The role and responsibility religious buildings play in dense city centers around the world is always evolving. In New York City, this past century, vast cathedrals like St. John the Divine have taken on new uses; that building once solely hosted Sunday mass but now, its also used for concerts, lectures, and even tight rope walks by Philippe Petit, among other immersive art performances. A similar story of transformation took place recently in the heart of Beirut, Lebanon. Saint Maroun Church in Gemmayzeh has been a staple of the Lebanese Maronite community since it was built in 1875. This past year, the Roman style church was refurbished by interior designer Marine Bustros and Fadlo Dagher of DHP Architecture.Saint Maroun Church was badly damaged by the 2020 port explosion which rocked Beirut. The building suffered structural damage, deficiencies that were later rectified by Dagher. After the port explosion, and throughout military attacks by Israel on Beirut this year, the church has provided food and shelter for those in need, among other communal functions that replenish the soul.The buildings exterior and structure more broadly was rectified by Dagher. ( Marwan Harmouche)Father Richard Abi Saleh, who leads Saint Maroun, considered how the church could take on new uses, beyond that of worship, after 2020. Now, Saint Maroun Church hosts musical performances, community meetings, and even art exhibitions. To accommodate more people, and functions, Dagher and Bustros ideated a new addition to the church, which gives Father Richard more capacity. That addition, on its exterior, touts a mural by George Merheb, a Lebanese mixed-media artist. The old and new buildings were meshed together by Bustros; both volumes feature the same custom furniture, which unifies the spaces.Before the restoration, the building had burgundy red doors and furniture. (Courtesy Marine Bustros)It was important to keep and highlight the nice elements that were already there, Bustros told AN. The aim of this project was to rethink the design of the church, but in a modern way. We wanted to break away from the traditional elements, like the burgundy reds in the floors and chairs, Bustros added. We also wanted to bring in more light and offer a soothing experience. By removing the carpets, we can now see the very nice marble floor, and by highlighting the beams, doors, and benches in blue, and to see these colors echoed in the arches, its nice.Bustros noted that Father Richard has done concerts, at Saint Maroun since the refurbishment, which has offered calm and respite. Hes been helping the community a lot, Bustros said. During the war, he was helping and hosting families in need, and distributing food.The wooden waves in the benches were meant to emulate 19th-century arches from the original 1875 building. ( Marwan Harmouche)Saint Marouns refurbishment came around the same time a number of immensely important heritage sites were under threat in Lebanon by Israeli bombardment, as reported by AN.On a daily basis we are afraid but we are not afraid for the future, because we are building the future, Father Richard recently told a reporter. Even in times of war, we are artisans of construction and civilization, and we believe that we must take action, not only [by] distributing food or clothes when needed, but also with acts of beauty, for example, the work of arts or music concerts.People need more in life than the bare necessities just to survive, they also need to breathe, to dream and to believe that things are still possible, Father Richard continued. I believe that the real resistance in the life of a community is cultural resistance, to say that we can build the future in everyday acts because humanity is still capable of beautiful things.

This beautiful Georgian house in Newport, with its prominent gambrel roof oriented toward the street, was built by 1760 and owned by Metcalf Bowler (1726-1789), a merchant, politician, and magistrate. Bowler was for many years speaker of the house in the Rhode Island colonial assembly, and it was discovered in the 20th century that he was a paid informant (spy) for the British during the Revolutionary War. The house was owned by Metcalf before he would purchase what is now known as the Vernon House, an even more stately Georgian mansion designed by Peter Harrison. This house was sold, and later owned by Charles Wickham, a Captain in the war, and later to the Burdick and Merrill families.

Even before opening day, CES sees major announcements from the likes of Samsung, Ring, Lenovo, and more. Here's our roundup of the new tech you don't want to miss.

Linux man pages are a great way to get help with commands. However, these pages can be intimidating for inexperienced users. Here's how to simplify them.

The new Sense Pro Deadbolt lock knows when you approach via Ultra Wideband signals. A new software patch will also redesign and add features to the Schlage Home app.

Apples latest iPhone software is now live, and ready to install. It follows the significant last update, iOS 18.2, which upgraded the Apple Intelligence experience and brought it to more users around the world.Apple iPhone 15.Getty ImagesAnd while the iOS 18.2 release didnt bring catastrophic problems, there were some minor issues which users felt needed to be fixed. These varied from unexpected battery drain which went on a bit longer than youd expect after a software update to Face ID failing and wifi dropping.Now, iOS 18.2.1 is here, and happily has landed on the day Id predicted it might. Heres all we know about the release so far.Which iPhones Can Run iOS 18.2.1?Like other versions of iOS 18, any iPhone that can run the software from 2023, iOS 17 is compatible with iOS 18.2. That boils down to the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and iPhone Xr from 2018 and all iPhones after that, including the iPhone SE both second- and third-generation models.How To Get ItIts straightforward enough. Click on the Settings app, choose General, then Software Update. After that, click Download and Install, and let the software work its magic. This is a smallish update, 511MB on my iPhone 16 Pro Max, so it should be with you quickly.Read More: Samsung Unveils Ingenious Solution To Losing Your TV RemoteWhats In The ReleaseBecause this is a small update, new features werent expected. All Apple says is, This update provides important bug fixes and is recommended for all users.Note the absence of the words security fixes, so we know that its not about cybersecurity, but entirely about putting right things that werent working quite right. Apple is tight-lipped about exactly what these might be, but the absence of security elements means those who dont want to upgrade can feel more relaxed about not doing it, assuming theyre not experiencing problems with the iPhone.Note that Apple also stresses that its recommended for all users which suggests the fixes are not solely about Apple Intelligence as that only applies to users of iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max and the four new iPhone 16 handsets.Ill be exploring whether you should upgrade to iOS 18.2.1 on Tuesday, Jan. 7, in response to how users react to it.

Pictured: The Acer Nitro Blaze 11AcerWere going to see an explosion of gaming handheld news coming out of CES 2025 (except for a Steam Deck 2 announcement), and it looks like Acer is swinging for the fences. The company just revealed two AMD-powered handhelds that will launch in Q2: the Nitro Blaze 8 and the gargantuan Nitro Blaze 11.Both handhelds are powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor and Radeon 780M graphics. In terms of pure graphics horsepower, its on a level playing field with the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally X. Both feature Hall Effect triggers and sticks, and both include 16GB of memory. As youll see below, the Nitro Blaze 8 looks competitive, but also risks being lost among a sea of similar products.The Nitro Blaze 11, however, stands out. Lets talk about it.Quick Specs: Acer Nitro Blaze 8 + Nitro Blaze 11The Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11 share some common specs across both devices, with the main difference centering on the display.Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 8840HSGraphics: AMD Radeon 780M (RDNA 3)Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X @ 7500 MT/sStorage: up to 2TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe driveNitro Blaze 8 Display: 8.8 WQXGA (2560x1600 IPS at 120Hz)Nitro Blaze 11 Display: 10.95 (2560x1600 IPS @ 120Hz)Battery: 55WhWeight: 720g (Nitro Blaze 8) / 1050g (Nitro Blaze 11)Baseline Launch Prices (US): $899 and $1199MORE FOR YOUI was admittedly a bit harsh when Acer unveiled its Nitro Blaze 7 handheld last September, mainly because of its cheap, toy-like aesthetic. Perhaps Acer took the medias criticism to heart, because the design language of the newly unveiled Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11 is more subdued. Those garish fuel gauge graphics are nowhere to be found, replaced by more tasteful accents adorning its chassis. Thank you, Acer!Additionally, the Nitro Blaze 7s dedicated button to pull up an onscreen keyboard was pretty much the only feature that distinguished it from competitors. This time around, Acer has a few advantages worth calling out and considering.Obviously, we need to chat about this massive display first. This will surely be a love it or hate it screen size.To the best of my knowledge, this is the largest screen of any mainstream gaming handheld currently on the market. It actually clocks in at 10.95-inches, but thats still more than 2-inches bigger than the Lenovo Legion Gos 8.8-inch display. The Nitro Blaze 11s screen outputs at 2560x1600 with a 120Hz refresh rate.That oversized display means added weight, and the Nitro Blaze 11 weighs in at 1050g, or 2.3 pounds. Im not sure it would be comfortable to play in bed! But I kinda love the idea of a huge display on my handheld. Its easier on my aging eyes, admittedly. And while the included Radeon 780M graphics wont drive many graphically demanding games at the devices native resolution, indie games and emulated retro games should look awesome with that much screen real estate.Unfortunately, both the 8 and 11 models also share the same 55Wh battery. Without question, youll be charging the Nitro Blaze 11 more often than its smaller 8 sibling. The space is definitely there to add a larger capacity battery, but Acer told PC World (video embedded above) it was concerned with making the device too heavy.Nitro Blaze 11: More Than Just The Size AdvantageIts important for these devices to stand out, and the Nitro Blaze 11 certainly has a few features to distinguish it from the pack.The Nitro Blaze 11 has detachable controllers. AcerNotably, it has a front camera (the exact specs werent disclosed) to utilize for streaming or video chats. Like the Lenovo Legion Go, it also has a sturdy kickstand and detachable controllers. And last but not least, it packs three USB ports. Theres a USB 4 Type-C with Thunderbolt, a standard USB 3.2 Type-C, and a good old fashioned Type-A slot.These features combined make the Nitro Blaze 11 a potentially viable desktop replacement too, without needing to buy a dedicated dock. Im not sold on it yet, but Im definitely intrigued. Especially if I can end up installing SteamOS on it.The Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11 are slated to launch Q2 2025.

Facepalm: Despite being the world's second-largest search engine, Bing continues to hold a minuscule market share compared to Google. Microsoft is clearly dissatisfied with this disparity and is making every effort to drive even a modest increase in user traffic, even if it borders on being unethical. Microsoft recently introduced another tactic in its ongoing efforts to encourage users to choose Bing over Google. The Redmond-based corporation seems acutely aware that many users search for "Google" on Bing, and it has devised a strategy to capitalize on this behavior, setting up what can only be described as a clever "trap" for this specific query.As first reported by Windows Latest, users who search for "Google" on Bing without being signed into a Microsoft account encounter a uniquely designed page. This page features a central search box styled to resemble a Google Doodle, while standard Bing search results appear below.Interestingly, the design conceals the traditional Bing search box at the top of the page, steering users toward the central box to process their queries through Bing's servers. The imitation Google page appears across Edge, Chrome, and Firefox browsers, disappearing only when the user logs into their Microsoft account.Microsoft has employed various tactics to force users into adopting Bing and Edge in the past, but resorting to imitating Google's homepage marks a new low for the Redmond company. Even the recently released official Bing app has been observed engaging in questionable, malware-like behavior on users' PCs to further advance Microsoft's business agenda.The real issue lies in Microsoft's monopolistic approach to technology though it's worth noting that many other companies employ similar strategies to maximize profits and minimize expenses. Google, for instance, which was recently declared a monopoly in the search engine market by US authorities, is also notorious for leveraging its dominant position to stifle competition. // Related StoriesGoogle often displays notifications on its websites, encouraging users to download and use the Chrome browser instead of Edge or Firefox. However, even in light of the US Department of Justice's recent ruling, Google's tactics appear significantly less aggressive compared to Microsoft's relentless push to promote Bing.

AMDTable of ContentsTable of ContentsNothing but a brief mentionI expected more, not lessInto the unknownMany awaited AMDs CES 2025 keynote with bated breath. After all, the company was expected to divulge more information about the RX 9000 series, which could soon compete against some of the best graphics cards.But, by the end of the keynote, the YouTube chat and my own mind were both flooded with just one question: What about new graphics cards?Recommended VideosAMDAMDs 45-minute keynote was packed with announcements. We got a lot of updates on various CPUs, including the new Ryzen 9950X3D, and a slew of laptop processors and APUs. However, the graphics segment didnt receive any love from AMD, even though that was clearly what many viewers were hoping for.Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Jack Huynh, the senior vice president and general manager of AMDs Computing and Graphics Group, teased the RDNA 4 architecture and machine-learning-based upscaling with FSR 4. This is when I thought wed hear some exciting RX 9070 XT news, but instead, we got a video from Matt Booty, the president of Game Content and Studios at Microsoft.RelatedAlthough he teased that technologies like FSR 4 make games likeStarfieldrun better, there was nothing concrete to back up these statements. FSR 4 is still a mystery, as is RDNA 4.We absolutely love the gaming community, and we look forward to telling you more about RDNA 4 and FSR 4 later this quarter, Huynh said. Now, lets shift gears to AI PCs. And that they did, as the rest of the presentation focused largely on non-gaming experiences, including workstations and enterprise-AI-focused CPUs and APUs.A promise of learning more later this quarter was the last thing I expected. Possible specs for RX 9000 series GPUs have been floating around the internet for weeks now, and yet, there was next to no mention of these cards during CES 2025.Mind you, the weirdest part is that AMD did sharesome information about its upcoming GPUs with the media, but it was admittedly pretty scarce. This is another reason why Im surprised. I went into the keynote thinking wed get to learn more during the presentation, but we actually got much less than I ever expected, as those RDNA 4-related slides never made it in.AMDWhat do we know? We know that the new GPUs will be dubbed the RX 9070 and the RX 9060 (as well as their XT counterparts), which weve already expected based on previous leaks. AMD shared a slide explaining this change in its naming scheme, saying that it wanted to simplify it.AMD teased the RDNA 4 architecture, pointing to various hardware- and software-level improvements, including better ray tracing capabilities thanks to third-gen RT accelerators. The slides also revealed that we may not get Made By AMD RX 9000 cards, and that all the GPUs will instead be made by AMDs partners, including Acer, Asus, XFX, Gigabyte, and more.FSR 4 got its own slide, and arguably, it got more screen time during the presentation than RDNA 4 itself did. It feels like AMD is taking a page out of Nvidias playbook here, as Nvidias DLSS 3 is an RTX 40-series exclusive, whereas FSR 3 used to be widely available. That will no longer be the case with FSR 4, which will only be available in RDNA 4 GPUs.In addition, AMD gave us some insight as to the kind of performance we can expect from the new RDNA 4 GPUs. The RX 9070 cards are listed as competitors to the RTX 4070 Ti and the RTX 4070 Super. On AMDs side, the top GPU is set to keep up with the RX 7900 XT; last-gens flagship RX 7900 XTX will remain undefeated. Meanwhile, the RX 9060 will match up against the RTX 4060 Ti and the RX 7700 XT at the most.This performance bracket is useful, but it doesnt tell us anything in the way of actual GPU specifications. Leakers have long said that the new AMD flagship will be based on the Navi 48 GPU, and recent rumors claim that itll come with 4,096 cores, 16GB of GDDR7 VRAM across a 256-bit bus, and memory speeds of 18Gbps. Clock speeds are said to be high in this generation, with some tipsters saying we can expect up to 3.1GHz.Thats all well and good, but the problem with all of those spec-related statements is that theyre rumors. They may be true, they may be false we just dont know. Thats a strange place to be in, given that AMD just held a 45-minute presentation during the years biggest computing event.Personally, I was really excited about the prospect of AMDs RX 9070 XT. I still am, but its hard not to feel surprised at the way AMD glossed over all the details of one of its most-anticipated gaming products set to come out this year.Sure, we now know that the RX 9070 XT will be an upper-midrange card targeting the mainstream market but we already knew as much, and today brought us very little in the way of new information. The biggest revelation was the fact that FSR 4 will be an RDNA 4 exclusive; everything else was already speculated about for weeks.We still have a lot of unknowns, including some of the most basic information, such as specs, prices, and release dates for these new cards. All we know is that well learn more during this quarter, but that could mean in two weeks or in two months.In 2024, AMD CEO Lisa Su teased RDNA 4 while divulging that the companys gaming revenue declined by 69% year-over-year. Despite a tumultuous year for AMDs gaming business, Su also promised that RDNA 4 will launch in early 2025, which is reassuring. But it does make me wonder what AMD is waiting for.Meanwhile, Nvidia is just hours away from announcing its next-gen RTX 50-series. Its hard to say how much Team Green will be ready to reveal, but at this point, Nvidia wont need to do much to beat AMD at CES 2025. All Nvidia has to do is say which graphics cards are coming and give a rough overview of each. Thatll still be more than we got from AMD and its hard not to feel a little disappointed.Editors Recommendations

JBLDid you just buy a new console from PlayStation 5 deals, Nintendo Switch deals, or gaming PC deals? While youre shopping, you might as well take advantage of this offer from Best Buy for the JBL Quantum 910P gaming headset. From its original price of $300, its down to just $150 following a 50% discount. You need to act fast if you want to pocket the $150 in savings though, as were not sure how much time is remaining before the stocks that are up for sale run out.A gaming headset not only lets you fully enjoy the audio of your favorite video games, but also provides clear communication during online multiplayer matches. Designed for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC, the JBL Quantum 910P is a fantastic choice if youre playing on one or more of these platforms. The gaming headset offers JBL QuantumSPATIAL 360 technology, which provides improved accuracy and acoustics for in-game sounds, and JBL QuantumSOUND Signature technology for realistic audio while youre in the middle of your game.The JBL Quantum 910P gaming headset promises zero lag with its 2.4GHz wireless connection, and it blocks external sound with its active noise cancellation feature. It can last up to 39 hours from a fully charged battery if youre using its USB-C dongle, and up to 45 hours if youre connected to a device using Bluetooth. You can flip up the gaming headsets microphone to mute it when you need to focus, and you wont mind wearing the JBL Quantum 910P for extended gaming sessions as its very comfortable with its lightweight design and premium leather-wrapped memory foam ear cushions.RelatedGamers shouldnt underestimate the importance of a gaming headset, and if you dont own one yet, you should set your sights on the JBL Quantum 910P. Its on sale for a more affordable price of $150 right now, following a $150 discount from Best Buy on its sticker price of $300. If youre looking for gaming headset deals, this is an offer that you wouldnt want to miss, so add the JBL Quantum 910P gaming headset to your cart and finish the checkout process immediately while its available at 50% off.Editors Recommendations