the highway so they can explore a new small town or cozying up with a juicy murder mystery.

Joining a series of ongoing deals on iPad mini 7 configurations at $100 off, as well as new lows on the new iPad (A16), today we are turning our attention to the best cash deal on select M3 iPad Air models. We also spotted the new Sky Blue 15-inch M4 MacBook Air at its best Amazon price yet alongside a rare deal on Nomads gorgeous latest-gen metal and glass 15W 3-in-1 MagSafe charger. All of that and more awaits down below.Apple unleashed the next-generation of mid-range iPads just under a month ago with the new M3-equipped iPad Air lineup, and we just spotted a new all-time low. While youll still find $50 price drops across a number of configurations over at Amazon right now (waiting down below), it now has the 11-inch 256GB model starting from a new $644 shipped low. Regularly $699, this is $55 off the going rate and the best cash deal we have tracked on this model to date.While you can still score the $50 price drop on the base model 11-inch 128GB configuration at $549, todays deal marks the lowest price we have tracked to date on the 256GB upgrade.As avid 9to5Toys readers will all already know, while todays deal is the lowest cash deal yet, we uncovered some serious opportunities to save on trade-ins back during the pre-order phase and you can still take advantage of them right now. In fact, you can score one with a massive $650 in savings when you trade-in a previous-generation M2 iPad Air right now and there are also plenty of savings with just about any previous iPad. All of the details you need on that are waiting right here.That said, and including the all-time low still live on the most affordable 13-inch variant, you can browse through the straight up cash deals across the lineup down below all but the 11-inch 512GB variant are still marked down to the best we have tracked.11-inch M3 iPad Air 128GB from $549 (Reg. $599)11-inch M3 iPad Air 256GB from $644 (Reg. $699)11-inch M3 iPad Air 512GB from $849 (Reg. $899) OOS11-inch M3 iPad Air 1TB from $1,049 (Reg. $1,099)13-inch M3 iPad Air 128GB from $738 (Reg. $799)13-inch M3 iPad Air 256GB from $849 (Reg. $899)13-inch M3 iPad Air 512GB from $1,049 (Reg. $1,099)13-inch M3 iPad Air 1TB from $1,229 (Reg. $1,299)Head over to our launch coverage for more details on the M3 Air and the new Magic Keyboard.DREAMEs Spring Cleaning sale up to $700 off intelligent robotic cleaners and effortless wet/dry vacsDREAME is offering hundreds on savings on its range of intelligent robotic vacuum and mop combos as well as its wet/dry and stick vacuum models. Delivering as much as $700 in savings on X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop, youll find some of the best prices of the year on a collection of models across the brands to meet just about anyones needs.DREAME X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop:$900(Reg. $1 600)DREAME L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop:$500(Reg. $1,500)DREAME L10s Ultra Gen 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop:$400(Reg. $900)DREAME H12 Pro Wet & Dry Vac:$255(Reg. $450)DREAME H14 Pro Wet & Dry Vac:$400(Reg. $700)DREAME H14 Wet & Dry Vac:$300(Reg. $500)DREAME Z30 Stick Vac:$350(Reg. $700)DREAME R10 Stick Vac:$190(Reg. $300)Apples new Sky Blue 15-inch M4 MacBook Air is now sitting at the $1,139 Amazon all-time low, more from $949Amazon is now delivering a new all-time low on the Sky Blue 15-inch MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and the 256GB SSD at $1,139 shipped. This is the most affordable 15-inch configuration of Apples new M4 MacBook Air and in the all-new Sky Blue colorway with the best straight up cash deal we have tracked to date.Youre looking at a regularly $1,199 setup here after Apple lowered the MSRP on the M4 machines, delivering a new all-time low with $60 in savings. We did recently catch one colorway of the 512GB 13-inch M4 model at $100 off, but that deal didnt last for more than a few hours at best over last weekend.As we have detailed on just about all of the cash deals we have been tracking on Apples latest 2025 releases, there are some serious trade-in options here for folks with a previous-generation machine to flip. This will obviously yield a much lower price than the offer highlighted above and all of the details you need on this are waiting right here score your new M4 MacBook Air pre-order from just $449 with an M3 trade-in ($550 off), or $499 with an M2.The 15-incher might not be for everyone, but if you are looking towards Apples latest mid-range M4 laptop with the additional screen real estate and without an older device to trade-in, todays deal is the best we have tracked yet. That said there are some cash deals across just about every configuration in the lineup and you can scope those out down below:13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/256GB $949 (Reg. $999)13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB from $1,169 (Reg. $1,199)13-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,359 (Reg. $1,399)15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB from $1,139 (Reg. $1,199)15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB $1,352 (Reg. $1,399)15-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,549 (Reg. $1,599While you can still score the most affordable 128GB iPad mini 7 down at $399 via Amazon, the mid-range 256GB configs quickly jumped back up to full price right in the middle of the Amazon Big Spring Sale last week. However, the deals are now back on all four colors at $499 shipped, down from the regular $599. Details below.I certainly wouldnt blame anyone for just jumping on the now $399 entry-model and calling it a day I have spent more than enough time talking about how I tend to try and save as much cash as possible when it comes to Apple storage upgrades. That said, the mini 7 starts at 128GB, as opposed to the 256GB entry point on the M4 iPad Pro for example this configuration is starting to show its age if you ask me.While it wasnt all that long ago when more than just entry-level iPads started at 64GB, the 128GB models need to go the way of the old 8GB Mac configs if you ask me. The 128GB is likely more than enough for some folks, but it is really starting to feel a bit tight for me, even on a less pricey iPad, and nows your chance to score a good mid-range compromise on one of the more affordable current-generation iPads in the lineup.iPad mini A17 Pro 128GB $399 (Reg. $499)iPad mini A17 Pro 256GB $499 (Reg. $599) iPad mini A17 Pro 256GB $699 (Reg. $799) Apples new iPad (A16) hits new lows at up to $50 off, or nearly 50% off with iPad 10 tradesTwelve Souths PlugBug USB-C Wall Charger with Apple Find My back to Amazon all-time low at $43 (Reg. $70)Nomad launched a very serious April Fools sale yesterday, delivering 15% off sitewide, excluding only backordered and third-party items. It is a notable sale for sure, and one we already detailed right here, but we wanted to point out the offer it delivers on the brands latest Stand One Max 3-in-1 Charging Hub (2nd Gen). This one debuted for the first time last summer as one of the best 3-in-1 magnetic charging stands we have ever tested out it is seriously gorgeous and well-made and has rarely ever been on sale since. Use code FOOLS15 at checkout right now to knock 15% off the price tag. Details below.You can now score the Nomad Stand One Max 3-in-1 Charging Hub (2nd Gen) down at $126.65 shipped. Thats 15% off the regular $149 price tag, the lowest price we have tracked this year on this model, and the lowest around.The $126 deal price is still not the most affordable 3-in-1 MagSafe charging stand out there, not by a long shot, but this is no ordinary charging station. Forget all of those plastic, mass produced solutions for a second at least, youre looking at a premium product that screams high-quality the second you unsheathe it from its packaging.Yes, this is a 3-in-1 charging hub for iPhone, with an Apple Watch Fast Charger, and third pad for AirPods, and yes, it delivers the max 15W of power we have seen thus far on these sorts of stands from any brand, but it also features a seriously high-end build and, if you ask me, a simply gorgeous design that stands out in the sea of tree- and pad-style plastic chargers out there.The heavily weighted base is not just trimmed with a matching metal treatment, the whole thing is made of solid metal with hits of glass accents surrounding the main iPhone MagSafe pad.Features at a glance:3-in-1 charging hub15W charging for MagSafeApple Watch Fast ChargerSupports iPhone StandBy modeAirPods Qi charging spotSolid metal & glass design2.0m USB-C to USB-C cable includedRequires 30W USB-C Power Adapter (not included)You can get a complete rundown of the build, feature set, and user experience in our hands-on impressions feature post right here.Nomad now offering 15% off sitewide: Leather iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, moreScore $437 off an unlocked 256GB iPhone 15 Pro Max today (Amazon Renewed Premium, 1-year warranty)Todays accessories and charging deals:You can score a 24GB M4 Pro MacBook Pro for the same price as the M4 1TB today, now $220 offAs part of the ongoing Amazon Big Spring Sale, the deals on Apples M4 series MacBook Pro models have been flying with pricing still kicking off from $1,399, or $200 off, on the base model. But we wanted to touch down this morning to highlight a couple of the 24GB models that are now sitting at $220 off the going rates to match the lowest prices of the year. This includes an upgraded 1TB M4 model, but youll want to head below for more details as you can also score an M4 Pro variant at the same price right now.Deciding between the M4 and M4 Pro MacBook Pro model largely comes down to price for most folks. Its really a matter of deciding whether or not you really need the extra M4 Pro horsepower and if youre really willing to spend the cash on one. Everyone wants the extra M4 Pro power cause why not? but if you dont really need it you really dont need to spend the cash on it.Then it comes down to deciding your configuration do you need 24GB of RAM? An upgraded SSD? There a couple of notable deals to scope out today if you do.Firstly, Amazon is offering the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro upgraded with 24GB of RAM and a 1TB internal SSD down at $1,779 shipped. Thats $220 off the regular $1,999 list price and on par with the lowest price we have tracked this year.But how much do you value that 1TB of storage here?Amazon is also offering the more powerful 14-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro with 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD down at the same $1,779 shipped list price right now.Now theres nothing particular new about this decision as both of these models carry the same $1,999 list price from Apple. But it certainly begs the question how much do you need the double storage action?For me its an easy answer go for the horsepower on the M4 Pro all the way and stick a portable SSD in there, no questions asked. For some it might not be so easy. I do know folks that seriously value the upgraded storage I often times tell them they are wrong and dont, but hey, to each their own.Either way we are looking at a match of the lowest prices we have tracked this year on these models and a great chance to score $220 off the list price on a shiny new M4 series MacBook Pro.Latest Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 wireless buds deliver impeccable sound, onboard retransmission down at $319Nintendo officially announces $450 price for Switch 2, $500 Mario Kart bundle, pre-orders start next week!Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Ever since Apple TV+ first launched, many have wondered why the maker of the iPhone would be interested in running its own Hollywood studio and major streaming services. Even Netflixs CEO is stumped. But a new chart outlining Apple TV+ subscribers product ownership may have some clues.Survey shows Apple TV+ subscribers own more Apple productsMichael Levin and Josh Lowitz write at CIRP:It appears Apple TV+ subscribers are more likely to own more Apple products. Based on data for the twelve months ending December 2024, one-third of customers that purchased a new device from Apple in the three months preceding our surveys have Apple TV+. Those Apple TV+ users own more Apple devices. We look at the three principal products, iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers. Half of Apple TV+ users own all three, compared to about one-third of Apple customers that dont use Apple TV+.Even better (for Apple), only 13% of Apple TV+ subscribers own just one of the three key products, compared to almost one-quarter of customers that dont subscribe to Apple TV+.The chart below shows the breakdown of Apple TV+ subscribers and non-subscribers, and how many Apple devices each group owns.Deciphering the dataThe big question about this chart, of course, is Why? Why are Apple TV+ subscribers more likely to own more Apple products?Is it because someone who owns more products can likely afford more streaming services?Is it a halo effect of loving Apple products translating to viewing its TV efforts positively?Do owners of more devices simply have greater awareness that TV+ exists?Or is Apple TV+ in some way leading users to buy more Apple products?Its impossible to answer these questions without more data. That said, no matter what the answers turn out to be, this report seems to point to positive trends for Apple regardless. Whatever mix of cause and effect that Apples products and its services like TV+ have on each other, Apple is ultimately the winner.Do you have any big takeaways from this Apple TV+ subscriber chart? Let us know in the comments.Apple TV+ isavailable for $9.99 per monthand features hit TV shows and movies likeTed Lasso,Severance,The Morning Show,Silo, andShrinking. You can alsowatch free in several ways.Best Apple TV 4K accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

It's been ten months since NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams traveled to the International Space Station on board Boeing's issues-riddled Starliner spacecraft.After years of delays, Starliner finally launched from Space Launch Complex-41 at NASA's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 5, 2024, following three separate scrubs and the discovery of several helium leaks.Things didn't improve once the capsule reached space. Docking procedures with the ISS proved harrowing due to reaction-control thruster malfunctions.And according to a new Ars Technica interview with the two astronauts, the situation was even more terrifying than was reported at the time."I don't know that we can come back to Earth at that point," Wilmore told Ars' Eric Berger. "I don't know if we can. And matter of fact, I'm thinking we probably can't."News that NASA had actively bent flight rules to allow Starliner to continue attempting to dock with the station despite multiple thrusters failing highlights the real danger Wilmore and Williams were in, and how close they were to simply turning around.It's a damning new revelation, especially considering how much of a disaster Boeing's Starliner project has already been. The aerospace giant has poured billions of dollars into the project and has yet to complete a single, successful crewed mission to and from the station.While the pair said the launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas rocket went more smoothly than anticipated, things started to go haywire when reaction control system thrusters started failing one by one, making docking procedures a lot more difficult.During briefings preceding the launch, Wilmore had already been made aware that thruster issues could land them in a "situation where we're in space and can't control it," as he told Ars.While trying to dock with the ISS, Wilmore recounted that the crew became single fault tolerant, meaning that the mission was one failing thruster away from losing full control of the capsule's movement."We're single fault tolerant, and I'm thinking, 'Wow, we're supposed to leave the space station,'" Wilmore told Ars. "Because I know the flight rules."However, heated conversations back at NASA's headquarters led to the space agency deciding it was still worth the risk, waiving flight rules about the loss of thrusters."I did not know that the flight directors were already in discussions about waiving the flight rule because we've lost two thrusters," the astronaut added. "We didn't know why. [The flight rules] just dropped.""We're already past the point where we were supposed to leave, and now we're zero-fault tolerant and I'm manual control," Wilmore recalled. "And, oh my, the control is sluggish. Compared to the first day, it is not the same spacecraft. Am I able to maintain control? I am. But it is not the same.""There was a lot of unsaid communication, like, 'Hey, this is a very precarious situation we're in,'" Williams added. "I think both of us overwhelmingly felt like it would be really nice to dock to that space station that's right in front of us."All told, four out of the 28 reaction control system thrusters failed. Two of them came back online after NASA remotely reset the system.The pair returned on board a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule earlier this month after being stranded on board the space station for nine months. Their original mission was meant to last a mere week.NASA is still working to get Starliner which returned without the pair on board in September back off the ground. In an update last week, the agency revealed that NASA and Boeing are "making progress toward crew certification of the companys CST-100 Starliner," with teams "working to resolve Starliners in-flight anomalies and preparing for propulsion system testing in the months ahead."When or if the plagued spacecraft will again attempt to journey to the space station remains unclear. According to NASAs Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich, the next flight likely won't happen before late 2025 or "early next year."More on Starliner: NASA Is Investigating Boeing Starliner's "In-Flight Anomalies"Share This Article

A quarter century after its inception and less than a year after its "full-throated" defense of artificial intelligence in writing the nonprofit behind the annual National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge is closing its doors.Kilby Blades, a romance author serving as NaNoWriMo's interim executive director, announced in a video and in emails posted to social media that the nonprofit,which challenged participants to crank out a draft for a novel every November,would be shuttering because, essentially, it's out of money.In the nearly 30-minute-long video, Blades explained in detail the money problems that the competition which spawned the bestselling "Water For Elephants" and incorporated into a nonprofit six years ago has suffered, which sound both stark and legitimate.Though the interim director did address prior allegations of abuse and grooming regarding the nonprofit's forums, she failed to mention the most recent elephant in the room: that last year, the group changed its policies to allow those who participated in its annual creative writing challenge to use AI generators.Beyond just allowing the use of AI, NaNoWriMo also claimed that merely criticizing the technology which has put untold numbers of writers and other workers out of a job, threatens to do so with many more, and goes against the challenge's founding ethos of inspiring people to do the work of writing is tantamount to ableism."We believe that to categorically condemn AI would be to ignore classist and ableist issues surrounding the use of the technology," the nonprofit's 2024 statement reads, "and that questions around the use of AI tie to questions around privilege."Unsurprisingly, that messaging attracted immense criticism. In the wake of its release, professionals who had been affiliated with the decades-spanning competition publicly denounced it."Never use my name in your promo again," tweeted Daniel Jos Older, a New York Times bestselling young adult author and former NaNoWriMo board member, last September. "In fact never say my name at all and never email me again. Thanks."Maureen Johnson, another ex-board member and YA author, warned fellow writers on her way out the door about what the AI decision could mean."I would also encourage writers to beware," Johnson wrote in an Instagram post, "your work on [NaNoWriMo's] platform is almost certainly going to be used to train AI."In the wake of the closure news, the usual usual suspects pointed to the grooming allegations leveled at NaNoWriMo accusations that were, it's worth noting, thoroughly investigated and handled by the nonprofit.Literary types, however, saw the AI writing on the wall."So many people worked so hard to make NaNoWriMo what it was," children and YA author Maggie Tokuda-Hall posted on Bluesky, "and it was all squandered to prop up a plagiarism machine, truly betraying everything NaNo represented: the limitless creativity of normal people.""NaNoWriMo belongs to the writers, not some shit traitorous organization," another user declared. "Always has, always will."Indeed, for all that it became in its final years, NaNoWriMo was once a staple in the creative writing blogosphere and a way for those who didn't attend the Iowa Writers' Workshop to make names for themselves. Pedigree was never a factor for the challenge's winners, who all won upon writing at least 50,000 words during the month of November and who were only required to register for verification purposes.Obviously, the organization got mighty lost along the way, but it's still sad to see NaNoWriMo go and it feels like a harbinger of things to come.More on AI writing: LA Times Uses AI to Provide "Different Views" on the KKKShare This Article