Romes Termini Station Renovation | Simn GarcaRomes Termini Station, inaugurated in the 19th century, has long stood as one of Europes premier transit centers and a landmark of modern Roman architecture. As the beating heart of urban mobility in Italys capital, Termini serves as a transit hub and a symbol of Italian resilience and innovation.Romes Termini Station Technical InformationArchitects1-7: L35 ArchitectsLocation: Piazza dei Cinquecento, Rome, ItalySector: Transport, RetailGross Leasable Area: 18,000 mProject Year: 2016 2022Photographs: Simn Garca, NuvoleStations are being reimagined, evolving from places of passage to places of life. Little by little, they are gradually becoming destinations where people can also come to work, shop, enjoy leisure activities, and meet. The challenge of this project has been to support this transformation while maintaining a respectful balance with its valuable historical legacy. L35 ArchitectsRomes Termini Station Photographs Simn Garca Simn Garca Simn Garca Simn Garca Simn Garca Simn Garca Simn Garca Simn Garca Simn Garca Simn GarcaThe Context of Rome Termini Station and Its SignificanceThe station handles over 200 million visitors annually, connecting Rome with other major European cities and within the Italian railway network. It has witnessed expansions, transformations, and modifications throughout its existence, most notably its post-World War II modernization led by architects Eugenio Montuori, Leo Calini, and Annibale Vitellozzi. The stations blend of historical and modern architectural elements gives it a unique position within Romes architectural landscape.In 2016, the decision to renovate Termini was prompted by Grandi Stazioni Retail, the projects client, to address its potential as a high-functioning transport hub while preserving its architectural heritage. L35 Architects, entrusted with the task, approached the project with a vision to bridge the stations historic legacy with the demands of a 21st-century transport hub. The primary goals focused on streamlining functionality, enhancing visitor experience, and restoring visual connections to the citys historical landmarks.Restoration of Visual and Spatial Connectivity to the Servian WallsOne of the most remarkable aspects of the Termini renovation is the restoration of views toward the ancient Servian Walls. Romes oldest known city fortifications, the Servian Walls, date back to the 4th century BCE and are an architectural gem, obscured for decades due to commercial expansions within the station. L35s vision was clear: re-establishing this historical connection by removing commercial obstructions and enhancing the spatial dialogue between ancient and modern Rome.The renovation introduced a large glass facade in the main hall, framing a section of the Servian Walls to create a striking visual focal point. This decision was not merely aesthetic; it symbolizes the intersection of Romes historical past and its dynamic present, inviting visitors to reflect on the citys layered history even in transit. This move by L35 Architects highlights the stations unique position, fusing its functional role as a bustling transport hub with a visual invitation to explore Romes distant past.Architecturally, this transparency is achieved through glass, which allows natural light to illuminate the historic wall, emphasizing its presence and reinforcing its significance. By reestablishing this connection, L35 Architects have revitalized Terminis role as a gateway to Rome, providing not just transit but a seamless blend of ancient history and modern life for visitors and commuters alike.Functional Reorganization for a Contemporary Urban HubA critical aspect of the Termini renovation was the reorganization of circulation paths and commercial spaces to meet the expectations of a modern urban hub. Terminis original layout presented challenges in spatial coherence, especially given its evolution through multiple architectural interventions over the years. The renovation focused on clarifying pathways and relocating essential services such as ticketing and customer support to central areas, improving user orientation and accessibility.This reconfiguration enhances flow by enabling clear sightlines across the stations levels, particularly between the main hall, the Gommata Gallery, and the lower Forum level. L35 Architects approached this task with a clear design logic that minimized unnecessary ornamentation, focusing instead on clean, dynamic forms that contrast distinctly with the historic architecture of the station. This minimalist intervention streamlines the user experience and maintains respect for the stations monumental character.The commercial spaces in the Dinosaur and Gommata Gallery areas were consolidated into cohesive units, improving navigation and visual unity. Rather than competing with the architectural grandeur of Termini, the updated commercial zones adopt a simplified aesthetic. Materials like glass and metal interact harmoniously with the stations finishes, creating a modernized yet restrained environment that respects the existing architectural fabric.Aesthetic, Acoustic, and Lighting Enhancements for User ComfortThe renovation also aimed to enhance the stations spatial quality, incorporating thoughtful acoustics, lighting, and materiality improvements. In the Forum, where portions of the Servian Wall are visible, L35 Architects installed metal slat ceilings that improve sound absorption, addressing the noise levels typical in busy transit hubs. This ceiling design and increased access to natural light through strategically placed voids enhance the lower levels ambiance, visually connecting it to the Gommata Gallery above and creating a sense of openness.Lighting plays a pivotal role in this renovation, especially in illuminating the stations historical elements. A dedicated lighting strategy was implemented to accentuate the Servian Walls and other preserved archaeological remains distributed throughout the station. These lighting solutions reinforce spatial connections between different levels and draw attention to the unique architectural features within the station, making the historical components accessible and appreciated by daily commuters and international travelers alike.The clarity and simplicity in L35s design choices, especially in materials and finishes, ensure that modern additions do not overshadow Terminis legacy. By using materials that blend seamlessly with the historic station, L35 Architects have achieved a respectful yet transformative upgrade that keeps Termini relevant in the present day while honoring its past.Romes Termini Station PlansBasement | L35 ArchitectsGroundfloor | L35 ArchitectsFirst Floor | L35 ArchitectsRomes Termini Station Image GalleryAbout L35 ArchitectsL35 Architects is an internationally recognized architecture, urban planning, and design firm founded in 1967. Known for their adaptive, context-sensitive approach, the firm has completed notable projects worldwide, such as the Santiago Bernabu Stadium in Madrid, the reconfiguration of the Toulon seafront in France, and the El Campn cultural complex in Bogot. Their recent renovation of Romes Termini Station exemplifies their commitment to uniting contemporary functionality with historical preservation, reaffirming their ethos of enhancing user experience through excellence in design and urban integration.Notes & Additional CreditsLead Architects: Caterina Memeo, Javier Framis, Luisa Bada, Sonia Sanz, Rocco Grillo, Gaia Pellegrini, Mariana Alonso, Javier Cudazzo, Marta Artamendi, Pablo Escuder, Francisco Rodrigues, Marc Gran, Jos Lus MonznClient: Grandi Stazioni Retail S.p.A.Coordination: Grandi Stazioni Retail Technical ManagementProject Management: Arcadis ItaliaExecutive Project: Pei Engineering RomeStructural Engineering: Seico Srl RomeGeneral Contractor: S.A.L.C. S.p.A. Milan

In 1844, Hiram Ricker (1809-1893) of Poland, Maine, drank spring water on his property and found that his chronic dyspepsia was cured. As a result, he began touting the medicinal qualities of the water and in 1859 started selling the water commercially. While the first water was bottled and sold in 1859, it was not until after the Civil War that Hiram Ricker and his sons began heavily promoting the spring as a destination for medical cures and at the same time promoted the inn and resort that they were building in association with the spring. From this, the Poland Springs Resort (and Poland Springs bottled water) was born. The development saw swarms of tourists looking to escape the polluted cities for clean Maine air and natural spring water, therefore, the Ricker Family built the great Poland Spring House in 1876 to cater to resort visitors taking its waters. The original hotel was Second Empire in style and stood four-stories tall containing 100 rooms. Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, the resort building was expanded, quadrupling its size to 450 rooms as the demand for the resort increased every summer. An annex was also built nearby, named the Riccar Inn, providing even more hotel rooms for guests. By the early 20th century, the 1870s hotel was completely remodeled in the Beaux Arts style by architect Henry Wilkinson with domed roofs and sweeping verandas. After WWII, the resort saw diminishing visitors and would ultimately close in the 1960s. During a period in the 1960s, the hotel was operated as the countrys largest Womens Job Corps Training Center, but deferred maintenance caught up to the building and it was ultimately shuttered, suffering a devastating fire in 1975, it was demolished soon after. While the large hotel no longer stands, there are many other amazing buildings on the grounds, stay tuned!

Denis Cherims Photos Capture the Coincidental Charisma of Daily ScenesNovember 11, 2024PhotographyKate MothesLight, shadows, and linear perspective are just a few of the tricks up photographer Denis Cherims sleeve as he captures surprising, well-timed, and occasionally ironic glimpses of daily life (previously). I seek answers in places hidden in plain sight, the Madrid-based artist says in a statement. I feel curiosity about everyday objects with secret desires to be the main character.Often using a digital camera, Cherim captures the way lines converge to create surprising symmetry or sunlight glitters off the sea and appears to emanate from a street lamp. The photos are part of his ongoing series, The Coincidence Project, which he has been developing since 2012. Through my project, I have been able to show the outstanding amongst the mundane, Cherim says. By playing with the perspective and scale, I create juxtapositions making different parts of the scene interact between each other.The artist recently began returning to analog methods after receiving a newly launched Pentax 17 film camera, already shooting more than 50 rolls. You can find more work on his website, and follow updates on Instagram.Next article

Tech Heroes among us: Celebrating American bravery on Veterans Day 11 inspiring podcasts, audiobooks, documentaries honoring courage of US service members Published November 11, 2024 8:00am EST close Veterans Day: Quaid, Adkins among Hollywood stars honoring military Stars such as Dennis Quaid, Trace Adkins and Erik Estrada share with Fox News Digital what Veterans Day means to them. In a time when stories of courage and sacrifice deserve to be heard, a collection of podcasts,documentaries and audiobooks shines light on the incredible journeys of American heroes.From the inspiring tales shared on the "Proud American" podcast hosted by Johnny Joey Jones to the eye-opening documentaries like "Wildcat" and "To Be of Service," these platforms honor the bravery of veterans, first responders and everyday individuals who embody the spirit of service. Join us as we explore these powerful narratives that not only celebrate their sacrifices but also highlight the ongoing challenges they face, offering a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be an American hero.Enter bysigning up for my free newsletter! Americans honoring our veterans (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson) "#STILLSERVING" podcast (VFW) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)This podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the current challenges facing veterans today. This engaging podcast, produced by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), dives deep into critical issues that affect service members and their families. With conversations featuring congressional leaders, Department of Defense officials and everyday veterans, each episode tackles important topics like legislation, mental health and community support. As we honor our veterans this Veterans Day, tuning into #StillServing is a great way to stay informed and connected to the ongoing dialogue about the needs and experiences of those who have served our nation. "Proud American" podcast (Fox News) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)"Proud American" is another podcast available on every major podcast platform. It is hosted by Johnny Joey Jones, a Fox News correspondent and an Army veteran. In the podcast, Jones honors those who have protected and served our country over the years and echoes stories not only from veterans but also from first responders and everyday American heroes. "Modern Warriors" audiobook (Amazon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Written by Army veteran and "FOX & Friends Weekend" co-host Pete Hegseth,"Modern Warriors"highlights 15 inspiring stories from great American heroes, including Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Marines and more. These people discuss what made them want to serve, what sacrificing for their country really means and so many other meaningful topics. You can find this audiobook on Audible now. "The Team House" podcast (YouTube) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)"The Team House" is a podcast hosted by Jack Murphy and Dave Parke, both of whom are former Rangers. Murphy eventually became a Green Beret while Parke was a paramilitary contractor.They focus on interviewing other veterans and experts in their field of work. Some of their clips are only a few minutes long, while others go as long as 3.5 hours. The Team House podcast is available on multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.Listen to "The Team House" "Signature Wounds" audiobook (Amazon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)If you want to listen to a good audiobook about veterans, you can listen to"Signature Wounds: The Untold Story of the Military's Mental Health Crisis" by David Kieran. The audiobook explores how much of an effect the Iraq and Afghanistan wars that the U.S. fought throughout the 2000s had on our troops mentally after the fact and how doctors labeled traumatic brain injuries as the "signature wound" among those who fought. You can find this audiobook on Audible right now. "Wildcat" documentary (Amazon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Available on Prime Video now,"Wildcat" is a documentary that was released back in 2022. It follows a young former soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and how he copes with his suffering by developing a bond with a baby ocelot in the jungles of Peru. He meets this ocelot through a young woman who runs a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in the area. Watch the documentary with a Prime Video membership now. "Danger Close" podcast (officialjackcarr.com) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)"Danger Close" with Jack Carr is another great podcast that you can listen to on major platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Jack Carr is the host, and he spent 20 years as a Navy SEAL. He has served in various positions, including team leader, platoon commander, troop commander, task unit commander and sniper. Carr has written a series of books about his experiences as a SEAL, and on this podcast, he takes listeners beyond his experiences and has conversations with other veterans, writers and more. "By All Means Available" audiobook (Amazon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)"By All Means Available"by Michael G. Vickers is also currently available on Audible. Vickers is a former Green Beret, and in 1984 he took on the immensely difficult job of taking charge of the CIAs secret war against the Soviets in Afghanistan. In this audiobook, he talks about all his experiences and how they have shaped him today, as well as the challenges that our nation is still facing 40 years later. "To Be of Service" documentary (Amazon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)If you're a dog lover, then you should watch"To Be of Service," available for rent on bothPrime Video andApple TV+. This documentary focuses on service dogs who help veterans work through their struggles with PTSD and how these dogs help restore a sense of independence and inner peace within these men and women who served. "The Protectors" podcast (Buzzsprout) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Available on every major podcast platform, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music, "The Protectors" is hosted by Dr. Jason Piccolo, who is a seasoned veteran and a retired special agent. Piccolo interviews everyone from fellow veterans to authors and entertainers. It takes a look at both the sacrifices that our men and women in uniform have made and how those experiences have been turned into some noteworthy literature, films and other art forms that we read and watch today. "Here. Is. Better." documentary (Amazon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)"Here. Is. Better." is another inspiring documentary that is available to rent or buy on Prime Video right now. It follows four men and women suffering from PTSD after their time serving our country and how new breakthrough treatments are helping them to overcome their struggles. It's an information-packed film about how human beings experience and process trauma and how we can overcome it.Kurt's key takeawaysAs we reflect on the incredible stories shared through these podcasts and documentaries, it's clear that the journeys of our veterans deserve to be celebrated and understood. Each narrative not only highlights their bravery but also sheds light on the challenges they continue to face. By engaging with these powerful stories, we can foster a deeper appreciation for their sacrifices and contribute to ongoing conversations about support and healing. Lets honor their experiences and ensure that their voices are heard.What stories of courage and service have inspired you the most, and how do you think we can better support our veterans in our communities?Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Published November 11, 2024 6:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': Avoiding Siri-ous confusion on your work, personal iPhones Voice assistants may cause confusion across devices. Tech expert Kurt Knutsson offers some solutions to fix it. When it comes to using voice assistants across multiple devices, things can get a bit tricky. "Mike" from St. George, Utah, found himself in a comical yet frustrating situation with his personal and work iPhones. Let's dive into his predicament and explore some solutions.IM GIVING AWAY A $500 GIFT CARD FOR THE HOLIDAYSEnter bysigning up for my free newsletter! Man making a call using Siri on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The dilemmaMike has two iPhones, one for personal use and another for work. In his email to us, he explained his issue: "When using Siri to call my wife (Terrie) on my personal phone, my WORK phone dials a guy I work with also named Terry. So Im constantly having to explain my butt dial to him."This leads to awkward explanations and unnecessary "butt dials." The situation highlights a common challenge faced by many users with multiple devices, where voice assistants can become more of a hindrance than a help. Siri being used on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)HOW TO PROTECT YOUR IPHONE & IPAD FROM MALWAREAttempted solutionsMike's first attempt was to rename his wife's contact to "Wifey" on his personal phone. However, this didn't fully solve the problem, as Siri still struggled to differentiate between similar-sounding names across devices. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't allow users to change Siri's activation phrase to something custom like "Hey Wife." This limitation means we need to look for alternative solutions. iPhone and a laptop on a coffee table (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)HOW TO ASSOCIATE A RINGTONE WITH ONE OF YOUR CONTACTS ON YOUR PHONEEffective workarounds1) Use Siri Shortcuts:You can create a Siri Shortcut for calling your wife and assign a unique phrase to it. This way, you can say something like "Call Wifey" and it will only trigger on the phone where the shortcut is set up.Create a shortcutOpen the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.Tap the "+" icon to create a new shortcut.Add the action Call and select your wifes contact.Click Done Steps to create a Siri Shortcut on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Use Voice Control: You can enable Voice Control and create custom commands that wont interfere with Siri.Go to SettingsTap AccessibilityClick Voice ControlTurn on Voice Controlby toggling it onClick the Commands row Steps to set up Voice Control on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Click CustomClick Create new commandIn the phrase field, type "Call Wifey"Click the Action rowClick Run shortcutClick the first row you just set above called "Call"Click backClick Save in upper right-hand corner Steps to set up Voice Control on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Now go back to your home screen and say to your phone "Call Wifey" and it should call her.2) Disable Siri on one device: If you primarily use Siri on one phone, you can disable it on the other to prevent accidental triggers.Go to SettingsTap Siri (or could appear as Siri & Search depending on which iOS you have installed).Tap Talk to SiriTurn off Listen for "Hey Siri" and enable Press Side Button for Siri Steps to disable Siri on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)3) Rename contacts differently: Since youve already tried renaming your wifes contact, you might want to use a more unique name that wont conflict with your work contacts. For example, you could use a nickname or a combination of her name and a unique identifier.IOS 18: MAXIMIZE YOUR PRIVACY BY TURNING OFF THESE 3 IPHONES SETTINGS NOWKurt's key takeawaysWhile Siri's confusion can be frustrating, there are several ways to work around the issue. The most effective solution seems to be using Siri Shortcuts or Voice Control, as these methods create unique commands that are less likely to be misinterpreted across devices. It's worth noting that voice assistant technology is continually improving. In the future, we may see more sophisticated context recognition that can better distinguish between similar names on different devices. Until then, these workarounds should help Mike avoid any more awkward explanations to his colleague Terry!In what ways do you think voice assistants could be improved for a better user experience? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Tech Heroes among us: Celebrating American bravery on Veterans Day 11 inspiring podcasts, audiobooks, documentaries honoring courage of US service members Published November 11, 2024 8:00am EST close Veterans Day: Quaid, Adkins among Hollywood stars honoring military Stars such as Dennis Quaid, Trace Adkins and Erik Estrada share with Fox News Digital what Veterans Day means to them. In a time when stories of courage and sacrifice deserve to be heard, a collection of podcasts,documentaries and audiobooks shines light on the incredible journeys of American heroes.From the inspiring tales shared on the "Proud American" podcast hosted by Johnny Joey Jones to the eye-opening documentaries like "Wildcat" and "To Be of Service," these platforms honor the bravery of veterans, first responders and everyday individuals who embody the spirit of service. Join us as we explore these powerful narratives that not only celebrate their sacrifices but also highlight the ongoing challenges they face, offering a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be an American hero.Enter bysigning up for my free newsletter! Americans honoring our veterans (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson) "#STILLSERVING" podcast (VFW) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)This podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the current challenges facing veterans today. This engaging podcast, produced by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), dives deep into critical issues that affect service members and their families. With conversations featuring congressional leaders, Department of Defense officials and everyday veterans, each episode tackles important topics like legislation, mental health and community support. As we honor our veterans this Veterans Day, tuning into #StillServing is a great way to stay informed and connected to the ongoing dialogue about the needs and experiences of those who have served our nation. "Proud American" podcast (Fox News) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)"Proud American" is another podcast available on every major podcast platform. It is hosted by Johnny Joey Jones, a Fox News correspondent and an Army veteran. In the podcast, Jones honors those who have protected and served our country over the years and echoes stories not only from veterans but also from first responders and everyday American heroes. "Modern Warriors" audiobook (Amazon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Written by Army veteran and "FOX & Friends Weekend" co-host Pete Hegseth,"Modern Warriors"highlights 15 inspiring stories from great American heroes, including Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Marines and more. These people discuss what made them want to serve, what sacrificing for their country really means and so many other meaningful topics. You can find this audiobook on Audible now. "The Team House" podcast (YouTube) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)"The Team House" is a podcast hosted by Jack Murphy and Dave Parke, both of whom are former Rangers. Murphy eventually became a Green Beret while Parke was a paramilitary contractor.They focus on interviewing other veterans and experts in their field of work. Some of their clips are only a few minutes long, while others go as long as 3.5 hours. The Team House podcast is available on multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.Listen to "The Team House" "Signature Wounds" audiobook (Amazon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)If you want to listen to a good audiobook about veterans, you can listen to"Signature Wounds: The Untold Story of the Military's Mental Health Crisis" by David Kieran. The audiobook explores how much of an effect the Iraq and Afghanistan wars that the U.S. fought throughout the 2000s had on our troops mentally after the fact and how doctors labeled traumatic brain injuries as the "signature wound" among those who fought. You can find this audiobook on Audible right now. "Wildcat" documentary (Amazon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Available on Prime Video now,"Wildcat" is a documentary that was released back in 2022. It follows a young former soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and how he copes with his suffering by developing a bond with a baby ocelot in the jungles of Peru. He meets this ocelot through a young woman who runs a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in the area. Watch the documentary with a Prime Video membership now. "Danger Close" podcast (officialjackcarr.com) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)"Danger Close" with Jack Carr is another great podcast that you can listen to on major platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Jack Carr is the host, and he spent 20 years as a Navy SEAL. He has served in various positions, including team leader, platoon commander, troop commander, task unit commander and sniper. Carr has written a series of books about his experiences as a SEAL, and on this podcast, he takes listeners beyond his experiences and has conversations with other veterans, writers and more. "By All Means Available" audiobook (Amazon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)"By All Means Available"by Michael G. Vickers is also currently available on Audible. Vickers is a former Green Beret, and in 1984 he took on the immensely difficult job of taking charge of the CIAs secret war against the Soviets in Afghanistan. In this audiobook, he talks about all his experiences and how they have shaped him today, as well as the challenges that our nation is still facing 40 years later. "To Be of Service" documentary (Amazon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)If you're a dog lover, then you should watch"To Be of Service," available for rent on bothPrime Video andApple TV+. This documentary focuses on service dogs who help veterans work through their struggles with PTSD and how these dogs help restore a sense of independence and inner peace within these men and women who served. "The Protectors" podcast (Buzzsprout) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Available on every major podcast platform, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music, "The Protectors" is hosted by Dr. Jason Piccolo, who is a seasoned veteran and a retired special agent. Piccolo interviews everyone from fellow veterans to authors and entertainers. It takes a look at both the sacrifices that our men and women in uniform have made and how those experiences have been turned into some noteworthy literature, films and other art forms that we read and watch today. "Here. Is. Better." documentary (Amazon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)"Here. Is. Better." is another inspiring documentary that is available to rent or buy on Prime Video right now. It follows four men and women suffering from PTSD after their time serving our country and how new breakthrough treatments are helping them to overcome their struggles. It's an information-packed film about how human beings experience and process trauma and how we can overcome it.Kurt's key takeawaysAs we reflect on the incredible stories shared through these podcasts and documentaries, it's clear that the journeys of our veterans deserve to be celebrated and understood. Each narrative not only highlights their bravery but also sheds light on the challenges they continue to face. By engaging with these powerful stories, we can foster a deeper appreciation for their sacrifices and contribute to ongoing conversations about support and healing. Lets honor their experiences and ensure that their voices are heard.What stories of courage and service have inspired you the most, and how do you think we can better support our veterans in our communities?Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Published November 11, 2024 6:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': Avoiding Siri-ous confusion on your work, personal iPhones Voice assistants may cause confusion across devices. Tech expert Kurt Knutsson offers some solutions to fix it. When it comes to using voice assistants across multiple devices, things can get a bit tricky. "Mike" from St. George, Utah, found himself in a comical yet frustrating situation with his personal and work iPhones. Let's dive into his predicament and explore some solutions.IM GIVING AWAY A $500 GIFT CARD FOR THE HOLIDAYSEnter bysigning up for my free newsletter! Man making a call using Siri on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The dilemmaMike has two iPhones, one for personal use and another for work. In his email to us, he explained his issue: "When using Siri to call my wife (Terrie) on my personal phone, my WORK phone dials a guy I work with also named Terry. So Im constantly having to explain my butt dial to him."This leads to awkward explanations and unnecessary "butt dials." The situation highlights a common challenge faced by many users with multiple devices, where voice assistants can become more of a hindrance than a help. Siri being used on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)HOW TO PROTECT YOUR IPHONE & IPAD FROM MALWAREAttempted solutionsMike's first attempt was to rename his wife's contact to "Wifey" on his personal phone. However, this didn't fully solve the problem, as Siri still struggled to differentiate between similar-sounding names across devices. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't allow users to change Siri's activation phrase to something custom like "Hey Wife." This limitation means we need to look for alternative solutions. iPhone and a laptop on a coffee table (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)HOW TO ASSOCIATE A RINGTONE WITH ONE OF YOUR CONTACTS ON YOUR PHONEEffective workarounds1) Use Siri Shortcuts:You can create a Siri Shortcut for calling your wife and assign a unique phrase to it. This way, you can say something like "Call Wifey" and it will only trigger on the phone where the shortcut is set up.Create a shortcutOpen the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.Tap the "+" icon to create a new shortcut.Add the action Call and select your wifes contact.Click Done Steps to create a Siri Shortcut on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Use Voice Control: You can enable Voice Control and create custom commands that wont interfere with Siri.Go to SettingsTap AccessibilityClick Voice ControlTurn on Voice Controlby toggling it onClick the Commands row Steps to set up Voice Control on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Click CustomClick Create new commandIn the phrase field, type "Call Wifey"Click the Action rowClick Run shortcutClick the first row you just set above called "Call"Click backClick Save in upper right-hand corner Steps to set up Voice Control on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Now go back to your home screen and say to your phone "Call Wifey" and it should call her.2) Disable Siri on one device: If you primarily use Siri on one phone, you can disable it on the other to prevent accidental triggers.Go to SettingsTap Siri (or could appear as Siri & Search depending on which iOS you have installed).Tap Talk to SiriTurn off Listen for "Hey Siri" and enable Press Side Button for Siri Steps to disable Siri on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)3) Rename contacts differently: Since youve already tried renaming your wifes contact, you might want to use a more unique name that wont conflict with your work contacts. For example, you could use a nickname or a combination of her name and a unique identifier.IOS 18: MAXIMIZE YOUR PRIVACY BY TURNING OFF THESE 3 IPHONES SETTINGS NOWKurt's key takeawaysWhile Siri's confusion can be frustrating, there are several ways to work around the issue. The most effective solution seems to be using Siri Shortcuts or Voice Control, as these methods create unique commands that are less likely to be misinterpreted across devices. It's worth noting that voice assistant technology is continually improving. In the future, we may see more sophisticated context recognition that can better distinguish between similar names on different devices. Until then, these workarounds should help Mike avoid any more awkward explanations to his colleague Terry!In what ways do you think voice assistants could be improved for a better user experience? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

NetApp has upgraded its AFF A- and C-series flash storage arrays while also boosting capacity and performance in StorageGrid object storage and E-series storage area networks (SANs), mostly as a result of new 60TB arrays plus central processing unit (CPU) and backplane enhancements.AFF A- and C-series performance and capacity-oriented respectively get new-generation CPUs, reworked peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) connectivity, and are now fully modular to allow component upgrades in place while the chassis remains. With 60TB drives, capacity is now boosted also.Storage is via the Ontap operating system and can be file, block or object. While that is the case, NetApp also has its ASA block storage array, which it upgraded in September. Dedicated object storage capacity comes in its StorageGrid line, of which more below. AFF arrays come with full cloud connectivity for backup, tiering and migration.The arrays in the performance-oriented A-series are the A20, A30 and A50. NetApp claims they are now 41%, 96% and 153% quicker than their predecessor products, A150, A250 and A400.These new arrays replace existing ones at the lower end of the AFF range. They complement the A70, A90 and A1k at the high end that go to nearly 4PB raw and more than 15PB useable in the A1K, with nearly 200PB possible in a cluster configuration.In the QLC flash-equipped C-series, the new arrays are the C30, C60 and C80. Maximum capacity in the largest of these is nearly doubled over its predecessor, the C800 from 7.4PB to 14.7PB while at the other end, the new C30 goes to 2.2PB compared with the older C250, which went to 1.5PB.Possible capacities in the C-series can go to just over 700PB in a cluster of C80 arrays.Read more on NetAppNetApp maintains push to data management for AI. From data storage to intelligent data infrastructure thats the plan from NetApp, which has announced data curation for artificial intelligence as well as additions to its ASA and FAS storage arrays.NetApp: NAS pioneer well set for the cloud revolution. In this storage profile, we look at NetApp, which built a reputation in file access storage but seems to be set fair to navigate a future of hybrid cloud, cloud-native and containerisation.Grant Caley, UK and Ireland solutions director at NetApp, said: Since the advent of flash storage, the bottleneck of disk performance is no longer the factor for platform refreshes. Now it is about controller performance to that storage. So, capacities arent changing significantly, but controller performance is.Also, NetApps StorageGrid object storage arrays the offspring of E-series hardware and Bycast object storage software get an upgrade centred on 60TB arrays with more than 2PB possible in 3U possible in its SGF6112 product. An upgrade to StorageGrid software also allows for workloads in a cluster to be segregated into nodes for data only and metadata, plus 5,000 buckets per tenant possible.While object storage is possible in NetApps Ontap-equipped hardware, StorageGrid targets dedicated object storage use cases.Dynamic policy management allows the customer to decide on security, lifecycle, etc, in a much larger platform than object in Ontap, which is aimed at transient storage of object data or where it is managed by an application, such as backup, said Caley.Meanwhile, the companys E-series SAN arrays the only ones in the product line that dont use the Ontap OS also get 60TB drives and a CPU refresh, to provide two new platforms. These are the E4012 and E4060, which go to 264TB and 1.3PB raw capacity respectively. Those go to 2.1PB and 6.6PB raw with expansion shelves.E-series hardware is SAN-only, and aimed at customers that want affordable, basic storage capacity. Caley said the E-series target is simple SAN.It has snapshots and replication but is aimed at video surveillance, backup, archive storage, he said. It is for extreme performance or density, not data management, and has Infiniband, so it can be used for HPC storage.Besides array hardware upgrades, NetApp also announced a raft of enhancements to the software ecosystem surrounding it. These included Kubernetes data protection in Trident that includes snapshots, backup and restore, disaster recovery, and workload migration, available on-premise and in the cloud.Tridents data protection features are now also available where it works with Red Hats OpenShift environment, where there are also new collaborations between NetApp and Cisco in FlexPod converged offerings for OpenShift configurations aimed at virtualisation and artificial intelligence.

Identity and access management (IAM) is a difficult and enduring challenge for enterprises. Organisations need to balance securing and managing identities effectively with ease of use for employees, customers and suppliers. Put in too many layers of identity and access control, and the result is friction: processes that make it harder for employees to do their jobs.Many organisations start their identity journey with a combination of only short-term objectives, poor identity data, immature identity architecture and weak user verification, warns Scott Swalling, a cloud and data security expert at PA Consulting.A poor IAM approach, at best, can make it cumbersome and frustrating for your users and administrative staff. Onerous processes that dont take full advantage of IAM capabilities will breed users finding ways around them as they always have leading to security issues and potentially breaches.Even with the expansion of measures such as multifactor authentication (MFA) and biometrics, access remains a weak spot in enterprise security, as well as data compliance and privacy. IAM has become even more critical as enterprises move away from a fixed perimeter to flexible working, the cloud and web applications.The scale of the problem is very real. According to Verizons 2024 Data breach investigations report, stolen credentials were used in 77% of attacks against basic web applications. Googles 2023 Threat horizons report found that 86% of breaches involve stolen credentials.We need to transition to an identity-first security culture, warns Akif Khan, a vice-president analyst at Gartner who focuses on IAM. If you dont identify your users, its hard to have any type of security. If you dont know who is accessing your systems, how do you know if they should be accessing them, or not?IAM, Khan suggests, is replacing the old idea of organisations having a secure perimeter. The risks of relying on perimeter security alone are clear.In June this year, data breaches at Ticketmaster and Santander were traced back to unsecured Snowflake cloud accounts.Securing privileged accounts goes hand in hand with strong identity management and initiatives such as zero trust. But as zero trust requires significant, long-term investment, CIOs and CISOs should also be looking to improve existing security for credentials and move to risk-based approaches for identity.This is prompting organisations to move towards policy-based access controls and risk-adaptive access controls. These systems allow firms to enforce multifactor authentication if an action appears high risk, or block it altogether. But this depends on a clear IAM strategy throughout the organisation.Get the basics right to ensure you have clear visibility and control of who has access to your resources, recommends PAs Swalling. Ensure identity data is good. Coupling this with robust privilege access management, utilising automation and machine learning where possible, will streamline and enhance administrative tasks and reduce user frustration.Frustrated users make for ready victims, agrees Mustafa Mustafa, EMEA solutions manager for identity at Cisco, with a very real risk of MFA flood attacks.Cisco is a proponent of the zero-trust security model, but Mustafa admits few organisations have fully achieved it.In fact, Cisco research found that 86% of enterprises have started on zero trust, but just 2% say they have reached maturity. Barriers include complexity and an inconsistent user experience.The principle is trust no one, verify everyone, says Mustafa. The only way to implement a zero-trust policy is continuous verification of all users, devices and applications at all times and locations within or outside a given network. This includes deploying multifactor authentication, least privilege access and micro-segmentation.Zero trust is worth the effort, he argues. It improves security, compliance and risk management, but also simplifies operations once it is properly implemented and potentially allows organisations to reduce administration overheads, costs, and delays and frustrations for users. It also makes hybrid and remote working easier to manage.Meanwhile, enterprises need to continue to invest in MFA, identity governance and administration, privileged access management, and single sign-on, to list just a few. This can force CIOs to operate in two lanes one for improving security around identity and access now, and a separate, longer-term objective of moving to zero trust.In time, this will include making more use of artificial intelligence (AI) to spot unusual user behaviour or actions that could be evidence of a breach, and a move towards IAM based on risk, rather than just identity. This is sometimes also called adaptive authentication.By integrating real-time risk assessments, organisations can grant access based on context rather than identity alone, says John Paul Cunningham, CISO at Silverfort, an identity protection provider. This shift would reduce the operational overhead and data burden of managing authentication and authorisation. Ultimately, adopting this model would enable businesses to strengthen security, improve user experiences and lower the cost of maintaining identity security, he says.In practice, organisations are likely to rely on layers of security for layers of access, at least for now.The more forward-thinking organisations are prioritising identity. But the challenge still exists of stitching together disparate systems, says Cunningham. Looking at the future you can build new platforms, but people still have a lot of legacy architecture.However, enterprises still need to verify the identity of a user whether an employee, supplier, or customer in the first place. Here, the move towards global identity wallets (GIWs), usually part of a government-backed scheme, can help.Most often associated with digital government initiatives, GIWs might not be the most suitable tool for day-to-day access management, but they could play a role in onboarding staff or customers, and potentially cut fraud and credential theft. Already, there is some convergence between GIWs and IAM, with Microsofts Entra Verified ID integrated into the companys Authenticator app, for example.According to Gartner, more than 500 million people worldwide will use phone-based digital identity wallets by 2026. This represents significant growth, and should ease a number of issues around identity verification, especially for government services.In principle, you could have an identity wallet on your phone, and its not hugely different from an authenticator app. That could be used, says Khan. Its not a Microsoft ID, but an ID in a Microsoft app.Open standards around digital ID and interoperability between platforms are likely to drive adoption among government agencies and, in turn, take-up by citizens. Global identity wallet technology, for all its advantages, is likely to be too expensive for enterprises to set up on their own. And part of their advantage lies in scale, and in the trust that comes with government-issued ID.The market is moving towards portable digital identity, so users wont have to verify their identities again and again, but instead have an ID wallet on a mobile device which verifies that ID, says Khan.Businesses that currently pay for third-party identity verification services could even save money through a GIW. How the commercials stack up will be key to this, he says. Organisations also need to accept the identity asset in the wallet, which is again why government backing, and open standards and interoperability, are so important. And using GIWs could give advantages in areas as diverse as recruitment or providing services to new customers.From a technical point of view, it makes perfect sense if there is a route to onboard someone more quickly, says Khan. In a competitive market, organisations will look to explore that.Even so, GIWs look set to be part of the IAM landscape, rather than a replacement for internal identity and authentication systems. You have an ID, and that ID has attributes such as Im an employee of Gartner. Then you have your attributes for access rights, which is layers upon layers of information, says Khan. That might not all be in the wallet. Firms will still need to check details against their own identity infrastructure.The prospects for enterprise use of identity wallets, and much of the future development of IAM, will depend on the type of information, and the levels of access, organisations need to secure.Read more about identity and access managementBlack Hat USA 2024 showcased recurring themes of data security and IAM, encompassing the platform versus point product debate, cleaning identity data and GenAI security.The IAM landscape is experiencing profound change thanks to the advent of biometrics. Learn about the latest advantages and key benefits of biometrics in identity.Digital wallets can play a significant role in day-to-day authentication, extending beyond one-off events like onboarding or identity verification, says Silverforts Cunningham. By embracing digital wallets as a daily authentication tool, organisations can strengthen their security posture while enhancing user convenience and productivity.He expects to see take-up in healthcare, government, access to benefits and border control, at least initially.But digital wallets could also strengthen MFA and give hard-pressed data security teams some breathing space as they look at longer-term options, including zero trust.Digital wallets serve as an additional factor in MFA, a unique identifier similar to certificate-based tokens, and a secure storage solution for sensitive data like passwords and cryptographic keys, says Cunningham. Used well, they could improve security and ease of use while also reducing support costs for enterprises.

NetApp has upgraded its AFF A- and C-series flash storage arrays while also boosting capacity and performance in StorageGrid object storage and E-series storage area networks (SANs), mostly as a result of new 60TB arrays plus central processing unit (CPU) and backplane enhancements.AFF A- and C-series performance and capacity-oriented respectively get new-generation CPUs, reworked peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) connectivity, and are now fully modular to allow component upgrades in place while the chassis remains. With 60TB drives, capacity is now boosted also.Storage is via the Ontap operating system and can be file, block or object. While that is the case, NetApp also has its ASA block storage array, which it upgraded in September. Dedicated object storage capacity comes in its StorageGrid line, of which more below. AFF arrays come with full cloud connectivity for backup, tiering and migration.The arrays in the performance-oriented A-series are the A20, A30 and A50. NetApp claims they are now 41%, 96% and 153% quicker than their predecessor products, A150, A250 and A400.These new arrays replace existing ones at the lower end of the AFF range. They complement the A70, A90 and A1k at the high end that go to nearly 4PB raw and more than 15PB useable in the A1K, with nearly 200PB possible in a cluster configuration.In the QLC flash-equipped C-series, the new arrays are the C30, C60 and C80. Maximum capacity in the largest of these is nearly doubled over its predecessor, the C800 from 7.4PB to 14.7PB while at the other end, the new C30 goes to 2.2PB compared with the older C250, which went to 1.5PB.Possible capacities in the C-series can go to just over 700PB in a cluster of C80 arrays.Read more on NetAppNetApp maintains push to data management for AI. From data storage to intelligent data infrastructure thats the plan from NetApp, which has announced data curation for artificial intelligence as well as additions to its ASA and FAS storage arrays.NetApp: NAS pioneer well set for the cloud revolution. In this storage profile, we look at NetApp, which built a reputation in file access storage but seems to be set fair to navigate a future of hybrid cloud, cloud-native and containerisation.Grant Caley, UK and Ireland solutions director at NetApp, said: Since the advent of flash storage, the bottleneck of disk performance is no longer the factor for platform refreshes. Now it is about controller performance to that storage. So, capacities arent changing significantly, but controller performance is.Also, NetApps StorageGrid object storage arrays the offspring of E-series hardware and Bycast object storage software get an upgrade centred on 60TB arrays with more than 2PB possible in 3U possible in its SGF6112 product. An upgrade to StorageGrid software also allows for workloads in a cluster to be segregated into nodes for data only and metadata, plus 5,000 buckets per tenant possible.While object storage is possible in NetApps Ontap-equipped hardware, StorageGrid targets dedicated object storage use cases.Dynamic policy management allows the customer to decide on security, lifecycle, etc, in a much larger platform than object in Ontap, which is aimed at transient storage of object data or where it is managed by an application, such as backup, said Caley.Meanwhile, the companys E-series SAN arrays the only ones in the product line that dont use the Ontap OS also get 60TB drives and a CPU refresh, to provide two new platforms. These are the E4012 and E4060, which go to 264TB and 1.3PB raw capacity respectively. Those go to 2.1PB and 6.6PB raw with expansion shelves.E-series hardware is SAN-only, and aimed at customers that want affordable, basic storage capacity. Caley said the E-series target is simple SAN.It has snapshots and replication but is aimed at video surveillance, backup, archive storage, he said. It is for extreme performance or density, not data management, and has Infiniband, so it can be used for HPC storage.Besides array hardware upgrades, NetApp also announced a raft of enhancements to the software ecosystem surrounding it. These included Kubernetes data protection in Trident that includes snapshots, backup and restore, disaster recovery, and workload migration, available on-premise and in the cloud.Tridents data protection features are now also available where it works with Red Hats OpenShift environment, where there are also new collaborations between NetApp and Cisco in FlexPod converged offerings for OpenShift configurations aimed at virtualisation and artificial intelligence.