A few years ago, if you turned on the heat in an apartment in Helsinki, the energy typically came from coal. But the citys power company shut down one coal plant in 2023, and the remaining one closed this weekfour years earlier than a target set by the national government.Within two years, we have completely phased out coal, says Olli Sirkka, CEO of Helen, the power company, which is a subsidiary of the city.The city has one of the worlds biggest district heating systems, with a network of underground pipes filled with hot water that deliver heat to buildings. It takes a huge amount of energy to run. One large chunk of that now comes from wind power, which has more than doubled in Finland since 2020. Helsinki is now building the worlds largest heat pump, which will send heat to 30,000 homes when it starts running in 2026. At the site of one of the closed coal plants, the city is also building a new facility that will capture heat from the Baltic Sea.Some of the energy also now comes from wood pellets, which Helsinki is using temporarily as it transitions completely away from combustion. (Wood helped replace natural gas from Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, but isnt a good long-term solution. Burning it still produces CO2, it puts pressure on forests, and its more expensive than other alternatives; Finland plans to phase it out completely by 2040.) Helsinki also uses some hydro and nuclear power, and as much waste heat as possible. That includes capturing heat from local data centers and wastewater. Though the coal plants shut down quickly, the push to close them started more than a decade ago. In 2015, a campaign called Coal Free Helsinki convinced the city council to commit to closing the first coal plant. I think activists played a really big role, says Amanda Pasanen, who previously studied the coal phaseout and is now a city councilmember. It was very much due to public pressure that they decided to quit coal burning.At that point, it still wasnt clear how it could happen. Then, it was considered a completely impossible goal, says Sirkka. It was only maybe four years ago there was a solid decision that this has to happen. And then it started to roll really, really fast.[Photo: Helen Ltd]The steep drop in the cost of wind power, thanks to technological advancements and scaled-up production, was key. Wind power decreased electricity prices so much that its actually a very good business case to replace coal with electricity, he says. On the day we talked, it was windy enough that electricity prices in Finland had dropped to zero. (Finland is a fairly windy place and well suited for the technology; while it also has some solar power, its so far north that it isnt sunny in the winter, and solar cant really be used to power heating.) The power company continually monitors energy sources, shifting from one source to another to optimize costs.The citys layout, with the district heating system, helped make the switch easier than if every single building had to be retrofitted with different technology. Its easier to implement these environment-friendly solutions in a centralized system where you have district heating and where you can use your economies of scale, says Helsinki Mayor Juhana Vartiainen.Other factors also pushed the company to act quickly. The EUs emissions trading system increased the price of coal as carbon prices rose over time. In 2019, Finland passed a national law to phase out coal by 2029 as part of its climate plan. Changes in national tax policy made coal more expensive and clean power cheaper. In 2021, Helsinki decided to speed up its own plan to become carbon neutral, moving the target date from 2035 to 2030.There is broad political consensus on the issue [of climate action], says Vartiainen, noting that when he took office in 2021, there was nearly unanimous agreement that Helsinki should move faster on its already-ambitious plans to cut emissions. Yet even with that political mandate, it wasnt guaranteed that the change would happen quite as quickly as it did.Its been quite surprising, Vartiainen says, to see how fast this shift to electricity has taken place.

In an age dominated by digital streaming, theres a quiet resurgence in the appreciation for physical media, particularly the humble compact disc. For those looking to dust off their old CD collections or embark on a tactile musical journey, were seeing a slow emergence of CD players coming out of the woodwork. And if this retro device is able to blend itself with modern functionality, then its a win-win for music lovers and brands experimenting with this kind of product. Designer: Shenyang Judian Design Co., LtdThe SYITREN R300 immediately catches the eye with its retro design. Its clean lines and available finishes, including wood, white, and a playful fruit green, evoke a sense of nostalgia while still feeling contemporary. This design has even garnered recognition, winning a MUSE Design Gold Award in the Audio & Video Devices category. The player isnt just about looks; the dynamic area button on the right side is designed for intuitive operation, offering a satisfying tactile experience. But the R300 is more than just a pretty face. Its a portable CD player packed with features that cater to modern listening habits. It supports standard CD, CD-R, and CD-RW formats, ensuring compatibility with your existing library. Beyond that, it also supports playback of digital audio files in MP3, WAV, and WMA formats. One of its key modern features is Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. This allows you to wirelessly connect the R300 to your favorite Bluetooth headphones or speakers, offering freedom and flexibility in your listening setup. Whether youre enjoying a quiet afternoon with headphones or filling the room with sound through a Bluetooth speaker, the R300 seamlessly integrates into your audio ecosystem. For those who prefer a wired connection, the SYITREN R300 offers both a 3.5mm headphone jack and a Toslink optical output (SPDIF). This provides options for connecting to traditional stereo systems, amplifiers, or high-end DACs, ensuring high-fidelity sound reproduction. The audio output thrust is rated at 600mV, and the signal-to-noise ratio is 80dB, promising a clear and enjoyable listening experience. The R300 boasts a 2000mAh battery, providing over 6 hours of playtime on a full charge. This portability makes it a great companion for enjoying your CD collection anywhere in your home or even on the go. Charging is convenient via a Type-C interface, with a full charge taking less than 3 hours. The SYITREN R300 CD Player offers a delightful blend of retro charm and modern convenience. Its portable design, Bluetooth connectivity, and high-fidelity sound capabilities make it a compelling choice for anyone who cherishes their CD collection. Its a reminder that sometimes, the best way to experience music is through the tangible connection of physical media, brought to life with a touch of contemporary engineering.The post CD Player brings together retro aesthetics with modern functionality first appeared on Yanko Design.

Ever found yourself fumbling between devices during a presentation, switching from your trusty mouse to a separate clicker while trying to maintain your professional composure? Weve all been there, that awkward moment when youre searching for the right device while your audience waits. Tech accessories should simplify our lives, not complicate them with multiple gadgets cluttering our workspace and travel bags.Enter Smooth, an aptly named concept that reimagines how we interact with our computers and presentation slides. This innovative device combines the functionality of a precision mouse with a presentation clicker in one sleek, pebble-shaped package. The rounded, organic form fits naturally in your palm, whether youre navigating spreadsheets at your desk or standing before an audience delivering your big pitch.Designer: Ming Sheng Shih (SHS Shih/Stone Shih)What makes Smooth truly stand out is its seamless transition between functions. During regular computer work, it operates as a responsive mouse with all the precision youd expect. But the moment you pick it up and step away from your desk, it automatically switches to presentation mode, giving you effortless control over your slides without pressing any buttons or toggling any settings.The streamlined design eliminates unnecessary buttons and complex features, focusing instead on intuitive functionality. Its minimalist approach doesnt just look good but also serves a practical purpose by reducing the learning curve and making the device instantly usable. The smooth, rounded edges ensure it feels comfortable whether youre using it for detailed work or during lengthy presentations.Perhaps the most innovative aspect of Smooth is how it incorporates touchpad technology into a mouse form factor. This hybrid approach brings the precision pointing of a traditional mouse with the gesture controls weve grown accustomed to on laptops. Swipe, pinch, and scroll naturally across its responsive surface, making navigation feel more connected and intuitive than with conventional mice.The touchpad integration opens up new possibilities for presentation control as well. Rather than limiting you to basic forward and backward navigation, Smooth allows for more dynamic interaction with your content. Zoom into details with a pinch gesture, highlight important points with a tap, or smoothly scroll through data without the choppy transitions of traditional clickers.For frequent travelers and remote workers, Smooth offers the perfect solution to lighten your tech load. Instead of packing multiple devices, this single accessory handles multiple roles efficiently. Its compact size slips easily into laptop bags or even pockets, while its durable construction stands up to the rigors of travel. By combining everyday functionality with presentation capabilities in an ergonomic design, it eliminates unnecessary complexity and streamlines your workflow.The post Smooth Is A Pebble-Shaped Mouse That Doubles As Your Presentation Sidekick first appeared on Yanko Design.

On the company's 50th anniversary, we take a look at what Microsoft's done right.

3D art of the week: Marcos Emilio Cuesta Carrasco.

Dozens of companies are building robots that look like humans. One of them is training a machine to be a butler and will soon test them in homes.

MacworldiCloud.coms Mail app hides a feature that can also trip you up. You can set rules at iCloud.com that affect incoming and filed messages on Apples servers before they reach the Mail app on your devices. These rules are separate from the Mac version of Mail and take precedence over any local filtering or sorting set on any mail software you use on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.The effect of this can be that messages wind up in places you didnt expect without any action on your part. You can check for rules at iCloud.com by following these steps:Log in to theMail web app at iCloud.com.Click the gear icon at the top of the left-hand navigation bar.Click Rules.If you see anything in this space, check to see if any apply to recipients, subjects, or other patterns youre having problems with.iCloud.com rules take precedence in filtering and processing email before it reaches your inbox.You can also check for local filtering in the Mac Mail app atMail > Settings > Rules. There, you need to select a rule and click Edit to view its effect.For other mailhosts, you can log in to their web interface to see if rules set there are causing issues. I use Fastmail for my main email account, and the service offers both filtering controls and mail rules in Settings.Other mail host (like Fastmail, shown) may offer on-server filtering and processing rules that can override your email clients behavior.This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Michael.Ask Mac 911Weve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns:read our super FAQto see if your question is covered. If not, were always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours tomac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered; we dont reply to emails, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) payment system has more than 60 million lines of COBOL code. That makes it one of the worlds largest, not to mention oldest, codebases. Everyone agrees it needs to be updated. But, sorry, theres no way it can be updated in mere months.Nevertheless, Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) claim they canconvert the ancient SSA code to Java or some other modern language in only a few months. Reminder DOGE isnt a real department and that modernization effort isnt likely to happen anytime soon.Seriously, Ive seen this rodeo before. For example, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has beentrying to replace the 200,000-line assembly language Individual Master File (IMF) with Java for decades. Hasnt happened. The latest plan was toreplace the IMF by 2028. I say was because President Donald J. Trump, Musk, and DOGE havecut the IRS modernization funds to zilch.As for SSA,it was going to replace COBOL with Java in 2017, a code translation expected to take five years; it failed. (Thats why were having this conversation now.) Part of the problem was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But, as Ernst & Young noted, the agency also didnt have a real plan for modernizing its legacy IT systems, nor one to identify and track the systems.Guess what? Theres no real plan today, either. All we know is thatMusk, yes-man Steve Davis and nine kid software engineers, and some undefined AI program will miraculously transform the code into Java.I doubt any of them can even read COBOL code. This is, after all, the same crew who thought there were hordes of 150-year-old fraudsters ripping off Social Security. What they didnt realize was thatCOBOL doesnt have a standardized way of dealing with dates, which led to records for numerous century-old-plus people who were not I repeat- not getting an unfair penny of government funds.Why should they know? Over a decade ago,fewer than one in four colleges offered COBOL classes.Thinking of dates, thats not the only data in that codebase kept in formats incompatible with modern languages. Converting this data accurately is crucial and fraught with risks. Any errors during the conversion process could result in data loss or corruption, which would have catastrophic consequences for the millions of Americans who rely on Social Security benefits.Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick believes that if Social Security checks didnt go out one month, hismother-in-law wouldnt call and complain.Maybe she wouldnt after all, she has a billionaire son-in-law. I dont. I bet the vast majority of the 73 million other Americans who depend on it dont have billionaires in the family either.Even if these youngsters did grok the language, knowing COBOL is only part of the problem. You see, COBOL is more than just a coding language. It also incorporates organizational processes and policies. Thats not an approach modern developers deal with.In addition, COBOL systems were not designed to integrate seamlessly with modern technologies. A migration requires extensive customization to ensure compatibility with newer software and hardware, which is both costly and complex. This integration challenge was exacerbated by the need to maintain the systems functionality during thetransition, a delicate balancing act that demands meticulous planning and execution.Meticulous is not the word Id use for Musk and his move-fast and break-things bunch.As Waldo Jaquith, former director of technology acquisition for the Inflation Reduction Act, said on Bluesky about the scheme, Im an expert in modernizing legacy government software systems.This is profoundly stupid and will definitely fail, and its just a question of whether our social security system fails along with it.I cannot think of a single legitimate reason for DOGE to perform such a modernization, especially on such a time scale.Jason Fichtner, a former SSA deputy commissioner, told CNBC: If you startmessing with the systems code, that could impact those who are currently getting benefits now, and thats a new front-and-center concern.You cant just flip a switch one night and expect to be able to upgrade. It takes due diligence, and you have to understand the complexity of the programs, he added.In light of DOGEs employee cuts at the agency, Fichtner and Kathleen Romig, director of Social Security and Disability Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, warned in a column: IfSocial Securitys computer systems experience an outage, which has happened twice in recent years, the agency may lack the expertise to resolve it.Unless Congress acts soon to block DOGEs misguided technology plans, Social Security, which has never missed a payment in its nearly 90 years, might finally not deliver American workers hard-earned retirement checks. Yes, legacy systems should be replaced and upgraded. No ones arguing they shouldnt be. But waving a magic AI wand powered up by a political agenda isnt the way to do it.

Ubisoft Leamington has now closedA small number of staff in Leamington Spa has been retained remotely News by Samuel Roberts Editorial Director Published on April 4, 2025 Ubisoft Leamington has closed its doors, following January's news that the UK-based studio was caught in the publisher's latest round of layoffs.The news was shared on the developer's LinkedIn page. "After many incredible years, we want to share the news that Ubisoft Leamington has officially closed its doors."We are beyond grateful to our talented team, whose creativity, passion and dedication have left a lasting mark on the games weve created, the memories weve shared and the community weve built in Leamington."The post points out that some of the studio's remaining team will still be seen around local industry events in Leamington Spa. Back in January, Ubisoft confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that a "small number" of staff would be moved onto remote contracts.Around 100 jobs were lost across Ubisoft Leamington and Ubisoft Reflections in Newcastle. The reason given by Ubisoft was to "prioritise projects and reduce costs that ensure long-term stability".Formerly known as FreeStyleGames and responsible for the DJ Hero series before Ubisoft acquired it in 2017, the studio supported larger Ubisoft projects like Tom Clancy's The Division and Star Wars: Outlaws over the past few years.The studio was working on an unannounced new IP before its closure, according to old job listings and social media posts.

Inzoi reaches 1m sales in first week of early access | News-in-briefLaunched on April 4, 2025, the life simulation game achieves fastest sales milestone for title published by KraftonImage credit: Inzoi Studio/Krafton News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on April 4, 2025 This is a News-in-brief article, our short format linking to an official source for more information. Read more about this story by following the link below:Inzoi reaches 1m sales in first week of early access