There are a lot of factors to consider when shopping for wireless earbuds. Some people want the best active noise cancellation (ANC) performance while others are more interested in features that enable all-day wearing. Some folks desire a seamless interaction with their phone and some are searching for the absolute best sound quality. If you fall into that last category, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 ($399) is worth considering. The company has consistently produced some of the best audio performance youll find in over-ear headphones. But its wireless earbuds werent quite on the same level. They delivered great clarity and ample consideration of subtle details in songs. Still, though, there was work to be done to construct a fuller, more immersive soundstage. With the Pi8, the company has overhauled its sound platform, adding new, larger drivers for even more nuance and enhanced low-end tone. Unfortunately, though, there are still some areas where Bowers & Wilkins needs to improve in order to truly rival the best. Whats good about the Pi8? Bowers & Wilkins introduced an all-new design on the Pi8, offering a completely different shape than the Pi7 S2. This model has a more uniform, oval shell, which I think lends a refined look compared to its predecessor. The company also chose to use interesting details, like a microphone grill that spans the width of the earbuds, to hide components that have historically been prominently displayed. Yes, that outer area still accepts taps and long presses for calls and audio playback, and those actions garner quick responses. The biggest update to the Pi8 is sound quality. Larger 12mm carbon cone drivers power the audio, which is a change from the 9.2mm dynamic drivers inside the Pi7 S2. Bowers & Wilkins also opted for 32-bit digital signal processing (DSP), up from 24-bit on the previous model. These earbuds also support aptX Lossless, while the earlier version used aptX Adaptive. The company says all of these changes, particularly the new drivers, reduce distortion and offer better high-frequency detail. I found these claims to hold true. The Pi8 has enhanced detail compared to the Pi7 S2, which is a feat because those earbuds already offered excellent clarity. Instruments like guitars stand out on albums like mewithoutYous emo/post-hardcore Catch for Us the Foxes. On that record, the two guitars have a dialog or interplay going on during most of the songs, and you can clearly hear both playing their parts. The guitars also seem to float above the booming kick drum and grooving, droning bass lines. Aaron Weiss mostly spoken-word vocals also cut through the mix with all the emotion and metaphor he loads them with. Billy Steele for Engadget Bass performance has also improved on the Pi8. Its never overpowering, but you get chunky kick drum sounds for rock and metal that drive the songs rather than drowning everything else out. No Cures thrashing metal album I Hope I Die Here is an excellent example of this. Drums are there to guide the thick guitar riffs through the heavy breakouts and groovier verses, but everything remains nuanced and distinct. Despite the vocals being entirely screamed, you can easily pick out every word instead of them fading into the mix. Bowers & Wilkins extended the battery life on the Pi8 to 6.5 hours with ANC on. Thats 90 minutes longer than the Pi7 S2. That figure also inches closer to the likes of Sonys WF-1000XM5 which stands at eight hours of noise-canceling listening. Bowers & Wilkins has once again included wireless transmission in the charging case, allowing you to use the Pi8 at times when a Bluetooth streaming source isnt an option like in-flight entertainment. This tool isnt novel to the companys products as others, like JBL, have baked it in as well. However, wireless transmission still isnt so common that Id say its readily available elsewhere. Whats not so good about the Pi8? The biggest downside to the Pi8 is the price: $399. Sonys WF-1000XM5 were $300 at launch, although theyre usually available for around $200, and theyve been at the top of our best earbuds list since then. Bowers & Wilkins gear has always commanded a premium over Sony and others, and thats exactly whats happening here. While the Pi8 does have more nuanced and detailed sound than the M5s, Sony and others offer advanced features that make your life easier. For example, Sonys flagship model can automatically pause audio when it detects that youre speaking. It can also automatically adjust sound settings based on your location to help streamline your day. These types of tools could go a long way to expanding the range of the Pi8. The basics are all well covered on Bowers & Wilkins latest set, but theres nothing additional here feature-wise, which makes its cost become a significant disadvantage. Billy Steele for Engadget This extends to the limited customization on the Pi8. There is a 5-band EQ in the companys app for fine-tuning the sound profile, and you can change what a long press does. However, you can only select between ANC/ambient sound (left) and voice assistant (right) or volume controls (up on the right, down on the left). Having to forgo the ability to cycle between noise cancellation and transparency mode in order to get on-board volume adjustments is a significant sacrifice. Both of those actions are frequently used, and it would be nice to not reach for my phone to do them both. Active noise cancellation is another area the Pi8 lags behind its rivals. Id describe it more as noise reduction, since the technology here struggles with constant distractions like fans and white noise machines. Like a lot of earbuds, this model also has issues with human voices, but those are less of a concern at around 50 percent volume. ANC performance was just okay on the Pi7 S2 as well, so its still an area the company could improve to further close the gap to the likes of Bose. The final verdict on the Pi8 Bowers & Wilkins continues to impress me with the sound quality it produces. The companys Px7 S2e headphones are my pick for best overall sound quality and Ill likely bestow the same honor for earbuds to the Pi8. Simply put, few companies are creating sound profiles with the amount of detail, nuance and depth that Bowers & Wilkins consistently delivers. Audio performance is definitely the main reason to consider buying these earbuds. But there are other very important things that ANC earbuds need to do. You should be able to count on them to block a lot of noise, and the Pi8 isnt great at that. I think advanced features like speech detection, adaptive noise control and other automated tools are important as we head into 2025 as well. Add the ability to customize controls and settings to a high degree to that list too. Those are missing on the Pi8, and I can appreciate that some people probably wont care. But in my opinion, $400 earbuds should be all-inclusive and nearly flawless. The Pi8 shows this company is well on its way, but also that it still has work to do.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/bowers--wilkins-pi8-review-excellent-sound-comes-at-a-high-price-160032718.html?src=rss

Accounts Center is a single space allowing users to manage their Facebook, Instagram and (even) Meta Quest log-ins. Today, Meta has announced that WhatsApp is joining the list of supported apps, enabling you to reshare statuses and posts across all of your platforms. In addition, you can use single sign-on to log back into your WhatsApp account.Meta has announced the change today, but it will take time before WhatsApp support is added to everyones Accounts Center, so patience may be required. In addition, Meta has pledged to add more features that can be shared across multiple platforms, like AI stickers, avatars and its AI-crafted selfie creations. Those worried about whether this may affect WhatsApps end-to-end encryption may rest easy, as Meta has said none of these changes will impact your messages privacy and security.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-lets-users-add-whatsapp-to-their-main-accounts-center-150023247.html?src=rss

A hacker posted an archive on the dark web, claiming it came from The North Pole Company.

Garmin has unveiled two new golf watches and a GPS handheld with solar power.

In-depth and with a ton of before and after images.Issue #26 is out and its a full issue on Wicked.It dives deep into key moments in Munchkinland, Shiz University and Emerald City, the making of Dr. Dillamond, developing the Wizards monkey guards, and the complex Defying Gravity broom riding finale featuring Elphaba. The main VFX studios Industrial Light & Magic and Framestore are showcased, as are the films practical special effects.The mag includes in-depth interviews with VFX supervisor Pablo Helman (from ILM), Framestore VFX supervisor Jonathan Fawkner, ILM animation supervisor David Shirk, and special effects supervisor Paul Corbould.Plus, its FILLEDwith a ton of before and after imagery.Find issue #26 at your local Amazon store:USAUKCanadaGermanyFranceSpainItalyAustralia JapanSwedenPolandNetherlandsThe post Issue #26 of befores & afters in PRINT is on the VFX of Wicked! appeared first on befores & afters.

President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order requiring most federal employees to return to work in person full time, a move that is likely to spark backlash and legal challenges from unions.WHAT DOES TRUMPS ORDER DO?Trump directed the heads of all federal agencies to take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to report to their respective duty stations full time. The two-sentence order says the directive shall be implemented consistent with applicable law.CAN TRUMP PROHIBIT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES FROM WORKING REMOTELY?It depends. The president has broad authority over the federal workforce, including the power to tell agencies to stop allowing remote work for employees who are not unionized. That includes supervisors and managers, who cannot join unions, and Trump could move quickly to order them back to the office.But, about 26% of federal employees are unionized and many are covered by bargaining agreements that allow for remote work or hybrid arrangements. The Trump administration will have to wait for those to expire or try to renegotiate the agreements. Bargaining agreements between federal agencies and unions can only be challenged in court if they contain illegal terms or were the product of coercion, bribery or some other wrongdoing.In some cases, federal agencies may also be required to allow employees with disabilities to work remotely. Federal law requires employers to grant reasonable accommodations to workers with chronic medical conditions as long as they can still perform their job duties.HOW MANY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WORK REMOTELY?The Trump White House said on Monday that only 6% of federal employees currently work in person, but government data shows that remote work is more limited. About 46% of federal workers, or 1.1 million people, are eligible for remote work, and about 228,000 of them are fully remote, according to a report issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget in August.The U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs, which have far more employees than other agencies, have the most remote workers, along with the Department of Health and Human Services. For federal employees who are eligible for remote work, about 61% of regular working hours are spent in person, according to OMB. That figure excludes fully remote workers.WHY DOES TRUMP OPPOSE REMOTE WORK?Trumps order may also represent an effort to encourage some federal workers to quit, opening up positions that can be filled by political loyalists.Elon Musk, who will lead a commission created by Trump to rein in government spending, said in a Nov. 20 Wall Street Journal opinion piece that federal workers should not be paid for the COVID-era privilege of telework. Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome, Musk wrote.But, agencies may be leery of engaging in a large number of firings or layoffs, especially when they involve workers who hold important roles or are difficult to replace.Trumps agenda, including potentially repealing thousands of federal regulations, coordinating a large number of deportations, and overhauling U.S. health policy, will require fully staffed agencies to execute. Experts said that in many instances, Trump will likely have to choose between culling the federal workforce and carrying out other initiatives.CAN THE PRESIDENT FIRE WORKERS WHO RESIST RETURN TO OFFICE MANDATES?The president and agency heads have broad authority to fire non-union workers for cause, which could include defying a mandate to return to the office. But federal employees must be given written notice that they are being fired at least 30 days in advance, including an explanation of the reason for their termination and an opportunity to respond.And federal workers who lose their jobs can bring a challenge before the Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent three-member panel appointed by the president, seeking to be reinstated. Employees could argue to the board that they were not fired for cause, that agencies did not follow the proper procedures and violated their due process rights, or that they were targeted for discriminatory reasons. The boards decisions are binding unless they are set aside by a federal appeals court.Daniel Wiessner, Reuters

If cutting down on doomscrolling and increasing your step count are on your list of New Years resolutions for 2025, then I have the app for you. A new iOS app called Steppin, from the co-founder of travel search engine Kayak, will block access to your social media apps until youve got your steps in each day.Its up to you to decide how many steps are worth one minute of Instagram or five minutes of TikTok (dont worry, if you get desperate you can override Steppins controls). The app can also limit video games and entertainment sites like Netflix, while, in the future, users will also be able to log alternative activities like yoga or pilates classes to unlock precious screen time.The app was co-founded by Paul English, who told TechCrunch that he came up with the idea for the app alongside his son, Michael English, and fianc, Rachel Cohen, while vacationing in Spain. Despite the beautiful scenery, they were constantly using their phones to scroll through social media. Although apps like Forest and Freedom that block social media usage are now commonplace, they came up with the idea of tying this to your daily step count as a way to boost both mental and physical health.The app is marketed toward Gen Z, but English says hes felt its benefits himself. It really applies to everyone, English told TechCrunch. We have found through just talking to friends and families that a lot of parents say, I want my teenager to have this, my 12-year-old is addicted, And then some adults are saying, Yeah, I too, have a problem, its not just Gen Z, I find that Im on my phone too much and Im not getting out of the house enough. So were getting interest from all ages.Most of us sit in front of a computer screen for much of the working day, then relax at home watching the TV while simultaenously scrolling on our phone. The link between excessive screen time and declining mental health has been well-documented over the years. Social media overuse has been linked to disrupted sleep and heightened anxiety and depression levels. At the same time, getting outside and exercising daily, even if just a walk, has been linked to improved mood, better sleep, and reduced risk of depression.If youre looking to kick a doomscrolling habit, Steppin is free for now, but will likely move to a subscription model (around $20 per month) in the future.

US president Donald Trump has issued the Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture executive order on his first day back in office.One of numerous executive orders issued on his inauguration day yesterday, the presidential action aims to promote the use of "traditional and classical" architecture for civic buildings.The order requires heads of US government departments to submit recommendations to Trump within 60 days.Order aims to "uplift and beautify public spaces and ennoble the United States""I hereby direct the administrator of the General Services Administration, in consultation with the assistant to the president for Domestic Policy and the heads of departments and agencies of the United States where necessary, to submit to me within 60 days recommendations to advance the policy that Federal public buildings should be visually identifiable as civic buildings and respect regional, traditional, and classical architectural heritage in order to uplift and beautify public spaces and ennoble the United States and our system of self-government," said the order.In particular the order requests suggestions on how to update the US government's Guiding principles for federal architecture, which were created in 1962, and for increasing "community input" into design decisions.Read: Biden revokes Trump's "beautiful" architecture executive orderExecutive orders can be issued by US presidents without the need for congressional approval. They are legally binding, but can be dismissed through the court system or by subsequent presidents.The action follows a previous order also called Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture, which was issued by Trump on 21 December 2020 in his first term as president.This order stipulated that buildings commissioned by the federal government must be "beautiful" and said that classical and traditional styles were preferred.Latest executive order aimed at architectureThis first executive order was revoked by president Joe Biden in February 2021, just 69 days after it was signed.However, this latest order, signed by Trump on his first day in office, demonstrates that he still considers the issue of the architectural styles used for civic buildings important.The subject has long been one of interest for Trump.Early in his first presidency he issued a draft order named Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again, which along with encouraging classical architecture aimed to ban civic buildings from being built in brutalist or deconstructivist styles."Architectural designs in the brutalist and deconstructivist styles, and the styles derived from them, fail to satisfy these requirements and shall not be used," the document stated.This draft order was criticised by the American Institute of Architects, which "strongly and unequivocally" opposed the change and called on members to sign an open letter to the Trump administration.The post Trump signs executive order to promote "beautiful federal civic architecture" appeared first on Dezeen.

Swiss architect Valerio Olgiati has unveiled a mixed-use development set to comprise "three totemic figures" in Tirana, Albania.Named Rruga Adem Jashari, the development by Olgiati will include three skyscrapers reaching 150 metres, 192 metres and 266 metres, which will contain a hotel and apartment block.Valerio Olgiati has unveiled a trio of skyscrapers in TiranaThe towers will be built from red-toned concrete blocks sat atop a large concrete base.Connected to the towers by a plaza, a stepped pyramid structure rendered in white concrete will centre the development and contain a retail area that extends below ground.Red-toned concrete will be used for the exterior"The architectural idea is based on the archaic gesture of putting blocks on top of each other," Olgiati said. "This idea is expressed through the facade pillars, pigmented concrete blocks which follow a very precise structural logic.""These pillars physically manifest the forces involved in the structure and the towers appear as three totemic figures," he added.Read: OODA designs kinked Tirana skyscrapers to evoke "the grace of ballet"Visualisations reveal the towers' structures, which recess towards their tops and are defined by structural concrete pillars.To emphasise a connection between the development and its neighbouring park, pine trees will be added to the towers' roof levels.A white-concrete structure will contain retail spaceRenders of the central retail space reveal a ziggurat-like shape wrapped with protruding staircases that will provide access to the structure's upper levels.According to Olgiati, pine trees will also be planted at each level so that "the whole building is perceived as a garden".Pillars will be used for the building's structureInside, the spaces will be organised with a flexible arrangement and finished with exposed concrete and marble."The floor plans are thought in a way that the structural elements allow a free and flexible arrangement of internal partitions," Olgiati said.Concrete and marble will will be used on the interiorConstruction is set to begin in the autumn of this year.Other projects set to be completed in Tirana include a mixed-use high-rise composed of house-shaped "puzzle pieces" and a kinked skyscraper intended to evoke "the grace of ballet".The renders are courtesy of Archive Olgiati.The post Valerio Olgiati reveals plans for trio of concrete skyscrapers in Tirana appeared first on Dezeen.

Years ago we looked at Aquor Water Systems' intelligent design for a hose bib. Their flush-mounted House Hydrant is a damn sight better-looking than your standard spigot, and won't freeze. They offer a number of attractive debris cover options.The company has also developed this designey hose reel:The fittings are stainless steel and lead-free, and the 5/8" hose is 65' long. The unit pivots 180 degrees. By the bye, Aquor's hoses are drinking water safe; they're made from an FDA-approved polyurethane and are phthalate-free.The price was unavailable at press time; though the reel has won a Good Design Award, it's not yet on the market.