Smart LED light bulbs are one of the easiest ways to upgrade your home with smart lighting solutions that are both practical and fun. These color-changing bulbs let you customize your space with vibrant RGB color options, cozy warm white or any light color you can imagine. Theyre compatible with popular systems like Google Home and can work seamlessly with smart switches and other light switches, making them a key part of your home automation setup.With app control, you can adjust the brightness (no need for a separate dimmer), set schedules and even program the lights to turn on or off under certain conditions, like when you connect to your home network. Whether youre setting lights for movie night, creating a relaxing atmosphere or adding a pop of color to your room, these smart lighting solutions are easy to install and surprisingly affordable.What to look for in smart light bulbsConnectivity (To hub or not to hub)One of the biggest appeals of smart lighting solutions is being able to control them from your phone. Most of them are able to do so by connecting to it via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or via an external hub, which handles the connection for them. Bluetooth connectivity limits the range in which youll be able to control the light, so its only best for a limited number of bulbs and ones you dont expect to control when youre away.Wi-Fi color-changing bulbs are easy to set up and can be cheaper overall since they dont require a hub to connect them. However, having something like a central Zigbee hub can make your whole system more reliable since its connection is separate from your homes network. For that reason, hub-based bulbs tend to be more expandable, so we mainly recommend those if you want to eventually have dozens of smart lights around your home.White or color?Most color-changing bulbs youll find today are white and color bulbs, meaning they can glow in vibrant RGB color-options like blues, pinks, greens and everything in between, as well as shine with different temperatures of white. But there are some white-only bulbs out there, and they are often a bit more affordable than their color counterparts. While we recommend springing for the white-and-color devices, if youd prefer white only, make sure youre getting a bulb that can span the color temperature spectrum (typically from about 2000 to 5000 Kelvin), offering you various levels of cool and warm white light.App featuresOne of the perks of smart lighting solutions is the amount of control you have over them thanks to their various app-control capabilities. Most companion apps let you do things like set lighting schedules and timers, group individual lights into room designations and create your own custom light scenes with different RGB options. But we have seen other features that arent as ubiquitous like vacation mode for automatically turning lights on and off to enhance your home security, and sync with media, which changes the colors of lights depending on the music youre listening to or the game youre currently live-streaming.Smart home compatibilityIf you use a smart assistant like Amazons Alexa or the Google Assistant regularly, make sure the smart lights or smart switches work with your favorite. All of the bulbs we tested supported both Amazons and Googles virtual assistants, allowing you to use voice commands to turn lights on and off, dim them with a virtual dimmer and more. The wildcard here is Siri and Apples HomeKit; while numerous smart bulbs have added HomeKit support, not all lights are compatible with Apples smart home system.ExpandabilityWe alluded to this above, but youll want to consider how many smart lights you eventually want in your home. Some brands and lighting systems are easier to expand than others, and we generally recommend going for hub-based bulbs if you plan on putting smart lights in every room in your home. If youre only looking to deck out your home office or living room with some fancy color-changing bulbs, Wi-Fi options should serve you well. Thankfully, these are some of the most affordable smart home devices you can get, so even if you dont have a clear answer to this question now, you can reconsider your options down the line if you do decide to outfit your home with multiple smart bulbs.Other smart bulbs weve testedNanoleaf Smarter KitWhile weve recommended Nanoleafs Smarter Kits in guides in the past, theyre a bit more niche than other smart lights on this list. Theyre best for adding flare to your living room or game-streaming setup as they come in different shapes like hexagons and triangles and can sync with music. In addition to different colors, light animations and schedules, Nanoleafs Smart Kits also support Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.FAQsWhats the best smart light bulb for Alexa?There is no best smart light bulb for Alexa. Amazon doesnt make its own smart bulbs (like it does for smart plugs and thermostats), but rather there are dozens of smart lights made by third-parties that work with Alexa including all of the ones we tested. Before picking the best smart light bulb for you, make sure to check the voice assistants that the contenders support. Youll find that most smart light bulbs available today work with Amazons Alexa and the Google Assistant, and plenty of them also have support for Apples Siri and HomeKit.Can you put a smart bulb in any lamp?Smart light bulbs can go into most modern light fixtures but just like regular bulbs, they need to be the right shape/size for the fixture. A standard A19 smart light bulb should work properly in most table, floor and other lamps. If you have a fixture that takes a specific type of bulb, look for smart bulbs that will fit properly.Do smart light bulbs use electricity when off?Smart light bulbs do use a negligible amount of electricity when their fixtures are turned off. This is due to the fact that the smart bulb needs to stay in constant contact with your homes internet connection or Bluetooth in order to work properly. However, their energy-saving benefits usually outweigh the small amount of power they consume even while turned off.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/best-smart-led-light-bulbs-143022856.html?src=rss

What a difference a year makes. When Microsoft announced the Surface Pro 10 and Laptop 6 for Business last March, it almost seemed as if the company was giving up on the consumer PC market entirely. Of course, just a few months later, we got the new Surface Pro and Laptop Copilot+ systems, which was also the debut of Microsoft's AI PC initiative. Now, the company is rounding out its Surface family by updating its Business machines those meant for corporate customers with Intel's new Core Ultra 200V AI PC processors. Say hello to the new Intel-equipped Surface Pro (11th Edition) and Surface Laptop (7th Edition) for Business.If you've been eagerly awaiting a cellular-equipped Surface Laptop, Microsoft also says it'll launch a 5G model later this year. Aside from that, the big change with Intel's new Core Ultra chips is their larger 48 TOPS NPU, which will allow them to handle more complex AI tasks than before. In comparison, the original Core Ultra chips had much smaller 10 TOPS NPUs. The upgrade will particularly relevant for advanced AI features like Windows Recall, which requires a 40 TOPS NPU at the very least (the minimum requirement for all Copilot+ systems).MicrosoftAside from better AI performance, you can expect Intel's Core Ultra 200V chips on the Surface Laptop 7 to be around 26 percent faster than the Laptop 5 when it comes to multitasking, while also delivering double the graphics performance and three times better battery life. We haven't seen performance metrics for the new Surface Pro, but Microsoft claims it offers double the battery life in Teams calls compared to the Surface Pro 9.MicrosoftJust like other Copilot+ systems, the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop also come with Microsoft's Pluton chip for security. The company says Pluton hardware will also get an update with a Key Storage Provider (KSP) feature later this year. It will "allow for more secure storage and management of cryptographic keys," according to Microsoft.As for accessories, there's also a new $200 Surface USB 4 Dock, which includes two USB-C connections, USB-A, Ethernet and HDMI. It also supports fast charging for both new systems and for that price, it damn well better.MicrosoftThe new Intel Core Ultra 200V-equipped Surface Pro and Surface Laptop will be available on February 18, starting at $1,500. And if you're looking for better battery life, you can opt for the Qualcomm Snapdragon variants as well (though be ready to deal with slower emulated apps and potential software and driver incompatibility).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/microsofts-surface-pro-and-laptop-for-business-are-getting-intels-new-ai-pc-chips-150001906.html?src=rss

GenAI is being used by crooks to craft phishing attacks, write malware code, and more, Google reveals.

Premium users can now ramp up YouTube speeds to 4x and get higher quality audio, but there's still room for improvement.

Brandedis a weekly column devoted to the intersection of marketing, business, design, and culture.Multiple companies, from Walmart to Meta and McDonalds to John Deere, have announced they are scaling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in recent months. But Targets recent news that it, too, is rolling back such efforts is attracting more attention than most, much of it critical of the retailers apparent retreat. If theres a backlash to the DEI backlash, its main target may be Target.While reiterating a commitment to inclusion, the company nonetheless announced it is concluding certain goals and initiatives tied to racial equity in hiring, and that it will no longer participate in external surveys from the LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, the Human Rights Campaign, and other groups. It also said it would rename its supplier diversity program, apparently shifting its focus away from explicitly courting brands with diverse ownership.The moves even raised questions about the Minneapolis companys philanthropic commitments made in the wake of George Floyds killing in 2020. Calls for a boycott were nearly immediate, and the Twin Cities Pride parade announced it would no longer accept Target as a sponsor (and swiftly received donations that topped what Target had previously pledged).This reaction has puzzled some on social media, given how many companies also seem to be distancing themselves from DEI. Why is there so much outrage and dialogue about Target specifically? asked content creator Kiandria Demone on Threads. Are people not aware that they are one of many?Part of the answer is Targets prior reputation. People are angrier at Target because, for the most part, theyve been on the right side of history on a lot of issues, as one post put it. The big-box retailerwhile definitely not an overtly ideological brand in the vein of Ben & Jerrys or Patagoniahas over the years established a fairly progressive image. A 2018 Morning Consult study of brand polarization found Target did better than Walmart with Democratic-leaning voters, that Target shoppers were more likely to support gay marriage and trans rights and to oppose a border wall. The 2024 Axios Harris Poll ranking the reputations of 100 of the most visible brands in America counted Target among those viewed as skewed to the left.A Target Pride display, ca. 2016 [Photo: Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg/Getty Images]Some of this may be attributed to the chain having more urban locations and focusing on a younger potential clientele. But in particular, Targets high-profile Pride Month promotions and merchandising sent a message about its read on the cultureand where it wanted its brand to be. While hardly strident, it telegraphed inclusive values as good for business. In 2022, one brand research agency named Target among the top 10 brands for LGBTQ+ consumers. I know that focus on diversity and inclusion and equity has fueled much of our growth over the last nine years, Target CEO Brian Cornell said in 2023. Im really proud of the work weve done in the DE&I space.That said, at least some of Targets progressive reputation arguably comes from a counterintuitive source: its conservative critics. In 2023, the companys Pride merch inspired fervent calls for a boycott from the anti-woke mob, looking to make Target into the new Bud Light. Some hostile shoppers knocked over merchandise displays in stores and harassed Target workers, and in some cases the retailer moved or reduced displays and even removed some items.City of Miami police officers keep an eye on protesters outside of a local Target store on June 1, 2023. [Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images]Along the way, coverage from Fox News and other conservative media treated Target as a kind of culture-war punching bag, blurring its long-cultivated image as a contemporary and forward-looking mass retailer into a vaguely elite and out-of-touch brand. That narrative seems even harder to escape with the new Trump administration bent on making DEI the most demonized acronym in public life. And Target, which last year scaled back Pride promotions, has seen actual sales and its share price struggle, even as rival Walmart thrives.The upshot is that Targets seeming capitulation to the anti-DEI wave may seem like a bellwetherwhich may be particularly disappointing to some because it feels like such a thorough reversal. But if that feeling of betrayal is fueling a backlash to the DEI backlash, there is one more twist to consider: a growing call from Black-owned brands sold at Target, thanks to past diversity efforts, asking their customers to show support with a Target buycott.In other words, those brands dont want Target shoppers to boycott the retailer over its end of diversity efforts, but instead to shop Targetand specifically products from Black-owned brands sold at the retailer where shelf space is hard won. Target is not going to remove any of our products if theyre performing well, April Showers, founder of Afro Unicorn, told USA Today. So, were saying, be strategic with your dollar.After all, maybe the best way to prove diversity is good for business is by showing what consumers will buy, and by the bundle, not what they wont.

We live in a world that is saturated withleadership wisdomfrom countless books to endless streams of think piecesyet the gap between what leaders know and what they do is as wide as ever.The thing is, leadership transformation is hard. It takes courage to step outside the status quo. And its deeply human to cling to comfort and choose habit over risk. In our years of working with leaders, weve noticed those who succeed at continuously evolving their leadership mettle strike a balance between three impulses. To make the concept easier to grasp, we visualize each impulse as a persona: the Kid, the Scientist, and the Gardener.These personas act as a framework to not just learn but to maintain momentum in ones personal leadership development journey. Heres how:1. The kid persona cultivates curiosity, play, and bold actionPicture a child encountering the world: Everything is new and fair game to touch, break, or build. Kids arent afraid offailure; they learn by doing, adjusting, and doing again. Leaders often limit their learning by the perceived parameters they operate in. But by embracing the Kid persona, leaders can tap into a playful curiosity and willingness to act without having every answer tied up in a bow.Leaders too often succumb toanalysis paralysis, fearful of imperfection, criticism, or worse, failure. But kids movethey try and they try again. An executive director we coached, for example, felt that bureaucracy hampered her teams creative problem-solving. In response, she gathered the team and they spent a day clarifying their objectives and creatively brainstorming the systems they needed to break so they could rebuild them more effectively.She saw immediate results. They created an efficient process for getting things done, with less bureaucratic friction. This resulted in higher accountability and reduced frustration among the team. Sometimes, leaders need to be bold enough to dismantle what isnt working so they can rebuild something even better.To be the Kid, leaders need to cultivate the courage to play with new ideas, even when the stakes feel high. This doesnt mean reckless gambles; it means small, bold experiments, knowing that not every attempt will succeedand that thats okay. Try a new meeting format. Give frontline staff decision-making autonomy for a day. Stop asking, What if I fail? and start saying, Lets see what happens.2. The scientist encourages rigorous observation and iterationBeing curious alone isnt enough. Enter the Scientist, who follows up playful experiments with data collection, keen observation, and a commitment to learning. The Scientist is the counterweight to rash impulsiveness and unintelligent failure.After a leadership team tried out a new decision-making framework, one executive we worked with assumed it had gone well because it resulted in shorter meetings. But a scientific enquiry revealed another story. Surveys and structured feedback highlighted that many team members felt sidelined or pressured to agree quickly. This, in turn, meant that decisions only represented the opinions of a few. With data in hand, this leader iterated: He refined the process and incorporated structured time for dissent and debate. The changes stuck precisely because they evolved through cycles of learning.Adopting the Scientist persona means seeking feedback, reflecting honestly on outcomes, and iterating deliberately. This might include gathering 360-degree reviews, analyzing team performance metrics, or simply pausing to ask, What worked, and what didnt? This feedback doesnt need to be external. The Kid might challenge a leader to play around with different ways of communicating during meetings (speaking first or speaking last, only asking questions, or only summarizing). In addition to observing the impact this has on the team, the smart Scientist looks inward as well, by asking questions like, How does it feel when I behave in X ways? The Scientist is ultimately concerned with hypothesis-testing and has a willingness to put personal agenda to the side. This also requires a healthy degree of self-reflection. The Scientist embodies humility and recognizes that great leaders are lifelong learners who improve through careful study and thoughtful change.3. The gardener nurtures growth and prunes what no longer servesAfter exploration and evidence-based reflection comes cultivation. The Gardener persona turns inward, focusing on nurturing their own growth and weeding out behaviors, habits, and beliefs that hinder ones leadership potential. This self-cultivation ensures that change isnt superficial, but deeply rooted in ongoing personal transformation.This involves nurturing strengths such asempathy, communication, or resilience. And just as importantly, the Gardener identifies and removes the weedspatterns of behavior such as micromanagement, defensiveness, or self-doubtthat choke progress.One executive we coached struggled with the need to control every decision. By embracing the Scientist and the Kid, he first noticed that something was off with his team and started experimenting with alternative approaches to delegation. But its only by embodying the Gardener could he truly acknowledge that the problem was his tendency to micromanage. In response, he began intentional delegation to team members, which not only reduced the reliance on him, but boosted the volume of quality ideas by tapping into the talent around him. Over time, this fostered team engagement by cultivating shared ownership of the companys success and growth.The Gardener is patient but deliberate. Growth within oneself requires consistent effort, care, and self-reflection. Leadership doesnt thrive on autopilot. It demands regular, conscious tending. It requires the commitment to nurture what helps you grow and to release what holds you back. In adopting the Gardener persona, leaders take radical responsibility for their own transformation, recognizing that true leadership growth starts within themselves. By doing so, they become not only better leaders for others, but more authentic versions of themselves.Blending personas for transformational changeNo single persona transforms leadership alone; the magic lies in their synergy. Leaders who play like Kids, analyze like Scientists, and nurture themselves like Gardeners develop practices that endure. They embody curiosity, rigor, and carea powerful combination that creates space for nuance and brings abstract leadership wisdom to life.True transformation doesnt happen in a vacuum or through a single aha moment. It unfolds in iterative, intentional cycles of bold action, reflection, and cultivationits a continuous evolution. When leaders embrace these personas, change is not just an aspirationit becomes a living practice that inspires others to grow alongside them. So, put on your explorers cap, pick up the magnifying glass, and tend your internal garden. Tomorrows leaders will thrive not just by knowing, but by continually growing.

A cat climbing frame and a cosy window seat are among the features of this colourful extension, added to Park House in London by local studio Office S&M.Bordering Abney Park in Hackney, the addition replaces a leaky conservatory at the Victorian home with a dining and living space designed for both its owners and their cats to enjoy.Office S&M has extended Park House in HackneyOffice S&M's goal for the project was to improve Park House's internal configuration, while also providing the owner with a space to relax and overlook the surrounding trees in the park.Its main feature is a pair of upholstered window seats in the corners of the space, complete with storage, wall lights, a fold-out table and hidden nooks for their feline friends.It is designed for "both human and feline residents""The clients, both writers who love to read, wanted a multifunctional space where they could cook, eat, read and find inspiration in their surroundings," Office S&M co-founder Catrina Catrina Stewart told Dezeen."We created a landscape of soft seating that wraps around the kitchen and dining area, designed to meet the needs of both its human and feline residents," she continued."These versatile elements allow for a range of activities, enabling both people and cats to experience the park from different perspectives. The design invites discovery, making the most of the ever-changing views, and creating spaces that are both tranquil and inspiring."A lilac plinth unites the extension with the Victorian houseThe Park House extension takes the form of a single-storey, wood-framed structure with a curved corner. It is unified with the original home by a lilac-tiled plinth.Its form was dictated by the presence of a Grade II-listed wall bordering Abney Park as well as the roots of the surrounding trees.The Park House extension contains a kitchen, living and dining spaceExternally, the Park House extension is painted green. Combined with the lilac tiles beneath, this creates an earthy finish that blends in with the surrounding landscape."The design embraces a palette of natural materials and colours, drawing inspiration from the rich context of Abney Park and the surrounding woodland," said Stewart."The exterior finishes echo the changing seasons, with earthy greens and deep burgundy tones reflecting the hues of summer and autumn."Read: Office S&M uses "trending colours" for characterful extension to colour consultant's homeInside, the extension contains a kitchen, living and dining area, illuminated by a large circular rooflight designed to bring "a sense of connection to nature"."It frames captivating views of the tree canopy above," said Stewart. "The rooflight also fills the space with dappled, ever-changing light, enhancing the atmosphere throughout the day."It features a bespoke climbing frame for the client's catsThe pair of window seats offer a naturally-lit space to enjoy reading a book and are heated to keep the owners and their cats cosy while sitting there in the winter months.Alongside one of the benches is a bespoke cat climbing frame that incorporates resting spots, a scratching pole and cork-covered shelves designed for "safe and slip-free climbing".Window seats feature in its cornersThe Park House extension is complete with a new bathroom and storage space, hidden behind a folding wall.Its interior was finished with a bold range of colours, including yellow kitchen tiles, pastel-blue kitchen cabinetry and red light fixtures, set against a backdrop of exposed wood framework.Park House is finished with a range of coloursA bold range of colours is frequently used in the work of Office S&M, a London studio founded by Stewart and Hugh McEwen in 2013.Its other recent projects in London include Graphic House, the renovation of a mid-terrace Edwardian home in east London, and Beacon House, an extension clad in the same ceramics used for Tube station tiles on the Hammersmith and City Line.The photography is by Ellen Hancock. The post Office S&M extends Hackney house for "both human and feline residents" appeared first on Dezeen.

To conclude our 21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildings series we are asking Dezeen readers to vote for the most significant building of the 21st century.Over the past month, we have selected one building from each of the last 25 years to create a list that we believe shows the projects that have had the biggest impact on architecture in the 21st century so far.Each building was chosen as the most significant completed in that year. Now we want you, our readers, to determine the overall most significant building of the current century. The winner will be announced on Dezeen later this year.Please vote below:LoadingThe post Vote for the most significant building of the 21st century appeared first on Dezeen.

The dream of commercial supersonic flight has been rekindled as Boom Supersonics XB-1 demonstrator aircraft successfully broke the sound barrier at Californias Mojave Air & Space Port. This achievement marks a pivotal moment in aviation design, as it represents the first independently developed supersonic jet in America, breaking away from the traditional government-led development model.The XB-1s groundbreaking design incorporates cutting-edge technology that will shape the future of commercial aviation. Its airframe utilizes sophisticated carbon fiber composites, creating a structure thats both lightweight and robust enough to handle supersonic speeds. This material choice demonstrates how modern manufacturing techniques can overcome historical challenges in supersonic aircraft design.Designer: Boom SupersonicChief Test Pilot Tristan Brandenburg guided the aircraft to Mach 1.122 (750 mph) at an altitude of 35,290 feet, showcasing the effectiveness of the planes innovative design features. The success validates years of computational fluid dynamics simulations, which allowed engineers to optimize aerodynamics without the massive government budgets previously required for supersonic development.One of the most innovative design elements is the augmented reality vision system, solving a persistent challenge in supersonic aircraft design. Unlike the Concordes complex mechanical solution that moves the planes nose out of the way, this digital approach provides pilots with clear runway visibility during takeoff and landing, despite the aircrafts long nose and high angle of attack.The XB-1s engine intake design represents another crucial advancement, efficiently converting supersonic airflow to subsonic speeds for conventional jet engine operation. This technology will be scaled up for Booms Overture airliner, which will use the purpose-built Symphony turbofan engine, demonstrating how demonstrator projects can inform larger commercial applications.The successful test flight program, comprising 11 carefully planned flights, establishes a foundation for Booms ambitious Overture airliner. This larger aircraft will carry 64-80 passengers at Mach 1.7, approximately twice the speed of current commercial aircraft, while incorporating lessons learned from the XB-1s development and testing.Booms approach to sustainable design is evident in its commitment to 100% sustainable aviation fuel compatibility. The companys new Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina, is designed to produce up to 66 aircraft annually, showing how modern manufacturing facilities can scale supersonic aircraft production efficiently.Boom OvertureThe commercial viability of this design approach is validated by 130 orders and pre-orders from major carriers including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines. This market response suggests that Booms design innovations have successfully addressed the economic and operational challenges that led to Concordes retirement two decades ago.Blake Scholl, Booms founder and CEO, emphasizes how their design approach has revolutionized supersonic development: A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars. This success demonstrates how modern design tools and technologies can make previously complex aerospace challenges more accessible.The post Breaking Barriers: Inside Boom XB-1s Game-Changing Supersonic Flight Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Its a win for classic design.