Motorheads have long theorised that the extreme downforce generated by high-performance cars could one day let them drive upside down. Now, British carmaker McMurtry has turned that wild idea into a reality for the first time. In a stunt that would make Batman jealous, McMurtry drove its insanely fast electric Spéirling flipped over. More impressively, it did that for over a minute while keeping the vehicle completely stationary — save for a quick acceleration to prove the car wasn’t tied down.  While it might look like the car has defied gravity, in reality, it’s basic physics coupled with some clever engineering.  To drive upside down using conventional aerodynamics, an F1-style car would need to hit at least 100–150 mph to generate enough downforce to exceed its own weight and “stick” to the ceiling.   Register here But the Spéirling is a fan car. Twin electric turbines positioned behind the cockpit of the vehicle pull air from under the chassis and expel it through a rear-mounted exhaust system, creating a low-pressure zone underneath that presses the car onto the road. This system means the Spéirling can generate 2,000kg of downforce on demand. That’s great for grip in high-speed turns, but it also means the 1,000kg car can hang upside down, even when standing still.  That’s how McMurtry’s co-founder Thomas Yates was able to drive the Spéirling onto a rotating rig, flip it 180 degrees upside down, and have it stay there. No wires. No magnets. Just an insane amount of downforce.  The route to public roads for McMurtry McMurtry steered the Spéirling up a ramp and drove it upside down. Credit: McMurtry While this was just a stunt — for now — one can’t help but wonder what the future might hold. Stuck in tunnel traffic? Just drive up the wall, flip upside down, and cruise on the ceiling. Goodbye, gridlock.  The Spéirling Pure, the company’s first commercially available vehicle, is set to go on sale next year for £895,000. So, technically, you could try upside-down driving yourself.  “That said, customers are strongly advised not to try [driving upside down] at home,” a McMurtry spokesperson told TNW. If you’re mad enough to give it a go, McMurtry recommends contacting the company directly to discuss “pre-flight checks, preparation and safety equipment, and controlled demonstration environments.” For now, though, McMurtry is preoccupied with smashing records the right side up. On the same day as the Batmobile-like stunt, the Spéirling beat the all-time Top Gear track record by 3.1 seconds, dethroning a Renault F1 car at the top of the leaderboard. The McMurtry Spéirling’s fan-based tech gives it incredible grip in corners. It’s no slouch, either. Dual electric motors — one for each rear wheel — deliver over 1,000 horsepower combined. Paired with a featherweight chassis, this allows the car to clock 0–60mph in 1.5 seconds. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Siôn is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Siôn has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

When the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into effect last year, Apple was forced to implement many changes to iOS – including letting developers create web browsers with their own engine. A year later, none of the major web browsers have released an EU-specific version. In an exclusive interview with 9to5Mac, Opera Product Manager Jona Bolin detailed why the changes made by Apple are still not enough to increase competition. Opera benefits from DMA, but there’s more to be done The DMA has established a series of requirements for big techs, also referred to as “gatekeepers,” in order to increase competition between their own services and those of third parties. Apart from allowing sideloading on iOS for the first time, Apple also had to make it easier for users to choose their default web browser. More importantly, browsers in the EU can now run under a different web engine, since Apple used to force every third-party app to use Safari’s WebKit (which is still the case in the rest of the world). But how have these changes impacted web browser developers? Jona Bolin, the head of the Opera browser for iOS, believes that there’s still a lot more to be done for third-party web browsers to compete with Apple’s Safari. When it comes to the choice of default browser on iOS, Bolin says that Opera is “quite satisfied with the final results.” In the EU, iOS users are now prompted about which web browser they want to use after setting up a new device. A report last year revealed that this change has increased the number of downloads for third-party web browsers, as more users become familiar with other options available in the App Store. ‘You have to play by their rules’ Even so, Bolin argues that third-party web browsers still have many other limitations on iOS. “You have to play by their rules. […] You comply. But that, in one sense, limits you, right? […] It’s like Apple doesn’t trust you.” Although Apple now allows web browsers to have a custom engine in the EU, Opera claims that “no one is actually doing it” because of how Apple has implemented the DMA changes. For instance, developers can’t automatically migrate their users from the global version of the browser to the EU-specific one. They would also need to work on the two versions separately, which would make this “a big risk and cost.” Using WebKit means that third-party browsers can’t implement features that Apple doesn’t yet support, which is why Bolin believes Apple should allow browsers to have a custom engine in any country, not just the EU. When it comes to web browsers, I think we should be able to provide our own web engine in any country. And if that’s not possible, they should allow us to provide multiple binnaries. So if you’re in Sweden or in Portugal, you can download and choose the browser with a custom engine rather than the system’s engine, right? Opera seems optimistic about the future, as it believes the combination of global regulatory pressure will eventually force Apple to open up its ecosystem for real. Until then, the company will remain focused on bringing other new features to its browser. More from Opera At an event held in Lisbon, Portugal, Opera also highlighted its efforts to further improve the Opera browser for iOS. The iPhone and iPad app was recently updated with Aria, Opera’s AI chatbot, and now comes with a free VPN and content filters. Opera for iOS also supports many of the system’s APIs, such as custom icons and widgets. The company prides itself on how it builds Opera with privacy in mind, especially since it’s based in Norway and is subject to Europe’s strict legislation when it comes to collecting and managing user data. We were also able to see a live demo of Opera’s AI Browser Operator, and it was quite impressive. Opera for iOS is available for free on the App Store. You can find more details about Opera’s products on the company’s website. Gadgets I recommend: Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple has floundered in its efforts to bring a convincing AI product to the table — so much so that it's become the subject of derision even among its own employees, .More specifically, it's the AI and machine-learning group that's getting the lion's share of mockery. Known as AI/ML for short, its woes only deepened after Apple announced that it had to delay its much-hyped next iteration of AI enhancements for Siri until 2026. With its leadership being increasingly called into question and with seemingly more embarrassments than victories to its name, Apple engineers outside the group bestowed it a cruel nickname: "AIMLess," according to the Information.The moniker is also a jab at AI/ML's ousted leaders. Coinciding with the delay, Apple told staff it was taking its AI chief John Giannandrea off leading the Siri AI project. Giannandrea had a reputation for being relaxed, quiet, and non-confrontational, while his lieutenant Robby Walker was criticized for lacking ambition and being too risk-averse. More than half a dozen former employees who worked in Giannandrea and Walker's group, per the report, blamed poor leadership for the project's struggles.Giannandrea is being replaced by head of software engineering Craig Federighi, with executive Mike Rockwell, who worked on Apple's mixed reality Vision Pro headset, assuming Walker's duties. Federighi has led Apple's engineering team since 2012, earning a reputation for efficiency and execution. His leadership style is the opposite of Giannandrea's: tough and demanding, according to the Information. The two bigwigs often butted heads, with resentment building between the Siri group and the software group, which had its own crew of AI engineers. The release of OpenAI's ChatGPT deepened the fissure: Gianandrea's team didn't respond with a sense of urgency, according to former engineers, while Federighi's outfit immediately started exploring the use of large language models to improve the iPhone. At a critical moment in the AI race that called for decisiveness, the Siri team wavered. After teasing major upgrades to Siri at Apple's annual developers conference, Giannandrea and company couldn't decide whether to build an LLM that would run locally on a user's iPhone or build a bigger one that would run on the cloud to handle more complex tasks. In the end, they went with Plan C: build one huge model to handle everything, according to the Information, undoing the company's commitment to keeping Siri's software on-device, and putting it on the path to a delayed rollout.Since then, the straits haven't looked any less dire. After all the hype, many users felt that Apple Intelligence was lackluster at best. Apple also faced significant backlash after one of its features for summarizing news headlines constantly misreported them, forcing Apple to pull the plug.While many in the company are hopeful that the injection of new leadership can salvage Siri's botched AI facelift, getting itself on even footing in the AI race is going to be an uphill battle, even for Apple.Share This Article

Bring care, connection and full foot comfort to thousands of runners, hikers and outdoors enthusiasts.🌏 Remote | Flexible Hours | Applicants in South and Central America preferredAbout Creepers SocksCreepers Socks isn’t your average sock brand. Led by a passionate founder who knew blisters, cramped up and smelly feet shouldn’t be part of the journey. Our Merino toe socks are designed to help hikers, runners, and everyday movers feel better in their feet - so they can go further, longer, and happier. And with thousands of 5-star reviews, we know we’re onto something good.Now with over 100,000 socks sold in 2024 and growing fast, Creepers Socks, is ready to build the A-team.But we’re not just about socks - we’re about service, community and the great outdoors. And that’s where you come in.What This Role Is All AboutWe're on the hunt for a people-first, problem-solving, clear-communicating legend to join us as our Customer Support Expert.You’ll be the friendly human behind the inbox - resolving questions, offering guidance, and making sure every Creepers customer feels seen, heard, and stoked with their experience.A Good Fit If You…Love helping people. You get a kick out of solving problems and making someone’s day.Communicate with empathy and clarity. Your written tone is warm, upbeat, and easy to understand.Stay calm under pressure. Whether it’s a shipping delay or a return request, you handle it with grace.Are independent + proactive. You don’t wait to be told what to do—you take initiative and follow through.Get our people. Maybe you hike, maybe you run, maybe you just really value good gear. But you understand the outdoor-loving customer and their expectations.Have experience. You’ve worked in customer support before (bonus points if in eComm). Familiarity with Shopify, CX software, or similar platforms is helpful—but not a dealbreaker.What You’ll Be DoingResponding to customer queries via email, chat, and social platformsHelping with order questions, exchanges, returns, and general product infoEscalating any issues to the founderKeeping our help desk content up-to-dateModerating socialsBringing the Creepers voice to every message—friendly, clear, down-to-earth and humanThe DetailsFully remote (any timezone works—we’ll find an overlap)Full time with flexible hours with the possibility to start part time if needed.Contractor positionWorking closely with Shaun, the founder.The Details RequirementsNot all required.- High school diploma or equivalent; bachelor’s degree preferred- Proven experience in customer service or e-commerce support- Excellent verbal and written communication skills- Proficiency in using CRM systems and customer support software- Familiarity with e-commerce platforms and order processing systems- Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities- Ability to multi-task and manage time effectively- High attention to detail and accuracy- Ability to handle difficult or irate customers professionally- Strong organizational and record-keeping skills- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team- Willingness to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays as needed- Basic understanding of social media platforms for customer service purposes- Ability to continuously learn and adapt to new tools and technology- Customer-oriented mindset with a passion for delivering exceptional service- Familiarity with the company's products, services, and policies (will be trained on the job)To ApplyFollow the link to fill out the short application, provide your CV and ideally, submit a short video intro.

The Brick Bay Folly 2026 is now open for entries from architecture students and recent graduates (within the last ten years) to create designs that explore the intersection between sculpture and architecture. The annual competition allows teams to collaborate on the creation of experimental and innovative architectural follies, with the winning team receiving $30,000 in grants towards realising their proposed folly design. Entries are due by 9 am Monday, 16 June 2025. Along with grant and sponsorship money, the selected winning team will receive mentorship and technical support from Resene, Cassidy Construction, Cheshire Architects, Structure Design and Unitec. The finished project is then displayed on-site for up to 48 months and will be photographed by Samuel Hartnett, and featured in Architecture NZ magazine. The competition offers students and recent graduates a rare opportunity to create a conceptual small-scale piece of architecture that, if selected, they can then build. The winning 2024 Brick Bay Folly, Femme-ly Velues, acknowledges the heritage of textile craft among women by referencing the stages of weaving across its three distinct elevations. The team was made up of Claire Ford, Elise Cautley and Jennifer Gao of Yellowhammer Services, Architecture HDT and Jack McKinney Architects, respectively, who joined forces to design a concept based on the fabric crafts they’d been taught by their mothers. Read about their winning submission here. Full submission guidelines and information on how to submit your project can be found at brickbaysculpture.co.nz. The 2026 Brick Bay Folly is supported by Resene, Cassidy Construction, Cheshire Architects, Structure Design, Unitec, ArchitectureNow, Architecture New Zealand, Samuel Hartnett and Brick Bay Sculpture Trust.

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Sony has increased the price of its PlayStation 5 by 25% as the video game industry reels from the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs.The Japanese game developer said it had made the “tough decision” to raise the price of the console’s digital edition to £429.99 in the UK and €499.99 in Europe, starting from Monday. There will be no price change for the standard PS5, which comes with a disk drive.The company cited “a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates” behind its decision to increase the retail price of the PS5 in some markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania.In Australia, the standard PS5 will rise to A$829.95, while the digital edition will increase to A$749.95. In New Zealand, the standard console will increase to NZ$949.95, and the digital to NZ$859.95..The technology industry has been grappling with the possible impact of President Trump’s tariffs on its supply chains. Rival Japanese game developer Nintendo unveiled its new handheld console, the Switch 2, the day before Trump launched his barrage of “reciprocal” tariffs on foreign goods on 2 April. A few days later, the company postponed preorders of the device in the US, as it said it would need to assess the potential effect of tariffs.Japan was hit with a 24% tariff on its exports to the US on Trump’s “liberation day” on 2 April. Like most of Trump’s new tariffs, they have been paused for 90 days. However, the Japanese prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, said on Monday that his country did not plan to make big concessions in negotiations with the US and that it would not rush to reach a deal. Talks between the two governments are due this week.Companies such as Apple, whose products are largely assembled in China, are also bracing for higher costs. Analysts at the investment bank UBS have warned that the price of an iPhone 16 Max, with 256GB of storage, could rise 79% from $1,199 (£915) to about $2,150 (£1,600), based on a total tariff of 145%.While there is still a great deal of uncertainty around Trump’s trade policy, Japanese shares rose on Monday after the US said it would pause levies on some electronics, including smartphones. Tokyo’s index of blue chip stocks, the Nikkei 225, closed up 1%.However, US officials said on Sunday that the pause on smartphones, laptops and other electronic products from import tariffs on China will be short-lived, with Trump warning on Sunday that no one was “getting off the hook”.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Business TodayFree daily newsletterGet set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morningPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionIn a post on Truth Social, his social media platform, the president promised to launch a national security trade investigation in the semiconductor sector and “the whole electronics supply chain”.“We will not be held hostage by other Countries, especially hostile trading Nations like China,” he wrote.

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube808k Halo, Destiny and ex-Microsoft developer Bungie revealed its new extraction-shooter Marathon to the world last week and it seems there has already been some questions about the possibility of a Switch 2 release. In case you were wondering, Japanese publication Famitsu asked about the chances of this upcoming game - due out this September - coming to Nintendo's "next-generation game hardware" and it's currently something the team has no plans for right now but will consider in the future. Bungie director Joseph Ziegler: "At the moment we don't have any plans to add additional compatible hardware, but we will consider it in the future."Although Bungie is now owned by Sony, its games like Destiny are still available (and supported) across multiple platforms. During the Switch generation, the original hybrid system played host to team-based first-person shooters like Apex Legends and Overwatch 2, so it would be nice to see this trend continue in some way or form on the Switch 2. Marathon launches for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on 23rd September 2025, with a closed alpha taking place soon. Let battle commence "Exclusivity kind of mitigates the sticker shock" Do you think we'll see a game like Marathon on the Switch 2? Would you be interested in this game on Nintendo's new system? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. [source famitsu.com, via famiboards.com, gonintendo.com] See Also Share:0 0 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Upgrade Pack Price For Zelda: BOTW And TOTK Has Been Confirmed A pleasant surprise! My Nintendo Adds A Switch 2 Reward (North America) It's a keychain! Nintendo Confirms US Price For 'Switch 2 Welcome Tour' Quick, act surprised! UK Switch 2 Fans, Don't Bother Going To GAME Stores For Your Pre-Order You won't get one Switch 2 GameChat Choppy Frame Rate Explained By Nintendo It's about ensuring the "game experience" is at its best

In Brief Posted: 1:32 PM PDT · April 14, 2025 Image Credits:Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile / Getty Images Rippling is trying to serve Deel’s CEO, but bailiffs can’t find him HR tech startup Rippling is trying to serve Deel CEO Alex Bouaziz with papers as part of a blockbuster lawsuit against its competitor. There’s just one problem: French bailiffs hired by Rippling can’t seem to find Bouaziz, Irish newspaper Business Post reports. Rippling sued Deel earlier this year in Ireland alleging the company paid one of its employees to spy on them, according to the lawsuit that includes an affidavit from the alleged spy which reads like a movie. Deel denies all wrongdoing. Rippling needs to serve Bouaziz papers for the case. But French bailiffs hired by Rippling have been unable to find Bouaziz, who is French, at his listed address in Paris. Rippling may need to apply to serve him via email, the Business Post reports. Bouaziz is “highly nomadic” but remains “very attached to France,” French magazine Challenges reported. Bouaziz lists his location as Tel Aviv on LinkedIn, but New York on X.  Deel, Rippling, and Bouaziz didn’t respond to requests for comment.  Topics

ZDNET's key takeaways Amazon sells the Echo Hub for $180.The Echo Hub gives Alexa the place it has earned in the smart home market: A control panel to easily access smart devices, no ads, and no unnecessary fluff.The smart display can be slow and buggy, especially while loading multiple camera views more buying choices The Amazon Echo Hub is currently on sale for $130. Act fast because this deal will only be available for a limited time.Many smart home enthusiasts, myself included, are tired of juggling dozens of apps on their phones to control the smart devices in their homes. While the release of Matter alleviates this hassle, the new smart home connectivity standard has yet to get enough support to eliminate the challenge.As a result, many of us are left looking for smart displays that can give us quick access to control our devices. Some tech-savvy folks may use a repurposed old tablet mounted to the wall as a smart home control center, while others opt for a smart display like an Echo Show or a Google Nest Hub that can already function as a smart home controller out of the box, among other things.Also: This video doorbell gave me similar benefits as a Ring but with no monthly subscriptionsThese devices always have their drawbacks. Amazon's Echo Hub is designed to fill a gap in the smart home controller market by being what these devices are not: a smart home controller and only that.  details View at Amazon There are no frills with the Echo Hub. There's no spatial audio speaker attached to its base, no ultra-high definition for streaming, and no ads to display while in standby mode. It doesn't serve any purpose besides being a smart home hub and controller.Testing the Echo Hub for the past few months has been a refreshing experience. Its navigation is sorted into categories and widgets. At a glance, the Echo Hub displays your widgets on about two-thirds of the screen, with your routines and rooms on the left side and device categories at the bottom. You can customize the widgets and download more from the widgets store. The Echo Hub can get a bit laggy when you pull up your security camera feeds. Maria Diaz/ZDNETThe 8-inch touchscreen display can be wall-mounted, which is my preference. I've always wanted to repurpose a tablet as a wall-mounted smart panel or prop it up on a flat surface using a tabletop stand. Also: This is the most customizable smart home accessory I didn't know I neededAs its name indicates, the Echo Hub is a smart home control panel with the Alexa voice assistant. It also works to connect Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Thread, and Sidewalk smart devices.  The Echo Hub makes it easy to control all of your Alexa-compatible lights. Maria Diaz/ZDNETWait, if Amazon already has the Echo Show, why make the Echo Hub? The Amazon Alexa smart home network is quickly becoming one of the largest and most intuitive smart home automation systems available. The system supports 100 million devices and is the most compatible.The Alexa app quickly connects new devices you add to your smart home with little effort on your end and lets you control devices from different manufacturers in one place. If a smart home device says it "works with Alexa," you can trust the technology will be easy to set up and control with the Alexa app, the voice assistant, and now the Echo Hub.Also: The best smart home devices you can buyI currently have four Echo Shows and four other Echo speakers, so there's a lot of Alexa in my home. As an Apple HomeKit house, I got an Echo speaker to see how Alexa fared against Siri.I then got my kitchen's Echo Show to listen to music or watch the news while cooking dinner and to control smart home devices, but also because I thought the display would give me better views into my calendar, which wasn't the case. The Echo Hub does exactly what it promises to do: give me a clear view into my smart home and a quick way to control it. Here's the Echo Hub camera view. Maria Diaz/ZDNETI've never been quiet about the Echo Show's shortcomings, especially as a person who uses the technology daily. I dislike that I can't control what is displayed during standby, that Alexa only understands me about 70% of the time, that the hardware itself is slow and laggy, that an app like YouTube, which requires a browser, is so hard to navigate with your voice, and that smart home control is such a secondary feature.ZDNET's buying adviceBecause Alexa can handle many different devices, maintains a reliable connection, and makes routines easy to use, I hate to admit that I reach for it more often than my Apple Home app. The Echo Hub puts all that convenience on my wall, within my reach. I can easily run routines from the hub, arm or disarm my Ring Alarm system, check my security cameras, adjust the downstairs thermostat, or turn a light on or off on my way upstairs for the night. While the Echo Hub isn't a smart speaker, Alexa does respond on the device. You can mute it so it doesn't listen for the wake word and adjust its volume. Maria Diaz/ZDNETDuring setup, you can choose which Echo device in your home to play music on when you ask Alexa on the Echo Hub to play something, as it's not a speaker -- another differentiator between the Echo Hub and other Echo devices. This approach means you don't get an Echo Hub instead of an Echo speaker if you still want to play music, especially if you want smart speakers around your home.Like many smart home users, I am only reluctant to completely give in to Alexa and Amazon due to privacy and security concerns, especially considering that data is not handled locally. While companies can always claim to prioritize consumer privacy, you can only take them at face value regarding your personal information. What are the tariffs in the US? The recent US tariffs on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India aim to boost domestic manufacturing but are likely to drive up prices on consumer electronics. Products like smartphones, laptops, and TVs may become more expensive as companies rethink global supply chains and weigh the cost of shifting production.Consumers may also experience notable price increases on robot vacuums and smart home products. Manufacturers are exploring options such as relocating production to countries with lower tariffs, but such transitions are complex and may not provide immediate relief. In the short term, shoppers should anticipate higher costs for robot vacuums due to these trade policies. Show more Featured reviews