Making a good digital picture frame should be easy. All you need is a good screen and an uncomplicated way to get your favorite photos onto the device. Combine that with an inoffensive, frame-like design and you're good to go.Despite that, I can tell you that many digital photo frames are awful. Amazon is positively littered with scads of digital frames and it's basically the 2020s version of what we saw with knock-off iPods back in the 2000s. There are loads of options that draw you in with a low price but deliver a totally subpar experience that will prompt you to shove the thing in a drawer and forget about it.The good news is that you only need to find one smart photo frame that works. From there, you can have a pretty delightful experience. If you're anything like me, you have thousands of photos on your phone of friends, family photos, pets, vacation spots, perhaps some lattes or plates of pasta and much more. Too often, those photos stay siloed on our phones, not shared with others or enjoyed on a larger scale. And sure, I can look at my photos on my laptop or an iPad, but there's something enjoyable about having a dedicated place for these things. After all, there's a reason photo frames exist in the first place, right? A great frame can help you send photos to loved ones and share cherished memories with friends and family effortlessly. I tested out seven smart photo frames to weed through the junk and find the top picks for the best digital frames worth buying. What to look for in digital picture frames While a digital photo frame feels like a simple piece of tech, there are a number of things I considered when trying to find one worth displaying in my home. First and foremost was screen resolution and size. I was surprised to learn that most digital photo frames have a resolution around 1,200 x 800, which feels positively pixelated. (That's for frames with screen sizes in the nine- to ten-inch range, which is primarily what I considered for this guide.) But after trying a bunch of frames, I realized that screen resolution is not the most important factor; my favorite photos looked best on frames that excelled in reflectivity, brightness, viewing angles and color temperature. A lot of these digital photo frames were lacking in one or more of these factors; they often didn't deal with reflections well or had poor viewing angles. A lot of frames I tested felt cheap and looked ugly as well, which isnt something you want in a smart device that sits openly in your home. That includes lousy stands, overly glossy plastic parts and design decisions I can only describe as strange, particularly for items that are meant to just blend into your home. The best digital photo frames don't call attention to themselves and look like an actual dumb frame, so much so that those that arent so tech-savvy might mistake them for one. Perhaps the most important thing outside of the display, though, is the software. Let me be blunt: a number of frames I tested had absolutely atrocious companion apps and software experiences that I would not wish on anyone. One that I tried did not have a touchscreen, but did have an IR remote (yes, like the one you controlled your TV with 30 years ago). Trying to use that with a Wi-Fi connection was painful, and when I tried instead to use a QR code, I was linked to a Google search for random numbers instead of an actual app or website. I gave up on that frame, the $140 PixStar, on the spot. Other things were more forgivable. A lot of the frames out there are basically Android tablets with a bit of custom software slapped on the top, which worked fine but wasn't terribly elegant. And having to interact with the photo frame via touch wasn't great because you end up with fingerprints all over the display. The best frames I tried were smart about what features you could control on the frame itself vs. through an app, the latter of which is my preferred method. Another important software note: many frames I tried require subscriptions for features that absolutely should be included out of the box. For example, one frame would only let me upload 10 photos at a time without a subscription. Others would let you link a Google Photos account, but you could only sync a single album without paying up. Yet another option didn't let you create albums to organize the photos that were on the frame it was just a giant scroll of photos with no way to give them order. While some premium frames offer perks like unlimited photos or cloud storage, they often come at a cost. I can understand why certain things might go under a subscription, like if you're getting a large amount of cloud storage, for example. But these subscriptions feel like ways for companies to make recurring revenue from a product made so cheaply they can't make any money on the frame itself. I'd urge you to make sure your chosen frame doesn't require a subscription (neither of the frames I recommend in this guide need a subscription for any of their features), especially if you plan on giving this device as a gift to loved ones. How much should you spend on a digital picture frame For a frame with a nine- or ten-inch display, expect to spend at least $100. Our budget recommendation is $99, and all of the options I tried that were cheaper were not nearly good enough to recommend. Spending $150 to $180 will get you a significantly nicer experience in all facets, from functionality to design to screen quality. Best digital picture frames for 2025 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/best-digital-frame-120046051.html?src=rss

Hackers behind a cyberattack that targeted Rhode Islands public benefits system were able to get the sensitive data including Social Security numbers and some banking information of hundreds of thousands of people, and they have threatened to release it as soon as this week if they arent paid a ransom, Rhode Island governor Dan McKee said in a press conference on Saturday night. The Rhode Island government opened a toll-free hotline on Sunday (833-918-6603) to provide information on the breach and how residents can protect themselves, but you wont be able to find out for sure if your data was stolen by calling in. People who may have been affected will be notified by mail.The attack targeted the RIBridges system, maintained by Deloitte, which is used to apply for Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), HealthSource RI healthcare coverage and other public benefits available to Rhode Islanders. A press release from McKees office notes that any individual who has received or applied for health coverage and/or health and human services programs or benefits could be impacted by this leak.Its thought the hackers were able to get information including names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and certain banking information. Deloitte first detected the breach and notified state officials on December 5, and determined on the 11th that there was a high probability that the implicated folders contain personal identifiable data from RIBridges. It confirmed the presence of malicious code on December 13 and subsequently shut the system down, before officials announced the attack to the public the same day.The system is now offline while Deloitte works to secure it, which means that anyone who needs to apply for one of the affected programs will have to do so by mail, and people who are currently enrolled wont be able to access the online portal or app. The state said it so far hasnt detected any identity theft or fraud relating to the attack, but it will be offering free credit monitoring to anyone affected by the breach.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/hackers-may-have-accessed-hundreds-of-thousands-of-rhode-islanders-sensitive-info-in-ribridges-cyberattack-194621262.html?src=rss

The first trailer for 2025's Superman movie will reportedly take flight this week, and I can't contain my excitement ahead of its arrival.

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Adobe shares tumbled after the software vendor issued revenue guidance that fell short of analysts' estimates.

Plus, old-school motion graphics anim and optical effects.Today on the befores & afters podcast, were chatting to director, cinematographer and VFX artist Christopher Webb about practical effects. Chris is the founder of FX WRX, an outfit that specializes in in-camera effects. Ive talked to him previously about several projects, but today were narrowing in on a Gatorade Propel spot achieved with some very fun water and bubble effects, and on a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers video. For that video, FX WRX created some incredible analog motion graphic animation and optical effects, very 80s style. For each project, we go into detail about the shoot at FX WRXs studio, including with motion control camera equipment and bespoke setups.This episode of the befores & afters podcast is sponsored by SideFX. Looking for great customer case studies, presentations and demos? Head to the SideFX YouTube channel. There youll find tons of Houdini, Solaris and Karma content. This includes recordings of recent Houdini HIVE sessions from around the world.Check out the chat above, and the final pieces and some behind the scenes images, below.The post How to make practical water and bubble effects appeared first on befores & afters.

If youve been waiting for a Betty White postagestamp,2025is your year. The U.S. Postal Service has announced its first slate of newstampsfor the new year, including one showing a digital illustration of the lateGolden Girlsactress by Dale Stephanos, plus the latest Love and Flagstamps.[Photo: USPS]This early glimpse into our2025stampprogram demonstrates our commitment to providing a diverse range of subjects and designs for both philatelists andstampenthusiasts, USPSstampservices director Lisa Bobb-Semple said in a statement.An untitled 1985 work by Keith Haring showing two figures with a heart will be next years Lovestamp,a tradition that will be in its 52nd year. The artwork is perfect for astampthat needs to be able to be used not just for Valentines Day, but beyond.[Photo: USPS]The non-specificity of the figures allows a variety of people to see themselves in thisstamp, USPS art director Antonio Alcal said in a statement. Partners getting married, celebrating an anniversary, siblings sending each other a heartfelt greeting, or even party planners setting a positive tone for their event.Next years Flagstampfollows a2023 design that read Freedomand gave me post-9/11 these colors dont run vibes. The newstampuses a photo of the U.S. flag by Doug Haigh and United States of America written out in a thin, sans-serif font. Other newstampsthat are part of long-running series coming out next year include astampof musician Allen Toussaint for USPS Black Heritage series, and astampof snake for lunar new year. Designer Camille Chew made a 3D paper snake mask embellished with acrylic paint for the design.[Photo: USPS]The Appalachian Trail is getting its own pane of 15stampswith photos of the nearly 2,200-mile trail from every state it runs through, and the American Vistasstampsare twostampsbased on screen prints by the Los Angeles design studio DKNG Studios showing a mountain and beach scene.This story was originally published on Yello, a newsletter about design and politics from Hunter Schwarz.

If empty offices were some of the lemons produced by the pandemic, office conversions are the lemonade. Savvy developers and city officials have spent the past few years finding ways to take vacant and undesirable office towers and turning them into much needed housing, among other uses. This year has been the most active on record, according to a new report.The commercial real estate services firm CBRE finds that more than 70 office conversion projects have been completed so far this year, and 30 others should be done by the end of the year, for a total of 103. CBRE began tracking office conversions in 2016. That year 26 projects were completed, and the number has been growing slowly since then. The numbers began jumping up in the post-pandemic years and spiked in 2024. Compared to 2023, office conversions are up 63% in 2024.CBREs report shows that most of these former offices are being turned into housing, accounting for 74% of the projects underway or completed this year. Other conversions include hotels, life sciences, and industrial spaces. But in most cities, and in the downtown business districts where many vacant office towers stand, the most desirable reuse option for these structures is multifamily housing.The boom in office-to-housing conversions is being driven largely by plummeting values for offices, which have struggled to retain tenants in the aftermath of the pandemic. Even after the lockdowns of the pandemic lifted in many places, office vacancy rates have remained high across the U.S., reaching record levels of nearly 20% on average earlier this year. And though not every struggling office building is a good candidate for reuse as housing, a surprising amount are. Thats led cities from Calgary to Cleveland to New York to incentivize and streamline the process of getting conversion projects underway.Given the multi-year timeframe of urban development projects, many of these pandemic-related conversion projects are finally coming online, which is why 2024 has been a record year. And according to CBREs report, it may be only a temporary record as 2025 is expected to see an even greater number of office conversions. There are already 94 conversion projects underway across the U.S., with another 185 planned, for a total of 279.

The World Cement Association has predicted that global demand for cement and clinker will decrease more than previously expected by 2050 due to changing market trends and sustainable material advancements.In its white paper, Long-Term Forecast for Cement and Clinker Demand, the association predicted that global cement use would decrease from 4.2 billion tonnes per year to three billion per year between now and 2050.The World Cement Association also predicted that demand for clinker, which is the main ingredient in Portland cement and produces large amounts of CO2, will also decrease from 2.8 billion tonnes per year to less than 1.9 billion per year.Decreasing demand linked to slowing construction in ChinaAccording to the association, its predictions were based on regional cement and clinker demand trends, particularly a decrease in use in China, and the adoption of low-carbon practices in the construction industry.World Cement Association CEO Ian Riley explained that cement demand has been influenced by a decrease in new city developments in some countries as population growth has plateaued."The decrease in cement and clinker demand is driven by several factors," he told Dezeen. "Slowing infrastructure and construction activity in markets like China has significantly reduced consumption, where demand has already fallen from 2.4 billion tonnes per annum in 2020 to an estimated 1.8 billion tonnes per annum in 2024.""Declining or stabilising populations in developed regions have lessened the need for large-scale new developments, further contributing to the reduction in demand."Read: Definitions of low-carbon concrete announced at COP29 to "bring transparency and trust"Riley also said that advancements in clinker alternatives and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) have helped reduce the reliance on carbon-intensive clinker."The growing emphasis on reducing carbon emissions is encouraging the adoption of alternative materials, optimised designs, and strategies to minimise waste," he said. "The development of clinker-free cements and low-carbon alternatives is also playing a key role in this transition.""Clinker demand is projected to fall from 2.8 billion tonnes per annum in 2024 to less than 1.9 billion by 2050, possibly as low as one billion, depending on the rate of adoption of SCMs and alternative binders," Riley continued."The analysis assumes a steady reduction in clinker due to increased SCM availability and technological advancements.""Cement industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation"The World Cement Association published its white paper to provide an accurate overview of global cement and clinker use and inform built environment professionals about planning for lower-carbon building practices."The cement industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation," said Riley. "As we move towards a decarbonised future, understanding the true demand for cement and clinker is critical to ensuring that policies, technologies, and investments align with reality.""This white paper aims to provide industry leaders and policymakers with the clarity needed to plan effectively and sustainably."Read: Recycling "breakthrough" could usher in zero-emissions cementRiley hopes the report's findings will encourage the architecture and construction professions to continue lowering their projects' carbon footprints by designing with minimal concrete and adopting more low-carbon building materials, such as mass timber and geopolymers."The decline in cement demand signals a shift towards more sustainable architectural practices, including innovative materials, optimised designs and carbon reduction," he said."Lower cement and clinker demand directly contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of construction projects, aligning with global sustainability goals," Riley continued."This transition offers an opportunity to create more environmentally friendly buildings and reduce the long-term environmental impact of construction."Last month, the Global Cement and Concrete Associationannounced definitions for low-carbon concrete and cement at COP29. Earlier this year, researchers devised a way to recycle waste cement to make low-carbon concrete.The top photo of Sinoma Cement factory is courtesy of the World Cement Association.The post World Cement Association predicts "unprecedented transformation" in cement demand over next 25 years appeared first on Dezeen.