If you just got a new iPhone, there are lots of things you can do to make the most of the great cameras you now have in your pocket. Ive selected some of the best camera and photo editing apps to help you enhance your shots from your iPhone. And even if youre already a long-time iPhone user, its worth giving these apps a try.HalideHalide is probably the most popular app for those who take mobile photography seriously and is also one of my favorite apps for iPhone. It features all the advanced controls youd expect from a professional camera, including shutter speed, ISO, and white balance adjustments.However, Halide is more than a camera app with manual controls. The app has some unique features to enhance photos by using artificial intelligence and other technologies. For instance, iPhone XR and iPhone SE (2nd gen) users can take portrait photos of animals and objects even without having two rear camera lenses.You can also capture high-quality RAW photos, check histograms and metadata information, adjust focus precisely with focus peaking, export the depth map of the images, set Siri shortcuts, and much more. Im also a fan of the Process Zero feature, which skips the iPhones standard image processing and results in more natural photos.You can try Halide for free on the App Store. The app requires an annual subscription of $19.99 or a lifetime license of $59.99 after the 7-day trial period.Pro Camera by MomentPro Camera by Moment is another great app for users who want to have total control over how they take photos on their iPhone. It offers full manual controls with exposure and ISO adjustments, RAW support, manual focus, slow shutter, and even 4K time-lapses.Interestingly, Pro Camera not only works for photos, but also offers the same manual controls for shooting videos with the iPhone. Users can easily switch between different resolutions, frame rates, and color profiles including LOG on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Theres also support for multiple bitrates and anamorphic lenses.You can buy Pro Camera by Moment for $8.99 on the App Store. Some extra features can be unlocked through in-app purchases.PhotonPhotonprovides all the control you need to create powerful professional photos. Developed by the creators of the popular Camera+, Photon has multiple options for manually adjusting and controlling the iPhone camera before taking photos. Users can precisely adjust focus, exposure (with shutter speed and ISO settings), and white balance.To make your photos perfect, Photon offers advanced tools like Focus Peaking, which highlights exactly where the lens is focusing. The app also supports different photo formats, such as HEIF, JPEG, ProRAW, and RAW. For those with the iPhone 14 Pro, the app lets users easily choose between 12-megapixel and 48-megapixel photos when using the main wide lens.Photon is now available on the App Store, and it requires an iPhone running iOS 16 or later. While you can download it for free, the manual controls are only available under a $3.99 monthly subscription or $19.99 annual subscription.DarkroomAfter taking great photos with your iPhone, youll need some professional tools to edit them but you dont need a computer for that. Darkroom is one of my favorite photo editors since it is available not only for iPhone but also for iPad and Mac.One of the best things about Darkroom is that the app is extremely intuitive and easy to use, even if you are not a professional photographer. The app comes integrated with the iCloud Photo Library, so you dont have to waste time selecting and importing the photos you want to edit.With Darkroom, you can adjust the brightness, contrast, highlights, shadows, color temperature, and other details of the photos youve already taken. The app also lets you edit videos and even Live Photos. In addition, youll also find a curve editor, watermark options, advanced support for RAW photos, and even integration with the Halide app.The best part is that you can use most of the features of Darkroom for free, which is available on the App Store. Theres a $6.99 monthly subscription to unlock all the app features.LightroomAdobe Lightroom is the famous photo editor used by many professionals around the world, and although it is known for its desktop version, Adobe also offers a mobile version of Lightroom for iOS.Its extremely easy to edit your photos in Lightroom for iOS, even if they were taken in RAW. The app includes options to adjust lighting, colors, effects, details, and more. You can even distort photos, apply lens corrections, or use the automatic mode to set the best settings for that image. It also features different color profiles and setting presets.If youre subscribed to Adobe Creative Cloud, you can synchronize everything between the mobile and desktop versions of the app so you can start editing a photo on your iPhone and then finish it on your Mac or iPad.The mobile version of Lightroom is available for free on the App Store, but youll get the most out of the app by becoming an Adobe Creative Cloud subscriber.DoubleTakeSince a camera is not made only of photos, this list wouldnt be complete without an app to work on videos. DoubleTake is an app created by the same company behind FiLMiC Pro, and it enables a new way to record videos with your iPhone.Sometimes capturing video from just one camera is not enough, which is why DoubleTake came with a simple yet smart solution. If you ever needed to record the video from two different angles to create more professional-looking content, the app lets you choose two of the iPhone cameras to capture everything at the same time.You can choose between ultra-wide, wide, telephoto, and selfie lenses to start a multi-cam video. The app also lets you switch between 24, 25, and 30 frames per second. There are no complicated settings or anything like that all you need to do is open the app, choose the cameras you want, and start recording.DoubleTake is available for free on the App Store.PhotomatorPhotomator is an image editor from the same developers as the popular illustration app Pixelmator, which was recently acquired by Apple. Even so, Photomator is still available on the App Store and provides professional tools for editing photos.With Photomator, you can do things like edit colors, apply gradients, change the light, erase objects using AI, and even increase the resolution of images using machine learning. The app also works with over 750 RAW image formats, including Apple ProRAW and Fujifilm RAWs.I would definitely add Camera+ 2 to this list. Had been around for 10+ years. View all commentsPhotomatoris available on the App Store and you can try it out for free. Users can opt for a subscription model or buy a lifetime license, which typically costs $119.99. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and Mac.Wrap upWith these apps listed here, you have everything you need to start shooting and editing like a pro with your iPhone. While there are some paid apps like Halide, you can find great alternatives to enhance your photos for free on the App Store.Is there any other app you use to take better pictures that I didnt mention on my list? Let me know in the comments below.Read also:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple has a reputation for creating game-changing products. Its done this in a variety of categories spanning its history of hardware, software, and services. But its natural to always seek out the next big thing. Apples CEO Tim Cook though, interestingly enough, has already told us what it isand now its starting to take shape.In search of the next big thing thats already hereEvery year, Wall Street and tech followers like to pose the question: what will be Apples next big thing?A product with an iPhone-sized impact, whether thats a new car, AI, or something else radically different and game-changing.While its probably unfair to expect such a huge new innovation from Apple every few years, the company has sort of earned the pressure with its history of success.But what is Apples next big thing is already here?Repeatedly over multiple years, Tim Cook has commented on what he believes Apples biggest world-changer will be. The area Apple will make its greatest contribution to society.His answer? Health.Heres Cook in a recent WIRED interview:Its clear to me that if you zoom out way into the future, and you look back and ask what Apples biggest contribution was, it will be in the health area. Thats what I really believe.Health is a seemingly abstract concept, but at Apple, it primarily means wearables.Health and wearables: two inseparable bets for Apples futureHealth for Apple cant be separated from its product companion: wearables.Apple currently offers three main categories of wearables:Apple WatchAirPodsVisionApple Watch has been wildly successful, and so have AirPods.Vision Pro is just getting started, but it has a bright future ahead.Yet in all three cases, theres still tremendous potential for growth.Thats true for various reasons. But health is an especially key part of the story.Health, in many ways, can turn Apples wearables from nice-to-haves into something approaching indispensable.Health will make Apples biggest impact yetthrough wearablesUp until recently, most of us likely assumed Tim Cooks health comments were referencing the Apple Watch and its health features.As such, they perhaps seemed a bit hyperbolic.Then just two months ago, Apple added major new health features to AirPods Pro 2. And even more are reportedly on the way.You have to think Vision Pro and its successors will be next. Theres already:an excellent Mindfulness app in visionOSpowerful Live Captions for the deaf and more and future headsets that arent as heavy will no doubt offer compelling Apple Fitness+ experiences.With three wearable products all branching out into health in the future, it becomes much easier to see things from Tim Cooks point of view.If wearables can save your life, improve your hearing, and otherwise improve your health in significant waysyou wont ever want to go without them.Tim Cook on Apples next big thing: Wrap-upWere still in the early days of Apples ambitions for both health and wearables. But the pieces from this past decade help set the stage for an especially exciting decade ahead.They also prove that we should perhaps take Tim Cooks words more seriously.Do you think health and wearables will be Apples next big thing? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple released the first beta of iOS 18.3 two weeks ago. However, if you arent on the beta testing train, you shouldnt have to wait much longer for Apple to release the update to everyone. Heres when to expect Apple to release iOS 18.3iOS 18.3 release dateApples beta testing schedule for iOS 18.3 will almost certainly mirror the beta testing process of iOS 17.3 last year. Here are the dates of iOS 17.3s beta testing cycle: Beta 1: December 13, 2023Beta 2: January 3, 2024Beta 3: January 9, 2024Release Candidate (RC): January 17, 2024Public release: January 22, 2024This suggests that Apple will release iOS 18.3 beta 2 as soon as later this week or early next week, followed by just one more beta and the RC. Whats new in iOS 18.3? While iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2 were major updates for iPhone users, iOS 18.3 is a much smaller release. The update focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements and does not include any new Apple Intelligence features. Robot vacuum support in the Home appTweaked icon for the Image Playground appBug fixes for the Writing Tools API and GenmojiYou can now log in to the Feedback app using Face ID or Touch IDThe icon for the Camera Control menu in the Accessibility page of Settings now supports dark modeApple is expected to pick up the pace again with iOS 18.4, including major new Apple Intelligence features. iOS 18.4 is expected to enter beta testing later this month and be released to everyone in March or April. My favorite iPhone accessories: Follow Chance:Threads,Bluesky,Instagram, andMastodon.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The past 12 months have been undeniably busy for those working in AI. There have been more successful product launches than we can count, and even Nobel Prizes. But it hasnt always been smooth sailing. AI is an unpredictable technology, and the increasing availability of generative models has led people to test their limits in new, weird, and sometimes harmful ways. These were some of 2024s biggest AI misfires. AI slop infiltrated almost every corner of the internet Generative AI makes creating reams of text, images, videos, and other types of material a breeze. Because it takes just a few seconds between entering a prompt for your model of choice to spit out the result, these models have become a quick, easy way to produce content on a massive scale. And 2024 was the year we started calling this (generally poor quality) media what it isAI slop. This low-stakes way of creating AI slop means it can now be found in pretty much every corner of the internet: from the newsletters in your inbox and books sold on Amazon, to ads and articles across the web and shonky pictures on your social media feeds. The more emotionally evocative these pictures are (wounded veterans, crying children, a signal of support in the Israel-Palestine conflict) the more likely they are to be shared, resulting in higher engagement and ad revenue for their savvy creators. AI slop isnt just annoyingits rise poses a genuine problem for the future of the very models that helped to produce it. Because those models are trained on data scraped from the internet, the increasing number of junky websites containing AI garbage means theres a very real danger models output and performance will get steadily worse. AI art is warping our expectations of real events 2024 was also the year that the effects of surreal AI images started seeping into our real lives. Willys Chocolate Experience, a wildly unofficial immersive event inspired by Roald Dahls Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, made headlines across the world in February after its fantastical AI-generated marketing materials gave visitors the impression it would be much grander than the sparsely-decorated warehouse its producers created. Similarly, hundreds of people lined the streets of Dublin for a Halloween parade that didnt exist. A Pakistan-based website used AI to create a list of events in the city, which was shared widely across social media ahead of October 31. Although the SEO-baiting site (myspirithalloween.com) has since been taken down, both events illustrate how misplaced public trust in AI-generated material online can come back to haunt us.Grok allows users to create images of pretty much any scenario The vast majority of major AI image generators have guardrailsrules that dictate what AI models can and cant doto prevent users from creating violent, explicit, illegal, and other types of harmful content. Sometimes these guardrails are just meant to make sure that no one makes blatant use of others intellectual property. But Grok, an assistant made by Elon Musk's AI company, called xAI, ignores almost all of these principles in line with Musks rejection of what he calls woke AI. Whereas other image models will generally refuse to create images of celebrities, copyrighted material, violence, or terrorismunless theyre tricked into ignoring these rulesGrok will happily generate images of Donald Trump firing a bazooka, or Mickey Mouse holding a bomb. While it draws the line at generating nude images, its refusal to play by the rules undermines other companies' efforts to steer clear of creating problematic material. Sexually explicit deepfakes of Taylor Swift circulated online In January, non-consensual deepfake nudes of singer Taylor Swift started circulating on social media, including X and Facebook. A Telegram community tricked Microsofts AI image generator Designer into making the explicit images, demonstrating how guardrails can be circumvented even when they are in place. While Microsoft quickly closed the systems loopholes, the incident shone a light on the platforms poor content-moderation policies, after posts containing the images circulated widely and remained live for days. But the most chilling takeaway is how powerless we still are to fight non-consensual deepfake porn. While watermarking and data-poisoning tools can help, theyll need to be adopted much more widely to make a difference. Business chatbots went haywire As AI becomes more widespread, businesses are racing to adopt generative tools to save time and money, and to maximize efficiency. The problem ischatbots make stuff up and cant be relied upon to always provide you with accurate information. Air Canada found this out the hard way after its chatbot advised a customer to follow a bereavement refund policy that didnt exist. In February, a Canadian small-claims tribunal upheld the customers legal complaint, despite the airlines assertion that the chatbot was a separate legal entity that is responsible for its own actions.In other high-profile examples of how chatbots can do more harm than good, delivery firm DPDs bot cheerfully swore and called itself useless with little prompting, while a different bot set up to provide New Yorkers with accurate information about their citys government ended up dispensing guidance on how to break the law. AI gadgets arent exactly setting the market alight Hardware assistants are something the AI industry tried, and failed, to crack in 2024. Humane attempted to sell customers on the promise of the Ai Pin, a wearable lapel computer, but even slashing its price failed to boost weak sales. The Rabbit R1, a ChatGPT-based personal assistant device, suffered a similar fate, following a rash of critical reviews and reports that it was slow and buggy. Both products seemed to be trying to solve a problem that did not actually exist. AI search summaries went awry Have you ever added glue to a pizza, or eaten a small rock? These are just some of the outlandish suggestions that Googles AI Overviews feature gave web users in May after the search giant added generated responses to the top of search results. Because AI systems cant tell the difference between a factually correct news story and a joke post on Reddit, users raced to find the strangest responses AI Overviews could generate.But AI summaries can also have serious consequences. A new iPhone feature that groups app notifications together and creates summaries of their contents, recently generated a false BBC News headline. The summary falsely stated that Luigi Mangione, who has been charged with the murder of healthcare insurance CEO Brian Thompson, had shot himself. The same feature had previously created a headline claiming that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been arrested, which was also incorrect. These kinds of errors can inadvertently spread misinformation and undermine trust in news organizations.

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Our Experts Written by David Watsky 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 David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips. David earned his BA from Northeastern and has toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. Right now he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or tinkering with a toaster. Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week. Expertise Kitchen tools | Appliances | Food science | Subscriptions | Meal kits See full bio Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.Table of Contents Our Picks Best air fryer overall Ninja 4-quart air fryer View details $59 at Walmart View details Another excellent option Cosori Lite 4-quart air fryer View details $100 at Amazon View details Best large air fryer Ninja Foodi DualZone air fryer View details $170 at Best Buy View details Best air fryer and multicooker Instant Pot Duo Crisp View details $123 at Amazon View details Best air fryer toaster oven Breville Smart Oven Air View details $350 at QVC View details Best small air fryer Gourmia 2-quart air fryer (Out of stock) View details $50 at Target View details Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. Table of Contents NinjaWhat's the best air fryer to buy?An air fryer is one of the most versatile kitchen tools, using hot air to cook and enhance flavors. Its perfect for everyone, from seasoned chefs to those who prefer simpler cooking. If you want to add an air fryer to your kitchen, we've rounded up the best options. Make sure to learn more about foods that don't belong in an air fryer before you purchase to make sure it's right for you.Read more: 50 Unique Gifts for People Who Have EverythingAfter weeks of testing air fryers with over 15 countertop cookers put to the test -- and pushed to their limit -- Ninja's 4-quart model is our top pick for the best air fryers for 2024.The Ninja has power, power and another helping of power on top. It's also user-friendly and comes at an affordable price. In our experience, Ninja kitchen tools are often a safe buy, with solid construction and a long life. But there are other air fryer models we tried that might be an even better fit for your modern kitchen.Read more: The Air Fryer Is the Best and Fastest Way to Make a Roast Chicken We made a double cheeseburger in an air fryer and it did not disappoint. Pamela Vachon/CNETThe air fryer remains a popular kitchen gadget and is our absolute favorite way to fire off quick snacks using less oil or toreheat last night's leftovers. We also did some math, and it turns out that energy-efficientair fryers can even save you money on your electric bill.To curate this list, we tested more than a dozen top-rated air fryer ovens and settled on these five as the absolute best to buy in 2024. Best air fryers of 2024 Photo Gallery 1/1 $59 at Walmart $80 at Amazon Pros Has major power Build is sturdy Controls are simple Cons Expensive if it's no on sale The shiny plastic body shows fingerprints easily

7.6 /10 SCORE Our Verdict Our Verdict Best for: Side sleeper Score Breakdown Performance 8 /10 Policies 7.5 /10 Durability 9 /10 Features 8.5 /10 Pros and Cons Pros Zoned Support coils give you targeted support Comfort foams in pillow top offer pressure relief Excellent motion isolation & edge support Ideal for side and combo sleepers Cons Not as affordable as the core version People under 150 pounds might not need the added support Not ideal for fans of memory foam Table of Contents Jonathan Gomez/CNETHelix Sleep is one of the best mattress brands in the online market. It's grown significantly since its early days, expanding from a single mattress model to nearly two dozen options. From affordability to firmness and type, Helix has you covered when it comes to mattress variety.You've got six enhanced Luxe versions of its core models and another six Elite renditions. Each of these beds has a firmness designed to work for specific sleeping preferences, and using the Helix Sleep Quiz you can make finding the right one quick and easy.If you're primarily a side sleeper, one of the best options from its lineup is the Helix Sunset Luxe. It's a quality pillow-top mattress with a softer firmness that provides ample pressure relief for your shoulders and hips. In this review, I'll go over everything you should know about this bed before you buy it and who exactly it'll work best for. CNET-exclusive deal Looking for a new mattress? With this CNET-exclusive deal, you can take 27% off Helix sitewide and get two free pillows with any mattress purchase. This is the biggest discount available -- you wont find it anywhere else. Use code CNET27 at checkout. Video: Helix Sunset Luxe mattress reviewWatch me review the Helix Sunset Luxe. First impressionsUnboxing the Sunset Luxe was just like setting up any other bed that ships in a box. Once it arrived at our door, we dragged it inside, took it out of the packaging and watched as our new mattress quickly expanded. It did look slightly misshapen right out of the box, but we gave it night to let it fully inflate.When we checked it out the next morning, the bed looked ready for testing. My first time feeling the pillow top, I immediately noticed it was quite soft and plush. After testing responsiveness, I also noticed that its feel was neutral with a slightly slower response time. I think this had to do with the more pressure-relieving qualities inside of the mattress.When I hopped on the bed, I instantly perceived it to be a much softer mattress. I still felt plenty of support from the Zoned Support coils below, but the softer comfort foams, above, provided lots of give for my shoulders and hip as I turned to my sides. I would compare the firmness of this bed to other much softer online options like Puffy Lux and AS5 from Amerisleep. It just has a cloud-like level of cushion.Helix Sunset Luxe mattress firmness and feelWhat does the Helix Sunset Luxe feel like? Jonathan Gomez/CNETTo us, we think this bed has a softer pillow top feel. The comfort foams within that pillow top are soft and neutral, providing a substantial amount of pressure relief to the bed. The Zoned Support coils below give the bed plenty of support while keeping your spine more neutrally aligned at night.We'd say that the Sunset Luxe from Helix Sleep should mainly appeal to side sleepers looking for a neutral feel. This mattress does have memory foam near the top, so if you're the type of side sleeper who prefers a memory foam bed, you'll get some of that "sink-in" quality from this bed. Generally speaking, the Luxe beds from Helix Sleep are designed to be more premium than your average mattress. If you've ever slept on a fancier hotel bed, that's sort of what Helix Sunset is like -- only way softer.How firm is the Helix Sunset Luxe mattress?Speaking of softness, the Sunset Luxe is right at a proper medium-soft on our scale. This firmness should work for strict side sleepers and some combination sleepers. If you're mainly a back or stomach sleeper who wants a firmer option, you may want to look elsewhere.Helix Sleep offers a plethora of beds, and each one has a targeted firmness level. The Dawn and Twilight beds are the firm beds, while the Sunset and Moonlight models are the softer ones. The Dusk and Midnight mattresses have the most neutral firmness levels that should work for the average sleeper.By going the route of the Sunset Luxe, just know that you're getting a more pressure-relieving option, which also results in a much softer firmness profile. If you're a side sleeper, I think you'll get a lot out of this particular mattress when it comes to firmness.Helix Sunset Luxe mattress construction Top-view of Helix Sunset Luxe MySlumberYardThe Sunset Luxe is a premium bed that's constructed with high-quality materials. It's comprised of the following layers:1. On the bottom, there's a layer of base foam. This is a thin, dense foam that acts as a foundation for everything else to rest on.2. Then you have the bed's main support system of pocketed coils, which feature reinforced edges and a Zoned Support design.3. Then, you have a transition layer of "Helix Responsive Foam." This is just a neutral foam that's placed in between the coils and comfort foams.4. One of the main comfort foams used in the mattress is a copper gel memory foam. This layer is thicker than the others to provide the bed with ample pressure relief.5. Just beneath the cover is another layer of "Helix Responsive Foam," to help neutralize some of that memory feel and add responsiveness to the mattress.6. And rounding everything out is the bed's breathable Tencel cover, made for good airflow and meant to sleep temperature-neutral.This is the basic cover for the mattress, but you do have an optional cooling cover that you purchase. This will cost you more at checkout, but it may be worth it if you're an especially hot sleeper.Helix Sunset Luxe mattress performanceMotion isolationWhen it comes to how well this bed absorbs motion at night, the bed performs quite well. If you're a light sleeper, you want a mattress that doesn't reverberate a lot of your partner's motion, causing you to wake up. Thankfully, the memory foam within Sunset Luxe should deaden cross-mattress movement nicely. I would say that the Sunset Luxe performs the best out of all the other Helix Sleep beds for this particular category.Edge-to-edge supportThe reinforced coils that run along the edges of this mattress add up to give this bed some solid edge support. If you sleep with someone who tends to hog the entire mattress, sometimes that can lead you to sleep closer to the edges of the bed than you otherwise would.Based on our tests, we found the perimeter of this bed to be very sturdy under pressure. If you sleep close to the edges of this bed, we doubt you'll be falling off the mattress anytime soon. Since all of the Luxe beds from Helix Sleep feature reinforced coils on the edges, the same should be true with the rest of this line.TemperatureLike the other Luxe mattresses, the standard version of this bed should sleep predominantly temperature-neutral. Its breathable Tencel cover shouldn't cause you to sleep hot or actively cool you down. As I mentioned, you do have an optional GlacioTex cover that you can spend up for if you're looking for a bit of a cooling advantage.Keep in mind that sleeping temperature varies on a case-by-case basis. There may be other factors not related to the actual mattress itself that could be causing you to sleep on the warmer side. Things like your room's temperature and even the types of pillows, pajamas or sheets you use could be affecting your sleeping temperature more than just the bed itself.DurabilityA quality hybrid bed such as this can last for a number of years, sometimes even over a decade. We've found that coil beds generally last longer than those that have dense support foam. Foam layers can degrade faster over time as you lay on them night after night, whereas coils retain their shape more since they're made of metal. Since the Sunset Luxe is an upgraded hybrid mattress. It'll likely last you several years to come, even if you're a much heavier person.Off-gassingThere's no getting around it; sometimes your brand-new bed stinks right out of the box -- and I mean that in the literal sense. Like other products that ship to you in a box, oftentimes, there's a factory smell. Rest assured, nothing is wrong with your new mattress. This smell is a completely normal part of the process and should dissipate after a couple of nights.Who is the Helix Sunset Luxe mattress best for?While the Sunset Luxe from Helix Sleep is a great option for side sleepers looking for a pressure-relieving option with a slight memory foam sensation, it might not be the most suitable option for all sleeper types. Here's who we think this bed is most ideal for.Sleeping position Soft beds are typically best for side sleepers because they provide more contour underneath shoulder and hip pressure points. This bed is ideal for side sleepers who prefer much softer beds. Being one of the softest beds in the Luxe line at around medium-soft, it should provide plenty of pressure relief for your shoulders and hips.If you're a combination sleeper who tends to favor your sides, you can also get by on this bed, just aslong as you prefer a soft mattress. Some combination sleepers favor sleeping on their back or stomach, so if that sounds like you, consider a firmer option from the brand. The Dawn or Twilight models will likely benefit your preferences more.Body typeSince this is a pillow top bed that uses Zoned Support coils, it should be able to handle all body types by default. If you're smaller or more average-sized, you can get by on this bed as well, but you may prefer sleeping on an all-foam mattress. Hybrid beds are more suited for supporting heavier people since coils are more durable than dense support foam. All-foam mattresses can last for a long time, but could also degrade on you faster than a coil mattress if you're on the heavier side.Helix Sunset Luxe mattress pricing Size Measurements (inches)PriceTwin 38x75 inches$1,374Twin XL 38x80 inches$1,624Full 54x75 inches$1,999Queen 60x80 inches$2,374King 76x80 inches$2,874Cal King 72x84 inches$2,874 For a bed of this caliber, I think all the Helix Luxe beds are offered at great price points, and this one isno exception. After discounts, a queen size should run you around $1,800. Pillow-top mattresses of this quality can easily cost upwards of two grand, so it's nice to see the Sunset Luxe at a slightly more affordable value. Helix Sleep also likes to bundle in two free Dream pillows with every mattress purchase. Who doesn't love free pillows? Helix Sleep typically runs discounts on its beds year-round as well.Trial, shipping and warrantyAs a brand, Helix backs its beds with above-average policies. Its beds ship to you in a box for free, and once it's in your possession, you get a 100-night trial period to try it at home risk-free. If you happen to not like it within that time frame you have a return option, but if you decide to keep it, you're backed by a 15-year limited warranty. Just be sure to use the right foundation for the bed. Otherwise, you could void your bed's warranty.The final verdict MySlumberYardIf you're a primary side sleeper looking for a softer hybrid option, I think the Sunset Luxe has your name written all over it. If you don't mind spending up for a quality pillow top bed with a slight memory foam sensation, this could be the perfect Helix Sleep bed for you.Also, if you want a bed with a Zoned Support Design in that coil system, or you just want an optional cooling cover upgrade for hot sleepers, you can't go wrong!You might like the Helix Sunset Luxe mattress if:You want a premium pillow top mattress Youre a side sleeper looking for a softer bedYou want a slight memory foam sensation in your bedYou like a bed with an optional cooling coverYou weigh more than 200 poundsYoure looking for a hybrid with a Zoned Support designYou might not like the Helix Sunset Luxe bed if:You're looking for an all-foam mattressYoure a smaller-sized person who doesnt need extra supportYou want a firmer mattress for primary back and stomach sleepingYoure on a super strict budgetOther mattresses from Helix SleepTo be frank, I'm not going to list all the other Helix beds individually, simply because there are far too many to cover. The brand has six core models, six luxe versions of those beds and six more Elite renditions. Woof -- that's a LOT of mattresses.These options are ranked in terms of firmness. The Sunset and Moonlight are the softer beds, the Dusk and Midnight are the medium options and the Dawn and Twilight are the firm mattresses. Helix Sleep also has a Plus mattress, which is designed to support much heavier people, and they even have a couple of natural and organic beds to choose from in the sub-brand, Birch.So many options could present a bit of a challenge when it comes to picking the right one for you. I mean, how are you supposed to navigate your way through such an extensive lineup of beds?Helix offers an online sleep quiz that runs you through a series of questions. This quiz asks you about your sleeping preferences and body proportions, and then the quiz comes up with the right bed for you based on your answers. This makes finding the right Helix Sleep option for you quick and easy. Feel free to take the Helix Sleep Quiz for yourself.How does Helix Sunset Luxe compare to other mattresses?Helix Sunset vs Helix Sunset LuxeWhen it comes to comparing the core model to the Luxe version, there are many things to discuss. Both feature coils on the bottom for support, but on the Luxe the coils are reinforced along the edges and have a Zoned Support design. The pillow top on the Luxe model also gives the bed a bit more of a comfort advantage, and a bit more pressure relief compared to the core version. If we're talking about price, the Core model is considerably more affordable than the Luxe version, which could be worth it to some of us on a tight budget.Helix Sunset Luxe vs Helix Moonlight LuxeThese are the two softer mattresses from Helix Sleep, but one is a tinge softer than the other. The Sunset Luxe is the softest Luxe option that Helix Sleep currently makes at around medium-soft. The Moonlight Luxe, on the other hand, is slightly firmer between that and a medium on our scale. This makes both options great for side sleeping, but the Sunset Luxe gets a slight advantage in this regard. Also, since the Moonlight Luxe doesn't contain memory foam in its design, it doesn't have as much of a sink-in sensation as the Sunset Luxe.Helix Sunset Luxe Mattress FAQs Is Helix Luxe worth it? Personally, Id say so. It does also depend heavily on the type of mattress you ultimately want. If youre looking for a no-frills bed with more affordable support coils, I dont think youll be compromising much by going the core route of Helix Sleep. However, if youre looking for a premium pillow top bed to offer you more comfort, and you want something to help keep your back more neutrally aligned with that Zoned Support, Helix Luxe might be worth it in the long run. How long do Helix beds last? Given that theyre all hybrid mattresses, the lifespan of a Helix Sleep bed is around that of an average coil option. Wed say your Helix Sleep bed should last you for the next seven to 10 years, if not longer. Will Helix Sunset Luxe be right for everyone? Given that its a much softer style of hybrid mattress, the Sunset Luxe will not be right for everyone. As mentioned, it will mainly appeal to side sleepers who prefer softer options. Since the Sunset Luxe features memory foam, a divisive material in and of itself, many people might prefer something that feels more neutral overall. Neutral beds with medium firmness profiles usually work for the widest variety of people and are the most generally accommodating mattresses. Show more

Image: Nintendo LifeThe final full week of 2024 has been and gone, and by the time you're reading this, it might even be 2025 where you are hello from the past!Anyway, in the UK, we've got the final full 2024 results for the boxed charts, and it's another solid and predictable week for... well, everyone. While the top ten isn't as healthy as it was last week for Switch games, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has managed to hold firm in fourth, alongside Super Mario Party Jamboree in fifth.Nintendo Switch Sports has had to fall back one spot to make way for Elden Ring, which roars back into the charts after a few weeks off we're sure that made a fair few Christmas presents, or perhaps some Boxing Day pick-ups. And Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Minecraft, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons have slipped out of the top ten, casualties of Cyberpunk 2077 and Grand Theft Auto V returning.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kWatch on YouTube But Sega's hedgehog duo, Sonic X Shadow Generations, has managed to crack back into the top ten this week likely as a result of the movie, which launched on 20th December, right before last week's charts closed. Plus, it sold more copies on Switch than any other platform again.That's enough of that, though here's a look at the full top 40 for the final week of 2024, with platform breakdowns for all of the titles available on other consoles as well as the Switch:Last WeekThis WeekGamePlatform Split11Call of Duty: Black Ops 622Hogwarts LegacySwitch 43%, PS4 22%, PS5 21%, XBO 13%33EA Sports FC 25SPS5 38%, Switch 33%, PS4 16%, XBS 13%44Mario Kart 8 Deluxe55Super Mario Party Jamboree-6Elden Ring67Nintendo Switch Sports168Grand Theft Auto V-9Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition1310Sonic X Shadow GenerationsSwitch 46%, PS5 36%, XBS 13%, PS4 6%811Super Mario Bros. Wonder712Minecraft1113Mortal Kombat 11 UltimatePS5 55%, PS4 44%, XBS 1%, Switch 1%914Animal Crossing: New Horizons1815Star Wars Outlaws1516Mortal Kombat 1PS5 92%, Switch 4%, XBS 4%2117Just Dance 2025 EditionSwitch 99%, PS5 1%1918LEGO Harry Potter CollectionSwitch 47%, PS5 45%, PS4 5%, XBS 3%1019Astro Bot3420Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 22821Undisputed3222The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition2023MySims Cozy Bundle-24Mad Max2625LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker SagaSwitch 41%, PS5 40%, PS4 11%, XBS 8%2326LEGO Horizon AdventuresPS5 59%, Switch 41%-27Disney Epic Mickey: RebrushedSwitch 54%, PS5 42%, XBS 4%, PC 0%-28NBA 2K 25PS5 41%, Switch 35%, PS4 18%, XBS 7%2429The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom3830Tomb Raider I-II-III RemasteredSwitch 53%, PS5 27%, PS4 20%4031Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon1732Black Myth: Wukong2933Bluey: The VideogameSwitch 82%, PS5 10%, PS4 6%, XBS 3%2734Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle3135Super Mario Odyssey-36The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt GOTY EditionPC 88%, PS4 7%, XBO 4%, Switch 0%-37Metaphor: ReFantazio1238The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom-39Harry Potter: Quidditch ChampionsSwitch 42%, PS5 36%, XBS 11%, PS4 10%-40Pokmon Violet[Compiled by GfK]< Last week's chartsPlease note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.Did you pick up anything new this week? Let us know what you think of the latest charts in the comments below.

When a company releases a new AI video generator, its not long before someone uses it to make a video of actor Will Smith eating spaghetti. Its become something of a meme as well as a benchmark: Seeing whether a new video generator can realistically render Smith slurping down a bowl of noodles. Smith himself parodied the trend in an Instagram post in February.Will Smith and pasta is but one of several bizarre unofficial benchmarks to take the AI community by storm in 2024. A 16-year-old developer built an app that gives AI control over Minecraft and tests its ability to design structures. Elsewhere, a British programmercreated a platform where AI plays games like Pictionary and Connect 4 against each other. Its not like there arent more academic tests of an AIs performance. So why did the weirder ones blow up?Image Credits:Paul CalcraftFor one, many of the industry-standard AI benchmarks dont tell the average person very much. Companies often cite their AIs ability to answer questions on Math Olympiad exams, or figure out plausible solutions to Ph.D.-level problems. Yet most people yours truly included use chatbots for things likeresponding to emails and basic research.Crowdsourced industry measures arent necessarily better or more informative.Take, for example, Chatbot Arena, a public benchmark many AI enthusiasts and developers follow obsessively. Chatbot Arena lets anyone on the web rate how well AI performs on particular tasks, like creating a web app or generating an image. But raters tend not to be representative most come from AI and tech industry circles and cast their votes based on personal, hard-to-pin-down preferences.The Chatbot Arena interface.Image Credits:LMSYSEthan Mollick, a professor of management at Wharton, recently pointed out in a post on X another problem with many AI industry benchmarks: they dont compare a systems performance to that of the average person. The fact that there are not 30 different benchmarks from different organizations in medicine, in law, in advice quality, and so on is a real shame, as people are using systems for these things, regardless, Mollick wrote. Weird AI benchmarks like Connect 4, Minecraft, and Will Smith eating spaghetti are most certainly not empirical or even all that generalizable. Just because an AI nails the Will Smith test doesnt mean itll generate, say, a burger well.Note the typo; theres no such model as Claude 3.6 Sonnet.Image Credits:Adonis SinghOne expert I spoke to about AI benchmarks suggested that the AI community focus on the downstream impacts of AI instead of its ability in narrow domains. Thats sensible. But I have a feeling that weird benchmarks arent going away anytime soon. Not only are they entertaining who doesnt like watching AI build Minecraft castles? but theyre easy to understand. And as my colleague Max Zeff wrote about recently, the industry continues to grapple with distilling a technology as complex as AI into digestible marketing.The only question in my mind is, which odd new benchmarks will go viral in 2025?

TechCrunchs Found podcast, which has brought listeners the stories behind the startups since April 2022, released its final episode today.Ive been one of the hosts of Found since November 2022 and in that time have spoken to more than 75 founders about the startups they are building. These founders hail from many different backgrounds and are building in sectors ranging from AI to climate to ecommerce to higher education and everything in between.Now that the show will no longer be bringing you new episodes, I decided to take a look back at some of my favorite episodes.You may notice a theme throughout many of these. The best founders to talk to didnt pitch us their product the entire time nor did they make big lofty claims about their company or their industry. Instead, many of these founders offered a clearheaded account of both building their companies and of the trials and trepidations of startup life.The following 15 episodes are easily my favorites that Ive been a part of. These episodes are listed in reverse chronological order of when they were released, as opposed to my actual ranking, you wont be getting that from me. AirtableGuest: Howie Liu, co-founder and CEO, AirtableWhat the company does: no-code app platformEpisode pub date: October 22, 2024Why its a fav: Liu was a delight to talk to. Airtable has a fascinating story and Liu tells it well. The fact that the apps design is inspired by one of Lius favorite animated movie characters tells you everything you need to know about the tone of this conversation.CohereGuest: Nick Frosst, co-founder, CohereWhat the company does: enterprise AIEpisode pub date: August 8, 2024Why its a fav: There is a lot of exaggeration and hype when it comes to todays AI startup market. Frosst doesnt lean in. It was refreshing to talk to an AI founder who both knows their stuff, but also can acknowledge what the AI industry is overselling and how their own company fits into the swell.CampusGuest: Tade Oyerinde, chancellor, CampusWhat the company does: Accredited online community collegeEpisode pub date: July 18, 2024Why its a fav: A lot of the startup ecosystem is founders looking to iterate on old ideas. While this approach is both valid, and often lucrative, it isnt always interesting. Campus is one of the few (non climate-focused) companies I spoke to this year doing something actually unique.Thrive MarketGuest: Nicolas Green, co-founder and CEO, Thrive MarketWhat the company does: membership-based online healthy grocery platformEpisode pub date: April 2, 2024Why its a fav: Thrive Market could have targeted its online market of healthy snacks and groceries to the type of customer that can already access them. But it didnt and the reasons why make for a great founding story. Plus, learning about the logistics of an online grocery store that launched prior to Covid was fascinating even for those that arent as obsessed with grocery logistics as I am.GlacierGuest: Rebecca Hu, co-founder, GlacierWhat the company does: robots that sort recyclingEpisode pub date: March 12, 2024Why its a fav: Glaciers approach of using computer vision to train robots to sort recycling seems like a glimpse into the future of reduce, reuse, recycle. Hu also has some interesting anecdotes on what it is like to build an AI company in the age of AI washing. Plus, the robots have names.The Honey PotGuest: Beatrice Dixon, co-founder and CEO, The Honey Pot (acquired by Compass Diversified)What the company does: menstrual hygiene productsEpisode pub date: February 6, 2024Why its a fav: The founding story of The Honey Pot is a fascinating one and Dixon is quite the storyteller. This episode also shows you the sheer grit of getting a startup off the ground but also dives into the sweet reward at the end of all that work.OlipopGuest: Ben Goodwin, co-founder and CEO, OlipopWhat the company does: prebiotic sodaEpisode pub date: January 24, 2024Why its a fav: Olipop is a wild company to follow as the gut-healthy soda market has exploded in recent years. Goodwin was also a delight to talk to. Despite being CEO, he still formulates all the brands flavors himself. He took our call while drinking coffee out of a wine tumbler. That gives you an idea of how this went down.Pair TeamGuest: Neil BatlivalaWhat the company does: connects underserved communities to high-quality careEpisode pub date: November 28, 2023Why its a fav: Batlivala has cracked the code on tapping government resources to help a startup further its impact. Batlivala, and his work with Pair Team, is bright spot among the startup ecosystem as his company works to improve the lives of the U.S. most vulnerable populations, which are oft overlooked by the tech industry at large.Misfits MarketGuest: Abhi Ramesh, founder and CEO, Misfits MarketWhat the company does: online grocery store of ugly produce and mispackaged goodsEpisode pub date: October 31, 2024Why its a fav: Ramesh was incredibly candid about the founding story behind Misfits Market and all of the hurdles he faced getting the company off the ground. This episode was also recorded shortly after Misfits acquired rival Imperfect Foods so there is a lot of useful info on how to merge companies together too.ePlantGuest: Graham Hine, co-founder and director, ePlant (formerly CEO)What it does: Uses AI sensors to monitor tree healthEpisode pub date: September 5, 2023Why its a fav: This startup uses AI to talk to trees! Hine was not your typical Silicon Valley founder, in a good way, and it was fun to chat with a company that is solving a big problem tree healthbut in a very fun way. Listen to find out Hiness favorite tree too.ReBokehGuest: Rebecca Rosenberg, founder and CEO, ReBokehWhat the company does: assistive technology for people with low visionEpisode pub date: August 1, 2023Why its fav: Folks with disabilities are often completely overlooked by tech innovation so it was really cool to hear from a founder that is building transformational tech for people with low vision and doing so in a way that is rooted in her personal experience. Rosenberg is also wise beyond her years.SamoohaGuest: Kamakshi Sivaramakrishnan, founder and CEO, Samooha (now part of Snowflake)What it does: secure data collaborationEpisode pub date: May 16, 2023Why its a fav: Sivaramakrishnan is a force to be reckoned with in the tech world. She signed documents to sell her first startup while at the hospital preparing to give birth and has since launched and sold another startup. There are a lot of learnings to be pulled from this one.Colossal BiosciencesGuest: Ben Lamm, founder and CEO, Colossal BiosciencesWhat it does: conservation through bringing extinct species back to lifeEpisode pub date: March 21, 2023Why its a fav: While you may go into this episode confused on why a tech startup would be looking to bring the wooly mammoth back to life, youll end this episode thinking that idea makes perfect sense. Lamm is an engaging speaker and the science behind the company is infinitely fascinating.MillGuest: Matt Rogers, founder and CEO, MillWhat the company does: at-home food composter and recyclerEpisode pub date: March 7, 2023Why its a fav: Rogers has a fascinating background prior to starting Mill that includes working on the original iPhone and founding the Nest smart thermometer company. Rogers is hilarious and his quips and anecdotes alone make this one worth your time.GigFinesseGuest: Mir Hwang, founder and CEO, GigFinesseWhat the company does: Gig-booking softwareEpisode publish date: Jan 17, 2023Why its a fav: Hwang is a fascinating founder. From pretending to be his own booking agent to building this startup out of someone elses dorm room, there are a lot of fun stories packed in here. Plus, GigFinesses gig-booking tool is pretty cool on its own too.