The Fieldstone table merges digital fabrication with traditional stone masonry, showcasing the artistry of 3D sand printing. Designed by Erco Lai with Zongru Wu and manufactured by Sandhelden using binder jetting technology, this piece pushes design boundaries, blending natural aesthetics with cutting-edge craftsmanship and redefining how we perceive the intersection of art, technology, and nature. Spread of Individual stonesA sculptural table made from dark artificial stones, blending digital fabrication with natural stone aestheticsA close-up to the stonesView the full project here

PROS: Eye-catching "Cosmic Ring" Camera design Dedicated camera slider Decent flagship performanceCONS: Thick, heavy, and slippery Last year's Snapdragon flagshipRATINGS:AESTHETICSERGONOMICSPERFORMANCESUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITYVALUE FOR MONEYEDITOR'S QUOTE:The nubia Z60S Pro delivers AI-powered photography in an accessible package with a distinctive designAI is undoubtedly the buzzword thats taking by storm any industry related to computers. Its not just the generative AI thats making up essays and artwork, much to creators chagrin, or the prying eyes that watch over your social interactions online. AI has actually been in our phones a bit longer than those, using imaging magic to enhance photos and videos in ways that were unknown to us until recently. Now, almost every new phone has some AI feature in its bullet points, and nubia is not one to be left behind. With the nubia Z60S Pro, it is entering into this new arena, so we take the brands newest flagship for a spin to see if it is able to stand out from the growing throng of AI-enhanced smartphones.Designer: nubiaAestheticsSmartphone cameras are getting more powerful and larger as the years go by, and these are putting the skills of designers to the test. Its no longer a question of how to cram those sensors and lenses but how to make them look less conspicuous and less atrocious. Its no surprise that not all manufacturers get it right, so its quite a relief to see nubia pull it off somehow.nubia calls it a Cosmic Ring Design and it takes inspiration from our solar system. Three small circles surround a larger one in a symmetrical pattern, calling to mind how the planets revolve around the sun. A coronet extrudes from the left side with the words Be yourself engraved on it, sending the brands exhortation to everyone to take a closer look. Its a well-balanced and pleasing composition, unlike the sometimes messy and skewed designs of other phones. The red ring around the central lens is a nice touch, giving the phone a more camera-like appearance, especially on our black review unit.There are three color options for the nubia Z60S Pro, with both Black and Aqua sporting a single solid swatch of color. White has a bit more flair, with cloudy formations of gray that give it some visual texture. Of course, all three have a glass panel covering their rears, so its really only an illusion. All sides of the phone are devoid of curves, except for the four corners, of course. This aligns with the design trends these days, like it or not, so it carries a modern touch in its simplicity.The Z60S Pro carries a moderately minimalist design, with only that large circle as the center of distraction. Weve definitely seen worse, but weve also seen more interesting designs, so it doesnt stand out that much unless you really take a closer look and take a moment to appreciate the design.ErgonomicsThe nubia Z60S Pro is quite a large phone, not unusual for a flagship these days, and that doesnt come without consequences. Although its the de facto standard, of course, the design previously derided as phablets are not the easiest to hold securely and use with one hand, which is especially true with a thick and substantial device like this. Granted, its not alone in that category, with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra leading the way. That doesnt mean, however, that it is ideal or one that phone designers should aspire to.Its especially problematic if the back of the phone is prone to slipping from your grasp due to its extra smooth texture. Its rather curious that even after years, phone makers still havent perfected the design of anti-slip glass. Some do have a matte texture, but those still fail to stick to your palm. The one thing going in the Z60S Pros favor are, ironically, those flat edges and sharp corners that help your skin get a better grip. You can also put the included frosted protective case on the phone, but that also mars its pristine beauty.PerformanceAs a premium flagship, youd expect the nubia Z60S Pro to have the latest specs to boost its performance, and that is true for the most part. The 6.7-inch 1.5K screen definitely meets expectations with a vibrant, color-rich, and fast display that is great for videos and games. Theres also 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which could be higher depending on your configuration. The one odd duck is the processor, which is last years Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. In practice, there isnt such a wide gap between the current Snapdragon flagship, but when youre trying to advertise on-device AI functionality, youll want to squeeze every drop of performance from the silicon.Fortunately, there isnt a bottleneck in performance, both from synthetic benchmarks and real-world use. This is critical considering how much nubia is banking on AI to sell the Z60S Pro. From system-level optimization to photography image processing, the phone is able to keep up with the demands of features as well as users. The large 5,100mAh battery, one of the reasons for the phones heft, also delivers a commendable all-day performance. 80W for charging is a bit disappointing when were always hearing about 100W or higher rates, but its not slow either. Just make sure to use the included power brick to maximize the charging time.The real focus of the phones AI chops is, of course, the camera system. It even has a slider button that, by default, is used to launch the camera app. The trio of cameras is led by a 50MP 1/1.56-inch Sony IMX906 sensor that aims for more natural-looking photos with its 35mm equivalent lens, a popular format for cameras because of how it more closely matches our eyesight. It is joined by another 50MP camera, this time with a 13mm focal length and 125-degree field of view for ultra-wide shots. Theres a dedicated telephoto camera but it only has a measly 8MP sensor. Its not a bad set unless you love doing macro and zoom shots.The natural output of the cameras is pretty decent, but AI really takes it up a notch, especially for difficult scenes like zooming into the shot and nighttime photography. Its actually quite impressive how much the Z60S Pro can accomplish with hardware thats not exactly at the top of benchmarks, and youd be hard-pressed to find the noise in those images unless you really examine them closely. As a phone designed to bring AI-powered photography to the masses who might not have advanced photography know-how, the nubia Z60S Pro definitely makes the cut. It empowers many to pull off breathtaking shots, artistic photography, and unforgettable moments just with a single tap of the camera button.Sustainabilitynubia is no newcomer to the smartphone arena and has its roots deep in this market. Thats why its a bit disappointing that it hasnt yet left strong marks when it comes to ensuring the longevity of its products and of the planet at large. The Z60S Pro is your typical assortment of glass, metal, and plastic, and, at least officially, the company has made no statement on the use of recycled materials either in the phone itself or its packaging.And then theres the matter of repairability and software updates, especially with the latter issue. The nubia Z60S Pro comes at a rather odd time when there will be new hardware coming out, and the company isnt exactly well-known for pushing timely and frequent updates. It will definitely help improve its reputation if nubia becomes a bit more explicit in its upgrade strategy, allowing it to lead its peers by example instead of playing catch-up with trends.ValueOn its own, the nubia Z60S Pro is a pretty competitive modern smartphone. With the exception of the CPU, it has the current technologies the market has to offer and is able to keep up well with benchmarks, actual real-world performance, and camera output. And with a starting price of $569, its not a bad deal for its price, especially when you consider how those other AI-toting flagships are nearly double the price.But even with its rather distinctive camera design, the Z60S Pro sadly fails to stand out from the crowd as well. There are simply too many choices in that price range and just as many that offer nearly the same features for a lower price tag. What makes the situation a bit worse is that those competitors come from nubias other Z60 models as well. What the nubia has going for it will mostly be the brand loyalty, but those fans might also just grab the companys more powerful and more exciting designs instead.VerdictWe might be reaching that point in time again when the smartphone market is just over-saturated with choices. AI is becoming the differentiating factor, but almost all have similar features by now. Things get a bit more complicated when brands try to throw everything they can at a wall to see which ones stick, ending up with consumer confusion and missed opportunities. The nubia Z60S Pro could very well be one of these casualties. Offering decent performance and AI-enhanced photography at an affordable price, the smartphone gives everyone the opportunity to become a content creator, but it is sadly easily overshadowed not only by rival brands but even by its own siblings.The post nubia Z60S Pro Smartphone Review: AI to Empower Your Creativity first appeared on Yanko Design.

Meta's VR division seems to have forgotten that money is really real.$10 billion loss in 2020, $16 billion loss in 2023and it's only going to get worse, says Meta.

New owner Andrew Bishop has big plans.

It's been a long time coming, but Fall Guys has finally arrived in Fortnite. The bean-based competition game begins its integration into the Fortnite ecosystem in several different ways--with Fortnite creative islands by Fall Guys developer Mediatonic, the ability for users to publish their own Fall Guys maps and, most importantly, an all-new Fall Guys-themed mini-game for battle royale and Zero Build.Let's start with that. With this week's update, Fortnite battle royale will now host a Fall Guys mini-game that players can participate in by praising one of the statues of a Fall Guys bean person located around Classy Courts. Once you do, you'll be transformed into a bean person and made to play Fall Guys in an obstacle course in the sky. You'll have 120 seconds to complete it for loot--the faster you get it done, the better your loot will be. You can only complete it once per match, but you get three tries. And once the bean statues are in the storm you're locked out.A glimpse at the Fall Guys obstacle course in Fortnite battle royale.This is similar to a feature from Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 7, during which players could be abducted by aliens and made to play a competitive mini-game. But in this case, the choice to participate is entirely yours. Along with the mini-game will be a series of "Where We Fallin'" quests for rewards, including a bean person back bling.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Since its reveal, it has been made abundantly clear that Assassin's Creed Shadows is unlike any Assassin's Creed before it, combining gameplay elements that bridge the gap between the series' past and its present in an attempt to appeal to fans of classic Assassin's Creed as well as more modern fans and newcomers. Despite being met with a considerable amount of controversy for its depiction of feudal Japan and a non-Japanese protagonist, Assassin's Creed Shadows still has a lot to offer in its diverse combat options, dynamic open world, and innovative stealth system. There may even be something worthwhile here for fans of the cozy genre, should they find themselves intrigued enough to brave the waters.

Everyone's yard is different, and as such, the tools you need are likely to differ from garden to garden. Perhaps you have a lot of concrete and could go nuts with a weed burner, or you're gaga for bulbs and could benefit from an auger. Still, for most people, the basic tools will more than cover all your needs. These are the tools I have multiples of, as I use them so ten I am prone to leaving them around the yard. Any of these tools will make a delightful gift to a gardener, as they can always use another well crafted version. A high-quality spade shovelShovels come in lots of shapes, like flat edge, which are fantastic for scraping the ground, and scoop shovels for moving mulch or compost. But a basic spade, with its triangular shape, is meant to dig into any ground, no matter how soft or hard it is. A good shovel will allow you to put all your weight into it, and even give you a little purchase to stand on it. I don't personally enjoy wooden handles: I find they are prone to cracking and aren't comfortable on my skin. I have really come to enjoy the Radius line of tools, with the ergonomic handled short shovels. These remove a lot of the weight from a traditional shovel, making it easier to move around the garden. If you like a traditional shovel with a long handle, choose a sturdy steel one. Radius Original Green PRO Stainless Steel Garden Shovel $73.55 at Home Depot Shop Now Shop Now $73.55 at Home Depot A hand trowelThe handheld version of the above, a hand trowel is meant for getting up close to the soil and digging as much as you need to plant your basic start. These are also useful for moving a small amount of potting soil or fertilizer. The hand spade can dig in, but also hold about a cup or two of dirt. A good handle is essential, here. Rubber can decay in the sun, and so many hand spades have weak metal and snap in half. This is where it's worth it to spend a little money. I probably own 20 spades that I leave all over the garden so much that I stand in the center of my garden, spinning around, desperate to find one. Of the ones I own, none performs as well as the Burpee wooden hand spade, which I'd have never chosen for myself, but turns out to be my One True. Burpee 13" stainless steel trowel $11.14 at Amazon $15.99 Save $4.85 Shop Now Shop Now $11.14 at Amazon $15.99 Save $4.85 A hori horiA hori hori is like a jackknife for the garden. A straight, long hand tool with a serrated edge, a hori hori doesn't hold any soil but can cut through almost anything. Use it overhand to dig into soil that can't be broken up by a trowel; use the serrated edge to cut through iris tubers or roots. I use it in fall to quickly get bulbs into the ground, since it can take out soil with such a small circumference that it doesn't interfere with plants nearby. Perwin hori hori garden knife $24.99 at Amazon $34.97 Save $9.98 Shop Now Shop Now $24.99 at Amazon $34.97 Save $9.98 A pair of prunersBefore I walk out the door every day to go into the garden, the last thing I grab is a pair of pruners. Like all my basic tools, I have several of them tucked around the garden. Pruners are how you cut flowers, deadhead, trim berry branches, cut twine or prune tomatoes. The best garden pruners are made by Felco, who have a wealth of models; ideally, you'd go to a garden supply store and test them. I love a pair with a swiveling handle to reduce hand stress. Whatever your model, these Cadillacs of garden tools are well worth the money. If you're looking for simple, I always have a few pairs of Fiskars around, too. Felco pruning shears $62.46 at Amazon $66.99 Save $4.53 Shop Now Shop Now $62.46 at Amazon $66.99 Save $4.53 Several bucketsI am highly suspect of a garden without a few buckets aroundspecifically, the five-gallon plastic buckets you get at box stores. They have infinite usesI carry them around the garden to weed and actually stash them in corners for that purpose, so there's always someplace to put weeds. You can move a bucket of soil by hand, fill the bucket with water to quench a plant, create a batch of fertilizer or use it to wash something. You can collect berries or move rocks. They're not the most resilient, so you'll end up replacing them over time, but I love that whenever I simply need a vessel for a random garden chore, a bucket is usually the answer. 5 Gallon Orange Bucket at Home Depot Shop Now Shop Now at Home Depot

Two key OpenAI personnel are leaving the company, while another one is taking a months-long leave of absence. As reported by The Information, OpenAI president Greg Brockman is taking a sabbatical, while his fellow co-founder John Schulman is bidding the company farewell and joining its rival Anthropic. Peter Deng, its VP for consumer product who joined last year, is leaving OpenAI, as well. Deng used to lead product developments at Meta and Uber.In a post on X/Twitter, Brockman said his leave of absence will last through end of year and that it's his "first time to relax" since the founding of OpenAI nine years ago. He also reportedly assured staff members that he's coming back after his vacation. Brockman temporarily left OpenAI last year when the company's board ousted its CEO, Sam Altman. They were both reinstated just a few days later, whereas the board was disbanded and replaced.Im taking a sabbatical through end of year. First time to relax since co-founding OpenAI 9 years ago. The mission is far from complete; we still have a safe AGI to build. Greg Brockman (@gdb) August 6, 2024 John Schulman also posted the note he sent to OpenAI staff on X, where he said that his departure stems from his "desire to deepen [his] focus on AI alignment" and to "return to hands-on technical work." He clarified that he wasn't leaving OpenAI due to lack of support for alignment research and that the company's executives have apparently been "very committed to investing in this area." At OpenAI, Schulman helped lead the post-training team that refined its large language models. After the company disbanded the "Superalignment" team that was in charge of steering powerful AI models that could pose a threat to humanity in the future, OpenAI said Schulman would be in charge of any future safety efforts.I shared the following note with my OpenAI colleagues today:I've made the difficult decision to leave OpenAI. This choice stems from my desire to deepen my focus on AI alignment, and to start a new chapter of my career where I can return to hands-on technical work. I've decided John Schulman (@johnschulman2) August 6, 2024 These departures follow several major previous changes in OpenAI's rank of leaders. Before the Superalignment team was disbanded, Jan Leike, one of its heads, wrote on X that "safety culture and processes have taken a backseat to shiny products" within the company over the past years. Company co-founder and Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever also left in May. He was involved in Altman's dismissal as a board member, though he later said that he regretted his participation in the board's actions. While he remained Chief Scientist after the event, he reportedly never truly returned to his duties. The Information also notes that OpenAI recently hired its first CFO and chief product officer, which may have had an effect on Deng's role within the company.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/two-more-openai-leaders-are-leaving-the-company-110012003.html?src=rss

The future of OLED is blue, but it might take a little longer to arrive

The U.K. government hit back at Elon Musk after the billionaire made controversial comments about far-right riots taking place across the country.