Behold, a Queen Anne Victorian house in all her majesty! This residence, the Newton D. Arnold House, islocated at 24 Stimson Avenue in Providence, and is one of the finest examples of its style in the city. Newton Darling Arnold (1843-1916)was employed at theRumford Chemical Works serving as Treasurer for the company and from this position, accepted additional roles in banking and fraternal organizations, like theFreemasons, where he served a term as Grand Master of the secret society. Newton and his wife,Caroline, purchased a house lot on Stimson Avenue and set out to build one of the finest homes in Providence. To achieve this, they hired local architect, Edward I. Nickerson, to furnish designs. The Arnold House is covered by clapboard and shingle siding beneath a complex, cross-gabled roof of slate, with an ornate gable end and two-story corner tower.

The Onyx Boox Page offers just the right amount of capabilities for an E Ink tablet, with a compact and stylish design.

Randy Faris/Getty ImagesThe past year has been a big year for AI, and we here at ZDNET have been documenting it throughmultiple articles per day, across our entire editorial team. I've generally written a couple of articles each week on one aspect of AI innovation or another. It's been truly exciting and fascinating to explore.But what AI do I actually use? That's really a two-part question. There's the AI I use because I try everything I can get my hands on to analyze and deconstruct it for you. Then there's the AI I use to increase my productivity, shorten my workflow, and save time. Those two categories are not the same thing.For example, while I often test generative AI to create text, I never use that feature for any of my articles. ZDNET does not allow content generated by AI except when it's used to illustrate how AI works.Also, to be fair, I'm a professional writer, so I don't need AI to help me craft words. That's not to say generative AI for text generation is bad. It can open doors for people who aren't practiced in writing, helping them share information and craft letters, reports, and scripts. It can also be a huge benefit to people who struggle with a language they're not fluent in or for those with other writing challenges.But I have adopted AI as part of my productivity stack, and it has saved me considerable time. In this article, I'm going to show you 15 ways I used AI in 2024 to increase my productivity and streamline my workflow. I'll also end with a bit of a wishlist for 2025, looking ahead to ways AI might prove even more helpful in the future.Also: If ChatGPT produces AI-generated code for your app, who does it really belong to?Since this is my last article for 2024, please accept my best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and an excellent New Year. I'll see you on the flip side. And now, here are 15 ways AI increased my productivity in 2024. 1. I used AI to help me program I found that ChatGPT (andnot so much the other chatbots) was very helpful when coding some of the more rote parts of my projects. I used AI for common knowledge coding (API interfaces, for example), for writing CSS selectors, for writing regular expressions, and to test regular expressions, among other things.Also: 25 AI tips to boost your programming productivity with ChatGPTI'm pretty sure my AI use saved me about a month of programming time during the year. 2. I used AI to explain what a block of code does A lot of modern programming involves working with code other people wrote. A lot also involves working with code you wrote years ago and don't recall the details.Also: How ChatGPT scanned 170k lines of code in seconds, saving me hours of workA few times during my coding, I copied a block of code, pasted it into ChatGPT, and asked the AI what the code does. Usually, the AI will not only tell you what the code does, it will also break down the sections to help you dissect it. 3. I used AI to help me debug code As I mentioned, the AI will tell you what a block of code does. That means you can feed an AI a block of code that might not work. I found that I could feed code and error messages to ChatGPT, and it would identify what I was doing wrong.Also: How I test an AI chatbot's coding ability - and you can, tooThis was such a powerful feature that I added it tomy testing suite. Now, we can use it to validate how well an AI can determine why a block of code is broken.4. I used AI to help me do customer sentiment analysisAfter doing a fairly measurable update to one of my products, I was concerned about whether or not users liked it or found it problematic. I get tech support requests, but not usually enough to gauge the sentiment of my user base. But I do capture users' reasons for uninstalling my product, which gives me a big database of English language reasons and data fields. Also: How ChatGPT's data analysis tool yields actionable business insights with no programmingI fed all of that to the AI, and it gave me back interesting charts and data analysis without requiring weeks of programming. In a matter of minutes, I had my answer: users generally were happier with the new release. Yay. 5. I used AI to create images for my albums One of the biggest ways AI adds value to my workflow is in graphics and video production. While I've been a fairly good creative director, I am not an illustrator. So, I found the ability to do text-to-image (and all the related graphics features) hugely helpful. Also: How AI helped get my music on all the major streaming servicesLast year, I used AI to create the album cover for my EP "House of the Head." This year, I used Midjourney to create the album cover for my second EP, "Choices are Voices." 6. I used AI to fill and fix my photos I take a lot of photos, some for myself and some as illustrations for my many projects. Some of those photos enter the camera perfectly composed, but most of them have something that needs to be cleaned up -- whether it's a bit of clutter in the background, a desk that doesn't extend far enough, or distractions that take away from the image.Also: How to use Photoshop's Generative Fill AI tool to easily transform your boring photosI've been using Photoshop to clean up my images for decades. But when generative fill popped onto the scene, along with some of Photoshop's other AI improvements, including distraction removal (for power lines and such), it helped me save images that might otherwise have been unusable. 7. I used AI to generate vector graphics When it comes to Adobe products, Photoshop is my daily driver. I use Illustrator, but mostly to resize and modify images from clipart libraries I've bought for use in giant PowerPoint presentations. I also use Illustrator to configure and set up cutting instructions for my Glowforge laser cutter, which handles PDFs quite nicely. Also: Adobe Illustrator's new generative vector fill is game-changing (even if you can't draw)Earlier this year, Adobe introduced a form of generative fill that creates vector-based images, which you can then ungroup and deconstruct into components that are easy to resize and reuse. While I haven't needed these features for much of my workflow, they're impressive. I hope to use them more over time. 8. I used AI to generate monthly images for e-commerce My wife Denise owns a small e-commerce business for people with a particular interest in a very popular hobby. She hosts a very active Facebook group, where one of the group's favorite activities is creating monthly projects based on a theme she presents at the beginning of the month. Each month, I use Midjourney to make a picture that evokes that theme. I've tried DALL-E 3 and Photoshop, but neither does justice to the subject matter. But Midjourney mostly nails it. So, I use Midjourney to create the image and often bring the image into Photoshop to zhush it up. These images provide the inspiration that encourages hobbyists to craft dozens of impressive new creations each month. 9. I used AI to create moving masks in video clips Masking in video is the process of separating one part of the video from another. For my videos, the idea is to separate me from the background so I can adjust the color, brightness, and contrast of my face and body separate from the background. I've also used masking to hide the background, replacing it with something new.Also: My top 2 productivity hacks for video editing that save me time - and wrist painThis used to be done with green screen and a process called chromakey. But Final Cut Pro (my video editing program of choice) introduced an AI-powered magic mask that's pretty much able to do everything a green screen could do, but with regular video footage. It's still not perfect, but it's not half bad, either. 10. I used AI to clean up crappy audio in my videos Before I moved to theDJI Mic 2, I used a fairly expensive but shockingly bad Bluetooth lavalier mic. Sometimes, the takes were good. Other times, they were just plain horrible. I often had to do retakes when it became clear that the audio in my footage was unusable.One day, I completed a particularly harrowing take that could not be redone. Despite all my pre-checks, the audio turned out to be painful to listen to. So I uploaded it toAdobe's Enhance SpeechAI tool, and it worked wonders with my terrible take. I've used it a few more times since then. 11. I used AI to auto-track me while filming When a television actor or host moves around on set, there's usually a camera operator who follows the motion. When you do your own YouTube videos, you're pretty much on your own. Some of the biggest YouTube channels mimic TV set operations, but my channel is just me, some tools, and a bit of slightly cranky attitude. Also: I'm a long-time YouTube video producer - these 3 AI tools help me do it better and fasterI have tried tracking gimbals a bunch of times before, but it wasn't until I found theHohem iSteady V3 that I had any real success. Its tracking is quite good due to its on-device AI image analysis, and it also works without an app, which is one of my favorite features. I just turn it on, mount my phone, make one of a few silly gestures to tell it what I want, and it just works. 12. I used AI for project research For example, I needed to bend a piece of 1/4-inch thick aluminum 90 degrees for one of my projects. Different grades of aluminum are softer or harder and will either bend easily or require heat to avoid cracking.I found out the model number of the aluminum I bought at my local hardware store and asked ChatGPT for the alloy number, which indicates hardness. Then I asked ChatGPT, based on that alloy number and the 1/4-inch thickness, whether I needed to heat the metal before bending. ChatGPT said yes, I needed to heat it. 13. I used AI to help me write articles in the bathroom And in bed. And in the workshop. And while making eggs. And at the hardware store. And in a bunch of other places and circumstances.Also: How iOS 18 turned my Apple Watch into the productivity tool of my sci-fi dreamsWith iOS 18, Apple added the ability for the Voice Recording app to transcribe voice recordings. I combined that with my Apple Watch. Now, no matter what I'm doing, if I have some useful thoughts, I can record a few sentences or paragraphs right into the Voice Recording app on my phone, then later transcribe them and drop them into an article. Since I do a lot of thinking about articles when I'm not in front of the keyboard, this is a great way for me to capture those nuggets and save time. 14. I used AI to help improve 3D print quality I actually used AI with 3D printing in two fairly different areas. One was analytics. I had a 3D test print (called a Benchy) that printed far faster using instructions straight from the factory than anything I was able to reproduce using standard software tools. So I fed the G-code (robot instructions) to ChatGPT and asked it for an analysis. The conclusion: the factory version tweaked certain speed and quality settings to make it run faster. Also: How ChatGPT scanned 170k lines of code in seconds, saving me hours of workTwo of my newest 3D printers also claim to use AI to help improve print quality and manage jams. I can't independently verify whether they'reAI washingor really using AI in their printer operations. But I can say that both produce nicer prints -- with higher levels of reliability than printers whose vendors don't claim to use AI. 15. I used AI to fly my drone Modern drones are amazing. Back in the day, I had a radio-controlled helicopter, which I crashed. A lot. Flying a helicopter is hard. You have no idea how hard it is until you try with an RC toy. The skill of real helicopter pilots flying real people is jaw-dropping. Also: Using a 4K drone to diagnose roof damageBut drones make that all seem simple. They have built-in AI that understands all the aerodynamics of lifting an object into the air and making it go where you want it to go. Yesterday, in fact, I sent up myDJI Mavic Proto get some property pictures for laying out a complex security camera grid. After completing its mission, I just tapped "Return to Home." It handled all the return navigation and landed itself perfectly and smoothly right in front of me. What I'd like AI to do for me in 2025 The pinnacle of AI, for me, would be a robot that can go to the kitchen, brew and prepare a cup of coffee, and bring it to me on the couch. "Alexa, bring me coffee," should result in an actual cup of coffee, prepared exactly as I like it. Otherwise, what good is it to be living in the future? Also: The AI I want to see in the world: 5 ways it could manage my Gmail inbox for meOtherwise, here are some things I'd like to do with AI. Note that the video editing items below do exist in some applications, but they're not available in Final Cut, which is my editing tool. Other capabilities either don't exist or aren't good enough to help with my workflow output.Here we go. My wishlist. I'd like to use AI to remove pauses and other waste in video clips. This process is very time-consuming, and it should be possible with a click of the mouse.I'd like to use AI to clean up ums and uhs from audio. This is the same idea as above, but for audio takes.I'd like Final Cut to provide the same kind of audio repair that Adobe offers in its online Enhance Speech tool.I'd like to use AI to generate video clips for music videos and B-roll for YouTube videos. We're seeing the beginnings of this with OpenAI's Sora, but I'd like it as straightforward and commonplace as text-to-image is now. I'd also like it to produce clips of up to 30 seconds.I'd like to use AI to actually manage my incoming email and filters. I don't need AI to make my emails sound friendlier. I need it to help me sift through the metric ton of crap I get each day.I'd like to use AI to dimension my 3D models. When I'm designing something to fit a real-world part, I spend hours to days taking caliper measurements, translating that into a 3D design, testing, printing, and redoing it. I'd like to be able to just take a few pictures of an object and have the AI fully dimension the entire thing so I could then translate that into my project.AI has come a long way in the last few years, but it has a big future ahead as well. What have you used AI for in 2024? What do you want AI to be able to do for you next year? Have you used AI as a novelty, or have you integrated it into your regular workflow? Let us know in the comments below. You can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly update newsletter, and follow me on Twitter/X at @DavidGewirtz, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DavidGewirtz, on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz, and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.Artificial Intelligence

Maria Diaz/ZDNETIf you want to cut the cordand enhance your streaming TV experience, you may wonder which device best fits you. The Amazon Fire TV Stick and the Roku Streaming Stick are two of the most popular options on the market. However, there are some key differences to consider before making a purchase.Amazon Fire TV and Roku strive to provide thebest streaming experiencepossible through dongles, branded televisions, and streaming boxes. Choosing the right device, however, involves more than just comparing price tags. Also: I tested Samsung's 98-inch 4K QLED TV, and watching Hollywood movies on it left me in aweIn this article, we'll delve into the Amazon Fire TV Stick and the Roku Streaming Stick -- with additional information on each company's other streaming devices -- to help you determine which one best suits your needs and preferences.SpecificationsFeaturesFire TV Stick 4KRoku Streaming Stick 4KNormal Retail Price$50$50Picture quality4K resolution4K resolutionFrame rate60 FPS60 FPSAudio qualityDolby AtmosDTS Digital Surround passthroughStorage8GB16GBMemory2GB1GBWi-FiWi-Fi 6 Dual-bandWi-Fi 5 Dual-bandPortsHDMI 2.1 output with ARC support, Micro-USB for powerHDMI 2.0b, USB for powerRemote batteriesTwo AAA batteriesTwo AAA batteriesYou should buy a Fire TV Stick 4K if... Amazon1. You want the most features for less moneyWhen you compare the tech specifications of a Fire TV Stick 4K against the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, you'll find that both devices are very similar, even down to the $50 regular price. One thing is certain, however: Amazon offers bigger discounts more often on its Fire Stick than Roku does. This means you can typically find the Fire TV Stick 4K for a lower price than the Roku (like right now).Also:The best live TV streaming services of 2024: Expert testedThe Fire TV Stick 4K has dropped to $28, while the Roku Streaming Stick dropped to $29. Both are discounted, but the former is the better deal.2. You use Alexa in your smart homeAlexa, Amazon's voice assistant, seems to be a must on every Amazon device, and the Fire TV Stick 4K is no exception. The Alexa-enabled remote included with this streaming device has a button to press and hold to ask Alexa questions. Though the Roku also comes with a voice remote that you can use for navigation within the Roku platform, the Alexa remote can go beyond searching for your favorite TV show.If you have Alexa-enabled devices as part of your smart home setup, you can tell Alexa via your Fire TV Stick remote to turn on a smart light or change the room temperature on your smart thermostat. You can even ask the voice assistant to show you compatible security cameras on your TV.Also: Why I recommend the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro even though I'm not a fan of subscriptionsRoku has a line of smart home products that can integrate its camera feeds with Roku TVs or streaming devices, but the feature is still pretty new and limited to its own Roku Home devices.3. You watch primarily Prime Video (and don't mind ads)Unsurprisingly, the Fire TV platform is more focused on Prime Video. The streaming service comes pre-installed on the device, offering access to great exclusive programming. These include but are not limited to hit shows like The Boys, The Grand Tour, and The Marvelous Ms. Maisel. Of course, not everything is geared toward adults, as there are plenty of kid-friendly shows, such as Tumble Leaf.As an Amazon product, it's not surprising that you'll findmany ads while navigating the system. I personally don't mind the ads so much; I ignore most of them. But if you're an avid watcher of Prime Video content, you'll find the ads geared to users like you.Also: Crystal UHD vs QLED: A comparison for buying Samsung TVs this Black FridayRoku devices offer Prime Video access, but the service is not pre-installed. You'll have to go to the Roku Channel Store, download the Prime Video app, register the app, write down a six-digit code, and enter that code into Amazon's MyTV webpage. It's a whole process that can take a while to complete. Meanwhile, on the Fire Stick, all you have to do is log into your account to begin watching.You should buy a Roku Streaming Stick 4K if... Artie Beaty/ZDNET1. You prefer a more user-friendly platformThe Fire TV menu is visually attractive, but it's simply not as straightforward or user-friendly as the Roku platform. It's a sleek design, but you often have to take extra steps to do something compared with doing it on a Roku.For years, Roku was the only one offering universal search, which lets you search for a title and have your Roku show you all the different apps you can watch it on, along with how much it costs to rent or buy, if applicable. Other streaming devices, like the Apple TV 4K and Fire TV devices, have since added the feature.Also: This Roku Ultra streaming device gave my TV 4K superpowers - and it's on sale right nowFire TV's search results have improved and even include AI powers, but they require more work to sift through. You're given one primary channel and must select "more ways to watch" to see all the other options. Multiple options are often available, but clicking on them may lead to a paywall or a dead end.2. You want an easier-to-use remote controlAdmittedly, Fire TV remotes have come a long way in becoming more user-friendly and, in the process, more like the Roku remote. However, I still find the Roku remote easier to use than its competitor.Also: This Roku soundbar turned my old TV into an immersive 4K theater experienceIt's the buttons for me; give me good old arrows, and I know where to go. I don't want to sound like a dinosaur here, but I'd choose the Roku remote if I had to choose between it, my Fire TV, Google TV Streamer, and Apple TV 4K remotes. My Roku remote (left) doesn't get lost in my couch cushions nearly as often as the Fire TV Stick remote (right). Maria Diaz/ZDNETThe Roku remote is rounder and thicker than the Fire TV remote, which is thin and easy to lose between the couch cushions. The Roku remote also has old-school arrows and an "OK" button, whereas the Fire TV remote has a circle with a round "OK" button in the middle and, you guessed it, no letters or arrows in this navigation wheel, which makes it a little less intuitive for someone getting familiar with it.Aside from this, both remotes are pretty similar: Both have mute and volume buttons to control compatible televisions, your regular navigation buttons, and four-channel shortcut buttons that are not reprogrammable on either remote. Also, both devices have a mobile app that enables your phone to double as a remote should you lose your physical remote control.3. You need the long-range Wi-Fi featureIf you have a bigger home or want to put your streaming device on any TV around your house, you may be interested in Roku's long-range Wi-Fi feature.The Roku Stick 4K has a larger antenna than previous devices, allowing four times the wireless range. This is due to the included USB power cable with a Wi-Fi receiver, which holds the Wi-Fi hardware on the line farther away from the device for less wireless interference.FAQ What apps do the Fire Stick and Roku Stick have? All the Fire Sticks support the following apps: Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Youtube Kids, Apple TV, Sling TV, Disney+, Peacock, Starz, Showtime, Paramount+, YouTube TV, IMDb TV, Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and many more.Similarly, all of Roku's offerings support the following apps: Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Apple TV, Sling TV, Disney+, Peacock, Starz, Showtime, Paramount+, YouTube TV, IMDb TV, Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more. Show more Do Amazon or Roku streaming sticks have a monthly streaming fee? Neither stick charges you to stream your favorite apps. You could save money by only watching the free TV and movie channels such as Vudu, Roku TV, Peacock, or Tubi TV. And if you have an Amazon Prime account, Amazon Video is included. While more recent movies and shows may come with a fee, Amazon Video has plenty of free programming available through your Roku or Amazon Fire player. Show more Do I need to pay for subscriptions if I have a streaming TV stick? Streaming players broadcast what's available from the apps. While many streaming apps offer free content, some of the most popular such as HBO Max, Disney Plus, ESPN+, and Netflix come with a monthly subscription fee. If you'd like to access Netflix from your Roku Streaming Stick, for example, you would need to pay for a monthly Netflix subscription and log in to your account through Roku's interface. Show more Are there alternatives worth considering? A streaming stick may not be the perfect solution for all applications, but it's a small, portable, and inexpensive solution to turn a standard TV into a smart one.There's also the option of a more expensive alternative, such as buying a smart TV that's already Wi-Fi-integrated and equipped with the most popular streaming apps. However, the investment is far more than the cost of a $50 TV stick. Show more Google TV Streamer Maria Diaz/ZDNET The Google TV Streamer is a new upgrade to the Chromecast, with 32GB of storage and 4K-resolution support. Show more The Apple TV 4K is a streaming device that seamlessly fits into an Apple ecosystem and has an ethernet port for faster speeds. Show more Featured reviews

Generative AI can transform how we predict, prepare for, and recover from natural disasters. 20 years after the 2004 Tsunami we should seize this opportunity.

The big picture: AMD is rumored to announce its flagship gaming CPU, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, at CES 2025 in Las Vegas in January. Ahead of its official launch, multiple leaks have already revealed key features and specifications. The latest leak discloses details about the chip's clock speed, cache, TDP, and other critical specifications. According to a CPU-Z screenshot posted on X by tipster @94G8LA, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D will feature a boost clock of up to 5.65GHz slightly lower than the 5.7GHz maximum frequency of the standard Ryzen 9 9950X. Earlier rumors, however, suggested that the 9950X3D might share the same clock speed as its non-X3D counterpart.The leaked screenshot identifies the chip as revision GNR-B0 with the code name Granite Ridge, confirming its status as an upcoming Zen 5 CPU. It is listed with 16 cores, 32 threads, a bus speed of 99.78MHz, and a maximum CPU multiplier of x56.5. The CPU-Z data also reveals a TDP of 170W, which matches that of the standard Ryzen 9 9950X but exceeds the 120W TDP of the 7950X3D by 50W.The image also reveals that the CPU will feature 96MB + 32MB of L3 cache, indicating that both CCDs include 32MB of L3 cache, while the 3D V-Cache chiplet adds an additional 64MB layer. This configuration gives the Ryzen 9 9950X3D a total of 144MB of cache, comprising 128MB of L3 and 16MB of L2. This is consistent with the 3D V-Cache setup of its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D.Notably, the chip is marked as an engineering sample, signifying that it is currently undergoing validation testing. This also implies that AMD might adjust some of the specifications, particularly the clock speeds, before the final product hits the market. // Related StoriesIn addition to the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, AMD is expected to unveil its RDNA 4 GPUs at CES 2025. According to multiple rumors, the company may forego the Radeon RX 8000 naming convention for its next-generation graphics cards, opting instead to market them as part of the Radeon RX 9000 series. Furthermore, Team Red is rumored to introduce FSR 4 at the event, showcasing its continued advancements in graphics technology.

In brief: Not everyone has heard of Clevo, a Taiwanese laptop manufacturer. But an absolute beast of a gaming laptop coming next year may well put the company on the map. Besides featuring cutting-edge components from both Intel and Nvidia, this machine promises insane specifications, including an 18-inch display and support for up to 192GB of RAM. Most gamers would be happy with a dual-channel setup. However, this gaming laptop offers a staggering four DDR5 memory slots supporting up to a ludicrous 192GB of DDR5-5600 RAM.Storage is equally over-the-top with four M.2 SSD 2280 slots. One of those supports the latest PCIe 5.0 x4 standard while the other three are PCIe 4.0 x4. You'll be able to load games at blistering speeds no matter which slots you use.The 18-inch display will come in two flavors: a 4K panel and a 1440p option. Both support G-Sync variable refresh rates, but it's unclear if the 1440p model could offer higher refresh rates and response times geared for gaming. The bezels are thankfully slim to maximize that massive 18-inch viewing area.Powering the laptop are Intel's just-announced Arrow Lake mobile CPUs specifically, the high-wattage 55W Arrow Lake-HX chips. Supporting it is one of Nvidia's next-gen RTX 5000-series mobile GPUs based on the "GN22" board platform.Very little is known about these GPUs yet, but a ransomware leak targeting Clevo previously revealed multiple specifications, including that the RTX 5090 would feature 16GB of VRAM. We assume that the laptop will feature this model since overkill specs call for an overkill GPU to go with them. // Related StoriesAs for power, the laptop features a 98Wh battery with a claimed life of over 500 minutes. This will receive its juice from a full-range AC adapter rated 330W.Connectivity seems solid too, with dual Thunderbolt 5 ports straight from the Nvidia GPU itself. If true, this would be one of the first laptops to feature Thunderbolt integrated into the graphics card instead of the CPU/chipset. You're also getting DisplayPort, HDMI, USB, dual ethernet, and even a 2-in-1 audio jack.All these details come courtesy of a "whistleblower" spilling the beans to the Chinese tech site ITHome. There's no word yet on pricing or availability, but Clevo is expected to officially unveil this crazy gaming laptop at CES 2025 in January, likely alongside Nvidia's full RTX 5000-series GPU lineup.

If you havent triedInfinity Nikki yet, the game is a whirlwind of dresses, quests, fish to catch, bugs to net, and so much more. Its already been downloaded more than 20 million times since release, and its popularity will only grown when the Shooting Star Season update lands on December 30. For anyone that wants a cozy, lighthearted experience to shoo away the winter chill, this laid-back game is an easy choice.The update will add new outfits for you to burn Whimstars on, limited-time events like the Wish Festival, and even more of Miralands unique characters and story to explore. One outfit even gives Nikki a blue-green hairstyle reminiscent of Hatsune Miku.Recommended VideosSome of the new outfits include Star of the Gala, Gleaming Dance, and Snowy Encounter. Each is unique in its own way, but with the beautiful design thats present in every other aspect of the game. There will also be at least two new Resonance Outfits: the Pink Ribbon Waltz and Daughter of the Lake.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe Shooting Star Season update releases on December 30 for PC, PlayStation 5, Android, and iOS and will continue until January 23, 2025.Infinity Nikki Version 1.1 [Shooting Star Season] TrailerSo whats Infinity Nikki like? The gameplay feels a lot like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but if the entire game had been given a makeover and was focused entirely on sneaking into Gerudo Town and you got to choose your own outfit. Its a large, open-world game with a lot to do, people to get to know, and outfits to collect. Oh, and its free to play, although it does lean heavily on gacha mechanics.RelatedDigital Trends gave Infinity Nikki a 7/10 in its review, and players of games likeGenshin Impact will feel right at home with the familiar mechanics.Editors Recommendations

Before Samsung launched the Galaxy S24 series in January, there were rumors that the new phones would include satellite messaging, similar to the feature available on Apples newer models. While this feature was not included at the launch, its now finally rolling out for some users.According to SamMobile, some Galaxy S24 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 users in the U.S. are now starting to receive this feature.Recommended VideosBefore getting too excited, however, this news comes with a caveat. Its only available to T-Mobile customers who applied to test the companys T-Mobile Starlink service. T-Mobile announced that feature in August 2022, and earlier this month, it (finally) announced that satellite messaging beta registration would soon be available for direct-to-cell satellite service. It doesnt require a fee; you must have a postpaid account. You can sign up to test the feature now.Please enable Javascript to view this contentFor users with supported devices, navigate to Settings > Connections > Satellite Networks to find the listing. Once set up, you can send and receive messages in areas without nearby cellular network coverage.Mark Rober texts his dad from a satellite | T-MobileThe T-Mobile Starlink service remains in beta. When released to the public, it should be available on any T-Mobile Android phone with LTE connectivity.RelatedAndroid 15 introduced satellite messaging support to Android phones for the first time, potentially enhancing communication capabilities in remote areas where traditional cellular networks are unavailable. This feature enables users to send texts for emergencies and other important messages via satellite, ensuring connectivity even in the most isolated environments.However, carrier support and compatible devices are required to utilize this functionality entirely. Unfortunately, most manufacturers are still integrating this capability into their devices.Meanwhile, since the iPhone 14 series, Apple iPhones have supported satellite messaging.Editors Recommendations

TheHalo franchise has been around for a long time, but weve never seen a leak quite this big before. More than 25 years ofHalo content has leaked onto the internet, including a playable version of the game from before it was even a first-person shooter.Halo Studios formerly 343 Industries has been working with the modding team Digsite since last summer to scour through game files and bring back content that hadnt made it off the cutting room floor, according to Video Games Chronicle. Last months release of the Halo 2 E3 2003 demo was the result of this project.Recommended VideosThe leak seems to originate from the collaboration with Digsite, although a member of the mod team has come forward and said that no former or current members of Digsite were involved with the leak. The modding team recently went through a bit of upheaval and saw the loss of many of its members over a pay dispute with Microsoft and Halo Studios.Please enable Javascript to view this contentWell, all the Halo Digsite stuff leaked.FAQ:-I nor any of the recent Digsite departures did this-Personally don't care if modders use anything here how they see fit, MS might not agree-Some is old WIP (i.e. H2E3 work is at least 6 months old) so check official releases first pic.twitter.com/4XbMKa2JMj (@DogbrainLudus) December 26, 2024RelatedHowever, the members of the team did confirm the legitimacy of the files. The content is real, they say, and members of the team have expressed their support of modders taking the content and using it.The most impressive part of the leak is a playable version of the original 1999 Macworld demo, from the days before Master Chief had become an Xbox icon and was still a third-person action star but only for Mac. You can see it in action in the post below.The original Halo reveal beta as a third person game has been leaked online!I remember watching that elaborate trailer on a PC Gamer disc way back. They all launch as basic .exe files with no extra work needed on modern systems. Link to download in reply! pic.twitter.com/0EnsEbUcCG Manny Calavera (@MannyCalavera12) December 26, 2024In addition to these files, more than 100GB of other content has leaked. Most of the files are just unfinished or unused content, but the mod team has drawn out several early multiplayer maps that were never finished.The source of the leak isnt clear, but the content is an interesting focal point for die-hard Halo fans. Perhaps with time and Microsofts blessing modders can take the cut content and shift it into a playable format.Editors Recommendations