Ive been using one of the bravest phones of the year. Its the HMD Fusion, and it has found a way to stand out in the current, congested world of smartphones, allowing HMD to break free of its Nokia brand name ties.It hasnt simply gone all-out with a $1,000-plus flagship to capture attention and has arguably gone down an even tougher road to do so. The Fusion is a modular smartphone, and its a very brave move on HMDs part.Recommended VideosDimensions164.1 x 75.5 x 8.3 mmWeight202 gramsDisplay6.56-inch,, 1612 x 700 resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, 480 nits typical, 600 nits boostedDurabilityN/AColorsBlackProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2RAM4GB, 6GB, 8GB, or 12GB optionsStorage128GB or 256GBSoftwareAndroid 14UpdatesTwo years of OS, three years of security updatesRear cameras108MP main2MP DepthFront camera50MP fixed focusBattery5,000mAhCharging33W wired chargingPriceStarts at $299RelatedNaked HMD Fusion alongside the Casual Outfit Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsTeased at Mobile World Congress 2024 and finally given its debut in September, the HMD Fusion is a take on the often attempted modular phone concept, where a base phone can be added to with different components and upgraded over time based on your requirements. Its modularity means the HMD Fusion is also owner-repairable, from the battery to the screen, which is a great start.The other side of its modularity comes from Smart Outfits. HMD wasnt clear about how these would work, but now that Ive got the phone and its first official Smart Outfit, called the Flashy, its easily explainable. Think of Smart Outfits as high-tech cases for the phone, so theyre easy to put on and take off while providing protection and special functionality. Once on the phone, they communicate with it using a set of pogo pins, meaning they should be hardwearing and reliable.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsWhats unusual is the Fusion always has to wear an Outfit. In the box is the so-called Casual Outfit, a rather ordinary flexible, transparent case, and without it, the phone looks exceptionally vulnerable with its exposed battery and multiple screws.The Casual Outfit doesnt have any special features outside of simply keeping the phone safe. Its a regular case with a fun name. While many of us choose to use a case on their phone, some dont, but the HMD Fusions Casual Outfit looks to be an essential.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsHMD intends to release its own series of official Smart Outfits for the Fusion but has cleverly made all the instructions on how to make them public, with the expectation that enthusiasts and businesses will make their own. Ive tried out the first official Smart Outfit, the Flashy, which adds a ring light to the Fusions camera system.Built into the surround of the camera module, it can be used with the rear-facing camera or hinged over the top of the phone to face the front for selfies. It doesnt need charging as it uses the phones battery for power, and its activated inside the standard camera app, so there are no physical buttons or third-party apps to install. Its a neat system, and you can adjust the brightness and the color temperature of the light using a simple overlay when taking a photo.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsModular phones always struggled to find a simple solution to connecting accessories see the LG G5 for evidence but the Flashy Smart Outfit is easy to use because its built into a case, and absolutely everyone will instinctively know how to fit and remove it.The downside is that it turns the Fusion into a rugged phone as the ring light is encased in a thick, hefty, solid case. Its not something Id always want my phone to wear, and even if I kept it in my bag, its always going to have to replace the Casual Outfit the phone has to have fitted, meaning Ill always be carrying around at least one case for the Fusion.1 of 3No flash Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Screen-fill flash Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Flashy ring light Andy Boxall / Digital Trends The Flashy Smart Outfit is made from recycled TPU and comes in two colors: indigo blue and pink. It has a rectangular LED light, and the Fusions 50-megapixel front camera is likely going to be the one that most people will use with it. I tried it out in low light, and you can see the difference it makes in the gallery above, complete with an example of the Fusions selfie camera without any extra light and how the camera performs using the screen as a fill light.Obviously, the first image without any light is unusable, but it shows how dark the environment was when I took the photo. The one with the screen as a fill light isnt terrible (all things considered), but its still grainy and low quality. I used the Flashys fill light at 100% brightness as an example, which considerably brightens the scene. Theres a little more detail, but whats more helpful is that the adjustable color temperature helps bring out natural skin tones. In mid-light, its sure to work better too.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsUnfortunately, its not a cheap accessory at 80 British pounds or around $101, so youll have to be sure itll be used regularly. A bigger problem is that a basic clip-on ring light for your phone can cost just $10, and when you consider the cheapest version of the HMD Fusion phone itself is 249 pounds and expected to be $299 in the U.S., it changes the type of person who may be looking at the HMD Fusion in the first place. After all, people will buy the phone because of what its like and not because of an accessory.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsIve had my SIM card in the HMD Fusion for a day and can only give my initial impressions rather than provide a full review. It uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor with a choice of 4GB, 6GB (this is the version I have tried), 8GB, or 12GB of RAM, depending on the model you buy and where you live.Theres some lag and dropped frame rates in the animations when opening apps and folders, and its not the fastest experience, but the HMD Fusion plays Asphalt Legends: Unite without a problem, and its fun and exciting, so itll likely be fine for day-to-day use. Android 14 is installed, and HMD will send out two major OS version updates in the future, along with three years of security updates. It comes with a 5,000mAh battery and support for 33W wired charging. Unusually, theres a 3.5mm headphone jack on the base of the phone.1 of 3Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Andy Boxall / DIgital Trends Andy Boxall / Digital Trends The 6.56-inch screen is a disappointment with poor viewing angles where it quickly loses brightness, and although it has a 90Hz refresh rate, the software defaults to 60Hz, and even when you switch it to 90Hz adaptive, its still not entirely blur-free. The 1612 x 700-pixel resolution and 480 nits typical brightness are representatives of the devices price, but phones like theSamsung Galaxy A35andNothing Phone 2a provide a higher-quality viewing experience.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsThe HMD Fusion is not an expensive flagship phone, but I dont think that matters. Its the basis for a customizable smartphone that could end up solving a problem other phones simply cant, whether thats through its repairability or your own ability to design and 3D print a special Smart Outfit. Like other modular phones, its an exciting prospect but also a tall order.If you like the idea of customizing the look of your phone but arent worried about expensive add-ons like the Flashy case, then the Fusion has some serious competition from the CMF by Nothing Phone 1, where you can replace the exterior case, add a lanyard, and other small tweaks to the style of the phone. Ill point at the equally customizable CMF Watch 2 Pro as the ideal companion, and the two can be yours for less than the price of the HMD Fusion alone.Theres potential in the Smart Outfits system, and HMD has approached it correctly by opening it up to the world immediately. However, it really does need enthusiasts as well as HMD to support it. This is why its a brave move for HMD, and if wide support doesnt quickly arrive, the Fusion risks being forgotten along with the many other modular smartphone experiments weve seen over the years.Editors Recommendations

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How 'bout them apples? AI-generated shows could replace lost DVD revenue, Ben Affleck says AI won't replace human artistry, says actor, but it will wildly drive down costs. Benj Edwards Nov 18, 2024 5:49 pm | 37 Credit: Donald Iain Smith via Getty Images Credit: Donald Iain Smith via Getty Images Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreLast week, actor and director Ben Affleck shared his views on AI's role in filmmaking during the 2024 CNBC Delivering Alpha investor summit, arguing that AI models will transform visual effects but won't replace creative filmmaking anytime soon. A video clip of Affleck's opinion began circulating widely on social media not long after."Didnt expect Ben Affleck to have the most articulate and realistic explanation where video models and Hollywood is going," wrote one X user.In the clip, Affleck spoke of current AI models' abilities as imitators and conceptual translatorsmimics that are typically better at translating one style into another instead of originating deeply creative material."AI can write excellent imitative verse, but it cannot write Shakespeare," Affleck told CNBC's David Faber. "The function of having two, three, or four actors in a room and the taste to discern and construct that entirely eludes AI's capability."Affleck sees AI models as "craftsmen" rather than artists (although some might find the term "craftsman" in his analogy somewhat imprecise). He explained that while AI can learn through imitationlike a craftsman studying furniture-making techniquesit lacks the creative judgment that defines artistry. "Craftsman is knowing how to work. Art is knowing when to stop," he said."It's not going to replace human beings making films," Affleck stated. Instead, he sees AI taking over "the more laborious, less creative and more costly aspects of filmmaking," which could lower barriers to entry and make it easier for emerging filmmakers to create movies like Good Will Hunting.Films will become dramatically cheaper to makeWhile it may seem on its surface like Affleck was attacking generative AI capabilities in the tech industry, he also did not deny the impact it may have on filmmaking. For example, he predicted that AI would reduce costs and speed up production schedules, potentially allowing shows like HBO's House of the Dragon to release two seasons in the same period as it takes to make one.The visual effects industry faces the biggest disruption from these efficiency gains, according to Affleck. "I wouldn't like to be in the visual effects business. They're in trouble," he warned, predicting that expensive effects work will become much cheaper through AI automation.Based on what we've seen of AI video generators, where someone can easily apply AI-generated effects to existing video, this outcome seems plausible. But current AI video synthesis tools like those from Runway may need improvements in getting desired results with some consistency and controlinstead of forcing users to repeat generations while hoping for a usable result.AI-generated content: A new revenue stream?Affleck thinks that AI technology could create a new source of revenue for studios, potentially replacing lost DVD sales that he says once provided a large chunk of industry revenue but dropped dramatically over the past decade due to the rise of streaming video services.For example, although he had previously mentioned that AI would not replace human taste in filmmaking, Affleck described a scenario where a future viewer might pay to generate custom episodes of their favorite shows, though he acknowledged such content may be "janky and a little bit weird."He also imagined a scenario where companies may sell licenses to fans to create custom AI-generate content or AI-generated TikTok videos with character likenesses, similar to how studios sell superhero costumes today.Even so, Affleck maintains that human creativity will remain central to filmmaking. He explained that AI models currently work by "cross-pollinating things that exist" without truly creating anything new. At least not yet. This limitation, combined with AI's lack of artistic judgment, means that he thinks traditional filmmaking crafted by human directors and actors will persist.Benj EdwardsSenior AI ReporterBenj EdwardsSenior AI Reporter Benj Edwards is Ars Technica's Senior AI Reporter and founder of the site's dedicated AI beat in 2022. He's also a widely-cited tech historian. In his free time, he writes and records music, collects vintage computers, and enjoys nature. He lives in Raleigh, NC. 37 Comments Prev story

Closing doors The ISS has been leaking air for 5 years, and engineers still dont know why "This is a an engineering problem, and good engineers should be able to agree on it." Stephen Clark Nov 18, 2024 5:19 pm | 39 The Zvezda service module, seen here near the top of this image, is one the oldest parts of the International Space Station. Credit: NASA The Zvezda service module, seen here near the top of this image, is one the oldest parts of the International Space Station. Credit: NASA Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreOfficials from NASA and Russias space agency dont see eye to eye on the causes and risks of small but persistent air leaks on the International Space Station.That was the word from the new chair of NASA's International Space Station Advisory Committee last week. The air leaks are located in the transfer tunnel of the space station's Russian Zvezda service module, one of the oldest elements of the complex.US and Russian officials "don't have a common understanding of what the likely root cause is, or the severity of the consequences of these leaks," said Bob Cabana, a retired NASA astronaut who took the helm of the advisory committee earlier this year. Cabana replaced former Apollo astronaut Tom Stafford, who chaired the committee before he died in March.The transfer tunnel, known by the Russian acronym PrK, connects the Zvezda module with a docking port where Soyuz crew and Progress resupply spacecraft attach to the station.Air has been leaking from the transfer tunnel since September 2019. On several occasions, Russian cosmonauts have repaired the cracks and temporarily reduced the leak rate. In February, the leak rate jumped up again to 2.4 pounds per day, then increased to 3.7 pounds per day in April.This prompted managers to elevate the transfer tunnel leak to the highest level of risk in the space station program's risk management system. This 55 "risk matrix" classifies the likelihood and consequence of risks. Ars reported in June that the leaks are now classified as a "5" both in terms of high likelihood and high consequence.NASA reported in September that the latest round of repairs cut the leak rate by a third, but it did not eliminate the problem.An engineering problem"The Russian position is that the most probable cause of the PrK cracks is high cyclic fatigue caused by micro-vibrations," Cabana said on November 13. "NASA believes the PrK cracks are likely multi-causal, including pressure and mechanical stress, residual stress, material properties, and environmental exposures."The ISS is aging. Zvezda and the PrK launched in July 2000 and will mark a quarter-century in orbit next year. NASA wants to keep the space station operating until at least 2030, while Roscosmos, Russia's space agency, has committed only through 2028.Roscosmos has shared sample metals, welds, and investigation reports with NASA to assist in the study of the cracks and leaks. In a report published in September, NASA's inspector general said NASA's ISS Vehicle Office at Johnson Space Center in Houston said the leaks are "not an immediate risk to the structural integrity of the station."This is because managers have implemented mitigations to protect the entire station in the event of a structural failure of the PrK.Crew members aboard the space station are keeping the hatch leading to the PrK closed when they don't need to access the Progress cargo freighter docked at the other end of the transfer tunnel. Russian cosmonauts must open the hatch to unpack supplies from the Progress or load trash into the ship for disposal.But NASA and Roscosmos disagree on when the leak rate would become untenable. When that happens, the space station crew will have to permanently close the hatch to seal off the PrK and prevent a major failure from affecting the rest of the complex."The station is not young," said Michael Barratt, a NASA astronaut who returned from the space station last month. "It's been up there for quite a while, and you expect some wear and tear, and we're seeing that.""The Russians believe that continued operations are safe, but they can't prove to our satisfaction that they are," said Cabana, who was the senior civil servant at NASA until his retirement in 2023. "And the US believes that it's not safe, but we can't prove that to the Russian satisfaction that that's the case."So while the Russian team continues to search for and seal the leaks, it does not believe catastrophic disintegration of the PrK is realistic," Cabana said. "And NASA has expressed concerns about the structural integrity of the PrK and the possibility of a catastrophic failure."Closing the PrK hatch permanently would eliminate the use of one of the space station's four Russian docking ports.NASA has chartered a team of independent experts to assess the cracks and leaks and help determine the root cause, Cabana said. "This is an engineering problem, and good engineers should be able to agree on it."As a precaution, Barratt said space station crews are also closing the hatch separating the US and Russian sections of the space station when cosmonauts are working in the PrK."The way it's affected us, mostly, is as they go in and open that to unload a cargo vehicle that's docked to it, they've also taken time to inspect and try to repair when they can," Barratt said. "We've taken a very conservative approach to closing the hatch between the US side and the Russian side for those time periods."It's not a comfortable thing, but it is the best agreement between all the smart people on both sides, and it's something that we as a crew live with and adapt."Stephen ClarkSpace ReporterStephen ClarkSpace Reporter Stephen Clark is a space reporter at Ars Technica, covering private space companies and the worlds space agencies. Stephen writes about the nexus of technology, science, policy, and business on and off the planet. 39 Comments

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How did Earths inner core freeze solid?Rost9/ShutterstockA high concentration of carbon within Earths inner core could explain a long-standing mystery about how the deepest part of our planet froze solid a process that kick-started the magnetic field protecting life on the surface.Earths inner core presents a paradox for geophysicists: it first formed as a massive liquid ball of mostly iron, then began to solidify within the last billion years. In order for that freezing process to start in a pure iron object, it would have had to cool by at least 700 kelvin in

Syncing up time crystals can help harness energyNobi_Prizue/Getty ImagesTo store energy with a time crystal, make it a double. A mathematical analysis shows that putting two time crystals into a coordinated state could create a quantum battery-like device.Time crystals differ from other quantum states of matter by having a structure that repeats in time they cycle through the same set of configurations over and over without any energy input. Though physicists once worried that this would violate fundamental laws of physics and render them impossible, over the course of the past decade researchers have created

Donald Trump is yet to announce his pick for Treasury Secretary.Names in the frame include Scott Bessent, Howard Lutnick, Marc Rowan, and Kevin Warsh.Here is some of the sharpest analysis of who he should nominate.After announcing a swathe of names for his Cabinet, president-elect Donald Trump appears to be conducting auditions for his Treasury Secretary.Figures in the frame include Scott Bessent, the founder of Key Square Capital Management; Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald; Marc Rowan, the Apollo Global Management cofounder; and Kevin Warsh, a former governor of the Federal Reserve Board.Here's some of the best commentary we've seen about the race to be the next Treasury Secretary.Associated Press Trump's treasury pick could give an indication of what he plans to do about tariffsPresident-elect Donald Trump's decision on a treasury secretary is about far more than whose name will be printed on America's money.The choice of how to fill his highest-profile outstanding Cabinet selection will be the clearest indication yet of how he intends to wield import tariffs in his new administration.The leading candidates for the role have expressed differing perspectives on how Trump should use the protectionist trade policies that he put front and center in his campaign for the White House, while Trump himself has offered seemingly contradictory views.CNBC The battle over Trump's Treasury secretary is adding to the market's problemsThe sudden confusion has caused some queasiness among investors, who also have been nervous about rhetoric lately from Federal Reserve officials that has injected uncertainty into expectations for interest rate cuts."We think concern over the Treasury pick was at least as important a driver of market weakness Thursday/Friday as the signal from Powell that the Fed is going to be more non-committal on its rate plans which is itself a product of uncertainty over Trump policy," Evercore ISI analysts said in a note Monday.Stocks found some footing on Monday after the Trump trade rally was cut short last week.The New York Times DealBook newsletterTrump has told associates that he is impressed by Rowan,Rowan would be likely to reassure many on Wall Street, particularly given how unorthodox some of the other cabinet choices have been. But it's unclear whether he would want to take such a public role, especially given his current work at Apollo. (How hard it would be to extricate Rowan from any "key man" provisions in the firm's funds is another question.)Trump has a history with Warsh, having considered him as a potential Fed chair in 2017, only to choose Jay Powell instead, a choice he later publicly regretted. The TV-minded Trump considers Warsh smart and handsome, The Times reports. Warsh is also being mentioned as a potential successor to Powell, whose term expires in 2026.Whoever gets the nod will have to deal with Trump's insistence on new tariffs, a key campaign pledge. Among Lutnick's private criticisms of Bessent, according to reports, is that his rival hasn't expressed enough enthusiasm for them.Kyle Bass, chief investment officer of Hayman Capital Management, on XU.S. markets initially rallied on Trump's win. Markets began discounting Scott Bessent as U.S. Treasury Secretary. The moment Howard Lutnick decided he wanted the job, the markets sold off. The markets are telling Trump that Bessent is certainly the best choice for the position.The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board 'Disruption Won't Work at Treasury'Unlike other policy positions, the Treasury Secretary needs an understanding of financial markets, which nowadays are global. A blowup in the foreign-exchange markets somewhere can affect the U.S. economy, and new financial investments like crypto need careful watching. Mr. Trump has promised to ease political control over these markets, but no one should think they are risk free. Blowups somewhere are inevitable, and a Treasury secretary needs the experience to deal with the fallout in a way that reassures markets.Mike Allen, Axios cofounder, on CNBCThere's going to be a serious look at Kevin Warsh and Marc Rowan. You've got what The New York Times is calling a 'knife fight' between Howard Lutnick and Scott Bessent. There could now be a contest for Treasury Secretary where the no1 job is reassuring the markets.Trump likes pedigree and Trump is obsessed with the markets, and that's what I can see Kevin Warsh as a very strong candidate. He was the youngest Fed governor and he's someone that the markets love. The back-up job that may be offered to some of these candidates is director of the White House National Economic Council.Ian Bremmer, Eurasia Group founder, told BI:Trump's transition leaders remain enthusiastic and indeed strongly excited about the group they're putting together. And there's extraordinary confidence given the strength of Trump's win and the sweep of executive, house, and senate. But despite being a second term, there's no more experience being assembled on the cabinet than in the first administration (when, at least, there was awareness that the group didn't yet know what it was doing) and overall less competence, with experienced Washington politicians like Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz in the group but few operators who understand the mechanics of bureaucracy, all of which is unique compared to other second administrations that the United States has experienced historically.The unifying factor is a desire to undo what's seen as wrong with the status quo whether any policy attached to the Biden administration, the "politicization" of the power ministries, or the "deep state" in the regulatory bureaucracies, which reflects the overall intention of taking a wrecking ball to Washington, a message president-elect Trump is happy to champion, but with little experience, understanding, or interest in what they want to build or reform the institutions into.The Economist 'Howard Lutnick, Donald Trump's resilient transition chief'Decades later the fight for Mr Lutnick, now aged 63, is over the fate of America itself. The man in the ring is another big-city billionaire, Donald Trump. In this bout, Mr Lutnick is so far more of a towel boy, a cheerleader or a coach. Once a donor to Mr Trump, he is managing the president-elect's transition, filling roughly 4,000 government posts before the inaugurationthe perfect role for someone who has described himself as "addicted to people". In return he might be rewarded with the job of treasury secretary. Mr Lutnick has said he will judge prospective hires in the Trump administration by their capacity, as well as their "fidelity and loyaltyto the man". Mr Lutnick's most impressive talent is his ability to imbue staff with a sense of mission. But that is only as worthwhile as the quality of the staff and of the mission itself.Bloomberg Editorial Board 'Trump's Nominees Suggest Familiar Chaos'Other eccentric nominations surely lie ahead. More of the assorted kooks and grifters who amble into Trump's orbit may well be proposed for positions of national consequence. Republican senators, in particular newly elected Majority Leader John Thune, should be on the lookout for unqualified picks and prepared to reject them. Doing so would be both the honorable thing for the country and manifestly in their self-interest: Incompetence in high places will only impede their agenda.Jeff Stein, The Washington Post economics reporter, on XWe're in a protracted standoff right now over who Trump will pick for treasury secretary. I think it sounds boring to a lot of people but it's an absolutely crucial moment 1) From all my reporting, my sense is that Trump is dead serious about enormous tariff hikes to rebalance global trade. So he wants someone who will actually implement those tariffs. 2) But all the evidence also suggests he really wants the support of Wall Street and STONKS to go up. So he wants someone the markets will respect But it's really hard to see how he gets BOTH of those, which I think is part of why picking the treasury secretary is proving so hardThis helps explain why Scott Bessent, the Treasury contender who got characterized - maybe somewhat unfairly? - as door #2, has been jumping up and down the last week & insisting that he's really actually super serious about doing tariffs in a big way.

A federal judge ruled in August that Google violated antitrust law to keep a monopoly on search.The Department of Justice is weighing several remedies to resolve the case.DOJ officials reportedly plan to ask a judge to force Google to sell Chrome.Officials from the DOJ are reportedly planning to ask a judge to force Google to sell its Chrome browser.The remedy would follow a ruling in August in which a federal judge found the tech giant violated the law and held a monopoly on online search.The DOJ's antitrust division is also expected to ask Judge Amit Mehta to impose data licensing requirements along with other remedies tied to AI and its Android smartphone operating system, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing people familiar with the plans.Prosecutors have proposed and the Department of Justice is considering several potential remedies to resolve the violation, including a potential breakup of some of Google's basic businesses like its search engine, Business Insider previously reported."The DOJ continues to push a radical agenda that goes far beyond the legal issues in this case," Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president of Google's regulatory affairs, told Business Insider in a statement. "The government putting its thumb on the scale in these ways would harm consumers, developers and American technological leadership at precisely the moment it is most needed."Breaking off Chrome would be a substantial blow to the tech titan's Google Services branch, which makes most of its money through advertising. Business Insider previously reported Google's total search revenue was $279.8 billion in 2022.Google is also dealing with the fallout from a second antitrust case related to its Play Store after a judge last month ruled that Google must open up Android to rival third-party app stores as part of a landmark antitrust case against the tech giant.The rulings are part of what management and law experts previously told Business Insider signals a shift in antitrust law against large tech companies."In recent years, the government has been trying to countervail the high pricing power of dominant tech companies," Peter Cohan, an associate professor of management practice at Babson College, previously told Business Insider. "This fits into that shift."Representatives for the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.