We may earn a commission from links on this page.Let's talk about one of the most confusing terms you’ll see on your fitness tracker—specifically your Apple Watch. Next to REM sleep, which you’ve probably heard of, and “deep” sleep, which feels self explanatory, there’s “core” sleep. And if you Google what core sleep means, you’ll get a definition that is entirely opposite from how Apple uses the term. So let’s break it down.On an Apple Watch, "core sleep" is another name for light sleep, which scientists also call stages N1-N2. It is not a type of deep sleep, and has no relation to REM. But in the scientific literature, "core sleep" is not a sleep stage at all. It can refer to a portion of the night that includes both deep and light sleep stages. There are a few other definitions, which I'll go into below. But first, since you're probably here because you saw that term in Apple Health, let's talk about how Apple uses it."Core sleep" in the Apple Watch is the same as light sleepLet me give you a straightforward explanation of what you’re seeing when you look at your Apple sleep data. Your Apple Watch tries to guess, mainly through your movements, when you’re in each stage of sleep. (To truly know your sleep stages would require a sleep study with more sophisticated equipment, like an electroencephalogram. The watch is just doing its best with the data it has.) Apple says its watch can tell the difference between four different states: AwakeLight (“core”) sleepDeep sleepREM sleepThese categories roughly correspond to the sleep stages that neuroscientists can observe with polysomnography, which involves hooking you up to an electroencephalogram, or EEG. (That’s the thing where they attach wires to your head). Scientists recognize three stages of non-REM sleep, with the third being described as deep sleep. That means stages 1 and 2, which are sometimes called “light” sleep, are being labeled as “core” sleep by your wearable.  In other words: Apple's definition of "core sleep" is identical to scientists' definition of "light sleep." It is otherwise known as N2 sleep. (More on that in a minute.)So why didn’t Apple use the same wording as everyone else? The company says in a document on its sleep stage algorithm that it was worried people would misunderstand the term "light sleep" if it called it that.The label Core was chosen to avoid possible unintended implications of the term light, because the N2 stage is predominant (often making up more than 50 percent of a night’s sleep), normal, and an important aspect of sleep physiology, containing sleep spindles and K-complexes.   In other words, Apple thought we might assume that "light" sleep is less important than "deep" sleep, so it chose a new, important-sounding name to use in place of "light." A chart on the same page lays it out: non-REM stages 1 and 2 fall under the Apple category of “core” sleep, while stage 3 is “deep” sleep. That’s how Apple defined it in testing: If an EEG said a person was in stage 2 when the watch said they were in “core,” that was counted as a success for the algorithm.What are the known sleep stages, and where does core sleep fit in?Let’s back up to consider what was known about sleep stages before Apple started renaming them. The current scientific understanding, which is based on brain wave patterns that can be read with an EEG, includes these stages: Non-REM stage 1 (N1) N1 only lasts a few minutes. You’re breathing normally. Your body is beginning to relax, and your brain waves start to look different than they do when you’re awake. This would be considered part of your “light” sleep. The Apple Watch considers this to be part of your core sleep stage.Non-REM stage 2 (N2)Also usually considered “light” sleep, N2 makes up about half of your sleep time. This stage includes spikes of brain activity called sleep spindles, and distinctive brainwave patterns called K complexes. (These are what the Apple document mentioned above.) This stage of sleep is thought to be when we consolidate our memories. Fun fact: if you grind your teeth in your sleep, it will mostly be in this stage. This stage makes up most of what Apple reports as your core sleep.Non-REM stage 3 (N3) N3 is often called “deep” sleep, and this stage accounts for about a quarter of your night. It has the slowest brain waves, so it’s sometimes called “slow wave sleep.” It’s hard to wake someone up from this stage, and if you succeed, they’ll be groggy for a little while afterward. This is the stage where the most body repair tends to happen, including muscle recovery, bone growth in children, and immune system strengthening. As we age, we spend less time in N3 and more time in N2.(There was an older classification that split off the deepest sleep into its own stage, calling it non-REM stage 4, but currently that deepest portion is just considered part of stage 3.) REM sleepREM sleep is so named because this is where we have Rapid Eye Movement. Your body is temporarily paralyzed, except for the eyes and your breathing muscles. This is the stage best known for dreaming (although dreams can occur in other stages as well).The brain waves of a person in REM sleep look very similar to those of a person who is awake, which is why some sleep-tracking apps show blocks of REM as occurring near the top of the graph, near wakefulness. We don’t usually enter REM sleep until we’ve been through the other stages, and we cycle through these stages all night. Usually REM sleep is fairly short during the beginning of the night, and gets longer with each cycle. How much core sleep do I need? Using Apple's definition, in which core sleep is the same as light sleep, it's normal for almost half of your sleep to be core sleep. Sleep scientists give an approximate breakdown (although the exact numbers may vary from person to person, and your needs aren't always the same every night):N1 (very light sleep): About 5% of the total (just a few minutes)N2 (light or "core" sleep): About 45%, so just under four hours if you normally sleep for eight hoursN3 (deep sleep): About 25%, so about two hours if you normally sleep for eight hoursREM: About 25%, so also about two hours.How to get more core sleepIf your Apple watch says you're getting less core sleep than what I mentioned above, you might wonder how you can get more core (or light) sleep. Before you take any action, though, you should know that wearables aren't very good at knowing exactly what stage of sleep you are in. They're usually (but not always!) pretty good at telling when you are asleep versus awake, so they can be useful for knowing whether you slept six hours or eight. But I wouldn't make any changes to my routine based on the specific sleep stage numbers. The algorithm can easily miscategorize some of your light sleep as deep sleep, or vice versa. That said, the best way to get more core sleep is to get more and better sleep in general. Start with this basic sleep hygiene checklist. Among the most important items: Give yourself a bedtime routine with at least 30 minutes of wind-down time where you try to do something relaxing.Have a consistent wake-up time.Don't look at screens right before bed. Keep your bedroom dark and cool.Don't have alcohol or caffeine in the evenings.Improving your sleep overall will improve all your sleep stages, whether your Apple Watch can tell them apart or not.Other ways people use the term “core sleep”I really wish Apple had chosen another term, because the phrase “core sleep” has been used in other ways. It either doesn’t refer to a sleep stage at all, or if it is associated with sleep stages, it’s used to refer to deep sleep stages. In the 1980s, sleep scientist James Horne proposed that your first few sleep cycles (taking up maybe the first five hours of the night) constitute the “core” sleep we all need to function. The rest of the night is “optional” sleep, which ideally we’d still get every night, but it’s not a big deal to miss out from time to time. He described this idea in a 1988 book called Why We Sleep (no relation to the 2017 book by another author) but you can see his earlier paper on the topic here. He uses the terms “obligatory” and “facultative” sleep in that paper, and switched to the core/optional terminology later. You’ll also find people using the phrase “core sleep” to refer to everything but light sleep. For example, this paper on how sleep changes as we age compares their findings in terms of sleep stages with Horne’s definition of core sleep. In doing so, they describe core sleep as mainly consisting of deep sleep stages N3-N4 (in other words, N3 as described above).From there, somehow the internet has gotten the idea that N3 and REM are considered “core” sleep. I don’t know how that happened, and I don’t see it when I search the scientific literature. I have seen it on “what is core sleep?” junk articles on the websites of companies selling weighted blankets and melatonin gummies. For one final, contradictory definition, the phrase “core sleep” is also used by people who are into polyphasic sleep. This is the idea that you can replace a full night’s sleep with several naps during the day, something that biohacker types keep trying to make happen, even though it never pans out. They use the term pretty straightforwardly: If you have a nighttime nap that is longer than your other naps, that’s your “core sleep.” Honestly, that’s a fair use of the word. I'll allow it.So, to wrap up: Core sleep, if you’re a napper, is the longest block of sleep you get during a day. Core sleep, to scientists who study sleep deprivation, is a hypothesis about which part of a night’s sleep is the most important. But if you’re just here because you were wondering what Apple Health or your Apple Watch's sleep app means by "core sleep," it means stages N1-N2, or light sleep.

Naughty Dog is back with yet another way for players to buy The Last of Us. The team announced a new bundle called The Last of Us Complete, which has the latest editions of both award-winning games for the PlayStation 5. This Complete edition runs $100 for the digital bundle, which is available now. A physical collector's edition can be pre-ordered now for $110, with availability expected on July 10. The original 2013 game was remastered for the PS4 just a year after its release, then received a complete remake and rebrand as The Last of Us Part I in 2022 for the PS5. Naughty Dog also moved pretty quick on the remaster of the 2020 sequel, pushing out the The Last of Us Part II Remastered early last year. The Part II project was a $10 upgrade that included new content as well as new bells and whistles for the graphics, but the Part I remake displeased some fans with its $70 asking price. The announcement of this new game bundle was timed to align nicely with the debut of the TV adaptation's second season, which premieres on April 13 and has already been confirmed for a third season. Between this new bundle being dubbed Complete and a recent interview with creator Neil Druckman, this does seem to squash any hopes fans might have had for the game to have a third installment. At least that means Complete really should be the last time you need to buy the titles. (At least, the last time until the PlayStation 6 arrives…)This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sonys-first-ps5-exclusive-of-2025-is-the-last-of-us-210329305.html?src=rss

Hey Meta, look and tell me how great this update is

It also shows a digi-double of Tom Cruise for a hand-off shot to a practical stunt. The video is an Academy original, featuring VFX supe Nick Davis. The post I think this is the first VFX breakdown of Framestore’s work I’ve seen from ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ appeared first on befores & afters.

Today’s B2B CEOs are tasked with a delicate balancing act: driving growth, improving efficiency, and creating seamless customer experiences, all while navigating unprecedented market complexity. Meanwhile, the revenue professionals responsible for executing these goals face their own challenges. Buying journeys have become increasingly labyrinthine, with big buying teams and long sales cycles. Seventy-seven percent of B2B buyers say their last purchasing decision was very complex or difficult, with more than 800 interactions on average with potential vendors. Misalignment across revenue teams compounds the issue, making it nearly impossible to deliver efficient, relevant, and cohesive buyer experiences. This complexity creates a cycle of inefficiency, where teams work harder to achieve diminishing returns. Fortunately, we’re at a pivotal moment in technology. AI and data advances are empowering organizations to simplify complex revenue cycles. Among these innovations, AI agents offer a promising solution. AI agents aren’t simple software add-ons. They’re intelligent partners that enable teams to act faster, collaborate more effectively, and scale more strategically. Let’s explore how CEOs can equip their teams with AI agents to achieve sustainable growth. AI agents are partners, not tools AI agents represent a significant evolution in business technology. Unlike traditional software, which passively waits for human input, AI agents actively analyze data, surface opportunities, make recommendations, and drive results in real time. For CEOs, this distinction is critical. AI agents don’t just automate repetitive tasks; they perform work that aligns with strategic goals. From identifying early buying signals to optimizing customer engagement, AI agents seamlessly integrate into workflows to ensure every touchpoint is efficient, personalized, and impactful. In a world in which breaking down silos and acting on intelligence faster than competitors defines success, AI agents are the bridge between vision and execution. Why good data powers great outcomes AI agents are only as effective as the data that fuels them. AI agents are built on large language models (LLMs) trained on public data. That data can sometimes produce sketchy results—like when Google’s AI search raised (and then dashed) Disney fans’ hopes by describing the impending release of Encanto 2 because it pulled its data from a fan fiction site. The fallout of misinformation in business can do much more damage than simply disappointing movie-goers. Poor-quality data can lead to disjointed recommendations and faulty business decisions. Not only that, but if you only use public data to feed your AI agents, you’ll have the same output as everyone else relying solely on LLMs. The solution for this lies within a business’s own walls. Enterprises have massive amounts of data that LLMs have not seen. Feeding this data to AI agents allows them to produce differentiated, contextualized output. For instance, integrating intent data into a sales-focused AI agent’s “diet” yields personalized outreach based on individual prospects’ needs. It’s also important that the data AI agents use is clean, accurate, and comprehensive—and that it spans the entire revenue organization. Shared data ensures that AI agents can piece together the full picture of the buyer journey—from early intent signals to post-sale engagement. What CEOs get wrong about AI agents AI agents are difficult to implement. AI agents don’t necessarily require complex overhauls. Scalable, modular solutions make it easier than ever to adopt AI incrementally, starting with specific use cases and expanding as success builds.Example:Many of our customers quickly deploy our conversational email agent for one-use case (such as re-engaging closed/lost opportunities) and build from there. This enables teams to see the immediate value of AI agent-led contextual email conversations, while at the same time laying the foundation for broader adoption. AI agents are only about efficiency. While AI agents excel at streamlining processes, their real value lies in their ability to drive strategic outcomes across industries.Example:Johnson & Johnson uses AI agents in drug discovery to optimize chemical synthesis processes. AI enhances efficiency, but more importantly, it drives strategic advancements in pharmaceutical innovation by accelerating development timelines and improving cost-effectiveness. The ROI of AI agents: Real-world impact Harri, a global leader in workforce management technology for the hospitality industry, faced a challenge familiar to many CEOs—the need to scale engagement without increasing resources. To support their strong marketing team in generating demand, Harri implemented an AI agent through 6sense as part of its outreach strategy. The AI agent autonomously identified high-intent prospects and delivered timely, personalized messages at scale, enabling Harri to engage buyers more efficiently and effectively. The results: They generated more than $12 million in pipeline and $3 million in closed/won deals in just one quarter. Campaigns achieved a 34% view-through-rate (VTR) rate, far exceeding the initial goal of 20%. They scaled marketing efforts without compromising on personalized engagement. By scaling outreach, improving engagement, and targeting high-value opportunities, Harri took pressure off its team, while achieving significant growth and enhancing the buyer experience. Pave the way for smarter growth AI agents are still so new that CEOs who aren’t using them yet can get ahead of the competition by learning to incorporate them now. These agents simplify complexity, align revenue teams, and deliver results. By integrating AI agents, CEOs can create seamless, personalized buying journeys that meet today’s expectations while driving growth. With significant AI advancements ahead, having a clear strategy is essential. By proactively adopting AI agents, organizations can address challenges and position themselves for sustained success in a rapidly evolving market. Jason Zintak CEO of 6sense.

The first time I used a laser cutter was in my university’s fabrication lab. It felt like operating a small nuclear reactor – there was a mandatory safety course, supervision requirements, and enough warning labels to make me genuinely concerned about spontaneous combustion. For years, laser cutting remained this mystical, slightly terrifying technology that lived behind institutional walls. Fast forward to today, and I’m looking at Creality’s Falcon A1 sitting on a desk, looking about as threatening as a microwave oven – albeit one that can engrave Batman logos onto leather wallets. Creality, the company that helped democratize 3D printing with its affordable Ender series, is now attempting the same revolution with laser cutting technology. The Falcon A1 is their enclosed 10W laser engraver and cutter that promises to bring professional-grade capabilities to your desktop without requiring a fire marshal on standby. Designer: Creality Click Here to Buy Now: $519 $549 ($30 off, use coupon code “Yanko”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours! AI-Powered Material Recognition: The End of Parameter Guesswork If you’ve ever used a laser cutter, you know the anxiety of setting power and speed parameters. Too much power and you burn through your material; too little and you barely make a mark. The Falcon A1 tackles this common frustration with its innovative material recognition system. The machine features a built-in QR code system that automatically detects Creality’s specially marked materials. When you place one of these materials in the workspace, the Falcon A1 identifies it and automatically loads the optimal cutting or engraving parameters. No more guesswork, no more test cuts, and no more wasted materials. For beginners, this feature is transformative. It removes one of the steepest parts of the learning curve and allows new users to achieve professional-quality results from their very first project. For experienced users, it saves valuable time that would otherwise be spent on parameter testing and adjustment. In the long run, it streamlines work, doing for materials what barcodes do for items in a grocery store. The system currently works with Creality’s range of compatible materials, which includes various types of wood, acrylic, leather, and more. Each comes with its own QR code that the machine scans to identify the exact material type and thickness. While this does create some ecosystem lock-in, the convenience factor is substantial enough that many users will find it worthwhile. Even when working with non-Creality materials, the software includes a comprehensive material library with recommended settings that serve as excellent starting points, significantly reducing the trial-and-error process. Just note that highly reflective materials like mirrored metals are off-limits – physics still has some rules that even Creality can’t bend. Safety First, Intimidation Last The most striking thing about the Falcon A1 is its fully enclosed design, which for Creality’s first-ever laser-cutting product, really looks like a polished consumer gadget rather than a trial device. The black and orange aesthetic is distinctly Creality, with a transparent viewing window that lets you watch the laser do its magic while blocking harmful light. The enclosure contains smoke, prevents accidental exposure to the beam, and includes multiple safety mechanisms, including magnetic door sensors that automatically pause operation when opened. With its Class 1 safety certification, you can actually skip the safety glasses – a refreshing change from the institutional paranoia I’ve experienced around industrial laser systems. There’s even an emergency stop button just in case you want to quickly pause a job for whatever reason. Power in a Small Package Powering the Falcon A1 is a 10W optical output laser module. Translation for the non-technical: this thing can cut through 9.6mm acrylic and 5mm wood in a single pass. For engraving, it handles everything from wood and leather to glass, stone, and anodized aluminum with 0.01mm precision. The 381 x 305mm working area hits the sweet spot for hobbyist and small business use – large enough for meaningful projects but compact enough to fit on a desk. The machine itself measures 567 × 468 × 196mm and weighs a manageable 20 pounds (9.1 kg), making it apartment-friendly (though your roommates might question the burning smell when you’re cutting wood). The CoreXY motion system is no slouch either, zipping along at speeds up to 600mm/s – fast enough to make you question whether you’re watching a time-lapse video. Smart Camera: Your Digital Third Eye Unlike traditional laser cutters where positioning is a game of mathematical guesswork, the Falcon A1 provides a full-frame view of your workspace in real-time thanks to its pre-calibrated high-definition camera system that transforms how you interact with your projects. The camera system creates what Creality calls a “what you see is what you get” experience. You can literally drag and drop your design onto the exact location where you want it on your material, with the camera showing you precisely how it will be positioned. This eliminates the frustrating trial-and-error approach that wastes materials and time. Perhaps even more impressive is the camera’s auto-positioning and batch-filling capabilities. If you’re creating multiple identical items (think business cards, coasters, or jewelry pieces), the system can automatically detect available space on your material and populate it with copies of your design. This feature alone can dramatically increase production efficiency for small businesses or high-volume hobbyists. The camera also serves as a safety feature, allowing you to monitor the cutting process remotely through the software interface. If anything looks amiss, you can pause or stop the job without opening the enclosure and interrupting the protective environment. That said, some users report needing to manually calibrate the camera despite its “pre-calibrated” status – a minor inconvenience in an otherwise slick system. Smart Features for Newbie Users What truly separates the Falcon A1 from industrial machines is its user-friendly approach. Beyond the camera system and material recognition, the accompanying Falcon Design Space software lets you import designs in common formats like SVG, JPG, PNG, and DXF, with the ability to adjust parameters for different materials. The machine connects via Wi-Fi, USB, or through the cloud, allowing you to send projects from virtually anywhere – though I wouldn’t recommend remote laser cutting unless you enjoy living dangerously. The integrated smoke extraction system routes fumes outside through an exhaust tube, though you’ll still want to place it near a window or ventilated area. No laser cutter can completely eliminate the distinctive smell of vaporized materials, after all. Democratizing Digital Fabrication At $499-$550, the Falcon A1 occupies an interesting middle ground in the market. It’s significantly more capable than the sub-$300 open-frame laser engravers flooding Amazon, but far more affordable than professional systems from companies like Epilog or Trotec that start at several thousand dollars. This positioning makes it perfect for several user groups: makers looking to add laser cutting to their arsenal, small businesses wanting to produce custom products, and educational settings where safety is paramount but budgets are tight. I can easily imagine Etsy sellers using this to create custom wooden signs, jewelry makers cutting intricate acrylic pieces, or hobbyists finally being able to create those precise model parts that scissors and X-Acto knives simply can’t manage. Editor’s Take: Close to a Cutting-Edge Revolution What excites me most about the Falcon A1 isn’t just what it can do, but what it represents. Just as consumer 3D printers transformed from expensive curiosities to mainstream tools, laser cutters are following the same trajectory – just a few years behind. The Falcon A1 isn’t perfect – serious power users will eventually want more cutting capability, and the software, while functional, has been reported to have some calibration issues and a learning curve for beginners. But it succeeds brilliantly at its primary mission: making laser cutting accessible, safe, and approachable. For many creators, this machine will be their first step into laser cutting – a technology that was previously out of reach due to cost, space requirements, or safety concerns. That’s genuinely exciting, and I can’t wait to see what people create with tools like this. If you’ve been curious about laser cutting but intimidated by the complexity, cost, or safety concerns, the Falcon A1 might be the machine that finally lets you add “laser wizard” to your maker resume. Just remember to open a window – even the smartest laser cutter can’t eliminate the distinctive smell of your creative ambitions accidentally triggering a smoke detector! Click Here to Buy Now: $519 $549 ($30 off, use coupon code “Yanko”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!The post Creality Falcon A1: The $499 Smart Laser Cutter That Recognizes Materials Before Cutting Them first appeared on Yanko Design.

From PD to PPS and MagSafe to Qi2, we explain common smartphone charging technologies and how to fast-charge your phone.

A new leak purporting to show an iPhone 17 Pro protective case, has backed up the continuing rumors that Apple has considerably redesigned the rear camera system.Close up on the camera bump cutout on the purported iPhone 17 Pro case leak — image credit: Sonny DicksonRumors that the forthcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max have now mostly coalesced on the belief that the rear camera system will be larger. It will also separate out the flash, LiDAR sensor and microphone, into a section to the right of the camera lenses.Now a new leaked image from reasonably reliable leaker Sonny Dickson, claims to show just how noticeably big the camera bump will be. The image consists of two transparent protective cases for the iPhone 17 Pro, which feature large cutout sections for the camera. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The highly sought-after commission to design the official Qatari Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia has been granted to rising Paris-based Lebanese star Lina Ghotmeh. The 2023 Serpentine Pavilion designer and recently announced British Museum Western Range galleries expansion will be given the chance to deliver what is just the third permanent national pavilion in fifty years in the Giardini on the strength of her proposal's clarity and responsiveness to site context. She beat eight other shortlisted competitors in doing so. Rem Koolhaas served as the competition's Advisory Panel chair. Ghotmeh is also the architect of Bahrain's National Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025.

Following several delays, 11 bit studios’ The Alters finally has a new launch date. It arrives on June 13th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, alongside a day-one release for Game Pass. Check out the latest trailer below. The premise involves Jan Dolski crashlanding and being stranded on a planet where the sun incinerates the surface. To run the mobile base required to survive, Jan creates Alters, versions of himself with unique skill sets based on different decisions during his life. Conflict inevitably arises, whether it’s one Alter fermenting a rebellion or hacking off limbs. Even something as seemingly straightforward as building a bridge to cross a river of lava can become a do-or-die challenge. Of course, there are other hazards like singularities, distortions, harsh weather, and radioactivity to deal with daily as well. Stay tuned for more details on The Alters before its launch. You can also check out the free demo available on all platforms.