Over the past few years, classic guitar amplifier company Marshall has been leveraging its experience in the world of audio for more consumer-focused products. Many of those recent speaker models have been met with high praise by reviewers, who argue that the speakers deliver stunning audio quality and a sleek, unique design all-in-one. Now, Marshall is back with two new models in the form of the Willen II and Emberton III speakers.Its been a pleasure to see this generational update come to life. As always, with our iconic design and Marshall sound in focus, weve created something unique in the portable speaker category. On the outside of the speaker, the focus has been on improved material choices and usability, but the biggest update is on the inside. Both these products come ready for the next Bluetooth technology LE Audio, enabling Auracast. They also continue to deliver surprisingly heavy sound for the size, especially Willen II, says Hanna Wallner, Product Manager.The new speakers are built to offer high-end specifications and modern features while retaining the Marshall design that the company has become known for.Emberton IIIThe larger of the two speakers is the Marshall Emberton III, and its built as a do-it-all wireless speaker that can be used in a range of different settings. The Emberton III delivers an impressive 32 hours of battery life, so most users will only need to charge it every few weeks. Not only that, but it has IP67 dust and water resistance, and while you should avoid submerging it in water, if it does fall in the pool, it can last up to 30 minutes in one meter of water. The speaker supports Bluetooth LE along with Auracast, which is a new Bluetooth technology that allows it to integrate with other Auracast-compatible speakers.Emberton IIIBut its no traditional wireless speaker. The Emberton III offers Marshalls new True Stereophonic multi-directional tech, which essentially converts stereo audio into a spatial format. Marshall doesnt disclose this format, and its likely the companys own. Were a little skeptical about the effect of this, as applying spatial technology to stereo music has traditionally produced middling results, but its still a neat idea nonetheless.Emberton IIII actually quite like the design of Marshalls Bluetooth speakers. They are largely built from plastic, but I appreciate that theyre reminiscent of classic Marshall amplifiers. The Emberton III is available in either black or a cream color, and both come accented with a nice gold.Emberton IIIWillen IIThe smaller of the two speakers is the Marshall Willen II. It actually offers many of the same features as the Emberton III, including the same water resistance and support for Auracast. Given the smaller size, it has a smaller battery that can still deliver 17 hours of playback time, which isnt bad. On the back, it has a built-in strap, allowing it to be fastened or hung on objects like a backpack or bicycle handlebar.Willen IIThe Willen II offers mostly the same build quality as the Emberton III, in a smaller and more portable package. It also features the black or cream design with gold highlights.Willen IIWillen IIThe Emberton III is available for pre-order now for $169 here, while the Willen II is available for pre-order at $119 here. Both will go on sale August 26th via marshall.com.This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

If youre looking for the Wordle answer for August 20, 2024 read on. Well share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Todays puzzle is harder; I got it in five. Beware, there are spoilers below for August 20, Wordle #1,158! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to todays Wordle game.How to play WordleWordle lives here on the New York Times website. A new puzzle goes live every day at midnight, your local time.Start by guessing a five-letter word. The letters of the word will turn green if theyre correct, yellow if you have the right letter in the wrong place, or gray if the letter isnt in the days secret word at all. For more, check out our guide to playing Wordle here, and my strategy guide here for more advanced tips. (We also have more information at the bottom of this post, after the hints and answers.)Ready for the hints? Lets go!Does todays Wordle have any unusual letters?Well define common letters as those that appear in the old typesetters phrase ETAOIN SHRDLU. (Memorize this! Pronounce it Edwin Shirdloo, like a name, and pretend hes a friend of yours.)They're almost all common lettersfour are from our mnemonic today. The fifth is less common. Can you give me a hint for todays Wordle?This makes you late.Does todays Wordle have any double or repeated letters?There are no repeated letters today.How many vowels are in todays Wordle?There are two vowels and one "sometimes" vowel.What letter does todays Wordle start with?Todays word starts with D.What letter does todays Wordle end with?Todays word ends with Y.What is the solution to todays Wordle?Ready? Todays word is DELAY.How I solved todays WordleI started with RAISE and TOUCH, followed by BLAND to eliminate common consonants. From here, possible answers included PEDAL, MEDAL, and DELAYI guessed MEDAL, which left DELAY as the solution. Wordle 1,158 5/6Yesterdays Wordle answerYesterdays Wordle was medium difficult. The hint was a unit of measure at the Olympics and the answer contained four common letters and one pretty common letter. The answer to yesterdays Wordle was METER. A primer on Wordle basicsThe idea of Wordle is to guess the days secret word. When you first open the Wordle game, youll see an empty grid of letters. Its up to you to make the first move: type in any five-letter word.Now, you can use the colors that are revealed to get clues about the word:Green means you correctly guessed a letter, and its in the correct position. (For example, if you guess PARTY, and the word is actually PURSE, the P and R will be green.)Yellow means the letter is somewhere in the word, but not in the position you guessed it. (For example, if you guessed PARTY, but the word is actually ROAST, the R, A and T will all be yellow.)Gray means the letter is not in the solution word at all. (If you guessed PARTY and everything is gray, then the solution cannot be PURSE or ROAST.)With all that in mind, guess another word, and then another, trying to land on the correct word before you run out of chances. You get six guesses, and then its game over.The best starter words for WordleWhat should you play for that first guess? The best starters tend to contain common letters, to increase the chances of getting yellow and green squares to guide your guessing. (And if you get all grays when guessing common letters, thats still excellent information to help you rule out possibilities.) There isnt a single best starting word, but the New York Timess Wordle analysis bot has suggested starting with one of these:CRANETRACESLANTCRATECARTEMeanwhile, an MIT analysis found that youll eliminate the most possibilities in the first round by starting with one of these:SALETREASTTRACECRATESLATEOther good picks might be ARISE or ROUND. Words like ADIEU and AUDIO get more vowels in play, but you could argue that its better to start with an emphasis on consonants, using a starter like RENTS or CLAMP. Choose your strategy, and see how it plays out.How to win at WordleWe have a few guides to Wordle strategy, which you might like to read over if youre a serious student of the game. This one covers how to use consonants to your advantage, while this one focuses on a strategy that uses the most common letters. In this advanced guide, we detail a three-pronged approach for fishing for hints while maximizing your chances of winning quickly.The biggest thing that separates Wordle winners from Wordle losers is that winners use their guesses to gather information about what letters are in the word. If you know that the word must end in -OUND, dont waste four guesses on MOUND, ROUND, SOUND, and HOUND; combine those consonants and guess MARSH. If the H lights up in yellow, you know the solution.One more note on strategy: the original Wordle used a list of about 2,300 solution words, but after the game was bought by the NYT, the game now has an editor who hand-picks the solutions. Sometimes they are slightly tricky words that wouldnt have made the original list, and sometimes they are topical. For example, FEAST was the solution one Thanksgiving. So keep in mind that there may be a theme.Wordle alternativesIf you cant get enough of five-letter guessing games and their kin, the best Wordle alternatives, ranked by difficulty, include:Wheeldle, which lets you play one puzzle after anotherDordle and Quordle, which ask you to play two (Dordle) or four (Quordle) puzzles at the same time, with the same guesses. There is also Octordle, with eight puzzles, and Sedecordle, with 16.Waffle, which shows you several five-letter words, scrambled in a grid; you play by swapping the letters around until you solve.Absurdle, which changes the solution after each guess, but needs to stay consistent with its previous feedback. You have to strategically back it into a corner until there is only one possible word left; then you guess it, and win.Squabble, in which you play Wordle against other people with a timer running. You take damage if you spend too much time between guesses; winner is the last one standing.Antiwordle, in which you are trying not to guess the days solution. Youre required to reuse any letters that you (oops) guessed correctly, so the longer it takes you, the better you are at the game.

Non-subscribers who open the Apple Music app on a new iPhone or iPad typically see an offer for a free month of the service. The trial was once three times as long, but Apple quietly shortened it in early 2022. But now through September 23, anyone new to Apple's music streaming service will get to try it out for free for three months. The deal only applies to first-time subscribers; if you've never succumbed to the music app's temptation, now is as good a time as any to check it out. Just keep in mind that the service will automatically renew for $11 per month after the trial ends. Be sure to cancel if you don't want to pay. Apple Music has a lot to offer. It's currently our top recommendation in our guide to the best music streaming services. We like its approach to recommendations, balancing a good amount of editorial playlists and stations with algorithmic suggestions. Every song is available at CD-quality or better and lossless streaming doesn't cost extra. For computer-picked listening, there's a "Discovery Station" that helps you find new music by playing songs you've never streamed before, both from artists you know and others the algorithm thinks you'll like. And, in my experience, saying, "Hey Siri, play me some Apple Music," produces pretty good mix of stuff I like that's novel enough to be interesting, but not so familiar I'm sick of hearing it. There are a few caveats to note about the service: It's really made for Apple devices, though its available on Android devices too. You won't find podcasts on Apple Music. And, aside from this deal, there's no free version of Apple Music. Pay your $11 monthly or listen elsewhere. As for the deal, we'll restate that it's only for new subscribers previous subscribers and even those who've had access to Apple Music through a Family plan aren't eligible. You also have to sign up using the Apple Music app on an iPhone, Mac or iPad running the latest software. An Apple ID is also required. You can read all terms of the deal here. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apple-music-is-currently-offering-new-subscribers-three-months-free-185834470.html?src=rss

Check out Squids Visual Arts' nicely structured breakdown of a CG elephant, created for an ad for food brand Bayara.Watch the full video on the Squids Visual Arts Vimeo channel (also shows cloud simulation in Houdini): https://vimeo.com/998741723

Lucasfilm has canceled The Acolyte after a dissapointing first season, but we aren't surprised.

British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is missing after the sinking of a superyacht off the coast of Sicily, sources familiar with the matter told CNBC.

How Whiskytree created the Paris establisher in Masters of the Air. From befores & afters magazine.Amongst several sequences visual effects studio Whiskytree handled on the AppleTV+ series Masters of the Air was an establishing shot of a German-occupied Paris during World War II. This specific shot, crafted completely synthetically, is a boom up from a passing CG train that then looks out across the city and the Seine towards the Eiffel Tower.When Whiskytree received word that production would require such a shot, the VFX studio began working out what areas of Paris to show in the tilt-up. At one point, the shot was not going to go forward, but then Whiskytree showed production an early render of what they had already devised. They said, recalls Whiskytree visual effects supervisor Aidan Fraser, everyone is excited about this shot now, we want to do the shot and we want to make it longer.It became a really fun shot to work on, says Fraser, who worked with production visual effects supervisor Stephen Rosenbaum on the show. They gave us a lot of creative freedom to decide on the camera move and how to tell the story of the shot. We had a lot of time to play around with those details.The buildWhiskytree looked mostly to archival photos of Paris from that time for reference. They also consulted the limited amounts of moving footage. One thing that was particularly helpful, says Fraser, however, was referencing hours of footage of train routes from present-day Paris. We picked and chose various parts of modern Paris that would have still been there then, and then extrapolated from that all of the architecture that wouldve been there at the time.A large section of railroad track was the first part of the CG build, then the train. We started with a really close-up of the train, and so that train had to be perfect, points out Fraser. We had a train enthusiast model and animate that train. He knew the name of every part of the train.Different artists were then tasked with developing different neighborhoods of the city. We created a story that youre starting more outside where its a little more sparsely populated, and theres some industrial area, and then youre getting more into the city with those big apartment buildings that you see in Paris, outlines Fraser.The build benefited from a procedural approach. Whiskytree first consulted Google Maps and OpenStreetMap for building layout information and height data of Paris. We then populated that in Houdini with really simplified buildings for the background layer. Then you have a mid-ground where we take very simplified buildings that weve repeated, and we modify them in Houdini to build up assemblies from built assets, rather than just from boxes with projections on them, which is the farthest background. Most of what you see, though, is actually just artists building buildings from scratch.For these hand-crafted buildings, Whiskytree began with a few purchased models that were then dressed for the era. Artists added dirt, ivy and marks of war, even including Nazi flags covering buildings. Says Fraser: We covered some of the buildings with these Nazi flags to really drive the point home, and I think that really helped, to have just a little bit of waving flag there on the buildings.Its always about break up, continues Fraster. If theres something too smooth or theres something too regular, you need to break that up with texture. You have to make sure that nothing repeats too much, especially with the ground under the train tracks, making sure that that doesnt just look like its perfect gravel. So wed add bushes and things coming out that are going to really give it detail.People in the streetsWhiskytree also populated Parisian streets with digital people. The motion for them largely came from studio artists creating motion capture clips with early AI mocap tools on their smartphones.They would film somebody doing something, and then wed motion capture it, and then put it on some characters, describes Fraser. It worked for background characters. We were also downloading various walk cycles that we could find that would work for people, but making little stories, making little things happen.It was all about getting the right amount of people, doing the right things, adds Fraser. What are the crowds doing? How many people are there? Are they crashing into each other? It was not a crowd system, it was hand-placed people. You want to make it feel populated, but not too crowded.This went for cars, too. The interesting thing is that, at the time, too explores Fraser, there were only three different colors of cars that you could possibly have, and so that made it a little easier for us.Bringing it altogetherThe final Paris establisher came together in compositing, with Fraser noting that projections were a key part of completing detail. Wed go in and paint certain areas, apply textures, or in Nuke well find some detail and then just project it on there.One detail Fraser mentions that helped with the scene, but is not necessarily readily apparent, was depth hazing. I always feel like depth hazing is very much something thats to taste, because any day can have a different amount of haze. Thats something that we went back and forth on to find that sweet spot where it looks natural. There is some volume fog there, but you dont see it. You just kind of feel like its there. You just sense, Oh, yeah, that feels real, but youre not like, Oh, its a foggy day. As long as its invisible, it works.The post As long as its invisible, it works appeared first on befores & afters.

Suppose you have a young person on your team who is struggling to adjust to their work, while also dealing with personal problems. They may be working on a complex project that isnt yet finished. How do you best help this employee address their issues while also ensuring that important work gets done for the organization?A common response is to take care of some of the work for this team member. You may assure this person that they are valued and that their emotional well-being is primary. You or other team members may take on additional work to help get through the situation.Another common response is to take a sterner approach. After all, young employees in particular need to learn to step up and get things doneeven during difficult times. So, you may hold the line and demand their effort.Which of these works best?This issue is explored in-depth in an excellent new book, 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People, by psychologist David Yeager, who is a colleague of mine. In this book, Yeager covers his own researchas well as work by his collaborators and othersthat addresses ways to motivate young people. Much of this work is also applicable to everyone, regardless of their age.As Yeager points out, both of the strategies I described are problematic. Essentially, when engaging with other people, we can think about the level of support we want to provide them, as well as the standards we want to set.The first strategy (which he calls the Protector Mindset) sets low standards and provides the person with a high level of support. In this case, the support comes from lowering standards in order to help the employee deal with their personal issues. The protector mindset has several problems. It doesnt help people learn to find ways to be productive even during difficult times. It also sends a message that you dont believe the person is capable of doing difficult things.The second strategy (which he calls the Enforcer Mindset) holds high standards for the person but provides them very little support. The idea here is that people need to be thrown into the deep end of the pool. This strategy also creates problems. Without support, people often dont know how to achieve their goals. They want to succeed, but feel like they dont have the resources they need to do so.As Yeager discusses, once you realize that these common strategies differ along the dimensions of standards and support, there is an opportunity to engage in a strategy that involves both high standards and high support. This strategy is called the Mentor Mindset. Much of the book 10 to 25 explores strategies for implementing this strategy.For an employee struggling with personal issues who also has complex tasks to solve, that might involve discussing with them what aspects of the task they might be able to take on under the circumstances, or extending the deadline for a project but still having them engage in it. The idea is that acknowledging difficult circumstances and providing some support is comforting, but still requiring work and having standards for performance demonstrates confidence in the employees ability.When engaging in this work, its often valuable to ask questions. Not all questions are created equal, though. Some questions that supervisors (and parents) often ask are really just rhetorical devices to express displeasure. When you ask someone, What in the world were you thinking? you are criticizing rather than asking a genuine question.Instead, Yeager draws on research suggesting that authentic questions to which you legitimately want to know the answer can be valuable. Asking people their view of a situation and whether that view is helping them to achieve their goals can be valuable. In addition, asking questions designed to get people thinking differently about the situation can be useful for shifting their outlook on a difficult circumstance.While describing the Mentor Mindset is easy, actually implementing it in your work can be difficult. Another great feature of Yeagers book is that it has a workbook at the end that allows you to practice these techniques. I highly recommend this book to anyone whose success relies on their capacity to motivate others. These techniques are likely to work well on people young and old.

Colorado-based startup Elmntl has unveiled a range of customisable cabins that provide bedrooms and sauna facilities in natural landscapes.Elmntl hopes to "democratise boutique hospitality" with its collection of prefabricated cabins.Elmntl offers cabins in a range of sizes and specificationsThe startup aims to make it simpler and more affordable for landowners to offer unique vacation stays. Its cabins are fully customisable and easy to install, enabling a "zero-to-launch" service.According to the brand, a digital platform brings ease and transparency to the design process, allowing users to adapt the cabins into more than a thousand possible configurations.A digital platform guides users through the design process"Elmntl's platform for the hospitality market aims to make elevated architecture accessible for all," said founder Vlad Dubovskiy."We address the missing middle in the market a move away from rigid, preset designs and towards customisable floor plans," he continued."We offer products with a personal look and feel in a modular format, without tipping into expensive, bespoke architecture."Options include the Shelter, which offers hotel-style bedroomsElmntl currently offers three different models. The Shelter is like a traditional hotel room, while the Refuge is a more comprehensive stand-alone living space.The third option is the Sauna, which offers a choice of modules for wellness facilities. As well as the hot rooms, customers can add cool-down spaces, changing facilities and hot-tub decks.Customers can choose preset floor plans or create fully bespoke layoutsThe digital design platform allows users to either select preset floor plans or create fully bespoke layouts.Other configurable options include the positions of windows, doors and skylights, the choice of exterior materials and interior colours, and further add-ons such as roof decks and fireplaces.Kitchen and bathroom facilities are fully customisableThe prices reflect the level of customisation but are clearly displayed on the platform so users can see the cost of every component they select."Instead of seeing a cabin as simply a product, we are vertically integrating our hardware (the building) and the software (the experience), akin to an iPhone," said Dubovskiy."We think of our core product as delivering an unforgettable user experience."The Sauna model offers a choice of modular wellness facilitiesElmntl's products aim to tap into a broader trend for eco-tourism, with an increasing number of hospitality operators and resorts around the world offering vacations in wild, natural landscapes.Among them is Scandinavian homeware brand Vipp, which has branched out from products to launch a series of guesthouses in remote locations.Read: Hahn Lavsen creates geometric guesthouse in Cold Hawaii sand dunesThis has led numerous designers and brands to develop modular cabins that can be built off-site and delivered to the desired location.Other examples include Finland-based Space of Mind, a joint venture from design office Studio Puisto and furniture brand Made By Choice, and Koto, a UK-based startup.Cool-down spaces and changing facilities can be added alongside the sauna roomsDubovskiy believes that Elmntl's tech-led approach will set it apart from competitors.It offers a "turnkey service", handling every aspect of the planning process, and can also provide project management during the build if required.The service is currently available nationwide in the US and Canada.Elmntl wants to make it easier for landowners to create wellness retreats"Our big idea is simple to foster a love for the fragile, wild, natural world," said Dubovskiy."To do that, we work with our hospitality clients to get as many people as possible into the elements."The cabins are built from biodegradable or recyclable materials and designed for disassemblyThe cabins are built to last, even in extreme weather conditions, but are designed for disassembly if required.Elmntl promises to use biodegradable or recyclable materials only, with no toxic foams or plastics.Other add-ons include outdoor decks and hot tubs"We treat every carpentry detail as poetry we want people to witness," added Dubovskiy."Our products are intimate the finer details make every choice feel considered. To us, a cabin or sauna is an extension of nature itself, so we build it with the spirit of adventure, fun, and obsessive care for the environment."The post Elmntl unveils prefab cabins for creating wellness retreats in wild landscapes appeared first on Dezeen.

Here's a clever design for a spray bottle, by Japanese brand Yamazaki Home.What's so special about it? The bottle's flat front features a magnetic strip, allowing you to keep it handy, assuming you've got metal surfaces nearby. The 500mL (16.9 oz) bottle runs $8.40.