This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. DOGE’s tech takeover threatens the safety and stability of our critical data —Steven Renderos is the executive director of Media Justice Tech buzzwords are clanging through the halls of Washington, DC. The Trump administration has promised to “leverage blockchain technology” to reorganize the US Agency for International Development, and Elon Musk’s DOGE has already unleashed an internal chatbot to automate agency tasks—with bigger plans on the horizon to take over for laid-off employees. The executive order that created DOGE in the first place claims the agency intends to “modernize Federal technology and software.” But jamming hyped-up tech into government workflows isn’t a formula for efficiency. Successful, safe civic tech requires a human-centered approach that understands and respects the needs of citizens.Unfortunately, this administration laid off all the federal workers with the know-how for that. And if this administration doesn’t change its approach soon, American citizens are going to suffer far more than they probably realize. Read the full story. Meet the researchers testing the “Armageddon” approach to asteroid defense One day, in the near or far future, an asteroid about the length of a football stadium will find itself on a collision course with Earth. If we are lucky, it will land in the middle of the vast ocean, creating a good-size but innocuous tsunami, or in an uninhabited patch of desert. But if it has a city in its crosshairs, one of the worst natural disasters in modern times will unfold. Homes dozens of miles away will fold like cardboard. Millions of people could die. Fortunately for all 8 billion of us, planetary defense—the science of preventing asteroid impacts—is a highly active field of research. We already know that at least one method works: ramming the rock with an uncrewed spacecraft to push it away from Earth.But there are circumstances in which giving an asteroid a physical shove might not be enough to protect the planet. If that’s the case, we could need another method, one that is notoriously difficult to test in real life: a nuclear explosion. Read the full story.—Robin George Andrews This story is from the next edition of our print magazine, which is all about creativity. Subscribe now to read it and get a copy of the magazine when it lands! The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Consumer tech products may be subject to steep tariffs after all The Trump administration says that while smartphones and other gadgets are exempt from ‘reciprocal’ tariffs, they will be included in forthcoming semiconductor tariffs. (FT $)+ Trump has promised to investigate the semiconductor sector. (The Guardian)+ The White House’s tariff chaos is showing no signs of slowing. (Reuters) 2 Meta is preparing for its day in court The landmark monopoly trial follows an investigation that took close to six years. (NYT $)+ The trial's ruling could force Mark Zuckerberg to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp. (Politico)+ But the US government is facing an uphill battle. (Wired $)3 Lauren Sánchez is heading into spaceThe pilot, who is also Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, will travel to the edge of outer space today. (CNN) + The all-female mission is expected to take around 11 minutes. (BBC)4 Chinese sellers aren’t worried about the USA’s tariffs  Even though they’re anticipating that the US won’t buy everyday goods any more. (WSJ $)+ The tariffs are hitting ordinary Americans pretty hard. (The Guardian)+ Meanwhile, Apple has increased its iPhone production in India by almost 60%. (Bloomberg $)5 Here’s what could happen to your 23andMe DNA data Now the company has gone bankrupt, a sale could be imminent. (Insider $)+ How to… delete your 23andMe data. (MIT Technology Review) 6 The hacking groups you need to know aboutFrom crypto thieves to sabotage specialists. (Wired $) + Cyberattacks by AI agents are coming. (MIT Technology Review)7 Netflix is testing out a new AI search functionPowered by OpenAI’s technology. (Bloomberg $) + It’s currently available for select users in Australia and New Zealand. (Engadget)8 San Francisco residents are turning Waymos into community bulletin boardsThey’re leaving handwritten notes seeking new hires and dates inside the robotaxis. (WP $) + How Wayve’s driverless cars will meet one of their biggest challenges yet. (MIT Technology Review)9 Who is hacking California’s crosswalks? Crossings are playing AI recordings mocking Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. (The Verge) 10 Instagram is the hottest place to shop for kids’ clothes 👕 Enterprising moms are on the hunt for bargains. (The Verge)+ The best part of Facebook these days is Facebook Marketplace. (The Atlantic $) Quote of the day “The mass confusion created by this constant news flow out of the White House is dizzying for the industry and investors and creating massive uncertainty and chaos for companies trying to plan their supply chain, inventory, and demand.”’ —Dan Ives, a senior analyst for Wedbush, sums up the latest twists and turns in the Trump administration’s tariff plans, the Washington Post reports. The big story Africa fights rising hunger by looking to foods of the past After falling steadily for decades, the prevalence of global hunger is now on the rise—nowhere more so than in sub-Saharan Africa.Conflicts, economic fallout from the covid-19 pandemic, and extreme weather events linked to climate change have pushed the share of the population considered undernourished from 18% in 2015 to 23% in 2023. Africa’s indigenous crops are often more nutritious and better suited to the hot and dry conditions that are becoming more prevalent, yet many have been neglected by science, which means they tend to be more vulnerable to diseases and pests and yield well below their theoretical potential. Now the question is whether researchers, governments, and farmers can work together in a way that gets these crops onto plates and provides Africans from all walks of life with the energy and nutrition that they need to thrive, whatever climate change throws their way. Read the full story. —Jonathan W. Rosen We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.)+ The Minecraft movie sounds like absolute chaos (in a good way)+ Huge congratulations are in order for Rory McIlroy, the first European to win golf’s Grand Slam.+ Mark my words, nothing good can come from a British version of SNL.+ Enjoy these gorgeous otter pups taking their very first swim with their patient mom 🦦

Last year, I flew with Delta Air Lines across four continents on 66 flights.During that time, I traveled in all four of Delta's cabin categories, ranging from an economy seat on a 15-hour flight from Africa to lie-flat seats in Delta One from Europe to the US. As a frequent traveler, I typically book with Delta to maximize reward points and maintain my Platinum Medallion loyalty status. I usually choose the most affordable fares and often put my credit-card points toward my flights.Occasionally, I receive complimentary upgrades with my status, but I'll also splurge on a premium seat if the price is right. However, the cost of a premium seat doesn't always align with my expectations. There are a few reasons I'd choose the affordability and practicality of economy seats over the high price tag of premium class any day. I upgraded to Delta One on a return flight from Germany but wasn't completely sold. Delta One was very nice, but I wasn't as impressed as I thought I'd be. Allie Hubers Last spring, I flew to Germany to reunite with my husband after his military deployment. We splurged on an upgrade to the most premium class available for our flight home, spending an extra $699 each for Delta One.The lie-flat seat was a luxury on our 10-hour flight, and the service was fantastic, but our plane seemed a bit outdated and worn. From the clunky entertainment system to the lack of privacy between seats, I felt our nearly-20-year-old aircraft showed its age.We got elevated meals, amenity kits, and complimentary alcohol, but I expected more features or perks considering a Delta One upgrade often costs thousands of dollars.Although our experience fell short of my expectations, I still think the upgrade was worth paying for to celebrate such a special occasion.In the future, I would only justify the cost of Delta One if I knew I'd be on a newer plane with more state-of-the-art amenities. After all, some newer Delta One classes have suites with doors. On one upgrade to Delta's Premium Select class, I got stuck in a middle seat. Delta offers Premium Select seats as a more affordable way to enhance a flight. Allie Hubers When returning from Europe last winter, my husband and I upgraded to Premium Select seats for $209 each on our nine-hour flight.Premium Select upgrades are primarily offered on long-haul flights and come with early boarding (although my status already gets me into the same boarding group that this would). We enjoyed the added legroom and additional recline of our seats, which made them noticeably more comfortable. The upgraded dining, larger entertainment screens, and in-flight amenity kits also elevated the experience.However, we upgraded at the last minute, so our seat options were limited. Unfortunately, I ended up sandwiched in the middle seat next to a stranger. In hindsight, I wish I'd saved the money and kept my window seat in economy.Being crammed in a middle seat for nine hours took away from the premium experience. Next time, I'd try to upgrade earlier so I could choose a better seat.Overall, Premium Select strikes a solid balance between affordability and comfort with its thoughtful amenities and extra space. However, it's not always available on Delta flights, and I'd likely skip it if I couldn't get a spot next to a window. I've traveled many times in Delta's Comfort Plus — but the extra legroom isn't always worth the added cost for me. Delta's Comfort Plus provided more legroom, but I'd say exit rows are similar and more affordable. Allie Hubers A step above economy, Delta's Comfort Plus provides slightly more legroom and priority boarding. For domestic itineraries, this class also receives alcoholic drinks and a better selection of snacks.With my status, I've received many complimentary upgrades to Comfort Plus.Last fall, I flew in Comfort Plus from Seoul to Atlanta after one such free upgrade. As a tall woman, the extra legroom was an added bonus, especially on a 13-hour flight. However, I've found you can get about the same amount of legroom in an economy exit row for a more affordable price.I'm happy to accept a free upgrade to Comfort Plus, but I wouldn't pay extra for these seats, which I've seen cost $100 or more than economy. And, on international routes, Comfort Plus receives many of the same in-flight amenities as the rest of the main cabin. That said, Comfort Plus does get reserved overhead bin space, which is always nice on a fully booked flight. Plus, going on cheaper flights means I can take more of them. I'd be open to flying in upgraded seats if I can get them for a decent price or if there's a special occasion. Allie Hubers Overall, I'd rather book a cheaper flight so I can spend money elsewhere on my trip. A flight is just one of the many costs of a vacation. I also need to pay for accommodations, additional transportation, meals, and activities.By booking affordable economy flights, I have more money to travel more often — and that's always my goal. Plus, I can almost always secure my beloved window seat if I book my trip far enough in advance.However, I'm definitely still open to enjoying the occasional upgrade if the price, plane, and time feel right.

Mikaela Shafer values spending time with her friends, and if that means booking a flea market day three months in advance, she considers it a small price to pay.For a while, Shafer, 38, and her friends found themselves in the throes of schedule coordination hell. One person would attempt to make plans on a particular day, but another couldn’t make it. Somebody else would offer a new date, but that one was no good either. They’d go back and forth a few more times until the group inevitably gave up, no plans on the horizon. Shafer wanted to see her friends, of course, but her grueling schedule as a small business owner, copywriter for a nonprofit, artist, and mother made it difficult to find the time.For her professional obligations, Shafer used the scheduling tool Calendly, which allows clients to directly book time on her calendar without the “When are you free?” discussion. Why couldn’t she do the same with her friends? So she made a second Calendly specifically for hangouts, linked to her respective work and personal calendars so she doesn’t double-book. She even modified the appointment page to include suggested hang activities, such as grabbing coffee or thrifting. When she’s in need of face time with a particular friend, or group of friends, Shafer sends them the link. Sometimes they’ll claim time on her calendar without her needing to ask. All they have to do is pick a date and a time. “My friends usually book things out a couple weeks in advance because they’re also really busy,” Shafer says. “We were trying to plan a vacation, and they booked the vacation time based on my calendar app — all the way in January.”Between the demands of work, family, and solo activities, Americans increasingly feel strapped for time. Many people live and die by their calendars, hardly finding a moment to breathe amid all the meetings, the commuting, the workouts, the playdates, the appointments, the scrolling, the self-care. Finding a few unclaimed hours for socializing can feel like a luxury, one that might need to be planned weeks or even months in advance. Like Shafer, these super-schedulers coordinate time with friends far into the future, either out of necessity or preference. For the friends on the other side, seeing a confidante once a quarter can feel like a slight, but for super-schedulers, it’s not personal; it’s time management.‘I don’t have time’The most common reason people tend to make appointments with friends months in advance is perhaps the most obvious: Everyone’s too busy. “That’s probably the No. 1 thing that clients cite to me as a barrier to spending time with friends,” says friendship coach Danielle Bayard Jackson, author of Fighting for Our Friendships: The Science and Art of Conflict and Connection in Women’s Relationships, “I don’t have time.” While it can seem like there aren’t enough hours in a day, Americans have just as much free time as they did two decades ago: According to the American Time Use Survey, most Americans spent around five hours a day engaging in leisure activities in 2023 — the same amount as in 2003.What people choose to prioritize during that free time is another story. In 2023, Americans were largely kept occupied by watching television — nearly three hours’ worth, up just slightly from 2.5 hours in 2003. Americans are also spending more of their waking hours in solitude: Just 34 minutes of their precious free time was spent socializing, down from over 45 minutes a day two decades prior. Time spent with friends peaks at age 18 and slowly dwindles throughout a person’s 20s — and remains low for the rest of their lives. As people enter adulthood, their social lives and obligations gradually change. Work, of course, accounts for a considerable chunk of the day. Add in a romantic partner — one study found that entering into a relationship costs you two friends — and children, and your attention is fairly well spent. Whatever hours remain are inevitably overscheduled with little room for spontaneity or spur-of-the-moment plans. When most activities, especially fun ones, are carefully coordinated and tightly arranged, they feel more like work than leisure, research shows. None of this is necessarily lost on anyone. People aren’t satisfied with how often they see their friends and wish they could spend more time together. But without action, plans languish in the group chat. Stephen Antonini and his friends are at that age where almost every weekend is booked — with weddings, bachelor and bachelorette parties, trips back home, entertaining out-of-town guests — making planning a getaway nearly futile. In order to make their yearly trips happen, the 10-person group starts scheduling several months in advance. Antonini, a 25-year-old content creator, sends a few date options to the group chat and each person will “like” the message with the weekend they prefer. Advanced coordination is necessary for a crew of their size, Antonini says, taking into consideration each person’s varying jobs and vacation time. He wishes they could hang out as a unit more often, but he still sees most of his friends individually or in small group settings on a weekly basis. “There’s always one or two key people in that friend group that are out of town, or they already had pre-plans,” Antonini says. “It is good to have that plan of getting the whole group together and going to a different place because then you know that everyone’s going to be there. It’s going to be the weekend for the whole group to catch up and have a great time.”The allure of busyness — and the necessity of time spent aloneWhile some take packed schedules as a necessary evil, others consider them a point of pride. Extreme busyness can be used as a status symbol or an excuse for why a friend can’t commit to plans. When work, family and self-care take priority, there can be little room for friendship. “It’s hard when you are proud of being busy,” Bayard Jackson says, since you might find it more difficult to slow down and make time for friendship. “Which some might see as frivolous in comparison to professional goals or the status of being busy,” Bayard Jackson notes.For years, Scott Steinhardt would drop everything for his friends, heading to the neighborhood bar at a moment’s notice to console one going through a breakup. When he realized his efforts weren’t reciprocated, his priorities shifted toward his career and romantic relationship. Now, the 38-year-old dedicates over 80 hours a week to his communications job and only has time to spend with one friend a week, usually on a Friday or Saturday. “It’s a different person each week,” Steinhardt says, which means months go by before specific friends circulate to the top of the roster again. One pal recently remarked about how he and Steinhardt only get together when they plan a month in advance — not to complain about the arrangement, Steinhardt says, but as a means of clarifying the bounds of their relationship. When he’s not working, Steinhart is recharging his social batteries or hanging out with his wife. “I value time by myself greatly,” he says. “The moment I was honest with myself about that is when I was happier.”Incorporating ample rest time into an overstuffed social schedule can prevent the most extroverted from burning themselves out, too. Shannon, a 31-year-old couples therapy intern in Philadelphia whose last name is being withheld so she can speak freely about her friendships, has a fairly regular weekly cadence with friends. Without it, her life would feel too hectic, she says. Mondays and Tuesdays are devoted to her internship; after class on Wednesdays, she hosts a virtual anime-watch night with long-distance friends; she’ll grab happy hour with one particular friend on Thursdays; Fridays and Saturdays are packed with brunches, drinks, dinners, concerts, hikes, movies. Sunday, finally, is for rest. All of these plans must be coordinated in advance, usually two to three weeks, Shannon says. When a friend recently asked if she was up for a same-day hang on a work night, she declined. “I need to give myself those boundaries; otherwise it gets out of hand,” Shannon says. “It’s the ADHD. I have to live by the calendar or else my life becomes very chaotic.” Most of Shannon’s friends understand her preference for super-scheduling, but her partner finds it baffling. “He asks me,” Shannon says, “why do we need to plan this so far ahead? Why can’t we just do this random thing tonight?” Making time for friendsCan you even call someone a friend if you only see them a couple of times a year? Mismatched expectations for how often friends should hang out can make maintaining a relationship with a super-scheduler particularly fraught. You might begin to question whether a far-out plan is a sign a friend doesn’t want to see you at all. But the opposite could also be true. “Another person could argue that the fact that I’m doing the mental labor to figure out when we can get together is evidence of me trying to make it happen and trying to prioritize you,” Bayard Jackson says. Rather than attempt to cram more social obligations onto an already packed calendar, what may be effective is redefining what you consider a hangout. Happy hours and weekend trips aren’t the only occasions adults can hang out. Running errands, sitting on the sidelines of a Little League game, working out: These less exciting moments count, too. And every so often, when an hour or so seems to materialize out of nowhere, embrace spontaneity. On a recent Friday afternoon, Mikaela Shafer, the multi-hyphenate mom who uses Calendly to schedule friend hangs, had a few spare minutes in her day. So she decided to pop by a friend’s work to say hello. “It’s a good reminder for myself to take time out of my day to do nice things or to intentionally make time to see them,” she says.The gesture wasn’t entirely unplanned, though. She scheduled it three days in advance.See More:

Out of all the episodes in the excellent seventh season of Black Mirror, it’s Plaything that sticks out to me and I suspect to anyone else who played video games in the 1990s. It’s the story of socially awkward freelance games journalist, Cameron Walker, who steals the code to a new virtual pet sim named Thronglets from the developer he’s meant to be interviewing. When he gets the game home, he realises the cute, intelligent little critters he’s caring for on the screen have a darker ambition than simply to perform for his amusement – cue nightmarish exploration of AI and our complicity in its rise.The episode is interesting to me because … well, I was a socially awkward games journalist in the mid-1990s. But more importantly, so was Charlie Brooker. He began his writing career penning satirical features and blistering reviews for PC Zone magazine, one of the two permanently warring PC mags of the era (I shared an office with the other, PC Gamer). In Plaything, it’s PC Zone that Cameron Walker writes for, and there are several scenes taking place in its office, which in the programme is depicted as a reasonably grownup office space with tidy computer workstations and huge windows. I do not think the production design team got this vision from Brooker.“Zone had far less of the corporate workplace feel than the episode showed, and much more of a kids in the basement, youth club-cum-nightclub vibe to it,” says Paul Presley, who worked on PC Zone at the time. “It was a handful of messy, cluttered desks stuck in a windowless basement office round the back of Oxford Street (later Tottenham Court Road). We’d have killed for floor-to-ceiling windows! Editorial, art and production were all on top of each other, music blasting from the office stereo, usually furnished by the neighbouring Metal Hammer magazine. Desks were personal spaces, overflowing with paper, mags, trinkets, swag and tons and tons of CDs.”In the sake of journalistic thoroughness, I also contacted another PC Zone alumnus Richie Shoemaker for his recollections. “Although there were windows along one side, they were below street level and smeared with London grime,” he says. “The sills were piled high with dusty magazines, broken joysticks and likely-empty game boxes. It was perpetual night for the best part of eight years down there.”Kids in the basement … the office of PC Zone magazine in the mid-1990s Photograph: Richie ShoemakerThe episode was more accurate on the games themselves – the first scene in the office shows Cam playing Doom, when the editor comes over, shows him the front cover of the latest issue of the mag with System Shock on the cover, then asks Cameron if he’s finished his review of Bullfrog’s classic adventure game Magic Carpet. “[Plaything] is good on the timelines,” says Shoemaker. “Playing Doom in the office was of course standard – although when I joined the team Quake was the lunchtime and afterwork deathmatch of choice. The Magic Carpet review did appear in the issue after System Shock (which was actually Charlie’s first cover review), but it got 96%, not 93% and was written by launch editor Paul Lakin – who went on to work at the Foreign Office.” He also reckons the episode’s grizzled old editor might have been inspired by then deputy editor, Chris Anderson, who according to Shoemaker was “quite a vampiric character who seemed to exist on a diet of cigarettes and Ultima Online.”Most fascinating to me though is the inspirational origin of the Thronglets virtual pet game. Most reviewers have been referencing Tamagotchi, the keychain pet toy that took the world by storm int the late 90s. Brooker himself has referenced it in an interview. However, a much more likely candidate was the 1996 title Creatures, in which players cared for generations of cuddly-looking critters. Although it looked like a cutesy pet game it was in fact a highly sophisticated artificial life experiment, created by the distinctly sci-fi-sounding CyberLife Technology. Players needed to try to establish breeding populations of the creatures – called norns – but your control over them was limited as they were coded with advanced neural networks and had functioning internal bodily systems regulating their behaviours and physical abilities. CyberLife made a big deal of the complexity and experimental nature of the game: the box came with a warning sticker stating “Digital DNA Enclosed” and the blurb on the back cautioned players that they would be unleashing the world’s first artificial life-science experiment – which is exactly what Plaything is about.Less cutesy than it looked … Creatures. Photograph: CyberLife TechnologiesCreatures creator Steve Grand bears similarities to the Plaything (and Bandersnatch) coder Colin Ritman. He was a programmer who got tired of conventional games and wanted to try something extremely new. He went on to write a book about Creatures and its development, Creation: Life and How to Make It, and later became an internationally renowned roboticist, famously developing a robot orangutan. Surely the most Black Mirror career trajectory ever. In 2011, he started work on a spiritual follow-up to Creatures named Grandroids, which like Thronglets was about developing a race of intelligent AI aliens – Grand launched a Kickstarter for it in 2016. The project has yet to surface although Grand has a new website for it under the name Phantasia. All very intriguing.This is one of the things I love about Black Mirror, and indeed the use of technology and video games in conventional drama: this is an arcane world full of eccentric people no one outside the industry has heard of, yet the toys they make have massive ramifications. Personally, I wanted to see a lot more of the PC Zone as imagined by the programme, but I understand that the sinister Thronglets were the real focus. Maybe one day there will be a full Silicon Valley-style drama series about the games industry in the 1990s – it was a hell of a time. For now, it’s interesting to see the world both Brooker and I inhabited being used as the venue for dystopian fiction – even if they really did get it completely wrong about those windows.

One Monster Hunter Wilds fan opted to 'Shake It Off', creating an impressively detailed Taylor Swift character in-game for their hunting adventures – check it outTech11:46, 14 Apr 2025Updated 11:48, 14 Apr 2025Monster Hunter Wilds is one of the year's biggest games, and it's only getting bigger having only just received the first part of an ambitious post-launch roadmap with its Title Update 1.The game hit huge player numbers on launch day, despite some performance issues on PC, and fans have been flocking to create their own hunters in-game.‌Article continues belowWe've seen some wild and whacky creations, but one fan has gone above and beyond to give the game's monster roster some 'Bad Blood', creating an impressively tuned Taylor Swift model with which to explore the Forbidden Lands.Check it out below.‌Posting on the Taylor Swift subreddit, one user said: "My husband is playing as Taylor in the newest Monster Hunter game. I think the character turned out perfect!"The huts/bases are also themed after different eras and the stickers are based on different song lyrics. I think she turned out super cute!"I only helped with curly hair Rep Taylor and the Fortnight look, the rest was all him!"‌Monster Hunter's inclusion of Palicos, adorable, anthropomorphized cats that accompany your Hunter on quests, means that even the main character's companion is themed after Taylor's cat, Olivia Benson.Monster Hunter Wilds has been a huge success for publisher Capcom(Image: Capcom)‌Fans loved it, commenting "he cooked" and "just amazing", while one shared a digital recreation from Baldur's Gate 3 that's also styled after the iconic singer.One said "I have no idea what that is but it's ridiculous and I love it and thanks to your husband for making it and thank you for sharing," suggesting that's at least one person commenting that hasn't picked up Monster Hunter Wilds.The download code for downloading Taylor to your game is FD9MB8KL4MS9 if you want to add her to your own game, and we've already seen impressive creations of TV stars, Hollywood actors, and much more as the community flexes its creative muscles.Article continues belowIn fact, I almost feel boring for just having a relatively generic Hunter in the game now.As for Taylor's preferred weapon choice, we're betting it's something that allows for quick feet and nimble dodging. After all, she is... ahem... Swift.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.‌‌‌

Legend Of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 ports will address their most controversial mechanic Michael Beckwith Published April 14, 2025 12:33pm Updated April 14, 2025 12:33pm You will need a separate mobile app to make use of this change though (Nintendo) Nintendo is adding an option to repair weapons in the Legend Of Zelda games for Switch 2 though not in the way some fans would have hoped. There were once claims of an enhanced version of The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild running on the Nintendo Switch 2 but, at the time, it was unclear if this was a tech demo or something Nintendo actually planned to release. The recent Nintendo Switch 2 showcase confirmed it was the latter, with both Breath Of The Wild and its sequel, Tears Of The Kingdom, receiving upgraded ports known as Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games. Both games will see improved visuals and frame rates, but it’s recently been discovered that these ports will also introduce a means of repairing weapons… albeit in a limited capacity. Anyone who has played either Breath Of The Wild or Tears Of The Kingdom will have a strong opinion on their breakable weapons. It’s perhaps the most contentious aspect of both games, with many fans arguing over whether there should have been an option to repair them. Tears Of The Kingdom somewhat addressed this with the new Fuse mechanic, which made weapons sturdier, but a slightly more traditional repair system will be included with the Switch 2 versions via the new Zelda Notes service. As a reminder, Zelda Notes will be added to the Nintendo Switch app this May and comes with a number of features that can be used exclusively with the Switch 2 versions of Breath Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom, like the ability to share items with other players. One of these features is a daily bonus where you can roll for a randomly selected gameplay benefit once a day, such as granting Link extra health. This was demonstrated in a Nintendo Treehouse livestream and, as spotted by YouTuber Zeltik, one of the bonuses is labelled as equipment repairs. This bonus will no doubt restore Link’s equipment, making them as if they were brand new and extending their use. However, this is something that can only happen randomly and is locked to Zelda Notes, so it can’t be used with the original Switch versions of the games. More Trending No doubt this addition is a compromise by Nintendo. After all, if players could repair their equipment in-game whenever they needed to, it would upset the balance of the games, which are designed with breakable weapons in mind. The ability to repair equipment, though, doesn’t do much to make these Switch 2 Editions any more appealing. Both games are being sold at a hefty price tag of £66.99 each and, last week, Nintendo admitted that Breath Of The Wild’s Switch 2 version won’t even include the DLC. While an unattractive offer for newcomers, anyone who owns the Switch 1 version of either game can upgrade to their Switch 2 counterpart for a fee. Nintendo still hasn’t confirmed a UK price, but it’s estimated to be about £8. Anyone with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription can also access both games at no extra cost though this doesn’t include Breath Of The Wild’s DLC. Will you be picking up either of these games on Switch 2? (Nintendo) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

AirTags have been a godsend for those who have a habit of misplacing their belongings: Whether it’s your keys, wallet, bag or luggage (or even your pet’s collar), these small Bluetooth trackers offer a simple and effective solution to keep track of your belongings. Amazon is now offering great discounts on the single AirTag unit and the 4-pack set which it an excellent time to pick up this handy device. Though these prices aren’t all-time lows, they’re near enough to low to make this offer very attractive—especially with word on the street that tariffs might double the price of electronics any time soon. The individual AirTag is now just $24 (orig. $29), and the 4-pack bundle can be had for $79 (orig. $99). Both options are Top 5 bestsellers in Amazon’s Electronics category right now. See 4-pack AirTags at Amazon See single AirTag at Amazon Very Useful Tracker The AirTag is a tiny attachment that makes finding lost items simple: It’s very simple to set up—just tap it to your iPhone or iPad, assign the AirTag a name for what you’re using it for (such as “Keys” or “Backpack”) and you’re ready to go. When linked to your Apple ID, the AirTag cooperates with the Find My app to display its location on a map in real time. If the item is nearby but not in sight, you can use Precision Finding on recent iPhones that have Ultra Wideband technology for a very precise location with on-screen directions and sound. Or you can have the AirTag play a sound from its built-in speaker to locate it in seconds. One of the unique features of the AirTag is that it is able to leverage Apple’s vast Find My network which is composed of hundreds of millions of devices across the globe. When you misplace something outside the home (at a hotel or airport, for example), the AirTag can transmit its location anonymously through nearby Apple devices and back to you via iCloud. This feature makes your items trackable even when they’re out of Bluetooth range. Obviously, privacy and security are also important aspects of the AirTag design: The device uses encrypted communication to protect your data and prevent unwanted tracking. Moreover, if someone attempts to use an AirTag to track you against your will, your iPhone will detect and alert you if there are any unfamiliar trackers nearby. As fears mount over imminent tariff hikes that would essentially see electronics prices go through the roof, it’s a great time to take advantage of Amazon’s discounts. Purchasing AirTags today will ensure that you are not caught off guard by rising costs in the near future. See 4-pack AirTags at Amazon See single AirTag at Amazon

The Economics of Vertical Growth in India: Addressing Urban Density and SprawlSave this picture!Mumbai's skyline. Image © Drone Master via UnsplashIndia finds itself a watershed moment with its urban evolution. With the United Nations projecting urbanization to reach 68% by 2050, the country's metropolitan regions needs to adapt to increasing populations while maintaining equity and quality of life. India's urban population is expected to exceed 600 million by 2030, drawing attention to both urban density and sprawl. As an emerging player in the domain of high-rise development, India is restructuring how it engages with urban growth by shifting from horizontal sprawl to vertical expansion.India's first skyscraper was built in 1961. It was only in the 2000s that momentum was gained in the construction of tall buildings. The steady pace of economic growth and policy liberalization fueled construction technology, enabling the design and execution of tall buildings to match urbanization trends. One of the prime motivations for tall building construction in India, apart from the spike in urban population, was the growing wealth accumulation among its population. Save this picture!The economic benefits of vertical growth are sizeable. Research shows that the cost of providing basic services such as water and sanitation is 30-50% less in densely populated areas compared to sparsely populated ones. This efficiency translates to significant public infrastructure savings, negating the dominance of urban sprawl. Related Article Design for Density: Housing in India as Social Infrastructure Urban sprawl is an elusive concept driven by demographic, economic, geographic, social, and technological factors. These include rising incomes, preferences for living in low-density areas, natural barriers to contiguous urban development, and technological progress in car manufacturing. - Mitu Mathur, Director, GPM Architects and Planners, acknowledging the complex forces at play. The Netaji Nagar and Sarojini Nagar redevelopment projects by Mathur's Delhi-based firm GPM Architects and Planners demonstrate this economic potential. By reducing ground coverage from 23% to 14% while increasing overall density through high-rise structures, these projects accommodate more residents and commercial activities while simultaneously increasing green coverage.Save this picture!For investors, vertical developments offer unique financial advantages. The CBRE's 2023 report "Sky is the Limit: Rise of Tall Buildings in India" reveals, "Tall buildings are not just popular among occupiers alone but investors may also look at them as high-net return properties... The presence of multiple tenants with variation in lease tenures also increases an investor's exposure to the rental cycle." The diversification provides economic resilience, particularly important in fluctuating markets.The economics of urban density put forth strong arguments for vertical development in India's space-constrained cities. When strategically implemented, increased density optimizes land value in prime urban locations while improving the efficiency of infrastructure and service delivery.Save this picture!Bridging Cultural Gaps in Vertical LivingPerhaps the most challenging aspect of vertical development in India involves navigating the cultural and psychological transitions from traditional horizontal living to high-rise environments. Many Indians have deep cultural attachments to ground-level housing, with its connection to the earth, space for religious practices, and established patterns of community interaction. A redevelopment project may seem a harsh transformation to digest for the city's original inhabitants as it demands adaptation to long-term changes. There is a need for sensitive approaches to vertical development that respect cultural values while facilitating necessary urban transitions. More than 90% of tall buildings in India are residential while only 5% are office buildings. - Mitu Mathur, Director, GPM Architects and Planners Save this picture!The psychological barriers to vertical living convey concerns about privacy, noise, access to outdoor space, and altered neighborhood dynamics. These troubles are especially acute in communities with strong traditional housing preferences and established social networks.However, thoughtful design can address many of these concerns. The standard and quality of power back-up, air conditioning, and water supply systems are generally of a much higher standard compared to other investment-grade buildings. Most tall buildings are also very well located in prime districts or newly developed CBDs. These quality differentials can help offset cultural resistance by offering tangible lifestyle improvements.The success of projects like in Netaji Nagar and Sarojini Nagar have dependencies beyond physical design. As Mathur notes, "To bring about social change in the city, we must use development as a catalyst to create safer neighborhoods and walkable communities, invigorating existing green pockets of the city and constructing world-class commercial and residential units with the latest amenities."Save this picture!The historical context demands consideration. Although liberalization in India was already underway during the 1980s, a more systematic set of reforms that led to sustainable growth did not kick in until the 1990s. Reforms such as deregulation of industry, relaxation in external trade policies, and easing of government intervention in the services sectors opened India up for globalization. These reforms also catalyzed the technological advancements that now make sustainable vertical development possible.As India navigates its urban future, the integration of economic, spatial, and cultural considerations will determine the success of vertical development initiatives. The economic case for vertical growth is persuasive, offering optimized land use, efficient infrastructure, and enhanced commercial viability. Sensitive approaches to cultural adaptation can help communities embrace vertical living while maintaining their essential character.This article is part of an ArchDaily series titled India: Building for Billions, where wediscuss the effects of population rise, urbanization, and economic growth on India's built environment. Through the series, we explore local and international innovations responding to India's urban growth. We also talk to the architects, builders, and community, seeking to underline their personal experiences. As always, at ArchDaily, we highly appreciate the input of our readers. If you think we should feature a certain project, please submit your suggestions. Related Article Design for Density: Housing in India as Social Infrastructure Image gallerySee allShow less About this authorAnkitha GattupalliAuthor••• Cite: Ankitha Gattupalli. "The Economics of Vertical Growth in India: Addressing Urban Density and Sprawl" 14 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028945/the-economics-of-vertical-growth-in-india-addressing-urban-density-and-sprawl&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Western automotive giants face an existential challenge as China’s carmakers surge ahead. Much of China’s edge comes from how its automotive sector is structured: streamlined, fast, and incredibly tech-forward. R&D cycles for Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) typically span just nine to 18 months. In contrast, many Western automakers require five to seven years to bring a new vehicle from concept to production. If this gap isn’t closed — and fast — the Western auto industry could become irrelevant by 2030. Let’s talk about how Intel and others could save the auto industry. Then, we’ll close with my Product of the Week: the HP EliteBook Ultra G1i 14-inch AI PC. China’s Fast-Moving Auto Sector One critical reason for China’s lead is its organizational agility. Chinese car companies operate under more linear leadership models, where decision-making is centralized and fast. There’s minimal bureaucracy, and product development teams are tightly aligned with executive leadership. In contrast, Western companies often operate under legacy structures built over decades, with siloed departments and multilayered chains of approval. These structures kill speed. In today’s hypercompetitive environment, time is everything. Why Chinese Carmakers Delay Hardware Decisions Another strategic advantage Chinese carmakers have embraced is choosing hardware last. Instead of locking in chipsets, cameras, and sensors early in development, they build vehicles on flexible, software-defined architectures. This approach allows them to integrate the most advanced technologies available at the time of launch, ensuring they’re not stuck with obsolete systems by the time the car hits the road. Western automakers still operate in reverse: they make hardware decisions early, which locks the vehicle into slower and less capable tech. That’s why you can buy a brand-new car and still be disappointed to find that the infotainment system and other tech features haven’t advanced much from what was available a decade ago. Enter Intel and the Tech Sector At this point, Intel and other tech giants could dramatically alter the trajectory of Western automotive companies. Intel has deep roots in high-speed innovation and leading technology transitions. It could provide crucial expertise in agile development practices, hardware/software integration, and modular platform design. One key area is photonics, a revolutionary technology that enables data to travel as light rather than electrical signals. Intel is among the world leaders in silicon photonics and could guide carmakers in replacing expensive, heavy, and increasingly bandwidth-constrained copper wiring with fiber-optic solutions. Photonics doesn’t only reduce weight — it drastically improves data transmission speeds, making it ideal for next-generation vehicles loaded with sensors and AI modules. Intel, AMD Partnership Could Save Western Carmakers In the early days of the PC revolution, Intel and AMD drove massive innovation by functioning as second-source partners, providing interchangeable processors that helped standardize the personal computing landscape. This model could be revived for automotive computing. Currently, Qualcomm and Nvidia dominate the automotive AI chipset space, but a renewed Intel-AMD alliance could give automakers a flexible, competitive alternative. To unlock this potential, the two firms should consider standardizing common sockets or board layouts, much like they did in the x86 era. Standardization would allow automakers to adopt a single-vehicle compute architecture and choose between Intel and AMD for different trim levels to overcome product shortages or regional variants, dramatically reducing development costs and improving sourcing resilience. In addition, both AMD and Intel are highly scalable at the socket level, allowing better upgrade paths and enabling last-minute or post-sales enhancements that could generate new revenue for dealers. AI Will Reshape the Future of the Auto Industry AI is poised to radically reshape the automotive landscape. The rise of Cars-as-a-Service (CaaS) models, autonomous vehicle fleets, and real-time predictive maintenance will fundamentally change the economics of mobility. In the future, owning a car may be less attractive, especially in urban environments. Consumers will demand smarter, more connected, and constantly improving vehicles. Automakers will need to shift from building static machines to offering dynamic, software-defined platforms. Tech companies understand this realm deeply. Firms like Intel, Google, and Amazon are already experts in cloud integration, edge processing, real-time analytics, and software monetization. By partnering with these firms, car companies can accelerate their transition to the automotive-as-a-platform model. Wrapping Up: Clock Is Ticking for Western Carmakers China isn’t just ahead in the EV race — it’s accelerating. Brands like BYD, Nio, and XPeng already deliver world-class electric vehicles at unbeatable prices. They’re expanding globally and investing heavily in autonomy and AI. Meanwhile, Western carmakers remain hamstrung by legacy supply chains, outdated software stacks, and glacial product cycles. Without bold, immediate action, many could face extinction by 2030. This is where Intel and its peers offer more than chips — they offer a lifeline. By helping legacy manufacturers reimagine their cultures, processes, and architectures, tech companies can serve as strategic partners in a much-needed reinvention. The opportunity is immense, but so is the risk. Carmakers that don’t rapidly adopt fast-cycle development, modular compute architectures, photonics, and AI-driven service models will not only lose market share — they’ll become irrelevant. If Intel, AMD, and their ecosystem allies work hand-in-hand with automakers to build next-generation vehicles, they won’t just help an industry survive — they’ll help it thrive in a world where speed, intelligence, and adaptability decide who leads and who’s left behind. HP EliteBook Ultra G1i 14-inch AI PC HP’s new EliteBook Ultra G1i 14-inch is one of the first next-generation AI PCs to hit the market. It’s tailored for professionals who value security, sustainability, and premium user experience. This sleek business laptop features Intel’s Core Ultra 5 or 7 processor, delivering a whopping 48 TOPS (tera operations per second) of AI acceleration power. This AI acceleration can improve performance by up to 2.2x for demanding tasks like video editing or webinar production. Unlike gaming laptops that sacrifice battery life for graphics performance, the EliteBook Ultra G1i is built for real-world productivity. Its lightweight design, compact charger, and extended battery life are optimized for business travel and hybrid work. Despite its slim profile, it packs surprising performance muscle. The EliteBook Ultra’s showpiece is its stunning 2.8K OLED display, available in touch and non-touch options. This high-resolution screen offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and razor-sharp detail — ideal for professionals who value visual clarity in their daily workflow. HP EliteBook Ultra G1i 14 inch Notebook Next Gen AI PC Wolf Pro Security Edition (Image Credit: HP) Security is another area where this notebook shines. It includes HP Wolf Security, a comprehensive endpoint defense suite that provides protection at every layer of the device. It’s also certified as a Microsoft Secure Core PC, which meets the strictest requirements for firmware protection, hardware-based root-of-trust, and identity safeguards, which are ideal for handling sensitive corporate data. One of the standout additions is support for the full Poly Camera Pro experience. This camera system uses AI to improve lighting, auto-frame subjects, suppress background noise, and enhance video clarity, giving users unmatched control over how they appear in virtual meetings. For leaders and executives constantly on calls, it’s a game-changer. HP goes big on sustainability. The EliteBook Ultra is one of the most eco-conscious laptops in its class, made with recycled metals and ocean-bound plastics throughout the chassis and packaging. The laptop’s unique Atmospheric Blue finish isn’t just eye-catching — it underscores HP’s effort to move away from generic enterprise design. Ultimately, this laptop is designed with the modern leader in mind. Its next-gen AI capabilities and unmatched build quality complement its strong security foundation, efficient performance, and high-end visuals. It’s not just a work tool — it’s a statement of intent for professionals who demand the best. For anyone in search of a future-proof business notebook that marries style, substance, and sustainability, the HP EliteBook Ultra G1i 14-inch Notebook Next Generation AI PC is one of the most compelling choices available today, and it’s my Product of the Week.

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Somewhere between 9,500 and 9,900 years ago, three Scandinavian teenagers were hanging out, chewing gum after a meal. Specifically, they were chewing pitch or tar made from the bark of birch trees. Many millennia removed, archaeologists analyzed the spit out wads and discovered what the teens had recently eaten (red fox, hazelnut, deer, and apple), as well as the state of their oral health (poor). The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports in  2024. It’s among the earliest known examples of chewing gum in the archaeological record, but it’s far from the only one.  Humans  have been gnawing on rubbery bits of indigestible gunk for a long, long time. Gum chewing independently arose across different cultures and regions at different times, says Jennifer Mathews, an anthropologist at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. In Mexico, for instance, Mayans and later Aztecs chewed chicle, a substance derived from the milky latex of the tropical sapodilla tree. Chicle ultimately led to the creation and commodification of the modern chewing gum we know today, as described in Mathews’ 2009 book, Chicle: The Chewing Gum of the Americas, From the Ancient Maya to William Wrigley.  Aztecs also chewed natural bitumen, a petroleum-based material similar to asphalt that often washes up on shorelines, sometimes on its own and sometimes mixed with chicle. It was a central enough part of Aztec culture that they wrote up rules for it. It was considered uncouth for anyone besides young children or elderly women to chew it publicly, says Mathews. Elsewhere, people chewed on gums derived from plants like mastic in ancient Greece–which became the root of the word mastication–terebinth resin in Central Asia, or spruce gum among Indigenous Americans.  “They’re using what they have in their environment to fix a problem,” says Mathews. Clearly, as it showed up so many times in so many places, gum served a need.  Why we chew In the absence of toothpaste and dentists, people found their own ways to keep their mouths feeling as hygienic as possible. Chewing gum filled in some of those gaps and its primary purpose across cultures was to clean the teeth, freshen the breath, and boost oral health, Mathews explains. Mastic and chicle alike are commonly described as having pleasant, sweet, and piney or woodsy flavors– probably a preferable smell and taste to whatever bits of food might linger between the teeth after meals. Today, sugar free gum can offer some smile benefits, according to the American Dental Association (though overdo it and you could end up with a jaw disorder). [ Related: Can chewing gum reshape your jawline? We asked experts. ] But that’s not the only reason for our enduring love of gum. Chewing on it also likely helped people stave off hunger and thirst when food and water weren’t readily available, Mathews adds. Some research now demonstrates that gum chewing suppresses appetite and leads people to eat less than they would otherwise. Chewing gum may also confer cognitive benefits, according to a handful of psychology and scientific studies. In certain settings, it seems to boost test performance, working memory, and alertness. Some research has also found that gum chewing can help manage stress and anxiety, though other research has found contradictory results and it’s worth noting that a few of the affirmative studies were funded in part by gum manufacturers. Gum goes global In fact, all of the above has been used to market gum, as far back as World War I. William Wrigley Jr, founder of the namesake company, convinced the U.S. military to include gum with soldiers’ rations to help with teeth cleaning, nervousness, and hunger management. Through deployed soldiers, more and more people were exposed to gum as a commodity item. “That’s really one of the reasons chewing gum spread around the world. [In the modern era], it really started out as an American habit,” says Matthews. The first mass-manufactured, flavored gums were made from chicle in the 19th century. Thomas Adams, a Staten Island inventor, was approached by Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana, a former president of Mexico living in exile. Lopez de Santa Ana hoped to harness Adams’ skills to derive a material from sapodilla trees that could compete with Charles Goodyear’s rubber. But after several failed attempts and experiments, Adams settled on selling chicle gum with added flavoring to candy stores instead, Mathews says.  In 1871, Adams patented a gum-making machine and began selling his product under the Black Jack brand. As chewing gums grew in popularity, meeting the demand through chicle alone became increasingly tough. Sapodilla trees are slow growing and temperamental in their latex production. “If you over-tap it, it will basically dry out,” Mathews explains.  Plus, chicle is a difficult and dangerous product to harvest, requiring workers to scale trees, score bark, and collect latex over large areas of forest. Around the 1950s, Wrigley began looking for other natural sources of gum, but didn’t find anything to match the quality and quantity of chicle. Instead, gum makers turned to synthetics–or in other words: plastic.  The unfortunate downside The vast majority of commercially available gums are now made from different blends of synthetic, petroleum-based polymers. Polyethylene (also used to make plastic bags and bottles), butyl rubber–the material bike inner tubes are made from, and polyvinyl acetate (PVA), which is a key ingredient in many glues can all be found in some gums. Softeners, waxes, flavorings, and other additives are also part of the mix.  As you might guess, chewing on macroplastic can be a source of microplastic ingestion. A preliminary study presented at the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) spring meeting in March found that a single stick of gum releases hundreds of teeny polymer bits as it’s chewed. An unrelated 2016 study found that gum chewing is a significant source of phthalate exposure. Phthalates are chemicals used to increase the flexibility and durability of plastics. Exposure to high amounts , especially for pregnant women and young children, carries well-established health consequences like increased risk of preterm birth and asthma.  It’s not yet known exactly how microplastics behave in the human body nor what health impacts they carry. Avoiding exposure is nearly impossible, given that microplastics are increasingly present in the air, water, and food we rely on, and they have shown up in basically every human tissue tested. However, willingly gnawing on plastic can still feel like an unsettling choice. For her part, Mathews switched largely from synthetic gum over to the naturally-derived, more niche products still available while she was working on her book years ago.  Unfortunately, even natural wax and chicle-based gums still seem to contain and confer plastic contamination, according to the recent ACS research. “Both synthetic and natural gums had similar amounts of microplastics released when we chewed them,” one of the researchers wrote in a statement. Despite the knowledge, history can be hard to escape. I’ve gone through two sticks of gum while writing this article. This story is part of Popular Science’sAsk Us Anything series, where we answer your most outlandish, mind-burning questions, from the ordinary to the off-the-wall. Have something you’ve always wanted to know?Ask us.