While Apple appears to have no plans to revive its former AirPort routers, the networking know-how that powered them may be returning via a new chip that will add similar functionality to the company's home devices like the HomePod mini.New HomePod mini (right) and Apple's old AirPort Express (left)Apple first introduced the AirPort line of residential internet gateways in 1999, and continued to iterate the product line until the final AirPort Extreme router was discontinued in 2018. Since then, fans have called for the company to revive the product, celebrated for its ease of setup and management.While most third-party routers have gotten increasingly antenna-laden and spider-like, home gateways from the big residential internet providers, such as AT&T, Comcast, Optimum, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Windstream have mostly moved to AirPort-like smooth boxes. These home routers utilize internal antennas, offering whole-home coverage for most single-story homes, with small plug-in signal repeaters for multi-story or larger residences. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn MoreWhile the 2024 U.S. election focused on traditional issues like the economy and immigration, its quiet impact on AI policy could prove even more transformative. Without a single debate question or major campaign promise about AI, voters inadvertently tipped the scales in favor of accelerationists those who advocate for rapid AI development with minimal regulatory hurdles. The implications of this acceleration are profound, heralding a new era of AI policy that prioritizes innovation over caution and signals a decisive shift in the debate between AIs potential risks and rewards.The pro-business stance of President-elect Donald Trump leads many to assume that his administration will favor those developing and marketing AI and other advanced technologies. His party platform has little to say about AI. However, it does emphasize a policy approach focused on repealing AI regulations, particularly targeting what they described as radical left-wing ideas within existing executive orders of the outgoing administration. In contrast, the platform supported AI development aimed at fostering free speech and human flourishing, calling for policies that enable innovation in AI while opposing measures perceived to hinder technological progress.Early indications based on appointments to leading government positions underscore this direction. However, there is a larger story unfolding: The resolution of the intense debate over AIs future.An intense debateEver since ChatGPT appeared in November 2022, there has been a raging debate between those in the AI field who want to accelerate AI development and those who want to decelerate.Famously, in March 2023 the latter group proposed a six-month AI pause in development of the most advanced systems, warning in an open letter that AI tools present profound risks to society and humanity. This letter, spearheaded by the Future of Life Institute, was prompted by OpenAIs release of the GPT-4 large language model (LLM), several months after ChatGPT launched.The letter was initially signed by more than 1,000 technology leaders and researchers, including Elon Musk, Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak, 2020 Presidential candidate Andrew Yang, podcaster Lex Fridman, and AI pioneers Yoshua Bengio and Stuart Russell. The number of signees of the letter eventually swelled to more than 33,000. Collectively, they became known as doomers, a term to capture their concerns about potential existential risks from AI.Not everyone agreed. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman did not sign. Nor did Bill Gates and many others. Their reasons for not doing so varied, although many voiced concerns about potential harm from AI. This led to many conversations about the potential for AI to run amok, leading to disaster. It became fashionable for many in the AI field to talk about their assessment of the probability of doom, often referred to as an equation: p(doom). Nevertheless, work on AI development did not pause.For the record, my p(doom) in June 2023 was 5%. That might seem low, but it was not zero. I felt that the major AI labs were sincere in their efforts to stringently test new models prior to release and in providing significant guardrails for their use.Many observers concerned about AI dangers have rated existential risks higher than 5%, and some have rated much higher. AI safety researcher Roman Yampolskiy rated the probability of AI ending humanity at over 99%. That said, a study released early this year, well before the election andrepresenting the views of more than 2,700 AI researchers, showed that the median prediction for extremely bad outcomes, such as human extinction, was 5%. Would you board a plane if there were a 5% chance it might crash? This is the dilemma AI researchers and policymakers face.Must go fasterOthers have been openly dismissive of worries about AI, pointing instead to what they perceived as the huge upside of the technology. These include Andrew Ng (who founded and led the Google Brain project) and Pedro Domingos (a professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Washington and author of The Master Algorithm). They argued, instead, that AI is part of the solution. As put forward by Ng, there are indeed existential dangers, such as climate change and future pandemics, and AI can be part of how these are addressed and mitigated.Ng argued that AI development should not be paused, but should instead go faster. This utopian view of technology has been echoed by others who are collectively known as effective accelerationists or e/acc for short. They argue that technology and especially AI is not the problem, but the solution to most, if not all, of the worlds issues. Startup accelerator Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, along with other prominent Silicon Valley leaders, included the term e/acc in their usernames on X to show alignment to the vision. Reporter Kevin Roose at the New York Times captured the essence of these accelerationists by saying they have an all-gas, no-brakes approach.A Substack newsletter from a couple years ago described the principles underlying effective accelerationism. Here is the summation they offer at the end of the article, plus a comment from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.The 2024 election outcome may be seen as a turning point, putting the accelerationist vision in a position to shape U.S. AI policy for the next several years. For example, the President-elect recently appointed technology entrepreneur and venture capitalist David Sacks as AI czar.Sacks, a vocal critic of AI regulation and a proponent of market-driven innovation, brings his experience as a technology investor to this role. He is one of the leading voices in the AI industry, and much of what he has said about AI aligns with the accelerationist viewpoints expressed by the incoming party platform.In response to the AI executive order from the Biden administration in 2023, Sacks tweeted: The U.S. political and fiscal situation is hopelessly broken, but we have one unparalleled asset as a country: Cutting-edge innovation in AI driven by a completely free and unregulated market for software development. That just ended. While the amount of influence Sacks will have on AI policy remains to be seen, his appointment signals a shift toward policies favoring industry self-regulation and rapid innovation.Elections have consequencesI doubt most of the voting public gave much thought to AI policy implications when casting their votes. Nevertheless, in a very tangible way, the accelerationists have won as a consequence of the election, potentially sidelining those advocating for a more cautious approach by the federal government to mitigate AIs long-term risks.As accelerationists chart the path forward, the stakes could not be higher. Whether this era ushers in unparalleled progress or unintended catastrophe remains to be seen. As AI development accelerates, the need for informed public discourse and vigilant oversight becomes ever more paramount. How we navigate this era will define not only technological progress but also our collective future.As a counterbalance to a lack of action at the federal level, it is possible that one or more states will adopt various regulations, which has already happened to some extent in California and Colorado. For instance, Californias AI safety bills focus on transparency requirements, while Colorado addresses AI discrimination in hiring practices, offering models for state-level governance. Now, all eyes will be on the voluntary testing and self-imposed guardrails at Anthropic, Google, OpenAI and other AI model developers.In summary, the accelerationist victory means less restrictions on AI innovation. This increased speed may indeed lead to faster innovation, but also raises the risk of unintended consequences. Im now revising my p(doom) to 10%. What is yours?Gary Grossman is EVP of technology practice at Edelman and global lead of the Edelman AI Center of Excellence.DataDecisionMakersWelcome to the VentureBeat community!DataDecisionMakers is where experts, including the technical people doing data work, can share data-related insights and innovation.If you want to read about cutting-edge ideas and up-to-date information, best practices, and the future of data and data tech, join us at DataDecisionMakers.You might even considercontributing an articleof your own!Read More From DataDecisionMakers

On December 20, OpenAI announced OpenAI o3, the latest model in its o-Model Reasoning Series. Building on its predecessors, o3 showcases advancements in mathematical and scientific reasoning, prompting discussions about its capabilities and constraints. This article takes a closer look at the insights and implications surrounding OpenAI o3, weaving in information from official announcements, expert analyses, and community reactions.Progress in Reasoning CapabilitiesOpenAI describes o3 as a model designed to refine reasoning in areas requiring structured thought, such as mathematics and science. The model was tested using a specialized reasoning benchmark ARC AGI, where it reportedly surpassed the previous model score of 32% and went up to 87%. This advancement demonstrates o3s improved capacity to address complex logical and mathematical problems.source: https://arcprize.org/blog/oai-o3-pub-breakthroughThe models enhanced abilities stem from an architecture tailored for hierarchical reasoning tasks. While this marks a step toward broader reasoning abilities, OpenAI acknowledges that o3 is far from achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).Performance Overviewsource: https://x.com/OpenAI/status/1870186518230511844Mathematics: Achieved a 96.7% success rate on advanced mathematical tests, a notable improvement over o1s 56.7%.Scientific Reasoning: Displayed a 10% increase in accuracy for solving PhD-level Science Questions.Code Understanding: Demonstrated capability in comprehending and debugging code snippets, offering potential utility in software development.Architectural InnovationsOpenAI o3 employs a hybrid reasoning framework, combining neural-symbolic learning with probabilistic logic. This architecture enables the model to:Break Down Problems: Simplify complex queries into smaller, manageable components.Leverage Context: Utilize extended memory to retain context over prolonged interactions.Iterate Solutions: Refine answers through multiple reasoning cycles.These features make o3 particularly adept at tackling multi-step reasoning challenges where traditional Transformer-based models often falter.Real-World ApplicationsOpenAI o3 could benefit several fields:Education: Assist students with complex mathematical and scientific problems.Healthcare: Support diagnostic processes and optimize treatment plans through data analysis.Software Development: Debug and generate code, providing practical support for developers.OpenAIs Broader VisionOpenAI released a video that illustrates its vision for AI reasoning. The demonstrations include o3 addressing problems in physics, mathematics, and ethical dilemmas, underscoring its aspirations to develop models capable of reasoning across a wide range of scenarios.Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our60k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences. [Download] Evaluation of Large Language Model Vulnerabilities Report (Promoted)

Endings are hard. Weve always known endings are hard, says Steve Pemberton in new BBC Two documentary Inside No. 9: The Partys Over. Hes not just talking about devising the perfect conclusion, with the right balance of surprise and satisfaction, for an Inside No. 9 story; hes talking about concluding the whole show.The new hour-long doc goes behind the scenes on the ninth and final series of Inside No. 9, when he and co-creator Reece Shearsmith capped their extraordinary 55-film achievement with Plodding On, a guest star and Easter egg-packed finale that paid due homage to everything thats gone before. As the documentary goes behind the camera on the creation of the shows final six episodes, it revealed some fun Inside No. 9 trivia for fansWorking Titles Included No. 5 and Behind Closed DoorsLooking through Steve Pembertons old notebooks from when the show was being developed, a couple of alternative titles are listed: No. 5 and Behind Closed Doors. If theyd gone with the former, then they might have stopped after the fifth series instead of the ninth, and deprived us of several great instalments. And Behind Closed Doors feels more like the title of a DVD Extra than the creepy, genre-hopping Inside No. 9.The Musical Sting Was a Last-Minute ImprovAccording to Inside No. 9 composer Christian Henson, the shows theme music was originally supposed to have been a fuller piece performed by a whole group of musicians, but when that composition didnt get the thumbs-up, he took less than two minutes to improvise this eight-second pizzicato sting, and submitted it as an alternative. His sister told him that hed be the jammiest person in the world if they went for it, and clearly, he is.Prop SouvenirsIts traditional for creators to take home a prop or two from a wrapped show, and the ones chosen by Reece Shearsmith include: the straw doll that was used in his sacrifice scene in The Wicker Man-inspired Mr King, the leather portfolio used by Pembertons character in Christmas special The Bones of St. Nicholas, the Scaramouche mask he wears in commedia dellarte episode Wuthering Heist, and the model of his own decapitated head created for Halloween special Dead Line.Natalie Dormers No. 9 Claim to FameOf the many, many death scenes filmed for Inside No. 9 (burned to death in wardrobe, drowned in bath, stabbed, guillotined, shot, bitten by vampire) the final one you see in the entire run is Natalie Dormers character falling from the balcony in classical music period piece The Curse of the Ninth.Read more Real-Life Episode InspirationsDonna Prestons character Bev in series six episode Hurry Up and Wait was inspired by a real experience the creators had while filming The League of Gentlemen. Told to wait between scenes in a residential house that they thought was empty, they came across the house owner wearing a dressing gown and telling them, Im having a glass of champagne. Its my birthday today. It went straight in the script. Series three episode The Bill was inspired by Pemberton and Shearsmith witnessing a fight over who got to pay the bill at Stellas Room Caf in Muswell Hill.A Horror Poster PedigreeGraham Humphreys, who designed nine of the shows excellent episode posters (for Sardines, The Harrowing, The Devil of Christmas, The Riddle of the Sphinx, Tempting Fate, Private View, Nine Lives Kat, The Bones of St. Nicholas, and CTRL, ALT, ESC) is a celebrated artist who also designed original posters for Sam Raimis Evil Dead film series.Past Projects RevisitedIn fan-favourite episode Bernie Cliftons Dressing Room, the punk dummy and professorial ventriloquist outfits were inspired by an old photograph of Pemberton and Shearsmith wearing those same outfits on stage in their own pre-TV comedy double act. And series one episode Tom & Gerri was adapted from a play the pair had written very early in their careers called The Dole Boy.The End of the End?The final shot Pemberton and Shearsmith filmed together for Inside No. 9 is actually the final scene of the series (its not always the case). In series nine finale Plodding On, the pair reconcile in the toilets at the wrap party bash and Pemberton (playing himself) asks what they should do next. Shearsmith (playing himself) says There is a third option, which cues up the punchline montage of scenes from an On the Buses-inspired, 1970s-styled sitcom Hold on Tight.Its not quite the end yet though. The Inside No. 9 live show Stage/Fright, starring Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, produced by Richard Osman and directed by Simon Evans, arrives in January 2025 at the Wyndham Theatre. More information here.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Inside No. 9 series one to nine are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.

Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that the iPhone 17 Air will cost less than the iPhone Pro models, contradicting the long-standing expectation that the new ultra-thin iPhone would be even more expensive than the iPhone Pro Max models. With that being the case, the phone actually makes more sense than ever.New pricing rumorIn a new report, The Wall Street Journal said the following about the long-rumored iPhone 17 Air:Starting next year, Apple plans to introduce an iPhone that will be thinner than the approximately 8-millimeter profile of current models, said people familiar with the companys plans. The model is intended to be cheaper than Pro models, with a simplified camera system to reduce costs.This goes against what had been previously reported. Back in May, when The Information revealed some of the first details about the device, this was what they stated:The slimmer iPhone could be released concurrently with the iPhone 17, expected in September 2025, according to the three people with direct knowledge and two others familiar with the project. It could be priced higher than the iPhone Pro Max, currently Apples most expensive model starting at $1,200, they said.Why it mattersObviously, more expensive than the iPhone Pro Max implies a price tag of at least $1199 possibly even as high as $1299. For a thinner iPhone with less features, a compromised battery life, and a single camera. That didnt seem very worth it. Sure, it wouldve looked very nice, and potentially wouldve laid the groundwork for future iPhones to be thinner, but it wouldnt have made too much sense to buy.More recently, weve even heard that the iPhone 17 Air will lack a second speaker, relying only on the earpiece to output audio. With so many compromises, it never wouldve made sense to pay such a large premium for.However, if newer reports are to hold true, were now expecting a model cheaper than the Pro models. It isnt clear what this means exactly, since there could potentially be a price hike with the iPhone 17 Pro, but regardless, the iPhone 17 Air should come in under $1000. If there is no price hike on the iPhone 17 Pro, then the 17 Air could potentially be as low as $899, taking the same price point as iPhone 16 Plus. That drastically changes the value proposition there, making the new model up to $400 cheaper than we initially thought.Wrap upSure, youd still be losing out on battery life and a second camera compared to the iPhone 16 Plus, and youd also be missing a second speaker. All that being said though, you would be getting the cool, shiny looking, and far thinner iPhone for the same price you paid last year. Apple is probably betting on that being the appeal. This will be the first iPhone in a large number of years thatll look truly different compared to the prior model.Plus, unlike the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, the base model iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will equip 120Hz ProMotion displays, making it more appealing to techies as well.My favorite iPhone accessories on Amazon:Follow Michael:X/Twitter,Bluesky,InstagramAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

7.6 /10 SCORE Our Verdict Our Verdict Best for: Back sleeper Combo sleeper Stomach sleeper Score Breakdown Performance 9 /10 Policies 8.5 /10 Durability 8.5 /10 Features 7 /10 Pros and Cons Pros Gel memory foam offers body-conforming qualities Pocketed coils offer support for heavier body types Excellent motion isolation and edge support Ideal for back and stomach sleepers Cons Not as affordable as the all-foam version People under 150 pounds might not need the added support Not the softest option for side and combination sleepers Table of Contents Are you looking for a memory foam hybrid bed that has it all? Then you'll be stoked with the Nectar Hybrid Mattress. Nectar is well known for having budget-friendly all-foam mattresses, and with the hybrid mattress, there's so much more variety. The Nectar Hybrid Mattress is designed to offer exceptional support and comfort, thanks to its advanced construction that includes pocketed coils. These coils respond individually to pressure, providing tailored support and minimizing motion transfer, which is ideal for couples or restless sleepers. To evaluate the performance of this mattress across various sleeping styles, the CNET team carefully analyzed factors such as support, pressure relief and temperature regulation during our assessment. Heres an in-depth look at our thoughts on the Nectar Hybrid Mattress, and how it caters to the diverse needs of different sleepers.First impressions Jonathan Gomez/CNETLike many other mattresses you order online, the Nectar Hybrid arrived in a box thats around 4 feet tall. The bed itself was tightly compressed and rolled up in vacuum-sealed plastic. I dumped out the contents of the box, tore off all the packaging and the Nectar Hybrid started to unfurl before my eyes.The bed reached its true form quickly, thanks to the fact it has support coils instead of dense foam. Coils allow hybrid beds to expand quickly, so you can usually test these types of beds right after the unboxing. Since the Nectar Hybrid has memory foam on top, however, I still gave the bed some time to inflate.Overall, the bed felt similar to the foam version of the flagship Nectar in regards to firmness and feel. It performed slightly better in terms of responsiveness and edge support, largely due to the coil unit below. If you want to see my actual hands-on experience with the mattress, check out my full video review.Video: Nectar Hybrid mattress reviewWatch me review the Nectar Hybrid mattress in this video review. Nectar Hybrid mattress firmness and feelWhat does the Nectar Hybrid feel like? Jonathan Gomez/CNETLike the all-foam version, the Nectar Hybrid exhibits a dense memory foam feel. Swapping the support system out for coils gives the bed more responsiveness, but the beds main comfort layer of gel memory foam still provides that slow-to-respond, body-conforming sensation. Even with the coils, the bed still feels like a Tempur-pedic style of mattress, just without the sticker shock.How firm is the Nectar Hybrid mattress?Similar to the all-foam model, the Nectar Hybrid is around a proper medium-firm on CNET's scale. This means it should work fine for all sleepers, but it should be ideal for back and stomach sleepers looking for more of a support advantage. If youre a heavier person like me, this will likely be the more supportive version of the bed for your body type, but you may find it softer than this ranking. CNET's scale measures firmness against the size of an average person -- around 180 pounds, give or take.If youre looking for a softer mattress from Nectar, the brand offers a couple of other options. The upgraded Nectar Premier is their softest option at a medium, while the top-tier Nectar Premier Copper sits in between that and a medium-firm. Both of these more enhanced Nectar beds are also available as all-foam or hybrid mattresses.Nectar Hybrid mattress construction Jonathan Gomez/CNETThis hybrid version is similar to the all-foam counterpart in terms of construction, minus the support system. Heres exactly what the bed is made up of:1. On the bottom, there's a layer of base foam. This is a thin, dense foam that acts as a foundation for everything else to rest on.2. Then you have the bed's main support system of pocketed coils, which have reinforced edges to give the bed sturdy edge support.3. Next is a Dynamic transition layer, which acts as a buffer between the coils so you don't feel them as much.4. For the bed's main comfort layer, there's a 2-inch layer of gel memory foam. This provides the mattress with a body-contouring feel.Nectar Hybrid mattress performance Jonathan Gomez/CNETMotion isolationYoull want a mattress that isolates a good amount of cross-mattress movement if your partner is a light sleeper. Luckily, the Nectar Hybrid isn't half bad in this regard since it uses dense memory foam on top. If motion isolation is a top priority for you when considering your next mattress, you may be getting the most out of the all-foam version. I'd say that the Nectar Hybrid deadens motion quite well, though.Edge-to-edge supportSometimes, your partner can hog the mattress unknowingly, causing you to sleep close to the edges. If thats the case in your relationship, youll want a bed with a sturdy perimeter. Since this is a hybrid bed with reinforced coils along the edges, I'd say this mattress has a solid amount of edge support. Those coils help to keep you placed firmly along the edges, so I doubt youll feel any roll-off sensation.TemperatureThough the mattress is advertised as a cooler sleeping bed, itll still sleep around the temperature-neutral range for most people. It shouldnt actively cool you down while also not excessively heating you up at night. Sleeping temperature varies on a case-by-case basis and often depends on exterior factors rather than the bed itself.While the cover of this bed isnt necessarily active cooling, it is, in fact, antimicrobial. This helps with general mattress cleanliness, and it should reduce the amount of allergens and bacteria the bed picks up over time as you use it.DurabilitySince this is a hybrid bed that uses coils for support, it should be durable enough to handle all body types, including much heavier people. Pocketed coils are usually more supportive than dense support foam units in the long run, which makes all-foam beds slightly less durable than hybrid options. For this reason, the Nectar Hybrid should provide plenty of support and last you for quite a while.Off-gassingSometimes, your brand-new bed stinks right out of the box -- and I mean that in the literal sense. Like other products that ship to you in a box, theres often a factory smell. Rest assured, nothing is wrong with your new bed. This odor is a completely normal part of the process and should go away after a couple of nights.Who is the Nectar mattress best for?Though the bed is supportive enough to handle all body types, its feel and firmness don't make it the best option for absolutely everyone. Here's who we think the Nectar Hybrid mattress will be best for.Sleeping positionGiven that this is a firmer mattress, it's most suitable for back and stomach sleepers who want a bed with a more supportive profile. It also has a dense memory foam feel where you slowly sink into the bed, so its not the most responsive mattress. For this reason, it might not be the best option for combination sleepers who like to rotate around at night. If you like to hang out in one main sleeping position while you rest, this mattress should accommodate that preference well.If youre more of a side sleeper, you may want to look into the Nectar Premier, as it's the softest of the lot. If you're more of a combination sleeper or you just want a Nectar bed to accommodate all sleeping positions, the Premier Copper may be best.Body typeThe Nectar Hybrid mattress should be supportive enough to handle all body types, even much heavier folks. If you're a bigger person like me, around 250 pounds, youll likely prefer the durability and support of a hybrid bed compared to an all-foam one. This is because steel coils are unlikely to degrade as quickly as polyurethane foam over time. We all hate a bed that bows in the middle -- I cant see that happening here.The hybrid version will cost you a bit more than the all-foam, but its only a price difference of around $100 or so. Even with that slight price bump, the bed is still pretty affordable after a discount. Speaking of which, though, whats the price looking like for this thing?Nectar Hybrid mattress pricing Size Measurements (inches)PriceTwin 38x75 inches$499Twin XL 38x80 inches$749Full 54x75 inches$749Queen 60x80 inches$799King 76x80 inches$999Cal King 72x84 inches$999Split King 72x84 inches$1,498 One big reason for Nectar's popularity is its affordability. If youre looking for a quality hybrid bed online these days, youre lucky to walk away without spending $1,000 -- at a bare minimum.Like everything else you buy online, beds are simply getting more and more expensive, so its nice to know that you can still pick up a queen-size Nectar Hybrid for around $800 after a discount. That's a competitive price for a memory foam hybrid bed like this.Trial, shipping and warrantyAs a brand, Nectar backs its beds with above-average policies. Its beds ship to you in a box for free, and once it's in your possession, you get a 365-night trial period to try it at home risk-free. That's a full year before you're stuck with it. If you happen not to like it within that time frame, you have a return option. But if you decide to keep it, youre backed by a forever warranty. Just be sure to use the right foundation for the bed. Otherwise, you could void your beds warranty.The final verdict Jonathan Gomez/CNETId suggest checking out the Nectar Hybrid if you're more of a back or stomach sleeper looking for a bed with a dense memory foam feel. If you want a hybrid option that should work for all body types, definitely consider this option in the Helix Sleep core line.If the criteria above sound like you and you only have a budget of around $1,000, that could also be reason enough to look into it.You might like the Nectar Hybrid mattress if:You want a supportive hybrid mattressYoure a primary back or stomach sleeperYou like a bed with a dense memory foam feelYoure an average to heavier-sized personYou might not like the Nectar Hybrid bed if:You're looking for an all-foam mattressYou want a bed with a neutral feelYou want a soft mattress for strict side sleepingYoure on a super strict budgetOther mattresses from NectarAs I alluded to earlier, Nectar doesnt just offer this hybrid bed. It's also available as an all-foam mattress, and you also have those two support options on the Nectar Premier and Premier Copper.How does the Nectar Hybrid compare to other mattresses?Nectar Hybrid vs. Nectar Memory FoamWhen it comes to comparing these two support options of the flagship Nectar mattress, there are a couple of key differences. The first one has to do with the appropriate body types for each bed. The foam version of Nectar is best for average to petite-sized individuals, whereas the hybrid model can handle all body types, including heavy people. Bigger people could get by on both renditions of the bed, but over time, the foam version could degrade more quickly than the hybrid one.Between the two support options, the foam model has superior motion isolation. This isnt to say that it's at all bad on the hybrid, but the coils just dont deaden motion as well as a dense foam. If youre in a relationship and motion isolation is a top priority for you and your partner, definitely look into the foam Nectar instead of the hybrid.Nectar Hybrid vs. DreamCloud HybridThis used to be an easy comparison back when these beds were quite different -- these days, not so much. Both have coils for support, memory foam for comfort and are backed by the exact same policies.The main differences have to do with specific feel, firmness and comfort elements. The DreamCloud Hybrid is firmer than the Nectar Hybrid and is a bit more responsive in regards to its memory foam feel. It also uses some additional comfort layers beneath the cashmere cover. This could come down to personal preference. If you prefer a tufted cover, go with the DreamCloud Hybrid, and if you prefer a flatter sleeping surface, check out the Nectar Hybrid. Nectar Hybrid Mattress FAQs How long will a Nectar Hybrid mattress last? The average lifespan of a mattress is usually around seven to 10 years. Since hybrid beds are designed to be on the more supportive and durable side, Id say this bed will last even longer than that. Also, if you put a mattress protector on it, that wont hurt longevity either. Is Nectar the same as DreamCloud? Both brands are owned by the same parent company, Resident Home. I would say Nectar, as a brand, offers more straightforward beds for memory foam lovers, while DreamCloud is going for that "affordable luxury" aesthetic. Both have six different options to choose from, all at affordable prices. I guess it just comes down to the type of mattress youre looking for.

From Council Bluffs to Iowa City, these are the best providers of internet in Iowa.

Coop Home Goods Body Pillow Best overall $79 at Amazon Sharper Image Full Support Body Pillow Best body pillow for side sleepers $140 at Sharper Image Queen Rose Classic U Shaped Pregnancy Pillow Best U-shaped body pillow $47 at Amazon Leachco Back 'N Belly Chic Supreme Best body pillow for back pain $110 at Amazon Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Body Pillow Best cooling body pillow $89 at Amazon Parachute Down Alternative Body Pillow Insert Best full body pillow $80 at Parachute Home PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow Best maternity body pillow $50 at Amazon Plow & Hearth Black Bear Plush Cuddle Animal Body Pillow Best body pillow for kids (or the kid in you) (update: currently out of stock) $130 at Plow & Hearth A body pillow, sometimes called a maternity pillow, isn't just for expectant mothers. In fact, these larger long pillows can provide extra support, protecting against shoulder pain and providing back support. If you want to improve your sleep quality, try a body support pillow from our list.There are a ton of options on the market if you're looking to buy a body pillow. Just like a bed pillow, body pillows come with varying fills (including shredded foam and polyester fiber), shapes and support levels. Given the number of options out there, finding the best body pillow for you can be quite a task. If you're not settled on a single one, you can get multiple pillows based on your favorite sleeping position or limitations that cause neck pain.To help you decide, I've rounded up some of the best body pillows for full-body support, pressure relief and a good night's sleep. We've included something for everyone, including body pillows with down alternative fills, cooling covers and detachable extensions.Read more:Best Full Mattresses Coop Home Goods The Coop Home Goods Body Pillow is the standout choice for several reasons. It's filled with a hypoallergenic combination of memory foam and microfiber that are cut into little pieces for ultimate adjustability and shapeability. To find your ideal comfort level, you can open the zippered cover and remove as much -- or as little -- foam as you want.Everything is packaged in an ultra-breathable Lulltra fabric (as Coop Home Goods calls it), which is a combination of polyester and rayon made from bamboo that's super comfy and lightweight, so you don't feel too hot when you're cuddling your pillow. With a 100-night sleep trial and a five-year limited warranty, the purchase is practically risk-free. Sharper Image If you're a side sleeper, or you like to relax on your side while you watch TV, the Full Support Body Pillow from Sharper Image is the choice for you. It's 10 feet long, but the U-shape design minimizes its overall footprint and allows you to twist it and shape your body around it any way you want.It's designed to promote proper alignment of your back, neck, hips and spine while you lounge, while also alleviating pressure in these areas. The hypoallergenic polyester fill is also resistant to clumping, so the body pillow retains its shape well, even if you're using it for some serious nighttime cuddling. $140 at Sharper Image Queen Rose While technically classified as a pregnancy pillow, this Queen Rose U-shaped pillow is a top-of-the-line body pillow for all. It has an extra-wide top surface that fully supports your head when lying down or can be propped up to act like a backrest for reading or watching TV.The zippered cover and adjustable polyfill allow you to remove stuffing to make it firmer or softer, depending on what you need at any given time. The cover is removable and machine-washable, so it's easy to clean when you feel like things are starting to get a little funky. $47 at Amazon Leachco If you're on the hunt for a body pillow for back pain, Leachco's got you covered with the Back 'N Belly Chic Supreme. While this body pillow is also marketed toward pregnant women, the contoured, body-hugging design helps alleviate pressure for anyone. In addition to offering extra support for your back, it also has a natural curved shape near the top that supports your neck and shoulders to help with proper spinal alignment.The design makes it especially great if you toss and turn from side to side during the night. The inner contours on both sides follow the natural shape of your body so you don't have to adjust too much to get the right fit or positioning as you move. Amazon If just thinking about cuddling up next to a full-length body pillow at night is enough to make you work up a sweat, you need the Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Body Pillow. Made with an extra-breathable micro vented cover that combines mostly bamboo and polyester, this is one of the best body pillows for hot sleepers.Not only does it stay cool -- and keep you cool -- all night by distributing and releasing heat, but it's hypoallergenic, dust mite-resistant and eco-friendly so you can breathe easily while sleeping soundly. The shredded memory foam fill is also nontoxic and certified by CertiPUR-US, so there's no concern about any off-gassing like with other memory foam. $89 at Amazon Parachute Home The Parachute Down Alternative Body Pillow Insert combines comfort with luxury. It's made from super-fine, hypoallergenic microfiber that closely resembles the plushness and the cozy warmth that you get from down. Everything is nicely packaged in a soft 100% cotton shell that's machine-washable, as long as you use the delicate cycle.One thing to note is that this body pillow doesn't come with a cover, so you'll have to purchase one separately (if you want one), but Parachute offers four neutral, desert-inspired options that you can change as your style changes. $80 at Parachute Home Amazon With its U-shaped design, detachable extension and polyfill blend that holds its shape, the PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow provides support for your back, hips, knees, neck and head to help alleviate pain and discomfort during pregnancy and beyond. You can use the pillow as-is for full body support or remove the detachable portion to give yourself more space or prop up a book or tablet when you want to sit upright.It also comes with a zippered travel bag so if you need to take it with you on the go -- or to the hospital when it's time to welcome your little one -- it's easy and less cumbersome than others. $50 at Amazon Plow & Hearth Whether you call it a body pillow or an enormous stuffed animal, this pick from Plow & Hearth is the best body pillow for kids and/or young-at-heart adults. Aside from being adorable, the oversized pillow is ideal for sleeping, lounging and/or lying on to read. It's filled with polyester stuffing and covered in faux fur that's soft and plush to the touch, but also dense and built to withstand the most serious cuddling.If bears don't really do anything for you, there are also other animal shapes including a fox, a labrador retriever, a fawn, a cow and a koala. For each of these body pillows sold, Plow & Hearth will donate $1 to the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, a no-kill organization that offers shelter and care to animals in need. $130 at Plow & Hearth How we testCNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. They tested these body pillows by spending a significant time sleeping with each one, and looked at key qualities like firmness, feel and comfort.Body pillow FAQs How do I choose a body pillow? You should choose a body pillow based on your specific needs and preferences. C-shaped pillows provide support for your head, neck and knees. U-shaped pillows take up more space but offer ample support for the neck, back, head, knees and the front of your body. A straight pillow can also relieve pressure between the knees and improve back alignment, but it won't support the whole body like a U-shaped pillow. Is it good to sleep with a body pillow? Yes. Body pillows can help relieve back pain, promote a properly aligned spine, improve blood circulation and aid in supporting the body during a woman's pregnancy. Depending on the pillow you choose, it can support your head and neck, while at the same time, relieving pressure between the knees and joints. What's is the best body pillow? We named the following as best body pillows:Coop Home Goods Body PillowPlow & Hearth Black Bear Plush Cuddle Animal Body PillowPharMeDoc Pregnancy PillowParachute Down Alternative Body Pillow InsertSnuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Body PillowLeachco Back 'N Belly Chic SupremeQueen Rose Classic U-Shaped Pregnancy PillowSharper Image Full Support Body Pillow

(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)A new study has found that most social media users share links without clicking on them first, relying only on headlines and short summaries. The analysis, which examined over 35 million public Facebook posts, found that around 75% of shares occurred without users engaging with the full content. Notably, political contentespecially from both extremes of the ideological spectrumwas more likely to be shared without being clicked than neutral content. The findings have been published in Nature Human Behavior.The researchers aimed to understand how and why people share content on social media without reading it first. Social media platforms thrive on sharing, a behavior that drives engagement and allows content to go viral. However, the ease and speed of sharing mean users often act impulsively, spreading links based on superficial cues like headlines or the number of likes. This behavior can inadvertently contribute to the dissemination of misinformation, particularly in the political sphere. Previous research has suggested that people often form opinions from short snippets, creating an illusion of knowledge without truly understanding the content.The inspiration for our research is in understanding the phenomenon of sharing, which in my mind is the single most influential action on social media. Not only does sharing result in the multiplicative effect of information spreading through networks of individuals, it has in recent years fueled the epidemic of online misinformation, said corresponding author S. Shyam Sundar, Evan Pugh University Professor and the James P. Jimirro Professor of Media Effects at Penn State.I have been interested in fellow online users acting as de facto communication sources ever since my dissertation back in 1995. With sharing features of social media, the ability of ordinary people to serve as sources of news and public affairs information has dramatically increased. What most people do not realize is that their friends and family on social media do not have the journalistic training to vet facts and double-check them before disseminating. We tend to be swayed by whatever they share.In my lab group, we have long been interested in studying how deeply online users process information, how much thought they put into what they read and forward on social media and mobile phones, Sundar told PsyPost. So, when the opportunity arose to study sharing on a large scale with the URL Shares dataset released by Meta, which is the largest social science dataset ever assembled, we were obviously interested in exploring the sheer the volume of the phenomenon of sharing without clicking, which is an indicator of the superficiality of information processing.To investigate this phenomenon, the team analyzed a massive dataset provided by Facebooks collaboration with Social Science One. The dataset included billions of interactions with over 35 million URLs shared on Facebook from 2017 to 2020. The team focused on the top 4,617 domains (such as CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times) and 35 million URLs shared on Facebook during this four-year period.The researchers examined two main areas: the frequency of shares without clicks and the patterns of political content sharing. The data were separated into political and non-political content using a machine learning classifier trained to identify politically relevant keywords. Political content included URLs tied to elections, candidates, and other partisan topics, while non-political content ranged from entertainment to general news.The team analyzed users sharing behaviors across different political leaningsliberal, neutral, and conservativeand examined whether users ideological alignment with the content influenced their likelihood of sharing it without clicking. They also looked specifically at fact-checked URLs to identify patterns in the spread of misinformation.Across all 35 million URLs analyzed, approximately 75% of shares occurred without the users clicking on the link to view its full content. This trend was even stronger for political content, particularly at the ideological extremes. The spread of misinformation was particularly concerning. Fact-checked URLs identified as false were more likely to be shared without being clicked than true content.A key takeaway is that most of the shared links we encounter in Facebook are shared without first being read by the person sharing them, Sundar explained. This tells us that social media users and simply glancing at the headline and the blurb when deciding to blast a news link to their networks. Such dissemination can have a multiplicative effect and result in rapid spread of information to millions of folks online. This can result in vitality of misinformation, spreading fake news and conspiracy theories.The researchers observed another clear pattern: the more politically extreme the content, the more likely it was shared without being clicked. This trend held true for users across the political spectrum. In other words, whether content was strongly liberal or conservative, it attracted more superficial sharing compared to neutral content.Users were more likely to share content that aligned with their political beliefs. For example, liberals were more likely to share left-leaning content without clicking, while conservatives were more likely to share right-leaning content. This suggests that users rely on headlines that confirm their existing biases, potentially bypassing the need to engage with the full content.The more politically extreme the content is, the more it is shared without being clicked upon first, Sundar told PsyPost. This is true for both extreme left and extreme right. As we know, there tends to be a lot of strong opinions and biased commentary on the extremes of the political spectrum. As such, there is more scope for fake news and conspiracy theories masquerading as legitimate news in politically extreme news domains.In the dataset we accessed, there were 2,969 URLs that were fact-checked by a third party and determined to be false. The vast majority of these links were from conservative news domains and so unsurprisingly, we found that conservatives were five times more likely than liberals to share these links, most often without clicking on them and reading the false stories first. This suggests that if politically partisan users see a headline that seems aligned with their political ideology, they will readily share the story without bothering to verify if it is really true.The study highlights a concerning trend in how social media users interact with content. But it does have limitations. The analysis relied on aggregated data, meaning the researchers could not observe individual users behaviors directly. Some shares without clicks might still reflect deliberate actionsfor example, resharing familiar content without revisiting it.Additionally, the study focused only on Facebook, so it remains unclear whether similar patterns exist on other platforms like Twitter or Instagram. Future research could explore these behaviors on a broader scale and examine how different devices, such as mobile phones versus computers, influence users sharing habits.The researchers suggest that these findings have significant implications for both social media platforms and users. Social media interfaces could be redesigned to encourage more deliberate sharing. For instance, platforms could implement prompts reminding users to read an article before sharing it or provide indicators showing whether a link has been clicked. These interventions could reduce the spread of misinformation and promote more thoughtful engagement with news content.If platforms implement a warning that the content might be false and make users acknowledge the danger in doing so, that might help people think before sharing, Sundar said.The study, Sharing without clicking on news in social media, was authored by S. Shyam Sundar, Eugene Cho Snyder, Mengqi Liao, Junjun Yin, Jinping Wang, and Guangqing Chi. Social Media Digital maturity is associated with greater social connectedness among teensDigitally mature teens report feeling more socially connected, which is associated with engaging with real-life friends online and prioritizing compassionate goals. Read moreDetails Developmental Psychology Reducing screen time boosts childrens mental health and prosocial behaviors, study findsReducing leisure screen time for two weeks improved childrens mental health by decreasing emotional and peer-related difficulties while boosting positive social behaviors, highlighting the benefits of taking short breaks from screen media use. Read moreDetails Mental Health Internet use linked to better mental health for older adultsInternet use among adults aged 50 and older is associated with fewer depressive symptoms, higher life satisfaction, and better self-reported health, with benefits varying by frequency, duration, and individual or cultural factors. Read moreDetails Racism and Discrimination Groundbreaking hate universe study reveals links to billions in mainstream communitiesDuring the 2020 U.S. election, online hate networks became more interconnected and reached billions in mainstream communities, spreading hate speech further and strengthening their structure through shared content and interactions. Read moreDetails ADHD Beware of #adhdtest: Inaccurate ADHD content is dominating TikTok, study findsA recent study found 92% of TikToks #adhdtest videos were misleading, attracting nearly all user engagement, while accurate content struggled to gain attention, highlighting the platforms role in spreading misinformation. Read moreDetails Autism YouTubes role in shaping autism perceptions explored in new studyYouTube videos on autism primarily provide educational content with balanced perspectives, reducing stigmatization, though viewer comments often remain negative. This highlights YouTubes dual role in improving understanding while revealing persistent public misconceptions. Read moreDetails Social Media People who engage in doomscrolling are more likely to also engage in celebrity worshipA study found that doomscrolling and celebrity worship are linked across cultures, with both behaviors associated with increased anxiety and reduced well-being, suggesting they may reflect shared psychological challenges in media consumption. Read moreDetails Racism and Discrimination Racial bias in social media connections crosses political lines, study findsIn a field experiment on Twitter, researchers discovered that both liberal and conservative users were less likely to follow back Black accounts compared to White ones, challenging common assumptions about political differences in racial bias. Read moreDetails

In BriefPosted:12:42 PM PST December 22, 2024Image Credits:Chip Somodevilla / Getty ImagesTrump says he wants to keep TikTok around for a little whileWith a US TikTok ban scheduled to take effect in less than a month, President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday that hed like to keep the app around, according to Reuters.Were going to have to start thinking because, you know, we did go on TikTok, and we had a great response with billions of views, billions and billions of views, Trump told supporters at an event in Phoenix, Arizona. They brought me a chart, and it was a record, and it was so beautiful to see, and as I looked at it, I said, Maybe we gotta keep this sucker around for a little while.Trump reportedly met with TikToks CEO on Monday and said afterward that he has a warm spot in his heart for the app.President Joe Biden signed a bill in April that requires TikToks parent company ByteDance to sell the short-form video app by January 19 of next year (one day before Trump takes office) or else see it banned.ByteDance is fighting the bill in court, and the Supreme Court has agreed hear arguments on January 10.Topics