In a sea of smartphone gaming controllers with chunky grips, obtrusive analog sticks and rigid backplates, the MCON by Ohsnap stands out. Its a gamepad that essentially turns any phone into a supercharged Xperia Play, complete with Hall effect joysticks, silent buttons and handles that can extend out of its base. It also has bumper-style triggers and actual bumpers. When its attached to the back of a phone, the MCON creates a slightly chunky but uniform profile that slides into a pocket without fuss. When youre ready to start playing, the phone pops up from the gamepad with a satisfying flick. The MCON communicates with your smartphone via Bluetooth, no cables or plugging in required. It uses MagSafe to connect to iPhones, and for Androids, there will be a MagSafe adapter included in the box this is simply a disc 2 millimeters thick that sticks to the back of your phone or case. That covers essentially every smartphone out there, and its possible to stack multiple connecting pucks to create space for awkward camera bumps. Ohsnap's goal is to support iOS, Android, Xbox, PC and Mac, with PlayStation as a platform pipe dream. Ohsnap Ohsnap and MCON creator Josh King showed off the gamepad at CES 2025 with a nearly finalized prototype. The final version will have silicone tops on the analogue sticks, a cover for the spring mechanism and more finesse all around. King said he wasnt quite satisfied with the D-pad yet, either. But even in its current form, the MCON is a sweet little peripheral. It feels nice lightweight but sturdy enough to support and fling a full-size smartphone and it folds into a compact rectangle thats satisfying to hold. Snapping it open involves pressing two buttons on the top of the controller, behind the attached phone, and it requires just the right amount of finger strength and angling. It took a few tries for me to successfully deploy the pop, largely because I have long manicured nails, but I was able to use my actual nail tips to make the magic happen. Ohsnap When King spotted my Samsung Z Flip 6, he immediately started troubleshooting ways to make the foldable work with the MCON. Youd just have to move the attaching puck over slightly, so it could connect to the lower back quadrant of the phone rather than on the central hinge, he explained. He was confident he could make it work, and said hed already ensured the Galaxy Z Fold was compatible with the MCON. Kings goal is for the MCON to support absolutely every smartphone. The MCON Kickstarter went live on January 2 and, four days later, its collected more than $740,000 of a $25,000 goal. Kings concept has enjoyed a bit of viral fame over the years, and he eventually took the idea to Ohsnap, an established MagSafe-focused accessory manufacturer. By their powers combined, the MCON is on track to ship in August at a price of $150. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/i-adore-this-clever-mobile-gamepad-with-hall-effect-sticks-and-a-snap-up-design-110007990.html?src=rss

Qualcomm has launched a new platform that will put Copilot+ PCs in reach of more people. Snapdragon X, the latest addition the brand's Snapdragon X Series that also include the X Elite and the X Plus, comes with Qualcomm's 8-core Oryon CPU and an integrated Adreno GPU. The company says it can run up to 163 percent faster than its competitors' comparable platforms, that its neural processing unit can run AI tasks on device more efficiently and that it enables a lengthy (even multi-day) battery life.There are apparently over 60 computer models powered by the platform in development and in production at various manufacturers already, including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo. These companies are expected to launch the first batch of Snapdragon X products early this year, with more than 100 models coming by 2026.The devices will be priced in the $600 range, making them a viable option for a lot of people looking to buy a new computer. They won't be just laptops either Qualcomm says buyers can expect Snapdragon X-powered mini PCs, as well, and will announce more details soon. The company believes Snapdragon X devices will be a "good solution for students, freelance workers and budget-conscious consumers who need a reliable and powerful laptop."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/qualcomms-snapdragon-x-chip-will-power-more-affordable-copilot-pcs-104029263.html?src=rss

Smartwatches do more than just track your steps and deliver phone alerts to your wrist. The best smartwatches go even further, giving you the ability to pay for a cup of coffee, take calls and connect to apps like Spotify all without whipping out your smartphone.Chances are, if youre reading this, you already know all of the benefits of a smartwatch. Youre ready to invest, or upgrade from an aging accessory, but we wouldnt blame you if you if you didnt know where to start. There are dozens of smartwatches available now, including GPS running watches, fitness trackers that look like smartwatches and multi-purpose devices. Plus, youll want to consider factors like durability, battery life and operating system before you spend a lot of money on a new wearable. Weve tested and reviewed most major smartwatches available today and these are our top picks. Table of contents Best smartwatches Stylish smartwatches: Fossil and more Factors to consider before buying a smartwatch Other smartwatches our experts tested Best smartwatches Stylish smartwatches: Fossil and more Fossil Yes, there are still companies out there trying to make fashionable hybrid smartwatches. Back when wearables were novel and generally ugly, brands like Fossil, Michael Kors and Skagen found their niche in stylish smartwatches that took cues from analog timepieces. You also have the option to pick up a hybrid smartwatch from companies like Withings and Garmin these devices look like classic wrist watches but incorporate some limited functionality like activity tracking and heart rate monitoring. They remain good options if you prefer that look, but thankfully, wearables made by Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and others have gotten much more attractive over the past few years. Ultimately, the only thing you cant change after you buy a smartwatch is its case design. If youre not into the Apple Watchs squared-off corners, all of Samsungs smartwatches have round cases that look a little more like a traditional watch. Most wearables are offered in a choice of colors and you can pay extra for premium materials like stainless steel for extra durability. Once you decide on a case, your band options are endless there are dozens of first- and third-party watch straps available for most major smartwatches, and for both larger and smaller wrists, allowing you to change up your look whenever you please. Factors to consider before buying a smartwatch Compatibility Apple Watches only work with iPhones, while Wear OS devices play nice with both iOS and Android phones. Smartwatches made by Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit and others are also compatible with Android and iOS, but youll need to install a companion app on your smartphone. The smartwatch OS will also dictate the type and number of third-party apps youll have access to. Many of these arent useful, though, making this factor a fairly minor one in the grand scheme of things. Price The best smartwatches generally cost between $300 and $400. Compared to budget smartwatches, which cost between $100 and $250, these pricier devices have advanced operating systems, communications, music and fitness features. They also often include perks like onboard GPS tracking, music storage and NFC, AMOLED displays, and long battery life, things that budget devices generally dont have. Some companies make specialized fitness watches: Those can easily run north of $500, and wed only recommend them to serious athletes. Luxury smartwatches from brands like TAG Heuer and Hublot can also reach sky-high prices, but we wouldnt endorse any of them. These devices can cost more than $1,000, and youre usually paying for little more than a brand name and some needlessly exotic selection of build materials. Battery life Battery life remains one of our biggest complaints about smartwatches, but theres hope as of late. You can expect two full days from Apple Watches and most Wear OS devices. Watches using the Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor support extended battery modes that promise up to five days of battery life on a charge if youre willing to shut off most features aside from, you know, displaying the time. Other models can last five to seven days, but they usually have fewer features and lower-quality displays. Meanwhile, some fitness watches can last weeks on a single charge. If long battery life is a priority for you, its worth checking out the watchs specs beforehand to see what the manufacturer estimates. Communication Any smartwatch worth considering delivers call, text and app notifications to your wrist. Call and text alerts are self explanatory, but if those mean a lot to you, consider a watch with LTE. Theyre more expensive than their WiFi-only counterparts, but cellular connectivity allows the smartwatch to take and receive phone calls, and do the same with text messages, without your device nearby. As far as app alerts go, getting them delivered to your wrist will let you glance down to the watch face and see if you absolutely need to check your phone right now. Fitness tracking Activity tracking is a big reason why people turn to smartwatches. An all-purpose timepiece should function as a fitness tracker, logging your steps, calories and workouts, and most of todays wearables have a heart rate monitor as well. Many smartwatches' fitness features include a built-in GPS, which is useful for tracking distance for runs and bike rides. Swimmers will want something water resistant, and thankfully most all-purpose devices now can withstand at least a dunk in the pool. Some smartwatches from companies like Garmin are more fitness focused than others and tend to offer more advanced features like heart-rate-variance tracking, recovery time estimation, onboard maps and more. Health tracking on smartwatches has also seen advances over the years. Both Apple and Fitbit devices can estimate blood oxygen levels and measure ECGs. But the more affordable the smartwatch, the less likely it is that it has these kinds of advanced health tracking features; if collecting those kinds of wellness metrics is important to you, youll have to pay for the privilege. Music Your watch can not only track your morning runs but also play music while youre exercising. Many smartwatches let you save your music locally, so you can connect wireless earbuds via Bluetooth and listen to tunes without bringing your phone. Those that dont have onboard storage for music usually have on-watch music controls, so you can control playback without whipping out your phone. And if your watch has LTE, local saving isnt required youll be able to stream music directly from the watch to your paired earbuds. Displays Most wearables have touchscreens and we recommend getting one that has a full-color touchscreen. Some flagships like the Apple Watch have LTPO displays, which stands for low-temperature polycrystalline oxide. These panels have faster response times and are more power efficient, resulting in a smoother experience when one interacts with the touchscreen and, in some cases, longer battery lives. You wont see significant gains with the latter, though, because the extra battery essentially gets used up when these devices have always-on displays, as most flagship wearables do today. Some smartwatches have this feature on by default while others let you enable it via tweaked settings. This smart feature allows you to glance down at your watch to check the time, health stats or any other information youve set it to show on its watchface without lifting your wrist. This will no doubt affect your devices battery life, but thankfully most always-on modes dim the displays brightness so its not running at its peak unnecessarily. Cheaper devices wont have this feature; instead, their touchscreens will automatically turn off to conserve battery life and youll have to intentionally check your watch to turn on the display again. NFC Many new smartwatches have NFC, letting you pay for things without your wallet using contactless payments. After saving your credit or debit card information, you can hold your smartwatch up to an NFC reader to pay for a cup of coffee on your way home from a run. Keep in mind that different watches use different payment systems: Apple Watches use Apple Pay, Wear OS devices use Google Pay, Samsung devices use Samsung Pay and so forth. Apple Pay is one of the most popular NFC payment systems, with support for multiple banks and credit cards in 72 different countries, while Samsung and Google Pay work in fewer regions. Its also important to note that both NFC payment support varies by device as well for both Samsung and Googles systems. Other smartwatches our experts tested Apple Watch Ultra 2 The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is probably overkill for most people, but it has a ton of extra features like extra waterproofing to track diving, an even more accurate GPS and the biggest battery of any Apple Watch to date. Apple designed it for the most rugged among us, but for your average person, it likely has more features than they'd ever need. If youre particularly clumsy, however, its high level of durability could be a great reason to consider the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Apple Watch SE The Apple Watch SE is less feature-rich than the flagship model, but it will probably suffice for most people. We actually regard the Watch SE as the best smartwatch option for first-time buyers, or people on stricter budgets. Youll get all the core Apple Watch features as well as things like fall and crash detection, noise monitoring and Emergency SOS, but youll have to do without more advanced hardware perks like an always-on display, a blood oxygen sensor, an ECG monitor and a skin temperature sensor. Garmin Forerunner 745 Garmin watches in general can be great options for the most active among us. The Garmin Forerunner 745 is an excellent GPS running watch for serious athletes or those who prize battery life above all else. When we tested it, we found it to provide accurate distance tracking, a killer 16-hour battery life with GPS turned on (up to seven days without it) and support for onboard music storage and Garmin Pay.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/best-smartwatches-153013118.html?src=rss

A dozen flaws, including a critical-severity RCE, were found affecting multiple MediaTek chipsets.

NetEase has finally released the first details for Marvel Rivals Season 1.

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You crushed the project on time, under budget, and have exceeded all expectationsagain. Youve streamlined processes, connected dots others couldnt see, and delivered results that wowed everyoneagain. Yet, when the company announcedpromotionsfor this year, your name isnt one of themagain.If this sounds familiar, youre not alone. Many high performers face this frustrating reality. While achievements might seem like enough to get ahead, there are certainbehaviors that could be holding you back. There are also factors that, unfortunately, are out of your control (and could be a reflection of wider cultural problems at your place of work).Below are some of the most common reasons why high performers might be overlooked.Outshining your bossIf youre getting the spotlight, sometimes that results in someone else (often your boss) feeling overshadowed. Insecure leaders can see your success as a threat. And while you cant change behavior, you can choose how you respond to it. Try positioning your wins as a collaborative effort, without minimizing your contributions. This way, youre highlighting how your work supports your boss and the broader team.Overemphasis on results and underinvestment in relationshipsExceptional work speaks volumes, but unfortunately, in the corporate world, it doesnt speak for itself. Promotions often go to those people that coworkers know and like, not just those who deliver results. If the leaders know your work but not you, thats a problem. People promote those they trust, not just those who outperform.Build connections, attend events, and let your personality shine.Poor visibility or advocacyHigh performers often think their contributions are obvious, but unfortunately the right people have to see them in order for it to make a difference. Share your wins strategically with stakeholders, or form a group with trusted colleagues to amplify each others achievements. Visibility isnt braggingits ensuring that others notice your impact.Misalignment with organizational prioritiesYou might be delivering results, but if they dont align with institutional priorities, those might not necessarily translate to advancement. Determine what the critical areas for your organizations are and do your best to align your work with the organizations strategic vision.Being typecastYou might be too good. The unfortunate reality is that, in the corporate world, being indispensable can work against you. If leaders cant identify who will fill your shoes if you get promoted, theyll hesitate to move you up. Advocate for yourcareer progressionby communicating your desire to grow and evolve. Be sure to emphasize your willingness to prepare your successor.How to stop being overlookedNow thereisan obvious solution to being overlooked at workyou can simply start looking for a role in another organization. But if you decide that you want to continue pursuing professional opportunities at your current job, there are several strategies you can implement to avoid being overlooked and be on the top of the shortlist for a promotion.1. Develop executive presenceGreat work isnt enoughyou need to communicate it with gravitas and confidence. Frame your ideas strategically, focus on the big picture, and focus on how you lead, not just what you deliver.2. Build strategic relationshipsIf you want to be a manager, you need to make time to connect with colleagues and leadership in ameaningful way. Show how you can add value to them personally so that they get to know you. Perhaps you have a great restaurant recommendation, travel tips, or a useful app. Developing these professional relationships makes you relatable and memorable. Expand your network outside your organization. If youre traveling, meet up with contacts for coffee or anetworking meal.3. Self-advocate (without self-promotion)Nobody likes someone fake. Instead ofbroadcastingachievements like a personal public relations campaign, highlight your contributions while sharing credit with others. For example, Instead of a vague, Thanks to my mentors and colleagues, specify who helped and how. Doing this illustrates your gratitude, as well as your leadership.4. Be proactive about what you can do in the futureYou cant change the past, but you can shape the future. Ask foractionable suggestionsto improve the next iteration, then act on them. When you implement someones guidance, let them know. It shows that you value their input and are committed to growth. If you dont implement their suggestions, its worth letting them know why. Take them through your thought process so it shows that you gave the idea careful consideration.5. Align with leadership prioritiesAs business goals change, remain flexible. Understand what matters most to your organization and leadership, and position your work as essential to those priorities. Remember, leadership is about more than just outcomes. Its about relationships, alignment, and strategic influence. By building relationships, advocating for your career, and aligning your work with strategic goals, you can ensure your work translates into the growth and recognition youve earned.

When Spotify introduced video podcasts, its interface started to look more like TikTok. Now the music streaming giant has added a glorified creator fund.Over the past 10 years, the audio industry has undergone a bottom-up revolution, with traditional audio formats upended by (often smaller-budget) podcasting outfits. Spotify wants to keep the ball rolling: With the companys newly announced Partner Program, small-name creators have more opportunities to monetize than ever before.Not long ago, most podcasters could be called audio journalists. Now its time we start calling them creators.Spotifys push toward social podcastingSpotifys Partner Program opens up audience-driven payouts from Spotify Premium video engagement. Translation: The more Premium users who watch a video podcast, the more its creators will get paid. Podcasters can also get a cut of ads listened to by Spotify Free users. Suddenly, podcasters can bet on payouts from Spotify based on engagement alone, no longer relying exclusively on coordinating their own advertisements.If that all sounds familiar, its because YouTube has an almost identical model. YouTube creators can get a cut of the advertising revenue from in-house ads placed on their content. They also receive direct revenue from the number of YouTube Premium users watching their content. In fact, the two platforms monetization policies even have the same name: YouTubes model is called the YouTube Partner Program.Spotifys program is specialized for video podcasts. There are no payouts for audio-only podcasts, no matter how many Premium users are listening. Thats an even bigger step in Spotifys years-long pursuit of TikTok-ifying its podcast platform, incentivizing more and more creators to add video components. Spotify introduced vertical video, in-app purchases, and even added a comments function. By now, its easier to watch video podcasts on Spotify than it is to listen to audio alone.YouTube is a powerful competitor, making up 53% of the podcast market with an especially significant role in podcast discovery. Whether Spotify can topple YouTubes market share remains to be seen, but the Partner Program is a strong attemptone that is tearing apart the audio market in the process.What about the other platforms?While Spotify jostles to make your favorite podcasts look more like TikToks, other podcasting platforms have stayed refreshingly old school. Apple Podcasts has a video function, but its less thoroughly integrated, and theres no YouTube-like payout program. Most of the smaller apps with an audio focus, like Pandora and Overcast, have avoided video altogether.Turning podcasters into glorified influencers changes the makeup of a platform. Look at 2024s top shows on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Spotifys list is almost entirely one-offs run by independent contributors or small companies. Theyre also almost entirely chat shows. Apple Podcasts top show, on the other hand, was The Daily from The New York Times. There are shows from NPR and NBC within the top 10, as well as celebrities like the Kelce brothers. As these platforms change, so do the podcasts its users choose.Podcasts are taking over media right now. Theyre feeding tabloids, theyre propping up merchandise companies, theyre influencing elections. And, thanks to Spotify, theyre leaving legacy media behind.

If you were looking for a new car in Colorado last summer, you might have noticed some surprising deals on EVslike a $19 monthly lease (with $500 down) on a brand-new Nissan Leaf from a dealership in Fort Collins.The ultra-low price was possible because of the states generous incentives. Last year, that included a $5,000 tax credit to buy or lease any EV, with an extra $2,500 for cars that sell for less than $35,000. (This year, the tax credit dropped to $3,500.) If dealers handle the paperwork for the incentives, they can give buyers another $600 off. For the Nissan Leaf, for example, that meant a total of $8,100 could be taken off the cost, nearly covering the whole two-year lease.Another state program offers income-qualified drivers who have old, polluting vehicles a $6,000 rebate on a new EV purchase or lease, or $4,000 for a used EV. Xcel Energy, the local utility company, offered low-income customers $5,500 off new EVs or $3,000 off used ones, though the program was so popular that it ran out of funds in November. All of this is in addition to the federal tax credits that can take up to $7,500 off some new EVs.The incentives worked: By the third quarter of 2024, 25.3% of all new vehicles sold in the state were EVsa higher rate than in any other state in the country, including California, which trailed slightly at 24.3%, according to a report from a coalition of state air agencies. Eighty-two percent of the new EVs registered in Colorado were fully electric, and the rest were plug-in hybrids.In part, the push for EVs is aimed at helping residents bank accounts. At the heart of everything we do is saving people money, and electric vehicles cost about two-thirds less to operate per mile, says Governor Jared Polis. That includes both the lower cost of electricity compared to gas, and the fact that EVs require less maintenance. The other reason for the change, of course, is cleaner air.Transportation is the states second-largest source of emissions. Colorado is working on other changes, including adding more public transit and using other incentives to get people to use electric bikes. Cities like Denver have also offered wildly popular e-bike incentives. But since most people drive, shifting from gas to electric vehicles is most critical, Polis says. (The local electric grid isnt yet fully clean, but its already cleaner to charge an EV than use gas; when the last coal plant is retired in 2030, the footprint will improve.)In addition to the incentives, the state has been working with companies to expand its network of EV chargers, including new chargers in apartment buildings for drivers who dont have their own garages and fast chargers along five major highway corridors. Were now at a point where on all of our major highways, youre basically never more than 30 miles away from a fast-charging station, says Will Toor, executive director of the Colorado Energy Office. I think range anxiety is pretty much a thing of the past in Colorado, and were going to continue to make these investments in the future.The incentives are designed to be temporary; by some estimates, as the price of batteries quickly falls, EVs could be at price parity with their gas counterparts by 2026. (Some models are already as cheap.) Until that point, the incentives could help be a deciding factor for people who might have been on the fence about an EV, and that can help the transition happen faster. Sales of some models have surged. In the first nine months of 2024, Nissan Leaf sales were up 690% compared to the same period in 2023.Almost everybody who drives an EV never wants to go back, Polis says. Theyre quieter, theyre more efficient, the costs are less. As people experience the superior performance of electric vehicles, its much more likely that any future purchases will also be EVs.Unlike California and a handful of other states, Colorado doesnt have a plan to phase out gas cars by 2035. But the state has a requirement that 82% of the vehicles sold by manufacturers in 2032 need to be zero-emissions. It aims to have 940,000 EVs on the road by the end of the decade, and around 2 million by 2035. Right now, there are around 160,000 EVs, and the targets are likely to be met. Our projections are that we are well on track, says Toor.

Fibreglass screens and lush vegetation provide privacy and an "otherworldly" atmosphere at Clifton House, a home in Sydney by Australian studio Anthony Gill Architects.Named after the client and builder Bill Clifton, the red-brick family home replaces a former bungalow near a busystreetcorner in North Bondi.Anthony Gill Architects' main focus was creating privacy for the four-bedroom home, which is heavily overlooked by neighbouring buildings, while bringing plenty of light andventilation into its interior.Anthony Gill Architects has completed Clifton House in SydneyTo achieve this, a series of gardens densely planted with foliage and tall plants are interspersed throughout Clifton House.On the upper floor, the bedrooms and bathrooms open at full height with sliding doors to conservatory-style roof gardens covered by sloping fibreglass sheeting.The open triangles at each end of the sloping screens contain stainless-steel mesh to prevent falling and eliminate the need for a balustrade. A roof garden at the rear has a bath nestled among the plants.Fibreglass screens and lush vegetation provide privacy"In plan, the rooms step and stagger to create distinctgarden spaces that provide relief to the overall experience, bringinglight andventilation deep into the plan," said studio founder Anthony Gill."The interiors are interrelated with eachadjacent garden, offering privacyand different conditions to each room," he told Dezeen.Read: Adam Kane Architects banishes colour to create Grey House in AustraliaIn addition to providing privacy, Gill explains that the fibreglass screens also work to filter light through the rooms."The upper level works well with a quietness that is perhaps unexpected the client describes it as 'otherworldly'," he added.Steel mesh fills the open ends of the fibreglass screensUpstairs at Clifton House are four bedrooms and a bathroom, while the ground floor features a central entrance that splits the plan into private and public areas. The private spaces include a shower room and media space, while the communal areas are open-plan living spaces that connect with the outdoors.In the open-plan space, a kitchen and dining room look out over the garden with a swimming pool. A tall lounge area is sunken into the site with a four-step level change designed to tackle the slight slope from the backyard to the street.The interiors feature concrete flooring and walls finished in lime renderClifton House's interior walls are finished in lime render, left unpainted and sealed withwax, complemented by concrete floors.The original bungalow's roofframing was repurposed in the kitchen island and all internal doors, which have also been finished with wax.A roof garden contains a bathtubOutside, the garden greenery contrasts with the red-brick walls, chosen to reflect the context of North Bondi, where the material is commonly used.Bricks from the originalbungalow have also been used tobuild the internal skin of brickwork for much of thehouse.Other Australian houses recently featured on Dezeen include an all-grey holiday home in Victoria and a brick and timber extension to a Melbourne residence.The photography is by Rory Gardiner.The post Anthony Gill Architects screens Australian house with fibreglass and plants appeared first on Dezeen.