Theres a certain expectation that chairs will always be an elevated platform to rest our bodies above the ground. While thats generally true almost everywhere, there are some cultures that also adopt a different style of sitting. Some, for example, sit cross-legged, often on the floor, and take that position in a variety of circumstances, whether its when meditating, eating, or even just lounging around.Unfortunately, the majority of chair designs dont accommodate this sitting style, leaving people to settle for cushions and pillows. These can shield their bodies from the hardness of the floor and keep their clothes clean, but they have nothing to offer in terms of comfort, stability, and enjoyment. This concept design tries to address that glaring absence to make cross-legged seating just as good as sitting up on a chair.Designer: Ila RaniAdmittedly, sitting cross-legged, whether on the floor or even a bed or couch, isnt exactly an easy task for some people. But even those used to such a position often experience discomfort and inconvenience over a short period of time. Its almost ironic that its one of the positions often associated with meditation and calmness despite how it makes most people uncomfortable. Part of that problem, however, is simply due to the lack of proper support for the sitting style.The Sway chair concept aims to help promote this sitting position and lifestyle with a piece of furniture that brings the convenience and security of regular chairs to the floor. The most important detail of this design is actually the backrest that lets people lean back and relax with confidence, encouraging a lounging posture even when sitting cross-legged. The bottom of the chair is curved rather than flat, allowing the user to gently rock themselves as well.Interestingly, Sway has two armrests with different heights. The higher one acts as your typical armrest to place your elbow when sitting back and lounging. The lower one, however, has a notch near the front for gripping when rocking the chair or shifting position. The design delivers the stability and security that simple pillows and cushions lack.In terms of aesthetics, Sway adopts a more nature-inspired design using wood materials and earthy tones. It does use a steel rod to provide the skeleton that joins these pieces together, but it almost disappears into the background due to its plain and unassuming appearance. Its a design that immediately evokes calmness and oneness with nature, images that are immediately associated with the cross-legged sitting position.The post Cross-legged low chair concept makes sitting on the floor easier and more fun first appeared on Yanko Design.

With a clever matte display, rich colours and crisp image straight out the box, the Frame should win over most art lovers (who also want a cracking TV).

If only these haunted walls could talk.

Plus: The US indicts North Koreans in fake IT worker scheme, file-sharing firm Cleo warns customers to patch a vulnerability amid live attacks, and more.

Apples AirPods Pro 2 have some added hearing-aid capabilities. How well do they work in practice? I asked my grandmother, who is in her eighties, to try them for a week.

An international cybercriminal group harvested the personal data of potentially hundreds of thousands of people from the states social services and health insurance systems, officials said.

The president was given a very clear and easy opportunity to say, Yes, I am going to save TikTok, and he absolutely did not say that.

MacworldFaceTime, Skype, Zoom, and other apps offer live captions for calls and videoconferences. You can record calls in FaceTime. Several services and some apps transcribe audio to text using machine learning. Why not combine all these into a single service? Apple did with the Phone app and FaceTime in iOS 18.1.Starting with that release, you can opt to record calls if you meet Apples broad requirements. The integration into the operating system is still a little wonky: Apple has the Phone or FaceTime app record into a Notes item, which is also where you find a transcript in a special format embedded in the note.For transcription, you need at least an iPhone 12 model. Presumably for reasons of software development, call recording and transcription are limited to many of the most-spoken languages. See the bottom of this article for more details.If you have iOS 18.1 installed and you see the recording icon described and shown below, you have the right intersection of language, country, and hardware to record.Record a callHeres how to record a call:In the FaceTime or Phone app, look for the new Recording icon that appears overlaid in the app. Tap it. (If you dont see it, read the requirements at the end of the article.)A countdown begins with an automated message that speaks the phrase, This Call Will Be Recorded. Theres an X icon you can tap to prevent that message and back out of recording before it starts.The recording starts. You can tap the stop button to end the recording; when you end the call, the recording stops automatically.When the recording starts in a language supported by transcription, youll see a notification that says, Take notes on this call. Tap it, and youre taken to the note that is capturing the active calls audio and will later have a post-call transcription.The sequence from an active call to active recording starts by tapping the Record icon (highlighted in red with an arrow pointing at it) through alerts and notifications.FoundryPlaying audioVisit the note, which is nested in a Call Recordings folder, to play back audio. If youre using a language that supports transcription, the text of the conversation follows audio playback. If not, or if you tap the Transcription icon in the lower-left corner (to de-select it), you will see an audio waveform.Working with the transcriptIn languages that support transcription, opening the note reveals the conversation as text and audio control tools at the bottom. You can drag to scroll through the transcript. Speakers are identified based on Caller ID or contact information. Youre listed as You.Tap on any point in the transcript and the audio playback jumps to that position and starts to play. You can use the Transcription icon to switch between the audio waveform and the transcript to move the audio to the point you want to read the transcript and then tap the icon again.If you want to extract the transcript as plain text you can work with, tap the (More) icon and choose Add Transcript to Note. From the menu, you can also copy the transcript to use in another app (or paste on another device via Universal Clipboard), or save or share the audio.The transcript in Notes can be dragged through to find audio or, by tapping the Transcription icon (highlighted in red at right bottom), you can scrub through audio instead.FoundryYou can search within the transcript with Find in Transcript or by tapping Search at the bottom of the view. With Apple Intelligence available and enabled, you can tap Summary to get a short description of the conversation.Additional requirementsApple currently supports only a few languages for call transcription, whichit lists in this way: Cantonese (Hong Kong), English (Australia), English (United States), Korean (South Korea), Mandarin Chinese (China mainland), and Spanish (United States).Call recording has broader support, but Apple alsolists availability by languagerather than country. There are 31 supported languages, which includes Chinese in both Cantonese Mandarin forms.Ask Mac 911Weve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns:read our super FAQto see if your question is covered. If not, were always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours tomac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered; we dont reply to emails, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.For more information about iOS 18 read our guide to iOS 18.

MacworldInstead of letting down the Apple lover on your gifting list this year with something like AirTags, why not surprise them with an iPad Air? No, you dont have to splurge to get them some Apple gear, at least if you shop refurbished.Check off your holiday shopping list with this4th Gen iPad Air. Grab it now for$324.97 (reg. $599). Youll have to place your order by December 15 if you want it to arrive on time for the holiday!Shopping refurbished allows you to save over 30% on this iPad Air, but that doesnt mean its used. This refurbished modelarrives in Grade A condition, so they probably wont even noticeor carethat it had a previous life.Whether theyre using this iPad for catching up on book club reads, FaceTiming family during the holidays, or streamingHome Alone, your giftee will love its sleek, portable profile and 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display.They can even work on this iPad Air, thanks to the A14 Bionic Chip that allows for smooth multitasking and Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) compatibility (both not included). Storing photos, apps, and files locally is also simple, thanks to its 64GB capacity.You might just outdo Santa Claus this year when you treat someone to thisnear-mint 4th Gen iPad Air, now$324.97 while supplies last. Order on or before December 15 at 11:59 PM Pacific so it arrives by Christmas!Apple iPad Air 4th Gen (2020) 64GB WiFi Sky Blue (Refurbished)Only $324.97 at MacworldStackSocial prices subject to change.

In a world where technology increasingly shapes how cities manage safety and security, Kazakhstans Ministry of Internal Affairs is leading the way with its groundbreaking Carpet CCTV project. This ambitious initiative has revolutionized public safety by combining a massive surveillance network with advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, creating a system that shifts the focus from reactive responses to proactive prevention.Over the past four years, the scope of Kazakhstans surveillance infrastructure has expanded dramatically. The number of cameras has grown from just 40,500 to an impressive 1.3 million, with 313,000 cameras now directly accessible to police. These cameras are strategically positioned to monitor key areas, enhancing law enforcements ability to detect, prevent, and respond to incidents in real time. The system has already shown its effectiveness: since early 2024, it has detected over 8,200 criminal offenses and recorded 7.1 million traffic violations, resulting in significant improvements in public safety and road management.At the heart of this transformation is the use of artificial intelligence. By integrating cutting-edge technologies such as facial recognition, license plate detection, and crowd monitoring, the system provides actionable insights that allow authorities to address risks before they escalate. For example, facial recognition capabilities enable real-time identification of persons of interest, while AI-powered traffic monitoring contributes to improved road safety and generates public revenue through fines. These features highlight the systems ability to go beyond passive recording, transforming it into a dynamic tool for crime prevention and urban management.The implementation of the Carpet CCTV project, however, was not without challenges. Managing the enormous volume of data generated by over a million high-definition cameras required significant upgrades in communication networks and data storage infrastructure. The integration of public and private camera networks demanded a unified approach to data sharing and management, while privacy concerns necessitated robust regulatory frameworks to ensure citizen trust. Through a combination of strategic planning, public-private partnerships, and transparent communication, the Ministry successfully addressed these obstacles, setting a model for other nations to follow.One of the projects most significant achievements lies in its deterrent effect. Administrative offenses, such as public disturbances, have decreased sharply, indicating that the visible presence of surveillance cameras is influencing behavior. This demonstrates the power of technology not just to react to incidents, but to prevent them altogether. Furthermore, the use of video evidence has increased case resolution rates, further solidifying the systems impact on law enforcement effectiveness.Looking ahead, Kazakhstan plans to build on the success of Carpet CCTV by expanding its geographic coverage and enhancing its analytical capabilities. New developments will focus on leveraging advanced AI to improve the accuracy and scope of surveillance, while also incorporating adaptive privacy measures to protect civil liberties. This forward-thinking approach ensures the system remains at the forefront of public safety technology, balancing innovation with accountability.Kazakhstans Carpet CCTV project represents more than just an investment in technologyits a vision for smarter, safer cities. By blending state-of-the-art solutions with thoughtful governance, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has created a system that not only addresses todays challenges but also lays the groundwork for a secure and sustainable future.