Developing Graphical User Interface (GUI) Agents faces two key challenges that hinder their effectiveness. First, existing agents lack robust reasoning capabilities, relying primarily on single-step operations and failing to incorporate reflective learning mechanisms. This usually leads to errors being repeated in the execution of complex, multi-step tasks. Most current systems rely very much on textual annotations representing GUI data, such as accessibility trees. These lead to two types of consequences: information loss and computational inefficiency; but they also cause inconsistencies among platforms and reduce their flexibility in actual deployment scenarios.The modern methods for GUI automation are multimodal large language models used together with vision encoders for understanding and interaction with GUI settings. Efforts such as ILuvUI, CogAgent, and Ferret-UI-anyres have advanced the field by enhancing GUI understanding, utilizing high-resolution vision encoders, and employing resolution-agnostic techniques. However, these methods exhibit notable drawbacks, including high computational costs, limited reliance on visual data over textual representations, and inadequate reasoning capabilities. The methodological constraints impose considerable constraints on their ability to perform real-time tasks and the complexity of executing complex sequences. This severely restricts their ability to dynamically adapt and correct errors during operational processes because of the lack of a robust mechanism for hierarchical and reflective reasoning.Researchers from Zhejiang University, Dalian University of Technology, Reallm Labs, ByteDance Inc., and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University introduce InfiGUIAgent, a novel multimodal graphical user interface agent that addresses these limitations. The methodology is built upon the sophisticated inherent reasoning capabilities through a dual-phase supervised fine-tuning framework to be able to adapt and be effective. The training in the first phase focuses on developing the base capabilities by using diverse datasets that can improve understanding of graphical user interfaces, grounding, and task adaptability. The datasets used, such as Screen2Words, GUIEnv, and RICO SCA, cover tasks such as semantic interpretation, user interaction modeling, and question-answering-based learning, which makes the agent equipped with comprehensive functional knowledge.In the next phase, advanced reasoning capabilities are incorporated through synthesized trajectory information, thus supporting hierarchical and expectation-reflection reasoning processes. The hierarchical reasoning framework contains a bifurcated architecture: a strategic component focused on task decomposition and a tactical component on accurate action selection. Expectation-reflection reasoning allows the agent to adjust and self-correct through the assessment of what was expected versus what happened, thus improving performance in different and dynamic contexts. This two-stage framework enables the system to natively handle multi-step tasks without textual augmentations, hence allowing for higher robustness and computational efficiency.InfiGUIAgent was implemented by fine-tuning Qwen2-VL-2B using ZeRO0 technology for efficient resource management across GPUs. A reference-augmented annotation format was used to standardize and improve the quality of the dataset so that GUI elements could be precisely spatially referenced. Curating the datasets increases GUI comprehension, grounding, and QA capabilities to perform tasks such as semantic interpretation and modeling of interaction. The synthesized data was then used for reasoning to ensure that all task coverage was covered through trajectory-based annotations similar to real-world interactions with the GUI. Such modularity in action space design lets the agent respond dynamically to multiple platforms, which gives it greater flexibility and applicability.InfiGUIAgent did exceptionally well in benchmark tests, far surpassing the state-of-the-art models both in accuracy and adaptability. It managed to achieve 76.3% accuracy on the ScreenSpot benchmark, showing a higher ability to ground GUI across mobile, desktop, and web platforms. For dynamic environments such as AndroidWorld, the agent was able to have a success rate of 0.09, which is greater than other similar models with even higher parameter counts. The results confirm that the system can proficiently carry out complex, multistep tasks with precision and adaptability while underlining the effectiveness of its hierarchical and reflective reasoning models.InfiGUIAgent represents a breakthrough in the realm of GUI automation and solves key reasons why existing tools suffer from important limitations in reasoning and adaptability. Without requiring any textual augmentations, this state-of-the-art performance is derived by integrating mechanisms for hierarchical task decomposition and reflective learning into a multimodal framework. The new benchmarking provided here forms an opening for developing the next-generation GUI agents seamlessly embeddable in real applications for efficient and robust task execution.Check out the Paper and GitHub Page. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our65k+ ML SubReddit. Aswin Ak+ postsAswin AK is a consulting intern at MarkTechPost. He is pursuing his Dual Degree at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He is passionate about data science and machine learning, bringing a strong academic background and hands-on experience in solving real-life cross-domain challenges. Meet 'Height':The only autonomous project management tool (Sponsored)

Starting this week, Amazon is dropping 20% off the price of the LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant 71426, now only $47.95 with free shipping. This deal brings the per-brick price to a little less than 9 cents. The LEGO Piranha Plant was released back in November of 2023, and is still of the more popular Mario-themed LEGO sets around.20% Off LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant 71426LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant 71426The LEGO Piranha Plant measures 9" high, 4.5" wide, and 6.5" deep about the size of a potted plant and consists of 540 bricks. The set is marketed for ages 18+, which means it's catered towards adults and experienced builders. However, this is such an adorable looking set that it's sure to be a hit with kids of all ages, whether or not they join in on the build. The Piranha Plant makes for a fantastic display; it has numerous articulation points located at the head, mouth, stalk, and each of its leaves, and the jaw is also hinged, all of which allow for myriad customizable poses. There's even a cool little easter egg: A piggy bank is built into the pipe with two golden coins included to get you started on your stash.IGN writer Kevin Wong personally built this set in his LEGO Piranha Plant review and writes, "As far as LEGO builds are concerned, the new Piranha Plant is just about perfect vibrantly colored, well-proportioned and sized, and reasonably priced. Whether you're new to bricks or you're a dedicated hobbyist, this set captures that signature Mario franchise whimsy cute but not too cute, menacing but not too menacing, and imbued with lots of personality."f you're looking for even more fun LEGO sets, here are our picks for the . If you're curious about LEGO's upcoming releases, check out the new and upcoming LEGO sets for January 2025. If you're looking for another great LEGO Mario set to pair this with, check out the recently released LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set, which we also built here at IGN.Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently shared a video in which he announced a series of changes coming to the companys platform policies such as Instagram and Threads. Among them, the executive revealed that it will switch from fact-checking to a Community Notes model and it seems that this is already being implemented in the Threads app.As noted by developer and researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, the Community Note feature is already hidden in the Threads app for iPhone. With this option, users can write a note about any post on Threads. The interface reinforces that the note is anonymous and redirects users to a support article on Instagram with more details about the feature.If you see a post that might be inaccurate or confusing, you can write a note with background info, a tip or an insight people might find useful. Your note may get published on the post if its rated helpful, says the article.In this article, users will also find a button to join the Community Notes program waitlist. Meta argues that the change will allow people across a diverse range of perspectives to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context.Last week, Zuckerberg admitted that he had been inspired by X (formerly Twitter) to introduce Community Notes on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, as the Elon Musk-owned platform already has a similar feature. The feature will first be rolled out to users in the US over the next couple of months and should be expanded to more countries next year.In addition to eliminating fact-checking controls on Metas social networks, Zuckerberg also announced that the company will lift restrictions on some topics such as politics and human rights. Meta also killed its diversity, equality, and inclusion program. The move has been heavily criticized by a number of users.There are no details on when exactly Meta will begin showing Community Notes on Threads and other platforms.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

Oh no.Rise of the VacuumsRobotics companies have found a new and creative way to get consumers to shell out for a new robot vacuum: equipping them with a robotic arm that can pick up after your lazy ass.Firms showcased a whole host of new robot vacuums at this year's Consumer Electronics Show that can mop, bring you a beer, and unsurprisingly, given the nonstop hype storm harness the power of AI, as The Verge reports.But what really set some of them apart was a robotic arm, allowing them to pick up tissues, worn socks, and other detritus. Take Roborock,which showed off a new robot vacuum, dubbed Saros Z70, that sports a folding arm it can stash in its belly when not in use. The arm's tweezers-like appendage can clear up a designated area, for instance, chucking cat or dog toys in a nearby bin. And Chinese household appliance manufacturer Dreame also showed off a robot vacuum concept with a similar-looking robot arm.Yet we can't help but feel that giving the robots the lowly and menial task of plucking stinky socks off the floor will only draw the ire of our future robotic overlords and even equip them with an appendage to wield against us (in case they're reading this, we here at Futurismhave nothing but respect for our future robot overlords.)Stinky Sock SingularityWhile a robot vacuum that can pick up after you sounds futuristic enough, the idea of a household robot that can clean your entire house like Rosie the Robot in "The Jetsons" still seems many years out. For one, the Saros Z70's robotic arm can only pick up items that are lighter than 300 grams, meaning that even larger shoes would be too much for it.Apart from outfitting their robot vacuums with arms, some companies are opting to give their vaccums tiny legs as well that can lift them up from the ground. That means they could hop larger floor transitions although stairs still seem out of reach.But once the robots learn how to climb those stairs, it's only a small step until they start to collude and plan their all-out attack.Put simply, could Roborock's clawed robot vacuum be the harbinger of the singularity?Judging by its new job of clawing at used tissues and stinky socks, it certainly doesn't bode well for humanity.More on robot arms: ChatGPT Can Now Control a Robot ArmShare This Article

Our Picks Best for learning multiple languages Duolingo View details See at Duolingo View details Best for an online school-type experience Babbel View details See at Babbel View details Best for visual learners Drops View details See at Drops View details Best for helping you remember specific phrases Mondly View details See at Mondly View details Best for learning to speak casually in a new language Memrise View details See at Memrise View details Best for goal-oriented users Busuu View details See at Busuu View details Best for learning language musically Lirica View details See at Lirica View details Best for breaking down how a language works Language Reactor View details See at Netflix View details Best for learning on the go Pimsleur View details See at Pimsleur View details Best for auditory learners Rosetta Stone View details See at Rosetta Stone View details Table of Contents If youre looking to learn a new language this year, there are several options to help you achieve this goal. There are a lot of reasons why you might be interested in learning a new language, whether it's in preparation for an international vacation, to bolster your education or just for fun. But once you decide to start, it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out where to begin. That's where a language-learning app can come in handy.Language apps or other online services can help you build a solid foundation of vocabulary and grammar to help you learn to speak and read in another language. CNET has tested many different apps, comparing their lesson structures, features, the number of languages offered, pricing tiers and the different learning methods they use. There are a lot of different options, but no matter what language you want to pick up or how you want to be taught, there's an app that is right for you.Here are the best language learning apps for any and all avid linguists. Photo Gallery 1/1 See at Duolingo Pros Many free features 40+ languages available Streaks feature encourages consistency Cons Unhelpful FAQ pages See at Duolingo As a regular Duolingo user, I enjoy the app's colorful interface and short, game-like exercises. The app doesn't restrict how many languages you can try to learn at the same time (personally, I think two is a good maximum if you want to retain anything). I use Duolingo to practice Spanish and German, but it offers lessons in over 40 languages. Most new learners use Duolingo to support their education, according to its 2024 report.To make sure you don't get rusty on the basics, even if you've "mastered" a skill by reaching a higher level, the skill can still "crack" if you don't review it consistently. Practice the skill again, and it'll repair itself.This is great for building a solid foundation.I like Duolingo's user-friendly layout, and the "streak" feature, which motivates you to keep going by tracking the number of days you've reached your point goal. In the app, you can access resources such as Duolingo Stories, which are short audio stories that allow you to check your comprehension skills as you go.While the functionality of Duolingo is great, the service could be more transparent with prices and improve its FAQ help pages to more accurately reflect all the services costs and features. Super Duolingo, the ad-free premium version of the app, costs $13 a month (or $60 annually) and includes progress quizzes, monthly streak repairs and more. If your love of languages is a family trait, you can link up to six accounts under a Family Super Duolingo account for $120 a year. Select users might have access to Duolingos newest tier Duolingo Max, but thats only for people in specific countries, learning Spanish or French on iOS devices -- and it's $30 per month. The Max rollout includes everything in Super Duolingo and adds two AI-powered features, Explain My Answer and Roleplay. See at Babbel I found Babbel to be the most like a foreign language course you'd see in an online school curriculum. The minimalist layout of the Babbel app helps prevent a new language (French for me) from seeming overwhelming, without making it boring. Each lesson takes you through translations, including variations of the word or phrase, pictures and whether it's formal or informal, something thats important in many languages. If it asks you to spell a phrase, it provides you with the letters used.You also get to see the new words you're learning used in common conversations, listen to them (if you choose to have audio on), repeat the phrases and learn more about verb groups. The 15-minute language lessons are easy to work into your day -- whether it's on your commute, before bed or on your lunch break. The My Activity module lets you track all your progress.Babbel currently offers 14 languages and is free to sign up for, and the first lesson of every course is free. A monthly subscription costs $10. You can also choose to renew every three mon

January 13, 20253 min readWhat Makes Urban Wildfire Smoke So ToxicWildfires burning in cities unleash a toxic, unpredictable combination of compounds into the airBy Allison Parshall edited by Dean VisserSmoke over destroyed homes in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, US, on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. Firefighters are making some progress on controlling the deadly blazes that have scorched Los Angeles, as the toll of destruction rises with entire neighborhoods reduced to ash. Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesFirefighters in southern California are battling the Palisades and Eaton Fires, which have killed at least 25 people, burning a cumulative 37,700 acres and at least 12,000 structures. The plumes of smoke are even visible from space.Residents of many fire-prone areasas well as those far downwindhave grown familiar with the orange, apocalyptic haze of wildfire smoke as these blazes have become more common because of climate change. Such smoke can contain an unpredictable cocktail of chemicals associated with heart and lung diseases and even cancer, which is the leading cause of death among firefighters. Heres what makes wildfire smoke so dangerous.No Ordinary PollutantOn supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.When trees, shrubbery and other organic matter burn, they release carbon dioxide, water, heatand, depending on the available fuel, various volatile compounds, gaseous pollutants and particulate matter. Those tiny particles, which become suspended in the air, can include soot (black carbon), metals, dust, and more. If theyre smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, they can evade our bodys natural defenses when inhaled, penetrating deep into the lungs and triggering a wide variety of health problems.Such fine particulate matter is a common pollutant; it's also created by motor vehicles and industrial plants, for example. But the kind present in wildfire smoke might be even more dangerous. Researchers studying health outcomes in southern California concluded that exposure to particular matter smaller than 2.5 microns, called PM2.5, from wildfires was up to 10 times more harmful to human health compared with exposure to PM2.5 from other sources. The researchers estimated that wildfire-generated particulate matter was three to four times more toxicbut they dont yet know why.More Dangerous FuelAs humans develop ever more land, we grow the number of points of contact between human settlements and increasingly flammable forests. This makes it more likely that an errant, human-caused spark will ignite a blazeand that the resulting wildfire will consume homes, offices, cars and other human-made infrastructure, expanding the types and amounts of toxic compounds going up in the smoke. Paints, sealants, insulations, metals, and more can release many kinds of volatile organic compounds, gaseous pollutants and particulate matter.A 2023 study by researchers at the Environmental Protection Agency found that emission factors for some toxic compounds were more than 1,000 times higher in urban wildfires than in fires that burned in woodland areas.Unpredictable ChemistryIts surprisingly hard to predict what compounds someone is exposed to when they inhale wildfire smoke. Whats in the smoke depends on a few factors: what was burned (a ponderosa pine, for example, or a car), the temperature at which it burned (was it flaming or smoldering?) and how far and for how long the smoke has traveled. As the smoke ages, it is exposed to sunlight. This radiation can hit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), setting off a complex set of reactions that usually results in another secondary pollutant: ozone, the main component of smog, which can damage the lungs.And as smoke containing VOCs travels and settles over other cities, it can mix with even more local pollution in the form of NOxgiving it the opportunity to form a larger amount of ozone. Research also suggests that VOCs and particulate mattereach of which can be toxiccan combine to make their respective health risks even worse.[Read more about scientists flying planes through wildfire plumes to figure out whats in the smoke]Lingering HazardsEven after wildfire smoke clears, it often leaves behind some of its toxic components. In a study conducted in Colorado after the 2021 Marshall Fire, researchers found high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which have been linked to respiratory and developmental conditions, infertility and cancer, in ash in homes that had survived the fire, as well as VOCs in air samples. Other researchers exposed glass, cotton and a mechanical air filter to smoke in a lab and found that PAHs lingered above background levels for 40 days. Cleaning processes were between 48 and 71 percent effective.This lingering contamination can cause health problems, too. In the study following the Marshall Fire, many residents experienced itchy or watery eyes, headache, coughing and sneezing. This has led to some disputes between homeowners and insurers over what exactly constitutes damage from wildfire smoke.Some of the smoke has begun to clear around Los Angeles, much of it blown out to sea by the same Santa Ana winds that so disastrously fanned the flames in the first place. But the city is currently bracing for more high winds as the National Weather Service warns of the potential for a potential explosive fire growth in the next few days.

Witcher 3 director's vampiric dark fantasy action-RPG The Blood of the Dawnwalker gets first trailerComing to Series X/S, PS5, and PC.Image credit: Rebel Wolves/Bandai Namco News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 14, 2025 It's been almost exactly a year since the unveiling of Dawnwalker - the new dark fantasy action-RPG from Rebel Wolves. And if you've been eager to learn more - which would be completely understandable, given the studio is formed by a number of ex-CD Projekt staff, including Witcher 3 game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz - today's your lucky day. Publisher Namco Bandai has now given a first look at Dawnwalker's world in a four-minute cinematic trailer.Rebel Wolves' debut game is now officially titled The Blood of Dawnwalker, and is described as the first chapter in a "brand-new role-playing saga". It's single-player and open-world, with a "strong focus on story and narrative", casting players as Coen - a "young man turned into a Dawnwalker, forever treading the line between the world of day and the realm of night".All this unfolds in a 14th century Europe still reeling from the Black Death - a "moment of weakness" for a decimated humanity that gives the world's long-hidden vampires an opporunity to step out and seize control, with other creatures of the night following their lead. "Legends turn into reality, and history as we know it will never be the same." The Blood of Dawnwalker cinematic trailer.Watch on YouTubeThere's not a huge amount of additional detail to be shared right now, but Bandai Namco says players will need to use their skills - combining "vampiric strength with human resolve" - as they embark on a quest to save the ones they love. "Face your foes - be they human, monster, or the ticking clock itself," the publisher concludes. "But remember - the real evil may bask in the sun's light, and the most loyal of allies could lurk under the cover of night."Previously, Rebel Wolves CEO Tomaszkiewicz - who also served as a secondary director on Cyberpunk 2077 while at CD Projekt - suggested The Blood of Dawnwalker wouldn't "be as gigantic as The Witcher" (instead coming in at around the size of The Witcher 3's Blood and Wine expansion) but that it could well have a "greater" number of quests. Whether things have changed since then isn't known, but today's cinematic reveal trailer ends with the promise that more information will be shared this "summer".Alongside Tomaszkiewicz, Rebel Wolves counts former CD Projekt scribe Jakub Szamałek as its narrative director and main writer, with other team members including design director Daniel Sadowski, animation director Tamara Zawada, art director Bartłomiej Gaweł, CFO Michał Boryka, and studio head Robert Murzynowski - who have collectively worked on games such as Cyberpunk, Thronebreaker, Shadow Warrior 2, and The Witcher series.

In the days since devastating fires began sweeping through Los Angeles, vast swaths of neighborhoods like Altadena and the Pacific Palisades are likely all but lost. Dozens of people have died; more than 12,000 structures have been destroyed. As of Monday, January 13, many of the fires are still raging, and 150,000 residents have been forced to evacuate.Im almost certain the apocalypse in LA right now will be one of the worst things I see or experience in my life, wrote AD100 designer Mark D. Sikes in an Instagram post. Calling the catastrophe a complete tragedy, Sikes noted, thankfully, that his own home near the Hollywood Hills was spared. Our team is safe.Sadly, not all were so lucky. Word of the impact on the citys vibrant architecture and design communities came quickly and mostly online. On Wednesday, designer Suzanne Tucker posted a photo of a clients house in ruins. I finished [it] a few months ago, she wrote. They are safe. The house is completely gone. And there will be thousands of photos like this of unfathomable loss and utter heartbreak. She was right: Over the course of the next day, numerous designers, including Leanne Ford, shared their own tragedies. Three weeks ago we got keys to our new LA place in Rustic Canyon. It was a place to write, to create. Three days ago we lost it, Ford wrote. We are the lucky ones. Still, to be affected by fires is shocking. Ive been praying hard for the peace that passes understanding through thisfor everyone.While the conflagrations are unprecedented, they are not unimaginable in an area plagued by recurring wildfires. Last week, the design writer Gregory Han and his wife went through their 1963 Altadena foothills home inch by inch, preparing for the worst. (Han even wrote a Wirecutter article on protecting homes in high-risk zones, publishing it the day the fires arrived.) But little can stop 100 mile-per-hour winds. Our home is currently in a Schrdingers state, with firefighters still on the adjacent hillside hardening the [land] and dropping water to keep our neighborhood from adding to the toll, he wrote to me on Friday. For now the house is still standing. Not knowing has been a very challenging part of the situation, all the while learning this friend or that acquaintance has lost their home. Theres an element of survivors guilt and gratitude battling incessantly.As Han and thousands more wait and see, the tally of confirmed losses increases. Dozens of historic landmarks are gone, including Altadenas Bunny Museum, the Brutalist Robert Bridges House above Sunset Boulevard in the Palisades, and William Randolph Hearsts Topanga Ranch Motel. Some are still in danger, including Case Study House #8 (the Eames House), and are being closely monitored.Retail shops have not been spared: Amber Lewis posted that her Shoppe Amber Interiors store in the Palisades is gone. Our company values are deeply rooted in our love and appreciation for all things home and we are absolutely devastated for all those who have lost theirs, she posted. JJ Martins forthcoming DoubleJ store was also destroyed. This was doublejs very first shop in the United States, a labor of love, enthusiasm and total joy, conceived and painstakingly designed by our team over the last 9 months. We are unfathomably heartbroken, she wrote on Instagram. It has been excruciating watching the homes on Enchanted Way where I grew up burn to the ground, including our childhood home, the Gundershaugs down the street, seeing videos of family friends driving through walls of flame.

New York's Affordable Broadband Act New York starts enforcing $15 broadband law that ISPs tried to kill Fresh off court victory, NY says low-income plans must be available Wednesday. Jon Brodkin Jan 13, 2025 2:27 pm | 33 Credit: Getty Images | Yuichiro Chino Credit: Getty Images | Yuichiro Chino Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreThe New York law requiring Internet providers to offer cheap plans to people with low incomes will take effect on Wednesday this week following a multi-year court battle in which the state defeated broadband industry lobby groups.A US appeals court upheld the law in April 2024, reversing the ruling of a district judge who blocked it in 2021. The Supreme Court last month decided not to hear the broadband industry's challenge, leaving the appeals court ruling in place. The state law requires Internet providers to offer $15- or $20-per-month service to people with low incomes.As we've written, the battle between New York and ISPs was an important test case for how states can regulate broadband providers when the Federal Communications Commission isn't doing so. The Biden-era FCC's attempt to reinstate net neutrality rules and regulate broadband providers as common carriers was blocked in court, but ISPs lost the fight against the New York affordability law and an earlier fight against California's net neutrality law.New York-based ISPs can comply by offering $15 broadband plans with download speeds of at least 25Mbps, or $20-per-month service with 200Mbps speeds. The price must include "any recurring taxes and fees such as recurring rental fees for service provider equipment required to obtain broadband service and usage fees." Price increases are to be capped at 2 percent per year, and state officials will periodically review whether minimum required speeds should be raised.New York Public Service Commission Chair Rory Christian last week issued an order stating that the law will take effect on January 15. "On December 16, 2024, the United States Supreme Court denied the Plaintiff's request for further review," the order said. "As part of the litigation, the [New York attorney general] agreed not to enforce the ABA [Affordable Broadband Act] until 30 days after the date when the US Supreme Court decided the writ of Certiorari. Thus, the ABA will once again take effect and may be enforced in New York on January 15, 2025."1.7 million New York households lost FCC discountThe order said quick implementation of the law is important because of "developments at the federal level impacting the affordability of broadband service." About 1.7 million New York households, and 23 million nationwide, used to receive a monthly discount through an FCC program that expired in mid-2024 after Congress failed to provide more funding."For this reason, consumer benefit programs assisting low-income householdssuch as the ABAare even more critical to ensure that the digital divide for low-income New Yorkers is being addressed," the New York order said.New York ISPs can obtain an exemption from the low-cost broadband law if they "provide service to no more than 20,000 households and the Commission determines that compliance with such requirements would result in 'unreasonable or unsustainable financial impact on the broadband service provider,'" the order said.Over 40 small ISPs filed for exemptions in 2021 before the law was blocked by a judge. Those ISPs and potentially others will be given one-month exemptions if they file paperwork by Wednesday stating that they meet the subscriber threshold. ISPs must submit detailed financial information by February 15 to obtain longer-term exemptions."All other ISPs (i.e., those with more than 20,000 subscribers) must comply with the ABA by January 15, 2025," the order said. Failure to comply can be punished with civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation. The law applies to wireline, fixed wireless, and satellite providers.Charter Spectrum currently advertises a $25-per-month plan with 50Mbps speeds for low-income households. Comcast and Optimum have $15 plans. Verizon has a low-income program reducing the cost of some home Internet plans to as low as $20 a month.Disclosure: The Advance/Newhouse Partnership, which owns 12.3 percent of Charter, is part of Advance Publications, which also owns Ars Technica parent Cond Nast.Jon BrodkinSenior IT ReporterJon BrodkinSenior IT Reporter Jon is a Senior IT Reporter for Ars Technica. He covers the telecom industry, Federal Communications Commission rulemakings, broadband consumer affairs, court cases, and government regulation of the tech industry. 33 Comments

Image: NintendoIt's a new week and that means a brand new update for the Nintendo Music app on mobile devices. This week Nintendo has added the GameCube soundtrack The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.This includes 133 tracks with a total runtime of 3 hours and 40 minutes - you've got songs like the title theme, Outset Island, Windfall Island, Dragon Roost Island, The Great Sea, and much more - and be warned, there are some potential story spoilers if you haven't played this game before.Here's the full soundtrack for the latest Nintendo Music update:Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube792kWatch on YouTube The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)Title themeFile SelectionLegend of the HeroOutset IslandHouse ThemeOld Man's HouseWays of the SwordBeedle's Shop ShipA Monstrous BirdTetra LocatedOutset Island ForestBokoblins OverheadBattle ThemeMeeting TetraAryll AbductedGrandmaSetting SailPiratesBelow DeckHatching a Rescue PlanExecuting the Rescue PlanForsaken FortressThe PrisonerReuniting with AryllMeeting the King of Red LionsThe Tale of GanonSearch for a SailWindfall IslandPotion ShopDaybreakThe Great SeaClash at SeaBattle at SeaGot a TreasureOpening a Treasure ChestImportant Item AcquiredItem AcquiredDragon Roost IslandDragon Roost CavernIntense BattleGame OverGohma AppearsGohma Battle (First Phase)Gohma Battle (Second Phase)Boss DefeatedHeart Container AcquiredSacred Gem AcquiredWind's Requiem (Wind Waker)Wind's RequiemMelody LearnedBoat GameBoat Game VictoryBoat Game FailureSong of Passing (Wind Waker)Song of PassingForest HavenInside the Forest HavenDeku Tree in CrisisThe Deku Tree and FriendsForbidden WoodsKalle Demos AppearsKalle DemosForest CeremonyNext Year's CeremonyThe Cursed SeaSacred ShineJabunTHe Tower of the Gods EmergesTower of the GodsCommand Melody (Wind Waker)Gohdan AppearsGohdan BattleTo HyruleSeald Hyrule CastleMaster Sword acquiredHyrule CastlePhantom Ganon BattleReunited with AryllTetra to the RescueTetra Spies the SwordA Short-Lived ReunionConfronting the Helmaroc KingForksaken Fortress TowerHelmaroc King AppearsHelmaroc King BattleMaster of the Forsaken FortressThe Pirate's CharmThe King of Hyrule AppearsHeir of the Royal FamilyZelda's ThemeBallad of Gales (Wind Waker)Ballad of GalesFairy FountainFairy QueenDungeon ThemeEarth God's Lyric (Wind Waker)Sage LarutoMedli, the Sage of EarthEarth God's LyricThe TempleJalhalla AppearsJalhalla BattleMedli's PrayerWind God's Aria (Wind Waker)Sage FadoMakar, the Sage of WindWind God's AriaWind TempleMolgera AppearsMolgera BattleMakar's PrayerHero of WindsGanon's TowerGohma Battle, Ganon's Tower (First Phase)Gohma Battle, Ganon's Tower (Second Phase)Kalle Demos Battle, Ganon's TowerJalhalla Battle, Ganon's TowerMolgera Battle, Ganon's TowerPhantom Ganon's MazeGanondorf SpeaksPuppet Ganon (Puppet Form)Puppet Ganon TransformsPuppet Ganon (Spider Form)Puppet Ganon (Snake Form)Puppet Ganon's DemiseBefore the ShowdownGanondorf BattleParting WaysEnding ThemeStaff CreditsEpilogueAryll's ThemeGame Demo ThemeTo listen to this soundtrack on the Nintendo Music mobile app, you'll need to have an active Switch Online membership. This latest soundtrack follows on from Skyward Sword's soundtrack joining this music library last December. A new mobile app exclusive to Switch Online members186 tracks from Skyward Sword take flightWhat do you think about the latest soundtrack to join the Nintendo Music app service? Let us know in the comments.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles'Nintendo Music' Adds Another Donkey Kong Soundtrack, Here's Every Song IncludedIt's double trouble with Dixie and KiddyZelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Has Been Nominated For Another AwardFingers crossedRandom: Modder Shows Off Unused N64 Mic Support In Zelda: Majora's MaskIncluding multiple actions "triggered by using voice"Poll: Box Art Brawl - Duel: Zelda II: The Adventure Of LinkSecond innings