Published January 14, 2025 10:00am EST close How to factory reset your iPhone A factory reset ensures all your personal data is wiped clean. Apple announces new iPhones every year, and I often wonder if that's truly necessary. A launch every two years seems more reasonable, especially since the new iPhones are often only marginally better than the ones released the year before. This has been the case since the iPhone 12.However, in 2024, Apple introduced a range of interesting features with theiPhone 16. While these features dont necessarily justify an upgrade if you already own the iPhone 15 or even the iPhone 14, they make theiPhone 16 a worthy purchase if youre using an older model or an Android phone.If you've already made the purchase, or if you've bought another iPhone, here are the first things you should do and try when you fire up your new phone.(First things to do if you got a new Android)Enter the giveaway by signing up for myfree newsletter. iPhone packaging (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)1) How to update your software to iOS 18.2 or laterFirst things first, let's update your software to iOS 18.2 or later:OpenSettingsTapGeneralSelectSoftware UpdateTap Update NowEnter your passcode and agree to termsWait for theinstallation to complete Steps to update your iPhones software (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)2) How to add a passcode or biometric authenticationTo add a passcode or biometric authentication to your new iPhone after updating to iOS 18.2 or later, follow these steps:Setting up a passcodeOpenSettings on your iPhoneTap on Face ID & Passcode (for iPhone X and later) orTouch ID & Passcode (for earlier models)TapTurn Passcode OnEnter asix-digit passcode. If you prefer, tapPasscode Options to choose a four-digit numeric code, a custom numeric code or a custom alphanumeric code.Re-enter yourpasscode to confirm it and activate itSetting up biometric authenticationFor Face ID:Go toSettingsTap on Face ID & PasscodeEnter yourpasscode, if promptedTap on Set Up Face IDHold your device in portrait orientation and position your face in front of the device, then tap Get Started.Follow theon-screen instructions to complete the setup Face ID & Passcode on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)3) Setting up Apple ID and iCloudCreate or sign in to Apple ID:Open theSettings appTap onSign in to your iPhone at the topIf you dont have an Apple ID, selectDont have an Apple ID or forgot it? and follow the prompts to create one.If you have an Apple ID, enter yourcredentials and sign in.Enable iCloud:After signing in, go back to SettingsTap on yournameat the top, then select iCloudChoose which services you want to enable (e.g., Photos, Contacts, Calendars)Tap iCloud Backup andtoggle it on to automatically back up your data. Create a Free Apple Account on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)4) Personalizing settings on iPhoneCustomize Display:OpenSettingsThen go toDisplay & BrightnessTapLightor Dark for the background you'd likeYou can tap onText Size to adjust text sizeThen use theslider to adjust the brightness you prefer. How to personalize your iPhones display and brightness (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Customize sound preferences:Tap onSounds & HapticsAdjust the sliderwhere it says Ringtone and alerts to customize from quieter to louder.Scroll down and tap the following to adjust the sounds for each:Ringtone, Text Tone, New Voicemail, New Mail, Sent Mail, Calendar Alerts and Reminder Alerts. Steps to change your iPhones sounds and haptics (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)5) Configuring privacy settingsManage Privacy Settings:Go toSettingsScroll down and click appsSelect the app you want to review the privacy settings forAdjust thepermissions as needed for location services, camera, microphone, allow tracking and other settings. Adjust as necessary for individual apps.6) Pick your own lock screen shortcutsBy default in iOS 18, you get flashlight and camera shortcuts on the lock screen, but now you can finally customize them.Long-press on the Lock ScreenTapCustomizeThen choose Lock ScreenYou can tap on theexisting shortcuts to change them to your preferred apps or features by selecting thedesired app or feature from the list that appears.If you prefer, you can remove them entirely to keep your lock screen clean and simple by tapping the deleteorremove option next to the shortcut. Steps to customize your iPhones lock screen (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)7) Setting up Family SharingHere's how to enable Family Sharing on your iPhone:Open yourSettings appTapyour nameGo toFamily SharingSet Up Your FamilyPressContinueSelectfamily members that you want to inviteTo create an account for a child, selectCreate Child Account at the bottom and provide their name and birthday.8) Download some useful appsThere are millions of apps available, such asApple Maps,Google Maps andeven apps to plan a party in the App Store. To download useful apps on your new iPhone, follow these straightforward steps:Locate theApp Store icon on your home screen and tap to open it.You can explore various categories by tapping onApps at the bottom of the screen or using theSearch tab to find specific apps.Once you find an app you want, tap on it to view more details, including descriptions, ratings and screenshots.Tap theGet button (or the price if it's a paid app) next to the app you wish to download.If prompted,authenticate your download using Face ID, Touch ID or your Apple ID password.The app will begindownloading and installing automatically. You can monitor its progress on your home screen.Once installed, the app willappear on your home screen.Tap its icon to open and start using it.You can press and hold any app icon until they start wiggling, allowing you to drag them into folders or rearrange their positions. Image of the App Store icon on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)9) Activate spam filters for text messagesHaving a strong spam filter on your iPhone is beneficial to protect yourself from unwanted text messages and scams.But beware that this may also filter out some legitimate messages from people who are not in your contacts list.OpenSettingsScroll down and tap onAppsThen, scroll down and tap onMessagesToggle onFilter Unknown Senders to filter text messages from unknown contacts into a separate list Steps to activate filters for text messages (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)10) Use visual intelligenceOn all iPhone 16 models, you can use Camera Control with visual intelligence to quickly learn more about the stuff around you. Just press and hold the Camera Control, which is a new button on the right side of the device, and you can do things like look up info about a restaurant or business, translate text, get a summary, have it read out loud and more.You can even use it to find details about a business, like its hours, services and contact info. Depending on the place, you might also be able to check reviews, make a reservation or order for delivery.To use this feature, point your iPhone camera at the business in front of you, then press and hold the Camera Control. Next, either tap the Camera Control again or select the business name at the top of the screen. Depending on the business, you can:View the hours of operation by tappingSchedulePlace a delivery order by tappingOrderBrowse the menu or available services by tappingMenuMake a reservation by tappingReserveTo call the business, visit its website or access other options, tap theMore button. iPhone using visual intelligence (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)11) Log how youre feelingApple made several changes to the iPhones with its iOS 18 update, including updates to the Journal app. You dont need the latest iPhone 16 to try the apps mindfulness option for journal entries; any iPhone with iOS 18 will do. When you open the Journal app, tap the icon that looks like a tiny tree, and youll be able to log your mood for each day and see how it changes over time. Journal app on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)12) Give Action Button a tryTheAction Button is part of the iOS 17 operating system for the iPhone 15 series and continues into iOS 18 for the iPhone 16 series. This customizable side button lets you choose a specific function to perform when pressed, such as turning on silent mode, focus, camera, flashlight, voice memo, recognize music, translate, magnifier, controls, shortcut and accessibility, depending on your settings. Essentially, it acts as a quick access key for a chosen action. Here are the steps to customize the Action button on supported iPhone models:Go toSettingsTapAction ButtonAn image of the side of the iPhone will appear showing icons representing actions you can assign to the Action button.Swipeleft orright to choose an action. Thename of the action will appear below the dots.If additional options are available for the selected action, abutton will appear below the action.Tap it to see the list of options.For Controls, Shortcut and Accessibility actions, you need to tap the button below the action and select aspecific option. Otherwise, the Action button won't do anything. Action button on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)13) Try out the new Passwords appI always stress the importance of using a password manager to store your passwords. Lets be honest, we all have a ton of apps and services that require an account and password. If you use the same password everywhere, you risk having your important info stolen by cybercriminals. But its also impossible to come up with a unique password for every app and remember them all.Password managers make life easier by storing your passwords and filling them in when you log into apps. But they usually charge a monthly or yearly fee. Thats where Apples Passwords app comes in. It works just like a password manager but without the extra cost. Open the app from the App Library, and itll keep your login details encrypted and synced across all your devices.While Apple's new Passwords app in iOS 18 offers a convenient and cost-free solution for password management, it's important to consider its limitations. These include its exclusivity to the Apple ecosystem, lack of compatibility with Android or Linux devices and limited functionality outside of Safari and Apple apps. For those seeking a more comprehensive password management solution that works across various browsers and apps, check out mybest expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here.14) Use ChatGPT and writing toolsApple introduced Apple Intelligence for iPhone 15 Pro and newer models running iOS 18.2, bringing a range of AI tools and ChatGPT support. ChatGPT is now built into various parts of iOS, and if you have an iPhone 15 Pro or above, you can take full advantage of this integration.You can use Apple's enhanced Writing Tools to access ChatGPT directly in apps like Notes, Mail and any other text input field. Whether you need help spicing up your notes or generating complex programming scripts, ChatGPT is up for the task. Here's how to get started; youll need to enable ChatGPT integration.Head toSettingsClickApple Intelligence & SiriTap ChatGPT and toggle on next to where it says Use ChatGPT.From there, you can scroll down and Sign In to your own ChatGPT account or even upgrade toChatGPT Plus. ChatGPT and writing tools on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)15) Install strong antivirus protectionAntivirus software can help protect your new iPhone from malware, phishing and other threats. The best way to protect yourself from having your data breached is to install antivirus protection on all your devices. Having strong antivirus software on your devices will alert you of any known malware that is targeting you, warn you against clicking on any known malicious links in phishing emails and ultimately help protect you from being hacked.Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your iPhone, Mac, Windows and Android devices.Pro tip:Prioritize regular backups to safeguard your dataMaking databackups a regular part of your iPhone maintenance is crucial. This way, you can protect yourself against uncertainties. Whether it's a hardware malfunction or a security breach, having a recent backup will let you recover quickly.Kurts key takeawaysWhen you get your new iPhone, there are several essential steps to take to ensure you're getting the most out of your device. Start by updating to iOS 18.2 or later to access the latest features. Next, security measures like a passcode or biometric authentication should be set up for added protection. Personalize your settings by customizing your display and sound preferences, and dont forget to enable Family Sharing if you want to connect with loved ones. Also, explore the App Store to download useful apps. Additionally, make sure to give the Action Button a test run for quick access to your favorite functions. With these tips, you'll be well on your way to maximizing your new iPhone's capabilities.How do you feel about the annual iPhone releases? Do you think they provide enough value each year? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com. Related Topics

Aleksei - stock.adobe.comNewsCMA kicks off investigation into Google search engine dominanceThe Competition and Markets Authority is using powers that came into force at the start of the year to assess Googles reachByCliff Saran,Managing EditorPublished: 14 Jan 2025 15:44 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has kicked off the new year with an investigation of Google Search under the new digital markets competition regime, which came into force on 1 January 2025.It is seeking to determine if Google has strategic market status in search and search advertising activities, and whether these services are delivering good outcomes for people and businesses in the UK.The CMA said the investigation would assess Googles position in search and search advertising services, and look at how this impacts consumers and businesses including advertisers, news publishers and rival search engines.Google is used for 90% of all general search queries in the UK, and more than 200,000 UK advertisers use its search advertising.Given Googles importance as a key digital service for people, businesses and the economy, the CMA said it wants to ensure that competition works well. According to the CMA, effective competition could keep down the cost of search advertising for businesses, equivalent to nearly 500 per household per year, which it said could lower prices across the economy.In November 2024, the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) certified a 7bn collective action against Google. The specialist UK court will require Google to defend its long-standing conduct in the search engine market after approving the landmark legal action brought by Nikki Stopford, co-founder of Consumer Voice, and legal firm Hausfeld & Co LLP.The claim accuses Google of exploiting its dominance in the search market to increase advertising costs. At the time, Stopford said: Google has been warned repeatedly by competition regulators, yet it continues to rig the market to charge advertisers more, which raises the prices they charge consumers. This action seeks to promote healthier competition in digital markets, and to hold Google accountable and ensure that consumers are compensated.Meanwhile, in the US, the Department of Justice (DoJ) is seeking to force the search engine giant to offload its Chrome browser.While the collective action against Google is likely to run for several years, the CMA has set a deadline of October 2025 to complete its initial investigation.The regulator plans to assess how competition is working and if Google is using its position to prevent innovation by others. This includes whether barriers to entry are preventing other competitors from entering the market in particular, whether Google can shape the development of new AI services and interfaces, including answer engines, in ways that limit the competitive constraint they impose on Google Search.The CMA is also planning to investigate whether Google is using its position in the market to self-preference its own services, such as specialised search services covering shopping and travel.Beyond search engine and search engine advertising, the CMAs investigation is also looking at whether Google is collecting and using large quantities of consumer data without informed consent, and whether it is using publisher content without fair terms and conditions, including payment terms.Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said: Millions of people and businesses across the UK rely on Googles search and advertising services. Thats why its so important to ensure these services are delivering good outcomes for people and businesses, and that there is a level playing field, especially as AI [artificial intelligence] has the potential to transform search services.Its our job to ensure people get the full benefit of choice and innovation in search services and get a fair deal for example, in how their data is collected and stored. And for businesses, whether you are a rival search engine, an advertiser or a news organisation, we want to ensure there is a level playing field for all businesses, large and small, to succeed.If Google is found to have too much control over the internet search and search advertising markets, the CMA could require it to make the data it collects available to other businesses or give publishers more control over how their data is used including in Googles AI services.Read more stories about GoogleMicrosoft and Google in war of words following launch of anti-competitive cloud coalition: Microsoft claims the newly formed Open Cloud Coalition is not all it seems, and merely a front for Google Cloud to mislead competition authorities over the state of the public cloud market.CMA gets ready to take on Apple and Google over mobile browsing: Preliminary investigation finds a lack of fairness and choice of mobile browsing on iOS devices like the iPhone is holding back innovation.In The Current Issue:Interview: Wendy Redshaw, chief digital information officer, NatWest Retail BankPreparing for AI regulation: The EU AI ActDownload Current Issue

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Commvault has released Active Directory protection to enhance its cloud-based platform.iStockProtecting Microsoft Active Directory is vital for enterprises to ensure secure and uninterrupted operations. AD is the backbone of enterprise IT, managing authentication and access for over 610 million users worldwide, spanning millions of organizations across various industries and company sizes. It governs access to essential resources including applications, databases and physical security systems. Its central role makes it a prime target for cyberattacks, where a compromised AD can disrupt critical processes, delay services or even halt operations.Recently, the Five Eyes intelligence alliance issued warnings about persistent cyber threats targeting AD, highlighting its vulnerabilities and critical role in enterprise networks. Its important to understand ADs significance, the impacts of security breaches affecting it and how Commvault is addressing these vulnerabilities.Why Active Directory Has Such A Significant Business ImpactAD breaches and outages pose significant risks for disrupting operations, finances, and reputations across industries. A compromised AD can halt factory production, ground airline operations or block employee access to critical systems. Attackers often exploit AD to spread malware, compounding the damage. The financial impacts are significant, with direct and indirect costs including remediation, legal fees and regulatory fines.The consequences of AD breaches go beyond immediate disruptions. Organizations may face higher cyber insurance premiums, lower credit ratings and the exposure of sensitive customer data. Breaches also strain customer relationships and expose intellectual property, creating long-term operational challenges. Strong AD security measures are crucial to reduce these risks and ensure business continuity.The Five Eyes advisory highlights 17 critical Active Directory attack types, such as password spraying, Kerberoasting and golden ticket attacks, as well as vulnerabilities in trust configurations and credential storage.MORE FOR YOUSeveral major AD breaches illustrate the risks. In 2018, Ticketmaster suffered an incident where hackers accessed 1.3 terabytes of customer data. In 2021, an AT&T data leak exposed 73 million customer records. A massive cyberattack on National Public Data in April 2024 compromised up to 2.9 billion records. And the list goes on.How Commvault Addresses Active Directory Security ChallengesCommvault has just introduced Cloud Backup & Recovery for Active Directory Enterprise Edition to simplify and automate AD forest recovery. Traditionally, forest recovery involves manual steps such as restoring domain controllers, rebuilding trust relationships, synchronizing data and sequencing recovery tasks, all of which are prone to errors and can cause extended downtime. Recovering an AD forest is complex, requiring 50 to 100 steps or even more to restore it to its pre-attack state, which can take days or weeks. The Commvault Cloud platform now integrates AD forest recovery with granular recovery of both Active Directory and Entra ID, the cloud-based identity service. By automating these critical recovery steps, Commvaults solution should help reduce downtime, minimize disruptions and ensure faster restoration of AD environments.Recovering Active Directory is foundational to maintaining continuous business after a cyberattack, yet traditional methods are too complex and prone to error, said Pranay Ahlawat, Commvaults chief technology and AI officer. Key features include automated recovery runbooks, which guide IT teams through the restoration process and handle tasks such as transferring roles from unavailable domain controllers and sequencing AD component recovery. Visual topology mapping provides an interactive overview of the AD environment, allowing IT teams to prioritize recovery efforts.Commvaults platform also integrates AD recovery with other workloads affecting databases and cloud environments, thus streamlining IT operations and improving governance. Proactive testing and validation capabilities help identify process gaps, vulnerabilities and misconfigurations before they result in downtime. By automating recovery processes, the solution can also lower recovery costs, help reduce reliance on specialized personnel and allow IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives.Improving Active Directory Protection To Increase Cyber ResilienceCyberattacks targeting identity infrastructure, particularly Microsofts AD, have become increasingly frequent and sophisticated. When AD experiences downtime, the consequences can be far-reaching, even disrupting employee access to essential tools such as email and payroll systems.Recognizing these challenges, enterprises require a reliable and automated solution for swift recovery to minimize potential damage. Commvaults AD solution addresses these issues by automating the complex and time-consuming steps of AD recovery. Better, this solution is housed within the same Commvault Cloud platform that protects an array of other critical workloads. With its anticipated release in the first quarter of 2025, the new product aims to provide organizations with a practical approach to securing and recovering their identity infrastructure, enhancing preparedness to face cybersecurity challenges.

In brief: The Taiwanese government is lifting restrictions that prevented TSMC from building cutting-edge fabrication plants overseas. The company will now be permitted to invest in production lines utilizing its most advanced 2nm chip process technology when establishing new fabs in the US. This marks a significant shift from past policies designed to safeguard Taiwan's leadership in semiconductor manufacturing. For years, Taiwanese chipmakers faced strict limits on the types of facilities they could build abroad particularly in China to maintain the island's technological edge.However, as Economic Affairs Minister J.W. Kuo recently stated, "Those were old-time rules. Times have changed."He emphasized that companies should be free to pursue profitable business opportunities globally, leveraging their own innovations. With over 60 percent of the world's major chip design firms based in the US, the market presents a prime opportunity for TSMC.Does this mean TSMC will immediately invest billions in a new 2nm mega fab in Arizona? The answer is not so straightforward. Minister Kuo expects the semiconductor leader to move "cautiously" on such a massive investment, which could exceed $30 billion.However, the company's existing $40+ billion Arizona fab plans appear to be rapidly evolving. The first plant is set to produce 4nm chips starting this year, while TSMC now aims for its second Arizona facility to manufacture 3nm and 2nm semiconductors by 2028. A third fab, dedicated to 2nm or more advanced processes, could become operational before 2030. // Related StoriesThese expansions will push TSMC's total Arizona investment beyond $65 billion.Meanwhile, Kuo downplayed the potential impact of shifts in US trade policies under incoming president Donald Trump. He predicted that the proposed tariffs would have minimal effects, given Taiwan's technological strengths. According to Kuo, the Trump presidency's four-year term "can't run for another term so his impact will be limited."The minister even suggested potential benefits, noting that Taiwanese exporters might see increased orders as US manufacturers replace Chinese suppliers affected by trade conflicts between the US and China.The policy reversal aligns with Taiwan's strategy to strengthen semiconductor supply chain partnerships with allies such as the US, Germany, Japan, and the Philippines in the coming year.To support this initiative, the ministry plans to open a new office near TSMC's two Japanese fabs to assist Taiwanese companies in establishing operations there. An agreement with Japanese authorities is expected soon to solidify these efforts.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Despite the massive presence of AI, automotive, and robotic technologies, CES is still, at its core, a gadget show. And one of the most interesting gadgets at CES 2025 was the Olight Ostation X. The Ostation X is a AA battery charger, but it might be the smartest and most convenient charger ever created. If youve found yourself hopelessly addicted to disposable alkaline batteries, this gadget could be your path back to the world of recharging.Olight created a transparent version of the Ostation X for its CES booth. The retail version uses gray plastic for the middle charging section. Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsIts not that we dont like rechargeable batteries, its just that theyre kind of a hassle. You know the drill: Your batteries die, you need to find the charger, then you make sure you insert similar battery types, then you plug it in and wait anywhere from one to four hours depending on how depleted the cells are and how smart your charger is. In the meantime, that device you were trying to use is useless. You also know what comes next: You reach for a fresh alkaline battery because who has time to wait?Recommended VideosEventually, you find yourself using disposables more often than rechargeables, which costs money and needlessly adds material to our landfills (unless you have a convenient way to recycle them).The $120 Ostation X, which will be available in February, tries to eliminate the hassle of recharging by making the entire process automatic. When your rechargeable batteries die, you drop them into the Ostation Xs top hopper. Thats it.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe Ostation X automatically runs your AA batteries through a testing and charging cycle, up to four at a time, and drops them in its bottom hopper when the cycle is complete. When you need a fresh cell, you press the lever on the front of the dispenser and out rolls a charged battery. With a 32-battery storage capacity, you may never need to reach for an alkaline cell ever again.The concept behind the Ostation X is so simple so obvious you might be wondering why no one has done it before. Turns out, there were a few technical hurdles to overcome.Batteries that fail the test cycle are automatically sorted into this rejected cell tray. Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsWhat if you drop your dead batteries in facing the wrong way? Doesnt matter. The Ostation X can tell which way the battery is oriented and changes the polarity of its charging contacts to match. What if you accidentally drop an alkaline battery into the hopper? Doesnt matter. The testing cycle can sense the voltage difference between disposable and rechargeable batteries and rejects alkalines into a special drawer. Same thing for rechargeable batteries that can no longer maintain an adequate level of power.What if you mix nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) and nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries? Totally fine the four-cell charging bay treats each battery individually, although Olight recommends the use of Ni-MH cells because theyre better for the environment.And it doesnt even matter if batteries have different capacities or start their recharging cycle at different charge levels the system can detect and adapt accordingly.Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsOlight says it also needed to do a lot of work to ensure that the Ostation X meets regulations for electrical safety. Overheating, overcharging, over-voltage, and over-current conditions can all pose risks, as can short-circuiting. The Ostation includes protections against all of them.Theres a circular LED display on the front that shows the charging status for the four currently charging cells, and theres also a companion app that will show you the same info as long as youre within Bluetooth range of the Ostation X.Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsOlight also tells me that the Ostation X can be a bit noisy when charging especially when you use its fast charging mode (as little as 2.5 hours for a full cycle) so the app also lets you schedule when charging should take place.The device runs off a 12-volt USB-C power supply, which Olight includes in the box. Theres a secondary USB-C port that can be used to daisy-chain additional Ostation Xs, or you can use it to charge pretty much any other gadget that uses USB-C. An optional wall mount will be available for $16.I havent had a chance to try the Ostation X, so I cant comment on how well it works though it seems like a very well-thought-out product. The one area that gives me some pause is its internal mechanics.Olights planned AAA battery version of the Ostation X (identified by the smoke-gray top and bottom hoppers) doesnt have a set launch date yet. Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsThe Ostation X uses a series of gears and a tiny conveyor belt to move batteries through the testing and charging cycle. The conveyor belt sorts bad cells (or alkalines) into the reject tray and transfers successfully charged cells into the bottom hopper.Olight provides a two-year warranty on the Ostation X, but any time you have moving parts, youre going to have wear and tear and, eventually, breakage. The company says its built to provide 4,500 charge cycles, which is the equivalent of about two years of regular use based on typical charging patterns (24 hours/four hours per charge cycle).Editors note: Olight provided travel accommodations for the author at CES 2025 but had no editorial control over coverage.

The cloud business of Amazon.com has launched an infrastructure cloud region in Mexico and plans to invest $5 billion in the country over the next 15 years.

Quite a view A NASA astronaut may have just taken the best photo from spaceever During his third stay in orbit, Pettit is absolutely killing it. Eric Berger Jan 14, 2025 10:46 am | 18 An image of the Earth, with cities streaking by below, captured earlier this month by NASA Astronaut Don Pettit. Credit: Don Pettit/NASA An image of the Earth, with cities streaking by below, captured earlier this month by NASA Astronaut Don Pettit. Credit: Don Pettit/NASA Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn morePeople who appreciate good astrophotography will no doubt be familiar with the work of Don Pettit, a veteran NASA astronaut who is closing in on having lived 500 days of his life in space.Pettit is now in the midst of his third stint on the International Space Station, and the decade he had to prepare for his current stay in orbit was put to good use. Accordingly, he is well stocked on cameras, lenses, and plans to make the most of six months in space to observe the planets and heavens from an incredible vantage point.Ars has previously written admiringly of Pettit's work, but his latest image deserves additional mention. When I first saw it, I was dazzled by its beauty. But when I looked further into the image, there were just so many amazing details to be found.In this image, one can see the core of the Milky Way galaxy, zodiacal light (sunlight diffused by interplanetary dust), streaks of SpaceX Starlink satellites, individual stars, an edge-on view of the atmosphere that appears in burnt umber due to hydroxide emissions, a near-sunrise just over the horizon, and nighttime cities appearing as streaks.Pettit said he took the image from the port-side window of Crew Dragon Freedom, which brought two astronauts to the International Space Station last year and will bring Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth next spring.Putting all of this together, I think Pettit's streaky image may be the best picture ever taken from the International Space Station. Disagree?Eric BergerSenior Space EditorEric BergerSenior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 18 Comments

Lisa Morgan, Freelance WriterJanuary 14, 20257 Min ReadAleksandr Davydov via Alamy StockIts a tough time for organizations trying to hire and retain tech talent. Big Tech is poaching smaller company IT workers, and a lot of organizations cant compete with the compensation packages. However, what they can do is prioritize employee experience, so candidates are more willing to say, yes, and employees are more likely to stay. Employee experience is particularly important to younger generations.While organizations have long placed varying degrees of importance on employee experience, it is now re-emerging as a differentiator for many, Nikita McClain, founder of management firm for HR and organizational development strategies Hayes Street Consulting, says in an email interview. The pandemic fundamentally shifted workplace expectations with employees increasingly prioritizing flexibility, values alignment, and work-life balance. Additionally, skills gaps and talent shortages in critical sectors have given trained workers more leverage in demanding better experiences.Organizations focused on designing positive employee experiences can follow a 4-step process: commit through strategy, communicate through feedback loops, connect through analysis, and improve continuously.Making employee experience a strategic initiative ensures it can receive ongoing leadership evaluation and support needed to design, adapt, and sustain initiatives that resonate highly with employees, says McClain. Implementing accessible, real-time feedback channels can help proactively identify what matters most to employees. Organizations can promote ongoing feedback by demonstrating responsiveness and transparency in acting upon and communicating changes that result from received feedback.Related:Nikita McClain, Hayes Street ConsultingTo evaluate what does and does not work, organizations should identify KPIs that connect employees sentiments about experience to overall business outcomes. This becomes the business case for employee experience that validates its value amidst competing organizational priorities and budget constraints. Using insights from employee feedback and data analysis can help organizations refine employee experience over time, keeping it relevant.Finally, continuous improvement enables organizations to evolve with the times.One challenge for organizations embarking to improve employee experience is elevating it from a function of HR to a strategic initiative that defines the organizations employee value proposition, says McClain. Efforts to strengthen communication and accountability between HR and executive leadership may be needed to ensure all are working toward the same goal.Related:Middle managers play a vital role in employee perceptions of the workplace. Organizations should engage and educate middle management on how to effectively address matters, such as when employee and operational needs do not align. Notably, not all employees prioritize and value the same things. Among differing work styles, generations, and life stages it can be difficult to identify one-size-fits-all initiatives that work well for everyone.When possible, be flexible and consider how employee experience can be tailored to account for diversity of need among employees, says McClain. Above all, recognize that employee experience is a journey. The most effective initiatives are those that remain flexible and responsive to changing workforce needs while maintaining clear alignment with organizational goals and values.The Talent Shortage Is a Major FactorOne big deal breaker is a return to office (RTO) policy. Organizations that are clinging to pre-pandemic business as usual are finding that some candidates wont compromise and employees will complain, if not quit outright. The talent shortage just exacerbates the problem.Younger generations have many options and choose workplaces that meet their needs for pay, growth and flexibility. The current dissatisfaction with RTO policies is revealing, says Justina Raskauskiene, human resource team lead at omnichannel marketing platform Omnisend, in an email interview. At Omnisend, we see the value of in-person collaboration for creativity and teamwork but also recognize that flexibility is now non-negotiable for many employees. If RTO is implemented, the focus should be on making people want to come to the office by emphasizing the benefits of in-person interaction.Related:Justina Raskauskiene, OmnisendTo ensure a great employee experience, she says her company makes a point of listening to employees and acting on their feedback. The company also holds regular one-on-one meetings, so employees have a mechanism to share concerns.The biggest challenge for organizations, I think, is overcoming resistance to change. Many companies operate on a this is how weve always done it mindset, which makes implementing flexibility look daunting, says Raskauskiene. As flexibility varies for everyone, companies may struggle balancing individual needs and team goals. Equally important, employee experience isnt just about perks, its about ensuring the work itself is meaningful and engaging.Times Have ChangedIn the past, a good employee experience was synonymous with ping pong tables, and free snacks and drinks -- a stark departure from button-down Corporate America of yesteryear. Later, the pandemic reshaped expectations, challenging employees to seek work-life balance, joy and purpose.Katie Roland, chief human resources officer at KCSA Strategic Communications, says her company is trying to enable work-life balance with tailored PTO programs and wealth-building opportunities. However, along the way, it became clear that a one-size-fits-all benefits approach no longer worked.The pandemic brought into hyperfocus, that each employee was faced with different personal challenges at home. To address diverse employee needs, we adopted Overalls LifeConcierge, a service offering expert assistance with time-consuming personal tasks like finding healthcare specialists, navigating Medicare for aging parents, or scheduling home repairs, says Roland in an email interview. Overalls isnt just a perk, its a game-changing solution for helping employees achieve true work-life balance. Organizations should provide meaningful, flexible support that addresses the whole employee.Toward that end, KCSA focuses on initiatives that reduce stress, save time and address individuals needs. They include flexible work schedules, mental health days, a wide choice of benefits through a professional employer organization and partnering with providers.They arent just workers, theyre parents, caregivers, partners and more. Companies that acknowledge this and take steps to help employees succeed in every aspect of their lives will stand out in todays competitive talent market, says Roland. Creating a great employee experience starts with listening through surveys and conversations and responding with meaningful support to build trust. At KCSA, insights from employees led to initiatives like Overalls LifeConcierge and No Zoom Fridays, addressing both personal and professional needs.Apparently, KCSAs approach is working. In 2024, Newsweek ranked the company #34 on its Most Loved Places to Work list.The Tricky PartOne challenge is to balance employer and employee interests in a way that benefits both. For example, most workers view RTO as beneficial for the company and management, but not necessarily the employee.The best benefits are those that directly address employee pain points. Transparency and education also matter. Communicate why youre offering certain programs and how they support your teams overall well-being. When real life issues come up that a benefit you offer can assist with, make sure to help the employee utilize it. Authenticity builds trust, and trust builds loyalty, says Roland. Weve seen how investing in innovative, practical benefits fosters a culture of care and empowerment. When employees feel supported, theyre not only more engaged, theyre also more likely to stay and thrive. In todays workplace, thats not just an advantage, its a necessity.A Job Versus an ExperienceJohn Jackson, founder at click fraud protection platformHitprobe, says todays workers are not just looking for a job to pay the rent, they are looking for an experience.This particularly applies to the younger generations and their way of looking at the world is influencing their older colleagues, says Jackson in an email interview. While this change was already happening, it has been sped up by the Great Resignation and the ongoing debates around hybrid working and organizations changing policies on this post-COVID. I believe that the key to creating a great employee experience centers around authenticity and adaptability. Implementing trendy perks is easy, but to make yourself the employer of choice you [must] genuinely understand what your team needs and respond to it.Hitprobe implements anonymous feedback on a regular basisto find out what employees want. However, what they want often differs from initial assumptions.Also important is a commitment to act on the feedback. If the workforce knows we will listen, they will continue to talk to us and stay with us. Flexibility is key, says Jackson. What works for one team member may not work for another, and diverse teams have varying needs and expectations. Open communication channels, transparency, public acknowledgement and recognition, and providing clear growth opportunities all go a long way towards building a team that is committed and productive.About the AuthorLisa MorganFreelance WriterLisa Morgan is a freelance writer who covers business and IT strategy and emergingtechnology for InformationWeek. She has contributed articles, reports, and other types of content to many technology, business, and mainstream publications and sites including tech pubs, The Washington Post and The Economist Intelligence Unit. Frequent areas of coverage include AI, analytics, cloud, cybersecurity, mobility, software development, and emerging cultural issues affecting the C-suite.See more from Lisa MorganNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

An artists impression of Blue Ghost landing on the moonFirefly AerospaceTwo private spacecraft aiming to land on the moon are set to blast off onboard a SpaceX rocket, in a sign of increasing commercial activity on the lunar surface.Firefly Aerospaces Blue Ghost lander and ispaces Resilience lander have both got a ride on the same Falcon 9 rocket, which is currently scheduled to liftoff on 15 January at 6.11am GMT (1.11am EST) from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. AdvertisementThe launch will be ispaces second attempt at landing on the moon. Its first ended in failure when its Hakuto-R spacecraft crashed into the lunar surface in 2023. The Japanese company says it has since upgraded Resiliences hardware and software to avoid the mistakes that led to this crash.Meanwhile, US company Firefly Aerospace will be making its first attempt. The firm has a contract with NASA as part of the agencys Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme, which pays private companies to achieve its scientific goals.Resilience will carry six payloads to the lunar surface, including an experiment to produce food on the moon using microalgae, and a micro rover that will roam, analyse and photograph the landing area. Blue Ghost is set to carry a mixture of 10 private and public payloads to the moon, including a radiation-resistant computer, a drill that will measure how heat flows through the moons surface and a satellite receiver that will try to establish a permanent link with Earths GPS network. Voyage across the galaxy and beyond with our space newsletter every month.Sign up to newsletterThe Resilience lunar lander is ready for launchiSpaceBoth missions will reach Earth orbit relatively quickly, within minutes of launch, but it will be much longer before they reach the moon. Blue Ghost will orbit Earth for 25 days, before firing its engines to start a four-day journey to the moon, where it will orbit for 16 days. After this, it will autonomously descend and land, in a plain called Mare Crisium, where it will take two weeks to perform its scientific goals.Resilience will take a more circuitous route on a journey that will see it fly past the moon a month after launch, glide in deeper space for months, before then angling back towards the moon. Once it enters orbit, it is due to land in a plain called Mare Frigoris between four and five months after launch.If the missions succeed, they will become the second and third private spacecraft to land on the moon. The first was Intuitive Machines Odysseus lander, which touched down last year.Blue Ghost and Resilience are the first of around a dozen spacecraft that are hoping to touch lunar soil this year, largely driven by NASAs CLPS, with many designed to test and demonstrate technology required for a future permanent human presence on the moon. These include a second and third mission from Intuitive Machines. IM-2 will look to drill near the southern lunar pole for buried ice that could be used in future missions, as well as deploy two exploratory rovers and a lunar satellite to communicate with Earth.Topics: