• ChatGPT becomes more Siri-like with new scheduled tasks feature
    arstechnica.com
    Proto AI Agent ChatGPT becomes more Siri-like with new scheduled tasks feature Two distinct universes of AI tools are merging. Samuel Axon Jan 14, 2025 5:08 pm | 2 Credit: Benj Edwards / OpenAI / Getty Images Credit: Benj Edwards / OpenAI / Getty Images Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreOpenAI is making ChatGPT work a little more like older digital assistants with a new feature called Tasks, as reported by TechCrunch and others.Currently in beta, Tasks allows users to direct the chatbot to send reminders or to generate responses to specific prompts at certain times; recurring tasks are also supported.The feature is available to Plus, Team, and Pro subscribers starting today, while free users don't have access.To create a task, users need to select "4o with scheduled tasks" from the model picker and then direct ChatGPT using the same kind of plain language text prompts that drive everything else it does. ChatGPT will sometimes suggest tasks, too, but they won't go into effect unless the user approves them.The user can then make changes to assigned tasks through the same chat conversation, or they can use a new Tasks section of the ChatGPT apps to manage all currently assigned items. There's currently a 10-task limit.When the time comes to perform an assigned task, the ChatGPT mobile or desktop app will send a notification on schedule.This update can be seen as OpenAI's first step into the agentic AI space, where applications built using deep learning can operate relatively independently within certain boundaries, either replacing or easing the day-to-day responsibilities of information workers.Agentic AI is the new focus for a lot of AI startups and Big Tech companies partly because it has the potential to become a highly lucrative service for the enterpriseprovided it works consistently as intended. Tools like large language models are neither cheap to build and train nor operate and maintain, so a big revenue source like that will naturally appeal to people running those companies.Meanwhile, Apple has reportedly been working on bringing the classic digital assistant Siri closer to how LLM-based chatbots work but is grappling with the bots' comparative unreliability and tendency to hallucinate. The same goes for Amazon with Alexa.We can expect to see more efforts to integrate traditional AI assistants with AI tools built on more modern techniques like those used to develop and train applications like ChatGPT.On OpenAI's end, what ChatGPT Tasks is doing here essentially amounts to bringing dumber but more reliable AI techniques to help a large language model be useful in more contexts.Regardless of which side tech companies are coming from, the ultimate goal is agentic AI. This is just OpenAI's first dip into those waters.Samuel AxonSenior EditorSamuel AxonSenior Editor Samuel Axon is a senior editor at Ars Technica. He covers Apple, software development, gaming, AI, entertainment, and mixed reality. He has been writing about gaming and technology for nearly two decades at Engadget, PC World, Mashable, Vice, Polygon, Wired, and others. He previously ran a marketing and PR agency in the gaming industry, led editorial for the TV network CBS, and worked on social media marketing strategy for Samsung Mobile at the creative agency SPCSHP. He also is an independent software and game developer for iOS, Windows, and other platforms, and heis a graduate of DePaul University, where he studied interactive media and software development. 2 Comments
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  • AI could assemble a record-breaking quantum computer out of cold atoms
    www.newscientist.com
    The right sequence of lasers can group qubits into a perfect gridluchschenF/ShutterstockArtificial intelligence could play a role in assembling the next largest quantum computer.The worlds largest known quantum computer has 1180 quantum bits, or qubits, made from extremely cold, electrically neutral atoms. One of the prerequisites for making truly useful quantum computers is to make them bigger to build them with more qubits. But the make-up of those qubits also matters, and when they are made from ultracold atoms, quantum computers only run calculations precisely when each atom is at just the right place
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  • This Bolognese pasta from Carbone's chef is one of my favorite winter comfort dishes
    www.businessinsider.com
    Chef Mario Carbone's Bolognese has three different types of meat to get you through chilly temperatures.The Bolognese includes ground beef, ground pork, and Italian sausage. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider To make Carbone's Bolognese for six, you'll need: pound ground beef pound ground pork or veal pound Italian sausage (out of casing)Carbone told me he likes to add Italian sausage for his spin on the classic dish to give his Bolognese a "big pop of added flavor."The recipe also features plenty of veggies.The Bolognese also includes carrots, celery, red wine, and Carbone's marinara sauce. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider 1 cup onion, diced cup celery, diced cup carrot, diced5 cloves garlic, chopped1 tablespoon tomato paste1 jars Carbone marinara sauce cup red wine cup chicken stock cup milk1 dried bay leaf1 tablespoons salt tablespoon thyme (chopped)Carbone's recipe was developed with Carbone Fine Food to pair with one of the restaurant's sauces, which you can buy online and in grocery stores. Carbone's Bolognese features the marinara, but you can also try the tomato basil, roasted garlic, or arrabbiata.If you don't have Carbone's sauce on hand, you can always opt for a similar marinara or just make your own. His sauce is made with Italian tomatoes (whole peeled tomatoes, tomato pure, sea salt, basil), along with onions, olive oil, sea salt, garlic, basil, crushed red pepper flakes, and oregano.Before I started cooking, I prepped my veggies.First, I diced my carrots, celery, and onion. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I diced my onion, carrots, and celery and set them aside.Then, I threw some olive oil into a Dutch oven and added the ground beef.I seared my ground beef for about three minutes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I seared the ground beef over high heat for about three minutes, then drained it in my colander over a large bowl.I separately seared the pork, followed by the sausage, for around the same amount of time.I also separately sealed the Italian sausage (pictured) and the pork in the Dutch oven. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider As with the ground beef, I drained the pork and sausage in the colander after they had browned in the Dutch oven.After I seared and drained all three meats, I made sure to season them.I seasoned my meat with salt and set it aside. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I added half a tablespoon of salt and gave the meat a quick mix.I drained the excess fat from my Dutch oven before adding the chopped garlic and thyme.I cooked my garlic and thyme for about two minutes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I constantly stirred my garlic and thyme for around two minutes over medium-low heat.Then, I added the chopped carrots, celery, and onion.I turned my stove to low heat after adding my veggies. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I seasoned my veggies with half a teaspoon of salt and cooked them over low heat for another 15 minutes, until they turned soft.I covered the Dutch oven while everything cooked, making sure to stir the vegetables every few minutes.Once the vegetables were ready, I added the tomato paste and red wine.Once the vegetables were ready, I added the tomato paste and red wine. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider First, I added the tomato paste and increased my stove to medium heat. I stirred constantly for two minutes to lightly cook the tomato paste, making sure it had completely mixed with the veggies.Then, I poured the red wine into the Dutch oven and let it reduce until there wasn't much liquid left. I continued to stir often to ensure I didn't burn the wine and vegetables.Once the wine had reduced, I added the browned meat back into the Dutch oven.I threw my meat back into the Dutch oven once the wine had reduced. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I stirred everything together as delicious scents began to fill up my kitchen.I threw in my Carbone marinara sauce, along with the chicken stock and bay leaf.I cooked the sauce for around 40 minutes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I continued to cook everything for about 40 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent the ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pan.Then, it was time for some milk.After adding the milk, I allowed the sauce to simmer for another 10 minutes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I added the milk and mixed everything together, allowing the sauce to simmer for another 10 minutes.As the sauce was finishing up, I threw my pasta into a pot of salted boiling water.I used pappardelle per Carbone's recommendation. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Carbone recommends using pappardelle for his bolognese recipe.Once the sauce was ready, I took the Dutch oven off the heat.The sauce for Carbone's Bolognese pasta. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I removed the bay leaf and added another half tablespoon of salt to season everything.Not letting the Bolognese sauce simmer too long is part of Carbone's twist on the classic dish."Usually, this recipe cooks all day," he told me. "But my style which I find to be more Italian-American than true Emilia-Romagna style leaves the meat with more texture, which reminds me of my childhood."Everything was ready! So, I threw my pasta into the Dutch oven and mixed it with the Bolognese sauce.I threw the pappardelle into the Dutch oven to mix everything together. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider If you've made more sauce than you need for one dinner, Carbone said you can store the Bolognese in the fridge for up to five days.You can also freeze it for longer, just make sure to use freezer-safe bags.The golden ribbons of pappardelle looked beautiful sitting in that rich Bolognese.My pot of Bolognese pasta looked incredibly delicious. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider There's just something about a heaping bowl of thick pasta noodles in an even thicker sauce on a cold night. I instantly felt soothed as I admired the big bowl of pasta in front of me.The bolognese took more time than many of thepasta recipesI usually prepare, but it smelled absolutely glorious.Carbone's delicious Bolognese sauce made for a perfect winter pasta dish.I'll definitely make Carbone's Bolognese pasta again. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Carbone's recipe has the deep richness you'd expect from a Bolognese but still tastes light despite featuring three different types of meat. The sauce has a lovely, mild sweetness that lifts the entire dish."The different flavors don't compete with each other; they build on each other," my mom said approvingly as she finished her plate."I could really seduce a man with this recipe," my sister added as she went for seconds.Carbone's Bolognese was so comforting and soothing on a gloomy night. It's the perfect recipe to help us get through winter plus, who doesn't love a good bowl of pasta?
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  • How the Los Angeles fires highlight the challenge of disaster relief
    www.vox.com
    The wildfires engulfing the Los Angeles area might reshape what Southern California will look like for years to come. Within a week, approximately 30,000 acres of land have burned, thousands forced to evacuate from their homes, and at least 24 people lost their lives, as of Tuesday morning.After major disasters like this one, one of the most common questions people ask is how to help. Ordinary people are extraordinarily generous in response to tragedies. Almost half of Americans reported donating to Hurricane Katrina relief, and nearly three-quarters gave to charity after 9/11. People also give generously after disasters overseas when they hear about them though the media covers some tragedies much more extensively than others.But its surprisingly challenging to turn this generosity into results for the people affected by disasters. Individual donors cant typically do much to speed search-and-rescue efforts. (And individuals trying to be rescuers themselves can just add to the number of people in danger.) In the event of hurricanes and typhoons, roads and airports are often flooded, making it hard to get supplies to where theyre needed.Another complication is that the generous response to disasters can bring in an extraordinary flood of money compared to the typical budget of most local charities. Most charities have a small budget and are accustomed to operating within it. They might be able to benefit from 20 percent more money, or even twice as much, but if deluged with several hundred times their typical operating budget, they often dont know how to move it toward the people who need it most. Waste and corruption are serious concerns in disaster relief operations, spectacularly highlighted by the infamous fake 9/11 charities.For all of those reasons, disaster relief, especially in the immediate aftermath of disasters like the Los Angeles fires, can be difficult to do effectively. People who donate in those situations may be disappointed to learn that their donations havent been especially useful. And because of that track record, donors and charities concerned with most effectively helping people in need often dont target disaster relief at all, instead opting for donations to areas where theres no immediate catastrophe and less complexity and uncertainty. Doing so is almost always more cost-effective.But these problems with disaster relief dont have to lead to paralysis. For the potential donor, effective giving in response to disasters requires looking at potential charities with an eye for where your money could do the most good.When thinking about disaster aid, we can think about a few separate aspects of disaster recovery, each with their own challenges. Relief work is the immediate disaster response search and rescue, supply drops, emergency medicine, firefighting. Relief work is typically hampered by logistical hurdles, not by a lack of funding. In a severe disaster, roads and airports might be closed, and victims are often panicked and disorganized.Figuring out how to solve these problems and deliver aid under conditions like these is very important. They arent problems caused by a shortage of money or supplies, though, and generosity by donors cant solve them.By the time a disaster has struck, its largely too late to improve search-and-rescue capabilities or immediate disaster response. Investments in improving those capabilities need to be made before a crisis not while one is already happening.In the case of a massive quake like this one, casualties will likely also come from secondary emergencies deaths in the weeks and months after a disaster due to lack of access to medical care, supplies, and necessities, especially given the fact that so many of those affected were already living in refugee camps. The deaths in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria were an example of a secondary emergency 64 people died in the initial phase of the disaster, and thousands more died as help was slow to arrive.Donors are more helpful with another aspect of disaster response: recovery. After the fires die down or waters recede, people will need medical care, food, and supplies to rebuild their homes and lives. There are still complicated logistics involved in disaster recovery, but its the place to look if you want your money to make a difference.More money usually helps but not alwaysCharities have for years voiced concerns about people shipping physical supplies shoes, clothes, and food to areas affected by disasters, unaware that these supplies can displace more urgent and better-targeted aid shipments and often go to waste. They generally urge the public to donate cash, and let nonprofits buy the needed supplies.But while its intuitive that charities might not always need your old shoes, its less intuitive that they might not need your money. The fact is that sometimes an organization has all the donations it knows what to do with, and the remaining barriers to effective relief are staff time, expertise, access to affected areas, or limited supplies. Experts call this room for more funding. A charity has room for more funding if giving them more money will let them do more of what theyre doing.Charities will rarely turn donations down, but that doesnt mean theyre always actively seeking donations. And if a charity is actively seeking donations despite not knowing what to do with them, thats a bad sign. Charities with room for more funding are more likely to be specific about how the money will be spent for example, saying well be building houses or well be compensating victims and ideally will specify their fundraising targets for each of their programs.Donations are needed when no one else is giving themDisaster relief tends to happen in abrupt peaks. Donations happen almost immediately after a disaster occurs, and quickly die down as the news cycle moves on to other things. Eighty percent of donations occur within the first several days of a disaster.Ideally, charities would stockpile the donated money then and spend it as needed over the course of the next months and years as the area rebuilds and recovers. Unfortunately, that doesnt always happen, and its not uncommon for there to be more need six months or a year after a disaster when the rest of the world has moved on than immediately after.The fact that people make their donation decisions so quickly can have grave consequences. Often, it means major disasters get overlooked if the news doesnt get out about them quickly enough. The 2010 earthquake in Haiti was genuinely one of the worst disasters in recent history, killing an estimated 160,000 people, and it received a good deal of US coverage. $13 billion was raised in aid, much of it in the early days of the disaster.But two years earlier, at least 138,000 people died in Bangladesh and Myanmar due to Cyclone Nargis. Only about $300 million was raised, nearly all of it from governments. Thanks to initial reluctance by Myanmars authoritarian government to permit aid, as well as concerns that the government was using the money to cement its hold on power, this tragedy missed its first-week rush of donations. By the time the country reluctantly assented to some foreign assistance, the disaster had started to slip from the news. Many Americans didnt and still dont know it ever happened.All this brings up an important concept that charitable donors should be more aware of: neglectedness. If a disaster happened during a busy news cycle, or in a country with few foreign journalists, or if its a type of disaster where the death toll will be slow and hard to measure instead of immediate and catastrophic, people may not be paying enough attention. Those are usually the places where money really is desperately needed.One other thought: Giving money when disaster strikes is a good impulse. But one thing for a donor to consider is to set aside the money and then follow up with charities a few months later to ask what theyre doing on the ground and whether they need more funding.In a field without much clarity, charities have to be highly responsibleDisaster relief is a field where theres a lot of uncertainty about what works. In an uncertain environment, its particularly important that charities be transparent about what theyre doing and open to the possibility theyre making mistakes.A charity should be able to explain what programs theyre in a position to offer, how much money they need to wholly fund those programs, and what they will do with additional money received after theyve fully funded their programs. Charity evaluators like GiveWell, which try to identify the most promising programs, have found it particularly hard to get the clarity they prize when it comes to disaster relief.Often, the more urgent and complicated the situation, the less clear and transparent charities feel they are able to be. Unfortunately, thats when transparency is needed most so we can develop a better picture of what works for future disasters.Even better would be a charity thats aiming at effectiveness, collecting data on what theyre doing, and scaling (or canceling) their programs accordingly. This is challenging in disasters, as no two are the same and its hard to know if past successes really predict future ones.Nonetheless, there are good examples of taking a transparent, honest, and results-driven approach to disaster relief. GiveWell has called Doctors Without Borders a leader in transparency, honesty and integrity in relief organizations, and this was a big reason for its recommendation of Doctors Without Borders as a disaster relief organization.Since we still dont know all that much about the best ways to provide effective aid in the aftermath of a disaster, theres a lot of room for experimentation. Here, too, its important for charities to do things right. Experiments should ideally be announced in advance, have a clear mission statement, and report how the trial went.Several years ago, GiveDirectly, a charity that does cash transfers to the poorest people in the world, did a good job of venturing into disaster relief while staying focused on results. The organization was curious about whether cash transfers literally giving cash to people who just suffered through a disaster worked well for disaster relief. There are some reasons to think it might a cash-transfer program has extremely low overhead, can happen even if roads and airports are damaged or full of high-priority aid, and works remarkably well at improving outcomes for the worlds poorest.But there are also some reasons for skepticism maybe giving people money in disasters just results in bidding-up of scarce supplies. GiveDirectly handled this with a small-scale trial offering cash transfers to victims of Hurricane Harvey. It wanted to check whether its cash-transfer-based approach worked everywhere, not just in the poor regions of Kenya where it traditionally operated, and that it was as viable for disaster relief as for aid efforts targeting poverty.In an update, GiveDirectly reported that it could successfully get cash to about 90 percent of the target population who were mostly able to use it, which makes straightforward cash aid look like a promising intervention for disasters in rich countries, though a different host of problems would be expected in poor ones. (In particular, destroyed infrastructure both makes it hard to get cash to affected populations and makes it hard for them to use the money to buy any supplies they may need.) Last year, GiveDirectly sent emergency funds to nearly 5,000 low-income households in Florida and Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, using AI-scanned satellite images to quickly identify the neighborhoods that had been hardest hit by the storms.We need more experiments like that. People are extraordinarily generous and willing to give hundreds of millions in aid to disasters when they can. Right now, there isnt a clear picture of how to consistently turn that generosity into good results. But careful experimentation is a very valuable step on the road to figuring that out.Update, January 14, 2025, 4:15 pm ET: This story, originally published in 2018, has been updated to reflect the news of the Los Angeles fires.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:
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  • EA FC 25 TOTW 18 predictions including Dembele heroics and former Liverpool star
    www.dailystar.co.uk
    Expect EA FC 25 TOTW 18 to be packed with stellar new cards, with new upgrades expected for former Liverpool man Sadio Mane and PSG hero Ousmane DembeleTech16:55, 14 Jan 2025Updated 16:55, 14 Jan 2025Simons was POTM for Leipzig(Image: Getty Images)After another week of football (although not a good one for Arsenal), it's almost time for the EA FC 25 Team of the Week (TOTW).This week marks the eighteenth entry since EA FC 25 launched, and we're expecting another batch of upgraded players. In case you're new this season, Team of the Week players replace the basic versions in packs for the current week, and have upgraded stats based on real-world performances.We're expecting big things this week from Ousmane Dembele after his PSG heroics, as well as ex-Liverpool star Sadio Mane for his brace for Al-Nassr.Here's what we're expecting from EA FC 25 TOTW 18.Team of the Week will be officially announced on Wednesday, January 15 we'll share the full line-up then.Expect the new cards to be in packs from 6pm.Mane now plays alongside Ronaldo(Image: Getty Images)Here are our predictions who are you hoping to pull?RW: Ousmane DembeleThe France winger notched both of PSG's goals to help them to a 2-1 win, earning POTM in the process.ST: Patrick SchickLeverkusen's striker scored two goals and got POTM for his team.RM: Sadio ManeEx-Liverpool winger Mane grabbed two goals for Al-Nasser and POTM.LB: Fridoline RolfoThe Barca full-back scored, assisted, and kept a clean sheet.CAM: Xavi SimonsThe Leipzig playmaker scored twice in a 4-2 win to earn POTM.GK: David SoriaGetafe stopper Soria made six saves, including one penalty to help his side to a 2-1 win.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED
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  • Josh Gad Is Still Mortified Over Disney Making Beauty and the Beasts Exclusively Gay Moment a Big Deal
    gizmodo.com
    Weve come a long way since Disneys first exclusively gay moment when the studio made a big to-do about LeFou in its live-action Beauty and the Beastmostly in a depressingly big ol circle, now were back to the House of Mouse cutting LGBTQ+ storylines out of its media to appeal to conservative parents again. But now nearly eight years later, the star at the center of that back-patting furor is speaking out on just how shocked he was to see Disney blow it out of proportion. I for one certainly didnt exactly feel like LeFou was who the queer community had been wistfully waiting for, Josh Gad said of his role as LeFou in the film, writing in his new memoirIn Gad We Trust (via Entertainment Weekly). I cant quite imagine a Pride celebration in honor of the cinematic watershed moment involving a quasi-villainous Disney sidekick dancing with a man for half a second. I mean, if I were gay, Im sure Id be pissed. And yet, thats essentially what Disney tried to do back in 2017, whenBeauty and the Beasts director Bill Condon teased the momentwhere LeFou dances with a male partner during a climactic celebratory sequence in the filminto a major step for Disneys on-screen LGBTQ+ efforts, describing it (now infamously) as an exclusively gay moment in an interview with Attitude. But according to Gad, the moment had barely been discussed on-set as an explicitly deliberate moment, and was never intended to be seen as more than a quiet nod. Because I was a side character, I didnt want to suddenly throw the weight of sexuality on this character that in no way was driving the film, Gad writes. But the moment (as described to me) seemed harmless enougha fun blink-and-youll-miss-it little beat.Instead, Condons framing of the moment turned it into a media firestorm, with bigots furious at the thought of two men dancing together (a thing thats certainly never happened in a Disney movie before) and the studio itself to eagerly capitalize on being able to have a tiny speck of queer representation on the big screen. It wouldnt be the first time either over the next few years, as Disney seemingly managed to regurgitate that it was doing its first openly gay character for multiple press cycles, even as the studio and its major subsidiaries barely took steps with queer characters and their presence beyond these throwaway acknowledgements.Had the audience defined it as a sweet exclusively gay moment, I would have been delighted, Gad concludes, but the second we pointed it out and seemingly congratulated ourselves, we had invited hell and fury. The more things change, the more they stay the samealthough now Disney is inviting the hell and fury for its own cowardice, more than anything else. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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  • Brown House / BLDUS
    www.archdaily.com
    Brown House / BLDUSSave this picture! Ty ColeHousesWashington, United StatesArchitects: BLDUSAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:1600 ftYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Ty ColeManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Amorim, BamCore, Hempitecture, Jelinek, Pella EFCO, Vermont Natural Coatings Lead Architects: Jack Becker, Andrew Linn Carpentry: ArtworkMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. A single-family house in a newly named alley in Capitol Hill is an opportunity to elaborate upon a healthy material palette featuring black locust wood, cork cladding, hemp insulation, and bamboo structural walls. The design of the linear alley house strikes a balance between privacy and light, using balconies, a vestibule, a terrace, and a rooftop garden to mediate the site and its surrounding context. Durable black locust slats protect cork cladding, screen balconies, structure a fence, and provide fall protection on the rooftop. The exterior cork cladding is echoed by a spray cork finish on interior ceilings, while the bamboo structural panels are exposed on the interior and stained with PolyWhey, a by-product of the cheese industry. Cellulose and hemp insulation fill the hollow wall cavities and flat roofs. Copper details handle precipitation and highlight the layers of the house in Overbeck Alley.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Healthy material environments facilitate healthy lifestyles. Spaces made from healthy materials that are natural, straightforward, and recognizable allow people to relate to them at a visceral level more than anonymous painted-drywall spaces, endearing them to their users over time. Using materials ideally suited for their purposes throughout the houses pushes the role of materiality in the project beyond the purely aesthetic and symbolic. Apart from materials, the organization of the house encourages efficient and long-term living.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!With a bedroom-bathroom suite on the ground floor, life could be lived entirely on the ground floor if necessary, and a daylit, switchback central stair leads to the second floor and rooftop. Brown House is defined by its material economies, from the efficient and cutting-edge hybrid bamboo-wood structural panels to its cellulose, cork, and hemp insulation to its rough-sawn black locust screens. Additionally, the house contributes to a broader mission in DC to add residential density wherever possible as a means to alleviate the housing shortage. Alley houses are full of complex, site-specific problems, yet recent municipal legislation was designed to encourage alley house development as one of several methods to encourage housing production.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Rooftop planter beds allow the inhabitants of Brown House to grow the majority of their diet during some periods of the year and supplement them during others. These beds utilize rainfall in the most direct way possible, feeding the plants growing in the beds. Rainwater that lands on the rooftop drains into cisterns that are used to irrigate plantings along the north facade and in the south garden. Materials were sourced as locally as possible and with as light a carbon footprint as possible while creating a structure that uses as little energy input as possible. The effort has been recognized: two different bird nests have already been made in the enclosed exterior spaces of the house during its first spring, a sign of recognition by the birds of the health and safety afforded by the house.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeBLDUSOfficePublished on January 14, 2025Cite: "Brown House / BLDUS" 14 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025617/brown-house-bldus&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream
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  • Slicing or Shredding Things in Cinema 4D C4D + Redshift Project Files
    www.youtube.com
    Slicing or Shredding Things in Cinema 4D C4D + Redshift Project Files https://cgshortcuts.com/slicing-or-shredding-things-in-cinema-4d/ A few setups in C4D for slicing pasta and shredding paper (Member Request).Download and use royalty-free in your own projects!#Cinema4D #C4D #Redshift #CGShortcuts
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  • The best HDMI cables for streaming, gaming, and audio
    www.popsci.com
    ShareWe may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is one of the most common A/V connectors for TVs and monitors, and HDMI cables arent going away anytime soon. Whether youre a gamer, a cinephile, or a sports fan, you want bright, clean images at high frame rates. A sub-par HDMI cable can needlessly hold your media devices back. You may have seen HDMI 2.1 and tensed up at the prospect of yet another changing technical standard with which to keep up. Dont worryits not as complicated as it seems. Were here to help make sure you can find the best HDMI cable to suit your particular audio-visual needs. Weve chosen the AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable as the best all-around pick, which migh surprise you because of how cheap it is. The truth: its going to work just fine in a vast majority of cases. Best all-around: AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI CableBest HDMI 2.1: Zeskit Maya Ultra High SpeedBest flat cable: Ultra Clarity Flat 4K High SpeedBest 90-degree cable: UGREEN HDMI elbow cableBest micro HDMI cable: BlueRigger Micro HDMIBest long cable: Monoprice High Speed ActiveBest 8K: Monoprice 8K Certified Braided Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 CableBest 10K: EZQuest Ultra HD HIGH Speed HDMI 10K 60HZ CableHow we chose the best HDMI cablesAs you make expensive upgrades to your home entertainment system with the latest and greatest 4K television, a PlayStation 5, and an incredible surround sound system, youll want to make sure youre unlocking their full potential with cables that can keep pace. The key is HDMI cables, which are straightforward and inexpensive. Theres really one stat you need to worry about: the speed. Your HDMI cable transmits data from your Blu-ray player, cable box, game console, AV receiver, or another device, and thats it. You can only make a cable better (or worse) by improving how quickly it can send that information. Every audio- and video-related feature that might be dependent on a better cable, including HDR and that new Dolby Atmos soundbar, simply needs a pipeline with sufficient bandwidth to run properly. If they fail, there will be white static, or it wont work at all; otherwise, they are working at full capacity without any real marginal gains and little specialization to be found.Accordingly, the best HDMI cable is typically the cheapest certified cable that suits your needs. We combed over professional and consumer reviews and pulled from years of personal A/V experience to distill the best HDMI cables to suit various situations. All the options weve selected are from trusted brands and are overwhelmingly validated by users to be good for the long haul.The best HDMI cables: Reviews & RecommendationsAs stated above, HDMI cables are very straightforward, and the best one for you is probably also the cheapest, which is why Amazon Basics takes our top spot for most people. Our other top pick is the future-proofed best possible HDMI you can get for an affordable price, so its perfectly suited for all those 4K movies and next-gen gaming for the foreseeable future. Weve also selected a range of specialized cables for edge cases where installation might otherwise be tricky.Best HDMI cable all-around: AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI CableAmazon Basics is the best HDMI cable.ProsInexpensiveDurableGreat performanceConsStiffWhy it made the cut: AmazonBasics keeps it simple and cheap, which makes their product the best HDMI cable overall.SpecsSpeed: 48 GB/sMax Resolution: 8K/60HzLength: 3/6/10 ft.Audio: ARCHDMI: 2.1AmazonBasics products can be very hit or miss for more complex products like electronics, but HDMI cables are in their sweet spot. Any cable certified to a particular standard, if it works at all, is as good as any other outside of aesthetics or ergonomics, so theres no need to spend more than the minimal prices offered by Amazon or Monoprice. This premium HDMI cable is a little stiff, but that also makes it more durable. According to user reviews, its generally considered to be better constructed than other cables at slower standards and is both our top pick and our best budget buy.Best HDMI 2.1 cable: Zeskit Maya Ultra High SpeedZeskit Maya is the best HDMI cable.ProsUltra High Speed performanceDurable nylon braidingConsExpensiveWhy it made the cut: Among certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cables, Zeskit delivers top quality at an accessible price.SpecsSpeed: 48 GB/sMax Resolution: 10K/120HzLength: 1.5/3/6.5/10 ft.Audio: eARCHDMI: 2.1The best HDMI 2.1 cable offers more capacity than you will be able to use for the foreseeable future. No graphics card in existence could come anywhere close to playing a AAA game at 10K and 120 frames per second. Playing games in 4K at 120 fps is still more theory than practice for even the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Zeskits Ultra High Speed is certified to offer the full power of 48 GB/s, which is almost exclusively relevant to gamers for the time being. Its durable and well-constructed. With a 5-star rating based on 17,000 Amazon reviews, players are satisfied.Best flat HDMI cable: Ultra Clarity Flat 4K High SpeedUltra Clarity Best Flat 4K HDMI cableProsCorrosion-resistant gold-plated connectors, full metal jacket, 26 AWG, triple shielding, and solid copper conductorsFlat, CL3 for in-wall installationGreat performanceConsMore expensiveWhy it made the cut: Ultra Claritys sturdy, flat, and flexible cables are perfect for staying out of your way.SpecsSpeed: 18 GB/sMax Resolution: 4K/60HzLength: 25/30/35/40/50 ft.Audio: ARCHDMI: 2.0bPurchasing the best flat HDMI cable can be a great resource if you have a tight space behind your television, or for when you need to run your HDMI cable under a carpet or behind some furniture, or even in your walls. Ultra Clarity offers an excellent High Speed HDMI cable with solid connectors and great performance. What sets it apart is the flat and flexible form factor, along with a PVC jacket that gives it extra durability and allows for 180-degree turns. They are a little more expensive than other cables of the same speed, but thats the price of quality and flexibility.Best 90-degree HDMI cable: UGREEN HDMI elbow cableUGREEN Elbow is the best right-angle HDMI cable.ProsSolid 90-degree connectorGreat performanceConsNiche applicationWhy it made the cut: UGREENs specialized right-angle HDMI is a perfect niche fix for when regular cables wont quite fit.SpecsSpeed: 18 GbpsMax Resolution: 4K/60HzLength: 3/6/10/15 ft.Audio: ARCHDMI: 2.0Shenzhen-based UGREEN is a relatively new brand that has proven reliable for high-quality electronics and accessories at reasonable prices. The companys elbow HDMI cable has one connector with an abrupt 90-degree turn, which helps you plug into a TV or monitor mounted flush against a wall. Otherwise, this best 90-degree HDMI cable features everything youd expect from all the cables on our list: gold-plated connectors, solid shielding, and consistent performance.Best micro HDMI cable: BlueRigger Micro HDMIBlueRigger is the best micro HDMI cable.ProsGreat performanceDurable constructionMicro USB adapterConsNiche applicationWhy it made the cut: BlueRiggers durable micro HDMI-to-HDMI cable is a content creators best friend and our pick for the best micro HDMI cable.SpecsSpeed: 18 GbpsMax Resolution: 4K/60HzLength: 3/6/10/15 ft.Audio: ARCHDMI: 2.0Some devices are too small for conventional HDMI jacks, which is why micro HDMI exists. This micro HDMI-to-HDMI cable lets you connect GoPros, DSLRs, camcorders, tablets, and other devices with a mini port to larger screens so that you can display your 4K/60 fps content in all its glory. It also lives up to manufacturer BlueRiggers reputation for making durable products. And this is all the more important for an HDMI cable youre likely to plug and unplug more frequently than a standard cable.Best long HDMI cable: Monoprice High Speed ActiveMonoprice Active is the best long HDMI cable.ProsGreat performanceDurable constructionCL2-certifiedActive connection for longer distancesConsExpensiveWhy it made the cut: Monoprices dependable and inexpensive cables are the way to go when running HDMI over long distances.SpecsSpeed: 18 GB/sMax Resolution: 4K/60HzLength: 25/30/35/40/45/50/60/100 ft.Audio: ARCHDMI: 2.0Monoprice has been widely known as one of the best brands for inexpensive certified HDMI cables for a long time. If you absolutely have to run an HDMI cable more than 25 feetsuch as when you need an extension for a conference room, auditorium, or fancy home theaterthen an active, directional cable is absolutely essential. It draws a bit of power from the connected hardware to boost the signal over the long distance. Monoprices active cable covers from 25 up to 100 feet. Its also CL2 certified, so you can safely run it through the walls or ceiling, which is likely more appealing if you have to cover a serious distance. The cables are also backed by a lifetime return policy in case of failure, so as the best long HDMI cable, you can expect to get what youve paid for.Best 8K: Monoprice 8K Certified Braided Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 CableProseARCSupports Dynamic HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:XCompatible with Sony PlayStation 5, PlayStation S Digital Edition, Microsoft Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series SConsCable is stiffWhy it made the cut: Stream up to 10K at 120Hz refresh rate with this well-priced cableSpecsSpeed: 48 GB/sMax Resolution: 8K/60HzLength: 3 ft. 15 ft.Audio: eARCHDMI: 2.1If youre considering investing in that amazing new Samsung 8K OLED, you should consider a high-quality cable that will do the vivid screen justice (and that might not cost as much as some 4K TVs itself). This durable braided Ethernet-enabled Monoprice cable can handle 8K/60Hz resolution and Dynamic HDR/Dolby Vision easily, and may be capable of transmitting 4K@120Hz and 10K@120Hz resolutionsmeaning next-gen performance for next-gen gaming consoles. And, have no fear, object-based high-resolution audio is conveyed with equal aplomb across the Ultra High Speed Certified Cable. Best 10K: EZQuest Ultra HD HIGH Speed HDMI 10K 60HZ CableThe EZQuest Ultra HD HIGH Speed HDMI 10K 60HZ Cable is the best budget HDMI cableProseARCSupports 3D videoBuilt-in strain reliefConsOnly one length of cableWhy it made the cut: Stream up to 10K at 120Hz refresh rate with this well-priced cable.SpecsSpeed: 48 GB/sMax Resolution: 10K/120HzLength: 7.2 ft.Audio: eARCHDMI: 2.1Not all 10K HDMI cables are built the same. This high-performance one from EZQuest includes features we love, like eARC and a braided nylon cable, along with a fantastic 10K max resolution at a 120Hz refresh rate. It supports 3D video and is backward compatible to support existing HDMI devices. The wires are guarded in aluminum, copper mesh, PVC, and nylon braided shielding, which prevents strain relief and helps its longevity.Things to consider before buying an HDMI cableHDMI cables are one of the simplest components of your home A/V system but are also very important. Depending on what youre doing, your cable can become a crucial bottleneck to your viewing and playing, so you want to ensure you have the right technical standard. All HDMI cables are backward compatible, and the connector has remained unchanged, so you dont need to worry about newer cables working with your old devices. Heres a little primer on separating the good HDMI cables from the bad, no matter what you need them for.The need for speedCables, HDMI or otherwise, do one thing: transmit data. HDMI data is measured in gigabytes per second (GB/s). Youve also likely seen version numbers floating around as well (HDMI 1.4, 2.0, and, more recently, 2.1). These technically describe the communication standard being used by the hardware youre connecting with the cables, rather than the cables themselves. All you need to know for our purposes is that you should get a Premium High Speed cable (18 GB/s) to connect HDMI 2.0 devices and an Ultra High Speed cable (48 GB/s) for HDMI 2.1 gear. If your hardware supports 2.0 or 2.1, you need the matching cable to take advantage. Older cables will still work, but the data will be throttled to whatever the cable can support, limiting framerate and resolution.If youre buying a new cable now, we only recommend considering the last two. Right now, Premium High Speed HDMI can handle content in 4K at 60 frames per second, which covers almost anything you can throw at your TV. Ultra High Speed may be necessary for some PS5, Xbox Series X, and high-end PC graphics cards to output at their absolute best in some cases, but right now it is fairly rare. Meanwhile, 8K video only exists for research and tech demos. In other words, Ultra High exists mostly in anticipation of future hardware and content. Theres nothing wrong with future-proofing, but know that Ultra High Speed is overkill for most people.ARC and eARCEstablished in 2009 as part of HDMI 1.4, ARC (Audio Return Channel) is a feature that allows the HDMI cable to run audio data back and forth between your TV and a separate audio receiver or soundbar. This can simplify your set-up by reducing the need for a discrete audio cable and allowing for simplified control of your systems with the TVs remote. Its been part of the HDMI standard long enough that most cables support it, and certainly any new ones. A drawback is that it does not support HD audio standards like Dolby Atmos or 5.1 surround sound.Meanwhile, eARC (the e standing for enhanced) is a more recent upgrade to ARC along with the HDMI 2.1 standards. Taking advantage of the torrential 48 Gbps that Ultra High Speed cables support, it can fully support uncompressed audio. Since eARC is baked into HDMI 2.1, you will need an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable to get the full effect.Length and wall installationAs with pretty much any type of cable, shorter is better. With a longer HDMI cable, youre more likely to experience some level of signal degradation. If you run an HDMI cable over 25 feet or more, you may notice issues like visual artifacts, dimming, and input lag.If you absolutely cant bring your source and monitor closer together, you should consider using an active HDMI cable, which draws a little bit of power from the connected device to boost its signal and send it substantially further while maintaining quality. Active cables are a little more complicated to set up because they only draw power from one side. Youll need to ensure its plugged in the right way before committing to a setup. They are also more expensive than other cables, given their length and the additional tech involved.If you plan to run your cable through a wall or ceiling as part of that long run, then you need to make sure your cable is certified as CL2 or CL3 (class 2 or 3), meaning its rated for wall installation. Standard cables pose greater fire risks when running through walls and potentially contacting with screws, nails, and other metal hardware. CL2 cables (including HDMI, among other types such as speaker wires) are rated for home use, up to 150 volts, while CL3 goes up to 300 volts for commercial installation. Both are made safer with special coating that reduces their risk of catching fire and gives off less toxic gas if they do.FAQsQ: How much do the best HDMI cables cost? Depending on the length and included features, the best HDMI cables run from $8-$20. Prices increase with length. Q: Do expensive HDMI cables make a difference? Nope! HDMI cables are a simple piece of hardware that does one thing, and aside from the very specialized examples we gave above, there arent any special features for which you can pay extra. Just get the least expensive cable from a reliable brand that meets your needs. Q: Is HDMI 2.1 necessary? For the vast majority of people, not at all. HDMI 2.0 can already support 4K 60 Hz, which can handle any video content and all but the most powerful gaming hardware. HDMI 2.1 is only worth considering if you have one of the few sources that can use it, such as a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or a very new and powerful PC graphics card. Q: What HDMI cable is needed for Dolby Atmos? That depends on your hardware and the Dolby audio codec it supports. For Dolby Digital Plus devices, any Premium High Speed (HDMI 2.0) cable or later should support Atmos over ARC (including all the cables on this list). However, if its the lossless Dolby TrueHD format, you may need the additional bandwidth of an HDMI 2.1 cable. Q: Do all HDMI cables support 4K 120Hz? No, not all HDMI cables have the bandwidth for 4K 120Hz signals. Standard and High Speed HDMI are still widely circulated and can support 4.95 and 10.2 GB/s, respectively. High Speed HDMI can support up to 4K resolution at 30 Hz, which is good enough for most film and television, though not all the most advanced, dynamic forms of HDR. Premium High Speed is the next step up, jumping to 18 GB/s, or enough to handle 4K HDR content at 60 Hz, which can support almost any contemporary application. The fastest level, Ultra High Speed, can transmit a whopping 48 GB/s, opening the door for 10K resolution at 120 Hz. Final thoughts on the best HDMI cablesBest all-around: AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI CableBest HDMI 2.1: Zeskit Maya Ultra High SpeedBest flat cable: Ultra Clarity Flat 4K High SpeedBest 90-degree cable: UGREEN HDMI elbow cableBest micro HDMI cable: BlueRigger Micro HDMIBest long cable: Monoprice High Speed ActiveBest 8K: Monoprice 8K Certified Braided Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 CableBest 10K: EZQuest Ultra HD HIGH Speed HDMI 10K 60HZ CableHopefully, this clears up any confusion about what you need to consider when buying the best HDMI cable to complete your home theater. HDMI 2.1 is tempting and probably worthwhile if youve got (or plan to get) cutting-edge gaming hardware. Most importantly, keep it simple with known brands and low prices. There arent any additional features that make more expensive cables worth buying, so dont let a salesman convince you otherwise.
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