Old Habits - New Habits signpost gettyThe world is at a critical juncture. Climate change and unsustainable consumption habits demand urgent attention. As we approach 2025, it may be time to address three unsustainable practices that should be abandoned, and bring to the forefront, practical solutions for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and individuals for impactful changes.Leave Overconsumption of Fast Fashion In 2024Fast fashion, a business model emphasizing rapid production of low-cost, trend-driven clothing, has significant environmental consequences and its overconsumption should be left in 2024. According to Earth.Org, this disposable approach to fashion generates approximately 92 million tons of textile waste globally each yeara figure projected to rise to 134 million tons annually by 2030. Cheap, trendy clothing may appear harmless, but unbeknownst to many, its environmental toll is staggering. The industry, notorious for its rapid production cycles and low-cost trends, contributes to overflowing landfills, water pollution, and climate-altering emissions. According to the UN Environment Program, fashion is the second-largest global consumer of water, with 93 billion cubic meters used annuallyenough to sustain about 5 million people. Additionally, carbon emissions from the industry surpass those of aviation and shipping combined, driven by the energy-intensive production of synthetic fibers and global transport networks. Microplastics, released from washing synthetic textiles, now account for 35% of the microplastics polluting our oceans, according to a 2017 study by the Global Marine and Polar Program. These sobering figures highlight the urgent need to shift consumer habits and hold brands accountable for sustainable practices, as the cost of fast fashion extends far beyond its price tags and trendy looks.People visit the XR Guerrilla Fashion's protest in Utrecht's Griftpark that showcased a ... [+] 7,000-garment installation by Pet van de Luijtgaarden, highlighting the global fight against fast fashion.Middle East Images/AFP via Getty ImagesAddressing the environmental devastation caused by fast fashion demands bold and immediate action. Consumers must embrace a "buy less, buy better" philosophy, prioritizing quality over quantity and supporting sustainable, ethically produced brands. Simple actions like repairing clothes, participating in clothing swaps, and choosing secondhand options can significantly reduce waste. However, the burden cannot rest on consumers alone. Corporations must be held accountable for transparency, fair labor, and sustainable supply chains. Education is keyraising awareness about fast fashion's true cost can shift cultural attitudes and inspire more responsible choices by consumers.Leave Single-Use Plastics In 2024The fight against single-use plastics has gained significant momentum worldwide, with particular focus on reducing reliance on plastic bags. According to a report by UN Environment and WRI, by July 2018, 127 of the 192 countries reviewed had implemented legislation addressing plastic bags. These measures vary widely, from comprehensive bans in nations like Jamaica to gradual phase-out strategies adopted in Moldova and Uzbekistan. Other countries, such as Romania and Vietnam, have introduced policies that encourage the use of reusable alternatives, signaling a growing commitment to reducing plastic waste globally.MORE FOR YOUActivists take part in a rally pushing for rejecting single-use plastic products in Jakarta, ... [+] Indonesia on July 24, 2022.NurPhoto via Getty ImagesThe worlds addiction to plastic has created an environmental crisis of staggering proportions. According to The Round Up, 400 million metric tons of plastic waste are generated annually, yet only 18% is recycled, leaving the majority to accumulate in landfills, ecosystems, and oceans. Each year, 10 million tons of plastic enter our oceans, contributing to the estimated 5.25 trillion pieces already polluting marine environments. Much of this waste originates from major producers like China, which accounts for 32% of global production, and the United States, which generates 42 million tons annually, the highest of any country. The sale of 50 billion plastic water bottles annually in the U.S., as highlighted by The Round Up, exemplifies the single-use culture driving this crisis. While nations like India recycle up to 60% of their plastic, most countries lag far behind, underscoring the urgent need for systemic global solutions to address this escalating catastropheTOPSHOT - A man on a boat collects recyclable plastics from the heavily polluted Citarum River at ... [+] Batujajar in Bandung, West Java, on June 12, 2024. (Photo by TIMUR MATAHARI / AFP) (Photo by TIMUR MATAHARI/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesTo truly address the escalating crisis of plastic pollution, a multifaceted and unified global approach is essential. Policymakers must go beyond piecemeal bans and phase-outs, implementing comprehensive frameworks that target the entire lifecycle of plasticsfrom production to disposal. Investment in research and development of biodegradable alternatives, coupled with incentives for industries to adopt sustainable packaging solutions, can help shift reliance away from single-use plastics. Public awareness campaigns should be intensified to educate consumers about the environmental cost of plastic dependency and encourage behavioral changes, such as the use of reusable items and proper recycling practices.Meanwhile, corporate accountability must be prioritized, with mandates requiring businesses to adopt circular economy principles, including extended producer responsibility for plastic waste. Additionally, international collaboration is vital to standardize regulations, fund cleanup initiatives, and prevent transboundary plastic waste leakage. This concerted effort is not just a necessity but a responsibility, ensuring a sustainable future for our planet and generations to come.Leave Excessive Energy Consumption In 2024Excessive energy consumption and waste present profound challenges to global sustainability, impacting both the environment and the economy and should be left in 2024. A study conducted by the International Energy Agency revealed that a staggering 66% of global energy production is wasted, underscoring inefficiencies in energy systems across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. This wastage is not merely a statistical concern but a significant contributor to climate change. For example, in the United Kingdom, 62% of generated energy is rejected, amplifying carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane emissionsmethane being 28 times more potent than CO2 in trapping heat according to Green Match. The environmental repercussions are dire, including rising sea levels, severe weather patterns, and biodiversity loss, alongside the unnecessary exploitation of natural resources like water, minerals, and fossil fuels.Pollution from petrochemical plant on Teeside, UK. (Photo by Ashley Cooper/Construction ... [+] Photography/Avalon/Getty Images)Getty ImagesGlobally, millions of tons of greenhouse gases are released due to wasted energy, with coal emissions alone contributing 14.36 gigatons of CO2 in 2023 according to Green Match. Additionally, inefficiencies in energy systems, such as outdated appliances, poor insulation, and standby consumption, exacerbate energy losses. For example, standby power from electronics, known as phantom energy, contributes to significant costs and emissions. Addressing these inefficiencies through sustainable practices, energy-efficient technologies, energy audits and waste-to-energy solutions is crucial to reducing the global carbon footprint, conserving resources, and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.Addressing energy waste requires decisive and multifaceted strategies that blend technology, policy, and public action. The adoption of energy-efficient technologies, stricter regulatory frameworks, and sustainable practices such as waste-to-energy systems can pave the way toward a more energy-secure future. Key measures include upgrading outdated appliances to high-efficiency models, improving building insulation to prevent heat loss, and eliminating phantom energy consumption caused by electronics left on standby.Harnessing the potential of smart technologies, such as intelligent meters and thermostats, can empower households and businesses to monitor and optimize energy usage effectively. Shifting to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower offers a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, dramatically reducing carbon emissions. Equally critical is raising public awareness about energy conservation, encouraging responsible habits that collectively make a significant impact.Close Up Of Woman Holding Smart Energy Meter In Living room Measuring Energy EfficiencygettyTargeted efforts in regions with the highest energy inefficiencies can yield substantial benefits, ensuring that resources are directed where they are needed most.Farewell 2024: Sustainable Habits to Define 2025The journey to sustainability begins with each of us as we leave certain unsustainable habits in 2024. The unsustainable habits of fast fashion, single-use plastics, and excessive energy consumption are pressing challengesbut they also present immense opportunities for change. Rethinking how we consume, demanding accountability from corporations, and advocating for systemic reforms, can collectively pave the way for a healthier planet.Entrepreneurs, policymakers, and individuals have the power to make meaningful impacts by prioritizing ethical practices, embracing innovation, and fostering environmental stewardship. Every small stepfrom choosing quality fashion, to switching off a lightbuilds momentum toward a sustainable future.As we leave behind unsustainable practices in 2024, let 2025 mark the year we redefine our relationship with the Earth, ensuring that prosperity and progress go hand in hand with preservation and forge a legacy of responsibility and resilience for generations to come.

Recap: The tech world is in constant flux, but some stories capture our collective imagination more than others. As we look back at 2024, this TechSpot Rewind countdown is more than just a list it's a snapshot of the ideas, technologies, and controversies that shaped the year. From Intel's CPU woes to the return of optical discs, with some security exploits and quantum-powered navigation stories in-between, this collection highlights the stories that you, our readers, couldn't stop clicking, debating, and sharing.#25 GPS-free navigation nears reality with quantum breakthroughIntegrated photonic chips enable compact, low-cost quantum navigationToday's typical navigation-grade motion sensors are about the size of a grapefruit, helping steer ships, planes, and vehicles in conjunction with GPS signals. This means they always need satellite connectivity to function, but a new breed of "quantum compass" could eventually let us ditch the satellites entirely.#24 Intel's crashing CPU crisis deepens as more models are affected than originally thoughtThe issue extends beyond enthusiast chips, hinting at a more complex root causeIntel probably thought the worst was behind them after the company identified the source of the instability surrounding its 13th- and 14th-gen CPUs and promised a patch to address the issue. But new reports say that the patch won't resolve the problems for processors already experiencing crashes. Even worse, whatever the problem is, it affects a broader range of models than previously assumed.#23 Face it, there is nothing that can replace COBOLAnd don't hang your hope on generative AI, at least not yetCOBOL is decades old yet it still dominates our IT ecosystem and even the economy. But a replacement must be found, if only because the number of developers that can work on the language is dwindling. Is AI the answer?#22 Remember AMI BIOS? Turns out there's a buried treasure in firmwareYou might also remember them from their "American Megatrends" BIOS daysFirmware is one of those obscure areas of computing that is simultaneously critical yet largely ignored. Not coincidentally, we have been doing a lot of work lately digging around such dark corners of the industry. Despite the ubiquitous nature of firmware, almost no one talks about it much.#21 Could Broadcom buy Intel?Can Broadcom afford a deal of this size? The obvious answer is, yesImagine your company has a supplier that has gone through some hard times. Management made some bad decisions years ago, the company struggled, lost its way in the market. Then that vendor got a new CEO who pledged to turn the company around, fix their operations, make their products more competitive. Nobody knows if they can really turn it around, but as a customer, you have better knowledge about how they are doing. Their sales people are calling regularly, showing off their latest products. Would you buy their stock? The SEC might have something to say about that, but what if instead of buying stock in the company you buy the whole company?#20 AI can see what's on your screen by reading HDMI electromagnetic radiationResearchers say the technique is already being used in the wildSecurity researchers have demonstrated that it's possible to spy on what's visible on your screen by intercepting electromagnetic radiation from video cables with great accuracy, thanks to artificial intelligence. The team from Uruguay's University of the Republic says their AI-powered cable-tapping method is good enough that these attacks are likely already happening.#19 Former Google CEO blames work-from-home policy for company lagging behind OpenAIEric Schmidt also praised Elon Musk and TSMC's work cultureAs artificial intelligence companies race ahead in their development of generative AI technology, Google is being left behind by the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic. According to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, the reason for this is simple: his former company prioritizes working from home and flexible hours for its employees.#18 Mystery of LG washing machine using 3.6GB of data daily could have a simple explanationAnd it's not Bitcoin launderingIn what could have been another example of the dangers of making every single household appliance internet-connected, the owner of an LG washing machine got a shock this week when the device started reporting the use of 3.6GB of data every day.#17 Valve confirms your Steam account cannot be transferred to anyone after you dieYour Steam games will go to the grave with youSince its inception more than two decades ago, Steam has become the go-to game distribution platform for PC gamers with more than 132 million monthly active users, according to the latest data. Unfortunately for all these gamers, they won't be able to hand down their Steam library to anyone when they die.#16 NZXT responds to damning Gamers Nexus video accusing it of running a "predatory, evil" rental scam"We are aware of the recent claims made against us"NZXT has responded to a damning video from YouTube channel Gamers Nexus that accuses the PC hardware giant of running a "predatory, evil rental computer scam." The program in question is its Flex subscription-based service for desktop PCs, which GN says uses "bait and switch" tactics. There are other accusations, too, including faked benchmarks and aggressive terms.#15 Valve makes more money per employee than Amazon, Microsoft, and Netflix combinedA small but mighty team of 400Valve is one of the most important and influential companies in the PC gaming market. It's also one of the most unique due to its private nature and unusually small workforce relative to its impact and competitors. A recent analysis of data uncovered through an ongoing lawsuit against the company highlights how Valve starkly contrasts with the world's biggest tech giants.#14 Amazon and other retailers are being investigated for selling illegal wireless signal jammersThe sale and use of frequency jammers is prohibitedAmazon and other retailers are being investigated by the FCC over allegations that they market and sell unlawful electronic devices designed to block or disrupt signals sent by other electronics. It follows an investigation into the sale of radio frequency jammers, which are advertised as drone deterrents or privacy tools.#13 New charging algorithm could double life of li-ion batteriesThe new algorithm could greatly reduce the ageing effects of continuous recharge cyclesDespite being one of the most practical and effective technologies for storing and delivering electric energy, lithium-ion batteries have started to show their limits. Scientists are looking for alternative materials and energy storage solutions, but researchers now say they can make li-ion batteries work better and for extended periods.#12 These apps track your driving habits and sell that information to insurance companiesSome are seemingly innocent-looking apps like mileage trackersMany were surprised to learn that connected vehicles collect data about drivers and sell that information to insurance companies. As it turns out, so do apps on a driver's smartphone. Most drivers are unaware that this is even happening.#11 Windows 11 24H2 is now incompatible with USB scanning devices, tooHow are so many bugs getting past thousands of beta testers?Windows 11 24H2 increasingly shows how the Windows Insider program does nothing to improve Windows security and reliability. The number of show-stopper bugs experienced by customers who updated to the latest OS version is staggering. Meanwhile, Microsoft is just saying that they're working on (yet another) fix with no specific release date in sight.#10 Wild human washing machine promises to rinse you clean in 15 minutesThe capsule even sets water temps based on your vitalsBack in 1970, a futuristic "human washing machine" called the Ultrasonic Bath caused a sensation at the Japan World Exposition. The egg-shaped pod was developed and exhibited by Sanyo Electric Co., now known as Panasonic Holdings Corp. When someone climbed inside, it would automatically fill with hot water, blast them with ultrasound waves, and release massage balls to knead their body. Over 50 years later, this peculiar invention is making a comeback with a high-tech upgrade.#9 RFID cards could turn into a global security mess after discovery of hardware backdoorPoking at bad encryption practices to discover some outrageous, unexpected issuesChinese-made chips used in popular contactless cards contain hardware backdoors that are easy to exploit. These chips are compatible with the proprietary Mifare protocol developed by Philips spin-off NXP Semiconductors and are inherently "intrinsically broken," regardless of the card's brand.#8 Zero regrets: Firefox power user kept 7,500 tabs open for two yearsFirefox fan's 7,500 simultaneous tabs show browser's memory efficiencyFor most of us, having more than a couple dozen browser tabs open at once feels like a cluttered nightmare. But for one software engineer, managing nearly 7,500 active Firefox tabs is just another day at the office.#7 Massive leak exposes 26 billion records in mother of all breachesIt includes data from Twitter, Dropbox, and LinkedInResearchers have discovered a database composed of stolen user credentials and personally identifiable information (PII) so large that it's been dubbed the mother of all breaches (MOAB). The dataset contains no fewer than 26 billion records, making up 12TB of data from sites including Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Weibo, Tencent, and more.#6 Facebook will soon use your posted content to train its AI, and opting out isn't easyMeta likely made the process arduous for a reasonFacebook will soon become the latest platform to utilize posts and photos from its users to train its AI models. People can opt out, but Meta appears to have made the process intentionally difficult and cumbersome. It's also prone to failure.#5 Samsung launches a 114-inch Micro LED TV so expensive, buyers receive a free $8,000 8K TVYou also get a discount on speakers and a free $2,200 hotel staySamsung has launched a new television aimed squarely at those for whom money is no object. Measuring 114 inches and packing Micro LED technology, the "ultra-premium" set costs the equivalent of around $132,630. It's so expensive that Samsung is giving away an 8K TV worth $8,000 as an incentive to buyers.#4 A 13-year-old is the first human to beat TetrisNumerous theoretical milestones remainTetris is not designed to be beaten. Throughout the game's history of nearly 40 years, people simply assumed that it was designed to continue indefinitely until the player lost. However, the evolving professional Tetris scene, striving for previously unattainable levels, eventually pushed the game's code to its limits.#3 Two mines in North Carolina are the world's only producer of the quartz necessary for semiconductor manufacturingIf they were to stop operating, it would mean a few years of catastrophic disruption, says Wharton professor Ethan MollickUltra-high-purity quartz is an essential component to semiconductor chips, and the only places in the world that can meet this need are two mines in a small North Carolina town. The mines' owner, Sibelco, is investing $700 million to expand capacity, but is that enough to keep up with AI-fueled chip demand?#2 All vehicles will be required to have enhanced automated emergency braking by 2029Requirements call for braking at 62 mph, and being able to detect pedestrians at nightThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's new automatic emergency braking rule requires automakers to develop and equip vehicles with technology that is currently unavailable. Consumer advocates question whether automakers have enough time, given the five-year window, to develop this technology and ensure it meets rigorous testing standards.#1 New optical storage breakthrough could make CDs relevant againBreakthrough could usher in "ultra-high-density" optical media, but more research is neededIn the new digital age, CDs and DVDs have become relics, replaced by the popularity of streaming and cloud storage. However, scientists think they may have found a way to bring optical disc storage roaring back - with a massive upgrade that massively increases data density.

The Taiex index jumped 28% in 2024 as Asian markets broadly gained ground, supported by falling interest rates globally. Rounding up Asias top three major markets

memories You can love or hate AI, but its killed crappy 8GB versions of pricey PCs and Macs Op-ed: AI has been a cure for $1,600 computers that start with 8GB of memory. Andrew Cunningham Dec 30, 2024 7:35 am | 113 Credit: Microsoft Credit: Microsoft Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreI'd describe myself as a skeptic of the generative AI revolutionI think the technology as it currently exists is situationally impressive and useful for specific kinds of tasks, but broadly oversold. I'm not sure it will vanish from relevance to quite the extent that other tech fads like the metaverse or NFTs did, but my suspicion is that companies like Nvidia and OpenAI are riding a bubble that will pop or deflate over time as more companies and individuals run up against the technology's limitations, and as it fails to advance as quickly or as impressively as its most ardent boosters are predicting.Maybe you agree with me and maybe you don't! I'm not necessarily trying to convince you one way or the other. But I am here to say that even if you agree with me, we can all celebrate the one unambiguously positive thing that the generative AI hype cycle has done for computers this year: the RAM floor for many PCs and all Macs is now finally 16GB instead of 8GB.Companies like Apple and Microsoft have, for years, created attractive, high-powered hardware with 8GB of memory in it, most egregiously in $1,000-and-up putative "pro" computers like last year's $1,599 M3 MacBook Pro or the Surface Pro 9.This meant that, for the kinds of power users and professionals drawn to these machines, that their starting prices were effectively mirages; "pay for 16GB if you can" has been my blanket advice to MacBook buyers for years now, since there's basically no workload (including Just Browsing The Web) that won't benefit at least a little. It also leaves more headroom for future software bloat and future hobby discovery. Did you buy an 8GB Mac, and then decide you wanted to try software development, photo or video editing, CAD design, or Logic Pro? Good luck! Microsoft's Surface Laptop 7 is one of the flagship Copilot+ PCs that comes with no less than 16GB of memory. Credit: Andrew Cunningham This wouldn't have been as big an issue in another era of computing, where people could add more memory after the fact if they discovered they needed it later. But soldered-down memory is the norm in most systems, which means paying whatever manufacturers want for RAM up-front, and that you need to guess how much RAM you'll need to stay happy with your system over its entire useful life. Some PC makers would also bundle RAM upgrades with CPU and storage upgrades, imposing hundreds of dollars worth of price increases on people who just wanted more memory. And as someone who has reviewed hardware for years, I'll tell you that the review samples we get from companies are basically never the entry-level models, helping to obscure the shortcomings of the cheaper versions.AI to the rescue?Microsoft's Copilot+ program was announced in May, with the promise of additional locally processed generative AI features that went above and beyond the Copilot chatbot that Microsoft has been pushing aggressively (and changing constantly) for the last two years. To meet the requirements for Copilot+ label and the marketing push behind it, PCs must have a recent high-end processor, at least 16GB of memory, and at least 256GB of storage. The flagship Copilot+ PCMicrosoft's Surface Pro Xhas a higher starting price is higher than the Surface Pro 9's (at least when it's not on sale, which it currently is), but you can at least buy it confident that you'll get a decently capable and future-proof PC.Apple's face-turn on the RAM questionits first bump to the Mac's base amount of RAM in 12 yearsdidn't come tied to any specific feature. All of the Apple Intelligence stuff that has been announced or released so far will work on Macs, iPads, and iPhones with just 8GB of RAM (one Xcode feature briefly required 16GB of RAM over the summer, but Apple dropped that requirement). But the across-the-board upgrade to 16GB came alongside the first wave of Apple Intelligence features, which were all featured prominently in all of Apple's marketing materials for the new models. The M4 Mac mini launched with the first Apple Intelligence features. Getting 16GB of RAM for $599 makes it Apple's best base-model Mac mini ever. Credit: Andrew Cunningham It does at least seem likely, then, that Apple is laying the groundwork for future AI-powered features that either work exclusively on Macs with more RAM, or work best on Macs with more RAM. Whatever the reason, something that had been a flat $200 upgrade to any Mac for years and years was suddenly included in the base price, lowering the prices for all other RAM upgrades by $200 as well.The reason I like a RAM upgrade is that it's broadly useful even if you actively dislike generative AI and plan to try as hard as you possibly can to keep it off of your computers entirely. Adding a better GPU is of limited usefulness if you don't play games; making a CPU faster is likewise not super necessary if all you're doing is browsing or doing hobbyist-level content creation; adding an NPU to a system does basically nothing at all for the vast majority of users at this point. But adding more memory to your system will help with everything you do, even if you're just loading a bunch of basic-but-RAM-hungry web apps and modern webpages in a browser.The 8GB-to-16GB bump doesn't fix things at the low end of the PC market, where most PCs still come with 8GB of memory (and some of the cheapest still come with 4GB). But it is now somewhat less likely that I will buy a $1,200 computer with the same memory capacity as a $500 computer. Given the proliferation of ads, spammy notifications, and other signs of endemic platform rot that Windows users in particular have been dealing with the last few years, I believe this is the kernel of good that comes with the pile of bad.Andrew CunninghamSenior Technology ReporterAndrew CunninghamSenior Technology Reporter Andrew is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica, with a focus on consumer tech including computer hardware and in-depth reviews of operating systems like Windows and macOS. Andrew lives in Philadelphia and co-hosts a weekly book podcast called Overdue. 113 Comments

The US Treasury has been hacked by China-backed actors in what the agency called a "major cybersecurity incident."Hackers accessed "certain unclassified documents" through Treasury workstations, wrote a Treasury official.The US is also probing years-long hacking from China. Microsoft named the group "Salt Typhoon."China-backed hackers have accessed some US Treasury Department computers, the agency told Congress in a letter on Monday.The Treasury learned of the hacking on December 8 when BeyondTrust, a third-party software provider, notified the agency that a hacker had gained access to a key used by BeyondTrust to get into a cloud-based service that provided remote technical support.Aditi Hardikar, the Treasury's assistant secretary for management, wrote in the agency's letter that the hackers accessed "certain unclassified documents" through Treasury workstations.The breach is considered a "major cybersecurity incident," wrote Hardikar. The hackers do not still have access to the agency's information, per her letter.The Chinese embassy in Washington DC hit back at the accusation, saying in a statement to Bloomberg that the US was making "smear attacks against China without any factual basis.""The US needs to stop using cybersecurity to smear and slander China, and stop spreading all kinds of disinformation about the so-called Chinese hacking threat," added the Chinese embassy.The embassy did not immediately respond to a Business Insider request for comment outside regular business hours.A BeyondTrust spokesperson told BI that a "limited number of customers" were involved in the security incident. The customers have been notified and offered support, he added.Georgia-based BeyondTrust holds over $4 million worth of federal government contracts, according to a Bloomberg compilation of government data.The news of the Treasury's hacking comes as the US government continues to probe what US security officials say is a a years-long hacking campaign that originates in China.The investigation started in the summer following alerts from Microsoft, which named the hacker group Salt Typhoon.White House Deputy national security advisor Anne Neuberger told reporters earlier this month that while data belonging to millions of Americans was likely compromised, the hack targeted senior US officials."We believe the calls they recorded and took was really more focused on very senior political individuals," she said.

If you've been looking for AirPods-like convenience for your console of choice, we've got good news the SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds offer just what you're looking forTech06:00, 31 Dec 2024There's even noise cancelling tech insideWhen AirPods first launched, they were memed to high heaven but if you've been on a bus, train, or to an airport recently there's a good chance you've seen plenty of people using them.Apple's nifty buds have helped popularise 'truly wireless' audio, even if some other brands do it just as well (or better), but gaming is starting to get in on the act, too.While a few manufacturers (including Sony) have been giving gamers fantastic audio quality in a diminutive design, I've been testing the SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds for a few weeks now and I think they might be the best of the bunch. In fact, it'll take some convincing to go back to a standard headset.The SteelSeries Gamebuds are ideal for any platform, or going out and aboutIf you've been using any earbuds in the last few years, you'll likely have a good idea of what to expect when opening up the SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds.They come in a pocketable case (although not as small as some non-gaming options) which acts as a portable charger, and they also have a slot for the USB-C dongle that connects them to your system of choice.Each bud can be used on their own, and there are a variety of eartips to not only maximise comfort, but also to prevent a more secure seal. That's important for the Arctis Gamebuds' noise cancellation feature, but I'll come to that shortly.The SteelSeries Gamebuds let you ditch your old headsetSetup is simple, with Bluetooth supported and a 2.4Ghz setting available via the aforementioned dongle, although you may need to use a cable to hook it up to your console (I plugged it into my PS5 Pro via the cable, and then hid it behind the console).The buds are comfortable, too. In the name of science I popped mine in for a quick weights session at the gym, and while the average gamer might not take them for a bench press session, they'll undoubtedly stay in your ears when you're kicking back on the sofa, even with no 'fin' like some brands use.Each of the buds has built-in controls, letting you switch between connectivity modes, but the SteelSeries Arctis app also lets you fiddle with things like EQ, noise cancelling and more if you don't want to learn the various button presses.I may never use a headset on my PS5 againSo, how do they sound? In short, very impressive indeed. The first thing I noticed about the Gamebuds is just how loud they can get. Even if you're not in noise cancellation mode, they can block out pretty much everything around you if you turn them up loud enough, much to my wife's chagrin. There is a noise limiter, though, which is ideal if your hearing is better than mine and you want to keep it that way.The Arctis app on iOS and Android has over 100 presets you can use, and while Black Ops 6 is missing, the Modern Warfare 3 one works just as well. Other options included everything from Baldur's Gate 3 to Black Myth: Wukong, and while not all of them make a huge difference, they help keep things feeling pretty well-tuned to whatever you're playing.In Call of Duty, for example, I appreciated the deep bass of explosions and some impressive directional audio, while switching over to something like Diablo 4 has more of a middle-range. You can create your own presets, too, and I could quite easily spend days tweaking audio settings for titles like Path of Exile 2 and more.SteelSeries' earbuds are like AirPods for your console(Image: Amazon)My only complaint, audio-wise, comes from the mic. When using the buds in Marvel Rivals, my Discord group couldn't hear me until I adjusted the input settings to increase the volume of the mic in the PS5's settings. It's not a deal-breaker, and it works perfectly now, but it's worth mentioning when you first pop them in.Something I absolutely love is the noise cancellation. This really helps get you in the zone, and actually helped me hone in on an opponents' footsteps in Call of Duty Warzone by virtue of being able to hear them better.Over-ear headphones tend to provide a better seal for audio, but for earbuds you can keep in your pocket and wear on the street, these are a perfect fit for my more competitive moments on the PS5.Minor mic hurdle aside, I can't see myself returning to a full headset option on my PS5 for the foreseeable future. The compact SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds offer great audio quality, the convenience of being able to go anywhere, and noise cancelling for those clutch moments.Article continues belowReview unit provided by the manufacturer.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

House U / Shinta Hamada ArchitectsSave this picture!Architects: Shinta Hamada ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:116 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2020 PhotographsPhotographs:Ken'ichi SuzukiManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Hitachi Air Conditioning, Daiko, Hafele, Sanwa, TotoMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The site is located in a suburban agricultural area, with rice fields on the east side, a shrine surrounded by forests on the south side, a residential area on the west side, and fields on the north side.Save this picture!Feeing such natural environments every day, three families (eight members) with different hobbies and lifestyles live under one large roof in this house. Therefore, we designed a simple architecture that can flexibly respond to future changes in the family and easily change the floor plan.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!First, we planned a compact square building in the center of the long and narrow site. Then planned two gardens, a private garden on the north side and an open garden that can also be used as a parking space on the south side. As the main composition of the building, we distributed four cores consisting of kitchen, bathroom, toilet and entrance, and set up four private rooms of the same size between these cores.Save this picture!And the central space where all the rooms are related was made into a common space. And we designed a large roof to block the strong sunlight and rain and wind peculiar to this area, and provided a large opening in a part of the roof to guide natural light to the central space with no windows.Save this picture!Each private room are located at the four corners of the building, so the landscapes you can see are different. And by designing a deep under-roof space made of the same material as the interior, we created a space that feels wider than the real area. On the other hand, when you open the door, you can always connect to the central common space, and you can feel the connection of your family wherever you are.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMaterialWoodMaterials and TagsPublished on December 31, 2024Cite: "House U / Shinta Hamada Architects" 31 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/954929/house-u-shinta-hamada-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save?U / Shinta Hamada ArchitectsYou've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Project Files: https://www.patreon.com/posts/118988323 .Here is a preview of menu system and the Maps and Mini map system updated into unreal engine 5.5. Menu system will have following features. - main menu- game menu (new game, continue)- gameplay options - display options - audio options - video options - graphics options - basic hud- pause menu - Language optionsFeatures of Mini-Map - Shows the layout of the surrounding area.- Shows an icon represents the player in the middle. - Changes the orientation and updated in real-time as the player moves around.- Shows icons for enemies and other characters in the level.- All the icons that represent dynamic entities such as characters are updated in real time. - Shows icons for waypoints, checkpoints, custom markers and other points of interest in the map.- Icons that are out of the mini-map range hovers in the edge of the mini-map.- Can be adapted to a map of any size. - Icon sizes and image can be customized per object.- Can easily make any actor appear in maps by adding a map-icon actor component.- Support custom waypoints.Features of Main Map- Shows an icon that represent the player character's location and the facing direction. - Shows icons for enemy characters positions and facing directions. - Shows icons for waypoints, checkpoints, custom markers and other points of interest in the map.- Supports zoom in and zoom out. - All the icons of dynamic entities are updated. - Icon sizes and image can be customized per object.- Can easily make any actor appear in maps by adding a map-icon actor component.- Can be adapted to a map of any scale. - Allows fast travel option.- Support custom waypoints . Menu System: https://youtu.be/CmYyFsNmwRM Map and Minimap: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNTm9yU0zou6xdEqL2QSSfanaZ3KA_vU7 // ! https://www.patreon.com/codelikeme Patrons will have access to project files of all the stuff I do in the channel and other extra benefitsJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClb6Jh9EBV7a_Nm52Ipll_Q/join Like my facebook page for more content : https://www.facebook.com/gamedevelopersclub/ Follow me on twitter : https://twitter.com/CodeLikeMe2 Follow me on reddit : https://www.reddit.com/user/codelikeme #CodeLikeMe #unrealengine #ue4 #indiegamedev

Nature, Published online: 19 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08525-3Signatures of ambient pressure superconductivity in thin film La3Ni2O7

Nature, Published online: 19 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04169-5Three researchers talk about life in companies and the key to unlocking opportunities.