Something about levitating gadgets intrigues many people, no matter their age. Perhaps because the anti-gravity property of such accessories is perfect for your desk, office cabin, or living room shelf. Be it a speaker, desk lamp, planter or mug if its levitating, it sure is alluring. Now, add to that list a Cybertruck, if you are a fan of the all-electric pickup truck.Tesla has unveiled the Levitating Cybertruck for fans who like the unconventional futuristic looks of the pickup truck which has mixed reviews from automotive pundits out there. As a neutral audience you either love it or hate it. Either way, it has made all the news in the last year. No wonder the levitating replica of the Cybertruck sold out within minutes of its release on the official Tesla shop.Designer: TeslaThe 1:24 scale model of the element-proof truck comes minus any wheels and levitates over a magnetic levitation base. All the cool levitation magic is done using an electromagnetic field just at the right intensity to make it possible to hover the object in mid-air. This levitating Cybertruck looks super cool and something right out of a sci-fi den. Of course, geeks will love its silver-coated form just like the real one, and the fact that it has functional headlights illuminated by 14 LED lights and lifelike taillights.On your desk, the accessory measuring 8.98 inches in length, 3.28 inches in width, and 2.36 inches in height can be a fidget toy as you can give a slight spin to set it in motion. To set it up, all you have to do is, place the base on a nonmetallic flat surface, position the Cybertruck over the base until you feel the magnetic resistance, and place it around the center. Once the truck is balanced you can see the mid-air hovering magic.The limited edition collectible is priced at $250 and were hoping it comes back again in stock so that you can grab one for your work setup. Tesla however has not hinted when this steeply priced desk accessory will stock up again, if itll ever!The post Gravity defying Tesla Cybertruck is a limited edition levitating gadget for your workstation first appeared on Yanko Design.

Graph Neural Networks have emerged as a transformative force in many real-life applications, from corporate finance risk management to local traffic prediction. Thereby, there is no gainsaying that much research has been centered around GNNs for a long time. A significant limitation of the current study, however, is its data dependencywith a focus on supervised and semi-supervised paradigms, the investigations potential depends on the availability of ground truth, a requirement often unmet. Another reason for the sparsity of actual labels is the inherent nature of GNNs themselves. Since a graph is an abstraction of the real world, it is not as straightforward as video, image, or text, requiring expert knowledge and experience.With the prevailing challenges and increasing expenses to solve supervised graph paradigms, researchers have begun a pivot toward unsupervised contrastive learning. It works based on mutual information between different augmented graph views generated by perturbing its nodes, edges, and features. Although this approach is promising and eliminates the necessity of labels, it is not always possible to confirm if the labels and semantics remain unchanged post-augmentation, significantly undermining the graphs performance. To understand the detrimental effects of augmentation, lets take the example of a node. One could add or delete a node in the existing graph, which either adds noise or removes information, both detrimental. Therefore, existing static graph contrastive learning methods may not be optimal for dynamic graphs. This article discusses the latest research that claims to generalize contrastive learning to dynamic graphs.Researchers from Xian Jiaotong University, China, presented CLDG, an efficient unsupervised Contrastive Learning framework on the Dynamic Graph, which performs representation learning on discrete and continuous-time dynamic graphs. It solves the dilemma of selecting periods as contrastive pairs while applying contrastive learning to dynamic graphs. CLDG is a light and highly scalable algorithm, credit due to its simplicity. Users get lower time and space complexity and the opportunity to choose from a pool of encoders.The proposed framework consists of five major components:timespan view sampling layerbase encoderreadout functionprojection headcontrastive loss functionThe research team first generated multiple views from continuous dynamic graphs via a timespan view sampling method. Here, the view sampling layer extracts the temporally persistent signals. They then learned the feature representations of nodes and neighborhoods through a weight-shared encoder, a readout function, and a weight-shared projection head. The authors used statistical-based methods such as average, maximum, and summation for the readout function layer.An important insight to discuss at this point is temporal translation invariance. Under this, it is observed that regardless of the encoder used for training, the prediction labels of the same node tend to be similar in different time spans. The paper presented two separate local-level and global-level contrastive losses to maintain temporal translation invariance at both levels. In local-level temporal translation invariance, semantics were treated as positive pairs for one node across time spans, which pulled the same node representations closer and different nodes apart. Conversely, loss for global invariance pulled different nodes together and the same representation away. Following the above, the authors designed four different timespan view sampling strategies to explore the optimal view interval distance selection for contrastive pairs. These strategies differed in the physical and temporal overlap rate and thereby had different semantic contexts.The paper validated CLDG on seven real-world dynamic graph datasets and across twelve baselines. The proposed method outperformed eight unsupervised state-of-the-art baselines and was on par with the remaining four semi-supervised methods. Furthermore, compared to existing graph methods, CLDG reduced model parameters by an average of 2000 times and the training time by 130.Conclusion: CLDG is a practical, lightweight framework that generalizes contrastive learning to dynamic graphs. It uses additional temporal information and achieves state-of-the-art performance in unsupervised dynamic graph techniques while competing with semi-supervised methods.Check out the Paper and GitHub Page. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our60k+ ML SubReddit. Adeeba Alam Ansari+ postsAdeeba Alam Ansari is currently pursuing her Dual Degree at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, earning a B.Tech in Industrial Engineering and an M.Tech in Financial Engineering. With a keen interest in machine learning and artificial intelligence, she is an avid reader and an inquisitive individual. Adeeba firmly believes in the power of technology to empower society and promote welfare through innovative solutions driven by empathy and a deep understanding of real-world challenges. [Download] Evaluation of Large Language Model Vulnerabilities Report (Promoted)

LatestMachine LearningQVQ-72B: The Ultimate Visual Reasoning AI You Can Run Locally 0 like December 25, 2024Share this postAuthor(s): Hasitha Pathum Originally published on Towards AI. This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Imagine having the power of a cutting-edge visual reasoning large language model (LLM) installed locally on your own machine. Its no longer just a dream the QVQ-72B, released under the permissive Apache 2.0 license, is here to make it a reality! Developed by the brilliant Qwen team at Alibaba, QVQ-72B is not just another AI model; its a game-changer for anyone seeking high-performance multimodal reasoning without relying on cloud services.This article dives deep into what makes QVQ-72B unique, why its revolutionary, and how to set it up locally. Whether youre an AI enthusiast, a developer looking for advanced capabilities, or an organization prioritizing data privacy, this guide will equip you with everything you need to know about QVQ-72B.QVQ-72B is a state-of-the-art visual reasoning LLM with 72 billion parameters, specifically designed for tasks that require understanding and reasoning across both text and images. Unlike traditional language models, QVQ-72B integrates advanced visual processing capabilities, enabling it to interpret images, generate contextually relevant text, and solve complex multimodal problems.Key Features:Multimodal Mastery: Combines visual and textual reasoning seamlessly.Scalable Deployment: Fully operable on local hardware setups.Open Source: Released under Apache 2.0, ensuring flexibility Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Christmas is sorted and now we roll into the magic of boxing day. It's a time for two things: brilliant game bargains and wintry skinned online stores that look completely out of synch with our hellfire of a hemisphere. I'm taking abreak from melting in near 40C heat to go hunt down the finest dsicounts available. Let's get right to them now! Table of ContentsNintendo SwitchXboxPlayStationPCPC AccessoriesLEGOSmart HomeNice Savings for Nintendo SwitchMetroid Dread (-29%) - A$56.95FC 25 (-56%) - A$34Mario & Luigi: Brothership (-15%) - A$68SpongeBob: Patrick Star Game (-40%) - A$36Rune Factory 5 (-37%) - A$41.14Lego 2K Drive (-47%) - A$21.20PowerA Pro cont. (-31%) - A$698BitDo Arcade Stick (-20%) - A$151.95Maneater (-35%) - A$38.80Nyko GameCube cont. 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He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.

Join Our Team as a Customer Success Expert!Are you passionate about delivering exceptional customer service and building meaningful relationships? At Mozio, we're looking for a dedicated Customer Success Expert to ensure our customers, service providers, and partners experience the highest level of support.In this role, you'll be the go-to person for handling customer inquiries via phone and email, resolving issues efficiently, and exceeding expectations at every turn. Your mission will be to make every customer feel like part of the Mozio family, always delivering service with a smile.What We're Looking For:Excellent communication skills in English (B2 level or higher).A minimum of 2 years of customer support experience.Proficiency in an additional language (Spanish, French, Italian, German, Chinese, or Portuguese) is a big plus!What We Offer:A 100% remote position work from anywhere in the world!A competitive salary in USD.Flexible working arrangements as a contractor.Opportunities for growth and career advancement in a fast-growing company.Job Details:Full-time: 5 days a week (including weekends), 8 hours per day.Youll need a reliable laptop, smartphone, high-speed internet, and a backup plan for both.At Mozio, we believe in empowering our team to succeed and offering a supportive work environment. We'd love to hear from you if youre ready to take on a new challenge and meet our requirements!Submit your application today we look forward to getting to know you! Related Jobs See more Customer Support jobs

When to watch the Ravens vs. Texans?Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT).Where to watch?The Ravens-Texans game will stream nationally and worldwide on Netflix. In Baltimore and Houston, it will also air on CBS. See at Netflix Showing two NFL games on Dec. 25 Netflix See at Netflix See more details See at ExpressVPN Best VPN for streaming ExpressVPN See at ExpressVPN See more details See at Paramount Plus with Showtime Cheap alternative for AFC fans on Sunday to get CBS Paramount Plus With Showtime: $13 See at Paramount Plus with Showtime See more details Table of Contents After the Chiefs and Steelers open Netflix's doubleheader of Christmas Day football, the action continues on Wednesday with the Ravens and Texans in Houston. Kickoff in the day's second game is called for 4:30 p.m. ET, with Houston's own Beyonc set to perform at halftime.Like with the Chiefs and Steelers game, this matchup will air worldwide on Netflix, though they will also be available on phones and tablets to those who subscribe toNFL Plus. If you live in one of the teams' local markets you can also catch the action on your local CBS station or on Paramount Plus (if you have the pricer "with Showtime" option).So if you're in Houston or Baltimore, you won't actually need to open up Netflix if you already have cable, satellite, an antenna or alive TV streamingservice that has CBS. There may be cases where you're blocked because of an internet location glitch. There is an option that doesn't require subscribing to Netflix or NFL Plus or searching the internet for a sketchy website: You can use a virtual private network.Here's how you can watch the game from anywhere in the US on Netflix or with a VPN. Read more:NFL 2024: How to Watch and Stream Games and RedZone With or Without Cable Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens head to Texas -- and Netflix -- on Christmas Day. Kathryn Riley/Getty Images Ravens vs. Texans game: When and where? This Week 17 NFL matchup sees the Texans host the Ravens at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, Dec. 25. The game will take place at NRG Stadium in Houston, home of the Texans. It will be streamed worldwide and in the US on Netflix.Is Beyonc performing?Yes, Beyonc is performing at the halftime show. Do I need a special Netflix plan to watch the games?Any Netflix plan should work for watching both Christmas Day NFL games as well as the halftime shows. This includes Netflix's cheapest Standard with ads option that runs $7 per month. James Martin/CNET Netflix will be the home of two Christmas Day NFL games this season. The games will be viewable regardless of which Netflix plan you have, including the company's cheapest $7 per month Standard with ads option. See at Netflix How to watch the Ravens vs. Texans game online from anywhere using a VPNIf you find yourself unable to view the game locally due toincorrectly applied blackout restrictions, you may need a different way to watch the game and that's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, it's also a great idea for when you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like ourEditors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this. Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US and Canada, as long as you've got a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions. Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other greatVPN dealstaking place right now. James Martin/CNET 2024 Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands ExpressVPN has servers in Houston, where this game is being shown. The service isour current best VPN pickfor people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of a little over $6 a month.Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. 82% off with 24mo plan (+6 free months) See at ExpressVPN How to watch the Ravens vs. Texans game in the USThis week's Ravens-Texans game is going to stream on Netflix in the US and worldwide, but it will also air on CBS if you're in either of the teams' local markets and don't have Netflix. If you are looking to watch using this route, there are a few things to keep in mind. In addition to a VPN, you'll need alive TV streaming servicethat carries a local CBS affiliate that's broadcasting the game. The good news for football fans is that CBS is available on most of the major streaming services. The least expensive option isParamount Plus with Showtime.At $13 per month, this Paramount Plus is pricier than Netflix's Standard with ads option that runs $7 per month. Paramount Plus does, however, offer a free trial. Sarah Tew/CNET If you live in the Baltimore or Houston areas you can use Paramount Plus to watch the Netflix game, so long as you are subscribed to the Paramount Plus with Showtime plan. Read our Paramount Plus review. See at Paramount Plus with Showtime Most of the major streaming services carry CBS stations, namely YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo. They all cost far more than Paramount Plus or Netflix, but they also carry many live channels, including football broadcasting channels like ABC, NBC, Fox and ESPN. Check out ourlive TV streaming services guidefor details. If you live in an area where the game is being broadcast, an over-the-air antenna connected to your TV provides another option for CBS. The best part about antennas is that there are no streaming or monthly fees required, although you will need to make sure youhave good reception. Quick tips for streaming the Ravens vs. Texans game using a VPNWith four variables at play -- your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN -- experience and success may vary.If you don't see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the "search for city or country" option.If you're having trouble getting the game after you've turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try to fix it quickly. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs -- like Roku -- don't have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you'll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you're using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network's sports app, you'll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.Remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you're using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommendBrave.

Our Experts Written by David Carnoy Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. What to consider Budget Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on a new external drive and whether you can afford a Solid State Drive in the capacity you want. Capacity External drives start at 500GB and go all the way up to 22TB or so. For a lot of people, especially if you're looking at a faster SSD, the storage sweet spot is 1TB or 2TB. Data transfer speeds You'll have to decide just what kind of performance you want and need based on your use case and the PC you have. Compatibility Most external drives are compatible with a wide variety of computers, including Macs, Windows PCs and Chromebooks. Things get more complicated when you get into the realm of game consoles. Security Some of you may be storing sensitive data on your external storage drive. If that's the case, look for drives that include security features, including encryption. Table of Contents

Hatch Restore 2 Best overall sunrise alarm clock $170 at Amazon Casper Glow Light Best versatile sunrise alarm clock $90 at Amazon Lumie Bodyclock Rise 100 Best no-frills sunrise alarm clock $99 at Amazon LIFX smart bulbs and your own lamp Best DIY sunrise alarm clock $35 at Amazon Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock (Update: Currently Unavailable) Best sunrise alarm clock on a budget $50 at Amazon Mornings are glorious and signify the beginning of a new day, filled with infinite possibilities. However, if youre not a morning person, getting out of bed can feel like a chore. Even if you're a morning person, it can still be jarring to wake up to a traditional alarm sound. If you want to wake up more gently and naturally, we recommend investing in a sunrise alarm clock, which will stir you with gradual light and calming nature sounds. Skip the snooze button and improve your wake-up routine with the best sunrise alarm clocks.Read more: 31 of the Best Tech Gifts Under $100 for 2024For those not in the know, a sunrise alarm clock gently wakes up your body in a natural manner by simulating dawn. Instead of blasting you with the power of the sun, it allows light to gradually illuminate your room as though the sun is rising and shining through your window. Far calmer than a loud alarm ringing, a sunrise alarm clock could be just the thing to align your body with a more natural rhythm over time. And even if it isn't for you, it might be the perfect holiday gift for that special someone. A sunrise alarm clock can also help those with limited sun exposure or those at risk for seasonal affective disorder improve their mental health in dark, wintry months. Experts recommend getting bright light early in the morning, as it boosts serotonin production and can have a positive impact on your mood. Not to mention, a silent alarm will also mean you feel less stress each morning, with the sunrise alarm acting as light therapy just as you start your day.Read more:Best Memory Foam Mattress 2024Jamie Gold, a wellness design consultant and author, told CNET she came across these types of noise-optional alarm clocks during her research surrounding noise pollution: "Our lives and homes are filled with noise, and this creates the potential for insomnia, anxiety and stress. I love the idea of these silent alarm clocks for tying in with our natural circadian rhythms and helping start our days on a calmer note. Some heavy sleepers may need a stronger wake-up system, but if you're not one of them, it's definitely a solution worth considering."Since I started using a sunrise alarm clock, I've had a better night's sleep. Waking up without the loud sound of an alarm has also made my mornings happier and my days more productive. According to a small study in the journal Behavioral Brain Research, exposure to artificial light in the mornings can also improve cognitive performance throughout the day.If all of this sounds like something you'd be down to try, particularly if you're looking for a calmer start to your day, we've rounded up the best sunrise alarm clocks on the market -- from basic models to those that come with sleep timers, snooze functionality or even reading lights.Best sunrise alarm clock Nasha Addarich Martnez/CNET After testing the Hatch Restore 2 for a few weeks, this sunrise alarm clock stands out as my top choice because of its functionality options and design. You can customize the light options to your liking to create the perfect sunrise. Whether you like to wake up to warm golden tones or a gentle amber glow, the Hatch Restore 2 offers a wide range of hues that mimic a sunrise to ease you into your day. Since using the Hatch Restore 2, my bedroom has become phone-free at night, which has significantly improved my sleep quality.Another feature that I really like about the Restore 2 is the collection of sounds to pair with your sunrise light. You can choose from soothing nature sounds to peaceful melodies to create the perfect ambiance to wake up or fall asleep to. I have mine set to the sound of ocean shores to wake up and light rain at night to help me wind down after a long day. The ability to mix and match your light and sound options is endless.To properly use the Hatch 2 Restore you must download the app. It's a straightforward, user-friendly app where you set up your personalized routines. I control the alarm time, light settings and sounds all from my phone. For $4.99 a month, you can subscribe to Hatch+, a library of meditations, music, bedtime stories and ASMR. Nasha Addarich Martnez/CNET The Casper Glow Light makes our roundup as most versatile sunrise alarm clock for good reason. Once charged, the Glow Light becomes a portable night light I can carry around, whether it's a trip the the restroom or the kitchen for a midnight snack.The Casper Glow app adds another layer of convenience to your alarm clock. From the app, you can customize the brightness, sync multiple glows to wake up or fall asleep and schedule your wakeup time. I really like the fading options for falling asleep as it signals to my brain that it's time to start preparing for bed.Of all the sunrise alarm clocks on this list, the Casper Glow is probably the most unique one to use. Besides the app, it also uses tactile controls, like flipping the device to turn off the light.Its minimalist, sleek design goes with just about any type of decor. Lumie The Lumie Bodyclock Rise 100 is a simpler version of the Lumie Shine 300. It's a high-quality intro-level sunrise simulator alarm clock for people who are looking for just the basics: The Lumie Rise 100 features a 30-minute sunrise with the option to set the final light intensity. You can also program a sunset to help you fall asleep.The Lumie Rise 100 does not have nature or ambient sounds to add to your sunrise and sunset, although you can program the optional beeping alarm to start when your sunrise reaches maximum light intensity. Like the Lumie Shine 300, the Lumie Rise 100 has a tap-control snooze feature and an auto-dimming display. LIFX If you have a bedside lamp already, you can make a DIY sunrise alarm clock by replacing regular light bulbs with smart light bulbs from Lifx. These Wi-Fi-enabled bulbs connect to Alexa, Google Assistant, Cortana and Apple HomeKit, and you can program them to dim and brighten like a sunrise and sunset as you fall asleep and wake up, respectively.You won't get any sound, but if you're a relatively light sleeper who wakes up to changing light intensity, these programmable light bulbs will still get you up in the morning. You can also combine with Lifxstrips in fun colors for the coolest faux sunrise ever. Read our Lifx Mini smart bulb review. Jall If you're not quite ready to shell out $100 or more on a sunrise alarm clock, this budget-friendly sunrise simulation clock from Jall should do the trick. It has all of the basics and makes for a rather customizable sunrise: Choose from seven colors and 20 brightness levels to end your sunrise, as well as seven natural sounds to accompany the light. You can also choose to wake up to FM radio.The Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock functions as a night light and bedside lamp, and you can adjust the brightness level for both. It doesn't have a sunset function like some others on this list, nor does it double as a white noise machine. If you only want the sunrise function, that doesn't matter.The majority of reviewers on Amazon love this clock: It has 4.3 stars and nearly 100% of the reviews are favorable. It seems that most people who bought this clock were looking for a less abrupt way to wake up, and the Jall Wake Up Light did the trick for them. Buyers also love that it's easy to set up and simple enough for kids to operate on their own. $50 at Amazon If you want a broader selection -- not just sunrise clocks -- check out our separate list of the best alarm clocks for 2024. If you need a good night's sleep, check out thebest mattresses you can buy online and the best pillowstoo.How we chose the best sunrise alarm clockOur roundup of the best sunrise alarm clocks entailed a comprehensive evaluation of several key metrics to ensure a great user experience. Customization: We prioritized sunrise alarm clocks that offer customizable light settings and included some models that offer sound selections to pair with your light.Features: We looked at what special features the sunrise alarm clocks offer. For example, app integration for seamless control, sound libraries and portability.Design: There's nothing we love more than an aesthetic but practical design. We chose models that can blend into almost any decor you have in your home.Durability: Our staff members personally tested these alarm clocks to assess each device's quality and longevity. Best sunrise alarm clock FAQ What is the best sunrise clock? Our top pick is the Hatch Restore 2 because of checks off all the boxes of things you'd want in a sunrise alarm clock like customization, sound options, app integration and ease of use. Do sunrise alarm clocks really work? Yes. The simulated sunrise light helps signal to your brain that it's time to wake up.

Image: Nintendo LifeOver the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. Enjoy!To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Mario Kart 8, George enlisted a troupe of willing racers (at least that's what he told us) to tackle every single track in the upgraded, DLC-laden Deluxe version in a local four-player blowout to end them all.What follows is a twisting tale of glory and grief, friendship and failure a fittingly epic Mario Kart marathon to commemorate a decade of both Wii U and Switch's best-selling game.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube As Im sure youre already aware, Mario Kart 8 is 10 today TEN! Nintendos perfect competitive couch creation has been a favourite of mine since the SNES days and knowing this (I assume) Nintendo was kind enough to deliver this beautiful baby on the same day of the year I came into the world though it technically arrived on these shores a day after the Japanese release.Prising the Wii U game open as a fresh-faced 20-something and tearing through every track new and old was an absolute blast. A few years later my wife Hannah and I sat down and played all the tracks in one go and had an amazing time doing so its a memory I cherish greatly.So I figure, what better way to repay Nintendo the favour than indulging in a sit-down playthrough of all the tracks the game has to offer now on its milestone birthday. I do the maths 96 tracks, averaging about three minutes each, thats about five hours. I can do that, right? Well, I guess we better find out.To get the full experience I need to draft in some fellow players and it needs to be played locally, of course. Nothing beats MK on the sofa. Sadly Hannah cant join in this time, so who are the idiots (sorry 'competitors') mad enough to take on this challenge?(L to R) George, Jonny, Alfie, Tom, Matthew, Mitchell Image: George BanksThere are a few who want to join but cant commit to the whole marathon Matt, Tom, and Alfie. They form a team and will be hopping on and off between each Grand Prix until Alfie takes over full-time for the tail end. Matt has deep MK experience and Alfie has youthful exuberance on his side this could be a formidable partnership. Tom has a PlayStation.Rounding out the competitors are Mitchell and Jonny a Crash Team Racing eulogiser and my game coding partner respectively. Im hoping this wont sour the working relationship. And just for a little extra spice, we arent playing for the bragging rights alone, no no. We are playing for this glorious trophy:Image: George BanksA trophy which definitely isnt a childs FA Cup replica with a sticker from New Super Mario Bros. 2 Ive inexplicably retained since 2012 hastily placed on the front. Look at it. Its magnificent.Start your engines2:00pmPro Controllers charged, mountains of snacks we shouldnt be consuming at our age opened, Switch docked, lets-a gMitchell: It is quite sunny outside, isnt it...[Some beers later]George: Right, we really should crack on this is actually going to take ages.3:23pmRecharged by the sun, we return from our false start and lay out the rules:A democratic vote decides 150cc over 200cc, theres going to be enough chaos without having to actually use the brakesNo changing of kart or character this is a proper playthroughShort break after each quarter of six GPs and all played in order on the selection screen, left to rightItems on (of course) and hard CPUThe second rule is important because you cant actually select 96 tracks to play through, despite the DLC. Nintendo has assumed most people are smarter than that. Not these guys. Its going to be two lots of 48.Character and Kart selection is deeply considered. I go for Tanooki Mario (to match the tee) and a nice, average construction picking speed over acceleration with the Koopa Clown.George: I think you need to just try and get ahead of the pack.Jonny: Nah, acceleration and grip for me because you need it if youre getting caned with items.Jonny duly picks Bowser Jr. and a slow but nippy Pipe Frame.Mitchell: I just love Animal Crossing.Fair. Mitchell picks villager in the Sports Coupe and after some team discussions (all very hush-hush youd think theres a Constructors Championship on the line too) the team select Gold Mario which feels like a deliberate provocation before weve even begun, and the 300 SL Roadster. Quick but pretty slippy.Lakitu, bring the lights. And you buckle up. Theres a long and bumpy journey ahead.Image: George BanksMushrooms and Flowers and Stars, oh my!3:32pmAs soon as that intro jingle kicks in, a hush descends all players sit upright simultaneously like a clan of meerkats.The simple tracks of the Mushroom Cup whizz by and its a very amicable, even jovial affair. A bomb on the line dislodges me from first position as Mitchell romps to victory on Water Park and Jonny outrageously Bullet Bills into second place past Matt on Sweet Sweet Canyon. But nobody minds we celebrate the chaos, even. Koopa shell hits of any colour are met with cheers. This is going to be a great night.Tom switches in for the team and the goodwill carries over into the Flower Cup, until...3:59pmThe first brag is uttered. After clinching Thwomp Ruins Jonny also takes Mario Circuit.Jonny: Did you see that? Two blue shells and I still came 1st!Theres a shift in the air as we line up for Toad Harbor (unanimously agreed to be the first banger of the evening). Its a tussle and Jonny celebrates pipping us to the post again.Jonny: YES!Joy quickly turns to despair.Jonny: OH NO THERES ANOTHER LAP!Image: George BanksMitch chuckles at this. Instructions are being yelled to Tom by his teammates, but Jonny and I are silent the clacking of thumbsticks as we snake through the trams the only sound we emanate. I squeak it over the line and involuntary fist pumps erupt from me.George: Victories, when razor-thin like that, are just the best.Jonny: Absolutely. Thought I had that one.A calamitous performance from Tom on both Twisted Mansion and Shy Guy Falls prompts good-natured derision from his team highlighted by his immediately falling off the course after a teammate proudly declares, Ive taught him well. Impeccable comedy timing.The Star Cup is where we feel the tracks start to get a little more interesting. Then it happens4:06pmPolice, please. Id like to report a crime at Dolphin Shoals. I am blue-shelled from 2nd to 5th. As I rant at this injustice Matt dryly utters the words that will become synonymous with the evening: Thats Mario Kart, baby.A hearty and knowing laugh goes up hes not wrong. Ill shorten it to 'TMKB' for now.Its during this cup that we really start to identify our CPU antagonists, too.Mitchell: I swear Baby Rosalina has it in for me.Alfie: King Boo is evil.This simmering resentment is made worse by King Boo storming to victory on Mount Wario after we chat about how much we love non-looping courses.Mitchell: Guys, we let a CPU win.George: I genuinely feel sick.If only we knew what was to come.Over the RainbowImage: George Banks4:12pmMitchell cant help but laugh as the first item box of Special Cups Cloudtop Cruise gifts me three orbiting shells which instantly smash him off a ledge. RNG payback is swift, though, as the last jump of the race sees me get struck by lightning, skid off, land on a banana skin, and finally get shelled to go from 1st to 8th. The profanity seal is loudly broken.Matt: TMKB.We all seem to forget how to drive for the majority of these tracks and instead just pummel each other with items so hard that Matt and Mitch end up coming 11th and 12th. The battering on Rainbow Road is so punishing that Jonny is pushed over the edge.Jonny: I hate this game.'IHTG.' The second catchphrase.4:27pmA gauntlet is thrown down. Tom is in for the team on the Egg Cup but as we chat through the tracks on the selection screen Alfie pipes up about Excitebike Arena.Alfie: Im actually really good at that one.Everyone: Ohhh!Willing to back up his words, Alfie subs in and for the first time in a while hush descends; the creeping apathy of the Special Cup vanishes in an instant. The course is frantic and action-packed glowing white thumbs pressing as hard as possible onto the accelerator to try and urge a few more MPH out of our shuddering machines. Its very, very tight - but Alfie walks the walk! Pulling away on Lap 3 and sealing the win. Light applause breaks out.We muse about how much we miss F-Zero as we speed 'round Mute City and by this point the foots definitely off the gas competition-wise everyones eased back and is happy to chat. That is until...4:42pmBaby Park. Who needs energy drinks? This track is the most powerful stimulant on Earth. You always think its not as manic as you remember but it really is.The last lap Image: George BanksEveryones wired again and the energy carries through the remaining tracks. Jonny and I bemoan the computer cheating all the time on Cheese Land and a CPU lands in front of us from the shortcut with timing so perfect youd think it wanted to prove that point.Jonny: IHTG!The rage monkey rears its head for the first time as Mitchell smashes into a snowman on the final lap of his home turf of Animal Crossing - costing him the race. The controller eats some sofa cushions. Good time for a break. Jonny checks in with his girlfriend, Elly, whos been popping in and out.Jonny: Whats it like spectating?Elly: Quite amusing, actually.Jonny: You should feel my pits.Elly: I can feel the heat coming off your back!The room is already pretty musty.The standings after a quarter of the game Image: George BanksBack to the Future5:09pmWe are refocused and there's a little ripple of excitement from the group as we scroll through the cups to see whats coming up and we chat about tracks we love from previous games. Moo Moo Meadows is the inaugural track of the Shell Cup and my wifes favourite. I dont know if the others went easy on me (the amount of Koopa shells smashed into my ribs says no) but I managed to dig out the win and felt genuinely elated. Its a win for her.5:20pmThe resentment for the computer is really starting to kick in now with King Boo and Baby Rosalina firmly staking their claims as utter villains, wrecking us on Toads Turnpike to accompanying shouts of "IHTG!" Though when I call the CPUs out for this, I am met with a dagger to the heart.Jonny: George, Im pretty sure youre the villain.George: Its tough at the top. [Not helping my case]Matt: TMKB.I remind Jonny that Im the one writing up this experience and as such will be painting myself as a plucky underdog with a heart of gold ultimately strengthening his claim. Luckily, any tension in the room is instantly broken when Tom subs in for the team and on Race #29 picks up the controller and earnestly says:Tom: 'A' to go, yeah?Excellent. We enjoy the absolute classics of the Banana Cup and karma is still working her magic nicely blitzing me with a blue shell literally seconds after wiping the others out with a boomerang and gleefully shouting laters as I pass them on Royal Raceway.Image: George Banks5:40pmThe Leaf Cup brings the first 'spectacular' of the night Alfie has subbed in for the team, and on his return finishes Wario Stadium by crossing the line backwards. Not only that, but he repeats the feat a mere two tracks later as I get wiped out by a blue shell near Melody Motorways finish line and I have to watch it happen. Its the last straw for Jonny.Jonny: Ive checked out.George: We arent even halfway through!Jonny: IHTG.Tom departs from the tournament just before 6pm and Matt picks up the controller for his final GP, vowing to climb back up the rankings. I point out that Im currently about 100 points ahead.Matt: It can still happen.Alfie: Definitely.Horsepower, wisdom, and courage5:54pmIt doesnt get off to a great start for Matt as the doorbell rings seconds before the countdown to Tick-Tock Clock of all tracks. Ive known him for more than 30 years and have never seen him move faster he gets back and nails the boost for a lightning start to the Lightning Cup.Its around this time that things get weird. After smashing into Baby Rosalina (who definitely did something to deserve it), we begin to discuss what the Mario Kart medical team must go through. An entire improvised scene emerges with voices, fully formed characters and relationships, backstories, all seamlessly played out with no planning or discussion and everyone chipping in as we move onto the Triforce Cup.George: Another Koopa shell he was so young. Why why all this madness? Lets open him up.Our brains are so tuned in now that theyre clearly itching to do anything else to occupy themselves.6:08pmMatthew has bowed out so its just Alfie left for the team. Giddy giggles and a sort of hysteria begins to spread. Warios Gold Mine results in people banana-ing themselves with billboard rebounds and Alfie tries yet another reverse finish on Ice Ice Outpost - ending up in fourth as a result.Image: George BanksJonny: Yes! Hubris!The polite appreciation and compliments of earlier Grand Prix escapades are well and truly gone now and smack talk is rampant throughout the Bell Cup.Mitchell: I just cant get this bit.Alfie: Have you considered getting good?Jonny: [While bombing then overtaking] LOVELY!Every shell, every lightning strike, every bomb is now accompanied by a muttered, Have that or something similar and definitely expletive-free.6:43pmWe see the on-screen trophy that marks the halfway point. Surprisingly the standings reveal that Inkling Boy is actually the closest CPU to us and nobody has said a bad word against him the entire time. Sneaky squid.Image: George BanksGeorge: Its pretty close down there.Jonny: Im surprised you can see us from your ivory tower.Elly checks in again.Elly: You okay?Jonny: Im in hell.Mitchell: How is this both horrendous and fun?Elly: How are you, George?George: My jegs feel like lelly.Hmm. With basic functions breaking down, we take another much-needed break and fill up on the most traditional of gaming fuel Chinese takeaway. And not only that, but birthday cake too!Image: George BanksI feel a bit bad for that smack talk now. Candles blown out I decide to be a bit more positive.George: Halfway there! We can do it! Itll be more fun now as its tracks that none of us really know.DLC tracks - It comes in waves7:24pmThat previous statement doesnt really hold true as Paris Promenade kicks off the Golden Dash Cup and none of us can figure out the route. Were just continuously asking, Wait where do we go? like genuine befuddled tourists. Luckily, a perfectly timed exchange on Toad Circuit picks things up.Jonny: I wish there was a thing that told you when someone was approaching, I think itd be better.Alfie: You can look behind you.Jonny: Do you do that?Alfie: Sometimes, yeah.SMASH.Jonny: Take that.It was green shell, too. Exquisite. Then, in Coconut Mall, Lily (another spectator) offers some sage wisdom.Lily: It seems to me that you just need to try and get into 1st and stay out of trouble.Everything falls apart. Nobody can focus on the race as we continuously advise each other to "Just stay out of trouble!" while thundering items ruthlessly at one another. Tragedy strikes on the last lap as my controller disobeys me and Tanooki Mario starts careening to the left.Jonny: Weve heard that before mate.George: Its true!The leaderboard pops up and everything being so close lights a fire under us. Weve found the fun again.Image: George Banks7:50pmUntil we play Tokyo Blur.Alfie: This isnt fun anymore.That was brief. I also inadvertently restart the smack talk on Shroom Ridge.George: Where are you guys?Jonny: Thats the most disgusting thing youve ever said to me.Alfie roars into second.Alfie: Yeah, whats it like back there?Jonny: IHTG.We identify our new CPU villains - Baby Mario, Isabelle, and Kamek.George: What is it with this game and evil babies?As we begin the Turnip Cup the complaints and jabs come thick and fast.Jonny: I feel no longer human.Mitchell: My eyes hurt. And my back hurts. And I hurt.George: Oh, Mario Circuit 3 I love this one.Alfie: Boomer Road.Dont despair - things are still weird. Somehow we decide to play Kalimari Desert in absolute silence which is shattered on lap 2 as I run over Mitchell and he immediately smashes into the train on recovery.Image: George BanksTour-ture8:14pmThis quarter of the game is a slog and a strange madness is starting to kick in. Sydney Sprint prompts us all to start speaking in dreadfully inaccurate Australian accents capped off perfectly by Alfie responding to a green shell attack from Mitchell with a red shell of his own, uttering the immortal line before firing:Alfie: Thats not a shell, this is a shell.An impromptu rendition of ABBAs Super Trouper follows with Koopa Troopa replacing the title and everyone pitching in with more appropriate lyrics for the chorus. I remember it being weirdly good. Thankfully theres no recording to prove me wrong.Image: George BanksBacks and shoulders are being stretched, eyes rubbed, throats are getting sore as we growl at items whipping us off the edge of Sky High Sundae. Elly looks at us with pity.Elly: You look like youve been on a six-hour flight.Its Jonnys turn to properly succumb to the rage monkey on Rock Cups Rock Rock Mountain with three IHTGs barked in quick succession. Hes free-falling down the board with Baby Mario and Isabelle ahead of him.We pile on the anger toward our CPU counterparts.Alfie: Link shouldnt even be here! Go back to Hyrule.Mitchell: Im never visiting Isabelle on my island again!This leads us down a strange, prolonged improvisation during the Moon Cup in which we imagine the AI for the game coming to life and how it would respond.George: I finally understand this love that you speak of. And also, please fetch me a green shell so that I may end your life.Jonny: What is happy? Is it lightning?As the quarter peters out, I try and reassure everyone.George: Dont worry Ive got a plan to help us enjoy the last quarter.Jonny: Is it a new back and eyes?The standings make grim reading for Jonny and Mitchell.Image: George BanksNow I am become Gold Mario9:05pmMy plan is simple we need to pretend that this last quarter is actually the first quarter and laugh as much as we can. It sort of helps particularly with the opener of Fruit Cups Amsterdam Drift and the humour getting a little bawdier.George: Can you imagine if the game had that district in it?I dont think I can write our elaboration of that thought here.By DK Summit, Baby Mario has climbed to second in the rankings, prompting Jonny to chastise Alfie.Jonny: Come on Alf, you need to pull your finger out, mate.Jonny is sixth in the rankings.Mirth has returned to the proceedings by the Boomerang Cup, as we slowly shuffle from being slumped back on the sofa to being upright again. Puns abound as I hit Alfie with a tailpipe banana.George: How does it peel?Alfie: If only it had missed by the skin of my teeth.Jonny: No more slip-ups.Cheers erupt every time I get wiped out from 1st on the last lap and Jonny crushes it on Waluigi Stadium.Jonny: Yes! I needed that.Celebrations and fist-pumping return as each hit and fall off the track is loudly roared on. Cries of "Isabeeeeeelle!" ring out as she tears us to shreds.Mitchell: Bad dog! No!Jonny: Thats a bit much.Mitchell: This is a bit much for 9:15Alfie: Its nearly 10.Mitchell: Oh, god.Moonview Highway is gloriously catastrophic as the roving bombs which we affectionately nickname Bob-ombheimer catch each one of us. But we dont care its fun again!The Final Lap9:59pmGeorge: Hey everyone, another tour track!Everyone: Boo!George: Theyre really messing up my rankings, I just cant get them.Jonny: Sure.Alfie: TMKB.Everyone: Yaaaay!We havent heard that one for a while.After Sunset Wilds I nearly select the race again instead of Koopa Cape.George: Can you imagine? Oh, sorry guys, we better start again.Jonny: I would rather die.Vancouver Velocity offers another opportunity for us to try out some accents which largely just amounts to us putting eh on the end of every sentence, the best being:Mitchell: Bombs away, eh?...as Mitchell nails me with a tailpipe drop.Image: George BanksThe rage monkey returns for the Acorn Cup consuming Alfie on DK Mountain. The controller doesnt quite get flung from his hands, but its close. We then all double back on ourselves on the consecutive roundabouts on Daisy Circuit with the exception of Jonny, who derides us until being the only person to repeat the feat on lap 3. I do so terribly here that I get the legendary 8 item but it does nothing to help and I finish dead last.Jonny: Thats pretty embarrassing mate.George: Youre literally being beaten by a baby.Jonny: TMKB.10:15pmWe are here. The Spiny Cup. The final Grand Prix of the night and honestly, things have just gotten out of hand. Yelling, laughter, swinging between hyper focus and crushing apathy like a pendulum.Total physical and mental breakdown starts occurring during Rosalinas Ice World. I literally feel my right eye pop a blood vessel.Alfie: Argh, somebody just blue-shelled me!Jonny: I feel you, bro. It was me.Everyone: TMKB!Bowser Castle 3 and lingering rage monkey pushes Alfie to the limit.Alfie: GO FASTER!Jonny: I love seeing you this angry.10:26pmAnd then it all comes down to this. Well, not the points total that was a foregone conclusion yonks ago. But Alfie can break 500 points total for this half of the playthrough if and only if he comes 1st on the final Rainbow Road of the night.Image: George BanksThe meerkats are back. Its a tense race all of us seemingly remastering our skills in an instant as we rush out to occupy the top four places, the CPUs might as well not have even been there. Alfie has a near-perfect race hes going to do it! Well, nearly. Because Alfie, sadly, has not learned his lesson.He goes to reverse over the finish line in 1st. And was it the last lap? No. No, it was not.Alfie: NOOOOO!Howls from the rest of us. We bust through the last lap to loud cheers from ourselves and spectators alike and take a brief second to soak it all in.Jonny: We did it!Mitchell: Oh my god.George: Mad.The final standings for the second half of the marathon fall as follows:Image: George BanksAll in all, it means out of a possible 1,440 points total the table looks like this:1,051 George941 Alfie and team849 Mitchell845 - JonnyThe Podium10:31pmThoughts of any kind of trophy ceremony are non-existent as we flop back like near-fully deflated balloons along the sofa. I am handed my prize but its hard to bask when I feel like Ive been hit by a train (which did technically happen on Super Bell Subway).Image: George BanksGeorge: So, would you recommend it?Jonny: No.Mitchell: No.Alfie: Not to a grown-up.George: But did you have fun?Jonny: Yes, of course!Alfie: Yeah, I loved it.Mitchell: I think I experienced every human emotion. I have just lived a life.Jonny: Yeah, fun is a bit reductive. I also had melancholy, rage...Mitchell: Bloodlust.Jonny: Grief.George: Well probably do it again sometime though, right?Everyone: Definitely not.I see. Well, what about me? Would I recommend anybody else try this challenge out? Yes. Once. With the right group of people and on a sofa together, because it is possibly the most perfect encapsulation of Nintendos multiplayer magic, and the sheer volume of content and variation it offers from its simple core premise is a thing of wonder. I have loved this game for 10 years and, honestly, I think I could love it for another 10. Though it was a slog at points, I felt genuinely sad at the end and isnt that the best feeling after playing a game for nearly seven hours? I dont really want it to end.Image: George BanksBattle mode anyone?

Deserving of a Rebirth.Over the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. Enjoy!Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Alana is talking about a Vanillaware oldie Muramasa: The Demon Blade, a Wii title that is celebrating its 15th anniversary. And, in the wake of 13 Sentinels and Unicorn Overlord's success, it's time to give Vanillaware's older title some love.Read the full article on nintendolife.com