The first visual cue of the newApple Intelligenceon the iPhone iniOS 18.2is Siri's improved look -- a pulsating rainbow of colors around the edge of the entire screen. But did you update your iPhone and are seeing the same animated sphere that's anchored the bottom of the screen for the last couple of years?I ran into the same thing and was also confused.Turns out I needed to take one more step before I could try thesmarter Siri-- as well as other Apple Intelligence features like the writing tools,notification summariesand the Clean Up feature in Photos.If you're seeing the same thing, here's why. The new design of Siri is a glowing border that distorts everything briefly. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Watch this: Apple Redesigns Siri With AI and Glowing Borders 03:18 Your iPhone might not be able to run Apple IntelligenceThe latestsystem updateis for everyone with an iPhone XS or later, but that doesn't mean everyone gets Apple Intelligence. In fact, because much of the AI computation is done on device, only a handful of models can run the new technologies:iPhone 15 ProiPhone 15 Pro MaxiPhone 16iPhone 16 PlusiPhone 16 ProiPhone 16 Pro MaxApple Intelligence will also run on Macs and iPads with M-series processors, as well as the latest iPad Mini (which is powered by the A17 Pro chip).If you have any of those models, you'll see the shimmering new look when you invoke Siri. On the Mac, the Siri search field gets the same effect instead of the entire screen edges. If you have a different model, you'll see the same Siri orb. Siri under iOS 18 looks the same as it did in iOS 17 for many people. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNETYou might be idling on the Apple Intelligence waitlistOfficially, Apple Intelligence is considered a beta feature, even on supported devices. As part of this prerelease program, Apple is granting access to people who request it in waves. (For more, check outwhy Apple is using this waitlist approach.)After installing iOS 18.2 (or iPadOS 18.2 or MacOS Sequoia 15.2), you need to go toSettings > Apple Intelligence & Siriand tap Join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist > Join Waitlist. The new Siri effect shows up only after you've requested and been granted access.Reports online and from friends suggest that people are able to start using Apple Intelligence after only a few hours of waiting. That will no doubt fluctuate as Apple balances the demand on its network ofPrivate Cloud Computeinfrastructure.For more, here'sthe right way to back up your iPhonebefore you install iOS 18.2 and eight settings you want to change first in iOS 18.2. 11 Essential Accessories Your iPhone Wants for the Holidays See all photos

Our Experts Written by Patrick Holland Lisa Eadicicco Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement How we test What to consider iOS or Android? If your family and friends are on Apple services like iMessage and FaceTime, stick with an iPhone. If youve been deep on Samsung, stay on Android. But know that switching between the two has never been easier. Size Phones are big in general, with the smallest ones having a 6.1-inch screen and larger models topping out at 6.8 inches. That makes visiting a store and trying a phone out before you buy it quite important. Cameras Phone cameras have gotten better over the past five years. But dont be fooled by how many cameras a phone has. More is not necessarily better. Software support Phone makers promise varying lengths of long-term software and security support, ranging from just one year to as many as seven. These updates not only ensure you get many of the latest features, but also keep your phone secure. Table of Contents Debuted in 2007, it feels like the Apple iPhone hasnt left our pockets since. The newest iPhone 16 series dazzles with new processors, enhanced cameras and larger batteries, plus nifty buttons to toggle the flashlight or snap a quick photo. Apple still sells older models like the iPhone 15 and 14 at a lower price than when they first launched, as well as the most-affordable iPhone SE with a classic style home button. You can even snag a 13 that is, if you can find it. All these different options can make picking the best iPhone for you a tricky endeavor. The good news? CNET editors have tested and reviewed each iPhone model currently offered to help you find the best iPhone for you. Our Picks Best iPhone Apple iPhone 16 View details $830 at T-Mobile View details Best premium iPhone Apple iPhone 16 Pro View details $1,000 at T-Mobile View details Best iPhone value iPhone 14 View details $630 at Best Buy View details Best iPhone under $700 iPhone 15 View details $699 at Best Buy View details Best iPhone discounted if you can find it iPhone 13 View details $345 at Amazon View details Best small iPhone iPhone SE View details $429 at Apple View details SMARTPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK Google Pixel 9 128GB Unlocked Phone (Obsidian): $649 (save $150) Apple iPhone 12 64GB Straight Talk Phone (Prepaid, Black): $199 (save $50) Apple iPhone 14 128GB Unlocked Phone (Refurbished, Midnight): $394 (save $236) Motorola Edge Plus 512GB Unlocked Phone (Intersteller Black): $450 (save $350) Moto G Power 5G 128GB Unlocked Phone (2024 Model, Midnight Blue): $200 (save $100) Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article. Table of Contents This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas. What's the best iPhone right now?The best iPhone for most people is the $799 iPhone 16. It comes in two sizes: a 6.1-inch regular iPhone 16 model or a larger 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus model that starts at $899. The phones have a new 12-megapixel ultrawide camera that performs better in low light and can now take macro photos, meaning you'll be able to focus close to take amazing food snaps.The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have several Apple Intelligence tools for writing, removing distractions from photos and doing summaries of messages and webpages. The phones also have an Action button that can be programed for different functions like turning on the flashlight, recording a voice memo, changing the focus mode and more. There's also a new Camera Control button that not only lets you take photos and quickly change things like zoom, Portrait mode aperture and Photographic Styles, but can also trigger a new feature called Visual Intelligence, which will add context to whatever the camera is pointed at, a bit like Google Lens. Visual Intelligence isn't on the iPhone 16 at this time and will come via a software update in December. We think the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are ideal for most people looking for a great phone that will last for years.Read more: The iPhone 16 Helps My Eyes Feel Less Strained, Thanks to This Overlooked FeatureBest iPhones of 2024

Several benchmark refinance rates were higher this week, but refinancing could be still make sense for other reasons.

December 30, 20247 min readOutrage Fatigue Is Real.These Tips May HelpRepeated exposure to outrage-inducing news or events can lead to emotional exhaustion. An expert who studies online outrage says there are ways to copeBy Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser Malte Mueller/Getty ImagesYoure probably feeling it: the onslaught of depressing news and commentary about political actions, wars, climate disasters and more. The first few times youre exposed to a perceived injustice, you feel fired up and ready to fight against it. But after being repeatedly facing this moral assault, you start to feel fatigued, even withdrawn. Resistance feels futile.This phenomenon is informally referred to as outrage fatigue. While it hasnt been well studied, researchers have studied outrage itselfwhat purpose it serves and how it spreads. William Brady, an assistant professor of management and organizations at Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management, and his colleagues recently published a study on how outrage helps misinformation spread online. They found that posts from misinformation sources were more likely than those from trustworthy news outlets to elicit moral outrage (anger and disgust)and that people were more likely to reshare them without reading them. But extensive exposure to outrage-inducing content can cause feelings of fatigue that turn people off participating in political action, Brady says.Fortunately, there are ways to combat such fatigue, such as getting involved in local politics or causes. Scientific American talked to Brady about why we experience outrage fatigue, and what do so about it.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.[An edited transcript of the interview follows.]What is outrage fatigue?When people are experiencing outrage, what that means, theoretically, is they're feeling that theres a transgression that has occurred against their perceived sense of right and wrongwhat we might also call a moral norm. Outrage, in a way, is very functional and good for groups, because it helps bring attention to these things that our social group or our culture would consider to be a transgression. And that usually is a good thing, because it helps groups to figure out, Okay, heres a bad thing happening, and we need to coordinate. We need to catalyze collective action so that we can solve this issue. The reason why outrage tends to work as a tool for that is because its very arousingit draws our attention, it gets us worked up, and that can sometimes motivate us to action.But of course theres a flip side to outrage, which is that when it occurs along the lines of group identitiesfor example, when you get outraged at a political out-group doing something that is counter normative or against the moral views of your political groupthat can also create hostility, and it can create conflict. Obviously, we've seen that with rising polarization in the U.S., but also in other countries in Europe and around the world. Theoretically, there's this kind of give and take with outrage. It can be helpful; it can be functional. But if you're constantly in that state, it can lead to conflict and escalation of political disputes. Psychologically, if youre constantly in that state it can be very exhausting.How does outrage play out differently at the group level and the individual level?If at a group level you're constantly outraged and playing out all these transgressions, you can get this kind of group-level fatigue. Moral outrage loses some of its potency because it's hard to know, What should I focus my outrage on? Its a limited resource. It requires a lot of attention and resources, so you start to get a little jaded, because you're like, Well, I'm supposed to be outraged at this and this and this. So what? I dont know what to do.This has not been empirically studied very well, as far as I know. But we've looked a little bit at people leaving conversations in the context of online conversation. Basically, what happens is, some people are the superoutrage producers, and then other peoplewhich turns out, according to some of my data, to be the majority of responsesdon't talk as much because they might feel isolated. Maybe things are getting too intense. Other people just might not know what they should be focusing on. And then theres other people, evenwe've seen this on social media, especiallywho feel kind of afraid to express an opinion, because if there's a lot of outrage in the environment, you feel like youre going to be targeted if you say slightly the wrong thing.If you want to talk about it individually, Im not aware of empirical research that has studied that specifically in response to recent political events. This is now getting into the realm of speculation, but there is some research that shows that when people are feeling a lot of negative emotions in generalId obviously consider outrage in that bucketthey tend to feel like they need to regulate their emotions, because it can be taxing on them.Would it be fair to say that individuals often behave as part of a bigger groupwhether its political party or race or something elseand we feel a threat to our group whenever something happens that seems negative toward that broader group?Yeah, 100 percent, and this is very well studied in social psychology. I think the key thing to understand is that we flexibly identify ourselves depending on the context. During a political election, when we see our group lose, social identity theory would predict that this would be a case when you very strongly are prone to identifying with categorizing yourself. For example: Oh, Im a Democrat. I feel very saliently my Democrat identity, so now I feel threatened. We just lost the election. Trump is saying hes going to do all this stuff that my group wouldnt do. Then youre very likely to feel outrage and other emotions on behalf of your group, and thats where the threat comes in.But my point in saying that its flexible is just to say it's interesting to think about how we might then go into another context, and now our categorization is slightly different, or maybe we're just feeling a certain identity that doesnt have to do with politics. And now we're realizing, like, Man, I've been in this chronically group-identified state with my political identity, and I have been really outraged, and it is taking a toll on me individually.How does the media environment, and especially social media, affect the way we experience outrage?A lot of times we can get kind of exhausted from viewing all the outrage we see in a context like social media. And the problem with that is thats actually not necessarily representative of how people are feeling in our political group. What my research shows is that when you combine the use of engagement-based algorithms that are on X, Meta, etc., they are disproportionately amplifying outrage content. And what that means in practice is that even if theres this small minority group of highly motivated political users who are posting a lot of this stuff, in fact, most people arent. The algorithms amplify, and it makes it look as if there are a ton of people doing it. To me, that's concerning, because then we might get turned off of political participation. We feel like were already kind of exhausted by the general media and the anger and politics. But in fact thats not actually representative of our group.Is there anything we can do to combat outrage fatigue? How can people healthily disengage to some extent?I think people really have to figure out, How can I be aware and experience outrage while also grounding myself in local communities? Because I think local community politics is how you can build a kind of feeling of safety and understanding among a group, like, Oh, actually, there are concrete things I can do, or we can do, to organize and think about how we challenge the status quo we disagree with. I think the problem is were in a kind of era where a primary way that, especially, young people engage in politics is through these online, honestly not that personal, spaces. And I think its been problematic for the kind of cross-coalition building that used to occur when there was just more organizing in offline spaces.So I think its just getting more involved at a local level, where you have this interpersonal connection. It doesnt cost much to express outrage online. Its much more costly to try and get involved in the community and to have more direct and focused outrage. Directed outrage is less likely to lead to fatigue because theres a satisfaction of knowing what its going for, and there are concrete outcomes youre looking for.Can limiting your media consumption help?There are some deactivation studies for social media specifically [studies in which participants deactivate their account for some period of time].To be honest, there are kind of mixed results. One study showed a decrease in polarization, but people lost some political knowledge. Another study showed there was no effect. And theres a big multicountry study going on with that, but to be honest, these studies tend to look at, like, two weeks of deactivation. Its hard to say, Is it a good or bad thing? Its something that is nuanced. But what I would say, drawing from what I know from my research, is that people do have the ability to alter their social media ecosystem. If you feel like youre getting too much outrage and bombarded with stuff in a way that is not productive or is causing fatigue then you have the ability to change that environment by engaging with different content.Is there evidence that that political parties or groups weaponize outrage fatigue as a way of making people less engaged or resistant?In general, heres one thing we know from at least the U.S. context: outrage has been used as a political tool to divide groups. For example, the political right has specifically used outrage stoking to get certain groups who would be harmed by their economic policiessay, the working classto vote for them on other issues that have nothing to do with that. For example, issues of immigration, race, identity, things that make them outraged. Abortion is another oneit can distract people from other issues that would harm them. Two of our studies looked at the Russian disinformation organization the Internet Research Agency that was specifically using that as a strategy in the 2016 and 2020 elections. So we know that outrage as a divisive tool is something that is used as a strategy for sure.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereMarvel Rivals has taken the gaming world by storm, engaging gamers with its thrilling combat and rich Marvel Universe background. With millions of players joining every day to strategize, fight, and compete, its no surprise that the game has become a cultural phenomenon. However, as its popularity develops, so do concerns about the games integrity.Cheating has been a common problem, with gamers using hacks and exploits to get an advantage. Aside from flagrant cheating, a subtler advantage has provoked intense disputes in the community. Many players believe that having greater frame rates (FPS) results in smoother gameplay and faster response times, providing them a major advantage in matches. Higher FPS not only enhances the overall game experience, but it also appears to boost character animations and fighting efficiency, prompting concerns about balancing.Marvel Rivals players suggest higher FPS makes winning games easierThe Marvel Rivals player base has been divided ever since theories of the game being pay to win went viral on social media. Some players allege that those with higher frame rates in the game can damage enemies quicker and have a significant buff over enemies with lower FPS.Marvel Rivals players are alleging lower FPS delays attacks. Image by Marvel Rivals Media.Such a theory was brought forward by YouTuber Sarthe who shared a video comparing two clips of Star Lords gameplay at 120 FPS vs 60 FPS. It could be seen that the one with a higher FPS value can damage and eliminate enemies quicker than the 60 FPS user.While its arguable that the delay in the clip is purely because of frame rate and in reality, the input time on both frame rates is the same, some users have even shared a clip of five heroes who are majorly affected by lower FPS values.Those heroes are Doctor Strange, Wolverine, Magik, Venom, and Star-Lord. Since the clip also does not quite justify that the input time is the same, its safe to say that the accusation by players is simply a theory until NetEase confirms it.Some players have also pointed out that this may be the reason that PlayStation users have been struggling to win matches, but it all comes down to a lot of factors such as input delay, ping, and even your graphics settings that affect the overall performance of your gameplay.Marvel RivalsPlatform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Fighting, ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereMarvel Rivals already has one of the best rosters of any hero shooter because its comprised of Earths greatest superheroes including the likes of Spider-Man, Captain America, The Guardians of the Galaxy, and Iron Man. While the gallery of heroes is already great, more will be added through future seasons. A Marvel Rivals leak has unearthed a new character while teasing another big reveal for fans to keep an eye on. There is a lot to anticipate for the near future of NetEases multiplayer experience. Per the 2025 roadmap, Season 1 is set to start in early January, and the developer has confirmed Season 1 will provide a solution to mouse acceleration issues. Before Season 1 launches, you can check stats online to see who the most and least popular characters are right now, and it will be interesting to see how the statistics and leaderboards change as the game continues to grow. A lot of future characters have already leaked for Marvel Rivals, and the developers have admitted that datamining is pretty much impossible to stop. This means leaks will continue to surface, and now there are reports that another character from the Thor movies will eventually make their way to the battlefield. Marvel Rivals leak reveals new character Valkyrie According to leaker, X0X_LEAK, Valkyrie is coming to Marvel Rivals. Theres no mention of when she will arrive, but she is another Asgardian leaked for the future alongside Angela. For fans of the MCU, Valkyrie made her first appearance in Thor Ragnarok, and she was portrayed in the movies by actress Tessa Thompson. She was a decent enough character in the films, and it will be interesting to see if the games portrayal is based on Tessa Thompson from the movies or earlier comic book iterations where she had long blonde hair. Below is a list of characters currently leaked for Marvel Rivals: The ThingMr FantasticInvisible WomanEmma FrostBladeJean Grey/PhoenixDeadpoolAngelaValkyrieHit-MonkeyModokHuman Torch Ultron Not everything about the upcoming heroes has leaked, but RivalsLeaks has revealed the abilities for both the Human Torch and Ultron. In addition to Valkyrie, X0X_LEAK has teased the reveal of another big hero coming to Marvel Rivals. They posted on December 29th that the reveal will happen tomorrow, so we expect it to occur sometime on December 30th. We will update this article when the leak materializes. Remember that these are only leaks rather anything official. Plans can always change and some heroes might not debut as expected. Image credit: @X0X_LEAK on XFor more Marvel Rivals, check out our guides to the best Duelists and DPS characters, along with the best Vanguards and Tanks. Marvel RivalsPlatform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Fighting, ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereWhile Larian Studios is bringing 12 new subclasses to the massive RPG with the arrival of the games last major patch next year, which fans can try out soon, modders for the game continue to create their own. One modder, inspired by Final Fantasy Tactics, has recreated the series iconic Jobs System as a new class for Larians game.Final Fantasy Tactics comes to Baldurs Gate 3Created by modder Almontys, the new Final Fantasy Tactics Job System mod for BG3 brings a bold new class to the game. Available right here on Nexus, the mod aims to add new strategic depth and class progression of Final Fantasy Tactics into Baldurs Gate 3.Just like Final Fantasy Tactics, players will start as a Cadet and unlock new jobs as they level up. 27 jobs are available to unlock and use, including Knight, Mage, Archer, Samurai and many more.It is incredibly difficult (if not impossible with my capabilities) to fully recreate the JP system and Job Levels, the modder explains on the Nexus Mods page. Each subclass has a progression list and restrictions of available jobs (level-gated) to help keep some of the original feel of unlocking and progressing jobs.Its worth noting that there are a few restrictions that the modder has implemented in order to not completely break Baldurs Gate 3. For example, the modder decided not to recreate Final Fantasy Tactics advanced movement abilities as they were deemed too overkill for the game.Additionally, the modder decided not to add in the Calculator and Mime classes from Final Fantasy Tactics with the former being replaced with the new Sorcerer class. As both classes were deemed game-breaking, they were avoided.For more Baldurs Gate 3 mods, read about the modders bringing cut content back into the game or our thoughts on the mods that attempt (and fail) to make Astarion even hotter.Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Pretty funny coincidence, but honestly, Mario & Luigi: Brothership is as perfect of a name as it gets. Everything worked out perfectly.Personally, I think they should have dropped the word "Bros." in "Super Mario Bros. Wonder." Simply calling it "Super Mario Wonder" rolls off the tongue so much better and makes more sense considering you can play as other characters like Peach and Daisy right now. I get the feeling Nintendo thought the word "Bros." would keep casual consumers from getting confused thinking it was a 3D Mario game. But really, all you have to do is look at the screenshots on the back of the box or literally any of the advertisements.It's not like Nintendo hasn't dropped the word "Bros." from 2D Mario games before. Super Mario World, Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2... Granted, Luigi isn't in the latter two, so I guess that would be false advertising, but still. I get how marketing the Wii U as "the new controller" was confusing, but I hate when companies go overboard to treat audiences like they're dumber than rocks.At least Europe didn't intervene in Mario & Luigi's naming and call it "Brothership Bros."Edit: I would've been first if I didn't have so much to say, so now it looks like I plagiarized @JohnnyMind in my first paragraph, lol.

Read all the biggest 3D printing stories of 2024 in the 3D Printing Industry Review of the Year.In April, business news continued to dominate the headlines. Two of the most influential additive manufacturing consultancies published annual market reports highlighting key industry trends, analysis, and forecasts for the future of 3D printing. Notably, the reports featured starkly contrasting 3D printing market size estimations.Elsewhere, GE Aerospace debuted as an independent company on the New York Stock Exchange following General Electrics restructuring. Solidscape also went solo after a private investor acquisition, while Markforged was ordered to pay $17.34 million in a patent-infringement lawsuit.Sustainability was another key theme in April, with several companies announcing eco-friendly additive manufacturing initiatives. Additionally, the focus on strengthening domestic supply chains in the US continued with efforts to re-shore the production of batteries and missiles. Medical applications were also spotlighted, with one research institute 3D printing ultra-realistic heart and lung models.Read on for 3D printing updates from Stratasys, MIT, Ursa Major, 6K Energy, Farsoon Technologies, Meltio, AML3D, and more.Larry Culp, CEO of GE Aerospace, and Scott Strazik, CEO of GE Vernova ring the Opening Bell. Photo via GE Aerospace.What is the 3D printing market size?In April, Wohlers Associates, the Colorado-based additive manufacturing consultancy firm operating under ASTM International, released its Wohlers Report 2024. This outlined that the industry had grown 11.1% to a 3D printing market valuation of $20.035 billion, exceeding $20 billion for the first time.The reports principal author, Terry Wohlers, told 3D Printing Industry that the market size is actually much larger than what we report. He explained that the estimate excludes capital spent on 3D printing within organizations like Adidas, NASA, and Stryker. The figure also omits the value of research, development, prototyping, tooling, and parts 3D printed by original equipment manufacturers.Looking to the future of 3D printing, the report anticipates a shift to the high-volume production of end-use parts. Wohlers predicts that production will move from thousands of parts to hundreds of thousands. Million-part production runs are also anticipated for small components.German consultancy AMPOWER reported a 3D printing market size of just 10.5 million for 2023, approximately half of the Wohlers figure. This estimate, published in the AMPOWER 2024 report, represents a 10.3% increase compared to the previous years estimation. Metal powder bed fusion 3D printers reportedly accounted for 40% of sales 2023 revenue. Additionally, robust growth was seen in the aerospace and defense sectors, with a 30% increase over the past two years. The rise in global defense budgets is expected to drive the adoption of additive manufacturing further. However, the automotive sectors investment in 3D printing stagnated in 2023, while startup funding declined due to a lack of global venture capital.AMPOWER projected steady industry growth, forecasting an annual growth rate of 13.9% and 20 billion in revenues by 2028. Equipment suppliers in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are expected to experience an annual growth rate of around 16% until 2028.Wohlers Report 2024 data shows increasing metal 3D printer sales. Image via Wohlers Associates.3D printing business updates April saw GE Aerospace debut on the New York Stock Exchange as an independent public company following GEs operational restructuring. This resulted in the creation of three independent companies: GE HealthCare, GE Vernova, and GE Aerospace. Metal 3D printer manufacturer Colibrium Additive, rebranded from GE Additive, is part of GE Aerospaces Propulsion & Additive Technologies (PAT) division.A joint opening bell ceremony alongside GE Vernova was held on April 2, 2024. The aerospace manufacturer entered the market with a sizeable installed base, including 44,000 commercial engines and 26,000 military engines worldwide.GE Aerospaces hypersonic dual-mode ramjet engine. Photo via GE Aerospace.Another company that announced its independence was high-resolution 3D printing specialist Solidscape. Known for its 3D printers for the jewelry and precision investment casting industries, the company was acquired by a private investor. This formed part of a strategic move to reinforce Solidscapes presence and innovation in the jewelry 3D printing market.This announcement followed the news in January that Prodways had discontinued the Solidscape product line of wax and resin 3D printers, which had performed poorly in 2023. Following the acquisition, Solidscape will continue to offer its range of 3D printers and materials for jewelry applications. The company also confirmed its commitment to developing new products and improving existing technologies.A 3D printed ring model and the final part. Photo via Solidscape.Elsewhere, Canadian 3D printing powder developer Equispheres raised approximately CAD 20 million in a Series B funding round. Martinrea International led the round, while INFOR Financial and Stifel Nicolaus Canada acted as financial advisors. The company planned to leverage this capital across various critical efforts, including new reactors to scale its production capabilities.In legal news, 3D printer manufacturer Markforged was ordered to pay Continuous Composites $17.34 million as part of a patent infringement lawsuit that began in 2021. A federal jury in the US District Court for the District of Delaware found that several of the companys 3D printers infringed on a patent covering the method and apparatus for continuous composite 3D printing. In a statement, Markeforged commented that it strongly disagrees with this verdict and outlined intentions to overturn the verdict in post-trial motions.Later this year, Markforged settled with Continuous Composites after agreeing to pay the company $25 million. The deal, which included a Patent License Agreement, resolved all claims and counterclaims in the IP dispute.Markforged HQ. Photo via Businesswire.Sustainable manufacturing initiativesThe sustainability of additive manufacturing was a key talking point in April. The month saw leading 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys publish its second environmental, social, governance, and sustainability report. This highlighted the environmental sustainability and social impact of the companys 3D printing technology.Stratasys stated that it is delivering on the mindful manufacturing commitments it made in its 2022 report, claiming its technology enables manufacturers to transition to more sustainable practices. The company also highlighted several environmental, social, and governance-based achievements.Most impressively, Stratasys announced it reduced 207 metric tons of CO2 emission by adopting renewable energy at its facilities. The company installed solar panels at its Israel facilities, generating 441,339 kWh of renewable energy. It also claimed to have reduced 3D printing waste through its recycling program. This increased the number of recycled filament spools, cartridges, and canisters by 11.3%.Rooftop solar installation at Stratasys Kiryat Gat Manufacturing installation. Photo via Stratasys.Later in the month, a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed an FDM 3D printer that can autonomously create parameters for unknown materials. This system seeks to increase the adoption of unique 3D printing filaments that are more sustainable than hard-to-recycle, fossil fuel-based polymers.Also targeting recycling was UK-based 3D printing filament manufacturer Filamentive, which introduced its free 3D Printing material recycling service. Said to be the first scheme of its kind in the UK, it allows existing Filamentive customers to return their PLA waste free of charge. 100% of this material is then recycled into new products.The company hopes this will combat increasing 3D printing-related plastic pollution. According to Filamentive, 33% of 3D printed parts end up as waste, translating to 400,000 kg of plastic in the UK each yearOn the powder side, the AMGTA published the results of its study on the most sustainable metal 3D printing materials. The findings suggest that helium gas atomization is the most energy-efficient method for producing common metal powders. This reportedly uses 13% less energy per kilogram of powder compared to argon and 28% less than nitrogen for common alloys.Filamentive PLA recycling box. Image via Filamentive.Re-shoring manufacturing in the USIn April, efforts to re-shore manufacturing in the US ramped up. Within the defense sector, rocket engine manufacturer Ursa Major signed a contract with the US Navy to design and test a 3D printed solid rocket motor (SRM) for the Standard Missile program.This agreement sees the company leverage its additive manufacturing-based Lynx technology to design the next generation of SRMs optimized for reliability and manufacturability.The project aims to create a new 3D printable design for the Mk 104 dual rocket motor, addressing challenges associated with traditional manufacturing methods. The Mk 104 powers the SM-2, SM-3, and SM-6 missiles. This year, demand for missiles in America surged due to a shortage of domestic suppliers, the need to replenish US stockpiles, and ongoing support for Ukraines war efforts.Also in April, a large-scale ARCEMY X-Edition 6700 3D printer from AML3D became fully operational at the US Navys Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Danville, Virginia. Worth AUD$1.1 million, the Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing system was sold through the Australian 3D printer manufacturers US Scale-Up strategy, which delivered over AUD$12 million in orders last year. This initiative seeks to address supply challenges within the US Department of Defense, particularly the US Navys submarine industrial base.US Navy SM-6 missile. Photo via the US Navy.Away from defense manufacturing, 6K Energy, a division of advanced material specialist 6K, signed a strategic supply agreement with metal recycling firm Aqua Metals. Through this partnership, the companies are working to build a circular supply chain for lithium-ion battery materials in the United States.The collaboration sees Aqua Metals supply 6K with recycled battery materials from its Sierra ARC facility in Reno. 6K then uses its UniMelt microwave plasma technology to convert these critical materials into cathode active materials at its PlusCAM factory in Jackson, Tennessee. Recycled battery materials are later sold to US-based manufacturers.This aligns with the US Governments efforts to re-shore its production capabilities amid global supply chain challenges. By 2030, the lithium-ion battery manufacturing capacity in the US is expected to reach nearly one terawatt-hour.6K Energy PlusCAM factory. Image via 6K Energy.Support-free metal 3D printingIn April, a key development in metal 3D printing came from Farsoon Technologies. The Chinese 3D printer manufacturer introduced its Support Reduction System to address common support-based challenges in metal powder bed fusion 3D printing.According to Farsoon, the technology combats stress and warping during the cooling process after 3D printing. This often causes parts to crack, especially in overhanging areas. The new technology facilitates reliable, support-free 3D printing of inverted conical structures with angles between 20 and 25, and round holes up to 50 mm wide.These capabilities reduce material requirements, translating to significant cost savings, cutting time commitments, and minimizing damage associated with support removal. The technology also facilitates the creation of more intricate part geometries, creating the potential for previously unachievable features.The fabrication of unsupported horizontal circular openings, reaching widths of up to 50 millimeters. Image via Farsoon.3D printing medical devices The increasing adoption of 3D printing for medical applications was also evident this month. Researchers from Nottingham Trent University produced realistic 3D printed heart and lung models that bleed, beat, and breathe like their real counterparts.Targeted to organ transplant training applications, the heart models reflect the tactile qualities of the real thing. They can be produced with different tissue hardness levels, allowing surgeons to plan operations.The 3D printed organs can also be used to research and teach transplant procedures. Most trainee surgeons currently practice with cadavers and animal organs, as existing models arent realistic enough. The researchers claim their 3D printed models are the first to offer the realism required for medical training.Elsewhere, biomedical 3D printing firm ArcomedLab announced that it had established the worlds largest case list of 3D printed craniomaxillofacial implants. By April 2024, the firm had completed 700 successful cases throughout Latin America, including in Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico.The implants were 3D printed in a PEEK biopolymer material and personalized to meet specific patient needs. They can also store and deliver liquid drugs at the point of need through the companys patented gravity-induced drip mechanism. This allows drugs to be administered up to 20 days after surgery.Senior research fellow Richard Arm holding a 3D printed heart model. Photo via Nottingham Trent University.3D Printing News Highlights from 2024: Innovations, Trends, and AnalysisAll the news from Formnext 2024.Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook page, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows a US Navy SM-6 missile. Photo via the US Navy.

Tech How to restore deleted text messages on Android Here are multiple methods to restore deleted messages on Android smartphone Published December 30, 2024 6:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': How to factory reset your Android Tech expert Kurt Knutsson reveals how to securely back up and factory reset your Android to protect your privacy and data. We've all been here before. All of us have, at one point or another, accidentally deleted an important text. Gloria, from Chepachet, Rhode Island, reached out to us with this question:"I accidentally deleted a text message; how can I get it back on my Android phone?"Were sorry to hear that youve accidentally deleted a text message. The ability to recover it depends on several factors, including your phone model, whether a backup was made and the specific messaging app youre using. Here are some general methods you can try.(iPhone users, follow these tips.) A man texting on his phone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Check if the message was archived (Google Messages)If you have an Android-based phone or a Google account, you may use Google Messages as your primary platform for text messages. Here's how to check if your message was archived within Google Messages.Settings may vary depending on your Android phones manufacturer.Open theGoogle Messages appTap yourprofile icon beside the search iconSelectArchivedLong press the messages you want to retrieveTap theunarchive button in the upper-right corner Google messages app (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Check the Recycle Bin (Samsung Messages)Settings may vary depending on your Android phones manufacturer.If you are using a Samsung-based smartphone, your text messages can be stored in the Samsung OS'sRecycle Binfor up to 30 days. If you are using a Samsung smartphone, here's how to check the built-in recycling bin app to see if your messages are in there:Open the Messages appTap thethree-dot menu in the upper-right cornerChoose theRecycle binChoose thedeleted text messages you want to retrieveTapRestore to get them back to your messages list Samsung messages app (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Use a third-party recovery appIf you dont have a backup and your messages are permanently deleted, you might still have a chance to recover them using a third-party Android data recovery app.You can find Kurts picks for data recovery software here. Different apps will have different features, so be sure to pay close attention to which third-party recovery solution is the right one for your needs.Restore from a backup Google Drive on Android (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)If youve backed up your phone to Google Drive, you may be able to restore your backup to recover the deleted text messages. Please note that restoring a backup might overwrite the existing data on your phone. Here's how to check and see if you have a Google Drive backup for your smartphone:Settings may vary depending on your Android phones manufacturer.OpenGoogle Drive on your smartphone or visit drive.google.com.On Google Drive, select thestorage option from the bottom left corner.Tap onbackups to view any Android backups attached to your Google Drive.Kurt's key takeawaysGloria, hopefully, we were able to help you restore the missing Android message. Regularly backing up your data to prevent future data loss is always a good idea. If you have an Android smartphone, I strongly recommend using Google Drive to back up your phone; that way, you can always access the backup within your Google account. If you can't find your deleted messages in your phone's trash bin or recycling bin, don't panic. You can still most likely get any deleted data back with a third-party program, but check any program's features before paying.Have you ever experienced significant data loss? What lessons did you learn from that experience? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.