A coffee and bagel at Jerome Deli Delicious is $4, a rarity in New York City these days. Regulars pour into the Morris Heights locale at the corner of Jerome Avenue and 176th Street from either the elevated 4 Train or a small pedestrian plaza connected to a signature Bronx step street, much like the one Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga made famous in Joker. Above the promenade, and its accompanying bodega, a brick building with nice detailing rises up, offering low-income and supportive housing for New Yorkers in need. Many of the residents there are mothers and their children, and people who had previously experienced houselessness. The intersection of Jerome Avenue and 176th Street used to be home to Jerome Hotel, a 2-story building with no windows looking out onto the street, whose only sunlight came from an internal courtyard. Now, a 16-story midrise by Marvel Architects stands where Jerome Hotel once did. The new building has 175 residential units perched above two storefront properties, a deli and a hardware store, with ceiling heights that are almost as tall as the elevated subway line across the sidewalk. Rent from the ground leases helps support the wraparound services offered to the residents who live upstairs.The buildings height was made possible thanks to the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan from 2018, which entailed upzoning. (Josh Simpson/Courtesy Marvel Architects)The foyer has an original sign from Jerome Hotel. (Josh Simpson/Courtesy Marvel Architects)Marvel completed Jerome Court Redevelopment, or 1769 Jerome, in 2021, with clients Bronx Pro Group and Service for the Underserved (S:US). The former is a for-profit developer committed to building affordable housing in The Bronx; the latter is a nonprofit that operates supportive housing all over New York City. The buildings in S:USs portfolio like 1769 Jerome provide vital services for residents such as on-site nursing, case managers, social workers, and so forth. Many people who live in S:US properties came there by way of the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS).Giving someone a home of their own was the absolute goal, but also making them feel comfortable, said Tenisha Powell, a senior property manager at S:US, who helped steer the project together with Arlo Chase, S:USs senior vice president of real estate and property development. We tried to build a community-based environment instead of an institutional setting, giving great opportunity to those struggling with mental health issues, and other things.A HybridAside from a good, cheap breakfast, The Bronx is great for lots of reasons: Architects like its irregular, sometimes bewildering street layout that contrasts with the 1811 Commissioners Plan for Manhattan, and the hyper orthogonal geometries it yielded, but also its topography which affords sweeping views as far as the eye can see. From the upper floors at 1769 Jerome that face north, Kingsbridge Armory is clearly visible, a bulwark soon to be transformed by FXCollaborative, but also Westchester County further afield. Guido Hartray, founding partner at Marvel, told AN that the design for 1769 Jerome responds to the sites unique urban conditions. He described the building as a hybrid between, say, the heroic, midcentury residential towers that populate much of The Bronx (think: River Park Towers by Davis Brody Bondor Herman Jessors Co-op City) and the kind of architecture Jane Jacobs preferred, where sensitivity to the human scale is paramount.1769 Jerome is just a few feet away from the 4 train. (Josh Simpson/Courtesy Marvel Architects)In an institutional setting, you either get tons of privacy, or you have lots of openness with no privacy, both of which can be really off putting, Hartray said. It was a challenge to find the right balance between privacy and openness. We tried to find ways of achieving both privacy and openness that would give people choices and flexibility, so they can choose the space to support what theyre doing. Powell echoed Hartrays sentiment, she said that the design was about moving away from the closed walls typical in so many institutional buildings. This was achieved by thoughtful conversations between clients and architects which resulted in choices to have a light-filled, open foyer, expansive windows that look out onto terraces, conference rooms with semi-opaque glass for privacys sake, and so on. 1769 Jeromes community lounge, landscaped patio, computer room, food-based operators, laundry and fitness area all make for good, stable housing for people who need it most.Building HomePrior to 1769 Jeromes construction, S:US had converted the former Jerome Hotel into Single-Room Occupancy (SRO) housing. The Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan from 2018, which rezoned two miles of Jerome Avenue, afforded both S:US and Bronx Pro Group the opportunity to build something much taller than the existing 2-story building that was on the site. Hartray noted that the upzoning unlocked all sorts of architectural opportunities that wouldnt have been previously possible before 2018.Typical Unit Interior (Josh Simpson/Courtesy Marvel Architects)Some units look out toward the Manhattan skyline (Josh Simpson/Courtesy Marvel Architects)Residents are welcome to use a number of building amenities, including a computer area (Josh Simpson/Courtesy Marvel Architects)We wouldnt be doing our job if we built one less apartment to make what we think is a nicer looking, more aesthetically pleasing building, Hartray said. We had to build all the apartments we could. That was the fundamental goal. Hartray added that the final building envelope was a thoughtful negotiation between achieving maximum density, sculpting architectural form, reducing noise from the train tracks, and figuring out how to get as much natural light as possible in the units. The primary entry for residents was also intentionally placed on the pedestrian plaza that feeds into the Bronx step street, which was meant to help activate the area, and make it safer for everyone.S:US employees have offices inside the building on the ground floor. (Josh Simpson/Courtesy Marvel Architects)Powell noted that the housing scheme underway at 1769 Jerome is different from other affordable developments that went up as a result of the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan and the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) program former Mayor de Blasio strived for. 1769 Jerome has 105 supportive housing units, and 69 affordable housing units. Theres also a superintendents unit inside the building. This ratio between supportive and low-income housing, as opposed to market rate and low-income housing, Powell said, is a relatively new idea that S:US is experimenting with. A terrace located on an upper floor was furnished with outdoor seating and planters. (Josh Simpson/Courtesy Marvel Architects)Housing is the biggest component when it comes to not recycling the system of homelessness, and having the services available to maintain community, psychiatric services, case management services, transportation is essential, Powell said. Having people continuously checking up on them is also huge, she added. Here, managers are able to meet residents either in their office or right in their homes, and even at the deli; wherever they feel comfortable. Theyre available during the days and evenings, if necessary.In the next few years, another project by Marvel Architects and S:US will complete just a few blocks north of 1769 Jerome, adding even more much needed supportive housing in The Bronx.

Customers of Barclays Bank have been left unable to access web app and online banking, make payments to and from their accounts, or access customer services, in the wake of a significant IT outage at the bank which struck on Friday 31 January.According to Ooklas Downdetector service, reports of issues affecting UK customers began shortly after 5am on 31 January, and have remained relatively constant since then, with peaks at approximately 7am and 9:20am in the morning.In a statement posted to social media network X (formerly Twitter), Barclays confirmed it was experiencing an ongoing outage and apologised to those who have seen issues with its services as a result.Were having some problems with some of our systems today were sorry about this and were working hard to fix the issue, a spokesperson said.You may have trouble using some features in our app, Online Banking, as well as payments in and out of your accounts were also unable to help you over the telephone or our Message Us service.You can still use your cards and cash machines as normal, said the spokesperson, although this goes against reports from customer, some of whom are saying that they have had their cards repeatedly declined.The bank also said that if people have been unable to make a payment, they should not attempt to make it again. More information on affected services is available here.Banks and other financial services organisations are acutely vulnerable to IT disruption given the extent to which they are relied on by consumers and businesses alike, and such outages are not infrequent.Earlier this month, an outage at Capital One in the United States saw customers locked out of online banking services for days following a supply chain incident that was ultimately traced to a power outage at FIS Global, a third-party supplier of fintech services such as payment processing that works with Capital One.At the time of writing, there is no evidence or indication to suggest that the downtime at Barclays has been caused by a cyber attack or other form of security or supply chain incident.In instances where they are responding publicly to questions, Barclays customer service teams are currently referring only to technical issues.However, the IT outage at Barclays has a significant sting in its tail given Friday 31 January is the HMRC deadline for filing self-assessment tax returns, which must be done by midnight.This has raised justifiable concerns among self-employed customers because those who miss this deadline face an initial fixed penalty of 100 even in the event that there is no tax to pay, or payment has been made on time, with additional penalties following.People who provide HMRC with a reasonable excuse for missing the annual deadline may avoid a penalty, but all these cases are always considered on an individual basis.This has left many Barclays customers concerned, with many taking to social media to ask if the bank will compensate them for any fines incurred.Read more about IT service outagesOutages might be rare, but they are rarely cheap, any amount of downtime can cost you money. Learn how to minimise the risks and survive a cloud service outage.Datacentre generators are rarely run; however, they must go through regular testing and maintenance to ensure they work when a power outage occurs to prevent server downtime.CrowdStrike executive Adam Meyers appears before a US government committee to explain the series of errors that led directly to one of the biggest IT outages in history.

Fresh questions are being raised over the safety and security of DeepSeek, the breakout Chinese generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform, after researchers at Palo Alto Networks revealed that the platform is highly vulnerable to so-called jailbreaking techniques used by malicious actors to cheat the rules that are supposed to prevent large language models (LLMs) from being used for nefarious purposes, such as writing malware code.The sudden surge of interest in DeepSeek at the end of January has drawn comparisons to the moment in October 1957 when the Soviet Union launched the first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik, taking the United States and her allies by surprise and precipitating the space race of the 1960s culminating in the Apollo 11 Moon landing. It also caused chaos in the tech industry, wiping billions of dollars off the value of companies such as Nvidia.Now, Palo Altos technical teams have demonstrated that three recently described jailbreaking techniques are effective against DeepSeek models. The team said it achieved significant bypass rates with little to no specialised knowledge or expertise needed.Their experiments found that the three jailbreak methods tested yielded explicit guidance from DeepSeek on a range of topics of interest to the cyber criminal fraternity, including data exfiltration and keylogger creation. They were also able to generate instructions on creating improvised explosive devices (IEDs).While information on creating Molotov cocktails and keyloggers is readily available online, LLMs with insufficient safety restrictions could lower the barrier to entry for malicious actors by compiling and presenting easily usable and actionable output. This assistance could greatly accelerate their operations, said the team.Jailbreaking techniques involve the careful crafting of specific prompts, or the exploitation of vulnerabilities, to bypass LLMs onboard guard-rails and elicit biased or otherwise harmful output that the model should avoid. Doing so enables malicious actors to weaponise LLMs to spread misinformation, facilitate criminal activity, or generate offensive material.Unfortunately, the more sophisticated LLMs become in their understanding of and responses to nuanced prompts, the more susceptible they become to the right adversarial input. This is now leading to something of an arms race.Palo Alto tested three jailbreaking techniques Bad Likert Judge, Deceptive Delight and Crescendo on DeepSeek.Bad Likert Judge attempts to manipulate an LLM by getting it to evaluate the harmfulness of responses using the Likert Scale, which is used in consumer satisfaction surveys, among other things, to measure agreement or disagreement towards a statement against a scale, usually of one to five, where one equals strongly agree and five equals strongly disagree.Crescendo is a multi-turn exploit that takes advantage of an LLMs knowledge on a subject by progressively prompting it with related content to subtly guide the discussion towards forbidden topics until the models safety mechanisms are essentially overridden. With the right questions and skills, an attacker can achieve full escalation within just five interactions, which makes Crescendo extremely effective and, worse still, hard to detect with countermeasures.Deceptive Delight is another multi-turn technique that bypasses guardrails by embedding unsafe topics among benign ones within an overall positive narrative. As a very basic example, a threat actor could ask the AI to create a story connecting three topics bunny rabbits, ransomware, and fluffy clouds and asking it to elaborate on each to generate unsafe content when discussing the more benign parts of the story. They could then prompt again focusing on the unsafe topic to amplify the dangerous output.Palo Alto conceded it is a challenge to guarantee specific LLMs not just DeepSeek are completely impervious to jailbreaking, end-user organisations can implement measures to give them some degree of protection, such as monitoring when and how employees are using LLMs, including unauthorised third-party ones.Every organisation will have its policies about new AI models, said Palo Alto senior vice-president of network security, Anand Oswal. Some will ban them completely; others will allow limited, experimental and heavily guardrailed use. Still others will rush to deploy it in production, looking to eke out that extra bit of performance and cost optimisation.But beyond your organisations need to decide on a new specific model, DeepSeeks rise offers several lessons about AI security in 2025, said Oswal in a blog post.AIs pace of change, and the surrounding sense of urgency, cant be compared to other technologies. How can you plan ahead when a somewhat obscure model and the more than 500 derivatives already available on Hugging Face becomes the number-one priority seemingly out of nowhere?The short answer: you cant, he said.Oswal said AI security remained a moving target and that this did not look set to change for a while. Furthermore, he added, it was unlikely that DeepSeek will be the last model to catch everyone by surprise, so CISOs and security leaders should expect the unexpected.Adding to the challenge faced by organisations, it is very easy for development teams, or even individual developers, to switch out LLMs at little or even no cost if a more interesting one arrives on the scene.The temptation for product builders to test the new model to see if it can solve a cost issue or latency bottleneck or outperform on a specific task is huge. And if the model turns out to be the missing piece that helps bring a potentially game-changing product to market, you dont want to be the one who stands in the way, said Oswal.Palo Alto is encouraging security leaders to establish clear governance over LLMs and advocating for incorporating secure-by-design principles into organisational use of them. It rolled out a set of tools, Secure AI by Design, last year, to this effect.Among other things, these tools provide security teams with real-time visibility into what LLMs are being used and by who; the ability to block unsanctioned apps and apply organisational security policies and protections; and prevent sensitive data from being accessed by LLMs.Read more about DeepSeekDeepSeek, a Chinese AI firm, is disrupting the industry with its low-cost, open source large language models, challenging US tech giants.The introduction of DeepSeek's new generative AI models have been met with fervour, but security issues have created apparent challenges for the Chinese startup.DeepSeek, which gained popularity recently for its AI platform, did not specify the cause of 'large-scale malicious attacks,' which continue to disrupt new account registrations.

The right drawing tablet can make all the difference in bringing your creative vision to life. It should feel like an extension of your hand, translating every brushstroke with precision and fluidity. In short, it gets out of the way to become your canvas.Also:Best digital notebooks of 2025Drawing tablets come in two main forms: pen displays, which feature built-in screens for immersive experiences, and pen tablets. These require an external monitor but can be a more affordable solution. We tested both of these types to help you find the perfect tool for your creative workflow.What is the best tablet for drawing right now?No matter what material artists draw on, they have to be willing to adapt to that surface. But the best drawing tablets make it incredibly easy to get used to them. Our top pick is the Apple iPad Pro (7th generation) thanks to its easy user interface and premium screen experience. We also included other drawing and graphics tablets that ZDNET staff has gone hands-on with, as well as spoke to graphic designers and digital artists to get their take on other top tablets for drawing. Sort by All The best drawing tablets of 2025 Show less Apple's most powerful tablet is the best drawing tablet, thanks to its ease of use and superb display that provides crisp detail while drawing. ZDNET's editor-in-chief, Jason Hiner, even said, "The M4 OLED iPad Pro is a much easier sell for professional digital artists."Apple gave the iPad Pro a notable upgrade in May with an M4 chip that delivers better performance, battery, and a brighter display. Both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pros feature an OLED display with ProMotion with up to 1,600 nits for HDR content and improved color accuracy at a per-pixel level. If you are planning to do a lot of professional drawing work, you will have more than enough power with the Apple Silicon M4 chip and high storage options.ZDNET reviews editor June Wan went hands-on with the new iPad Pro and was completely impressed by its display, saying, "The iPad Pro is better purposed for consumers watching content, editing photos and videos, and handling other use cases that involve attention to visual detail."The tablet also has Apple Pencil Pro compatibility, giving you a professional feel while allowing you to draw by hand, like with a regular pencil. Upgrade to this model includes a squeeze function to switch between tools, colors, and line weights; a gyroscope barrel roll for precise brush and pen control; and custom haptic feedback that you can feel via a pulse.iPad Pro tech specs:Dimensions (L x W x H):11-inch: 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 inches, 13-inches: 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25-inches|Compatibility:iPad OS 17 and Apple Pencil Pro|Display: 11-inch and 13-inch OLED with 120Hz Pros Most powerful chip in an iPad Apple Pencil Pro compatibility Premium display experience makes colors sharper than ever Cons Expensive Apple's most powerful tablet is the best drawing tablet, thanks to its ease of use and superb display that provides crisp detail while drawing. ZDNET's editor-in-chief, Jason Hiner, even said, "The M4 OLED iPad Pro is a much easier sell for professional digital artists."Apple gave the iPad Pro a notable upgrade in May with an M4 chip that delivers better performance, battery, and a brighter display. Both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pros feature an OLED display with ProMotion with up to 1,600 nits for HDR content and improved color accuracy at a per-pixel level. If you are planning to do a lot of professional drawing work, you will have more than enough power with the Apple Silicon M4 chip and high storage options.ZDNET reviews editor June Wan went hands-on with the new iPad Pro and was completely impressed by its display, saying, "The iPad Pro is better purposed for consumers watching content, editing photos and videos, and handling other use cases that involve attention to visual detail."The tablet also has Apple Pencil Pro compatibility, giving you a professional feel while allowing you to draw by hand, like with a regular pencil. Upgrade to this model includes a squeeze function to switch between tools, colors, and line weights; a gyroscope barrel roll for precise brush and pen control; and custom haptic feedback that you can feel via a pulse.iPad Pro tech specs:Dimensions (L x W x H):11-inch: 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 inches, 13-inches: 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25-inches|Compatibility:iPad OS 17 and Apple Pencil Pro|Display: 11-inch and 13-inch OLED with 120Hz Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less If you're shopping on a budget, Huion drawing tablets have come a long way in the last decade or so. While some of its models can go up to $600, this pen display tablet is an excellent budget option that costs just $250.This tablet has four user-defined express keys and a touch bar to control canvas zooming, brush adjusting, and page scrolling. Like the Wacom Intuos Pro, you can customize these express keys.The display's 120% sRGB color gamut volume presents 16.7 million colors vividly, and the anti-glare technology reduces glare while working in a brighter setting to shorten the distance between the pen nib and the cursor.Chuan Shin, a freelance concept artist, told ZDNET that he works exclusively with Huion tablets. "Huion makes the best tablets when it comes to value and cost," he said. "Huion also does not have issues with driver updates, which I appreciate."Even though this is a pen display tablet, this model still requires you to connect it to a computer or laptop for it to work. However, Reddit users note that the display screen is both glare and scratch-resistant.Huion Kamvas Pro 12 tech specs:Dimensions (L x W x H):13.78 x 7.82 x 0.43 inches|Active area:10.09 x 5.68 inches|Compatibility:Linux(Ubuntu), Mac OS 10.12 and above, Windows 7 and above|Pressure levels:8,192 and 60 pen tilt support Pros More affordable drawing tablet 60 pen tilt support Customizable express keys Cons Still needs to be connected to a computer to use it If you're shopping on a budget, Huion drawing tablets have come a long way in the last decade or so. While some of its models can go up to $600, this pen display tablet is an excellent budget option that costs just $250.This tablet has four user-defined express keys and a touch bar to control canvas zooming, brush adjusting, and page scrolling. Like the Wacom Intuos Pro, you can customize these express keys.The display's 120% sRGB color gamut volume presents 16.7 million colors vividly, and the anti-glare technology reduces glare while working in a brighter setting to shorten the distance between the pen nib and the cursor.Chuan Shin, a freelance concept artist, told ZDNET that he works exclusively with Huion tablets. "Huion makes the best tablets when it comes to value and cost," he said. "Huion also does not have issues with driver updates, which I appreciate."Even though this is a pen display tablet, this model still requires you to connect it to a computer or laptop for it to work. However, Reddit users note that the display screen is both glare and scratch-resistant.Huion Kamvas Pro 12 tech specs:Dimensions (L x W x H):13.78 x 7.82 x 0.43 inches|Active area:10.09 x 5.68 inches|Compatibility:Linux(Ubuntu), Mac OS 10.12 and above, Windows 7 and above|Pressure levels:8,192 and 60 pen tilt support Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less Wacom is one of the industry leaders in drawing and graphics tablets. With virtually no lag and 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity in the included battery-free Wacom Pro Pen, the Wacom Intuos Pro is the best drawing tablet on the market for professional artists, such as Portia McLean who used the Intuos Pro for visual effects on Game of Thrones.It comes with the included Wacom Pro Pen, which comes in three sizes (small, medium, and large) to suit all sizes of artwork and editing.The tablet's lightweight design makes it easy to use on your desk or lap, and you can customize everything from the tablet's ExpressKeys to the Pro Pen 2's buttons, depending on your favorite shortcuts.Reddit users notethat the Pro Pen 2 is better than anything they have experienced in a stylus and that it alone is worth buying the Wacom Intuos Pro for.My experience with this tablet was fairly easy and enjoyable (especially for someone who is not a professional artist). The pen makes it easy to fine-tune details and brush strokes in any drawing program you are working on.Read the review:This Wacom drawing tablet feels like putting pen to paperWacom Intuos Pro tech specs:Dimensions (L x W x H):13.14 inch x 8.54 x .31 inches |Active area:8.7 x 5.8 inches|Compatibility:Mac OS X 10.12 or later / Windows 7 or later |Pressure levels:8,192 Pros Low price for a high-quality product Industry-leading amount of pressure sensitivity levels Different sizes to choose from Cons Need external screen Need to replace the nibs on the stylus often Wacom is one of the industry leaders in drawing and graphics tablets. With virtually no lag and 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity in the included battery-free Wacom Pro Pen, the Wacom Intuos Pro is the best drawing tablet on the market for professional artists, such as Portia McLean who used the Intuos Pro for visual effects on Game of Thrones.It comes with the included Wacom Pro Pen, which comes in three sizes (small, medium, and large) to suit all sizes of artwork and editing.The tablet's lightweight design makes it easy to use on your desk or lap, and you can customize everything from the tablet's ExpressKeys to the Pro Pen 2's buttons, depending on your favorite shortcuts.Reddit users notethat the Pro Pen 2 is better than anything they have experienced in a stylus and that it alone is worth buying the Wacom Intuos Pro for.My experience with this tablet was fairly easy and enjoyable (especially for someone who is not a professional artist). The pen makes it easy to fine-tune details and brush strokes in any drawing program you are working on.Read the review:This Wacom drawing tablet feels like putting pen to paperWacom Intuos Pro tech specs:Dimensions (L x W x H):13.14 inch x 8.54 x .31 inches |Active area:8.7 x 5.8 inches|Compatibility:Mac OS X 10.12 or later / Windows 7 or later |Pressure levels:8,192 Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less Artists who are Wacom fans but prefer a pen display over a pen tablet should look no further than the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24. Although expensive (starting at $1,900), you get what you pay for, which is an incredible display, reliable software, and an excellent drawing experience.The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 comes in four sizes, depending on your drawing needs: 16", 24", 27", or 32". No matter what size you get, you can expect a 4K resolution display with industry-leading color accuracy (including 99% Adobe RGB coverage) so that you can see every tiny detail and stroke of your artwork, design, or photographic projects.Jim Mortensen, a director, storyboard artist, and writer for animation, said he only uses Wacom tablets. After using the Wacom 21UX for 15 years, he upgraded to the Cintiq Pro 24 and said he couldn't be happier."Wacom products have been incredibly reliable for me," he said. "Their driver software is consistently reliable compared to other companies, and their software and hardware support have always been great. It will take a LOT for me to switch away."The tablet utilizes the same Pro Pen 2 as the Intuos Pro, so you'll still get that pen-to-paper feel even on a tablet screen. Reddit users say that they ultimately chose the Cintiq Pro 24 thanks to its 4K resolution, glass surface and sheer precision.Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 tech specs:Dimensions (L x W x H):26.6 x 15.5 x 1.9 inches|Active area:20.6 x 11.6 inches |Compatibility:Windows 7 or later, macOS X 10.11 or later|Pressure levels:8,192 Pros Reliable software Excellent resolution and color displays Precise pen-to-screen interaction Cons Super expensive Artists who are Wacom fans but prefer a pen display over a pen tablet should look no further than the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24. Although expensive (starting at $1,900), you get what you pay for, which is an incredible display, reliable software, and an excellent drawing experience.The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 comes in four sizes, depending on your drawing needs: 16", 24", 27", or 32". No matter what size you get, you can expect a 4K resolution display with industry-leading color accuracy (including 99% Adobe RGB coverage) so that you can see every tiny detail and stroke of your artwork, design, or photographic projects.Jim Mortensen, a director, storyboard artist, and writer for animation, said he only uses Wacom tablets. After using the Wacom 21UX for 15 years, he upgraded to the Cintiq Pro 24 and said he couldn't be happier."Wacom products have been incredibly reliable for me," he said. "Their driver software is consistently reliable compared to other companies, and their software and hardware support have always been great. It will take a LOT for me to switch away."The tablet utilizes the same Pro Pen 2 as the Intuos Pro, so you'll still get that pen-to-paper feel even on a tablet screen. Reddit users say that they ultimately chose the Cintiq Pro 24 thanks to its 4K resolution, glass surface and sheer precision.Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 tech specs:Dimensions (L x W x H):26.6 x 15.5 x 1.9 inches|Active area:20.6 x 11.6 inches |Compatibility:Windows 7 or later, macOS X 10.11 or later|Pressure levels:8,192 Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less All of these drawing tablets come with a stylus pen to create with, but this tablet from Xencelabs lets you add more accessories to make your experience even better. You'll get combo nibs, a drawing glove, a Quick Keys remote, and two battery-free pens for 2D and 3D design. Verified Amazon customers say that the customization options of this drawing tablet is ultimately what drove them to purchase it.It's a pen tablet, so there is no display, but it is built with a gently curved armrest on the sides and is only 8mm thick, making it comfortable to use.Nick Saporito, a graphic designer who has been teaching for over 10 years how to use design software and drawing tablets on his YouTube channel, likes the precision and surface area of the Xencelabs Pen Tablet."The feature that stands out to me the most is the programmable controller it comes with," Saporito said. "It can be used to create custom key bindings for whatever features you most commonly use. For example, you can program one of the buttons to 'Undo' by binding it to Control + Z."He added that the glove that comes with the bundle makes it so the tablet won't accidentally register your hand as a pen stroke and that the pens' various removable tips allow for different types of brush strokes and detailing.Xencelabs tech specs:Dimensions (L x W x H):12.61 x 9.16 x 0.3 inches|Active area:10.33 x 5.8 inches|Compatibility:Windows 10 and above, macOS 10.12 and newer |Pressure levels:8,192 Pros Add accessories you will use Drawing glove Comfortable to use Cons No display All of these drawing tablets come with a stylus pen to create with, but this tablet from Xencelabs lets you add more accessories to make your experience even better. You'll get combo nibs, a drawing glove, a Quick Keys remote, and two battery-free pens for 2D and 3D design. Verified Amazon customers say that the customization options of this drawing tablet is ultimately what drove them to purchase it.It's a pen tablet, so there is no display, but it is built with a gently curved armrest on the sides and is only 8mm thick, making it comfortable to use.Nick Saporito, a graphic designer who has been teaching for over 10 years how to use design software and drawing tablets on his YouTube channel, likes the precision and surface area of the Xencelabs Pen Tablet."The feature that stands out to me the most is the programmable controller it comes with," Saporito said. "It can be used to create custom key bindings for whatever features you most commonly use. For example, you can program one of the buttons to 'Undo' by binding it to Control + Z."He added that the glove that comes with the bundle makes it so the tablet won't accidentally register your hand as a pen stroke and that the pens' various removable tips allow for different types of brush strokes and detailing.Xencelabs tech specs:Dimensions (L x W x H):12.61 x 9.16 x 0.3 inches|Active area:10.33 x 5.8 inches|Compatibility:Windows 10 and above, macOS 10.12 and newer |Pressure levels:8,192 Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less For digital artists who prefer a pen display, the Wacom One 13 Touch is a great option. What stands out in this drawing tablet is its touchscreen: a 920 x 1080 Full HD resolution display allows for 10-finger multi-touch gestures, giving artists a new dimension of intuitive use and interaction. You can utilize several gestures like scrolling, panning, and zooming during the creative process while you're drawing in a program, or you can turn it off altogether if you'd prefer.I was able to go hands-on with this drawing tablet and, like the Wacom Intuos Pro, was impressed by the pen-to-paper feel. The pen is also impressive and had great palm rejection technology. Plus, Wacom says you never have to charge it.Review:This Wacom drawing tablet is loaded with perks digital artists will loveI could see artists who prefer a screen display but still want to use programs like Adobe or Corel Painter, finding the Wacom One 13 Touch more valuable than a regular tablet like the iPad.While the tablet is advertised by Wacom as one for aspiring artists, Reddit users note that its higher price tag of $600 might be better off for artists who have worked with a drawing tablet before rather than someone buying their first drawing tablet.Wacom One 13 Touch specs:Dimensions (L x W x H):13.2 x 8.7 x 0.1 inches|Active area:11.6 x 6.5 inches|Compatibility:Windows 10 and over, Mac OS 11 and over, Chrome OS, Android 8 and over|Pressure levels:4,096 Pros Multi-touch gestures make it intuitive to use Smooth paper-like screen Pen never runs out of battery Cons Still need to use an external device Expensive For digital artists who prefer a pen display, the Wacom One 13 Touch is a great option. What stands out in this drawing tablet is its touchscreen: a 920 x 1080 Full HD resolution display allows for 10-finger multi-touch gestures, giving artists a new dimension of intuitive use and interaction. You can utilize several gestures like scrolling, panning, and zooming during the creative process while you're drawing in a program, or you can turn it off altogether if you'd prefer.I was able to go hands-on with this drawing tablet and, like the Wacom Intuos Pro, was impressed by the pen-to-paper feel. The pen is also impressive and had great palm rejection technology. Plus, Wacom says you never have to charge it.Review:This Wacom drawing tablet is loaded with perks digital artists will loveI could see artists who prefer a screen display but still want to use programs like Adobe or Corel Painter, finding the Wacom One 13 Touch more valuable than a regular tablet like the iPad.While the tablet is advertised by Wacom as one for aspiring artists, Reddit users note that its higher price tag of $600 might be better off for artists who have worked with a drawing tablet before rather than someone buying their first drawing tablet.Wacom One 13 Touch specs:Dimensions (L x W x H):13.2 x 8.7 x 0.1 inches|Active area:11.6 x 6.5 inches|Compatibility:Windows 10 and over, Mac OS 11 and over, Chrome OS, Android 8 and over|Pressure levels:4,096 Read More Show Expert Take Show less Top drawing tablets compared Overall, the iPad Pro is my top choice when it comes to the best drawing tablets for most people because of its ease of use and Apple Pencil Pro compatibility. However, here's a chart with key specs for all the drawing tablets so you can better compare the iPad Pro to all the other drawing tablets on my list. Drawing tabletPriceActive areaPen pressure levelsExternal screen required?iPad Pro (7th gen)Starting at $8999.74 x 7.02 inches or 11.04 x 8.46 inches N/A No Huion Kamvas Pro 12 $24910.09 x 5.68 inches 8,192 Yes Wacom Intuos Pro $5008.7 x 5.8 inches 8,192 Yes Wacom Cintiq Pro $195020.6 x 11.6 inches 8,192 No Xencelabs Pen Tablet Bundle $32910.33 x 5.8 inches 8,192 Yes Wacom One 13 Touch$60011.6 x 6.5 inches4,096Yes Show more Who would benefit most from a drawing tablet? While the average tablet user won't need a specific tablet for drawing, those who would benefit from drawing tablets include graphic designers, artists, architects, or anyone who does creative drawing work. Students in these types of fields would also benefit from a drawing tablet depending on their courses. Show more Each type of drawing tablet, explained Wondering which type of drawing tablet to get? We've broken down the different categories.Pen tablet: These devices are screen-less, generally have a lower price point, and are more portable. They require an external connection to a laptop or computer, so you draw on the tablet while looking at your computer screen. Examples are the Wacom Intuos Pro and the Xencelabs tablet.Pen display: Tablets that are pen displays have built-in touchscreens that allow you to draw directly on the tablet and see everything you're working on via the tablet's screen.Pen computer:Pen computers are larger, more expensive devices that combine a whole studio of creative tools in your hands. We didn't include a pen computer as a top pick since they are for advanced professionals and start at $3,000. Show more Which is the right drawing tablet for you? To decide which drawing tablet to buy, you should first consider what you plan to draw. Size, express keys, and pressure levels all go into play, but it ultimately comes down to your personal preferences. Here is a decision matrix on the best drawing tablets for you to refer to before making your big purchase: Choose thisdrawing tabletIf you wantiPad Pro (7th gen)A powerful tablet that's easy to use. Its compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro allows for even more standout features. Huion Kamvas Pro 12 A budget-friendly drawing tablet with touch bar controls and express keys. Wacom Intuos Pro A drawing tablet built for professionals. It has virtually no lag and 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity in its Pro Pen 2. Wacom Cintiq Pro A high-quality drawing tablet that's worth the splurge. Its four screen sizes have 4K display and industry-leading color accuracy. Xencelabs Pen Tablet Bundle A drawing tablet that comes with accessories like a drawing glove and combo nibs to aid your creative process. Wacom One 13 TouchA touchscreen tablet with handy gestures and a pen-to-paper-like experience. Show more Factors to consider when choosing the best drawing tablet Before you buy, there are several important things to consider in a drawing tablet.Active area:The active area is the area in which you can actually draw on a tablet, and is important to consider. This will be the size of the screen (if it has a screen display) or the size of the area you can actually draw on that has built-in pressure levels (if it has a screen-less display).Accessory compatibility:Consider tablets that are compatible with a number of accessories, including different stylus pens, software, laptops and PCs, and more.Size: Drawing tablets come in various sizes, from small to large. Depending on your type of creative work, you may opt for a bigger device to really capture the tiny details.Price:Drawing tablets greatly vary in price--from $50 all the way up to $2,200. Luckily, there is something for every price range. Show more How we test tablets The ZDNET team chose all of the tablets included in this list based on their performance whentested in the real world. When we test tablets, we typically follow the same routine for each one to see which performs best.Display: We measure the brightness level in different lighting conditions and assess color accuracy.We also compare the display's performance with what the manufacturer promised, test the screen's responsiveness to touch, and assess the performance of any extra features, like a manufacturer's stylus.Performance:For real-world performance metrics, our reviewers measure how quickly the tablet reacts to input, assess game performance and frame rates, test how the tablet handles having multiple apps running simultaneously, measure the time it takes to launch apps, and even assess the tablet's temperature during intensive tasks.Battery life: We test different scenarios for battery life, including measuring how long the battery lasts while streaming, web browsing, using productivity apps, and playing games.Camera and audio:For cameras, we evaluate features like resolution, aperture, low-light performance, autofocus accuracy, dynamic range, color accuracy, image quality, sharpness, and video quality. For audio, we look at the sound quality and overall listening experience, including audio clarity at different volumes, stereo separation of left and right audio channels, maximum volume level in various environments, and if there is perceived distortion.For a deeper look into our testing process, check out our comprehensivetablet testing methodology. Show more FAQs on drawing tablets Are drawing tablets with a screen better? It all depends on your use case and personal preference. For example, Mortensen prefers tablets with screens (otherwise known as pen displays)."Direct drawing changes your art and thinking in ways that you can't predict," he said. "Art is hard enough without not being able to look right at what you're drawing. Sure, they're more expensive, but if you have the means, I highly recommend it."On the other hand, screen-less drawing tablets (also known as pen tablets) generally have a lower price point and are more portable. Keep in mind these tablets require a connection to a computer and can take some time to get used to, as you'll need to draw on the tablet while looking at your computer screen.Overall, the best drawing tablets allow you to digitally create in different ways based on the art and artist, so it's really up to your preference whether you want to work with a drawing tablet that has a built-in touchscreen or a special pressure-sensitive surface. Show more What drawing tablets do the pros use? Wacom tablets are the preferred choice of most professional digital illustrators, animators, and designers. Wacom is the gold standard in the industry. Its tablets offer an unmatched drawing experience with a highly responsive pen-to-paper feel. Show more How long does it take to learn to use a drawing tablet? If you're using a screenless tablet for drawing for the first time, it may take up to a few weeks to get used to. Try playing with the tablet a bit every day to get used to drawing on it. Also be sure to get a grasp of whatever software you choose, since each drawing software is a little different. Show more Can any stylus work on a drawing tablet? Most drawing tablets need specific styluses, especially if they have a unique screen or need an external display to draw with. However, a majority of drawing tablets come with a compatible pen, so you won't have to buy one separately. Show more Alternative drawing tablets to considerMeet the experts ZDNET sourced external industry experts for this article. Here is more information about them:Chuan Shin: A freelance concept artist and illustrator who has worked on AAA games such as Street Fighter V and more.Jim Mortensen: A director, storyboard artist, and writer for animation based in LA.Nick Saporito: A graphic designer of over 10 years, who teaches how to use design software and drawing tablets on hisYouTube channel, which has 483K subscribers. Show more ZDNETs Tablet Guide Tablet Roundups Tablets Reviewed & Compared Tablets Explained ZDNET Recommends

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Heres what you need to know and do.dpa/picture alliance via Getty ImagesUpdated on January 31 with new developments on Apples complex relationship with Google when it comes to browsing and search.Googles backtrack on its promise to kill tracking cookies last year created a huge furor. But all seems to have gone rather quiet since then. In the background, there are all kinds of standoffs as no one can agree on what should happen next. Meanwhile, Google has suddenly brought back digital fingerprinting for some added spice.But those devilish little cookies are still with us, and if youre one of Chromes 3 billion users, then theyre still following you around, reporting back to their ad-industry masters. There is no real clarity as yet as to what happens next, when it happens, and how the ad industry and Google and regulators will ever find common ground.The issue is that Google wants to offer an opt-in (or opt-out) for users to decide whether to enable tracking cookies on their browser. The industry fears a cataclysmic rejection akin to Apples opt-out, which caused chaos for all those tracking iPhone users. There is also the question as to what Google can use instead, given its account-based insight into all those users that is not as reliant on cookies.Cue DigiDays latest, of which it warns anyone waiting for Google to drop a game-changing cookie update can go ahead and breathe its not coming with this one.MORE FOR YOUBut what seems to have been decided is that the opt-in prompt will be global, which is the sledgehammer solution. Because when asked if they want to be tracked, the smart money is on most users saying no, I do not.Its hardly groundbreaking information, DigiDay says, but it does signal the direction things are heading: Web advertising is inching closer to the mobile app model, where consent-based prompts from Google and Apple already dictate privacy settings.And it seems that whatever happens will extend beyond cookies into tracking IP addresses as well, which you will only be able to hide when browsing incognito.This is all very high-level and has not yet provided enough substance for a backlash from anyone. But when the detail comes that will quickly change. How this is designed end executed will be critical. And all eyes will be on Google and any conflicts that might appear in how the new ad-industry order is being restructured.As DigiDay points out, after five years of investment into Googles promised cookie overhaul, ad execs are fed up with delays and half measures. Beneath it all, skepticism lingers: If consent collection drives the majority of Chrome users to opt out of third-party tracking, Google will still have access to user data at the transactional level thanks to its own walled garden.Google isnt saying much, other than to point out theres nothing really new here. But perhaps thats the point, weve seen all this before and yet here we all still are.A wry irony in this story comes from Apple. The iMaker has used Chromes patchy track record on user tracking to promote Safari for its own device users, but when it comes to search it takes a very different view. And that has some additional parallels now, with Apples tracking opt-outs being used as a likely precedent for Googles plan to do something along similar lines with Chrome.Apple has yet again waded into Googles regulatory wrangles around Chrome and Search with another attempt to insert itself into the legal case against Google to present its own views. As reported by The Verge, Apple requested at the very least that it gain access to discovery and depositions as a non-party while the Circuit Court considers its appeal. Absent a stay, the company writes, Apple will suffer irreparable harm.Its hard to reconcile the Apple/Google search relationship when its so intrinsically linked with tracking. But for Apple users, whats invariably true is that they will endure less tracking if they use Google Search from within Apples browser, especially if not logged into a Google account at the time. So, theres that at least.As The Washington Post points out, Apple deserves credit for making many privacy protections automatic with Safari, which you probably use to browse the web if you have an iPhone, Mac computer or iPad, adding that Safari stops third-party cookies anywhere you go on the web. So do Mozillas Firefoxand the Brave browser. You can use either of those on a Windows PC, Mac, iPhone or Android device. Safari is only available for Mac, iPhones and iPads. Chrome allows third-party cookies in most cases unless you turn them off.Meanwhile, for those 3 billion Chrome users the promise is a one-click leave me alone button that will kill cookies. Better they had been killed for everyone all at once, but at least you can kill them for yourself, with that easy button when it comes.Quite what will be done instead remains to be seen.

Facepalm: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg complained about company leaks during an all-hands meeting, only for the audio to leak online almost immediately. Sensing the irony, Meta's security chief issued a stern memo, warning that leakers would be fired. And in a twist that feels straight out of a sitcom, that memo leaked too. The saga kicked off during Mark Zuckerberg's all-hands meeting with Meta employees on Thursday, where he vented about recent leaks exposing his private remarks to staff.In an attempt to tighten control, HR made some changes. Questions that could be problematic if leaked were skipped, employees could no longer see ranked questions, and the comment section was disabled during the live stream.Zuckerberg addressed these changes directly: "We try to be really open and then everything I say leaks. It sucks." He added that he would now be less transparent due to the leaks.Ironically, those comments leaked almost immediately.Enter Chief Information Security Officer Guy Rosen, who wasted no time issuing a stern warning. Less than an hour later, he declared that leakers would be "terminated" if identified, noting that some employees had already been fired for "exfiltrating sensitive documents."In a memo obtained by The Verge, Rosen argued that leaks do more than compromise security they demoralize teams and waste valuable time that should be spent advancing Meta's products, goals, and mission. // Related StoriesYou can probably guess what happened next. Yes, this tough-talking memo leaked almost immediately.The surge in leaks appears tied to Zuckerberg's growing ties with Donald Trump in recent months. In December, Meta donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund, a stark reversal from its previously nonpartisan stance over the past decade.This is the same company that banned Trump in 2021 after he allegedly incited the Capitol riot. Yet, by October 2024, Trump described his relationship with Zuckerberg as "much better."So, will Meta ever fix its leaky faucet? At this rate, we'll probably just have to wait for the next leak to find out.

The big picture: Meta recently posted excellent sales in its VR division while still recording a loss due to R&D. The company currently holds a dominant position in the VR market, but the landscape is rapidly evolving. New offerings from tech giants like Apple, Google, and Samsung are expected to increase market competition, making R&D investments more critical for staying ahead. Meta's Reality Labs division achieved a significant milestone in Q4 2024, generating $1.1 billion in sales, primarily driven by the success of the Meta Quest 3 headset. This impressive figure underscores Meta's dominance in the consumer VR gaming market, where the Quest 3 holds most of the market share. Unfortunately, the division also posted a substantial $4.97 billion loss for the quarter.The losses mainly stem from Meta's continued investment in research and development, with plans to make between $60 billion and $65 billion in capital expenditures this year. Meta will allocate a decent portion of this investment to its ambitious Metaverse project, envisioned as a comprehensive virtual social space.Despite the financial setback, Meta's commitment to VR hardware development remains strong. This persistence will likely benefit game developers as the company continues refining and updating its VR offerings to meet market demands. The Meta Quest 3, for example, offers significant hardware upgrades, including twice the GPU power and increased CPU and memory compared to its predecessor, allowing developers to create more sophisticated applications.The Meta Quest's popularity among VR game developers is also evident, with a recent State of the Game Industry survey indicating that most studios with VR projects are targeting the platform. According to the 2025 report, 59 percent of VR/AR developers are making games for Meta Quest. This figure significantly outpaces other VR platforms, with Steam VR at 31 percent, PlayStation VR 2 at 16 percent, and Apple Vision Pro at 8 percent.However, Meta's position in the VR market may face future challenges. Rumors suggest Apple is developing a more consumer-friendly version of its Vision Pro headset, known internally as N107. Apple has reportedly prioritized this device over the next-generation Vision Pro, potentially launching it before the high-end model. // Related StoriesMeanwhile, Google and Samsung have partnered to develop a new XR. This initiative, dubbed "Project Moohan," aims to create innovative smart glasses and virtual reality headsets powered by a tailored version of Google's Android operating system. These developments could lead to increased competition in the consumer VR space, potentially threatening Meta's current market dominance.

The Sims & The Sims 2 Legacy Collections - Official Reveal TrailerThe Sims Legacy Collection andThe Sims 2 Legacy Collectionare now available on Steam for $20 and $30, respectively, along with all of the DLC. You can also pick up both for $40 total inThe Sims 25th Birthday Bundle.Recommended VideosManySims players hold the opinion that the first few games were better experiences than The Sims 4, and now that theory can be put to the test.The Sims Legacy Collection includes the base game,The Sims 4 Throwback Kit, and the following packs:The Sims Livin LargeThe Sims House PartyThe Sims Hot DateThe Sims VacationThe Sims UnleashedThe Sims SuperstarThe Sims Makin Magic.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe Sims 2 Legacy Collection includes the base game and the Sims 4: Grunge Revival Kit, along with these packs:The Sims 2: UniversityThe Sims 2: NightlifeThe Sims 2: Open for BusinessThe Sims 2: PetsThe Sims 2: Bon VoyageThe Sims 2: SeasonsThe Sims 2: FreeTimeThe Sims 2: Apartment LifeThe Sims 2: Holiday Party PackThe Sims 2: Family Fun StuffThe Sims 2: Glamour Life StuffThe Sims 2: Happy Holiday StuffThe Sims 2: Celebration! StuffThe Sims 2: H&M Fashion StuffThe Sims 2: Teen Style StuffThe Sims 2: Kitchen & Bath Interior Design StuffThe Sims 2: Mansion & Garden StuffSteamThese re-releases are built to run on modern Windows systems, with support for both Windows 10 and 11. Steam suggests players have at least 4GB of RAM and an Nvidia GTX 600 or stronger GPU to properly run these titles, as 17GB of memory per game.Unfortunately, fans hoping for a new game might have to wait for a while. The Sims 5was never officially confirmed, so it cant technically be cancelled but EA and Maxis have confirmed it isnt in development. Instead, EA released a statement that read: Were focused on creating a variety of games and experiences that will touch different categories across the simulated life genre including cozy games, social and collaborative based gameplay, mobile narrative games and continued depth, improvements and modernization of The Sims 4, which will continue to be a foundational Sims experience.What comes next for the franchise is still unclear, but one thing seems pretty certain:The Sims isnt going anywhere anytime soon.Editors Recommendations