New video game hardware announcements can become somewhat predictable. With each new generation of consoles you can expect to see near-certain staples like better graphics, faster load times, and new takes on beloved, plumber-and-turtle-oriented franchises.Even Nintendo, which has done this consistently across several generations, from the N64 analog controller, tiny GameCube discs, wacky Wii motion controls and Virtual Console, the Wii U tablet screen, and the Switchs built-in portability, has delivered these improvements with the Switch 2. But being Nintendo, the company again unveiled a few genuine shockers during the Switch 2 Direct.It's 2025 and we finally get online play.When I was four years old in 1983, my babysitter used to roll footballs at me like Donkey Kong rolling barrels at Mario. I would jump over them, making a Donkey Kong sound effect in the air, then grab a toy hammer and smash them like Mario. Thats how long Ive been a Nintendo fan. So I say this from a place of long-suffering experience: its going to be impossible to talk about this awesome reveal without revealing a little loving bitterness. PlayNintendo, as we all know, does not really play online well. Satellaview and Metroid Prime: Hunters aside, Nintendo has barely scraped the surface of whats possible with a unified multiplayer platform like those created by Sony and Xbox. Its never as easy to find and talk with friends on a Nintendo platform. Even the Switch required a separate app for voice chat.Shockingly, change appears to be here now. During the Direct, Nintendo unveiled GameChat, and it looks... really neat?! It's a four-player chat that supports noise suppression, video cameras for showing friends faces, and screen sharing across consoles, allowing you to keep an eye on up to four different displays inside a single screen. We know from the new Switch 2 accessibility features page that GameChat also supports text-to-voice and voice-to-text, allowing players to communicate multiple ways. Now we havent seen what, if any, unified matchmaking interface might tie into this just yet. But its already a big step, and Im hoping it means the last nail in the coffin for the abominable friend code forever. Miyazaki is bringing new blood exclusively to NintendoWhen I saw the first frames of this trailer, I thought I was seeing Bloodborne 2. The ambiance, the character design, and the environments all screamed the FROM Software house style. Thanks to Eric Van Allen at IGN, I now know that I was watching footage from The Duskbloods, a multiplayer PvPvE game designed by the softly-smiling monarch of video game masochism, Hidetaka Miyazaki. PlayI do not know where this man found time to direct a Nintendo-exclusive game. Im starting to think that he may never leave his office nor sleep, much like one of his own confused, hollowed characters wasting away in the high tower of some gothic prison. But Im grateful. FROM doesnt really miss anymore, so Im anticipating a tasty treat. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome onePlaySpeaking of people who need a vacation, apparently Super Smash Bros. director Masuhiro Sakurai has moved on from Smash to a new Kirby game? Did not see that coming. Get that man a nap! The original Kirby's Air Ride was, to put it bluntly, a pleasant-looking but aggressively unfun Kirby racer for GameCube. But Sakurai has made no secret of his deep affinity for Nintendos round, pink elder god, and its practically a certainty that a Sakurai-helmed take on the franchise will be a far more refined and enjoyable experience. Control issuesIt was almost a throwaway moment, but the Pro Controller 2 sounds genuinely Pro this time around when Nintendo announced the Pro Controller 2 has an audio jack now, which is another feature thats welcome about a decade later. More importantly, theyve added two mappable extra buttons. I LOVE customizable buttons, so this tiny surprise actually tickled me pink. No Mario?!This one genuinely shocked me. Near as I can tell, a lot of Nintendos Mario makers have been locked up in a secret bunker for years working on his next 3D adventure, which I assumed would be the big summer game for Switch. I was very wrong. Turns out the Odyssey team is the force behind Donkey Kong Bananza, the captivating new 3D platformer with a focus on destructible environments. Nintendo is once again playing against expectations as it so often does, trusting hardcore fans to flock to Donkey Kongs biggest game in generations and saving Mario for another day. PlaySwitch will also launch with extensive third party support and Mario Kart World. While World looks like a system-seller, I figured it would be timed as a Christmas-window family game. Nintendo usually leans on Mario, Zelda, or both to sell to their biggest fans during a consoles first year. But Nintendo is looking at Mario Kart 8s record sales with confidence, betting their most popular party game, alongside Bananza, will help move enough Switch 2 units to make launch a success.Forza Horizon x Nintendo was not on my bingo cardPlayOpen-world Mario Kart is here, whether it be for good or for ill. Im betting on good, as the zany physics, weird vehicles, and combat mechanics of Mario Kart should lend themselves well to navigating between and across tracks battling friends and sewing chaos. The short look we got seems to indicate a continuous world a la Bowsers Fury, but much larger and supporting myriad drivers. Its very expensivePlayThe Switch 2 costs too much. I get that everything is expensive right now, as tariffs go up, the yen goes down, and American inflation reignites. But $449.99 USD is a hefty price by any standard, and Switch 2 is the most expensive launch in Nintendos 40-plus US sales history. In fact, Switch 2 costs $150 dollars more than its predecessors launch price, and is $100 dollars more than the next-most-expensive Wii U. Successful Nintendo consoles and handhelds have often relied on lower prices as a differentiator, but Switch 2 will be looking to succeed without a price advantage. Jared Petty is a former IGN editor who likes writing about how wonderful and silly video games are. You can find him at Bluesky as pettycommajared.

When the design curator Valentina Ciuffi and her husband, creative director Andrew Haug, needed more space after having their first child, they were hesitant to leave the Cita Studi neighborhood Ciuffi has called home for most of her fifteen years in Milan. For Ciuffi, a self-identified researcher who runs the multidisciplinary creative firm Studio Vedt and co-founded the collectible design fair Alcova, it was hard to picture the apartment they now share together, located in Caiazzo, outside the city center, as a family home. But Haug, who made the final decision after Ciuffis initial round of house-hunting, believed in what they could make it. Together, theyve created not just a home, but a long-lasting tribute to Milans spirit, their love of design, and the people who inspire them daily.Galileo RoccaHomeowners Andrew Haug and Valentina Ciuffi.The couple brought on Maddalena Casadei, who designed their previous home together on Via Stoppani, to oversee the necessary renovations. Primarily a product designer, Casadei managed to bring an inventive eye to the homes challenging floorplan and to find creative solutions where others might see limits. The apartment had an irregular, almost trapezoidal floor plan, with a long hallway, typical of Milanese homes from the 1920s and 30s, that ended in an unexpected triangular-shaped room. It lacked proper guest rooms and, though it had two bathrooms, one was practically unusable. Still, Casadei felt that the home didnt need to be redone, but rather tailored for Andrew and Valentina. My role was to support their vision, accompanying them in creating a space that would truly be theirs.Her first order of business was to reimagine the layout to instill order alongside personality. She dreamt up multifunctional spaces, such as a ships cabin-like guest room heavily influenced by Japanese aesthetics, fabricated by Stefano Monticetti, and found a way to give a sense of purpose to that long hallway, which now leads to a study and feels, per Ciuffi, almost contemplative. Walking down it each morning, right after waking up, is a calming ritual, and Ive learned to notice its architectural beauty, she says. Haug stepped in to support Casadei along the way, visualizing the layouts of certain rooms and turning Ciuffis artful melange into livable arrangements. In my last apartment in New York I finished one room per year over seven years. That can have its advantages in terms of detail, and its fun because each room ends up representing a moment in your life and taste, says Haug. I think the co-design process with Maddalena and Valentina has helped this project feel more coherent.Galileo RoccaIn the primary bedroom, the carpet is by Stefania Ruggiero and the curtains are by VIMAS. The painting above the bed is by Tuukka Tammisaari.The house was shaped by collaboration as much as Ciuffis vast network of friends and makers. In short, we are surrounded by our people, says Ciuffi. And we keep involving them in the project. Not long ago, during a dinner, Cristiano De Lorenzo, Joy Herro, and Andrea Mancuso went room to room with us holding a large painting, trying to decide where to hang it. We ended up in the bedroom, half of us perched on ladders trying to find just the right spot. Making a home this way is fun.Sean SantiagoDeputy EditorSean Santiago is ELLE Decor's Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality and travel, culture, and luxury shopping. Since starting his career at an interior design firm in 2011, he has gone on to cover the industry for Vogue, Architectural Digest, Sight Unseen, PIN-UP and Domino. He is the author of The Lonny Home (Weldon Owens, 2018), has produced scripted social content for brands including West Elm and Streeteasy, and is sometimes recognized on the street for his Instagram Reels series, #DanceToDecor

Last week, the Trump administration announced an extreme tariff plan on essentially every other nation in the world. This would make imports far more costly, and as a result, Apples stock fell nearly 10% on the news. Given the fact that everything about Apples supply chain relies on strategic overseas manufacturing, this is awful news for the company.However, Bloombergs Mark Gurman lays out some ideas on how Apple could mitigate these tariffs.First things first, Apple hasnt increased the base price of the higher-end iPhone since the iPhone X in 2017. Its always remained at $999, and Apple would like to keep things that way. Most Apple products havent had significant price changes over the past decade.However, President Trumps tariff plan threatens that. With 54% tariffs on China, 26% tariffs on India, 46% on Vietnam, and even more on other countries, that means Apple cannot simply continue to sell its products at its current prices.Granted, some countries like Vietnam and India are actively working on trade deals with the Trump administration, prior to the tariffs starting on Wednesday, April 9th.All of that aside, Bloombergs Mark Gurman lays out some ideas on how Apple can mitigate these tariffs:Pushing component makers and manufacturers to provide better prices, allowing Apple to lower its manufacturing pricesApple itself eating some of the costs it has a roughly 45% profit margin on averageShort term price adjustments while Apple is in assessment modeContinuing to diversify its supply chain, which likely wont involve manufacturing in the USAs mentioned earlier, some countries are working out trade deals. China currently isnt one of them. For Apple to continue to sell products at palatable prices, it has to reduce its China dependance drastically.In the meanwhile, Apple has reportedly been stocking up products in preparation for these tariffs. By mass importing products before the tariff dates, Apple can continue to sell products at normal prices, at least for a little while:The company has taken another step to soften the blow. Along with many peers, Apple has been stocking up on inventory stateside for months in anticipation of the tariffs. Units already on US land arent subjectto the levies. That means Apple theoretically could hold off until the next iPhones in September to make adjustments, if it ultimately does so. The main drawback there is that the companyrisks making the price hikes the news rather than its hardware upgrades.Gurman clarifies that Apple ultimately isnt scared of raising prices, but the company is going to try to do everything it can to make the tariffs as little of a pain as possible. Its also possible that Tim Cook fights for an exemption, as he did during President Trumps first term.My favorite Apple accessories on Amazon:Follow Michael:X/Twitter,Bluesky,InstagramAdd 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

A British startup called Pulsar Fusion has come up with a wild new concept for a nuclear fusion-powered space rocket that, it claims, could significantly cut down the time it takes to travel to Mars in half.As CNN reports, the UK Space Agency-funded company's Sunbird rocket harnesses the power of nuclear fusion, the same process that powers stars, as a form of propulsion."Its very unnatural to do fusion on Earth," Pulsar founder and CEO Richard Dinan told CNN. "Fusion doesnt want to work in an atmosphere. Space is a far more logical, sensible place to do fusion, because thats where it wants to happen anyway."It's important to note that the propulsion device is still almost entirely theoretical. But Pulsar sees potential.The firm is hoping to achieve fusion in orbit for the first time in 2027, a moonshot plan that could put far-flung destinations in our solar system within much easier reach if everything goes perfectly according to plan, at least.Instead of splitting atoms to release copious amounts of energy, fusion energy involves combining isotopes into heavier ones. For decades, scientists have tried to replicate this process inside special reactors, using immense amounts of heat and pressure.Turning that idea into a viable source of renewable energy has proven extremely difficult, particularly at a meaningful scale. Scientists are still breaking their heads over how to do so efficiently, and are only starting to devise methods that allow them to harvest more energy than what they had to put in to get the reaction started.In space, however, where fusion reactors in the form of stars and our Sun, are abundant, the situation could look quite different. Instead of having to harness the swirling plasma inside circular reactors, Pulsar Fusion's rocket would have a "nuclear exhaust," shooting out protons from an expensive type of fuel called helium-3.In the long run, Pulsar Fusion envisions an entire gas station-like system."We launch them into space, and we would have a charging station where they could sit and then meet your ship," Dinand told CNN. "You turn off your inefficient combustion engines, and use nuclear fusion for the greater part of your journey.""Ideally, youd have a station somewhere near Mars, and youd have a station on low Earth orbit," he added, "and the (Sunbirds) would just go back and forth."As Live Science reports, each Sunbird would be around 100 feet in length and feature "tank-like" armor plating to protect them from cosmic radiation and micrometeorites. Each rocket could cost upwards of $90 million, a steep price in large part due to its unusual fuel source.For its inaugural proof of concept test in 2027, the company is hoping to construct a "linear fusion experiment" to test "key technological components." A fully functional prototype could be ready four to five years after that if the company doesn't run out of funding by then."If we are going to be the species that actually get to other planets, then exhaust speeds are pretty much the most important thing," Dinan said during a space convention earlier this year, as quoted by Live Science. "In terms of what can be [theoretically] produced in exhaust speeds, fusion is king."Share This Article

The FAA's move to hide ownership details might not stop those who post private-jet information on social media.

A Minecraft Movie has generated $301m worldwide - that's 233m - on its opening weekend. Read more

OverviewLevelled-up listeningWorld-class noise cancellation, quieter than ever before. Breakthrough spatialised audio for more immersive listening. Elevated design and luxe materials for unrivalled comfort. Its everything music makes you feel taken to new highs.Sound just got realThese spatial audio headphones with Bose Immersive Audio push the boundary of what it means to listen. For you it means music that sounds realer than ever before.Welcome to the acoustic sweet spotWhat youre hearing is placed just in front of you, so it seems like you arent listening with headphones at all.Mind-bending natural soundIts a ground-breaking experience with sound so real youll almost try to reach out and touch it.World-class quiet.Better than ever.A mode for your musical moodQuiet ModeHighs hit harder and bass drops the deepest with the quietest quiet of any Bose over-ear headphone yet.Aware ModeWant the best of both worlds? Hear your music and surroundings with full transparency.Immersion ModeCombine full noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio to listen like never before. Its the realest sound you can get.The sound is all youCustomTune technology auto-adjusts the sound performance to your ears liking. So everything hits just as it should.TAILORED SOUND IN THREE STEPS:1. They analyse the unique shape of your ears2. They adapt to any distortion3. They personalise to always give you the best sound qualityElevated designModern, sleek, sophisticated.Luxe materials. Max comfort.Its like a soft hug for your ears that fits like no other headphones.Bose AppPersonalise almost everything to your liking in the app with Adjustable EQ, custom modes, and a shortcut you access right on the headphones.Long battery lifeGo ahead, press play on even your longest marathon playlist with up to 24 hours of battery life (up to 18 hours with Immersive Audio).Bluetooth multipoint connectivityWith multipoint connectivity, you can seamlessly connect to two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth, allowing you to go from Zoom meetings to your Spotify playlist without missing a beat.Amazingly clear callsHear and be heard clearly on calls with a revolutionary mic system.SpecsWhats in the boxBose QuietComfort Ultra HeadphonesCarry case3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cableUSB-C (A to C) cable (12")Safety sheetHeadphone:19.5cm H x 13.9cm W x 5.08cm D (0.25kg)Carry case:21.1cm H x 15.7cm W x 6.1cm D (0.2kg)Aluminium, Leather (Plastic), Leather (Protein), PlasticBattery life: Up to 24hoursBattery charging time: Up to 3 hoursQuick 15-minute charge: For up to 2 hoursBattery charge method: USB-CTesting conducted by Bose in June 2023 using production-representative Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and a variety of music tracks using A2DP Bluetooth audio streaming at RSSI signal strength of 75 dBm. Volume set to a playback loudness of 75dB, 3-band EQ set to zero, in Quiet Mode (full noise cancellation). With Immersive Audio off, playback time was up to 24hours before battery depletion. With Immersive Audio on, playback time was up to 18hours before battery depletion. Battery life varies based on settings and usage. Testing conducted by Bose in June2023 using production-representative Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Quick charge testing consisted of charging headphones with battery depleted (to the point of no audio playback) for 15minutes, then resuming audio playback with volume set to a playback loudness of 75dB, 3-band EQ set to zero, in Quiet Mode (full noise cancellation) with Immersive Audio switched off, resulting in up to 2.5hours of playback time before battery depletion. With Immersive Audio on, playback time was up to 2hours before battery depletion. Time to achieve fully charged headphones was determined by charging headphones with battery depleted (to the point of no audio playback) to 100% battery charge.Built-in microphonesBluetooth range: Up to 9m (30ft)Bluetooth version: 5.3Codecs: Low Complexity Subband Coding (SBC) and Advanced Audio Coding (AAC)USB-C on the headphone sideUSB-A on the source side (but a C-C cable would also work with a C-capable source)2.5-mm audio cable for the headphone side and a standard 3.5-mm jack for the device sideTouch: Volume, skip track, phone calls, customisable shortcutButtons: Listening modesBose AppSiriRated 5 out of5 bydquincy fromGreat new pink headphonesGreat headphones and love the color. They are very attractive and sound great.Date published: 2025-03-31Rated 5 out of5 byAnonymous fromEasy to useI'm very happy with my headphones I will be buying more for giftsDate published: 2025-03-31Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Reviews - page 2y_2025, m_4, d_3, h_6bvseo_bulk, prod_bvrr, vn_bulk_3.0.42cp_1, bvpage1co_hasreviews, tv_42, tr_692loc_en_IN, sid_QCUH-HEADPHONEARN, prod, sort_[SortEntry(order=RATING, direction=DESCENDING), SortEntry(order=SUBMISSION_TIME, direction=DESCENDING)]clientName_bosebvseo_sdk, java_sdk, bvseo-2.2.0.4getReviews, method:CLOUD, 0msREVIEWS, PRODUCTFAQsWhat is the difference between QuietComfort 45 Headphones, QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, and QuietComfort Headphones?Bose QuietComfort Headphones are the successors to QuietComfort 45 Headphones. They deliver high-fidelity audio performance and world-class noise cancellation that allow you to hear more of your films and music while travelling, at the office or at home.QuietComfort Ultra Headphones offer our most premium design and our most advanced technologies, for the best Bose listening experience in a headphone. With QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, you will enjoy our best headphone noise cancellation, audio quality personalised with CustomTune, and voice pickup, among other premium features.What is Bose Immersive Audio?Immersive Audio allows you to hear audio as if it were coming from beyond your QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, thereby allowing for a more spacious, natural listening experience. Your music and other audio will have a wide sound stage in front and to the sides, just as if you were listening to a pair of stereo speakers and seated at the sweet spot between them.What is CustomTune technology and how does it work?Bose CustomTune technology is a proprietary Bose technology that optimises the audio playback you hear based on the unique physical properties of your ear and ear canal. It works by playing a specially designed calibration tone as the welcome chime each time you power on the headphones while wearing them. It then measures how the shape of your ear uniquely modifies that sound. The headphones use that information to adjust their sound to your ears, creating a more balanced, authentic audio experience.What is TriPort acoustic headphone structure?Proprietary TriPort acoustic headphone structure utilises external ports to vent the earcups and effectively enlarge the acoustic volume, without increasing the size of the earcup. The result is better audio and active noise reduction from a smaller, lighter, more comfortable headphone.How is total noise cancellation in Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones achieved?Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones utilise both active and passive noise reduction technologies. They use a sophisticated proprietary electronics approach for active noise reduction, placing microphones both inside and outside the earcups. The electronics system senses the sound in almost any environment and then measures, compares and reacts instant by instant to produce an opposing cancellation signal. Meanwhile, passive noise reduction is achieved by the combination of earcup fit, design and clamping force of the headband.How do I control QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have three controls on the right earcup: a Bluetooth/power button at the bottom, a multi-function button in the back, and a capacitive volume strip along the edge. Additionally, the headphones are equipped with on-head/off-head detection, which is another way to control the product.The Bluetooth/power button is used to power the headphones on/off, put the headphones in pairing mode, cycle through paired devices, and more.The multi-function button supports audio playback (e.g. play/pause/skip), telephony (e.g. answer/decline calls), mode switching (e.g. Quiet, Aware, Immersion), and more.Swiping along the volume strip changes volume, and pressing and holding on it activates a user-configurable shortcut. Putting the headphones on and taking them off controls wake/sleep/auto-off and resume/pause. Auto-off can be customised in the Bose App.What are modes, and how do I use them?Listening modes are collections of headphones settings that you can name and access with a single action. You can combine the following settings in a mode:Noise cancellation levelWind Block on/offActiveSense on/off (applicable only in Aware mode)Immersive Audio settingThree modes are provided by default:Quiet: noise cancellation set to maximum; all other settings offAware: noise cancellation set to Aware; all other settings offImmersion: noise cancellation set to maximum; Immersive Audio set to MotionWith the Bose App, you can create your own custom modes, as well as switch between modes.What is ActiveSense technology and how does it work?ActiveSense listens for very loud outside sounds and selectively applies noise cancellation briefly during those sounds. This way, you can remain aware of your surroundings without having your music drowned out by interruptions like passing vehicles and loud appliance motor noises such as a coffee grinder or blender. ActiveSense can be enabled and disabled in the Aware mode setting.What is Wind Block?Wind Block is a setting you can use when your environment is windy. Wind Block mutes the microphones on the outside of the earcups used for noise cancellation so that gusts of wind do not cause system responses that become noise disturbances in themselves. Note that the exterior microphones used for voice pickup are not muted, so if youre on a call, the person on the other end will still hear the wind.Can I change equaliser settings on my Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones also give you two options when it comes to audio EQ. Do nothing and the bass, midrange and treble of whatever youre listening to will be adjusted automatically to make it sound great. Or choose Equaliser in the settings of the Bose App to change the audio levels yourself to however you like them best. Either way, youll enjoy immersive sound at any volume.Can QuietComfort Ultra Headphones take phone calls?Yes. QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have an adaptive microphone system that allows you to use the headphones during calls when connected to any smartphone. In addition to traditional calls, the headphones will work with many apps that use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), such as Teams, Zoom or FaceTime. The microphone system adapts to your environment to isolate your voice from competing background noises and wind so that you can confidently take a call, knowing you will be heard clearly and naturally. In addition, self-voice allows you to hear yourself naturally, as if you werent wearing headphones at all, so you can monitor the volume of your voice and minimise the effects of speaking while wearing headphones.How do I pair Bose QuietComfort Headphones with my mobile device?First, make sure your headphones are turned on with the slider switch in the middle On position. Next, slide and hold the switch to the Bluetooth icon until the Bluetooth LED flashes blue or when the voice prompt indicates the headphones have entered into pairing mode. Please note, if this is your first time connecting the headphones, they will automatically turn on into pairing mode. Voice prompts will provide you with additional guidance. We recommend using the Bose App to complete the pairing process. However, the Bluetooth settings on your device can be used to complete pairing.What is the range of QuietComfort Headphones?Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones have a range of up to 30 ft (9 metres) from the source device. This range may be reduced by physical obstructions, such as walls and doors, or by interference from other electronic devices. Pops or a cracking noise may be heard if theres interference with the Bluetooth connection. If that happens, move away from wireless routers or microwaves and bring your headphones closer to the Bluetooth device.How do I charge QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?The headphones can be charged using the USB-C cable supplied in the box and plugging into a USB port on a PC, laptop or wall charger. Allow up to 2 hours for the headphones to fully charge. The battery light indicator will show an amber light while the headphones are charging and turn green when fully charged. When you dont have time for a full charge, the fast-charge feature provides up to 3 hours of play time from a quick, 15-minute charge.Can I listen to music using the audio cable with the headphones turned off?No. QuietComfort Ultra Headphones feature proprietary Bose active EQ to provide incredible, life-like sound, in conjunction with a personalised listening experience enabled by CustomTune technology. To enable this, the headphones must be powered on during use, including when using the auxiliary audio cable.Do QuietComfort Ultra Headphones support USB audio?No.Can the Ultra Headphones connect to more than one Bluetooth device at a time, or switch easily between Bluetooth devices?Yes. The Ultra Headphones have the Bluetooth multipoint feature allowing them to connect to two source devices at the same time. This is a recent update as of July2024, so be sure to set up your earbuds with the Bose app to receive software updates.SupportManuals/guidesOwner's guideProduct and technical supportAccessoriesNo accessories available

The camel's back.After going hands-on with the hardware, we can confirm that Switch 2 is exciting. It not only promises fresh Nintendo goodness but also to reinvigorate the OG Switch libraries many of us have been building up over the past eight years. The future is looking bright for Nintendo lifers, though a few too many unclear details and small disappointments are taking the shine off what should be a celebratory occasion.Some of these factors are out of Nintendo's control, to be fair. The biggest controversy revolves around the price particularly $80 games and the announcement that US pre-orders were being postponed has only poured petrol on the flames.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Microsoft has released a browser-based, playable level of the classic video game Quake II. This functions as a tech demo for the gaming capabilities of Microsofts Copilot AI platform though by the companys own admission, the experience isnt quite the same as playing a well-made game.You can try it out for yourself, using your keyboard to navigate a single level of Quake II for a couple minutes before you hit the time limit.In a blog post describing their work, Microsoft researchers said their Muse family of AI models for video games allows users to interact with the model through keyboard/controller actions and see the effects of your actions immediately, essentially allowing you to play inside the model.To show off these capabilities, the researchers trained their model on a Quake II level (which Microsoft owns through its acquisition of ZeniMax).Much to our initial delight we were able to play inside the world that the model was simulating, they wrote. We could wander around, move the camera, jump, crouch, shoot, and even blow-up barrels similar to the original game.At the same time, the researchers emphasized that this is meant to be a research exploration and should be thought of as playing the model as opposed to playing the game.More specifically, they acknowledged limitations and shortcomings, like the fact that enemies are fuzzy, the damage and health counters can be inaccurate, and most strikingly, the model struggles with object permanence, forgetting about things that are out of view for 0.9 seconds or longer.In the researchers view, this can also be a source of fun, whereby you can defeat or spawn enemies by looking at the floor for a second and then looking back up, or even teleport around the map by looking up at the sky and then back down.Writer and game designer Austin Walker was less impressed by this approach, posting a gameplay video in which he spent most of his time trapped in a dark room. (This also happened to me both times I tried to play the demo, though Ill admit Im extremely bad at first-person shooters.)Referring to a Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencers recent statements that AI models could help with game preservation by making classic games portable to any platform, Walker argued this reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of not only this tech but how games WORK.The internal workings of games like Quake code, design, 3d art, audio produce specific cases of play, including surprising edge cases, Walker wrote. That is a big part of what makes games good. If you arent actually able to rebuild the key inner workings, then you lose access to those unpredictable edge cases.

Kukje Gallery | Iwan BaanAmidst the densely woven urban landscape of northern Seoul, where traditional hanok architecture and cultural heritage define the citys texture, SOILs Kukje Gallery intervenes with a design that neither retreats into mimicry nor asserts dominance. Instead, it negotiates its presence through architectural subtlety and material innovation. Completed in 2012, the gallery proposes a nuanced model of cultural insertion that balances contemporary spatial demands with an empathetic reading of context.Kukje Gallery Technical InformationArchitects1-4: SOLID OBJECTIVES IDENBURG LIU (SOIL)Location: Seoul, South KoreaArea: 1,500m2 | 16,145Sq. Ft.Project Year: 2009 2012Photographs: Iwan BaanWe wanted to create a building that becomes part of the city without imposing on ita quiet presence that contributes through its porosity and lightness. Florian Idenburg, SOILKukje Gallery PhotographsAerial View | Iwan BaanStreet View | Iwan BaanStreet View | Iwan BaanFacade Mesh | Iwan BaanStairs | Iwan BaanCourtyard | Iwan BaanStairs | Iwan BaanInterior | Iwan BaanInterior | Iwan BaanFacade Detail | Iwan BaanNight View | Iwan BaanKukje Gallery Contextual Framework The Kukje Gallery is more than an exhibition space; it is a deliberate architectural gesture embedded within a complex urban and historical matrix. Located in the Samcheong-dong neighborhoodknown for its proximity to historic palaces and alleyways lined with hanok housesthe site required a response that could engage in dialogue with its surroundings without succumbing to formal pastiche.SOIL rejected the standard white cube typology that has dominated global gallery design, recognizing its incompatibility with the sites atmospheric richness. Instead, the design channels two overlapping ambitions: first, to support Koreas contemporary art scene on an international stage; second, to offer a building that integrates sensitively and productively with its historical context. The result is an architecture of mediation, where openness and enclosure, lightness and solidity, innovation and tradition converge.The building asserts its identity not through mass or ornament, but through veiled presence. A softly draped chainmail faade distinguishes the gallery from its neighbors while echoing the sloping gestures of adjacent roofs. This architectural ambiguityvisible and recessivebecomes a central part of the buildings conceptual vocabulary.Spatial Strategy and Programmatic FlexibilityInternally, the gallery resists rigid formalism in favor of fluid adaptability. Circulation is organized along the periphery, liberating the central volume for exhibitions that range in scale and media. This spatial strategy enables flexibility: daylight can softly filter through the translucent veil, or be entirely blocked to accommodate light-sensitive installations.Below grade, SOIL carves out a compact auditorium that accommodates lectures, film screenings, and performances. Seating 60, this subterranean space expands the gallerys curatorial reach while maintaining the ground planes minimal footprint. Offices, storage, and art handling facilities are tucked beneath, further emphasizing the architectural economy that defines the project.Yet, the power of the gallery lies not only in its adaptability but also in its spatial calibration. Volumes are restrained but not austere, and transitions are articulated with care, inviting a gradual unfolding of experience. The architecture choreographs encounters with art while remaining attuned to human scale and movement.Materiality and Construction InnovationThe projects most distinctive featurethe chainmail faadeemerges from an uncommon fusion of digital precision and hand craftsmanship. Composed of over 500,000 individual rings, the metallic skin was developed through a close collaboration between SOIL, engineering consultants Front Inc., and artisans in Anping, Chinaa region renowned for its wire mesh production.This draped surface is not a conventional faade in the tectonic sense, but rather an atmospheric layer. It modulates light, movement, and perception independently from the structural frame. Its porosity allows glimpses of the building beneath while producing shifting reflections that animate the streetscape. At times ephemeral and others monumental, the faade resists categorization.From a material standpoint, chainmail challenges standard ideas of enclosure and skin. It provides solar shading, reduces glare, and animates the surface without relying on mechanical systems or conventional ornament. More importantly, it bridges scalesreading as textile from up close and architecture from afar.Urban Resonance and Cultural DialogueThe gallery does not merely occupy a plot; it participates in the city. Its modest footprint and understated presence contribute to the areas pedestrian rhythm, while its materiality and form signal cultural significance. In this way, Kukje Gallery functions as a landmark and a background, simultaneously guiding and yielding.The public plaza that frames the entrance draws from regional paving traditions, subtly recalling cobblestone streets and the thresholds of historic compounds. This attention to local typologies extends to the gallerys massing, where the soft curvature of the veil mirrors the gestures of traditional eaves without direct imitation. Such strategies foster continuity without resorting to literal reconstructiona critical approach to contextual design in heritage settings.Kukje Gallery PlansSite Plan | SOLID OBJECTIVES IDENBURG LIU (SOIL)Floor Plan | SOLID OBJECTIVES IDENBURG LIU (SOIL)Section | SOLID OBJECTIVES IDENBURG LIU (SOIL)Kukje Gallery Image GalleryAbout SOLID OBJECTIVES IDENBURG LIU (SOIL)SOIL (Solid Objectives Idenburg Liu) is a New York-based architecture studio founded by Florian Idenburg and Jing Liu. It is known for its thoughtful, materially inventive, and context-sensitive designs. The firm explores architecture as a medium that connects individuals to their environment, often blurring boundaries between interior and exterior, public and private. With a focus on cultural and institutional projects, SOIL challenges conventional typologies through innovative use of form, fabrication, and spatial strategies that respond to social and urban dynamics.Credits and Additional NotesDesign Team: Florian Idenburg, Jing Liu, Ilias Papageorgiou, Iannis Kandyliaris, Cheon-Kang Park, Sooran Kim, Seunghyun KangConsultants: Dong Yang Engineering, G.K TechnologyMesh and Faade Consultant: Front Inc.Client: Kukje Gallery