Reviews of Winter Light, Counting Winter, My Wonderful Christmas Tree, Santas First Christmas and On a Chariot of Fire.

The oratorio that gave the world the Hallelujah chorus was created in a troubled period for the once-popular composer.

Some of the boldest projects of modern architecture were never realized. Many had their best moments on paper.

Kickoff The next two FIFA Womens World Cups will only air on Netflix Let's hope Netflix fixes its live buffering problems beforehand. Scharon Harding Dec 20, 2024 12:50 pm | 2 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - 2023/08/20: Salma Paralluelo of Spain (R) and Keira Walsh of England (L) seen in action during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Australia Stadium, Sydney. Credit: Getty SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - 2023/08/20: Salma Paralluelo of Spain (R) and Keira Walsh of England (L) seen in action during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Australia Stadium, Sydney. Credit: Getty Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIf you want to watch the next two FIFA Womens World Cups in the US, youll need a Netflix subscription.FIFA confirmed the news today, marking an unexpected change for the sports event, which has historically played on free-to-air broadcast channels. The shift to a streaming platform inevitably makes it more costly and hurts viewer accessibility, while likely injecting FIFA with a lot of cash.Netflix and FIFA havent said how much Netflix is paying for exclusive airing rights. But Netflix and other streaming services have been paying out hefty, sometimes record-setting sums to air live sporting events as the company seeks to earn more revenue from commercials and draw more viewers. Netflix, for example, paid $5 billion to swipe the World Wrestling Entertainments weekly RAW program from the USA cable network for 10 years, starting next month.While FIFA runs the risk of isolating some fans, it seems that its made a favorable deal with Netflix after complaining in 2022 about low bids for the 2023 Womens World Cup and resistance from broadcasters to pay what the women's game deserves, as chief business officer Romy Gai told Bloomberg in October 2022.This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Womens World Cup and the global womens game," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement today.FIFAs announcement suggested that it expects to reach a larger audience and increase US engagement by airing on Netflix. FIFA said that 1.2 billion people watched the 2019 Women's World Cup, ESPN noted. Netflix has already demonstrated the ability to lure a massive amount of viewers to exclusive sports matches. In November, Netflix claimed the most-streamed sporting event ever when it streamed a boxing event centered on a Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight and reportedly garnered 65 million live concurrent streams.Per FIFAs announcement, Netflix will stream the tournaments in English and Spanish via a dual telecast. Under the deal, Netflix will also release a documentary series about the biggest players ahead of both tournaments. Brazil will host the 2027 event, while the host country for the 2031 Women's World Cup has yet to be announced.The news comes as streaming platforms continue battling over sports. Currently, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox are in a legal battle over plans to launch a joint sports streaming app, Venu, which is being challenged by sports streamer Fubo over antitrust allegations. The case is set to go to trial in October.Meanwhile, fans are adjusting to changes in how sports events are aired, learning to bounce between channels and streaming services to find their events and dealing with buffering and other technical problems. At times, some of the biggest fans, like NFL player Tariq Woolen, have resorted to illegal pirating to avoid complications and fees, underscoring pressure for streaming services to perfect and simplify the streaming of the live events that they're eagerly snatching up.Scharon HardingSenior Product ReviewerScharon HardingSenior Product Reviewer Scharon is Ars Technicas Senior Product Reviewer writing news, reviews, and analysis on consumer technology, including laptops, mechanical keyboards, and monitors. Shes based in Brooklyn. 2 Comments

LOST AND FOUND New AA-powered AirTag case promises 10-year lifespan Aluminum AirTag case replaces coin cell with 2 AA Lithium batteries for extended lifespan. Benj Edwards Dec 20, 2024 12:23 pm | 24 A photo of the TimeCapsule, which purportedly extends AirTag battery life with AA batteries. Credit: Elevation Lab A photo of the TimeCapsule, which purportedly extends AirTag battery life with AA batteries. Credit: Elevation Lab Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreOn Wednesday, a startup announced TimeCapsule, a new $20 battery case purported to extend Apple AirTag battery life from one year to 10 years. The product replaces the standard CR2032 coin cell battery in the Bluetooth-based location tracker with two AA batteries to provide extended power capacity.The TimeCapsule case, created by Elevation Lab, requires users to remove their AirTag's original back plate and battery, then place the Apple device onto contact points inside the waterproof enclosure. The company recommends using Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries, which it claims provide 14 times more power capacity than the stock coin cell battery configuration.The CNC-machined aluminum case is aimed at users who place AirTags in vehicles, boats, or other applications where regular battery changes prove impractical. The company sells the TimeCapsule through its website and Amazon. A photo of the TimeCapsule, which purportedly extends AirTag battery life with AA batteries. Credit: Elevation Lab As related on the TimeCapsule's product page, the add-on case reportedly emerged after its inventor lost camera equipment to theft, discovering their AirTag had died months earlier due to a depleted battery. This experience led to the development of a longer-lasting power solution for the tracking devices.It's important to note that we cannot verify these battery life claims without independent testing, but using larger lithium batteries to extend lifespan makes technical sense. The company has not released detailed technical specifications about power consumption rates or testing methodology, but we've ordered a unit to test ourselves.Build your own battery extension?On an interesting Hacker News thread, the TimeCapsule device sparked discussion about balancing convenience with size. While the TimeCapsule's larger form factor makes it impractical for keys or pet tags, some users pointed out specific use cases where the extended battery life may outweigh size concerns (such as in bags or vehicles). A photo of the TimeCapsule, which purportedly extends AirTag battery life with AA batteries. Credit: Elevation Lab Some worried that TimeCapsule might make stalking easier, while multiple commenters questioned the anti-theft applications, noting that AirTags alert nearby iPhones when separated from their ownera privacy feature that also serves as an anti-stalking measure. Android phones also now detect nearby AirTags by default after a 2023 system update.Other commenters pointed out that handy do-it-yourself types could potentially build a similar device using dummy CR2032 extensions that lead to external battery packs. Either way, it's an interesting hack that could potentially make AirTags more useful in some scenarios.Benj EdwardsSenior AI ReporterBenj EdwardsSenior AI Reporter Benj Edwards is Ars Technica's Senior AI Reporter and founder of the site's dedicated AI beat in 2022. He's also a tech historian with almost two decades of experience. In his free time, he writes and records music, collects vintage computers, and enjoys nature. He lives in Raleigh, NC. 24 Comments

Transmission electron micrograph of parts of the norovirus pathogenBSIP SA/AlamyA global international trial of an mRNA vaccine against norovirus is getting underway with the aim of reducing the health burden caused by the infamous winter vomiting bug. The trial has been complicated by the emergence of a new norovirus strain that is causing soaring numbers of cases in parts of the world, including England.Unfortunately, one of the strains which is most prevalent isnt in that jab, says Patrick Moore at the UKs National Institute for Health and Care Research, who is leading the UK branch of the trial. The high cases are probably

NASAs Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, snapped by the Perseverance roverNASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSSA little helicopter finally met its end this year. NASAs Ingenuity drone made its 72nd and final flight on Mars in January, damaging one of its rotors on landing, concluding one of the most unusual space exploration experiments in recent decades.Having reached the surface of Mars on the Perseverance rover in 2021, the drone flew missions autonomously because the long delay in radio transmissions between Earth and Mars made direct control impossible.

Small website owners say they may be forced to shut downPortra/Getty ImagesThe UKs new Online Safety Act may result in hundreds of community websites and forums being permanently shut down, as site administrators say they fear the law imposes onerous obligations and exposes them to potential million-pound fines.We fall firmly into scope, and I have no way to dodge it, says Dee Kitchen, who runs the cycling forum LFGSS for its 70,000 members. The Act is too broad.The Online Safety Act

Ariana Grande is dating her "Wicked" costar Ethan Slater.Slater is a Broadway actor who rose to fame starring as Spongebob in "The Spongebob Musical."Here's what to know about Slater, from his notable roles to his relationship with ex-wife Lilly Jay.Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater's relationship is facing renewed interest amid the release of "Wicked" and a personal essay published by Lilly Jay, Slater's ex-wife.In July 2023, multiple outlets including People magazine and TMZ reported that Grande, 31, and her "Wicked" costar Slater, 32, were dating. The reports came days after news broke of Grande's separation from her husband, Dalton Gomez.Grande and Slater presumably met through their roles in the two-part film adaptation of the "Wicked" musical. Grande portrays Glinda, the popular girl at Shiz University, and Slater plays Boq, a classmate from Munchinland who has an unrequited crush on her but becomes the love interest of Elphaba'syounger sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode).Here's everything to know about Slater.Slater is an actor who rose to fame playing Spongebob on Broadway Ethan Slater as Spongebob in "Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical" in 2017. Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Nickelodeon For his star turn as the plucky yellow sponge in the 2017 musical adaptation of "Spongebob Squarepants," Slater received several accolades, including a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award win in 2018. He also starred in the Classic Stage Company's production of "Assassins," which ran until January 2021, and has had roles on shows including "Law & Order: SVU" and "Fosse/Verdon."Slater more recently starred in the Broadway revival of "Spamalot," which closed in April after a 24-week run.Shortly after news broke of his rumored relationship with Grande, Slater's Instagram page was made private. When viewed by Business Insider before Slater made the account private, the page mostly featured clips from his past and coming projects, as well as a blurry selfie with his then-wife, Jay.Slater shares a son with his ex-wife, Lilly Jay Ethan Slater at the UK premiere of "Wicked" in November. Scott A. Garfitt/Invision/AP Slater and Jay, a clinical psychologist in perinatal mental health and child development, met in high school and married in 2018. They welcomed their first child together, a son, in August 2022.In People's July 2023 report about Grande and Slater's relationship, a source said that Slater and Jay had separated, though they didn't give an exact timeframe for the separation. TMZ reported that Slater filed for divorce from Jay on July 26, 2023.Jay later addressed Slater's romance with Grande in an interview with Page Six, calling the singer "not a girl's girl" and saying her family was "just collateral damage" in the controversy.Grande first sparked her own divorce rumors after she was spotted at a Wimbledon match without her wedding ring or engagement ring on July 16, 2023.A day after the singer was seen without her rings at Wimbledon, TMZ reported that Grande and Gomez had been separated for several months and were "heading for divorce." The couple had been together since 2020and married in 2021.Grande and Gomez simultaneously filed for divorce in September 2023. Their separation date was listed in court documents as February 20, 2023.Jay recently discussed her and Slater's divorce in an essay for The Cut, published on Thursday. In her essay, Jay avoided directly addressing Slater and Grande's relationship and instead focused on how her highly publicized divorce affected her. She also said that she and Slater continue to co-parent their child."While our partnership has changed, our parenthood has not," Jay wrote. "Both of us fiercely love our son 100% of the time, regardless of how our parenting time is divided. As for me, days with my son are sunny. Days when I can't escape the promotion of a movie associated with the saddest days of my life are darker."Libby Torres contributed to an earlier version of this story.

Alexis Ohanian predicts AI will drive demand for more raw human experiences.In 10 years, live theater will be more popular than ever, the Reddit cofounder contends.He says no matter what jobs are replaced by AI, humans will always have an advantage in empathy.Alexis Ohanian predicted that in a future oversaturated with artificial intelligence, people will seek out more raw, emotive human experiences.And in 10 years, he said, live theater will be more popular than ever.The 41-year-old, who co-founded social media platform Reddit in 2005, told the "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" podcast this week that AI will soon have an undeniable impact on nearly every aspect of society, including the entertainment sector.Ohanian, who also founded venture capital firm Seven Seven Six in 2020, said that the industry will see a big shift when AI makes on-screen entertainment better, faster, cheaper, and more dynamic which he said is happening.Every screen we look at will become so programmed to show us "what we want, when we want it, how we want it," he said, that "a part of our humanity will miss, you know, thousands of years ago when we were sitting around a campfire and that great storyteller was doing the voices and the impressions.'""That's ingrained in our species," he said.And that kind of raw, in-person magic will feel novel, he suggested."I actually bet 10 years from now live theater will be more popular than ever," Ohanian said. "Because, again, we'll look at all these screens with all these AI-polished images, and we'll actually want to sit in a room with other humans to be captivated for a couple hours in a dark room to feel the goosebumps of seeing live human performances."The same is true for sports, he told Shetty. "We need humans doing that. We need to feel their pain and their success and their triumphs," he said. "Those are the areasAI can't replace genuine human empathy, Ohanian suggested. No matter what jobs robots take over from us in the future, fields of work where empathy is a core component of the job will have an advantage, he said. And that's why one of the most important, marketable skills he's teaching his kids is empathy, he said.