Living Room | Toa Heftiba via UnsplashSofa covers are one of the most effective, affordable ways to breathe new life into old furniture. Whether youre looking to protect your investment, match your home decor, or update the look of your living room, a well-chosen sofa cover can serve multiple purposes. In this article, we will explore how sofa covers combine style and functionality, providing a comprehensive guide to choosing the perfect cover for every type of home.The Importance of Sofa CoversSofa covers are far more than just decorative additions to your furniture. They offer crucial protection for your sofas, safeguarding them from the everyday wear and tear that can result from constant use. Spills, pet fur, stains, and even fading from sunlight are common threats to a sofas longevity. By using a sofa cover, you are essentially prolonging the life of your furniture, reducing the need for expensive repairs or even replacements. This added protection is invaluable in a world where furniture can be a significant investment.Beyond protection, sofa covers are a simple yet effective way to enhance the aesthetics of your space. If your sofa shows signs of age or doesnt fit your updated home decor, a sofa cover can work wonders. It can refresh the look of a tired, old piece of furniture, instantly making it more visually appealing without needing a full makeover. With so many styles, colors, and fabrics, sofa covers offer a quick and easy way to bring new life to your living area.Styles of Sofa Covers to Suit Every HomeNo matter what type of home decor you prefer, theres a sofa cover style that fits your taste. Traditional homes often benefit from soft, floral patterns or neutral tones that exude a sense of comfort and timeless elegance. These covers add warmth to a living room, helping to maintain a cozy atmosphere. Textured fabrics like chenille can also be an excellent choice for creating a classic look that complements antique or vintage furniture.Simple and sleek sofa covers are ideal for those with a modern, minimalist aesthetic. Solid colors in shades like charcoal, taupe, or navy can effortlessly match contemporary furnishings and complement open spaces. Geometric patterns or subtle stripes can also lend an edge to your furniture without overwhelming the room. For a truly modern feel, look for sofa covers made from innovative materials, such as faux leather or velvet, which can provide comfort and a stylish finish.Practical Features to Look for in a Sofa Cover Maria Orlova via Unsplash Aranprime via UnsplashWhile style is a significant consideration, the practicality of a sofa cover should never be overlooked. First and foremost, the material of the cover plays a key role in its durability and ease of maintenance. Cotton is a popular choice for its softness and breathability, while polyester blends offer a good balance between durability and affordability. Faux leather options can add a chic, contemporary flair to your sofa, but remember that they may require special care to avoid cracking or fading.Fit is another crucial factor when selecting a sofa cover. A tailored cover will provide a more polished, custom look, fitting snugly over your furniture. However, universal stretch covers are also a great choice for those who need versatility. These covers are designed to stretch and mold to the shape of your sofa, ensuring that they stay in place without looking too loose or ill-fitting. Whether you choose a tailored or universal fit, measuring your sofa accurately is essential to ensure the cover fits correctly.How to Choose the Right Sofa Cover for Your NeedsChoosing the right sofa cover comes down to understanding your needs and personal preferences. The first thing to consider is the overall aesthetic of your home. If you are redecorating or refreshing your space, choose a cover that complements your rooms colors and design elements. Consider the rooms existing color scheme and any furniture pieces that might need to coordinate with your new sofa cover. For example, if your walls are painted in soft, neutral tones, a vibrant sofa cover can add color and act as the focal point.Another consideration is the level of durability you require. If your sofa sees heavy daily use, perhaps due to children or pets, look for covers made from high-performance materials that can withstand frequent washing and heavy wear. Microfiber and polyester blends are great options for such environments, as they are durable and stain-resistant.ConclusionSofa covers offer a stylish and practical solution for revamping your homes furniture. They protect your investment, refresh your living space, and allow you to experiment with new styles without the commitment of purchasing new furniture. With many options available, from budget-friendly choices to custom-made designs, theres a perfect sofa cover for every home. Whether you buy one or make your own, adding a sofa cover is an easy and effective way to enhance your homes aesthetic and functionality.FurnitureTips Leave a comment

It's high time to ditch the traditional upright vacuum, even if you have dogs, cats, or both. As a robot vacuum reviewer, pet hair is one of my pet peeves, so evaluating how a robot vacuum performs against it is one of the main characteristics I look for when testing these robots. With a very hairy dog and three young kids, the only thing that keeps my floors clean without manually vacuuming daily is a great robot vacuumthat tackles the task for me.When shopping for the best robot vacuum options to control the pet hair on your floors, there are quite a few features to consider. Look for robot vacuums with strong suction to pick up each strand of hair, obstacle avoidance to avoid larger items your pet may leave behind, ability to avoid hair tangles, capable navigation features you can trust, and any extra features important to you. Budget and floor types are also key factors when shopping for any robot vacuum.What is the best robot vacuum for pet hair right now?Since there are so many robot vacuums, you may wonder which is best for your home. We've tested dozens of robot vacuums at home and in everyday life, and our top choice to tackle pet hair is the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max due to its outstanding suction power, self-emptying dust bin, self-washing mop pad, tangle-resistant brush rollers, and iRobot's Pet Owner Official Promise (P.O.O.P. guarantee). However, several other robot vacuum options are worth considering, depending on your floor type and how much your pet sheds. Sort by All Battery life Navigation Object avoidance Ease of maintenance Suction power The best robot vacuums for pet hair of 2024 Show less The Roomba Combo 10 Max is one of the top-performing robot vacuums against pet hair. Many robot vacuums go through my home for testing, but this one earned a permanent spot.Part of why it's so loved is because it can handle all of the pet hair on all our floor types, whether it's been one or several days since it last ran. The robot self-empties as soon as the dustbin is full instead of waiting until the end of the job, like other robot vacuums. If it is peak shedding season, it's common for the Combo 10 Max to empty four or five times during a single job, never leaving any pet hair behind, even on carpets.Review: iRobot Roomba Combo 10 MaxIn addition, it's simply an intelligent robot. The Roomba Combo 10 Max comes with the P.O.O.P. guarantee, an innovative promise from the manufacturer that the robot vacuum will avoid pet waste instead of creating accidental smearing, or iRobot will replace your robot at no additional cost. This means the robot vacuum is also good at avoiding pet toys, shoes, cords, and other household objects.Customers agree, touting the vacuum's ability to navigate obstacles and deliver clean floors. One reviewer commented, "We have a combination of flooring in our house and especially like the mop option to clean our hardwood floors. I appreciate the smart capabilities of mapping our house and then using Alexa to run it. Having the AutoWash Dock is awesome as well, self-cleaning the robot and the dock. This saves me time and energy as it empties the debris, refills the mopping tank and washes and dries the mop pad."iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max specs: Price:$999 (limited-time deal)|Battery life:120 mins |Base station dimensions:15.7 x 12 x 13.3 inches |Suction power: Not specified|Dustbin volume:300 ml |Water tank capacity:170 ml Battery life 8 Navigation 10 Object avoidance 9 Ease of maintenance 7 Suction power 8 Pros Self-emptying & self-washing Intelligent Smart Mapping technology User-friendly app Pet waste avoidance Cons Loud when it self-empties Prone to bugs iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max Best robot vacuum for pet hair overall 4.2 / 5 Score The Roomba Combo 10 Max is one of the top-performing robot vacuums against pet hair. Many robot vacuums go through my home for testing, but this one earned a permanent spot.Part of why it's so loved is because it can handle all of the pet hair on all our floor types, whether it's been one or several days since it last ran. The robot self-empties as soon as the dustbin is full instead of waiting until the end of the job, like other robot vacuums. If it is peak shedding season, it's common for the Combo 10 Max to empty four or five times during a single job, never leaving any pet hair behind, even on carpets.Review: iRobot Roomba Combo 10 MaxIn addition, it's simply an intelligent robot. The Roomba Combo 10 Max comes with the P.O.O.P. guarantee, an innovative promise from the manufacturer that the robot vacuum will avoid pet waste instead of creating accidental smearing, or iRobot will replace your robot at no additional cost. This means the robot vacuum is also good at avoiding pet toys, shoes, cords, and other household objects.Customers agree, touting the vacuum's ability to navigate obstacles and deliver clean floors. One reviewer commented, "We have a combination of flooring in our house and especially like the mop option to clean our hardwood floors. I appreciate the smart capabilities of mapping our house and then using Alexa to run it. Having the AutoWash Dock is awesome as well, self-cleaning the robot and the dock. This saves me time and energy as it empties the debris, refills the mopping tank and washes and dries the mop pad."iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max specs: Price:$999 (limited-time deal)|Battery life:120 mins |Base station dimensions:15.7 x 12 x 13.3 inches |Suction power: Not specified|Dustbin volume:300 ml |Water tank capacity:170 ml Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon The Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum has become a staple among budget-friendly robot vacuums, beloved by users and appreciated by wallets. Though its retail price is $250, it's common to see its price drop to as low as $120 -- it's currently available for $200.If you're looking for a no-frills robot vacuum to tackle your floors without paying for all the bells and whistles, the Eufy 11S Max is for you. This robot vacuum can offer up to 100 minutes of cleaning and features a slim build, at only 2.85 inches tall. Simplicity is the name of the game with the 11S Max, so it doesn't automatically empty its dustbin and doesn't create thorough maps of your home -- it simply gets the job done.Also: I compared a $90 robot vacuum to a $700 one. Here's my buying advice for budget shoppersThis is a pretty popular Eufy robot vacuum, and it maintains a high rating despite its popularity, which speaks volumes about its performance. One buyer commented, "I really like this! It does a nice job cleaning up the dog hair and other things that get on my floor and saves me a lot of time not vacuuming daily. If you have a dog, I would watch them with this first before you use it. My dog was initially scared of it but sniffed its 'butt,' and now they are cool, and she does not mind it at all. Pleased with this product and would recommend!"Shark ION AV751 features: Price:$200 |Battery life:100 mins |Suction power: 2,000Pa|Dustbin volume:600 ml |Water tank capacity:No mopping feature Battery life 7 Navigation 3 Object avoidance 3 Ease of maintenance 5 Suction power 6 Pros Slim Small charging dock Boosts suction over carpets Cons No mapping capability Can't self empty Eufy 11S Max Best budget robot vacuum for pet hair 2.4 / 5 Score The Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum has become a staple among budget-friendly robot vacuums, beloved by users and appreciated by wallets. Though its retail price is $250, it's common to see its price drop to as low as $120 -- it's currently available for $200.If you're looking for a no-frills robot vacuum to tackle your floors without paying for all the bells and whistles, the Eufy 11S Max is for you. This robot vacuum can offer up to 100 minutes of cleaning and features a slim build, at only 2.85 inches tall. Simplicity is the name of the game with the 11S Max, so it doesn't automatically empty its dustbin and doesn't create thorough maps of your home -- it simply gets the job done.Also: I compared a $90 robot vacuum to a $700 one. Here's my buying advice for budget shoppersThis is a pretty popular Eufy robot vacuum, and it maintains a high rating despite its popularity, which speaks volumes about its performance. One buyer commented, "I really like this! It does a nice job cleaning up the dog hair and other things that get on my floor and saves me a lot of time not vacuuming daily. If you have a dog, I would watch them with this first before you use it. My dog was initially scared of it but sniffed its 'butt,' and now they are cool, and she does not mind it at all. Pleased with this product and would recommend!"Shark ION AV751 features: Price:$200 |Battery life:100 mins |Suction power: 2,000Pa|Dustbin volume:600 ml |Water tank capacity:No mopping feature Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon If you're looking for a powerhouse robot vacuum and mop, the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo Complete is the machine for you. This 3-in-1 machine has 8,700Pa of suction power, dual rotating mop heads, a cordless vacuum for quick cleanups, and an Omni Station that does your dirty work. You can use the cordless vacuum to pick up pet hair from your area rugs or clean up crumbs from your couch, then set it to charge on the Omni station and watch as the contents of its dustbin automatically empty into the dust bag within.Review:Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo CompleteThe AI-powered Robot intelligently navigates your home and recognizes your soft floors, carpet, and rugs versus tile, hardwood, or laminate. The mop heads can lift 0.60 inches, easily keeping your rugs dry during cleaning.The Deebot X2 Combo Complete has easily kept up with my three (messy) kids and my mutt mixed with some of the hairiest breeds -- husky, golden retriever, coonhound, and German shepherd. That should speak for itself. As a robot vacuum and mop, you can rest assured that your pet's hair will be vacuumed while the dirty paw prints are washed away.Customer reviews agree with my assessment: "The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo engineers, designers, and programmers did their homework and then went out and built an incredible, not just vacuum but a solidly built system that shines in its accomplishment."Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo Completefeatures: Price:$1,240 (limited-time deal) |Battery life:210 mins |Base station dimensions:20.6 x 17.4 x 21.8 inches |Suction power:8,700Pa|Dustbin volume:379 ml |Water tank capacity:180 ml Pros Cordless vacuum, robot vacuum, and mop in one 8,700Pa suction Dual oscillating mop heads Cons Object avoidance could be better Expensive If you're looking for a powerhouse robot vacuum and mop, the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo Complete is the machine for you. This 3-in-1 machine has 8,700Pa of suction power, dual rotating mop heads, a cordless vacuum for quick cleanups, and an Omni Station that does your dirty work. You can use the cordless vacuum to pick up pet hair from your area rugs or clean up crumbs from your couch, then set it to charge on the Omni station and watch as the contents of its dustbin automatically empty into the dust bag within.Review:Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo CompleteThe AI-powered Robot intelligently navigates your home and recognizes your soft floors, carpet, and rugs versus tile, hardwood, or laminate. The mop heads can lift 0.60 inches, easily keeping your rugs dry during cleaning.The Deebot X2 Combo Complete has easily kept up with my three (messy) kids and my mutt mixed with some of the hairiest breeds -- husky, golden retriever, coonhound, and German shepherd. That should speak for itself. As a robot vacuum and mop, you can rest assured that your pet's hair will be vacuumed while the dirty paw prints are washed away.Customer reviews agree with my assessment: "The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo engineers, designers, and programmers did their homework and then went out and built an incredible, not just vacuum but a solidly built system that shines in its accomplishment."Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo Completefeatures: Price:$1,240 (limited-time deal) |Battery life:210 mins |Base station dimensions:20.6 x 17.4 x 21.8 inches |Suction power:8,700Pa|Dustbin volume:379 ml |Water tank capacity:180 ml Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon The Eufy X8 Pro is a midrange two-in-one machine that keeps my carpets and rugs clean. The Dual TurboCyclone Suction has four different settings, and paired with the BoostIQ, the robot intelligently ramps up the suction when it encounters soft flooring. Dog and cat hair was easily lifted away, leaving behind beautiful carpet lines in its path.Review:Eufy X8 ProThe X8 Pro is equipped with iPath Laser Navigation to map your home and clean it with efficient rows, but it isn't equipped with object detection. If you can live with picking up your floors before the X8 Pro runs, you'll be impressed with its cleaning capabilities.Pet owners rave about the X8 Pro's cleaning ability, even without object detection. One customer said, "I'm thrilled with this purchase. I can walk around in socks or bare feet comfortably, and when my fam stops by unannounced I don't have to rush to clean up or be embarrassed that I can't keep up with all the things."Eufy X8 Profeatures: Price:$325(limited-time deal)|Battery life:100 mins |Base station dimensions:13.8 x 18 x 15 inches |Suction power: 4,000Pa |Dustbin volume:335 ml |Water tank capacity:No mopping feature Battery life 7 Navigation 9 Object avoidance 3 Ease of maintenance 8 Suction power 7 Pros Dual 4000Pa suction Self-emptying Cons No obstacle avoidance No mopping feature Eufy X8 Pro Best robot vacuum for pet hair on carpet 3.4 / 5 Score The Eufy X8 Pro is a midrange two-in-one machine that keeps my carpets and rugs clean. The Dual TurboCyclone Suction has four different settings, and paired with the BoostIQ, the robot intelligently ramps up the suction when it encounters soft flooring. Dog and cat hair was easily lifted away, leaving behind beautiful carpet lines in its path.Review:Eufy X8 ProThe X8 Pro is equipped with iPath Laser Navigation to map your home and clean it with efficient rows, but it isn't equipped with object detection. If you can live with picking up your floors before the X8 Pro runs, you'll be impressed with its cleaning capabilities.Pet owners rave about the X8 Pro's cleaning ability, even without object detection. One customer said, "I'm thrilled with this purchase. I can walk around in socks or bare feet comfortably, and when my fam stops by unannounced I don't have to rush to clean up or be embarrassed that I can't keep up with all the things."Eufy X8 Profeatures: Price:$325(limited-time deal)|Battery life:100 mins |Base station dimensions:13.8 x 18 x 15 inches |Suction power: 4,000Pa |Dustbin volume:335 ml |Water tank capacity:No mopping feature Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is the company's latest flagship robot vacuum and mop combination, featuring advanced cleaning capabilities. With 10,000Pa of suction power, I had a great time testing it over a few months with various debris types, including coffee grounds, crumbs, and pet hair.The S8 MaxV Ultra's vacuuming performance was exceptional, particularly in picking up pet hair from rugs and carpets. surpassing many other popular robot vacuums. The robot features a dual rubber roller brush system, which helps prevent hair tangles and empties periodically during cleansing sessions. Its AI capabilities let the S8 MaxV Ultra detect debris and adjust its cleaning power accordingly.Review:Roborock S8 MaxV UltraThis robot's mopping feature is pretty good, with room for improvement, as it often leaves streaks behind due to the brush design. I've come to prefer a robot vacuum and mop with dual rotating mop heads or a mop roller over a vibrating mop pad, which is what the S8 MaxV Ultra features. Despite this minor drawback, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra's hands-free dock, outstanding vacuum performance, and comprehensive app features make it a compelling choice for automated cleaning in homes with pets."Let me start off by saying that we have three Siberian Huskies in this house. That is a LOT of fur. We've had a couple of iRobot Roombas over the years, and they helped cut down the amount of time I spent sweeping up fur by a fair amount, but I had grown weary of the issues with them," one buyer wrote. "Both in removing it from the floors and being able to remove it from the machine, I give it a 12/10. Despite my Husky pack's best efforts, there are no fluff drifts. I still have to bust out the Dyson on the weekly to get the cracks and crannies, but I could probably get away with less often if I was slightly less extra about the fur removal. But seriously? Whoever designed the roller was a frigging genius."Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra features: Price:$1,500 (limited-time deal) |Battery life:180 mins |Base station dimensions:16.1 x 17.6 x 18.5 inches |Suction power:10,000Pa |Dustbin volume:270 ml |Water tank capacity:100 ml Battery life 9 Navigation 8 Object avoidance 7 Ease of maintenance 9 Suction power 10 Pros 10,000 Pa suction Good obstacle avoidance Self-cleaning mop head Cons Expensive Mop is best suited for maintenance cleaning Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Best robot vacuum and mop combo for pet hair 4.3 / 5 Score The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is the company's latest flagship robot vacuum and mop combination, featuring advanced cleaning capabilities. With 10,000Pa of suction power, I had a great time testing it over a few months with various debris types, including coffee grounds, crumbs, and pet hair.The S8 MaxV Ultra's vacuuming performance was exceptional, particularly in picking up pet hair from rugs and carpets. surpassing many other popular robot vacuums. The robot features a dual rubber roller brush system, which helps prevent hair tangles and empties periodically during cleansing sessions. Its AI capabilities let the S8 MaxV Ultra detect debris and adjust its cleaning power accordingly.Review:Roborock S8 MaxV UltraThis robot's mopping feature is pretty good, with room for improvement, as it often leaves streaks behind due to the brush design. I've come to prefer a robot vacuum and mop with dual rotating mop heads or a mop roller over a vibrating mop pad, which is what the S8 MaxV Ultra features. Despite this minor drawback, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra's hands-free dock, outstanding vacuum performance, and comprehensive app features make it a compelling choice for automated cleaning in homes with pets."Let me start off by saying that we have three Siberian Huskies in this house. That is a LOT of fur. We've had a couple of iRobot Roombas over the years, and they helped cut down the amount of time I spent sweeping up fur by a fair amount, but I had grown weary of the issues with them," one buyer wrote. "Both in removing it from the floors and being able to remove it from the machine, I give it a 12/10. Despite my Husky pack's best efforts, there are no fluff drifts. I still have to bust out the Dyson on the weekly to get the cracks and crannies, but I could probably get away with less often if I was slightly less extra about the fur removal. But seriously? Whoever designed the roller was a frigging genius."Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra features: Price:$1,500 (limited-time deal) |Battery life:180 mins |Base station dimensions:16.1 x 17.6 x 18.5 inches |Suction power:10,000Pa |Dustbin volume:270 ml |Water tank capacity:100 ml Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon The Narwal Freo X Ultra is a $1,400 robot vacuum and mop that excels at picking up pet hair from hard floors. Its innovative technology makes it outstanding at cleaning without getting its brush roller tangled up in random objects. The Freo X Ultra has a self-emptying dustbin that allows up to seven weeks of debris storage before emptying.Review: Narwal Freo X UltraZDNET's Jack Wallen has been a Narwal user for some time and recently upgraded to the Narwal Freo X Ultra and loved the experience. "I can leave the house while the robot is doing its thing without worrying it's going to wrap up a cord and take something down (or stop the job because it doesn't quite understand that the corner of a rug isn't something it should suck up," Wallen wrote in his review.Overall, the Freo X Ultra performs exceptionally well compared to other high-end units, often matching the capabilities of more expensive models. One buyer says, "The Narwal Ultra X's performance is where it truly shines. After mapping my house, which features hardwood flooring and several area rugs, I tested it with both vacuuming and mopping. The vacuum noise level is comparable to my old iRobot, but the Narwal Ultra X boasts much higher suction power. It handled long hairs on the floor effortlessly, a particularly impressive feature."Narwal Freo X Plus features:Price:$1,400 |Battery life:254 mins |Base station dimensions:13.7 x 14 x 4.2 inches |Suction power:7,800Pa|Dustbin volume:800 ml |Water tank capacity:280 ml Battery life 10 Navigation 8 Object avoidance 7 Ease of maintenance 9 Suction power 8 Pros Excels on hard floors 7-week dust storage Great obstacle avoidance Cons Mop is best suited for maintenance It's expensive Narwal Freo X Ultra Best robot vacuum for pet hair on hard floors 4.2 / 5 Score The Narwal Freo X Ultra is a $1,400 robot vacuum and mop that excels at picking up pet hair from hard floors. Its innovative technology makes it outstanding at cleaning without getting its brush roller tangled up in random objects. The Freo X Ultra has a self-emptying dustbin that allows up to seven weeks of debris storage before emptying.Review: Narwal Freo X UltraZDNET's Jack Wallen has been a Narwal user for some time and recently upgraded to the Narwal Freo X Ultra and loved the experience. "I can leave the house while the robot is doing its thing without worrying it's going to wrap up a cord and take something down (or stop the job because it doesn't quite understand that the corner of a rug isn't something it should suck up," Wallen wrote in his review.Overall, the Freo X Ultra performs exceptionally well compared to other high-end units, often matching the capabilities of more expensive models. One buyer says, "The Narwal Ultra X's performance is where it truly shines. After mapping my house, which features hardwood flooring and several area rugs, I tested it with both vacuuming and mopping. The vacuum noise level is comparable to my old iRobot, but the Narwal Ultra X boasts much higher suction power. It handled long hairs on the floor effortlessly, a particularly impressive feature."Narwal Freo X Plus features:Price:$1,400 |Battery life:254 mins |Base station dimensions:13.7 x 14 x 4.2 inches |Suction power:7,800Pa|Dustbin volume:800 ml |Water tank capacity:280 ml Read More Show Expert Take Show less Former ZDNET editor Elizabeth Mauder contributed to this story. The best pet hair robot vacuums compared Though the Roomba j7+ is the best robot vacuum for handling pet hair, the other options may be better for different situations. A typical robot vacuum for cleaning pet hair can cost $150-$1,900, depending on its extra features and autonomy.See how the best pet hair robot vacuums compare to other models we use to keep up with our pets.Best robot vacuum for pet hairZDNET's takePriceSuction powerFunctionalitySelf-emptying dustbinBattery lifeiRobot Roomba Combo 10 MaxBest overall$999N/AVacuum and mopYes120 minsEufy X8 ProBest for carpet$3254,000PaVacuumYes100 minsEcovacs Deebot X2 Combo CompleteBest for multiple floor types$1,2408,700PaVacuum and mopYes210 minsNarwal Freo X UltraBest for hard floors$1,4008,200PaVacuum and mopYes210 minsEufy 11S MaxBest for a budget$200N/AVacuumNo100 minsRoborock S8 MaxV UltraBest 2-in-1$1,50010,000PaVacuum and mopYes180 mins*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts. Show more Which robot vacuum is best for you? There are hundreds of robot vacuums, so how do you know which is best for you? Here's a quick breakdown:Choose this robot vacuum mop...If you...iRobot Roomba Combo j7+Want the best robot vacuum to handle all of your pet hair. It's intelligent, has strong suction power, and will avoid pet accidents.Eufy X8 ProNeed a robot vacuum that can successfully tackle a lot of carpets and/or rugs.Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo CompleteHave multiple flooring surfaces throughout your house that must be vacuumed and mopped.Narwal Freo X UltraWant up to 7 weeks of dust storage and want a quick and efficient robot.Eufy 11S MaxWant a simple, straightforward robot vacuum without all the bells and whistles.Roborock S8 MaxV UltraWant a premium robot vacuum and mop machine that can keep up with all the pet hair and paw prints scattered throughout your house. Show more Robot vacuum vs. stick vacuum: Which is better for pet hair? If you're trying to decide whether a stick or a robot vacuum is the best option for tackling pet hair, the truth is that there isn't a black-and-white answer. Here's how they stack up:Robot vacuums are best suited for daily or every-other-day maintenance between deep cleaning sessions. They are ideal for low-pile carpets and hard floors, such as wood, tile, and vinyl. Stick vacuums are perfect for quick cleanups of crumbs or pet hair but can also be better suited to vacuum carpets more thoroughly than a robot vacuum. They provide stronger suction and versatility than robot vacuums, which helps them remove stubborn pet hair more effectively from carpets and rugs.I rotate both a stick vacuum and a robot vacuum in my home, while my old upright vacuum is relegated to monthly cleaning jobs for a deeper clean. I've found that combining a robot vacuum for daily automated cleanings and a stick vacuum for quick cleanups is the best way to keep my floors clean without a big hassle.Also: Forget Dyson: I tested Roborock's wet-dry hand vacuum and it left my floors spotlessSome robot and stick vacuum combinations, like the Ecovacs T30S Combo and Deebot X2 Combo, are available on the market, which greatly helps. This is especially true as the stick vacuum's canister on these devices self-empties into the same bag as the robot vacuum, making the entire experience easier. Show more Factors to consider when choosing a robot vacuum While trying to determine the best robot vacuum, I kept several factors at the forefront of my testing and research, which can also aid your search:Suction power: When weighing your options, compare each robot vacuum's different suction power features. Suction power is measured in Pascals (Pa); the higher the number, the better. Inexpensive options like the Eufy 11S Max feature a 2,000Pa suction, while more high-end options, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, have 10,000Pa. Also, consider that this number is the robot's peak power, so you'll likely have to set it up in its highest setting to reach the advertised number of Pascals.Floor types:Some robot vacuums are best equipped to work with different floor types, like carpet or hardwood, and can even automatically increase suction when the carpet is detected. Others perform best on hard floors but fall short on carpets. Before you buy, consider the type of flooring in your home and which vacuum is most appropriate.Mapping:For full automation, your robot vacuum must have a mapping feature to navigate each room. Robots use different sensors to create floorplan maps, including LiDAR, laser, and even artificial intelligence through cameras. Many robot vacuums use these sensors to detect cliffs and stop so they don't fall down the stairs. Depending on the tech used for mapping, robot vacuums clean in linear or random patterns, which is also something to consider if you like the look of carpet lines. Many robots can also create multi-floor mapping, which lets you move your robot vacuum to clean different levels in your home and save each map.Obstacle avoidance:An obstacle avoidance feature can have the robot vacuum avoid things like furniture, wires, socks, shoes, and even pet waste so the robot doesn't get its brush roller stuck on it or spread the mess all over your carpet. This feature is a must-have in my home with a dog and young kids who constantly leave objects strewn about.Battery:Consider the runtime before choosing the best robot vacuum to ensure it has enough power to clean your home, especially if you want to clean a large area in one go. If you select a robot vacuum with the technical capability to pause its job, return to the charging base to refill its battery, and then resume the job where it left off, this may not be as big of a factor as others on this list.Connectivity:Many of the best robot vacuums offer voice control, some through Amazon Alexa or Google Home, and others with built-in voice assistants. Most feature a mobile app that lets you control your robot remotely, set schedules, track progress, and control the machine's efforts.Extra features: Robot vacuum manufacturers often market extra features that may or may not be important to buyers, so choosing which features you'd like before buying is worth it. These include tangle-resistant brushes, self-emptying dustbins, the ability to set no-go zones and create schedules, mopping capabilities, and many more.Also: I changed these 10 things to maximize my robot vacuum's battery life Show more How did we test these robot vacuums for pet hair? ZDNET has several robot vacuum reviewers that have tested over 50 units thus far. We conduct tests in real homes with real challenges and in a controlled lab environment for comparison.Also:How we test robot vacuums at ZDNET in 2024Here's what we consider when testing robot vacuums and mops at ZDNET:Determine evaluation criteria:For our key evaluation criteria, we consider how robots perform by assessing their suction power, navigation, mapping, and battery life. We also assess the user experience, the robot's versatility, longevity, and whether it delivers on its specifications.Unboxing:During this process, we assess the packaging and setup experience and note any accessories and unique features.Testing environments:We test the robot vacuums on different floor types (like carpet and hardwood) and see how they navigate various obstacles to test performance.Performance metrics:We test suction power with various debris types and assess obstacle navigation and mapping accuracy.Extra features: When testing robot vacuum and mop combinations, we evaluate their effectiveness at removing stains and overall cleaning quality. We also check how unique features work, like obstacle avoidance and recognition, extendable mop pads, etc.To top it all off, we gauge the device's longevity and long-term performance by using it over the course of a few months. Our review timelines vary, but we typically test robot vacuums for about a month before reviewing and keep our reviews updated while the device is available. Show more FAQs on robot vacuums Shark vs Roomba: Which is best for pet hair? Shark and Roomba robot vacuums have pros and cons when handling pet hair. We've tested different models from both brands at ZDNET and have found that, while Shark robots tend to excel in suction, Roombas generally have better navigation and obstacle avoidance capabilities.Some Roomba robot vacuums also have dual brush rollers to help prevent hair tangles and advanced smart features, like P.O.O.P. But Shark tends to offer more affordable alternatives than Roomba, including in recurring expenses. Shark robot vacuums also notoriously handle pet hair well with self-cleaning brush rollers.In the end, choosing between Shark and Roomba will come down to the individual model and depend on the buyer's needs. Show more How often do you have to empty robot vacuums? Most of the vacuums on this list are self-emptying, so you don't have to worry about manually dumping the dust bin after every use. However, there are many on the market that you need to manually empty. How often you empty your robot vacuum dustbin depends on how much dirt, debris, and pet hair you have in your home. It's good to be realistic about your home's needs and proactive about emptying so your vacuum can continue suctioning up as much dirt as possible during its job.The self-emptying robot vacuums are typically emptied into a dust bag stored in the base station. The dust bags vary from one brand to another, but you can normally get around 60 days' worth of dirt and debris before needing to change the bag out. Show more How good are robot vacuums at cleaning pet hair out of carpets? Robot vacuums are often good at getting pet hair out of short-pile carpets but don't always perform as well on medium and high-pile carpets, as they can get stuck in them. However, robot vacuums are not as great at removing stubborn hair from carpet and rugs as some upright and stick vacuums.While many robot vacuums have very powerful suction, their brush rollers often to reach deep enough in the carpet to loosen up stubborn hair. Robot vacuums are perfect for keeping floors clean, but your rugs and carpets will still require a more thorough cleaning every few weeks to remove all the pet hair. Show more Are there reccurring expenses for robot vacuums? Most robot vacuums encourage you to replace the filter, rollers, and side sweeping brushes periodically to keep the devices performing optimally. Additionally, if your robot empties into a dust bag, it must be replaced every few months. Finally, some robot vacuum mops require a mop-cleaning solution that must be repurchased throughout the robot's lifetime. Show more Can robot vacuums avoid pet accidents? Robot vacuums are becoming increasingly intelligent with each new device, and they can now avoid various objects in your home, including pet waste. iRobot and Roborock are two robot vacuum companies claiming their devices can identify and avoid running over pet waste. Show more Other robot vacuums we've tested ZDNETs Robot Vacuum Guide Robot Vacuum Roundups Robot Vacuums Reviewed & Compared ZDNET Recommends

Beware this dark web face ID farmGetty ImagesA dark web criminal operation that appears to have been farming face ID images along with the genuine identity documents that accompany them has been unmasked, if youll pardon the pun, by threat intelligence researchers. Heres everything you need to know about this sophisticated approach to identity theft that, it would seem likely, has been using information willingly exchanged for financial reward to build the ID farming business.The Dark Web Face ID Farm ThreatResearchers from iProovs biometric threat intelligence unit have uncovered what appears to be a simple yet simultaneously sophisticated identity protection bypass operation being implemented on the dark web. Describing the significant operation as compromising identity verification systems through the systematic collection of genuine identity documents and images, the iProov analysts said that this demonstrates how the nature of identity fraud is evolving.As detailed in the iProov Q4 threat intelligence update for 2024, threat-insights the unnamed criminal dark web threat group behind the operation has amassed a substantial collection of identity documents and corresponding facial images, which, the report said, was specifically designed to defeat Know Your Customer verification processes. Such systems play a key role in preventing identity fraud against banks and other financial institutions, as I reported in a recent article concerning the use of AI to bypass biometric banking security checks.MORE FOR YOUWhat is most interesting to me in this particular case, however, is that this doesnt seem to have been a matter of scraping compromised biometric data from published stolen databases, but rather, it looks like the identities have been obtained by paying users for them.Dark Web Hackers Pay For Face ID And Supporting Identity DocumentsUsers Willingly Participate"What's particularly alarming about this discovery is not just the sophisticated nature of the operation, Andrew Newell, chief scientific officer at iProov, said, but the fact that individuals are willingly compromising their identities for short-term financial gain. And hes not wrong, as this isnt just a matter of selling their identity data but also risking their own security here. They're providing criminals with complete, genuine identity packages that can be used for sophisticated impersonation fraud. What makes this process even more dangerous is that what we are talking about here is the perfect storm of the identity matching pair: genuine documents and genuine matching biometric data, making them extremely difficult to detect through traditional verification methods, Newell warned. Boom.Do I really need to say this? If you are approached by anyone, knowingly from the dark web or, more likely not, offering you cold, hard cash in exchange for your image and copies of your identity documents, dont do it. No matter how much the short-term incentive, it could just as quickly turn into a very costly mistake.

Did you know orcas once turned salmon into quirky headwear in the 1980s? This "fad" disappeared by ... [+] the turn of the decade, but recently, theyve been spotted reviving this playful trend. This may be why.gettyThe 1980s was an iconic era for fashion, defined by bold colors, big hair and daring trends that turned heads. From neon leg warmers and acid-wash jeans to shoulder pads and parachute pants, the decades style was as unforgettable as it was experimental. Many of these looks became fleeting fads, embraced enthusiastically for a time before fading into the depths of pop culture history.Interestingly, humans werent the only ones experimenting with quirky trends in the '80s. Orcas, or killer whales, also adopted a bizarre behavior during this time that could only be described as a fadbalancing dead salmon on their heads like aquatic hats. Just as quickly as this trend appeared, it vanished, leaving researchers baffled and intrigued.All It Took Was For One Brave Orca To Balance A Salmon On Her HeadAnd The Salmon Hat Trend Took OffKiller whales are incredibly social and remarkably intelligent. Known for their advanced hunting strategies, orca pods display exceptional teamwork, planning, and foresight when taking down prey.But their intelligence isnt limited to hunting. Orcas also learn from each other, and this social learning has given rise to fascinating and often playful behaviors. Over the years, researchers have documented several orca fads that have come and gone, much like trends in human culture:Kelp draping. Orcas have been spotted draping strands of kelp over their dorsal fins or tails, seemingly just for fun.Wave surfing. In places like New Zealand, pods ride the waves created by passing boats, enjoying the thrill of surfing.Imitating dolphins. Some pods mimic the leaps and spins of dolphins, possibly as a form of social bonding or play.In 1987, one bold orca off the coast of British Columbia took creativity to a new level by balancing a dead salmon on her head. Whether it started as a playful gesture or an attempt to engage her pod, the behavior caught on quickly. Other orcas began mimicking the act, turning it into what researchers described as the salmon hat fad.MORE FOR YOUFor a few months, pods in the region could be spotted sporting salmon hats, a curious display of social learning and imitation. Just like fashion trends among humans, the behavior spread rapidly and disappeared just as mysteriously by the end of 1988.Until October 25, 2024, When We Observed An Orca Balancing A Salmon On Its HeadNearly 37 years after the salmon hat fad disappeared, it made an unexpected comeback. On October 25, 2024, a male orca known as J27, or Blackberry, was spotted in Puget Sound balancing a dead salmon on his head.The 32-year-old J27 seemed completely unfazed by his unusual accessory, carrying the salmon proudly, but going by his age, its obvious he is too young to have picked up the salmon hat trend from any of the fashion-forward orcas from the late 80s.The reemergence of this behavior raises fascinating questions. Did J27 independently invent this act, or could it be an echo of cultural memory, passed down within the pod over generations?Then theres the question of whether this can be considered a revival of the salmon hat fad at all. No other orcas were observed mimicking or responding to the behavior, leaving researchers uncertain if this was a one-off display or the beginning of a new trend.One Possible Reason Why Orcas Could Be Playing With Their FoodThe original pod observed playing with salmon in the late 1980s was located off the coast of British Columbia and Washington state, an area home to the southern resident killer whales.These orcas primarily feed on Chinook salmon, which are large, nutrient-rich fish and form a crucial part of their diet. The playful salmon hat behavior may have been a byproduct of their environment and circumstances at the time.Since the late 80s, when the salmon hat fad peaked, salmon populations have been on the decline in many regions around the world, including the waters around British Columbia. This decline, driven by overfishing, habitat degradation and climate change, has placed increasing pressure on orca populations that depend on salmon as a primary food source.Its possible that the salmon hat fad of the 1980s was a goofy response to an abundance of food. With ample access to salmon during that period, orcas may have felt less urgency to focus solely on hunting and instead indulged in playful or experimental behaviors. This behavior could have quickly spread through the pod, much like memes spread between humans today or like shoulder pads, neon leg warmers, and other quirky 80s fads took off among people.Puget Sound, had an healthy population of chum salmon this fall, which strengthens the argument that the recent salmon hat sighting was a goofy killer whales response to abundance of food. That said, there isnt enough data to say for certain that this is the only reason for the one-off observation.There was an abundance of chum salmon in Puget Sound, which is probably why J27 or "Blackberry" felt ... [+] comfortable playing with his food.gettyAnother Possible Explanation Is That Orcas Engage in Play to Strengthen Social BondsThe act of balancing a salmon on ones head could serve as a form of communication, signaling playfulness or camaraderie among pod members. This behavior might have been picked up and mimicked as a way to engage socially, much like other observed fads such as kelp draping or wave surfing.Orcas are intelligent creatures with a penchant for exploration and problem-solving. The salmon hat behavior could simply be an orcas way of interacting with its environment out of curiosity or boredom. Much like how humans invent games or activities, orcas may engage in novel behaviors to stimulate themselves mentally.Another intriguing possibility is that the salmon hat behavior is a display of individuality or skill. By balancing a salmon on its head, an orca might be showcasing its dexterity or attempting to stand out within the group. It might even help orcas attract mates. This could also explain why the behavior may catch on, as other orcas mimic it to demonstrate their own capabilities.While the October 25, 2024 sighting aligns with the theory that food abundance might play a role, behaviors like the salmon hat trend also highlight the complex social dynamics, intelligence and individuality of orcas. With more data and future observations, researchers may uncover a clearer understanding of what drives these fascinating marine mammals to adopt such playful antics.Orcas arent the only animals with unique quirks and playful behaviors. Just like killer whales express their individuality with salmon hats, your pets personality might reveal fascinating insights about their behavior and preferences. Take this Pet Personality Test to discover what makes your animal friend one of a kind.

In brief: Scientists at MIT have achieved a groundbreaking feat by creating a unique magnetic state in a material using light. By applying lasers, they successfully switched an antiferromagnetic material into an entirely new magnetic state. This discovery holds the potential to revolutionize next-generation memory and data storage technology, paving the way for chips far more advanced than today's standards. The research team, led by physics professor Nuh Gedik, concentrated on a material called FePS, a type of antiferromagnet that transitions to a non-magnetic state at around -247F. They hypothesized that precisely exciting the vibrations of FePS's atoms with lasers could disrupt its typical antiferromagnetic alignment and induce a new magnetic state.In conventional magnets (ferromagnets), all atomic spins align in the same direction, making their magnetic field easy to control. In contrast, antiferromagnets have a more complex up-down-up-down spin pattern that cancels out, resulting in zero net magnetization. While this property makes antiferromagnets highly resistant to stray magnetic influences an advantage for secure data storage it also creates challenges in intentionally switching them between "0" and "1" states for computing.Gedik's innovative laser-driven approach seeks to overcome this obstacle, potentially unlocking antiferromagnets for future high-performance memory and computational technologies.The team's innovative approach involved cooling a FePS sample below its transition temperature and then blasting it with a carefully tuned terahertz laser pulse. These lasers, oscillating over a trillion times per second, perfectly matched the natural vibrational frequencies of the material's atoms.Amazingly, the researchers discovered that these pulses pushed the material into a completely new, magnetized state that lasted for several milliseconds after the laser pulse ended. // Related StoriesWhile milliseconds may seem fleeting, in the quantum world, that's practically an eternity compared to prior attempts, as Gedik emphasized.Looking ahead, the researchers aim to refine and further understand these induced magnetic phases. The ultimate goal is to leverage antiferromagnets in next-generation data storage and processing hardware. Their robust magnetic domains, resistant to stray magnetic noise, could enable denser, more energy-efficient memory and logic chips compared to today's technology.However, significant engineering challenges remain before antiferromagnetic computers can become a reality. The team is optimistic, and their groundbreaking findings, published in Nature, represent a critical step toward that vision.

Universal PicturesTable of ContentsTable of ContentsThe Snowman (2017)Till Death (2021)Carry-On (2024)Collateral (2004)The Hateful Eight (2015)Christmas can be a time to enjoy wholesome movies together with the family. But if youre looking for something to get your blood pumping on Christmas that isnt sentimental or sweet, then Netflix has all of the thrillers you need to make it through to New Years Eve.Three of our picks for the five great Netflix thrillers to watch on Christmas share a snowy setting, but only one of them is explicitly a Christmas-related film. Regardless, all five movies are exciting to watch, especially when the twists in the stories arrive and make the viewer question what theyve seen before.Recommended VideosNeed more recommendations? We also have guides for the 10 best TV shows to watch on Christmas, the 10 best movies to watch on Christmas, the best Christmas movies on Netflix, the best Christmas movies on Disney+, the best Christmas movies on Hulu, the best Christmas movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best Christmas movies on Max, and the best Christmas movies on Hallmark Channel.RelatedUniversal PicturesThe Killers Michael Fassbender headlines The Snowman as Norwegian Police investigator Harry Hole, a man whose personal life is collapsing in a perfect storm of heartbreak and alcoholism. But his life is about to get a lot worse as a serial killer begins sending him taunting messages with enigmatic clues.Katrine Bratt (Silos Rebecca Ferguson) a new recruit to the police has her own reasons for chasing the killer that are personal to her. However, this murderer enjoys the game and revels in his increasingly brutal murders as Harry and Katrine try to catch him.Watch The Snowman on Netflix.Screen Media FilmsMegan Foxs latest film, Subservience, is one currently one of the most popular movies on Netflix. However, Foxs 2021 thriller, Till Death, is even better. Emma Davenport (Fox) discovers the hard way that her husband, Mark (Eoin Macken), knows all about her affair with his colleague, Tom (Aml Ameen). Thats why Mark arranges for Emma to be handcuffed to him before taking his own life in a remote lake house.Mark apparently also made sure there was nothing sharp in the lake house that Emma could use to free herself. That becomes an even more immediate problem when a man arrives who gives Emma reasons to fear for her life. Now, she not only needs to get free, but she also has to survive a murderers wrath.Watch Till Death on Netflix.NetflixTSA agent Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) picked the wrong day to angle for a promotion in Carry-On. On Christmas Eve, Ethan convinces his superior to assign him to a security check lane on one of the busiest days of the year. No sooner does that happen than Ethan is blackmailed by the Traveler (Jason Bateman), who wants him to wave a dangerous piece of luggage past the security scan without alerting his fellow TSA agentsWhoever the Traveler is, he already has a good deal of info about Ethan. He also employs a hit man who has been sent to kill Ethans girlfriend, Nora Parisi (Sofia Carson), if he doesnt go along with the terrorist plot. Up to this point in his life, Ethans been timid with his choices. But if he wants to live through the night and save his girlfriend, Ethan has to make some bold moves and fast.Watch Carry-On on Netflix.DreamWorks Pictures/Paramount PicturesMagnolias Tom Cruise gives an arresting turn as a hit man in Michael Manns Collateral. Jamie Foxxs Max Durocher a cab driver in Los Angeles, and Vincent (Cruise) seems like a good client to ferry around town all night. But after Vincents first stop, Max realizes that Vincent is a contract killer and hes not likely to let Max live through the night given what he knows.Max finds it extremely difficult to get away from Vincent, and he also feels an obligation to save Vincents victims if he can. In this battle of wits, Vincent may have superior fire power, but hes also underestimated Maxs resolve. Netflix subscribers only have until December 31 to watch this movie before it heads off into the streaming sunset.Watch Collateral on Netflix.Lantern EntertainmentQuentin Tarantinos The Hateful Eight is a Western, but its also a thriller that creates amazing tension by placing its characters in the same room with each other. Just over 12 years after the Civil War, bounty hunter Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson) finds himself sharing a carriage ride with another bounty hunter, John The Hangman Ruth (Kurt Russell); Ruths prisoner, Crazy Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh); and Chris Mannix (Fallouts Walton Goggins), the man who is supposedly the new sheriff of Red Rock.In the middle of a deadly winter storm, this unlikely group of companions takes shelter at a haberdashery. Warren doesnt really trust Mannix, but hes got bigger things to worry about. Few of the people waiting for them at the haberdashery are who they sayb\ they are, and this winter journey may turn into a one-way trip for everyone involved.Watch The Hateful Eight on Netflix.Editors Recommendations

Nosferatu Score DetailsVisually, sonically, atmospherically, Nosferatu is another bottomless banquet from Eggers. It's a gothic horror movie of classical grandeur with a touch of madness.ProsIt's a visual feastEggers knows how to ratchet up the dreadLily-Rose Depp supplies a kinky new edge to the storyConsBill Skarsgrd isn't the scariest OrlokDracula is still just DraculaDracula has always been the most erotic of monsters, an insatiable freak in the streets and between the sheets. Bram Stoker introduced the character in the 1890s, the same decade English speakers began using the expression little death (from the French petite mort) to equate orgasm to demise. Every movie made from Stokers landmark of gothic fiction (there are too many to, ahem, count) has acknowledged the seductive allure of the vampire. But to find its purest expression, you have to go back to one of the first to Count Orlok, the grotesquely murine menace of F.W. Murnaus unauthorized, silent-era Nosferatu. This creeping abomination is a far cry from the tall, dark, and handsome Draculas who stylishly slinked down winding staircases in the years (and adaptations) to come. All the same, he is a creature of morbid magnetism, attractive in the way that oblivion is attractive, in a way only Freud could really explain.How Robert Eggers' Past Truly Crafted Nosferatu | Origin StoryNosferatu, an elegantly sinister remake of Murnaus 1922 classic, is at its best when suckling at the same vein of psychosexual desire. Its written and directed by Robert Eggers, who couldnt be a better fit for the material because of his obsession with the look and the language of the old world, yes, but also because of how his movies so often and so perversely present evil as a forbidden fruit ripe for the picking. Doth thou wish to live deliciously? beckoned a different Prince of Darkness in the first of his bespoke nightmares, The Witch. It was a promise of pleasures, carnal and otherwise, awaiting those willing to barter with their soul for them. And who could forget Robert Pattinson furiously masturbating in The Lighthouse, conjuring the supernatural from his very wet dreams of slimy, tentacled sensuality?Focus FeaturesEggers foregrounds a tango of sex and death immediately. Like the original Nosferatu, his spares more time than the average Dracula on the prologue portion of Stokers tale, though in this case, the throat clearing before the throat biting is devoted more heavily to Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp), a German frau disturbed by her arousing nocturnal visions of pestilence and decay. A dear friend (Deadpool & Wolverine scene-stealer Emma Corrin) reassures her that its God whose overpowering presence shes feeling. Soon after, Ellens husband, Thomas (The Orders Nicholas Hoult), heads for the mountains of Transylvania to broker a real estate deal with a reclusive nobleman, just as all iterations of Jonathan Harker must.Focus FeaturesUp in the Carpathians, within that ruined castle, the story is always the same, give or take a harem of bloodsucking maidens. (Its Hoults second run through this iconic, endlessly restaged passage, after the monochromatic flashbacks of his noxious Renfield.) Of course, you dont explicitly remake Nosferatu as opposed to simply going back to the source material unless youre eager to play with the specific, loathsome image of Orlok, the rodent-like personification of death that Max Shreck immortalized in the original. Who but Pennywise himself, Bill Skarsgrd, could fill those shoes and approximate those sunken, cadaverous features? For a while, Eggers keeps Orlok shrouded in darkness a silhouette of malevolence, croaking out lines in a halting, unnatural manner that recalls the apocryphal rumor that Bela Lugosi delivered his Dracula dialogue phonetically.Focus FeaturesTruthfully, Skarsgrd is more fearsome before we get a good look at him. To distinguish his Orlok from Shrecks, the ghoul has been supplied with a curious affectation: a bushy mustache that makes him resemble (less than horrifyingly) the ghost of Joseph Stalin. And the actor struggles to put a memorable new spin on the most frequently portrayed character in all of literature. His performance is overshadowed by the Draculas and Orloks of old: by the offbeat theatricality of Lugosis, the otherworldly uncanniness of Shrecks, the predatory seething of Christopher Lees. And then there was the intense Klaus Kinski, who was done up to look like Shreck, but gave the count a rather pathetic and oddly sympathetic makeover in Werner Herzogs remake, Nosferatu the Vampyre.NOSFERATU - "Held Hands With Death" Official Clip - Only In Theaters Christmas DayEven without an instantly immortal villain, this Nosferatu casts a spell. Visually, sonically, atmospherically, its another bottomless banquet from Eggers, a gothic horror movie of classical grandeur and a touch of madness. The cinematographer Jarin Blaschke, whos shot all the directors previous treks into dark history, leeches the imagery of luster, giving it a bluish, nearly black-and-white pallor that suggests a corpse drained dry. If his palette is pointedly stark, his compositions are breathtaking, especially when the environments are looming over the characters, threatening to swallow them like the gathering forces of darkness.Recommended VideosLinguistically, the film is less flavorful than Eggers other creepshows, which studiously reproduced the exaggerated vernacular of their respective old-world settings. Naturally, he saves his most purple dialogue for his Lighthouse star, Willem Dafoe, who summons some properly playful gravitas as the Van Helsing analogue, a doctor brought in once Orlok leaves his homeland and Ellen falls further under the sway of his supernatural death-drive pheromones. (Having previously played a bloodthirsty Schreck in Shadow of the Vampire, a fanciful thriller about the making of Nosferatu, Dafoe now joins Rutger Hauer on the very small list of actors with versions of both Dracula and his nemesis on their rsum.)Focus FeaturesDread is always oppressive in this filmmakers work a blanket thickly and heavily draped over the characters, over the audience, over every moment. That suits Dracula well, as the story draws its power from the depiction of evil as a spreading threat. Eggers strikingly visualizes that idea with a shot of Orloks shadow reaching, finger by crooked finger, across spires and cobblestone. Scholars have long written of the racist undertones of Stokers invasion plot, but the panic here is more viral in nature. Arriving in the wake of a global pandemic, just as the original did, Eggers Nosferatu is awash in signs of the plague. The monster is often flanked by scurrying rats a haunting image shared with Herzogs oddball take.At a certain point, Dracula is still just Dracula, regardless of what its called. Murnau found that out the hard way when he was hit with a lawsuit by the Stoker estate, even though he changed the names of the characters and a few key details of the plot. A century later, its a challenge to get any fresh drops of dramatic lifeblood out of this material. It takes a true visionary like Francis Ford Coppola to do something new with a story thats been brought to the screen literally dozens of times. Though its title implied strenuous fidelity, Bram Stokers Dracula daringly twisted the authors work into a lavish, tragic romance. Nosferatu, as Eggers has conceived it, is more like a very tuneful cover of a song youve heard many, many times before.NOSFERATU - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters December 25Only when he flirts, like Coppola, with a kinkier kind of lunacy does the director threaten to really put his mark on what Murnau subtitled the symphony of horror. Between the stuff of every Dracula that trip up the winding mountain, the doomed Demeters last voyage, Renfield babbling away in the asylum percolates a portrait of a lonely Victorian woman seized by a horniness for more. To a much greater extent than Skarsgrd, its Depp, feverishly possessed in the Mina Harker role, who makes us believe in Orlok as a force of hypnotic, destabilizing sexual enticement. No scene with the vampire is as hair-raising as the one where Ellen describes, with a mixture of joy and terror, her dreams of unholy matrimony. And when she growls, You could never please me as he does, at her shaken husband, its hard not to wonder if shes conjured the devil to liberate herself from a life devoid of excitement. Shes down bad for the baddest of them all, and ready to live deliciously.Nosferatu is now playing in theaters everywhere. For more of A.A. Dowds writing, visit his Authory page.Editors RecommendationsRobert Eggers Nosferatu is going to break one iconic vampire movie trope

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsOpenAI releases GPT-4oAdvanced Voice Mode helps computers speak like humansGenerative AI comes to the edgeThe resurgence of nuclear power productionAgents are poised to be the next big thing in generative AIThe rise of reasoning modelsAI-empowered search spreads across the internetAnthropics Artifact kicks off a collaborative revolutionImage and video generators finally figure out fingersElon Musks $10 billion effort to build the worlds biggest AI training clusterWeve officially passed the second anniversary of the start of the AI boom, and things havent slowed down. Just the opposite. Generative AI is ramping up at a pace that feels nearly overwhelming, expanding into new platforms, mediums, and even devices at a relentless pace.Here are the 10 announcements that made 2024 a monumental year in the world of AI.Recommended VideosOpenAIWhen ChatGPT (running GPT-3.5) first arrived in November 2022, it was basically a fancy, computer-controlled game of Mad Libs. Dont get me wrong, even that capability was revolutionary at the time, but it wasnt until the release of GPT-4o in May 2024 that generative AI systems truly came into their own. Building on its predecessors ability to analyze and generate both text and images, GPT-4o provides a more comprehensive contextual understanding compared to GPT-4 alone. This translates to better performance in everything from image captioning and visual analysis, to generating both creative and analytical content like graphs, charts, and images.RelatedOpenAIIn September, OpenAI once again showed why it is the leading artificial intelligence firm by releasing its Advanced Voice Mode to ChatGPT subscribers. This feature eliminated the need for users to type their questions into a prompt window, instead enabling them to converse with the AI as they would another person.Leveraging GPT-4os human-equivalent response times, Advanced Voice Mode fundamentally changed how people can interact with machine intelligence and helped users unleash the AIs full creative capacity.Visual Intelligence on iPhones relies on the camera to make sense of the world around. Christine Romero-Chan / Digital TrendsWhen ChatGPT debuted in 2022, it was the only AI in town and available in precisely one place: ChatGPT.com. Oh, what a difference two years makes. These days, you can find generative AI in everything from smartphones and smart home devices to autonomous vehicles and health-monitoring gadgets. ChatGPT, for example, is available as a desktop app, an API, a mobile app, and even via an 800 number. Microsoft, for its part, has integrated AI directly into its line of Copilot+ laptops.Perhaps the most significant example, of course, is Apple Intelligence. It might not have been the most successful launch (many of the features we are still waiting for), but in terms of making the powers of generative AI as accessible as possible, nothing was as important as Apple Intelligence.Now, neither Copilot+ PCs or Apple Intelligence panned out how the companies involved probably wanted especially for Microsoft but as we all know, this is only the beginning.Before this year, nuclear power was seen as a losing proposition in America. Deemed unreliable and unsafe, due in large part to the Three Mile Island incident of 1979 in which one of the plants primary reactors partially melted down and spewed toxic, radioactive material into the atmosphere. However, with the rapidly increasing amounts of electrical power that modern large language models require and the massive stress they place on regional power grids many leading AI firms are taking a closer look at running their data centers using the power of the atom.Amazon, for example, purchased a nuclear-powered AI data center from Talen in March, then signed an agreement to acquire miniaturized, self-contained Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) from Energy Northwest in October. Microsoft, not to be outdone, has purchased the production capacity of Three Mile Island itself and is currently working to get Reactor One back online and generating electricity.Turns out, theres only so much training data, power, and water you can throw at the task of growing your large language model until you run into the issue of diminishing returns. The AI industry experienced this firsthand in 2024 and, in response, has begun to pivot away from the massive LLMs that originally defined the generative AI experience in favor of Agents; smaller, more responsive models designed to perform specific tasks, rather than try to do everything a user might ask of it.Anthropic debuted its agent, dubbed Computer Use, in October. Microsoft followed suit with Copilot Actions in November, while OpenAI is reportedly set to release its agent feature in January.OpenAIMany of todays large language models are geared more toward generating responses as quickly as possible, often at the expense of accuracy and correctness. OpenAIs o1 reasoning model, which the company released as a preview in September and as a fully functional model in December, takes the opposite approach: It sacrifices response speed to internally verify its rationale for a given answer, ensuring that it is as accurate and complete as possible.While this technology has yet to be fully embraced by the public (o1 is currently only available to Plus and Pro tier subscribers), leading AI companies are pressing ahead with versions of their own. Google announced its answer to o1, dubbed Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental, on December 19, while OpenAI revealed that it is already working on o1s successor, which it calls o3, during its 12 Days of OpenAI live-stream event on December 20.Joe Maring / Digital TrendsGenerative AI is seemingly everywhere these days, so why wouldnt it be integrated into one of the internets most basic features? Google has been toying with the technology for the past two years, first releasing the Search Generative Experience in May of 2023 before rolling out its AI Overview feature this past May. AI Overview generates a summary of the information that a user requests at the top of its search results page.Perplexity AI takes that technique a step further. Its answer engine scours the internet for the information a users requests, then synthesizes that data into a coherent, conversational (and cited) response, effectively eliminating the need to click through a list of links. OpenAI, ever the innovator, developed a nearly identical system for its chatbot, dubbed ChatGPT Search, which it debuted in October.AnthropicTrying to generate, analyze, and edit large files whether theyre long-form creative essays or computer code snippets directly within the chat stream can be overwhelming, requiring you to endlessly scroll back and forth to view the entirety of the document.Anthropics Artifacts feature, which debuted in June, helps mitigate that issue by providing users with a separate preview window in which to view the AI-crafted text outside of the main conversation. The feature proved to be such a hit that OpenAI quickly followed suit with its own version.Its latest models and features have developed Anthropic into a formidable opponent to OpenAI and Google this year, which alone feels significant.Use Camera Control to direct every shot with intention.Learn how with today's Runway Academy. pic.twitter.com/vCGMkkhKds Runway (@runwayml) November 2, 2024Used to be that spotting an AI generated image or video was as simple as counting the number of appendages the subject shows anything more than two arms, two legs, and 10 fingers were obviously generated, as Stable Diffusion 3s Cronenberg-esque images demonstrated in June. Yet, as 2024 comes to a close, differentiating between human and machine-made content has become significantly more difficult as image and video generators have rapidly improved both the quality and physiological accuracy of their outputs.AI video systems like Kling, Gen 3 Alpha, and Movie Gen are now capable of generating photorealistic clips with minimal distortion and fine-grain camera control, while the likes of Midjourney, Dall-E 3, and Imagen 3 can craft still images with a startling degree of realism (and minimal hallucinated artifacts) in myriad artistic styles.Oh yeah, and OpenAIs Sora finally made its debut as part of its December announcements. The battle for AI-generated video models is heating up, and they got shockingly impressive in 2024.Digital TrendsxAI launched Grok 2.0 this year, the latest model built right into X. But the bigger news around Elon Musks AI venture is around where this headed in the future. In 2024, Elon Musk set about constructing the worlds largest supercomputer just outside of Memphis, Tennessee, which came online at 4:20 a.m. on July 22. Driven by 100,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs, the supercluster is tasked with training new versions of xAIs Grok generative AI model, which Musk claims will become the worlds most powerful AI.Musk is expected to spend around $10 billion in capital and inference costs in 2024 alone but is reportedly working to double the number of GPUs powering the supercomputer in the new year.Editors Recommendations

An exhibition at Londons Royal Academy focuses on a time when the three Renaissance artists were all in Florence, developing their ideas and responding to each others work.

Genuss gene-edited pigs with resistance to the virus that causes PRRSGenus PICThirty years after the first genetically modified tomato went on sale, the promise to revolutionise farming with genetic technologies remains largely unfulfilled. But 2025 could be a turning point, with new products demonstrating the untapped potential to reduce the losses of animals and crops to diseases.In the coming year, regulatory authorities in the US are expected to approve a pig gene-edited to make it resistant to a common and devastating disease. That approval could open the door to a much wider use of the