Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETWhat's the deal?The HP Envy x360 2-in-1 laptop with the Intel Core Ultra 5 processor is on sale on HP. The base model with 512GB of storage is currently $599, which is $360 off the regular price. ZDNET's key takeawaysThe HP Envy x360 2-in-1 (2024) comes in a variety of configurations, and is on sale starting at $699.It sports one of the most gorgeous displays I've seen on a convertible laptop. It's a little on the heavy side, and the configuration swapping can be buggy.A host of new 2-in-1 laptops have already launched in 2024, as the form factor's popularity continues to grow. More and more laptop diehards (myself included) who have previously been unwilling to commit to a tablet are getting on board with convertibles, which give you the best of both worlds.Also:The best Black Friday deals live nowTheHP Envy x360 16" 2-in-1shows up to the party with all the features that consumers actually want in a convertible: a gorgeous display, beefy speakers, and a suite of hardware to back it up. This results in a solid performance and a satisfying media experience at a mid-range price point.Yes, a 16-inch screen is large when used as a tablet -- a little unwieldy, even. However, the OLED display on this laptop is so good that it doesn't matter to me. In fact, it could be bigger, and I would still happily tote it around.The Envy x360 features a 2.8K (2880 x 1800) resolution OLED touchscreen with a variable 120Hz refresh rate and edge-to-edge glass that results in a smooth-as-silk visual experience. The 500-nit brightness is more than enough for normal use, and the glossy finish looks gorgeous (but may not be for everyone, because fingerprints are a thing).Also: The work laptop with the best display I've tested is not a ThinkPad or MacBook (and it's $300 off)Video playback is vibrant, smooth, and sharp, with a realistic depth of color and contrast. HP also advertises the Envy x360 as an "IMAX certified" laptop, one of the first of its kind. It earned this certification for its ability to display IMAX-formatted content in its original 1.43:1 or 1.90:1 aspect ratio. While a flashy designation, this is a laptop we're talking about here; it's still a 16-inch screen. It does look good, though -- I'll give it that.The audio is also decent. While it may seem that the two vents on either side of the keyboard are speakers, audio actually originates from the dual DTS:X ultrabar-shaped speakers on the back of the device. There isn't a lot of bass, but mid-frequency audio and dialogue sound crisp and clear and held their own when I played Netflix in a noisy kitchen. Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETThe previously mentioned vents on either side of the keyboard are actually for expelling heat, something my colleague Cesar Cadenas will appreciate, as this is a laptop you can actually work with in your lap without getting first-degree burns on your legs.The Envy x360 is positioned just below HP's Spectre line of laptops to provide great performance that serves most users' needs. We reviewed the 2024 Spectre x360 earlier this year and found it has truly next-gen hardware with the cutting-edge "Meteor Lake" AI processor, but it will run you hundreds of dollars more.The Envy x360 model that I tested, however, came with an integrated AMD Radeon GPU that, coupled with the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor, can run both CPU-intensive and graphics tasks well. This aligns with its targeted creator/freelancer consumer demographic, allowing visual apps like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Photoshop to run smoothly, with an eye toward generative AI capabilities.I found that the battery life was better than average -- especially for an OLED-equipped laptop -- thanks to the efficiency gains of the Ryzen 7 8840HS processor. With only intermittent use, the laptop lasted me several days, while sustained activity resulted in over 10 hours of battery life, more or less equivalent to what is advertised. Even better is the fast charging feature, which I found even faster than HP's 50% in 45-minute claims.Also: The best battery life laptops of 2024: Expert tested and reviewedThe 2-in-1 form factor requires a certain degree of physical fortitude, and its hinge-style design (which is almost identical to the Lenovo 7i 2-in-1) supports a sturdy build that's up to the task. It has minimal screen wobble, yet enough resistance to stay in place as a touchscreen.That said, this is not a particularly light laptop, weighing in at around four pounds, with most of that weight coming from the 16-inch OLED. Despite the weight, it's very thin -- only 0.72 inches -- which results in a laptop that still feels sufficiently portable. Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETPort selection on the 2024 Envy x360 will also be sufficient for most users, with two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an HDMI port. The keyboard is particularly unique: the keys are big and chunky, in a matte gray color, with oversized letters in a distinct sans serif font. It looks good but lacks a right-side number pad, which I prefer to have on a laptop -- especially one of this size.Also: How we test laptops at ZDNET in 2024If you can't tell already, I'm a big fan of the Envy x360, and out of all the 2-in-1 laptops I've tested, I prefer this one. My main critique of this laptop is the bugginess that can occur when swapping between the different orientations. Going from tablet to laptop can result in delayed or glitchy keyboard response, and the screen orientation can stick in one position or another, requiring a deliberate re-positioning of the laptop to reset the internal gyroscope.These issues are prevalent across all 2-in-1 laptops I've tested and are (usually) intermittent enough to not be problems -- but in certain moments, facing non-functioning hardware can be frustrating, and you should keep that in mind.ZDNET's buying adviceThe HP Envy x360 16 (2024) is priced well for an upper-mid-tier device with a gorgeous display and solid performance. Creators will love this laptop's flexible form factor and impressive battery life. After using it for a few weeks, I can say that it's my favorite big-screen 2-in-1, despite its quirks. This is a laptop for work as much as it is for entertainment, and if you're looking for a 2-in-1 laptop, you have to consider the Envy x360.Compared to its rivals, HP's model offers a more complete package. Take a look at Lenovo's Yoga 7i. It's also a great machine worth consideration, but the Yoga is heavier with a duller screen. Microsoft's 11th-Gen Surface Pro arguably has better hardware, but it is much smaller, sporting a 13-inch touchscreen. TheMacBook Pro is another great option, but do you really want to spend money on something that'll probably feel outdated in a year or so? Think of the Envy x360 as a Goldilocks laptop -- everything about it is just right.If you're looking for a smaller option, considerHP's 2024 Spectre x360, which has a 14-inch display. For something more adventurous, check out the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i, which has two displays. When will this deal expire? Deals are subject to sell-out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on this deal, but don't fret -- we're constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you atZDNET.com. Featured reviews

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Table of ContentsTable of ContentsSAMSUNG Galaxy SmartTag2 $20 $30 33% offTicket to Ride $44 $55 20% offJBL Tune Buds $50 $100 50% offWaterpik Aquarius Water Flosser $50 $100 50% offLEGO Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit Building Set $60 $75 20% offKeurig K-Express Single Serve $60 $90 33% offCHEF iQ Sense Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer $64 $130 51% offNinja Air Fryer $70 $90 22% offCOSORI Electric Pressure Cooker $83 $90 8% offSimpliSafe The Starter: 6-piece wireless security system $84 $280 70% offBLACK+DECKER POWERSERIES+ $90 $100 10% offFitbit Charge 6 $100 $160 38% offInsignia 32-inch F20 Series FHD TV $100 $170 41% offKeurig K-Elite Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker $110 $190 42% offCHEF iQ Smart Pressure Cooker $140 $200 30% offiRobot Roomba Vac Robot Vacuum $149 $250 40% offSamsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (64GB) $150 $220 32% offNinja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill $150 $260 42% offSAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 6 $160 $330 52% offApple Watch SE 2 $169 $249 32% offApple AirPods Pro 2 USB-C $170 $249 32% offGoogle Pixel Buds Pro 2 $179 $229 22% offSony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones $198 $348 43% offBose TV Speaker $199 $279 29% offSeagate Storage Expansion Card 2TB $200 $360 44% offTCL 55-Inch S5 4K TV $240 $330 27% offSAMSUNG Galaxy A35 5G $300 $400 25% offMotorola Razr $350 $425 18% offApple Watch Series 10 $359 $429 16% offDyson V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner $394 $470 16% offiRobot Roomba Combo j5+ $399 $730 45% offSony 65 Inch BRAVIA 3 4K TV $648 $800 19% offASUS Zenbook 14 $1,200 $1,300 8% offLenovo Legion Pro 5i $1,310, $1,770 25% offMajor Fitness All-In-One Home Gym Smith Machine Spirit B52 $1,400 $1,500 6% offWhen is Black Friday?How to choose deals on Black FridayHow we chose these Black Friday dealsUpdate 11/25/24: Were now just a day from Black Friday, and the early Black Friday deals are getting hot. Weve seen price changes across the board since our last update, and well be removing and adding Black Friday deals regularly as things change. Check back often or make a purchase now if you see one you like.The Black Friday main event is fast approaching, but all of the best early Black Friday deals are making a case for some big time savings already. Were seeing all sorts of amazing deals going on, including early Black Friday TV deals, early Black Friday tablet deals, and early Black Friday laptop deals. If youre looking for some savings around the house there are plenty of early Black Friday Keurig deals, early Black Friday fitness deals, and early Black Friday tool deals. Weve rounded up a little bit of everything below, and you can be sure theyre some of the best deals Black Friday currently has to offer.Best Black Friday SalesAmazon Apple Best Buy Dell Cheap TVs Walmart Samsung HP Lenovo LG Nordstrom Target Wayfair Staples Purple Dreamcloud Nectar Saavta Tempur-Pedic Lowes Home Depot Great Gift Ideas Christmas trees $30 33% offSAMSUNGWhile many folks may be familiar with Apples Air Tag, Samsung has its own version in the SmartTag2, and given that Samsung is one of the most popular phones, its a relatively big network as well. You do have to opt into the Smart Things app for the tracking, but its a small price to pay for a $20 tracker.Related$55 20% offDays of WonderIf you want to get away from the screen, then grabbing a board game is a good idea, and Ticket to Ride is a perfect option for first-timers and for family game nights, and with a 20% discount, its worth it. The game pits you and up to four other players to create tracks across various countries, with the longest track winning, so its super simple.$100 50% offJBL / JBLA good pair of earbuds doesnt need to cost a fortune, and this deal that lets you snag a pair of JBL Tune Buds for 50% off is the perfect example. They have both active noise canceling (ANC) and smart ambient modes, a battery life that can last up to 48 hours in total with ANC off, and the audio fidelity is actually pretty great.$100 50% offWaterpikTeeth and gum health is important, and if you often find yourself avoiding flossing daily, then a water flosser will make a big difference for you. This one from Waterpik is a great, with ten power settings for you to work with, and a 22-ounce reservoir, as well as a very solid $50 discount.$75 20% offLegoFor those who are fascinated with space, this is easily one of the best Lego sets available. While it only has a $15 discount, thats still 20% off the regular price. The set includes an actual orbiting model of the sun, Earth, and moon, which you can physically control, which is cool, and also makes it a great teaching tool.$90 33% offKeurigIf you tend to travel a lot or just have a small kitchen with very little countertop space, then this Keurig single-serve coffee maker is perfect. Not only does it have a significant 33% discount, it has a 42-ounce removable reservoir, can brew three cup sizes, and is only 5.1-inches wide.$130 51% offCHEF iQCooking red or white meat can be a bit problematic if you dont have a lot of experience with cooking, but this wireless digital thermometer is perfect for that. Even for those who have experience, it gives you a ton of data and a timer to help, and it even has a substantial 51% discount; just be sure to clip the coupon to get the full discount.$90 22% offNinjaAir fryers are great if youre looking for a healthy way to fry and cook food, and this deal on the Ninja Air Fryer is a great budget to mid-range option, especially with the 31% discount. It has a four-quart capacity and can do things like boil and roast, and it has dishwasher safe parts, so its easy to clean.$90 8% offCOSORINot all pressure cookers are exceedingly expensive, and this COSORI Electric Pressure Cooker is going for $83 instead of the usual $90. It has a six-quart capacity, which is pretty sizeable, and it has a couple of extra features, like being able to cook rice and sous vide, so you dont have to buy a new device for each thing.SimpliSafe The Starter: 6-piece wireless security system $84 $280 70% offSimpliSafeThe Starter bundle is SimpliSafes mid-level package and includes a suite of home security devices to keep a close eye on your home or property. You get the base station, three entry sensors for doors and windows, one security keypad, and one motion sensor. The base station serves as the brains of the entire system offering real-time alerts and more. Plus, it has a backup battery in case theres an outage. The entry sensors keep watch over your most vulnerable entry points and work with any doors or windows.This Black Friday deal saves you up to 70% when you sign up for professional monitoring. Paid in full its $84 for everything instead of the usual $280. Thats a small price to pay for peace of mind and its also one of SimpliSafes best deals ever.$100 10% offAmazonWhile you can certainly spend a tidy sum on a cordless vacuum, if you just need something thats basic for quick cleaning and thats easy to store, this BLACK+DECKER POWERSERIES+ has a nice $10 discount. It has 40 minutes of runtime on the lowest setting, LED floorhead lights to see dirt easier, and can be emptied without taking the whole thing apart.$160 38% offJoe Maring / Digital TrendsWith the Fitbit Charge 6 you can track all of your workouts, and with this Black Friday deal you can save $60 on the popular fitness tracker. It comes in a variety of colors and even has same day delivery if youre an Amazon Prime subscriber. This is one of the better Fitbit Black Friday deals were seeing, and while there may be some other models out there with lower prices, this $60 savings offers a ton of value.$170 41% offInsigniaNot everyone needs a massive 4K TV, and if youre looking for something smaller, this 32-inch F20 Series from Insignia is great for watching content or even gaming on PC and console. It runs an FHD resolution, comes with the FireTV platform, and has a substantial $41% discount that makes it well worth it at the $100 price tag.$190 42% offKeurigThe Keurig K-Elite Single Serve is a great coffee maker with some great extra features, such as an 8-to-12-ounce brew size, an easily removable drip tray, an iced coffee setting to brew over ice, and the ability to just get hot water. On top of that, you get a pretty substantial $71 discount.$200 30% offPressure cookers are a great way to reduce the time it takes to cook something that would usually take several hours or even a day. They are also great for just slow cooking things in an enclosed way if thats what you prefer. This CHEF iQ Smart Pressure Cooker has a nice 30% discount, a six-quart capacity, and over 1,000 presets.$250 40% offiRobotRobot vacuums are great for those who really dont want to come home after a long day of work and deal with the light dusting that tends to pile up on the floor. Luckily, this iRobot Roomba Vac Robot has a whopping $101 discount that brings it down to $149 and it has a lot of great features that will make your life easier.$220 32% offSamsungFew tablets offer the sort of value can find with Samsungs Galaxy Tab lineup, and here the Galaxy Tab A9+ offers even more value. This Black Friday deal drops its price from $220 to $150, which is good for $70 in savings. This deal is on the 64GB model, and while that may leave some people wanting more storage space, its plenty if you dont have a lot of apps and media to load up, making this a great Black Friday tablet option for most people.$260 42% offNinjaGrilling can be a lot of fun, but with the weather getting colder, you may need to grill indoors, and for that, youll need the Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill. With a solid 42% discount, this indoor grill has a lot of great functions, from searing and sizzling to air frying, and there is even a smart thermometer to make life easier.$330 52% offAndrew Martonik / Digital TrendsIf youre looking for an Android smartwatch, its hard to beat the SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 6, with our mobile editor Joe Maring saying, The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is the new go-to recommendation if you want an Android smartwatch. Its reliable, powerful, and still a great value. Even better, you get a massive 52% off the $330 price with this deal.$249 32% offAppleWhen buying a smartwatch in the Apple ecosystem, the cheapest option is likely going to be the Apple Watch SE 2, which has a pretty strong 32% discount. Our senior mobile reviewer Andy Boxall said, The brilliant Apple Watch SE 2 may not have all the headline features of the Series 8, but this simplicity is part of its appeal, as it does everything else its sibling can for a lot less money.$249 32% offZeke Jones / Digital TrendsThe new USB-C AirPods Pro 2 has a lot going for it, and even our editor at large, Caleb Denison, said that if you look past the case of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, and youll see wireless audios future. Even better, this deal knocks $79 off the price, bringing them down to just $170.$229 22% offSimon Cohen / Digital TrendsThey may have been replaced with the more recent release of the Galaxy Buds Pro 3, but the Galaxy Buds Pro 2 still offer some great audio quality and a style that many people prefer to the newer design. With this Black Friday deal you can land the Pixel Buds Pro 2 for just $179, which is good for nearly $50 in savings and a Black Friday sale price of $229.$348 43% offSonyWhile theSony WH-1000XM4 is a generation behind now given that theSony WH-1000XM5 is out, they are still some of the best on the market. For a solid 43% off, you get some of the best ANC in the industry, excellent audio fidelity, and a whopping 30 hours of battery life with ANC on.$279 29% offSimon Cohen / Digital Trends / Digital TrendsYou cant go wrong with Bose when it comes to home audio equipment. This Bose soundbar is another great upgrade over TV speakers, and with this Black Friday deal its nearly 30% off. This brings the price down to a modest $199 as soundbars go, and makes this a great option if youre looking for both affordability and brand recognition.$360 44% offSeagateWhile the Xbox Series X and Series S have a reasonably good amount of internal storage, its always good to have extra, especially with the Series S not being able to take physical discs. This 2Tb expansion card is pretty massive, but it also has a whopping 44% off the usual $360 price, bringing it down to $200.$330 27% offTCLThis 55-inch TCL S5 is a great TV if youre looking for something budget-oriented and versatile. It has HDR 10, HDR 10+ and HLG HDR, the last of which is made specifically for sports broadcasters, while the 60Hz refresh rate works well for console gaming, plus you get a solid 27% discount that brings it down to $240.$400 25% offAndy Boxall / Digital TrendsWhile you can certainly go for a very expensive flagship phone, thisSAMSUNG Galaxy A35 is great for those who want a great phone at a budget price, especially with this 25% discount that brings it down to $300. Our senior mobile writer And Boxall said of it: The Samsung Galaxy A35 delivers great value with its decent performance, up-to-date software, fun main camera, and chunky modern look.$425 18% offChristine Romero-Chan / Digital TrendsFolding phones are expensive, but this2023 Motorola Razr is surprisingly affordable with large 18% discount, bringing it down to $350. When our senior mobile writer got his hands on it, he said, I love the Motorola Razr (2023). Theres very little fuss or pretentiousness to it, and its so much better for it.$429 16% offAndy Boxall / Digital TrendsIf youre looking to grab the latest smartwatch from Apple, then theApple Watch Series 10 is the way to go, and this discount gives it a modest 7% discount, which isnt too bad given the watch only came out a few months ago. Our mobile editor, Joe Maring, thought The Apple Watch Series 10 is another strong entry in the Apple Watch family and a (mostly) easy recommendation.$470 16% offDysonIf youre looking for a more powerful vacuum, the Dyson V8 is a great option. While it is usually a bit pricey at $470, this 16% discount knocks it down to a more palatable $394. Besides the 40-minute max runtime, it also has a few other great features like hair detangling, easy bin cleaning, and whole-machine filtration, the latter being one of the best.$730 45% offiRobotWhile standard robot vacuums are great, this iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ comes with a few added benefits, such as a self-emptying tower that gives you up to 60 days of storage, as well as a mop attachment for added cleaning. Admittedly, it is quite pricey, but this 19% discount knocks it down from $730 to $590.$800 19% offSonyIf youre looking for a larger 4K TV, then you may want to consider this 65-inch Bravia 3 from Sony, especially since it has a solid 19% knocked off the price. This is especially true for those who play on a PlayStation 5 since it has both an auto HDR tone mapping mode and auto genre picture mode made specifically for the PS5.$1,300 8% offMark Coppock / Digital TrendsThe ASUS Zenbook 14 is the perfect mobile laptop, with a gorgeous 14-inch OLED panel thats touch screen enabled. In fact, our computing writer Mark Coppock even said, When it comes to value, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED remains undefeated. While this configuration has the slightly lower-end Intel Core Ultra 5 and no Intel Arc GPU, it does have a nice $100 discount.$1,770 25% offMark Coppock/Digital Trends / Digital TrendsThe Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is an excellent mid-range gaming laptop with a very substantial $420 discount, so much so that our computing writer gave it a great review, saying The Legion 5i Pro is another winner of a gaming laptop from Lenovo. This configuration comes with an RTX 4060, Intel Core i7=, and a 16GB of RAM.$1,500 6% offMajor FitnessThis versatile strength training machine crams five different systems into one. The base model (rack only) starts at $1,400, which is $100 off the normal price. You can also add a bench, bumper plate set, or combination of those options if you want more to do out-of-the-box. Otherwise, the rack comes with eight attachments, and training systems, allowing you to use it as a smith machine, power rack, take advantage of the pulley system and more. The upgraded adjustable foot plate and six band pegs allow you to works out your legs and lower body, as well. Its everything you need in a heavy-duty home gym machine.Black Friday annually takes place on the Friday after Thanksgiving, which for 2024 falls on Friday, November 29. While brick and mortar retail outlets will be opening their doors at midnight after Thanksgiving, online outlets will be dishing out their best offerings at the same time online. And while Black Friday itself officially starts at midnight, youll want to check in regularly throughout the day, as some deals will come and go quickly as Black Friday unfolds.It could be also be argued that Black Friday has already started, as weve been seeing a tremendous amount of early Black Friday deals on pretty much every category of product we cover. Retailers are well aware of the attention Black Friday gets, and have come to use the weeks leading up to dish out some impressive deals and some good previews for what Black Friday itself might have in store.Black Friday, and the additional Cyber Monday sale that comes after it, is one of the best times of the year to buy electronics like TVs, laptops, phones, and things of that nature. That said, home appliances also tend to have pretty great deals during these periods, so if youre looking for things like coffee makers, air fryers, fridges, or washing machines, then its worth keeping an eye out during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Of course, thats not to say that there arent a lot of other product categories on sale with good discounts, but if youre looking at it across the whole year, this is the best time for electronics.Another thing worth considering is that the line between when a sale period starts and ends has become very blurred over the years. That means that youre likely going to find a lot of excellent deals leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, even as early as a week or more beforehand. That means that if you find a deal on an item you want now, then go ahead and snag it; you never know if the deal will come back during Black Friday and Cyber Monday or if its going to be as good.Of course, Black Friday tends to be one of the biggest sales periods along with Prime Day, which means that hundreds and thousands of deals go on sale. As such, our focus is to wade through all the options and decide what deals to include based on our experience and tools. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with a large selection of deals that offer you the best return on your investment so that you arent constantly wondering if you got the best deal you could or if you made the right choice.Editors Recommendations

In picture-book form, the true story of an ingenious plan to solve a man-versus-nature conflict peaceably.

Starlink for phones FCC approves Starlink plan for cellular phone service, with some limits Starlink can provide cell service but FCC defers action on waiver of power limits. Jon Brodkin Nov 27, 2024 12:40 pm | 1 Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability. Credit: SpaceX Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability. Credit: SpaceX Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreStarlink yesterday obtained federal approval to provide service to cell phones, with some limits. The Federal Communications Commission issued an order that partially grants SpaceX's application while imposing conditions and deferring a decision on some aspects of the application.Starlink received approval to provide Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) within the United States. This means that in areas not covered by terrestrial cellular networks, Starlink satellites can provide service to cell phones. SpaceX already had approval to launch 7,500 second-generation satellites for its existing broadband service, and the new approval allows mobile service from those satellites.The approval lets Starlink and T-Mobile move ahead with their plan to provide satellite service to phones in cellular dead spots. SpaceX is authorized to use the 19101915 MHz (Earth-to-space) and 19901995 MHz (space-to-Earth) bands for SCS pursuant to its lease agreement with T-Mobile. The lease covers the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico."Through its lease arrangement with T-Mobile, SpaceX's Gen2 Starlink satellites can enable consumers outside the range of T-Mobile's network to be connected while using their existing devices," the FCC order said. "We find that SpaceX and T-Mobile's SCS operations will yield many benefits, including an increase in access to emergency services in areas where consumers would otherwise not have the capability to access a terrestrial network to call or text 911, as evidenced, for example, through SpaceX's provision of emergency SCS in areas affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton."The FCC also granted Starlink's request to provide service to cell phones (aka "direct-to-cell") outside the United States. For non-US operations, Starlink must obtain authorization from the relevant governments. The non-US operations are authorized in various sub-bands between 1429 MHz and 2690 MHz.Eliminating cellular dead zonesStarlink says it will offer texting service this year as well as voice and data services in 2025. Starlink does not yet have FCC approval to exceed certain emissions limits, which the company has said will be detrimental for real-time voice and video communications.For the operations approved yesterday, Starlink is required to coordinate with other spectrum users and cease transmissions when any harmful interference is detected. "We hope to activate employee beta service in the US soon," wrote Ben Longmier, SpaceX's senior director of satellite engineering.Longmier made a pitch to cellular carriers. "Any telco that signs up with Starlink Direct to Cell can completely eliminate cellular dead zones for their entire country for text and data services. This includes coastal waterways and the ocean areas in between land for island nations," he wrote.Starlink launched its first satellites with cellular capabilities in January 2024. "Of the more than 2,600 Gen2 Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit, around 320 are equipped with a direct-to-smartphone payload, enough to enable the texting services SpaceX has said it could launch this year," SpaceNews wrote yesterday.Yesterday's FCC order also lets Starlink operate up to 7,500 second-generation satellites in altitudes between 340 km and 360 km, in addition to the previously approved altitudes between 525 km and 535 km. SpaceX is seeking approval for another 22,488 satellites but the FCC continued to defer action on that request. The FCC order said:Authorization to permit SpaceX to operate up to 7,500 Gen2 satellites in lower altitude shells will enable SpaceX to begin providing lower-latency satellite service to support growing demand in rural and remote areas that lack terrestrial wireless service options. This partial grant also strikes the right balance between allowing SpaceX's operations at lower altitudes to provide low-latency satellite service and permitting the Commission to continue to monitor SpaceX's constellation and evaluate issues previously raised on the record.Coordination with NASASpaceX is required to coordinate "with NASA to ensure protection of the International Space Station (ISS), ISS visiting vehicles, and launch windows for NASA science missions," the FCC said. "SpaceX may only deploy and operate at altitudes below 400 km the total number of satellites for which it has completed physical coordination with NASA under the parties' Space Act Agreement."The FCC said that operation "at lower altitudes will improve service to SpaceX's customers, as well as reduce risk of long-term debris at these altitudes by reducing collision risk and satellite demise times in the event of an anomaly on orbit." The FCC said it will "continue to monitor operations, noting additional issues raised in the Gen2 application record regarding interference, orbital debris mitigation, and impacts on optical astronomy with respect to SpaceX's entire proposed constellation of nearly 30,000 satellites."AT&T and Verizon had urged the FCC to reject SpaceX's request for a waiver of rules regarding out-of-band emission (OOBE) limits, alleging that the satellite system would interfere with and degrade service for terrestrial mobile broadband networks. There was also opposition from satellite companies EchoStar (owner of Dish and Hughes) and Omnispace.The FCC decided to defer consideration of the OOBE waiver request. "With this Order, we require SpaceX to comply with the OOBE limit in section 25.202(k)(1) of the Commissions rules," the FCC said.In September, SpaceX told the FCC that "this out-of-band emission restriction will be most detrimental for real-time communications such as voice and video, rendering such communications unreliable both in critical and in common circumstances, increasing risk in emergency situations."Jon BrodkinSenior IT ReporterJon BrodkinSenior IT Reporter Jon is a Senior IT Reporter for Ars Technica. He covers the telecom industry, Federal Communications Commission rulemakings, broadband consumer affairs, court cases, and government regulation of the tech industry. 1 Comments Prev story

A real pain Smart gadgets failure to commit to software support could be illegal, FTC warns "When we dont own what we buy, everything becomes disposable..." Scharon Harding Nov 27, 2024 12:24 pm | 8 Products like the Snoo bassinet have been criticzed for using software updates to remove features or brick devices. Credit: Snoo Products like the Snoo bassinet have been criticzed for using software updates to remove features or brick devices. Credit: Snoo Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreMakers of smart devices that fail to disclose how long they will support their products with software updates may be breaking the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned this week.The FTC released its statement afterexamining 184 smart products across 64 product categories, including soundbars, video doorbells, breast pumps, smartphones, home appliances, and garage door opener controllers. Among devices researched, the majorityor 163 to be precise"did not disclose the connected device support duration or end date" on their product webpage, per the FTC's report [PDF]. Contrastingly, 11.4 percent of devices examined shared a software support duration or end date on their product page.Elusive informationIn addition to manufacturers often neglecting to commit to software support for a specified amount of time, it seems that even when they share this information, it's elusive.For example, the FTC reported that some manufacturers made software support dates available but not on the related product's webpage. Instead, this information is sometimes buried in specs, support, FAQ pages, or footnotes.The FTC report added:... some used ambiguous language that only imply the level of support provided, including phrases like, lifetime technical support, as long as your device is fully operational, and continuous software updates, for example. Notably, staff also had difficulty finding on the product webpages the devices release date At times, the FTC found glaring inconsistencies. For example, one device's product page said that the device featured "lifetime" support, "but the search result pointing to the manufacturers support page indicated that, while other updates may still be active, the security updates for the device had stopped in 2021," per the FTC.Those relying on Google's AI Overviews may also be misled. In one case, AI Overviews pointed to a smart gadget getting software support and updates for 36 months." But through the link that AI Overviews provided, the FTC found that the three to six months figure that Google scraped actually referred to the device's battery life. The next day, AI Overviews said that it couldn't determine the duration of software support or updates for the gadget, the FTC noted.Potentially illegalIn its report, the FTC encouraged law enforcement and policymakers to investigate whether vendors properly disclose software support commitments. The government agency warned that not informing shoppers about how long products with warranties will be supported may go against the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act:This law requires that written warranties on consumer products costing more than $15 be made available to prospective buyers prior to saleand that the warranties disclose a number of things, including, a clear description and identification of products, or parts, or characteristics, or components or properties covered by and where necessary for clarification, excluded from the warranty.The FTC also noted that vendors could be in violation of the FTC Act if omissions or misrepresentations around software support are likely to mislead shoppers.The FTC's research follows a September letter to the agency from 17 groups, including iFixit, Public Interest Research Group, Consumer Reports, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, imploring that the FTC provide "clear guidance" on "making functions of a device reliant on embedded software that ties the device back to a manufacturers servers," aka software tethering.Speaking to Ars Technica in September, Lucas Gutterman, the Designed to Last campaign director with the US PIRG Education Fund and one of the letter's signatories, expressed optimism that the FTC would get involved, like when it acted against Harley-Davidson in 2022, saying that it was using warranty policies to limit customers right' to repair illegally, or when it investigated the 2016 shutdown of Nest Labs' Revolv Smart Home Hub.In response to the FTC's report this week, Gutterman pointed to initiatives like repair scores as potential remedies.When we dont own what we buy, everything becomes disposable, and we get stuck in a loop where products keep dying and we keep buying," he said.As more devices join the Internet of Things, the risk of consumers falling victim to flashy marketing that promises convenient features that could be ripped away through lack of software support becomes more concerning. Whether it's dealing with bricked devices or the sudden removal of valued features, owners of smart devicesfrom smart bassinets and Pelotons to printers, indoor gardening systems, and toothbrusheshave all faced the harsh realities of what happens when a vendor loses interest or the ability to support products likely sold at premiums. Some are tired of waiting for vendors to commit to clear, reliable software support and are hoping that the government creates a mandatory path for disclosure.Scharon HardingSenior Product ReviewerScharon HardingSenior Product Reviewer Scharon is Ars Technicas Senior Product Reviewer writing news, reviews, and analysis on consumer technology, including laptops, mechanical keyboards, and monitors. Shes based in Brooklyn. 8 Comments

A different missile to Oreshnik, the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile, is test-fired from the Plesetsk launch pad in north-western Russia in March 2024Associated Press/Alamy Stock PhotoOn 21 November a new Russian weapon hit the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, with 36 projectiles descending at high velocity like meteors through the clouds. Russias president Vladimir Putin said this was the first test of a new ballistic missile called Oreshnik and that more would follow.Ukraine is seeking ways to neutralise the threat. While it has stopped other Russian attacks, including short-range ballistic missiles, this one will be more challenging. Like

Nature, Published online: 27 November 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-03889-yAnalysis of 200-million-year-old digested foods reveals how the animals became dominant.

Nature, Published online: 27 November 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-03640-7By changing how contracts are done, institutions can move away from exploitative research practices.

Teri Hatcher, 59, doesn't enjoy dating at her age.Hatcher said unlike what people think, men are not "lining up outside her door."She also feels like it would be "too much" to date younger men.At 59, Teri Hatcher would rather spend time with her cat than date.During an interview on Wednesday with Sherri Shepherd on the talk show "Sherri," the "Desperate Housewives" star said she doesn't date much anymore."I used to date, and you'd look across the table at the guy, and you'd think, 'OK, I wonder if we're going to end up in bed together. And now I look across the table, and I just think, 'When am I going to have to change this guy's diaper?'" she said, adding, "It's just not that fun anymore."When asked if she would consider dating younger men, Hatcher said it would "just be too much.""I'd just feel like I'd have to be keeping up. I'd have to, like, 'How do I look in a bikini today?' and I just don't care," she said.The actor was previously married twice, to Markus Leithold from 1988 to 1989 and to Jon Tenney from 1994 to 2003, whom she shares a daughter with.Now, people around her say that men must be "lining up out the door," she said. "And I'm like, 'No, no. I open it once in a while, and there's nobody there."Hatcher, who stars in the holiday movie "How to Fall in Love By Christmas," said she mostly "dates" her cat. When she's on Duolingo learning French, her cat jumps onto her chest and sits there."It's better than any date well that you could possibly go on," she said.In 2019, Hatcher told People that she is content with being single."I have been single for a very long time but there is nothing lonely about my life. I want to remove the stigma of that," she said.A representative for Hatcher did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.Dating later in lifeAfter getting out of a long-term relationship, Jennie Young downloaded her first dating app at 50.She quickly grew frustrated by the pool of potential matches on the app. "There were a lot of bad actors, and the behavior wasn't just annoying; it was deeply problematic," she previously wrote for BI.Young, a professor of rhetoric and women and gender studies, responded by starting a project called the Burned Haystack Dating Method. This method encourages daters to filter out time wasters and red flags.Other older women enjoy being able to experiment with dating apps.Carolina Gonzalez previously told BI that it's "weird to go out with anybody" after being in a long marriage."Though there is still a hope you will meet someone and fall in love, but I am probably never going to meet someone and have what I had before," she said.Still, she enjoys being able to meet different people of all ages. Her life is not shutting down with age, she said, but opening up.And some prefer to stay single. Bella DePaulo, 70, previously told BI that she has never been in a relationship and doesn't intend to be in one."I'm happy and flourishing because I'm single, not in spite of it," she said.

China's defense minister, Dong Jun, is being probed for corruption, the FT reported on Wednesday.That would make him the third consecutive person related to the post to be investigated for graft.Xi Jinping and his leaders likely took at least two months to select, vet, and announce Dong in 2023.Less than a year into his post, China's defense minister is now being placed under investigation for graft, according to a new report by The Financial Times.The outlet cited unnamed current and former US officials saying that Adm. Dong Jun was caught in a broader probe into corruption within the People's Liberation Army.That would make him the third consecutive person related to his office to be investigated. His predecessor, former Gen. Li Shangfu, was reported in September 2023 to be probed for corruption and was officially fired the next month.Li had served seven months after being appointed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in March 2023.Wei Fenghe, the defense minister before Li, held the post for nearly five years. The appointment of Wei, who hailed from the PLA Rocket Force, had marked a pivot in tradition for the role since the defense minister previously always came from China's army.Both he and Li were expelled from the Chinese Communist Party in June and stripped of their rank of general, with state media saying they had illegally taken gifts and money.As for Dong, the FT provided no details on the current defense minister's investigation.But he had only just been in Laos for a meeting of Asian defense leaders last week, making headlines for declining talks with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.When asked about reports of an investigation into Dong, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning curtly dismissed them as rumors."Chasing wind and shadows. Next question," she told reporters at a Wednesday press briefing, using a Chinese phrase that means something is said or raised without merit.The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider.A selection process of up to 4 monthsIn a separate report on Thursday, Reuters cited two US officials who also spoke of an investigation into Dong. One said that the probe originally involved the strategic rocket forces but was expanded to include the military and procurement.Another senior US official told Reuters they had doubts about the accuracy of the FT's original report. All three were not named.Notably, it likely took Xi at least two months to vet, select, and announce Dong for the defense ministership after Li was officially removed. That process could have taken as long as four months Dong's predecessor had disappeared from the public eye in September 2023, and he was appointed at the end of December 2023.China's defense minister doesn't typically have operational command of combat forces but is instead a diplomatic and public-facing figure representing the military.Those in charge of China's fighting capabilities are in the Central Military Commission, a small group of senior leaders led by Xi.Dong is not part of that commission, although his predecessor, Li, was a member during his tenure as defense minister.All of this comes as Xi has, in recent years, placed heavy emphasis on developing China's military into a modern fighting force, focusing on its rocket weapons systems and nuclear capabilities.At the same time, his long-standing anti-corruption crackdown, recently expanded to the military, has ousted nearly a dozen PLA generals, as well as several top officials from the prized rocket forces.The firings have raised international speculation about Xi's confidence in his military's operational readiness at a time when China is trying to match the US in strength.