Many of the best gaming keyboards Ive reviewed in recent years are tenkeyless ones that lop off the number pad to save desk space that also deliver high performance and fancy features. But I still want full-sized functionality on my keyboard, which is why I love the 96% layout where you still get all of the essentials with all of it crammed into a slightly more compact board with no gaps between keys or wasted space. They are tougher to find, however. And for that, I rode out the original Keychron K4 as my main until I spilled a drink over it and destroyed its mechanical switches. It was a solid keyboard that had everything I wanted at the time, but now its been updated with Hall Effect magnetic switches, and the results are fantastic.The Keychron K4 HE has been outfitted with Gateron double-rail magnetic Nebula switches and the frame has a slightly different trim, but its still the simple and sleek keyboard Ive always loved. While it doesnt have anything like an OLED control screen on the likes of a SteelSeries Apex Pro or Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75, I dont mind because sometimes its about getting the basics right, and offering that at a reasonable price.Keychron K4 HE - PhotosKeychron K4 HE Design and FeaturesI received the special edition of the Keychron K4 HE that comes in a cream white color scheme with wood grain along the side of the aluminum frame and a couple of gold keycaps for a pleasing accent. The OSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps are nice to the touch and have rounded edges for a softer overall look. There is RGB backlighting and a dedicated RGB key at the top-right to cycle through built-in RGB effects like breathing, waves, ripples, wheel, or just a single static color. But since the keycaps on the special edition dont have transparent legends, it only really seeps through between the keys (the standard edition does have transparent keycaps so I would recommend going with that model if it matters to you). Its bright enough to come through vividly even if it doesnt light up the key lettering.The 96% layout tickles a certain part of my brain and I like how neat everything looks despite being crammed together. Theres no wasted space, but that does mean I reach for the wrong key sometimes, like hitting home key instead of delete when working. Because its truncated in the way it is, you save a lot of deskspace without sacrificing the full suite of keys side-by-side with my tenkeyless SteelSeries Apex Pro, theres only a one-inch difference in width. The functionality I get back in return is very much worth it, and I find myself using the number pad often again for work or mapping additional actions/macros in games like the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV.The Keychron K4 HE executes on the important parts extremely well with a rare layout that makes it all the more special.There aren't going to be groundbreaking high-tech features here, or even simple things like easily accessible dedicated media keys, which are things I find useful, but at least you dont necessarily lose that functionality since those are combined with other keys via the FN key. It is nice, however, to have 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity to give it a little extra versatility. The connection toggle is on the left side of the frame along with a Windows/Android-MacOS input toggle the buttons are smaller than I would prefer, but its one of those set-it-and-forget-it kind of situations.Keychron K4 HE Software and CustomizationThere's still a decent amount of customization on account of having magnetic switches, and theyre very easy to tinker with. Boutique manufacturers like Keychron have moved toward having web-based configurators as opposed to downloadable suites that bigger manufacturers use. (I get that Razer, Logitech, Asus, etc. do that to get you in their ecosystems.) You simply go to the Keychron launcher site, select your keyboard from the Connect menu, and you immediately have access to a full set of customization options.From here, you can set the actuation point on a per-key basis anywhere between 0.2mm and 3.8mm and in increments of 0.1mm and having a short actuation point is crucial for competitive gaming performance. You also have more nuanced features like one-key multi-command, which lets you map different inputs to various distances along the keystroke. And theres the analog gamepad feature that allows you to simulate specific sensitivities of controller inputs on a keystroke. Hall Effect switches are great for performance alone, but its this kind of versatility enabled by magnetic technology.Its pretty much expected for magnetic keyboards to have features like Rapid Trigger and LKP (last keystroke prioritization), the latter of which is the contentious SOCD (simultaneous opposite cardinal direction) input. We cover this with each magnetic keyboard since its becoming more commonplace and different companies call it something different. It certainly has its uses cases, but if youre not aware, SOCD (or LKP in this case) lets you hold one key and register an opposite direction every time you hit it, and re-register the key you're holding every time you let go of the other. You can counter-strafe (or jiggle strafe) at inhuman speed, making you a much harder target. Be aware that you will get kicked from Counter-Strike 2 matches, for example, if you exploit SOCD like LKP.Looking to upgrade your mouse, too?Best OverallRazer Deathadder V3 HyperspeedRazer made notable tweaks to its flagship mouse, making the V3 one of the best mice and further proving why Deathadders have been a staple for PC gaming for so long.See it at AmazonBe sure to check out our roundup of the best gaming mice!The extensiveness of options dont stop there, though Keychron has a fairly robust macro tool to map input sequences and set the timing of each input. You can also remap any key easily in the online configurator and set your RGB patterns and colors however you want. And its all neatly laid out and easy to understand, which several software suites cant exactly say.Keychron K4 HE PerformanceFor gaming, the Keychron K4 HE and the magnetic Nebula switches are as good as any other experience Ive had with Hall Effect keyboards. However, the one thing Ill note is that its rated at a 40g initial actuation force and a 60g bottom-out force while thats fairly standard, it does feel more firm on the touch than most other magnetic keyboards Ive used recently. It may wear you down a bit more over time, but there are advantages to this.When it comes to playing FFXIV, where Im constantly cycling through my attack rotation on close-by keys or trying to hit specific actions at important moments, having magnetic switches that are both firm on the actuation force but set to a shorter actuation point is incredible. I wont fat-finger a key because of the stiffer resistance and Ill register the input fast since the keystroke will be recognized much quicker. Its the best of both worlds in a game like FFXIV, especially as someone who has a heavy resting hand over his keyboard.In games like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant, the short actuation points also come in clutch for jiggle-strafing, quick movements, switching weapons, or activating abilities on a dime. I went with 0.5mm with the K4 HE, which is much shorter than I would use on other keyboards, and that was the sweet spot. I played my usual batch of ranked matches to determine if this was suited for competitive game and it certainly passed muster for me. Although I may want to go with something lighter on the actuation force for competitive shooters, I certainly enjoyed using the K4 HE for them.Such is the case with most Hall Effect keyboards Ive used, but the smooth linear keystrokes of a magnetic switch are quite satisfying, especially as someone who always used linear mechanical switches like the Cherry MX Reds for nearly a decade. As I'm typing this right now, I get a kick out of the creamy "thock" of each keystroke and the clean feel of the magnetic switch, which you can also attribute to the different types of foam and padding tucked under the keyboard's plating.Purchasing GuideThe Keychron K4 HE is available for $135 for the standard edition and $145 for the special edition, and is available at Amazon or directly from Keychron. The standard version comes in all-black and has transparent legends to let RGB shine through the keycaps, while the special edition comes in black with woodgrain or off-white with woodgrain.

Apple TV+ is having an especially good year. Severance was a mainstream hit that somehow exceeded Ted Lassos success. The streamer had just come off a long string of other critical hits too, and Apples follow-through with shows post-Severance has been especially strong. After years of being called the new HBO, I think Apple TV+ may have finally started earning that reputation.Its not easy to create the next HBO, as Apple quickly learnedWhen Apple TV+ first debuted in 2019, Apple hyped it up as the new home for the worlds most creative storytellers. Prestige was the goal from the start.Apples services head Eddy Cue, in an early Apple TV+ press release, put it this way:Apple TV+ will be home to some of the highest quality original storytelling that TV and movie lovers have seen yet.The streamer famouslyor infamouslylaunched on November 1, 2019 with only nine titles available to subscribers. No library of content, only original shows and movies.Apples content goal was clear: not the most, but the best.The launch lineup included:The Morning ShowSeeDickinsonFor All Mankindplus three childrens shows, a documentary, and an Oprah specialPer Zack Van Amburg, one of the top Apple TV+ execs:With Apple TV+, we are presenting all-original stories from the best, brightest and most creative minds, and we know viewers will find their new favorite show or movie on our service.Unfortunately, the launch slate didnt prove as compelling to critics or viewers as Apple had hoped.Reviews werent altogether bad, but they also werent nearly positive enough to live up to Apples hype.Apple TV+ wanted to be the new HBO with its prestige content, but it stumbled out of the gate.Apple TV+ is finally earning that HBO-level prestigeFor most of its 5+ year run, Id argue Apple TV+ has had a higher than average hit rate for its new shows and movies. Meaning, it mostly makes high quality content.But until recently, its still struggled in two areas:consistencyquantityApple TV+ has made some really great shows. Its also made its fair share of expensive yet mediocre shows. Consistency has been a challenge.Even when Apples shows have succeeded, its typically one at a time. As a long-time subscriber, its been rare for Apple TV+ to air more than one series I cared about at a time.But for almost a year now, the streamer has improved on both fronts.Apple TV+ has been debuting top-tier shows one after another since at least last summerAnd for much of that time, its had multiple compelling shows running at onceWith Severance wrapped up, The Studio and Dope Thief have been very strong follow-ups to keep subscribers hooked. And Jon Hamms Your Friends & Neighbors is coming next week.All this to say: I think that new HBO title is starting to fit Apple TV+ pretty well.Apple needs to keep up its strong hit rate, and prove this past year hasnt been a fluke.But right now? Apple TV+ looks a lot like the new HBO to me.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 iPhone 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

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 5.

Nintendo is about to kick off its second Treehouse: Live stream, giving us a look at some of the upcoming games and enhancements coming to Switch 2. Read more

Despite Trumps promises not to touch Social Security, Elon Musks DOGE has asked for serious cuts to the agency. Critics have accused the billionaire and his team of attempting to cripple Americas retirement system. Now, a new report states that, per DOGEs orders, the Social Security Administration has plans to fire potentially thousands of staffers as soon as next week, in an effort to further downsize the agency and align it with Trumps efficiency mandate. The Washington Post reports that Musks government efficiency team has demanded an extensive reduction of workforce throughout the agency. The newspaper describes the effort thusly: The cuts have been ordered by leaders of Elon Musks cost-cutting team, the U.S. DOGE Service, which reviewed the agencys plans to shrink its workforce last week, according to four agency officials familiar with the conversations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plans. DOGE determined that the 7,000 jobs eliminated since February under acting commissioner Leland Dudek through early retirements, buyouts, resignations and firings were not enough, the officials said. The DOGE team, which has amassed unprecedented power throughout the federal government, has demanded significantly deeper cuts to ensure that Social Security meets President Donald Trumps goal to shrink federal agencies, officials said. According to the newspaper, the cuts being demanded by DOGE are across the board. It writes: The DOGE team did not provide a specific number of jobs that must be eliminated, officials said, but asked for staff reductions to broad areas of operation, including communications, personnel, legislative and congressional affairs, retirement and disability policy, and other support components. Among other things, DOGE has asked for severe cuts to the administrations IT team, the report states. That team is presumably already under a severe amount of strain due to the agencys recent decision to downsize its phone operationsa highly controversial move that has forced an influx of traffic to the SSA website. The strain of that traffic has reportedly caused the website to crash multiple times. A senior department official told the Post that as many as 800 people could be laid off from the IT team, which currently has about 4,000 members. DOGE has already announced lease terminations for dozens of SSA field offices across the country. This policy threatens retirees ability to get in-person help when signing up for retirement benefits. Under DOGE, the SSA has also cut phone operations, and, now, will also apparently cut web operations. At the same time, DOGE has claimed that it will re-write the SSAs entire codebase in a matter of months, a move that critics worry could lead to serious digital dysfunction. Social Security activists say its pretty clear that DOGEs ultimate goal is to hobble the agencys operations and destroy its ability to function.When reached for comment by Gizmodo, a White House spokesperson told us this: With a resounding mandate from the American people, President Trump is moving quickly to fulfill his promise of making the federal government more efficient. He has promised to protect Social Security, and every recipient will continue to receive their benefits. While failing to dispute anything specific in the Post report, the government further stated that there are currently no finalized RIF (reduction in workforce) plans and that the SSA was merely evaluating the next steps. If the Trump administration manages to cripple Americas Social Security system while also yanking trillions of dollars out of Americans 401ks via an ill-advised, stock-market-killing trade war, it will have effectively nullified the entire concept of retirement for the foreseeable future.

It's not looking good for collectors.Nintendo this week announced "Game-key cards" for the Switch 2, which are described as "different" from regular game cards as they don't contain the "full game data" and are instead used as a "key" to download the title onto your system via the internet.As fans are quickly finding out, a lot of third-party titles scheduled for the launch window of the Switch 2 will be using these game-key cards, and now it seems like Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition by FromSoftware will be joining this list.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

For years, U.S.-based tech companies have tapped into Indias vast and increasing internet user base for growth. OpenAI is no exception. But while the AI lab claims that India is one of its fastest-growing ChatGPT markets, third-party data suggests that OpenAI may be struggling to turn that momentum into revenue. According to analytics firm SensorTower, users in India have spent $8 million on ChatGPT subscriptions through in-app purchases since 2023. That doesnt include purchases made through the ChatGPT web app. But notably, its a fraction of the $330 million SensorTower estimates U.S. users have spent on ChatGPT in-app.One likely factor is the lack of local pricing for India. OpenAIs cheapest ChatGPT plan in the country costs $20 (more than 1,700) per month, which is considered expensive for a digital subscription in India. Weve reached out to OpenAI for comment.Low as the revenue might be at present, India may still end up being a major growth driver for OpenAI. The companys CEO, Sam Altman, recently expressed a desire for OpenAI to become a multi-billion-user platform. Tapping into Indias over 950 million internet users could help bootstrap that effort. OpenAI apparently thinks so. The company is reportedly courting an alliance with Reliance Jio, one of Indias biggest mobile carriers, to get ChatGPT in front of more users.In the meantime, ChatGPT continues to grow organically in India. Image Credits:Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunchAccording to data from app tracker Appfigures, more than 20% of ChatGPT Android app downloads this year so far have been in India. At least a portion of that growth was fueled by the recently released revamped image generator in ChatGPT, which went viral for its ability to create realistic Ghibli-style art.For context, ChatGPT has more than 500 million weekly users globally.

Amant Art Campus | Iwan BaanIn a city where density often dictates form, Amant, designed by SO IL, offers an alternative architectural proposition that privileges fragmentation over monumentality and permeability over enclosure. Located in the industrial periphery of North Brooklyn, this cultural campus occupies three separate blocks, threading itself into the fabric of a rapidly evolving neighborhood. Rather than asserting itself as a singular object, Amant is a spatial and civic strategy, a constellation of volumes and voids that test the role of the art institution in the contemporary city.Amant Art Campus Technical InformationArchitects1-15: SOLID OBJECTIVES IDENBURG LIU (SOIL)Location: Brooklyn, New York, USAArea: 1,951m2 | 21,000 Sq. Ft.Project Year: 2014 2021Photographs: Iwan BaanCentral to Amants design is the idea of an urban oasis, a space where the pace of art-making can slow to allow experimentation and meaningful reflection. SOIL ArchitectsAmant Art Campus PhotographsAerial View | Iwan BaanStreet View | Iwan BaanStreet View | Iwan BaanRear Facade | Iwan BaanPatio | Iwan BaanEntrance | Iwan BaanWindow | Iwan BaanInterior | Iwan BaanInterior | Iwan BaanModel | SOLID OBJECTIVES IDENBURG LIU (SOIL)Urban Fragmentation and the Notion of Contextual DialogueAmant is not a buildingit is a distributed condition, a spatial field dispersed across a tight urban grid. Situated in a context marked by warehouses, garages, and traces of industrial infrastructure, the project engages in a dialogue with its surroundings by mimicking and adapting. The architects resist the traditional typology of the sealed cultural building. Instead, the project manifests as a sequence of volumes and open spaces, inserted between and around existing structures.This dispersed strategy enables Amant to act as a kind of urban filterporous to the neighborhood, yet specific in its interior functions. The insertion of multiple entry points, alleys, and interstitial courtyards creates opportunities for incidental encounters and unprogrammed use, softening the boundary between institution and public. In a context where privatization of urban space is the norm, Amants configuration feels generous and radical.Spatial Ethos and Curated MovementAt the heart of Amant is a spatial ethic oriented toward slowness and reflection. The project is not organized around a singular axis or procession but through a network of lateral connections and nested sequences. Movement through the site is non-linear, deliberately choreographed to encourage exploration rather than efficiency.The campus accommodates a hybrid programartist studios, exhibition galleries, a performance space, administrative offices, and a cafeach located in one of four primary buildings. Between these, courtyards and narrow passageways guide visitors in and out of light, sound, and social atmospheres. This interplay between architecture and experience allows the visitor to drift, fostering solitude and social exchange conditions. The architecture does not assert itself over the artwork or the visitor but facilitates a range of tempos, modes of engagement, and intensities of presence.Amant Art Campus Material LanguageSOILs material choices in Amant articulate a deliberate ambiguity, offering a subdued yet nuanced language that resists overt expression. The buildings are formed in cast-in-place concrete, shaped by profoundly textured form liners that animate otherwise blank surfaces. Bricks are subtly rotated out of plane, introducing a shadow play that recalls masonry traditions while abstracting them. Galvanized steel bars veil certain facades, filtering views and reflecting the changing sky. This material palette, while modest, lends the project a rich tactile dimension.From a distance, the buildings appear almost muteanonymity as urban camouflage. However, a different reading emerges upon approach: craft, detail, and attention to surface take precedence. This architectural language is not one of spectacle but of proximity and encounterit rewards the visitor who slows down. In this sense, materiality becomes a medium for contemplation, echoing the institutional mission to provide a space for unhurried artistic production and appreciation.Cultural Typology and Institutional FlexibilityAmant reconsiders the cultural campus as a non-hierarchical ensemble. Each building within the compound houses a distinct gallery, differentiated in scale, light quality, and infrastructural specificity. This strategy allows the campus to accommodate diverse artistic practices, from immersive installations to intimate screenings. More importantly, it invites a flexible curatorial approach, where programs evolve and spaces are reconfigured without compromising the coherence of the whole.Beyond programmatic adaptability, Amant is a test case in rethinking the cultural institutions relationship to the city. It challenges the image of the autonomous museum-as-object and instead proposes an embedded, open, and responsive typology. As an urban oasis, it provides a retreat not through isolation but through the careful modulation of exposure and shelter. In doing so, it contributes to an ongoing conversation about architectures role in fostering inclusive, experimental, and civic spaces for art.Amant Art Campus PlansFloor Plan | SOLID OBJECTIVES IDENBURG LIU (SOIL)Section | SOLID OBJECTIVES IDENBURG LIU (SOIL)Axonometric View | SOLID OBJECTIVES IDENBURG LIU (SOIL)Image GalleryAbout SOLID OBJECTIVES IDENBURG LIU (SOIL)SO IL (Solid Objectives Idenburg Liu) is an internationally recognized architecture and design firm based in New York City. Founded in 2008 by Dutch architect Florian Idenburg and Chinese architect Jing Liu, the firm has gained acclaim for its innovative and contextually responsive designs. Notable projects include the award-winning Kukje Gallery in Seoul and the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at the University of California, Davis. SOILs work emphasizes creating structures that foster new cultures and institutions, engaging thoughtfully with local and global contexts. Credits and Additional NotesExecutive Team: Florian Idenburg, Jing Liu, Kevin Lamyuktseung, Ted BaabDesign Team: Pietro Pagliaro, Grace Lee, Sanger Clark, Lucia Sanchez-Ramirez, lvaro Gmez-Sells, Kristen Too, Sophie Nichols, Christopher Riley, Alexandre Hamlyn, Regina Teng, Etienne Vallat, Marisa Musing, Tyler Mauri, Julie Perrone, Mario Serrano, Diego Fernandez, Yuanjun Summer Liu, John ChowClient: Lonti EbersProject Management: Paratus GroupStructural Engineering: Silman AssociatesMEP Engineering: CES Engineering, Plus Group EngineeringLighting Design: Buro Happold EngineeringCladding Consultant: Simpson Gumpertz & HegerCivil Engineering: Bohler EngineeringExpediter: J. Callahan Consulting, Inc.Acoustics / AV / Security: Harvey Marshall Berling AssociatesConcrete Consultant: Reginald Hough AssociatesGeotechnical Engineering: Langan Engineering, PMT Laboratories, Inc.Landscape Design: Future GreenGraphic Design: Linked by Air

Looking for help with today's NYT Mini Crossword puzzle? Here are some hints and answers for the puzzle.

Choose your answer and the correct choice will be revealed. Correct Answer:Nintendo 64 controllerAnd now, for some contextThe first widely recognized game controller with vibration feedback was Nintendo's Rumble Pak, released for the Nintendo 64 in April 1997. It debuted alongside Star Fox 64 and introduced a new level of immersion in gaming by providing force feedback during gameplay events such as explosions, crashes, or enemy attacks. This was a major innovation at the time, offering a more tactile and responsive gaming experience.Powered by two AAA batteries, the Rumble Pak attached to the N64 controller via the memory card slot. Because the controller had only one expansion port, players had to swap between the Rumble Pak and a memory card when saving progress something that would be seen as clunky by today's standards.Later that same year, Sony released the DualShock controller for the original PlayStation. Initially offered as an optional peripheral, the DualShock quickly became the standard and was later bundled with updated versions of the console. Unlike Nintendo's external, battery-powered solution, the DualShock featured two internal vibration motors, allowing it to deliver more varied and dynamic feedback. It also introduced dual analog sticks, pushing forward a design language that would influence controllers for decades.By 2001, vibration feedback was becoming a standard feature. Nintendo's GameCube controller launched with a built-in rumble motor, eliminating the need for a separate accessory. This integrated approach became the norm across the industry.Today's modern game controllers feature significantly more advanced haptic technology. Sony's DualSense controller for the PlayStation 5, released in 2020, marked a leap forward in tactile feedback. It replaced traditional rumble motors with highly precise haptic actuators, allowing for a much wider range of sensations.For example, players can "feel" the texture of surfaces, the tension of a bowstring, or the patter of rain all through nuanced vibrations. The DualSense also introduced adaptive triggers, which can dynamically resist pressure to simulate physical sensations like pulling a tight trigger or braking in a car.Nintendo's Joy-Con controllers for the Switch also advanced the concept with what it calls HD Rumble. Using linear resonant actuators, Joy-Cons can simulate complex sensations such as the feeling of ice cubes clinking inside a glass or marbles rolling around providing players with detailed tactile cues that enhance immersion, especially in motion-controlled games.Even Microsoft has improved its rumble tech over time. The Xbox Series controllers feature impulse triggers, which provide localized feedback to the fingers useful in racing or shooting games where precise tactile information can improve gameplay responsiveness.