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Apple's future iPhones could have a huge camera advantage over the iPhone 16 Pro Max (pictured). 2024 Bloomberg Finance LPApple will soon introduce a powerful new iPhone camera technology that could significantly improve image quality by functioning more like the human eye.According to a recent report from famed industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is gearing up to reveal a range of new camera lenses with variable aperture controla first for the iPhone range. Kuo forecasts that Sunny Optical, followed by competitor Largan Precision, will become the leading supplier of these variable aperture lenses, launching with the iPhone 18 in 2026.These new lenses bring significant quality improvements to the iPhone 18 camera by helping it adapt to a wide range of lighting conditions while simultaneously giving the camera more creative control over focus and sharpness. Variable aperture lenses have been deployed with great success in revival devices such as Huaweis Dxomark chat-topping Pura 70 Ultra. However, Samsung dropped a similar dual-aperture feature from its Galaxy S10 series, reverting to a fixed aperture lens in the Galaxy S20 range.So, what is a variable aperture, and why might you need one?Variable Aperture: Why Apple Might Use OneMost smartphone camera lenses, including the current iPhone range, have a fixed aperture that cannot be changed. In the case of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, that aperture is written as f/1.78 and, simply put, that tells us how much light the lens can pass through to the sensor when you take a photo.Low numbers after the f/, such as f/1.4, mean the lens has a larger gap, or aperture, for light to pass through, whereas higher numbers, such as f/8, denote a much smaller aperture that restricts the amount of light reaching the sensor.MORE FOR YOUChoosing a wide aperture means the camera will perform better in dimly lit situations, as it can capture more light in each photo. Too much light, on the other hand, will overwhelm the sensor. A wide aperture can become a distinct disadvantage in bright light. When theres too much light, bright areas of the picture turn pure white, losing all detail.Lower f-numbers mean wider apertures, which allow more light to pass to the image sensor. Higher ... [+] numbers restrict the amount of light.gettyIn this case, reducing the aperture size can reduce the light level to a manageable range. Our eyes perform the same functionopening our pupils wide in the dark and shrinking them down to pinholes in bright light.Changing the aperture also has another important effect: it affects sharpness and focus. Generally speaking, the widest apertures can result in images that are less sharp than those shot with a moderately narrower one. Very wide apertures will also cause focus to be sharp only at a particular distance from the camera, with foreground and background melting into a blur thats often, but not always, desirable.This effect is also noticeable in the human eye when you might squint to see an object, or perhaps some tiny text, more clearly.Apples variable aperture lens will allow the camera to adjust the size of the aperture to suit the shooting conditions, gaining improved image quality in the dark and sharper pictures with well-controlled highlights in bright light. It also opens up the possibility of manual control over the aperture so users can make creative decisions about how they want their pictures to look.Unfortunately, we won't see the results until Apple launches the iPhone 18 range in 2026.Follow @paul_monckton on Instagram.

Here's some help with today's Quordle, including hints and the answers.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesLooking for Sundays Quordle hints and answers? You can find them here:Hey, folks! Hints and the answers for todays Quordle words are just ahead.How To Play QuordleFor any newcomers joining us, heres how to play Quordle: Just start typing in words. You have four five-letter words to guess and nine attempts to find them all. The catch is that you play all four words simultaneously.If you get a letter in the right place for any of the four words, it will light up in green. If a word contains a letter from one of your guesses but its in the wrong place, it will appear in yellow. You could always check out the practice games before taking on the daily puzzle.Here are some hints for todays Quordle game, followed by the answers:What Are Todays Quordle Hints?Word 1 (top left) hint small group of treesWord 2 (top right) hint fit for a monarchWord 3 (bottom left) hint a low, guttural vocal sound. Also a term for a low-ranked soldier or workerWord 4 (bottom right) hint someone pure and kind, perhaps a ____ two shoesOne of the words has a pair of repeated lettersTodays words start with C, R, G and GMORE FOR YOUWhat Are Todays Quordle Answers?Spoiler alert! Dont scroll any further down the page until youre ready to find out todays Quordle answers.This is your final warning!Todays words are...COPSEREGALGRUNTGOODYThats all there is to it for todays Quordle clues and answers. Be sure to check my blog for hints and the solution for Tuesdays game if you need them.

Key takeawaysThe Ethereum Foundation and other ecosystem groups spent nearly $500 million over the last two years to support various projects.Ethereum-related organizations have over $22 billion in treasury funds, mostly in their native tokens.The Ethereum Foundation introduced a policy requiring members to disclose large investments in other assets besides Ether.Ethereum Foundation Leads $500M Funding Effort to Grow Ecosystem, Backed by $22B in TreasuryAccording to the Ethereum Foundations 2024 annual report, nearly $500 million was used to support various projects in the ecosystem over the last two years.The report revealed that groups within the Ether network spent a total of $497 million on project funding. The Ethereum Foundation contributed $240.3 million, 48.3% of the total funding.The rest of the funding came from several other organizations within the Ethereum community. These groups include Aragon, MakerDAO, Optimism, Gitcoin, Decentraland, Uniswap, Starknet, Protocol Guild,and MeataMask DAO.This wide range of contributors highlights teamwork in the Ethereum ecosystem. Each organization added its own support, showing a strong community effort to develop and grow Ethereum.In addition to the funds spent on projects, the Foundation reported that the entire ecosystem is backed by more than $22 billion in Treasury funds. These treasuries are held by different foundations, organizations, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).Projects like Optimism, Uniswap, Mantle, Arbitrum, Gnosis, and Ethereum Name Service each have billions stored in their treasuries to support their work and growth.The Ethereum Foundation itself holds $970 million in its treasury. This large pool of funds gives the Ether ecosystem robust financial support and resources for ongoing development.Also, the report explained that the treasury amounts include both liquid and vested funds. Liquid funds can be used immediately, while vested funds are held for future use.Most of the project treasuries comprise mainly of the projects native tokens. So, the total value of a projects treasury may look high, but it doesnt all translate to liquid cash.The report pointed out that if a project tried to sell a large part of its treasury at once, it might affect the tokens price. Selling too many tokens at once could cause the price to drop significantly.Despite these limitations, the Ethereum Foundation believes the amount still shows the depth of resources that Ethereum has for the future. The Foundation explained that even if only a tiny part of this treasury was used, it could still provide substantial support.In other words, these resources ensure that ETH can sustain itself and expand, even with just a fraction of the treasury being spent.New Policy to Boost Integrity and Transparency in Decision-MakingIn the report, the Ethereum Foundation shared that it has put a conflict of interest policy in place. This policy requires Ether Foundation members to disclose investments over $500,000, except those in ETH.The Foundation explained that a member with a large financial stake outside of Ether might not be allowed to participate in certain decisions. This would apply to situations where their investment could create a conflict with the Foundations goals.Ethereum Foundations executive director, Aya Miyaguchi, shared a message about this policy on X. She explained that the policy is meant to reinforce the integrity of the Foundations work.By setting these rules, the Foundation wants to ensure its actions stay honest and trustworthy. Miyaguchi said this policy also aims to strengthen the entire Ethereum ecosystem.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Rida is a dedicated crypto journalist with a passion for the latest developments in the cryptocurrency world. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to thorough research, she delivers timely and insightful news articles that keep her readers informed about the rapidly evolving digital economy. View all articles by Rida Fatima Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Although Halloween is in the rearview mirror, Christmas remains more than a month away. However, the best family movies on Netflix can bridge the gap into the next wave of holiday movies. Netflixs collection is extensive, so it can be exhausting to sift through on family movie night. To make your task easier, weve narrowed down the selection!Its a small update in November, as two new movies join the list: Mr. Peabody & Sherman andGoosebumps (ironicallyafter Halloween).Read on for all of the best family movies on Netflix now.Recommended VideosLooking for something else? Weve also rounded up the best new movies to stream,the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime, and the best movies on Disney+. For Netflix fans, check out the best movies on Netflix.Recently added to NetflixGoosebumpspg2015Mr. Peabody & Shermanpg2014RelatedMr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)59%pg92mGenreAnimation, Adventure, FamilyStarsTy Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel WinterDirected byRob MinkoffWatch on NetflixBased on the Peabodys Improbable History segments from The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends,Mr. Peabody & Sherman gives the ingenious doggo his very own movie. With his ingenious WABAC machine, Mr. Peabody (Ty Burrell) and his adopted boy, Sherman (Max Charles), travel back in time to interact with some of historys greatest characters. But when things go a little haywire, theyre soon racing to repair history and save the future from complete reorganization.Kung Fu Panda (2008)74%pg90mGenreAction, Adventure, Animation, Family, ComedyStarsJack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin HoffmanDirected byMark Osborne, John StevensonWatch on NetflixOne of Paramounts largest franchises, Kung Fu Panda, dates all the way back to 2008, and shows no signs of slowing down, with Kung Fu Panda 4 releasing this year (and hitting Netflix later in October). Whether youre new to the series or your child is, the first film is a great place to meet the unlikely hero, Po (Jack Black). The Valley of Peace is threatened by the arrival of snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane), and the dubious distinction of the chosen one is suddenly thrust upon the lazy Po. Although hes thrilled to be training with kung fu Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) and the legendary Furious Five, the whole training thing isnt quite up Pos alley at first.Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024)87mGenreAnimation, Comedy, Adventure, FamilyStarsCarolyn Lawrence, Tom Kenny, Clancy BrownDirected byLiza JohnsonWatch on NetflixA SpongeBob adventure for the whole family! This Netflix Original stars Sandy Cheeks in her typically heroic role. After Bikini Bottom and all of its citizens are suddenly scooped out of the ocean, Sandy and SpongeBob venture to Texas to uncover a villainous plot and save all of Bikini Bottom.Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (2022)61%5.8/10g86mGenreAnimation, Action, Comedy, Family, Science FictionStarsBen Schwartz, Omar Benson Miller, Brandon Mychal SmithDirected byAndy Suriano, Ant WardWatch on NetflixNickelodeons hit YA series got the Netflix Original treatment! In their biggest adventure yet, Leo (Ben Schwartz), Raph (Omar Benson Miller), Mikey (Brandon Mychal Smith), and Donnie (Josh Brener) are the last hope against an alien invasion. In the year 2044, Earth is on the brink of becoming completely conquered by the Krang. In a desperate hail mary, an older Leo and Mikey send their student Casey Jones (Haley Joel Osment) to the year 2022 to help the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles find a key to stop the invasion before it happens.If youre looking for more films suitable for the whole family, weve also rounded up the best family movies on Amazon Prime Video and the best family movies on Disney+.Editors RecommendationsMovie images and data from:Topics Michael BizzacoAV ContributorMichael Bizzaco has been selling, installing, and talking about TVs, soundbars, streaming devices, and all things smart home for the better part of 15 years. He even knows a thing or two about how to fix this stuff when it starts misbehaving (because no tech is perfect!).Mike has been writing for Digital Trends and several other publications since 2020. Fortunately, hes still able to write after he got his index finger stuck in a vending machine at the Ramada Inn the summer before fourth grade! From hands-on reviews to best-of roundups, Mike does his best to share his expertise in a friendly and informative way with all readers, and loves staying on top of the latest AV and smart home trends.When hes not thanking his father for dislodging his finger from that vile vending machine in New Jersey, Mike enjoys playing guitar, reading, and indulging in horror films with his girlfriend. Nick PerryNick Perry is a freelance writer who bounced from Hollywood to Silicon Beach to pajama pants. His work has been featured on Digital Trends, Good Morning America, Entrepreneur, Mashable, and more media outlets. Blair MarnellBlair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek Monthly, SYFY Wire, Superhero Hype, Collider, DC Universe, and the official sites for Star Trek and Marvel. He also lends his pop culture expertise to Digital Trends on a variety of TV, movie, and streaming features. It's a slow month on the streamers, and that's reflected in our list of the best movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max (HBO), and other services. However, do not think that means there isn't anything to watch. There are still loads of great originals and releases from other studios to catch up on.This week, there are just three new additions to this list, including Chris Pine inPoolman, Aubrey Plaza inMy Old Ass, and Nick Frost inBlack Cab. We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max,andthe best movies on Disney+.Read more As 2024 winds down, even Netflix will be slowing the pace of its original series ... but not just yet. The second part of Outer Banks season 4 has arrived alongside the long-awaited second season of the animated smash-hit Arcane on November 10. Those shows should keep subscribers very happy over the long Veteran's Day holiday weekend.Meanwhile, The Diplomat season 2 remains nearthe top of the list of the most popular shows on Netflix, with The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 not far behind. Those are just a few series on our list of the best shows on Netflix right now. You can find the rest of our picks below, then check back every Friday morning as we update the selection. Read more For the most part, the movie industry has recovered from the truly awful early months of the year, including the lackluster first month of summer that had Hollywood panicking about the future of cinema. Since then, Deadpool & Wolverine was a massive blockbuster, but the state of comic book cinema is suchthat even Venom: The Last Dance severely underperformed. It's also poised to be unseated this weekend by Heretic, a low-budget horror movie that's getting big-time buzz for Hugh Grant's performance.There are plenty of predictions in the movie business, but few crystal balls. Fortunately, there are still great movies coming to theaters before the end of 2024. And it's our job to point you to them, even as the year is winding down. Read more

A brilliant Nobel Prize winner struggles to understand why problems in relationships can be harder to solve than problems in science.

Winemakers attract young adults who want to drink in moderation. One brand labels itself the official wine of Tuesday nights.

The HBO show, which stars Bridget Everett and is in its final season on HBO, lifts up friendships.

Seeing red Marvel drops Captain America: Brave New World trailer Plus special look at Thunderbolts*, in which Florence Pugh returns as government assassin Yelena Belova. Jennifer Ouellette Nov 10, 2024 6:07 pm | 4 Credit: Marvel Studios Credit: Marvel Studios Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreCaptain America: Brave New World is star Anthony Mackie's first cinematic appearance as the new Captain America. Marvel Studios dropped a full-length trailer for Captain America: Brave New World at the first ever Brazil D23 fan event this weekend. This is star Anthony Mackie's first cinematic appearance as the new Captain America after the Phase Four 2021 TV miniseries, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The event also featured a special look at Marvel's forthcoming Thunderbolts* film, followed by a new trailer.As previously reported, it's the fifth film in the MCU's Phase Five, directed by Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox) and building on events not just in F&WS but also the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk. Per the official premise:After meeting with newly elected US President Thaddeus Ross, played by Harrison Ford in his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.In addition to Mackie and Ford, the cast includes Liv Tyler as the president's daughter, Betty Ross, and Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns, both reprising their roles in 2008's The Incredible Hulk. (Ford replaces the late William Hurt, who played Ross in that earlier film.) Carl Lumbley plays Isaiah Bradley, reprising his F&WS role as a Korean War veteran who had been secretly imprisoned and given the Super Soldier Serum against his will, enduring 30 years of experimentation. (He told Sam he couldn't imagine how any black man could take up Captain America's shield because of what it represented to people like him, and one could hardly blame him.)Rosa Salazar plays Rachel Leighton, Danny Ramirez plays Joaquin Torres, and Shira Haas plays Ruth Bat-Seraph. Giancarlo Esposito will also appear as Sidewinder, the alter ego of economics professor Seth Voelker, who gains the power of teleportation via a cloak (a gift from the Egyptian god Set) and forms a criminal organization called The Serpent Society in the comics.The first teaser dropped in July, featuring a final shot that introduced Red Hulk, the alter ego of Thaddeus Ross. There was also an exclusive clip featured at San Diego Comic-Con that same month, focused on a White House event held by Ross introducing a stockpile of adamantium, the result of a "celestial mass" emerging in the Indian Ocean and now the most valuable element on the planet.The new trailer opens with Sam/Captain America visiting Isaiah in prison; Isaiah doesn't remember what he's supposed to have done, but the trailer shows us his involvement in an attempted assassination of President Ross. "Whatever this is, Cap, be careful," Isaiah tells Sam. We learn there were five shooters in a coordinated terrorist attack. Sam is determined to get to the bottom of things to fend off the breakout of a war. But the rabbit hole looks like it might run pretty deep when Sam gets a phone call asking, "Do you ever wonder who's playing who?" Someone else is pulling the strings and Sam looks like he'll be framed at some point as well. The trailer ends with Ross's full transformation into Red Hulk and a head-to-head battle with Sam."We are the Thunderbolts!"As previously reported,Thunderbolts*is a follow-up of sorts to 2021's Black Widow. It's directed by Jake Schreier and stars Wyatt Russell as US Agent/failed Captain America from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Contessa Valentina Allegra, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, David Harbour as Alexei/Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr/Ghost, Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster, and Lewis Pullman as Bob/The Sentry.An extended teaser dropped during SDCC this summer showing Yelena reuniting with Alexei, both pretty much wallowing in depression. Along with Bucky and US Agent, they were recruited by Valentina for her own warped version of the Avengers.The new sneak peek shows our plucky band of misfits in Alexei's big limo with a military convoy in pursuit. Yelena fires at the convoy, but the humvees unexpectedly explode. Bucky rides through the smoldering ruins on a motorcycle, prompting Alexei to fanboy a little ("that guy's so cool"). He is less thrilled when Bucky opens fire on them.Cut to the new trailer, in which the gangnow with Bucky in tow walk into the old Avengers tower and find Valentina waiting for them. Yep, she purchased it. "How crazy is it to think of all the monumental fights that happened exactly here where you're standing?" she says. "I mean, the place wasn't cheap but it's good optics." The rest of the trailer takes some time to introduce our central characters and their respective skill sets. There's a lot of humor and plenty of actionclassic Marvel fare. And it seems Alexei is the one who comes up with the name Thunderbolts. The whole antihero thing seems to be working for Marvel thus far given the box office success of Deadpool and Wolverine. Perhaps the PG-13 version will continue that trend.Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters on February 14, 2025. Thunderbolts* is slated for a May 2, 2025 release and will conclude the MCU's Phase Five. Credit: Marvel Studios Jennifer OuelletteSenior WriterJennifer OuelletteSenior Writer Jennifer is a senior reporter at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban. 4 Comments Prev story

What really matters Matter 1.4 has some solid ideas for the future homenow lets see the support Can you get one speaker on Alexa, Google, and Apple's home apps all at once? Kevin Purdy Nov 8, 2024 3:08 pm | 85 Credit: CSA Credit: CSA Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreMatter, the smart home standard that promises an interoperable future for home automation, even if it's scattered and a bit buggy right now, is out with a new version, 1.4. It promises more device types, improvements for working across ecosystems, and tools for managing battery backups, solar panels, and heat pumps."Enhanced Multi-Admin" is the headline feature for anybody invested in Matter's original promise, one where you can buy a device and it doesn't matter if your other gear is meant for Amazon (Alexa), Google, Apple, or whatever, it should just connect and work. With 1.4, a home administrator should be able to let a device onto their network just once, and then have that device picked up by whatever controller they're using. There have technically been ways for a device to be set up on, say, Alexa and Apple Home, but the process has been buggy, involves generating "secondary codes," and is kind of an unpaid junior sysadmin job.What's now available is "Fabric Sync," which sounds like something that happens in a static-ridden dryer. But "Fabrics" is how the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) describes smart home systems, like Alexa or Google Home. In theory, with every tech company doing their best, you'd set up a smart light bulb with your iPhone, add it to your Apple Home, but still have it be able to be added to a Google Home system, Android phones included. Even better, ecosystems that don't offer controls for entire categories, like Apple and smart displays (because it doesn't make any), should still be able to pick up and control them.As with pretty much everything else that has been added to Matter, however, it's up to the tech platforms to take up the Matter 1.4 standard, provide a good interface to it, and ensure that its interoperation goals are met. Amazon and Google representatives told The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy that they were both working to ship a Matter 1.4 update to compatible devices, "early next year" in Amazon's case. Apple did not respond to The Verge, or Ars, regarding its Matter 1.4 plans. With Matter 1.4 and improved Thread support, you shouldn't need to blanket your home in HomePod Minis to have adequate Thread coverage. Then again, they do brighten up the place. Credit: Apple Routers are joining the Thread/Matter meleeA whole bunch of networking gear, known as Home Routers and Access Points (HRAP), can now support Matter, while also extending Thread networks with Matter 1.4."Matter-certified HRAP devices provide the foundational infrastructure of smart homes by combining both a Wi-Fi access point and a Thread Border Router, ensuring these ubiquitous devices have the necessary infrastructure for Matter products using either of these technologies," the CSA writes in its announcement.Prior to wireless networking gear officially getting in on the game, the devices that have served as Thread Border Routers, accepting and re-transmitting traffic for endpoint devices, has been a hodgepodge of gear. Maybe you had HomePod Minis, newer Nest Hub or Echo devices from Google or Amazon, or Nanoleaf lights around your home, but probably not. Routers, and particularly mesh networking gear, should already be set up to reach most corners of your home with wireless signal, so it makes a lot more sense to have that gear do Matter authentication and Thread broadcasting.Freeing home energy gear from vendor lock-inMatter 1.4 adds some big, expensive gear to its list of device types and control powers, and not a moment too soon. Solar inverters and arrays, battery storage systems, heat pumps, and water heaters join the list. Thermostats and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), i.e. EV charging devices, also get some enhancements. For that last category, it's not a moment too soon, as chargers that support Matter can keep up their scheduled charging without cloud support from manufacturers.More broadly, Matter 1.4 bakes a lot of timing, energy cost, and other automation triggers into the spec, whichagain, when supported by device manufacturers, at some future dateshould allow for better home energy savings and customization, without tying it all to one particular app or platform.CSA says that, with "nearly two years of real-world deployment in millions of households," the companies and trade groups and developers tending to Matter are "refining software development kits, streamlining certification processes, and optimizing individual device implementations." Everything they've got lined up seems neat, but it has to end up inside more boxes to be truly impressive.Kevin PurdySenior Technology ReporterKevin PurdySenior Technology Reporter Kevin is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering open-source software, PC gaming, home automation, repairability, e-bikes, and tech history. He has previously worked at Lifehacker, Wirecutter, iFixit, and Carbon Switch. 85 Comments