AwoOooOo.Get your paintbrushes ready, because it's time for another edition of Box Art Brawl!Last week, we matched up a trio of covers for Wario Land 3 on the Game Boy Color and after a weekend of voting, we were left with a clear winner. It was the European variant that walked away with the win, taking 42% of the vote and leaving the North American and Japanese designs with 36% and 22%, respectively.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

On Monday, the U.K.s internet regulator, Ofcom, published the first set of final guidelines for online service providers subject to the Online Safety Act. This starts the clock ticking on the sprawling online harms laws first compliance deadline, which the regulator expects to kick in in three months time.Ofcom has been under pressure to move faster in implementing the online safety regime following riots in the summer that were widely perceived to have been fuelled by social media activity. Although it is just following the process lawmakers set out, which has required it to consult on, and have parliament approve, final compliance measures.This decision on the Illegal Harms Codes and guidance marks a major milestone, with online providers now being legally required to protect their users from illegal harm, Ofcom wrote in a press release. Providers now have a duty to assess the risk of illegal harms on their services, with a deadline of March 16, 2025. Subject to the Codes completing the Parliamentary process, from March 17, 2025, providers will need to take the safety measures set out in the Codes or use other effective measures to protect users from illegal content and activity.We are ready to take enforcement action if providers do not act promptly to address the risks on their services, it added. According to Ofcom, more than 100,000 tech firms could be in scope of the laws duties to protect users from a range of illegal content types in relation to the over 130 priority offences the Act sets out, which cover areas including terrorism, hate speech, child sexual abuse and exploitation, and fraud and financial offences.Failure to comply risks fines of up to 10% of global annual turnover (or up to 18 million, whichever is greater). In-scope firms range from tech giants to very small service providers, with various sectors impacted including social media, dating, gaming, search, and pornography.The duties in the Act apply to providers of services with links to the UK regardless of where in the world they are based. The number of online services subject to regulation could total more than 100,000 and range from some of the largest tech companies in the world to very small services, wrote Ofcom.The codes and guidance follow a consultation, with Ofcom looking at research and taking stakeholder responses to help shape these rules, since the legislation passed parliament last fall and became law back in October 2023.The regulator has outlined measures for user-to-user and search services to reduce risks associated with illegal content. Guidance on risk assessments, record-keeping, and reviews is summarized in an official document.Ofcom has also published a summary covering each chapter in todays policy statement.The approach the U.K. law takes is the opposite of one-size-fits all with, generally, more obligations placed on larger services and platforms where multiple risks may arise compared to smaller services with fewer risks.However, smaller lower risk services do not get a carve out from obligations, either. And indeed many requirements apply to all services, such as having a content moderation system that allows for swift take-down of illegal content; having mechanism for users to submit content complaints; having clear and accessible terms of service; removing accounts of proscribed organizations; and many others. Although many of these blanket measures are features that mainstream services, at least, are likely to already offer.But its fair to say that every tech firm that offers user-to-user or search services in the U.K. is going to need to undertake an assessment of how the law applies to their business, at a minimum, if not make operational revisions to address specific areas of regulatory risk. For larger platforms with engagement-centric business models where their ability to monetize user-generated content is linked to keeping a tight leash on peoples attention greater operational changes may be required to avoid falling foul of the laws duties to protect users from myriad harms.A key lever to drive change is the law introducing criminal liability for senior executives in certain circumstances, meaning tech CEOs could be held personally accountable for some types of non-compliance. Speaking to BBC Radio 4s Today program on Monday morning, Ofcom CEO MelanieDawes suggested that 2025 will finally see significant changes in how major tech platforms operate.What were announcing today is a big moment, actually, for online safety, because in three months time, the tech companies are going to need to start taking proper action, she said. What are they going to need to change? Theyve got to change the way the algorithms work. Theyve got to test them so that illegal content like terror and hate, intimate image abuse, lots more, actually, so that doesnt appear on our feeds.And then if things slip through the net, theyre going to have to take it down. And for children, we want their accounts to be set to be private, so they cant be contacted by strangers, she added.That said, Ofcoms policy statement is just the start of it actioning the legal requirements, with the regulator still working on further measures and duties in relation to other aspects of the law including what Dawes couched as wider protections for children that she said would be introduced in the new year. So more substantive child safety-related changes to platforms that parents have been clamouring to force may not filter through until later in the year.In January, were going to come forward with our requirements on age checks so that we know where children are, said Dawes. And then in April, well finalize the rules on our wider protections for children and thats going to be about pornography, suicide and self harm material, violent content and so, just not being fed to kids in the way that has become so normal but is really harmful today.Ofcoms summary document also notes that further measures may be required to keep pace with tech developments such as the rise of generative AI, indicating that it will continue to review risks and may further evolve requirements on service providers.The regulator is also planning crisis response protocols for emergency events such as last summers riots; proposals for blocking the accounts of those who have shared CSAM (child sexual abuse material); and guidance for using AI to tackle illegal harms.Ofcom to push for better age verification, filters and 40 other checks in new online child safety code

Google has appointed Preeti Lobana to lead its India business, filling a key position that had been vacant since Sanjay Guptas promotion to Asia-Pacific president in July.Lobana, who was vice president of advertising technology at Google, takes over as the company pushes its AI products in India amid intensifying competition in the digital market. She joined Google in 2016. India is one of the key overseas markets for Google, which has spent billions in helping hundreds of millions of Indians come online and in digitizing local businesses. In 2020, the company committed to spend another $10 billion in India.But the search giant is also facing mounting regulatory scrutiny in the worlds second largest internet and wireless market. India fined Google $162 million in 2022 for anti-competitive practices on Android. Days later, it imposed another penalty of $113 million after concluding that the Android-maker had abused the dominant position of Google Play Store in the country, where more than 95% of smartphones run Android. In March this year, the Indian antitrust regulator opened another investigation into Alphabets Google, alleging the tech giant implemented its in-app billing policies in an unfair and discriminatory manner.Roma Datta Chobey, who served as interim chief, will return to running the companys digital business unit. Before joining Google, Lobana spent much of her career in banking, holding positions at NatWest, American Express, and Standard Chartered.This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment to shape the future with AI, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for businesses to boost productivity, solve critical challenges, and create innovative solutions, she wrote in a LinkedIn post.

Hi guys, when trying in 5.4 or 5.5 to cast shadows from translucent material VFX, nothing happens and I cannot figure out whyHere is my current setup :VFX :Material :DirectionalLight :Ive also tried enabling the Volumetric Translucent Shadow, and also enabling the cast shadows as Masked, but no luck.If anyone knows what might be going wrong, I would really appreciate, thanks !

VDcasino lk Admda Byk Avantaj! VDcasino lk Admda Byk Avantaj!Al Ayrcal ile cazip bir maceraya hazr olun! Annda http://www.biberbar.com/ ve elenceli frsatlarn keyfini karn! Byk dller sizi bekliyor. Bu muhteem frsat, snrl bir sre iin geerlidir, bu yzden hemen harekete gein! VDcasinoin deneyimli ekibi, size birinci snf oyun deneyimini salamak iin hazr bekliyor. Heyecan verici oyunlar, cazip bonuslar ve hzl demeler sizi bekliyor!Rakipsiz kramiyelerHesabnza yaptnz ilk depozit ile birlikte, sizlere sunulan zel frsatlar sayesinde oyun kefinizi canlandrabilirsiniz. Aada, kazan frsatlar hakknda aklamalar bulabilirsiniz. Bu dev dller ile kazanmaya balamak annda mmkn.Balang Hediyeleri%60 Bonus (600 TLye kadar)%175 Bonus (1750 TLye kadar)%350 Bonus (3500 TLye kadar)%450 Bonus (4500 TLye kadar)%900 Bonus (9000 TLye kadar)%125 Bedava Spin1000 TL Para adesi%50 Yatrm Bonusu (500 TLye kadar)%75 lk Yatrm Bonusu (750 TLye kadar)50 cretsiz SpinBu dl frsatlar, oyun keyfinizi daha da elenceli hale getirerek daha fazla ans yaratma imkan elde etmenizi salar. En avantajl teklifi sein ve oyun deneyiminizi zirveye tayn. yelik EkstralarOyun ii frsatlar ile birlikte, oyun deneyiminizi daha da ekici hale getirebilirsiniz. Aada mevcut ekstralar ile kazancnz artrma frsatn karmayn:50 evirme ansVIP balang paketiPara yatrmadan bonusOyun puanlarBu ekstralar, yeni balayanlar iin heyecan verici bir balang noktas oluturur. Bu zel avantajlarla ansnz maksimize edin!Bonus Kullanm OptimizasyonuKazan frsatlarn yakalamak olduka mmkndr. Bu kolay ynergeleri izleyerek hemen dllerden istifade edebilirsiniz:Basite hesap oluturunHesap onaynz tamamlaynHesap bakiyesi ykleme ileminizi gerekletirindl otomatik olarak hesabnza ilenecekBu ynergeleri tamamladktan sonra, bonuslarnz annda hesabnza eklenecek ve oyun oynamaya balayabileceksiniz. Basit ve elenceli bir ekilde balang yapn!Kullancya zel UyarlarKritik detaylar:Promosyon iki ay boyunca geerlidirAlt limit olarak 100 TL transfer artKmlatif bahis art: 10x bonus tutarEn yksek alnabilir tutar: 3000 TLSeili oyunlarda uygulanabilirBu artlara dikkat ederek, promosyonunuzu en optimal ekilde kullanabilirsiniz. Unutmayn ki her frsatn belirli koullar vardr!VDcasinon stnlkleriVDcasino, ziyaretilerine sunduu eitli imkanlarla sektrde fark yaratmaktadr. Aada, VDcasino tercih etmeniz iin baz gerekeler bulabilirsiniz:Salam teknolojiKesintisiz destekDrst bonus politikalarKapsaml slot seenekleriPratik para yatrma yntemleriRekabeti kazanlarKolay kullanml sistemBu stnlkler sayesinde, hem gvenilir hem de heyecanl bir oyun deneyimi yaayacaksnz. VDcasino ile oyun keyfini karmak iin doru seimi yaptnz!imdi Katln ve Kazanmaya Balayn!imdi kayt olun ve ansnz denemeye balayn! VDcasino ile kazancnz artrn. Elenceli oyunlar yakalayn. VDcasinon benzersiz dnyasna dahil olun! Vdcasino Resmi Giri Yaparak Spor Bahisleri ve Casino Oyunlarna Annda Eriim Salayn Spor Bahisleri: Canl ve Elenceli Casino Oyunlar: eitlilik ve Heyecan Bonus ve Promosyonlar: Kazan Frsatlar Mobil Uyumlu: Her Yerden Eriim Gvenlik ve Gizlilik: MteriCasino-Elit Ho Geldin Avantaj Zaman!Casino-Elit Ho Geldin Avantaj Zaman! Karlama Hediyesi ile olaanst bir gzergaha hazr olun! Derhal casinoelit ve olaanst imkanlarn keyfini karn! Casino-Elitin sunduu bu esiz frsatGates Of Olympus Slot Demo Yldrmlarn Efendisi Ile Kazann: Gates Of Olympusta Jackpota Ulan! Gates Of Olympus Nedir? Gates Of Olympus Slot Trkiye Gates Of Olympus Slot Demo Gatesabe bet Oyun Dnyasna Adm Atn!abe bet Oyun Dnyasna Adm Atn! Tanma Kazan Balangc ile esiz bir atlma hazr olun! Bugn http://www.ozelkartepetuanakizyurdu.com/ ve muhteem frsatlarn keyfini karn! ansnz katlamak iinOnline-casinositelerin Sunduu Byk Avantajlar!lk Buluma Paketi ile kazan dolu bir keif turuna hazr olun! Hi beklemeden https://www.kastamallkuzey.com/ ve kazandran tekliflerin keyfini karn! Kazancnza hemen bugn balayn. Bu benzersiz

, , . - . . -. . . . , , . : . . . . . . . , - . , . . . , . . . . , . . , . , , . , , . . . . , . . 750-1000% - . . , , . . : , , 50-100% . . . . . 10-20%. , . , . , . . , , . . , , , , . , . , , , , , . , . , . . - , . , . - . , . ( , , .); , ; , ; ( , , ). , . - : , . 30-60 . , 18. : , iOS Android ( ). , . , . ( ). ( , ). , . . ( , , ). . : . , . , , , , , . . . , . . , . . , 45 50 , . . . , . , . . , . . . . . . , . . . . : , -, , - . - . , , (, ). : , , , . . . , . , , 50. , . , 100$, 30. 3000$ (, ). . , . . , . , . . , . , . RTP 97%+ ( 97-98%) . , . , . . . : -, , 777, , , , . : , , , . : Blood Suckers NetEnt 98%, Starburst, Gonzos Quest, Sun Of Egypt 3 . , , , . : . , . , , . , . 48 . . , , . . , .

A house in the mountains near Brisbane by Atelier Chen Hung is a contemporary and generous take on the picturesqueThis project was commended in the 2024 AR House awards. Read about the full shortlist hereThe Blackall Range is formed out of dormant volcanoes, articulated by deep ridges carved from millennia of cascading water. There are three small towns dotted along the ridge line of the mountain range: Maleny, Montville and Mapleton. On the eastern escarpment of Mapleton, a zincclad house sits nestled in its terrain.Reaping the rewards of a subtropical climate with relatively high rainfalls, the Blackall Range was historically used for growing various crops, especially bananas and pineapples. Neighbours and longterm residents have affectionately likened the house by Atelier Chen Hung to the gabled, Zincalumeclad banana packing sheds that once populated the region. The house proposes a new architectural picturesque: a resistance to symmetry; a strong connection between the building and the natural landscape; and an architectural form reminiscent of another time.The traditional custodians of the unceded lands that the house now occupies, the Gubbi Gubbi people, maintain important connections to this ancient landscape. The two mountains that feature in the view from the house are Mount Ninderry and Mount Coolum. The Gubbi Gubbi people tell a story of a feud between Ninderry and Coolum over a woman named Maroochy; Ninderry knocked off Coolums head and was turned into stone as punishment. A grieving Maroochy fled to the Blackall Range and her tears flooded down, creating the Maroochy River. Designing the house was not merely about capturing a view but, as architect Melody Chen describes, orienting the house around lines of refuge and prospecting.An obvious form for a house on this site would have been an elevated volume with the longest edge of the building facing towards the view. The architects have challenged this response and shaped the house to engage with the site in every possible way. The act of rotating the form, so that the longest side of the building faces north (as is desirable in Australia) achieves many things in one stroke of brilliance. A short side facing east maintains views from the internal living spaces as well as the outdoor areas around the house the entry garden, the external courtyard and deck between the garage and the house.This move also means that the view of the landscape is not blocked from the street, allowing pedestrians to catch a glimpse of the scenery beyond, framed in the opening between the house and the garage. The house is also skewed away from a public stairway running down one of its sides, generating a view cone for pedestrians to enjoy as they descend the steep site. As architect James Hung points out, there are no fences that bound the site; it is a house that seeks to engage with its context and democratises access to the view. There is a generosity in this gesture, supported and promoted by the client, to maintain public access to the view of the coastline, Mount Ninderry and Mount Coolum.Sinking the house into the site is a response to several conditions. It provides acoustic retreat from the busy main road, while also navigating the terrain to support the clients desire for an accessible dwelling a second storey with steep stairs would have betrayed this requirement. In early conversations between architect and client, they collectively identified Step House (2001) by Tezuka Architects as a key reference. Both Step House and Mapleton House enjoy views from each internal space over the Pacific Ocean, albeit in very different contexts. While Step House plays with a parallelogram volume cascading across the site, Mapleton House folds out like tented bellows towards the view through a trapezoidal prism. Descending from the entrance, past the kitchen into the living room and out to the deck, the view is revealed dynamically as the space expands both vertically and horizontally.The house offers various places for comfort and patterns for inhabitation. The timber deck organises the site, negotiating the connection between inside and out, framing the view and acting as the central node for navigating the house. It is partially sheltered from the easterly winds by the skewed form of the house, increasing the surface area of the building that faces over the escarpment and distributing the wind forces, acting as a windbreak.The covered outdoor space situated at the heart of the plan opens to the deck to the north to allow in daylight. In the cooler seasons, this outdoor room allows for passive solar heat gain deep into the interior. In summer, it can be enclosed by meshed sliding screens that promote natural ventilation and evaporative cooling, while providing privacy and security. An outdoor room like this is often used in hot and humid climates and can be traced to southeastern states of the US, where it is known as a dogtrot; it is known colloquially in Australia as a possum trot. Atelier Chen Hung have experimented with outdoor rooms like this in previous houses, including their first the Keperra House in 2012.Spaces are demarcated by stepped platforms and separated by centrally organised service spaces for storage and ablutions, which organise the plan along an axis that separates more public spaces to the north from private spaces along the southern side of the house. For now, the plan facilitates one bedroom and an office space; future uses could see the office used as a second bedroom, which even has its own entry. The plan accommodates several circulation paths and points of entry, creating varied opportunities for occupation. Hung suggests that it could even be a regional art gallery one day.Town planning requirements included restrictions on the roof form, favouring hipped or gabled roofs. The pitch of the roof is perpendicular to the long edge of the building, which does two things: it elevates the highest point of the roof over the central outdoor room; and it provides expression to the southern facade, which faces the public stairway and has fewer openings for privacy reasons. Planning restrictions also placed limitations on colour Hung describes the options as grey, grey or grey. The decision to use zinc cladding, rather than locally popular Zincalume, complied with this requirement but also contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of the house because zinc has a longer material lifespan and requires a less intense process for recycling and reuse than alloy metals.The cladding system applied to Mapleton House involves a simple clipping mechanism, meaning that panels can be replaced and repaired as needed. There are no excess cappings or flashings that may require replacement over time. The mellow grey of the cladding also responds to its context, blending in like a watercolour wash to the view beyond, where the ocean meets the sky. There is a careful approach to material selection inside the house too; internal walls are lined in boards of silver ash timber, sourced from farnorth Queensland, which meet ply sheets at a datum line set out from door and window openings. The woods colour complements the sandstone steps that connect the levels.Mapleton House is a lesson in how to take away to give back, preserving views that can be enjoyed by many. The house rests lightly in its site, in terms of both environmental and social impact, carefully curating a view instead of boastfully monopolising it. The efficient plan, its connection to an ancient landscape, formal and material hints to an agricultural past, and its openness to varied forms of inhabitation, all contribute to a new and sitespecific reading of the picturesque.2024-12-16Reuben J BrownShare AR December 2024/January 2025Good rooms + AR HouseBuy Now

We have witnessed an undeniable backlash against sustainability this year.Despite the news cycle being awash with coverage of the dire consequences of climate change, environmental advocates have struggled to make the case for a sustainable transition in 2024.In some parts of the world, politicians have weaponised action on the environment, pedalling the misconception that sustainability is expensive, burdensome, and a threat to affordability and prosperity. Amidst a cost-of-living crisis and rising global energy prices, this has resonated, weakening support for a swift end to fossil fuels.The EUs resolve on climate policy is under pressure, too. Last month, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would simplify three core pieces of environmental legislation, reversing changes that were made only in the last Parliament.In this complex environment, it is not surprising that some businesses have become more hesitant to embrace sustainable alternatives and even revised their environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets, wary of the complexities of sustainability reporting, the perceived cost of implementing green solutions, and the impact on competitiveness.However, the evidence tells a different story.A 2014 Harvard University study comparing 90 "High Sustainability" companies with 90 "Low Sustainability" companies over 18 years (1993-2010)found that high-sustainability companies significantly outperformed their counterparts across key economic indicators, including proxies for economic growth and financial leverage.More recently, EYs 2023 Sustainable Value Study highlighted that delivering on sustainability initiatives has significant financial benefits, with 52% of those surveyed experiencing financial value exceeding their expectations. Additionally, 63% of respondents witnessed product and brand value improvements that were better than expected.In the tech sector, Capgemini research shows that organisations scaling sustainable IT use cases have, for instance, achieved an average cost reduction of 12%.All of this unfolds at a moment when the urgency of action has never been clearer, with scientists warning weve now breached the all-important 1.5-degree limit on global warming, with 2024 set to be the hottest year on record.As we approach another complex year's end, we must ask: why isnt the message hitting home?To reinstate momentum behind action on climate change, its clear a new approach is needed. Yes, policymakers must carefully manage the impact of green initiatives on businesses and communities. Still, the key to rebuilding support might be redefining how we talk about sustainability and its impact and value.Its time to shift the focus from the perceived costs and complexities of sustainability to the immense opportunities and tangible advantages it presents, not just for the planet but also for businesses and the economy. Lets reframe the climate discussion and tell a more persuasive story about the measurable wins we can achieve, like jobs, new partnerships, business growth, resilience, and innovation.Sustainability and profitability arent at odds they are powerful partners.Often at the forefront of change, the business community will be crucial to reinventing this narrative. In the past, organisations have been reactive to climate policy, pushed to respond by regulatory pressure, market demands, or reputational risk. But that is changing.I see this in my own interactions with customers and partners many organisations no longer believe that implementing sustainable solutions just means doing the right thing. They recognise the value of these initiatives as tools to achieve risk mitigation, commercial advantage, customer retention, productivity and efficiency gains, and improvements to the bottom line.Analysts are seeing this too: Forrester has forecast that organisations will transition from a reactive approach to sustainability commitments to a proactive one, as operational efficiencies and financial benefits eclipse ESG regulation as the key drivers for change.As Ursula von der Leyen rightly said in 2019, Its a strategy for growth that gives more back than it takes away. Unlocking its full potential, though, requires businesses to rethink their mindset because true progress is rarely linear.The circular economy which reduces consumption by keeping resources and assets in use for as long as possible - is a perfect example of this in action.Take technology, for example as the digital economy grows, so do the number of devices we use and the volume of natural resources required to manufacture them. By extending the lifespan of tech assets through circular management practices, repair, refurbishment, and re-sale on secondary markets, organisations can directly lower the impact of their tech consumption.However, while the environmental case easily stacks up, the economic story needs telling, too. At its heart, the circular economy is a financial model based on optimising resources, improving efficiency, and minimising waste all key components of profitability. When a business implements circularity into its tech operations, it essentially says: We are committed to deriving the greatest value from all our digital assets while reducing waste. Now, how could the CFO argue with that?Ive seen that lightbulb moment time and time again because when organisations understand that implementing circularity can drive down costs, improve efficiency, and recoup value on tech investment, its much easier to make the case change.All business leaders need then are practical solutions they can implement at speed and trusted partners to make it happen.The next 12 months will undoubtedly bring more global challenges and roadblocks to progress on climate change.It will be up to savvy tech providers to keep championing the cause and clearly highlighting the full spectrum of business benefits sustainable business models can deliveroperational, financial, reputational, and beyond.For me, next year is about making sure everyone is onboard our people, partners, and customers to understand just how powerful a circular economy for technology can be in helping organisations remain competitive with the latest technology while managing legacy tech in a way that recoups its value and minimises its environmental impact.We can only foster a shared understanding of its transformative potential by engaging in open and transparent dialogue about the challenges and opportunities sustainability can create. If organisations are armed with the information, evidence, and tools to make the case for sustainable investment, positive change will certainly be on the horizon.Read more from the IT Sustainability Think TankAs the global transition towards developing low-carbon economies continues apace, Gartner shares its take on the actions enterprises must take now to navigate an increasingly volatile energy landscape.The hype around AI is increasingly being matched with discussions about how the technology's adoption will affect the environment, so what can IT leaders do to ensure they keep the companies they work for on the forefront of innovation, without compromising the environment - or their firm's own corporate sustainability agenda?

If you use OpenAI's AI tool to co-edit code or text, you will never again use ChatGPT without the Canvas tool. Here's why.

ZDNET's key takeaways Dell's XPS 13 (9350) with the Intel Core Ultra 7 "Lunar Lake" chip is on sale at Best Buy for $999.Intel's new high-performance processor brings snappy performance and a fantastic battery to the most compact member of the XPS lineup.The two USB-A ports won't cut it for many users. $1,399.99 at Best Buy We've tested a handful of Dell XPS laptops this year, including two other configurations of the XPS 13: one with the Snapdragon X Elite chip, and one with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H. We praised both versions of the lineup's smallest, most portable laptop, and called out the bold design and standout performance across chipsets.The latest version to hit the market is the Dell XPS 13 (9350) with the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V "Lunar Lake" processor, a follow-up to the Core Ultra 7 155H version released earlier in 2024, refreshed with Intel's newest and most future-facing chipset.Also: The 7 tech gadgets I couldn't live without in 2024The Lunar Lake series of processors (also sometimes called the Core Ultra Series 2) comes at a complicated time for Intel, with many people banking on these chips' performance to prove the company is still in the game with a product to rival empowered competitors. details View at Best Buy I've tested a few other devices with Intel's Lunar Lake processors and found them not-so-surprisingly impressive. The chips offer noteworthy performance, fantastic battery life, and updated architecture to run cooler on thinner, lighter machines.The Asus Zenbook S 14, for example, is sleek and slim, and has an unexpectedly robust battery, whileLenovo's Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition brought a handful of unique Intel-only features in an attempt to showcase some innovation.So, when Dell's XPS 13 powered by the "Lunar Lake" series 2 processor dropped, I jumped at the chance to investigate. The XPS line features some of my favorite laptops from 2024, including the XPS 16, our favorite Windows laptop of the year here at ZDNET.The thin and light form factor of the XPS 13 is unchanged compared to the Snapdragon X Elite configuration from earlier this year, and all the iconic touchstones of the XPS line remain: from the zero-lattice keyboard to the invisible trackpad to the ultra-minimalist (restrictive, even) total of two USB-C ports. Paired with the light and sleek form factor, the Wi-Fi 7 compatibility and 1080p webcam make it a solid pick for freelancers and remote workers who need reliable performance in a small package, particularly in this increasingly competitive sub-$1,500 price range.By this point, most consumers have decided whether or not they're fans of the XPS line's divisive design elements. Either you think the LED function row is sleek and forward-facing, or you can't quite get used to spamming little lights instead of keys, but either way, Dell has proven that it's committed to the aesthetic, and these features are here to stay.Also: This Lenovo laptop solved my biggest issue with photo organization (even for iPhone users)The configuration I went hands-on with has 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, 1920 x 1200 non-touch FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Power from the aforementioned Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 processor results in a fast, responsive machine that's highly optimized for the things most users will do on their computers daily.Boot times are fast, apps load instantly, multiple browser windows with dozens of tabs open move flawlessly, and connecting to external monitors results in no discernable slowdown. The build quality of the XPS 13 is fantastic. The keyboard is positively silent, and the haptic glass touchpad is satisfying and responsive. Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETWith all the different configurations available for the XPS laptops, this one is unique in a few ways. First, the (optional) tandem OLED display is the first of its kind on an XPS 13, and second, it's one of the first XPS devices powered by Intel's Lunar Lake. These processors, as previously mentioned, showed impressive performance and battery life on the other devices I tested, and that trend continues with the XPS 13.During the standard ZDNET battery test that involves running a livestream video at 50% brightness over Wi-Fi, I got over 16 hours of battery during one test, and over 14 on another. This difference was attributable to updates and settings. During the regular workday, this laptop will have no trouble getting through the day on a single charge, although the OLED configuration will see a few hours shaved off those numbers.Also: I found a laptop for creators that rivals the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but it costs half the priceThe display is, unsurprisingly, one of the features that makes this laptop a pleasure to use. I tested a unit with the LCD display, and it looks premium and vivid, with an anti-glare coating that gives a matte texture with minimal glare while resisting fingerprints.Additionally, the integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics card is more than capable of handling gaming. I'm typically suspicious of gaming on such thin and light laptops without robust cooling systems, but the XPS 13 can hold its own on casual titles that don't make too intense demands on the hardware. Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETThe fans will kick in if things start heating up, and it does reach higher temps than the Snapdragon chip. However, performance is smooth enough to pop into Steam and fire up most titles thanks to support for ray tracing, 100% DCI-P3 color, and the 120Hz refresh rate.Gamers might encounter some usability issues in games that use the function row. The lack of a physical key is the core of the XPS' commitment to bold design, but it could mean spotty responsiveness in practice during even the most laid-back gaming sessions.Even outside of gaming, you have to hit the LED just right to register feedback, even while navigating with the Home, End, and Delete keys in Google Docs. However, once you're used to the placement it becomes a lot more natural with some muscle memory.Also: One of the best 13-inch laptops I've tested has marathon battery life and a bold designAnother thing I'm not a fan of is Dell's SupportAssist program stepping in to automatically adjust the laptop's battery settings, which scales back performance to save power, even with as high as 85% battery. The feature seems a little paranoid and contributes to more noise from Windows that the user shouldn't have to contend with. Luckily, these functions are easy to disable or personalize.When it comes to direct comparisons with the Windows Copilot+ configuration and Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor, this XPS 13 got slightly lower numbers in our Benchmarking tests, but almost the same in terms of battery life. Additionally, the Snapdragon XPS 13 with the same 16GB of RAM and 512 SSD configuration will cost you $500 more.Cinebench 24 MCGeekbench 6.2.2 SCGeekbench 6.2.2 MCDell XPS 13 (Snapdragon X Elite)9972,83014,687Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core Ultra 7 "Lunar Lake")5522,74311,005The name of the game here, then, is Intel's Core Ultra 7 Lunar Lake XPS 13 bringing comparable performance to the Snapdragon configuration, but in a more affordable package and without any of the emulation or compatibility issues you can run into with ARM-compatible architecture.ZDNET's buying adviceIt's no secret that we're fans of the XPS lineup here at ZDNET, and the Dell XPS 13 (9350) is a laptop that I would consider using as a main driver. The bold design elements aren't for everyone, but they contribute to a well-optimized and functional device that isn't just a pretty face.Intel's Core Ultra 7 Lunar Lake series processor rounds out Dell's 2024 XPS lineup with a slightly more accessible configuration that comes very close to the raw performance metrics of the XPS 13 with the Snapdragon X Elite. It's fast, looks good, and has a strong battery, which is the holy trifecta for usability.Featured reviews