On December 30, a mysterious 1,100-pound object in the shape of a massive, 8-f00t metal ring was discovered in a remote Kenyan village, prompting widespread speculation it had fallen from space.As the New York Times reported"Such objects are usually designed to burn up as they re-enter the Earths atmosphere or to fall over unoccupied areas, such as the oceans," the agency said in a statement.But now, space tracker extraordinaire and Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell is casting doubt on the theory."It was suggested that the ring is space debris, but the evidence is marginal," he wrote in a blog on his personal website, first spotted by Ars Technica.The uncertainty highlights how difficult it can be to trace back space debris that survives its fiery descent through the Earth's atmosphere a pertinent topic given our planet's increasingly cluttered orbit, and that junk's increasing propensity to fall down to Earth.If it indeed came from space, McDowell suggested that the most likely culprit was a fairing adapter for an Ariane V rocket, which launched into space from the European Space Agency's Spaceport in French Guiana on 7 July 2008."Nevertheless I am not fully convinced that the ring is space debris at all," he added.A different space tracker, Delft Technical University lecturer Marco Langbroek, suggested that nearby material recovered several kilometers away from the metal ring, which resembled carbon wrap and isolation foil, could be evidence that the ring may have indeed fallen from space.Both Langbroek and McDowell pointed towards the possibility that the ring was installed on the Ariane V rocket to accommodate two medium-sized satellites. The SYstme de Lancement Double Ariane, or SYLDA, was designed to allow the two satellites to be stacked on top of each other and released in a geostationary transfer orbit.The primary space junk suspect was last spotted on December 23, a week before the metal ring was recovered in Kenya, as Langbroek notes in a Wednesday blog post."As this is a very low inclination orbit (1.56 degrees), it belongs to a class of objects that is ill-tracked due to a lack of tracking stations close to the equator," he wrote. "This explains the 1-week gap between the last available orbit and the reentry.""For now the verdict is: possibly the reentry of parts of the Ariane SYLDA 2008-034C, but not proven beyond doubt yet," he added.Intriguingly, as Ars reports, an anonymous Twitter account called DutchSpace, which has provided reliable information on past Ariane launches, disputed the possibility that the ring was part of the SYLDA shell.Arianespace officials also rejected the hypothesis in a statement to the French newspaper LeParisien this week.In short, the jury is still out on whether the metal ring actually came from space, but it certainly wouldn't be an outlier if it did. We've already seen a number of massive pieces of space debris dropping down on remote areas; Chinese rocket launches, in particular, have gained a reputation for raining down metal debris on unsuspectingand sometimespopulated areas.More on space junk: Boeing Satellite Exploded Into at Least 500 Pieces of DebrisShare This Article

See at ExpressVPN Best VPN for streaming ExpressVPN See at ExpressVPN See more details See at ESPN Watch the FA Cup in the US from $12 per month ESPN Plus See at ESPN See more details See at SN Now Watch the FA Cup in Canada for CA$15 a month Sportsnet See at SN Now See more details See at Optus Watch the FA Cup in Australia from AU$7 a month Optus Sport See at Optus See more details Table of Contents Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is set to ring the changes today as his side take on fourth-tier side Morecambe at Stamford Bridge in this FA Cup third-round match.The Blues look set to give a host of fringe players a run out, while Reece James and Romeo Lavia are both tipped to play for the hosts as they look to return to action following injury layoffsWith 87 places between them in the league rankings, Morecambe will meanwhile be looking to prove that today's tie is not the mismatch it appears on paper. The Shrimps currently find themselves in the relegation zone in EFL League Two, but have claimed wins against Worthing and Bradford City to reach this stage of the tournament.Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live, wherever you are in the world. Enzo Maresca's Chelsea are on a four-match winless run coming into this FA Cup tie. Visionhaus/Getty ImagesChelsea vs. Morecambe: When and where?Chelsea take on Morecambe in this FA Cup third-round match at Stamford Bridge onSaturday, Jan. 11. Kickoff is set for 3p.m. GMT local time in the UK, which is10 a.m. ET or 7 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and2 a.m. AEDT in Australia in the early hours of Sunday morning. How to watch the Chelsea vs. Morecambe game online from anywhere using a VPNIf you find yourself unable to view EPL matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games -- that's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it's also a great idea if you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions. James Martin/CNET 2024 Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands ExpressVPN isour current best VPN pickfor people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month.Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. 61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months) See at ExpressVPN Livestream the Chelsea vs. Morecambe game in the USThis clash is streaming exclusively live in the US on ESPN Plus. Kickoff is at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday for viewers in the States. ESPN's standalone streaming service costs $12 a month or $120 for an annual subscription. With it, you'll be able to watch all of this season's FA Cup fixtures.Read our ESPN Plus review. See at ESPN Can I livestream the Chelsea vs. Morecambe game in the UK?The great news for footy fans in the UK is that free-to-air broadcasters the BBC and ITV are once again sharing live duties for this season's FA Cup. The bad news is that this song hasn't been selected to be shown live by either network, which also means that if you're in the UK traveling for pleasure or for work, you're unlikely to be able to watch the game like you normally would at home, thanks to geoblocking.There's one option to get around this. By using a VPN, as explained above, you can set your location to a country where the match is being broadcast and go from there..Livestream Chelsea vs. Morecambe in CanadaCanadian soccer fans looking to watch this FA Cup fixture can watch all the action live via Sportsnet. Sportsnet is available via most cable operators, but cord-cutters can subscribe to the network's standalone streaming service Sportsnet Plus instead, with prices starting at CA$25 per month or CA$200 per year. See at SN Now Livestream the Chelsea vs. Morecambe game in AustraliaFootball fans Down Under can watch FA Cup matches live on streaming service Optus Sport. Optus With exclusive rights to stream select FA Cup and all Premier League matches live this season, as well as German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga games, streaming service Optus Sport is a particularly big draw for Aussie soccer fans.If you're already an Optus network customer, you can bag Optus Sport for a reduced price, with discounts bringing the price down to as low as AU$7 a month. If you're not, a standalone monthly subscription to the service starts at AU$25. See at Optus Quick tips for streaming the FA Cup using a VPNWith four variables at play -- your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN -- your experience and success when streaming FA Cup matches may vary.If you don't see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the "search for city or country" option.If you're having trouble getting the game after you've turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs -- like Roku -- don't have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you'll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you're using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network's sports app, you'll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you're using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommendBrave.

In a corner of the bustling showroom floor at CES 2025, I felt like an orchestra conductor. As I subtly waved my arm from side to side, notes rang out on the cello displayed on the giant screen in front of me. The faster I moved my arm, the faster the bow slid across the strings. I even earned a round of applause from fellow booth attendees after a particularly speedy performance.This is what it felt like to use the Mudra Link wristband, which lets you manipulate devices using gesture controls. Motion controls aren't new; I remember using touchless controls as far back as 2014 with devices like the Myo armband. What's different now is that gadgets like these have a bigger reason to exist thanks to the arrival of smart glasses, which were seemingly everywhere at CES 2025.Startups and major tech firms alike have been trying to make smart glasses happen for more than a decade. However, the arrival of AI models that can process speech and visual inputsimultaneously has made them feel more relevant than ever. After all, digital assistants could be much more helpful if they could see what you're seeing and answer questions in real time, much like the idea behind Google's Project Astra prototype glasses. Shipments of smart glasses are expected to grow by 73.1% in 2024, according to a September IDC report, further indicating that tech-equipped spectacles are starting to catch on.Read more: Nvidia's CEO Explains How Its New AI Models Could Work Future Smart Glasses Watch this: These New Smart Glasses Want to Be Your Next AI Companion 02:31 Last fall, Meta demonstrated its own prototype pair of AR glasses, called Orion, controlled by gestures and a neural-input wristband. At last year's Augmented World Expo conference for AR, other startups showed similar experiments.At CES, it became clear that companies are putting a lot of thought into how we should navigate these devices in the future. In addition to the Mudra Link bracelet, I came across a couple of other wearables meant to work with glasses.Take the Afference Ring, for example, which applies neural haptics to your finger to provide tactile feedback when using gesture controls. It's intended for devices like smart glasses and headsets, but I got to try a prototype of it paired with a tablet just to get a feel for how the technology works.In one demo, I played a simple mini golf game that required me to pull my arm back to wind up and then release to launch the ball. The more I pulled back, the stronger the haptics on my finger felt. The experience of toggling brightness and audio sliders was similar; as I turned up the brightness, the sensation on my finger felt more prominent. Afference's ring provides haptic feedback on your finger. Nic Henry/CNETIt was a simple demo, but one that helped me understand the type of approach companies may take to applying haptic feedback to menus and apps in mixed reality. Afference hasn't mentioned any specific partners it's working with, but it's worth noting that Samsung Next participated in Afference's round of seed funding. Samsung launched its first health tracking smart ring last year and announced in December that it's building the first headset to run on the newly announced Android XR platform for upcoming mixed reality headsets.The Mudra Link wristband works with the newly announced TCL RayNeo X3 Pro glasses, which are launching later this year. I briefly tried the Mudra Link wristband to scroll through an app menu on the RayNeo glasses, but the software wasn't finalized yet.I spent most of my time using the wristband to manipulate graphics on a giant screen used for demo purposes at the conference. The cello example was the most compelling demo, but I was also able to grab and stretch a cartoon character's face and move it around the screen just by waving my hand and pinching my fingers.Halliday's smart glasses, which were also unveiled at CES, work with an accompanying ring for navigation. Though I didn't get to try the ring, I used the glasses briefly to translate language in real time, with text translations instantly showing up in my field of view even on the noisy showroom floor. TheHalliday smart glassesput a small screen in your field of view, and you can navigate the device with a companion ring. James Martin/CNETWithout gestures, there are generally two primary ways to interact with smart glasses: touch controls located on the device, and voice commands. The former is ideal for quick interactions, such as swiping through a menu, launching an app or dismissing a call, while the latter is useful for summoning and commanding virtual assistants.Gesture controls could make it easier to navigate interfaces without having to bring your hand up to your face, speak out loud or hold an external controller. However, there is still a degree of awkwardness that comes with using gestures to control a screen that's invisible to everyone but the person wearing the glasses. I can't imagine waving my hands around in public without any context.Meta is already moving toward gesture-controlled glasses, and its CTO, Andrew Bosworth,recently told CNET that gestures would most likely be needed for any future pair of display-enabled glasses.If CES is any indication, 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for smart glasses -- and gesture control will undoubtedly play a role in how we navigate these new spatial interfaces in the future. CES 2025: See the 35 Coolest Tech Products We Can't Shake See all photos

Apple'siPhone 16 series boasts a set of new features, like improved cameras and deep integration with Apple Intelligence, but the company's rumored foldable iPhone Flip is still nowhere to be seen. Most makers of Android phones, including Samsung, Google, Motorola, OnePlus, Xiaomi and Honor, have been selling folding devices for years now, and it's beginning to feel like Apple is late to the party. That might be a problem.Apple dominates in the premium phone category, but foldables -- which fit into the premium space in terms of price -- are already nipping at its heels, with Motorola telling CNET that 20% of customers buying its Razr foldable jumped ship from Apple. Meanwhile, Samsung is in the sixth generation of its Flip and Fold series. As CNET's Lisa Eadicicco found out during a visit to Seoul, "foldables are everywhere" in Samsung's home country of South Korea. Would Apple go with a smaller format like the Galaxy Z Flip series? Amy Kim/CNETWith almost all the major Android phone manufacturers getting in on the foldable game, Apple runs the risk not just of losing out on potential customers but also of allowing a rival like Samsung to become the go-to name for the category, which could make it harder for Apple to have an impact if it eventually launches its own folding product. Furthermore, customers who've become early adopters of a foldable, attracted by the fancy bending tech, may be too entrenched in the Android ecosystem by the time Apple's phone arrives to want to switch to iOS.Apple is unlikely to be worried. It's estimated that around 20 million foldables from all manufacturers were sold worldwide in 2023, while Apple reportedly sold 26.5 million iPhone 14 Pro Max handsets in the first half of that year alone. Clearly, Apple feels it has yet to miss the boat. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a superb phone. But what if it could bend? Andrew Lanxon/CNETApple has always found success in biding its time, observing the industry and launching its own take on a product when it's ready. Apple didn't invent phones, tablets, smartwatches or computers, but it found ways to take existing products and make them more useful, more valuable in day-to-day life and -- dare I say -- more exciting. It's why the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac lines dominate the market today. For me, I need to see Apple's take on the foldable phone. I've written before about how disappointed I am in foldables. I've been a mobile reporter for over 13 years and phones have become increasingly dull as they've converged to become slight variations on the same rectangular slab.Read more: Best Flip Phone for 2025Foldables promised something new, something innovative, something that briefly sparked some excitement in me, but several years in, that excitement has dwindled to the point of being extinguished. They are fine products and while I like the novelty of a screen that bends, they're not a revolution in how we interact with our phones. Not in the way that the arrival of the touchscreen was when we were still pushing buttons to type out texts.I did hope that Google's Pixel Fold would be the phone to catapult the foldable forward, and while the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold -- the second generation of Google's foldable -- does offer some great updates, it still doesn't offer any kind of revolution. Instead, it feels more like a "me too" move from Google. Ditto for the OnePlus Open. So I'm left instead to look toward Apple, a company with a track record for product revolutions, to create a new take on the genre that genuinely drives forward how we use our phones. Google's Pixel Fold is a decent phone, but it doesn't drive the category forward in any meaningful way. James Martin/CNETThat innovation won't just come from the product design. Apple works closely with its third-party software developers, and it's that input that would help a folding iPhone become genuinely useful. My biggest complaint around foldables right now is that while the hardware is decent, the devices are essentially just running standard versions of Android with a handful of UI tweaks thrown in. They're regular phones that just happen to bend.Few Android developers are embracing the folding format, and it's not difficult to see why; the users aren't there in sufficient numbers yet to justify the time and expense to adapt their software across a variety of screen sizes. The multiple folding formats already available mean Android foldables face the same fragmentation issue that has plagued the platform since the beginning. Android-based foldables are simply a more difficult platform for developers to build for than regular phones. Apple would be able to change that, as it proved with the iPhone and iPad. Apple didn't invent tablet computers, but its iPad line revolutionized the category. Scott Stein/CNETGiven Apple's close relationships with top-tier developers -- not to mention its own vast developer team -- I expect an eventual Apple foldable to offer innovations that make it more than just an iPhone that folds in half.And I truly hope it does. I want to look forward to tech launches again. I want to feel excited to get a new gadget in my hands and feel that "wow" moment as I do something transformative for the first time.In short, I don't want to be bored by technology anymore. Apple, it's over to you. I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites See all photos

Marvel Rivals update kills mods, removing cheats, skins, and 19-inches of VenomAssault rival.Image credit: NetEase News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Jan. 11, 2025 Yesterday's Marvel Rivals update has seemingly wiped the ability to use mods on PC.Marvel Rivals has been in Season 0 since its release last month, and yesterday the online hero shooter's first season launched, bringing significant balance changes and the heroic Fantastic Four team: Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing.Since the update rolled out, however, players are reporting that asset hash checking has stripped the ability to use mods, such as custom skins or FPS boosts.Season 1: Eternal Night Falls Official Trailer | Marvel Rivals.Watch on YouTubeAsset hash checking compares what you're running on your PC to what the servers believes your code should be running, and if it finds any differences - mods, in other words - the account could be banned. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Whilst some lament the loss - including a lot of talk about Venom's "19-inch stalk" - others are more ambivalent about the changes, pointing out that Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play game that relies on battle pass and skin sales to generate profit.Others noted that this decision could also help ameliorate cheats and hacks.Let's not pretend this is a bad thing. Cosmetics are literally their only form of profit to keep this FREE game running byu/Jtneagle inmarvelrivalsTo see this content please enable targeting cookies.Marvel Rivals has proven incredibly popular since its launch. Its opening weekend saw 10 million players join online to take part in the fray."NetEase's spin on the hero battler is complex and moreish, but rarely much actual fun," our Chris wrote in Eurogamer's Marvel Rivals review. "Its biggest impact is a renewed appreciation for the rivals that do it better." He awarded it two out of five stars.

White Fortress | Fernando Guerra | FG+SGLocated in the coastal landscape of Al Khiran, Kuwait, the White Fortress is a modern residence designed by TAEP/AAP. Completed in 2023, the house reinterprets Northern Gulf architectural principles of privacy, discretion, and climatic adaptability in a contemporary framework. With a built-up area of 1,045 sqm, the White Fortress harmoniously integrates traditional elements with innovative design, creating a sanctuary that celebrates spatial diversity, serenity, and a profound connection to its surroundings.White Fortress Technical InformationArchitects1-8: TAEP/AAPLocation: Al Khiran, KuwaitArea: 1,045 m2 | 11,250 Sq. Ft.Completion Year: 2023Photographs: Fernando Guerra | FG+SGEmbodying the architectural attributes of Northern Gulf architecture of privacy and discretion, the White Fortress is enveloped by towering, thick walls that offer protection from the harsh climate and arid surroundings, while enclosing a serene and inviting interior. TAEP/AAP ArchitectsWhite Fortress Photographs Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Fernando Guerra | FG+SGArchitectural Design and Spatial OrganizationThe White Fortress is defined by its towering, thick exterior walls, which serve as protective barriers against the harsh Kuwaiti climate while ensuring privacy and seclusion. These walls reflect traditional Gulf architectural values and establish a bold, monumental presence within the arid landscape.Inside, the dwelling is organized around a series of patios that anchor the spatial arrangement. Each courtyard serves a distinct purposegreeting, resting, and celebratingproviding diverse experiences within a cohesive framework. The central green oasis divides service areas from private and social spaces, fostering a sense of tranquility and balance. Generously proportioned rooms open onto oval-shaped patios and small gardens, connected by meandering paths that enhance spatial fluidity and discovery.The design employs non-linear pathways and axial corridors to create a rhythmic play of depth and shadow. These circulation strategies encourage movement through successive gardens and patios, culminating in the private family spaces. The seamless transition between interior and exterior spaces exemplifies thoughtful spatial connectivity.The integration of glazed facades in social areas allows natural light to permeate the interiors, balancing the solidity of the walls with transparency and openness. The interplay of light and shadow across textured surfaces enriches the sensory experience of the space, creating a dynamic yet calming atmosphere.White Fortress Relationship with Site and ContextThe White Fortress demonstrates a sophisticated response to Kuwaits harsh climate. The thick walls provide insulation, while the shaded patios and green spaces mitigate the effects of the intense heat. These strategies ensure a comfortable and sustainable living environment.Positioned along the Gulf Sea, the residence establishes a strong dialogue with its surroundings. An open semi-covered paved space frames views of the seascapes horizontality, blurring the boundaries between land and water. The houses private beach access enhances this connection, making the seashore an extension of the homes social spaces.The landscaping, which includes small gardens and native vegetation, complements the architectural language. Sand dunes and greenery are seamlessly woven into the design, reinforcing the homes connection to its natural environment. The gardens serve as visual and sensory buffers, enriching the overall living experience.Rooted in the regions cultural traditions, the design respects and reinterprets Gulf architectural values. The emphasis on privacy, the use of courtyards, and the integration of natural elements reflect a deep understanding of local heritage, ensuring the projects authenticity and relevance.Iconic Features and Design LegacyAt the heart of the central oasis is a tall cylindrical volume reminiscent of a seacoast lighthouse. This architectural centerpiece serves as a meditative space, offering solitude and serenity. From its rooftop, the structure provides panoramic views of the house gardens, the dunes, and the endless horizon of the sea, transforming into a contemplative walking area.The design capitalizes on its coastal location, framing views of the Gulf Sea and integrating the horizon into the living experience. These vistas enhance the aesthetic appeal and establish a profound sense of place.The White Fortress sets a benchmark for contemporary Gulf residential architecture. By blending tradition with modernity, the project offers a fresh perspective on how privacy, spatial hierarchy, and environmental considerations can coexist harmoniously. It is a compelling case study for architects exploring innovative approaches to regional design challenges.White Fortress PlansFloor Plans | TAEP/AAPSection | TAEP/AAPAxonmoetric View | TAEP/AAPSketch | TAEP/AAPWhite Fortress Image GalleryAbout TAEP/AAPCredits and Additional NotesLead Architects: Abdulatif Almishari, Rui VargasDesign Team: Carla Barroso, Alba Duarte, Telmo Rodrigues, Carlo Palma, Duarte Correia, Elvino Domingos, Emanuel Grave, Hassan Javed, Joo Costa, Lionel Estriga, Pedro MirandaStructural Engineer: R5 EngineersMEP Engineers: Mohammed Hassan, Rben RodriguesInterior Designers: Leonor Barata Feyo, Carolina GraveLandscape Designers: Susana PinheiroGraphic Designers: Mariana Neves, Aquilino Sotero, Diogo Monteiro, Federica Fortugno, Nelson Ferreira, Lus EstevesSite Supervision: AsBuilt Team: Lcio Silva, Ricardo Janeiro, Vando Beldade

All images courtesy of LFZ Studio, shared with permissionAn Enormous Fractured Acorn Seeds Meditation Among the TreesJanuary 11, 2025DesignNatureGrace EbertIn a lush, wooded pocket in Rouen, France, a meditation space rests on the forest floor. Designed by Linfeng Zhou of Vancouver-based LFZ Studio, Le Monde dans un Gland, or The World in an Acorn, invites visitors into its shell to have a seat and reflect.Diamond-shaped, interlocking panels of marine plywood nest together to create the scaled cupule of the nut, which allows light to pierce through and cast dappled sun spots around the interior. The entrance mimics a crack in the shell before the root appears, which asks visitors to step inside and embrace the perspective of an awakening tree.Set atop concrete blocks and lined with weather-resistant materials, the immersive acorn is designed to withstand the wet, rainy climate without disrupting the forest ecosystem. Utilizing minimal nails and screws emphasizes a more natural building approach that relies on perfectly cut interlocking components rather than additional hardware.Find more from LFZ Studio on its website. (via designboom)Next article

Nvidia is developing real-world robots that are equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Welcome to Fox News Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER:- Tech industry leaders urge Biden not to cement rule they say could diminish US global leadership on AI- Sam Altman responds to lawsuit, allegations of abuse from sister- As a Berkeley professor, I see the impact H-1B visas and AI have on students' job opportunities- Top tech stealing the show at CES 2025PUSH BACK: The new rule, which industry leaders say could come as early as the end of this week, effectively seeks to shore up the U.S. economy and national security efforts by adding new restrictions on how many U.S.-made artifical intelligence products can be deployed across the globe. Jensen Huang, co-founder and chief executive officer of Nvidia Corp., speaks during the Nvidia GPU Technology Conference (GTC) in San Jose, Calif., on Monday, March 18, 2024. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)'UTTERLY UNTRUE': Open AI CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday responded to a lawsuit in which his sister accused him of sexually abusing her for nearly a decade. Altman, along with his mother and two brothers, issued a joint statement denying the claims of his sister, Ann Altman. Sam Altman, chief executive officer of OpenAI, speaks during the Bloomberg Technology Summit in San Francisco on Thursday, June 22, 2023. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)LOW COST LABOR: The H-1B visa program was intended to bring in specialized talent from abroad, but instead it has become a tool for employers to hire lower-cost labor for ordinary jobs. Illustrative picture showing an application for the United States of America work visa H1B with a pen. BEST OF CES: Get ready for some pretty cool innovations that are lighting up CES 2025, the world's biggest annual tech event. From AI-powered smart glasses to revolutionary TVs and mind-blowing gadgets, this year's show is proving that the future isn't just knocking. It's bursting through the door. Samsung Food app. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIASIGN UP FOR OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERSDOWNLOAD OUR APPSWATCH FOX NEWS ONLINEFox News GoSTREAM FOX NATIONFox NationStay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox Newshere. This article was written by Fox News staff. Related Topics

The Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum, unveiled at CES 2025, features an arm that grabs toys, socks, and other small obstacles to clean your floors more thoroughly.

ZDNET's key takeaways The OnePlus 13 is a snappy, nearly no-compromise phone that starts at $899. A Snapdragon 8 Elite, paired with a 6,000mAh battery and 80W fast charging, is a recipe for endurance success. IP69 is almost excessive, but you'll appreciate it when least expected. more buying choices It's not often that I review a smartphone in the first few weeks of January and feel confident in calling it a "Phone of the Year" contender. But the OnePlus 13 is almost as good as it gets. Whether Samsung launches an Ultra phone with a 300-megapixel camera at Unpacked later this month, or Apple releases a thinner iPhone in the fall, the OnePlus 13 will likely still be on my mind when the year-end nominations are due.Also: World's first 500W charger unveiled at CES 2025 - for all you super power usersThere's a lot going for the latest flagship phone, from the more secure (and reliable) ultrasonic fingerprint sensor to the IP69 rating to the 6,000mAh Silicon NanoStack battery. It's also one of the first phones in North America to feature Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which promises improvements to performance, efficiency, and AI workloads.Over the past few weeks, I've been testing the OnePlus 13 alongside my iPhone 16 Pro Maxand Google Pixel 9 Pro XL to see exactly how the new Android stacks up against one of the best phones from 2024. In a few ways, the OnePlus 13 falls short. In many ways, it puts the iPhone and Pixel to shame. details View at OnePlus When I first unboxed the OnePlus 13 and held it in hand, my reaction was audible. Allow me to geek out here: The slightly curved glass, slimness of the phone, and overall appearance made my four-month-old iPhone look and feel outdated. It's as if OnePlus made the iPhone 17 Air before Apple did.However, what sells the OnePlus 13 design for me is the new Midnight Ocean colorway, which flaunts a vegan-leather backing that makes the phone visually distinctive and more comfortable to hold than its glass-only predecessors. The texture isn't as rough and grippy as actual leather though, so I'd be interested in seeing how it ages over the year. Kerry Wan/ZDNETIf you were hoping the first major Android phone of 2025 would feature Qi2 wireless charging, I have good news and bad news. While the OnePlus 13 doesn't have an in-body Qi2 charging coil, meaning MagSafe (and similar) accessories won't attach directly to the back of the device, OnePlus has embedded magnetic guides within its protective covers, enabling users to take advantage of the accessories so long as the OnePlus 13 is encased. It's a burdenless workaround, but one that hopefully won't be necessary with the next model.For years, one aspect that's held OnePlus phones back is the water and dust resistance rating or lack thereof. With the OnePlus 13, the company is finally taking a stronger stance on the endurance standard, certifying the phone with an IP69 rating. It's a step above the IP68 ratings we commonly see on competing devices, and allows the OnePlus 13 to withstand high-pressure, high-temperature water jets, and humidity changes.Also: One of the most innovative Android phones I've tested isn't made by Samsung or GoogleIn practice, this means the OnePlus 13 can function properly even if you leave it in your washer and dryer, dishwasher, or a pot of boiling soup. The IP69 rating feels very much like a flex, but it's a benefit that users will appreciate when they least expect it. Kerry Wan/ZDNETPowering the device is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip that, from my weeks of usage, has some noticeable strengths and weaknesses. For day-to-day usage, such as bouncing between productivity apps, definitely not scrolling through TikTok, and taking photos and videos, the processor handles tasks gracefully. It helps that OxygenOS 15, based on the latest version of Android, has some of the smoothest animations I've seen on a phone.Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2025But once you fire up graphics-intensive applications like Adobe Premiere Rush and Honkai Star Rail, you'll notice some stuttering as the higher heat development leads to throttling performance. This isn't a dealbreaker, per se, as the nerfs are only apparent when you're using the device for a prolonged time.I've actually been using the OnePlus 13 quite liberally, as the 6,000mAh Silicon NanoStack battery has kept my review unit running for at least a day and a half per charge. That's unseen with any other mainstream phone in the US market, and I fully expect more manufacturers to adopt silicon batteries for their greater energy density. If not that, copy the 80W fast charging or 50W wireless charging; they're quite the revelation. Kerry Wan/ZDNETOn the camera front, the OnePlus 13, with its triple camera setup (50MP wide, ultrawide, and telephoto), has been a reliable shooter throughout most of my days. While the Sony LYT-808 sensor isn't on par with the one-inch sensors I've tested on international phones, it does an excellent job of capturing details and finishing the output vividly. If you're a fan of sharp, bright, and slightly oversaturated imagery (read: more colorful than how the actual subject appears), then the OnePlus 13 will serve you well.Also: 5 hidden Android features that can simplify your lifeWhere the camera sensors fall short is in post-processing and AI-tuning features. For example, the phone leans heavily on computational photography to contextualize details when taking far-distance shots. This sometimes leads to images with an artificial, over-smoothening filter. But when the backend software works, it's able to reproduce details that you probably didn't think you'd capture in the first place.ZDNET's buying adviceFor a starting price of $899, the OnePlus 13 delivers some seriously good value -- possibly the best of all the major flagship phones I've tested lately. The company has improved the device in almost every way, from the design to the performance to its accessory ecosystem.I just wish OnePlus offered more extensive software support, as the OnePlus 13 will only receive four years of Android OS updates and six years of security updates. Samsung, Google, and Apple offer at least seven years of OS support.If you're interested in the OnePlus 13, the best deal I'm currently seeing is on the OnePlus website, as the company is offering a free OnePlus Watch 2 (valued at $299), a free storage upgrade (valued at $100), and at least $100 off when you trade in any phone in any condition.Featured reviews