We may earn a commission from links on this page.The final months of 2024 saw the release of two major cinematic works, each laser focused on design and architecture. While very different films (that is, one Oscar-nominated, one Razzie-nominated), each is monumental in its own right. First came Francis Ford Coppola's decades-in-the-making sci-fi drama Megalopolis, following a visionary architect, played by Adam Driver, who dreams of transforming the future city of New Rome into a utopian paradise with the help of a magical metal. Critics were not kind to Coppola's film, but a much warmer reception greeted Brady Corbet's The Brutalist, a more down-to-earth but no less epic period drama following a Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor (Adrien Brody) who emigrates to the United States and whose past as an accomplished architect gradually becomes clear. Documentaries aside, architects and architecture have served varied, but particular roles in film: The art of architecture, when spotlighted, is frequently used to metaphorically reflect what's happening between towering personalities. As an occupation, though, architecture is often treated as a bland signifier: architects are often solidly middle-class romantic interests, the specific career incidental. Though veering from scary to silly to epic, these 10 films all go a bit deeper.The Towering Inferno(1974) Surely a cautionary tale for budding young architects, The Towering Inferno reminds us that even Paul Newman makes mistakes (and just being hot doesn't necessarily make one a good architect). The actor plays Doug Roberts, designer of the world's walled building: San Francisco's (fictional, thank God) Glass Tower. The titular fire isn't entirely Duncan's faultblame is doled out to various corner-cutting subcontractorsbut it's still made clear that Roberts cared more about style and personal prestige than safety, the result being a horrific (also thrilling) disaster in which various '70s era celebrities are placed in fiery danger. You can buy The Towering Inferno from Prime Video. The Towering Inferno(1974) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Belly of an Architect (1987) An acclaimed, though lesser-known 1980s indie, Belly stars Brian Dennehy as the (fictional) architect Stourley Kracklite, following him as he travels from Chicago to Rome to arrange an exhibition on the (real-life) 18th-century French architect tienne-Louis Boulle. In Rome, Kracklite's marriage and resolve begin to crumble against the backdrop of increasingly opulent classical architectureparticularly that of Boulle himself, whose work has been characterized as grand to the point of megalomaniacal (if not fascist). All of that impressive architecture is quite present onscreen, often used to signal that our lead is being dwarfed by the scale of the art around him. You can stream The Belly of an Architect on Prime Video. The Belly of an Architect (1987) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video High-Rise (2015) An adaptation of J.G. Ballard's same-titled dystopian novel, High-Rise stars Tom Hiddleston as Dr. Robert Laing, who is living in a London tower building where things have gone rather hideously wrong (they're eating the dogs, literally). We journey back a few months to meet the architect, played by Jeremy Irons, who's designed a (rather cool-looking) building that's the absolute tops in elegant modern livingat least for the wealthier residents who live on the upper floors. When class warfare inevitably breaks out between them and the less fortunate lower denizens, things grow increasingly grim, but the architect remains free, for a time, to blandly philosophize about the impact of his designs on society. After all, he doesn't have to live there. You can stream High-Rise on Max or rent it from Prime Video. High-Rise (2015) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Inception (2010) Inception captures what must be an architect's dream, before bringing things back down to earth in extremely commonplace ways. Elliott Page plays Ariadne, a graduate-level architecture student hired to design the architecture of a literal dream, with no budgetary nor design restrictions. The designs need to be believable on an intuitive level, with an idiosyncratic logic that a dreamer wouldn't question. Of course, capitalism rears its head even here: This isn't some grand plan for art unbridled by reality; it's all in service of an ultra-rich businessman with an eye towards stealing corporate secretsa reminder that even our dreams are constrained by greed. You can stream Inception on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. Inception (2010) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Fountainhead (1949) I'd rather eat my own head than read another magniloquent Ayn Rand doorstopper, but this adaptation of her landmark book, directed by King Vidor, is certainly focused on its lead character's professionthough using it to make a larger point about how anyone who caves in to popular tastes is a dirty communist or something. Gary Cooper stars as Howard Roark, faced with a full-blown newspaper campaign aimed at putting a stop to his individual spirit and idiosyncratic designs. The central love affair between Roark and icy cool Dany Taggert (Patricia Neal) provides a bit of melodramatic fun, and the cinematography is stunning. The central message about being true to your own muse is also on the button, even if the narrative pushes that idea to pretty wacky extremes (though without some of the novel's more odious overtones). You can stream The Fountainhead on The Criterion Channel. The Fountainhead (1949) at The Criterion Channel Learn More Learn More at The Criterion Channel Mon Oncle (1958) I've endeavored to stick to films that deal with architects, or at least with building design as a profession, but it's hard to avoid Jacques Tati when talking about the ways in which architecture impacts our lives. The second of the director's films in which he stars as the hopelessly awkward Monsieur Hulot (and his first in color), this one finds Hulot spending time with his nephew and family in their ultra-modern, relentlessly geometric house in a new Paris suburban development. Brilliantly, hilariously conceived, the Villa Arpel is a triumph of style over substance, with comfort and tradition giving way at every turn to capitalistic modernity. Chairs are nearly impossible to sit on, flagstones are positioned so that it's impossible to walk, and ostensibly convenient appliances are so loud, you can barely think. It's a satire buoyed by physical comedy, but astute as to the ways in which architecture and design can try to improve our lives and go terribly wrong in the process. You can stream Mon Oncle on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Mon Oncle (1958) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Amityville: It's About Time (1992) From the sublimely ridiculous to the just plain ridiculous: A highlight (relatively) of a series that stretches to dozens of movies (don't feel bad if you've lost track of the Amityville oeuvre), It's About Time reminds us that urban planning and architectural design aren't just about blueprints and mathematics, they're also about vibes. If, for instance, you're hired to design a new neighborhood in Amityville, as is the case for architect Jacob Sterling (Stephen Macht), never use an old clock from the ruins of an infamous murder house as your inspiration. It will end badly for all parties. You can stream Amityville: It's About Time on Tubi, Freevee, and Prime Video. Amityville: It's About Time (1992) at Freevee Learn More Learn More at Freevee Jungle Fever (1991) Architecture isn't the defining feature of this 1991 Spike Lee joint, but it does speak to a dearth of Black American architects both in film and in real life. Harlem architect Flipper Purify (Wesley Snipes) has built an impressive career for himself, as well as a solid family lifeat least until he starts an affair with a temp (Annabella Sciorra) assigned to him by an agency. Being an architect in a movie is often a shorthand way of suggesting middle-class, white-collar success, and is almost entirely restricted to white characters (think Sleepless in Seattle); despite the enormous contributions of Black structural designers to American design history, the percentage of white people in field remains somewhere in high 90s. In movies, that number is closer to 100%honestly Flipper is the only non-white cinematic architect I came across while assembling this roundup. So whether or not you approve of his extramarital engagements, you can certainly give him credit as a trailblazer. You can rent Jungle Fever from Prime Video. Jungle Fever (1991) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Columbus (2017) Indie filmaker Kogonada (After Yang, Pachinko) made his debut with this quiet relationship drama that makes stunning use of the structural design features of Columbus, Indianaa surprising place, perhaps, to focus on architecture. John Cho stars as Jin Lee, returning to the title town to care for his estranged father, now in a coma in a local hospital. He meets library worker Casey (Haley Lu Richardson), and the two explore Columbus together, with the composition of the city serving as backdrop (and sometimes mirror) to their developing relationship, even as topics of conversation turn on her knowledge of local architecture and her desire to enter the field. It's a quiet, subtle film that's as close to pure cinema as we get in the 21st century. You can rent Columbus from Prime Video. Columbus (2017) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Black Cat (1934) A stunning expressionist masterpiece with grisly horror trappings, the architecture of The Black Cat serves the story as much as it embellishes it. Boris Karloff plays architect and former Austro-Hungarian army officer Hjalmar Poelzig, who has built an ultra-modern, Bauhaus-style house on the ruins of the fort that he'd betrayed to the Russians during World War II. Its modernity conceals a bevy of occult mysteries, howeverit's a haunted house unlike any that had come before, and its stylish sterility comes to feel like a trap in and of itself. Director Edward G. Elmer had been a set designer in Germany before fleeing the rise of the Nazis, and it's hard not to see parallels between the movie and conditions in Germany at the end of the Weimar Republic, when a thin veneer of progress was built atop literal corpses. You can rent The Black Cat from Prime Video. The Black Cat (1934) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video

It feels like every major tech company is totally convinced that AI is the future. And for all I know, they may be right. But while were waiting for someone to develop our seemingly inevitable AGI-based overlords, we have to suffer through every baby step to get todays machine learning-powered features. Unfortunately, thats a problem for gadgets like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra because when the biggest focus of a new $1,300 flagship smartphone is iterative AI updates, the device can feel a bit underwhelming. Combine that with hardware that seems like its been frozen in time for the last couple of years and you get something that leaves you wanting more.Design and display: Rounded corners, Gorilla Armor 2 and not much elseFor this years Ultra, Samsung wanted to give the phone a softer, more curvy appearance to reinforce the familial resemblance between it and its less expensive siblings. And by rounding off the S25 Ultras corners, Id say mission accomplished. Elsewhere, its front and back glass are now made of Corning Gorilla Armor 2, which features a new version of the companys anti-reflective coating and looks great. When combined with bezels that are 15 percent smaller than before, you get a phone with super clean lines and a slightly larger 6.9-inch display (up from 6.8 inches) without an increase in its physical size.But make no mistake, the S25U still feels a lot like the last two Ultras that came before it. Its flat edges give it a very boxy feel, and even though the Note line is dead, theres still the requisite cubby hole for the S Pen. However, for 2025 the included stylus has gotten a minor downgrade now that Samsung has removed support for Bluetooth Low Energy. This means it no longer supports Air action gestures, so you cant use it as a remote camera trigger or to do things like switch cameras or change photo modes.Samsung claims this loss of functionality shouldnt be a big deal as a tiny fraction of people actually used the feature. Plus, if you want a way to remotely snap a photo, there are other methods like holding your hand up to the camera or using a Galaxy Ring or Watch. But if youre one of the few who did enjoy Air actions, its an unfortunate step backward. Thankfully, for those who absolutely need a stylus with gesture support, you can still get that functionality from Samsungs optional S Pen Pro.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetOne small thing I do want to call out is the improved anti-reflective coating on the S25 Ultras screen. It strikes an almost perfect balance between typical glossy displays and the matte texture used on traditional desktop monitors. Colors remain vivid while still cutting out the most distracting forms of glare, and with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, the screen dazzles in practically any environment.Performance: More speed than youll know what to do withThe Galaxy S Ultra has never lacked power, but that didnt stop Samsung from adding even more speed thanks to Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. This thing absolutely flies and theres not much you can do to slow it down. Samsung has even tightened up the animations in One UI so that the phone feels as responsive as its benchmarks suggest, which are up as much as 30 to 40 percent depending on the task (or closer to 15 percent while gaming). The one wrinkle to this is that, when under heavy loads, the S25 Ultra does become a bit power-hungry, which can result in slightly faster-than-expected battery drain when doing heavy multitasking or running demanding apps.Software: Just what you wanted, more AISam Rutherford for EngadgetThe S25 Ultras main focus for this year is on improved AI. This can be seen across a number of new and improved features (and some obvious inspiration from rivals like Apple and Google) with the general goal of making all of its tools more powerful, more intuitive and in many cases, easier to use with your voice.The first major addition is Samsungs Now Brief, which adds a personalized feed filled with things like the weather, local traffic, upcoming calendar appointments, the news and more. It gets refreshed periodically throughout the day (morning, midday, afternoon, etc.) and by using what Samsung calls its Personal Data Engine, it will attempt to learn what you like instead of having you check off a list of tickboxes. Its a handy tool, though for anyone already familiar with the Android ecosystem, its not especially groundbreaking. And it does take time for the phone to understand what you do and dont care about, which adds a bit of a learning curve to the process.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetNow Briefs also works with Samsungs Now bar to surface relevant events in other areas of the phone specifically your lock screen and notification shade. Its meant to help you keep tabs on apps youre using (like how long youve let the Voice Recorder app run) or stuff like sports scores, with the ability to toggle between different things simply by swiping left and right. Its helpful, but forgive me if this is becoming repetitive, because many of these look like duplicate versions of stuff like Googles Live Notifications.Meanwhile, if you open the Edge Panel by swiping in on the tab on the right side of the screen, youll see even more AI features. AI Select is a revamped take on Smart Select, which helps you take screenshots, turn videos into gifs and more. Drawing Assist is the tool formerly known as Sketch to Image, which lets you create art by doodling with the S Pen or using text inputs. And then theres the self-explanatory Interpreter app, plus an icon for Now Brief in case you dont like using the widget. All of these sort of work just like you expect them to, and in some cases like when drawing, the resulting images are a touch more detailed and realistic than before. But to me, the biggest upgrade across Samsungs second-gen AI suite is a slightly more cohesive UI that makes learning what each tool can do a bit easier.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetPerhaps my favorite new use of AI is improved natural language commands throughout the phone. For example in the Gallery app, you can search for specific subjects just by hitting the asking Gemini (or Bixby too, if youre into that). Its a convenient way to quickly find a specific photo amongst thousands of shots though once again, theres similar functionality in Google Photos. But more importantly, you can use voice commands to do stuff like change device settings or even add events to your calendar. And you dont even need to be very specific. When I asked the phone to add the next Knicks game to my calendar, I didnt need to give it any more information than that. It all feels slightly magical, even if its not an essential part of my day.Cameras: A new ultra-wide sensor but thats about itSam Rutherford for EngadgetLike its predecessors, the S25 Ultra features a 200-megapixel main camera and a 50MP telephoto with a 5x zoom. The one upgrade is a new 50MP sensor for its ultra-wide lens (up from 12MP). As youd expect, expansive landscape pics look a touch sharper thanks to the increased resolution, though aside from that, there arent a ton of immediately obvious improvements to the rest of the phones general image quality.As youd expect, in bright light the S25 Ultra captures lovely images with rich details and vibrant colors. However, I did notice that Samsungs penchant for going slightly overboard on sharpening can still be an issue. The new ultra-wide sensor also provides a noticeable upgrade in image quality to the point where I prefer it over what the Pixel 9 Pro can do. But I must admit, compared to the main camera or even the 5x zoom, that lens is the one I use the least, so it doesnt have as much of an impact on my overall photography.In low light, the S25 Ultra nearly kept pace with Googles Night Sight mode on the Pixel 9 Pro, and in a few situations, it pulled ahead. However, I had a hard time spotting how much of an effect Samsungs improved noise reduction had on nighttime graininess. Regardless, even with a few hiccups, the S25 Ultra proved it can hang with other top-tier shooters from Google and others.Meanwhile, in the Camera and Gallery apps, there are some handy tweaks including the new Audio Eraser feature. It uses AI to identify a handful of different sound types (such as speech, wind noise and more) before creating a custom EQ that lets you adjust things on the fly. This is great for those times when youre shooting video and ambient sounds make it hard to hear what people are saying. You can also create and save custom photo filters to ensure all your pics on social media have a unique and consistent look.Additionally, for more advanced users, theres a virtual aperture setting that gives you a bit more control over depth of field, though it's still not nearly as good as being able to physically switch lenses like you can on a proper camera. And for even more demanding content creators, Samsung created a new Galaxy Log video format that allows you to more easily edit and color grade your footage. That said, unless youre a YouTuber or hardcore video junkie, you may not get a ton of use out of these tools, especially with the latter of the two being restricted to Samsungs Expert Raw app (which doesnt come pre-installed).Battery life and charging: Samsung is cutting corners with its Qi2 readinessSam Rutherford for EngadgetThe size of the Galaxy S25 Ultras 5,000 mAh power pack hasnt changed in five years, but thats OK because you still get great battery life. On our local video rundown test, it lasted an incredible 29 hours and 27 minutes, which is up almost two hours compared to last years phone. That said, its important to note that the S25U loses in both capacity and longevity to the OnePlus 13, whose 6,000 mAh cell posted an even better time of 30:18.Wired charging is staying put at up to 45 watts and annoyingly it's a very similar story when using wireless pads as well. Thats because while technically the S25 Ultra supports version 2.1 of the WPCs Qi charging spec and is said to be Qi2 ready, because Samsung didnt include magnets inside the phone, it wont work with the wide variety of Qi2 accessories on sale today. At least not without some help. For that, you need to rely on a Qi2 charging case to add the proper alignment and mounting point needed to attach magnetic peripherals.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetFor a lot of Android phones users, this is really disappointing after seeing the wealth of MagSafe gadgets that iPhone users have enjoyed for several generations. As the biggest phone maker on the planet, Samsung has a lot of sway when it comes to fostering the adoption of useful protocols like Qi2 and seeing them stop short of truly supporting the spec is a bit bewildering.Wrap upThe S25 Ultra is a hugely versatile phone, but this edition of Samsungs flagship is hard to get excited about. Thats because while it's one of the few handsets with an included stylus and a long 5x telephoto zoom, its general hardware and capabilities havent changed much since the previous generation. Or even two models back for that matter. Even so, the screens on Samsung phones are unrivaled while camera quality remains among the best. And while its battery hasnt gotten bigger in years, longevity remains strong. Then you add in a new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with blazing performance and you get a phone thats good at pretty much everything. But for $1,300, it better be able to deliver on all that and more.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetAnd it's that and more where the S25 Ultras value proposition gets a bit awkward. The phones biggest advancements are more powerful software and AI. Features like AI Select, Now Brief and improved natural language commands make the phone smarter and easier to use. But consider this: If you could pay for those tools separately, how much extra would you fork over to get more sophisticated AI on your phone? For many, that number might be zero, or at the very least a way less than the price of upgrading and the hassle of setting up a new phone and then figuring out how to use it.This means a lot of what Samsung focused on in this generation feels more like a bonus rather than a must-have feature. And when you can get around 90 percent of the phones capabilities from previous models, the most dangerous thing Samsung is asking buyers to consider is why they need to upgrade at all.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-ultra-review-too-much-ai-not-enough-ultra-140022798.html?src=rss

Vodafone has demonstrated the capabilities of a new satellite network by making what it calls the "world's first" satellite video call, albeit with some caveats. The company used partner AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellites specifically designed to transmit 4G/5G mobile broadband signals from space. That technology will give users broadband cellular capability with any 4G/5G smartphone in remote areas lacking traditional mobile coverage.In its demonstration, Vodafone Group's chief executive Margherita Della Valle explained that the BlueBird satellites can connect directly with a regular smartphone, then transmit the signal back to Vodafone's terrestrial network via a satellite link. She then took a call from an engineer in a remote mountain region of Wales, a "nought spot" with no cellular coverage. The quality was a bit low-res and had substantial lag, but was decent otherwise.AST SpaceMobile's five BlueBird satellites have onboard communications arrays that give off-the-shelf smartphones the same voice, data and video speeds as a broadband tower, up to 120 megabits per second. Once operational, the satellites will provide "non-continuous cellular broadband service across the United States and in select markets globally." That will allow cell users to communicate even in areas with limited broadband tower coverage, like rural communities or national parks.SpaceX's Starlink has already made a satellite video call using a regular mobile phone, so Vodafone hedged its claim substantially. Specifically, the company said it made the "world's first space video call from an area of no coverage using a standard mobile phone and commercial satellites built to offer a full mobile broadband experience."T-Mobile is working on a similar US network in partnership with Starlink's Direct-to-Cell service, but it will be limited to text messages at first. It's also possible right now to connect to dedicated satellite phone networks using specific iPhone and Google Pixel models that have custom modems but that's limited to low-data communications like SMS messages and emergency alerts.Vodafone's network, by contrast, would allow a full-fat broadband cellular experience when it launches in Europe, likely by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, AT&T, Verizon and AST SpaceMobile will begin testing in the US this spring, but no launch date (or pricing) for stateside service has been announced yet.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/vodafone-demonstrates-worlds-first-satellite-video-call-with-a-standard-mobile-phone-134509766.html?src=rss

Teamgroup 2TB Pro+ microSDXC delivers 160MB/s read speed and pricing flexibility with ongoing offers at Newegg.

Lego is celebrating its latest flower sets with a Botanical Garden pop-up, and we got to see the latest sets from the brand.

One of the largest nonprofit blood centers in the country, New York Blood Center (NYBC), said in a statement on its website that it was hit with a ransomware attack over the weekend and is now experiencing disruptions in its services, including longer-than-normal processing times for blood donations, plus the cancelling and rescheduling of some blood donations.NYBC provides blood to over 200 hospitals in the northeast, including New York and New Jersey, and transfusion-related medical services to more than 500 hospitals across the nation.At this time, we do not have a specific timetable for system restoration, NYBC said in the statement. We are working diligently with third-party experts to restore our systems as quickly and safely as possible.What happened?On Sunday, January 26, NYBC Enterprises identified suspicious activity affecting its IT systems. It contacted cybersecurity experts who investigated and confirmed it was the result of a ransomware incident.We took immediate steps to help contain the threat, including taking certain systems offline, NYBC confirmed in its statement. The attack comes at a critical time, when blood donations in the U.S. are at a significantly low level. Currently, the New York and New Jersey region face a blood emergency resulting from a 30% drop in donations in recent weeks since the holidays, totaling 6,500 fewer donations and crippling the regions blood supply, according to the NYBC.What can I do to help?Donations typically decrease during the holidays, and this January poses additional challenges with colder than normal temperatures causing blood drive cancellations, and flu, COVID-19, and RSV symptoms reducing donor eligibility.Currently, donations of all blood types are urgently needed, especially Types O and B, which are down to a dangerously low 1- to 3-day supply.In the coming weeks, NYBC may have to do another push for more blood donations. If youre eligible, you can donate, but be prepared for the possibility of longer wait times or unexpected scheduling changes.Heres more information about how to donate.

The return-to-office (RTO) push at companies such as Amazon and AT&Twhich both required employees to be back in the office full-time this monthhas been met with discontent and frustration from much of their workforces. Some Amazon employees have said they are looking for new jobs, if they havent left already, while people at both companies have reportedly struggled to even find an open desk.But other leaders are not letting the prospect of low morale or limited workspace derail their plans to return to the office full time in 2025. According to a memo obtained by Business Insider, the latest addition to the mix is Dell, which had already tested the waters with an RTO policy that applied to just a handful of departments. As of September, employees on the sales team and across a subset of other roles (including leadership positions) were asked to return to the office.Starting in March, however, Dell also will be retiring the hybrid policy and expect most employees to be in the office five days a week. The new mandate will apply to all employees who live within about an hour commute of a Dell officeregardless of whether they currently have a remote or hybrid arrangement. (A Dell spokesperson did not clarify whether employees who live farther would have to request an exemption or would automatically be allowed to continue working remotely.)According to Business Insider, employees who remained remote would not be put up for promotion without explicit approval from three senior leaders. This seems to be a slight shift from a policy Dell already had in place that rendered fully remote employees ineligible for promotion.What were finding is that for all the technology in the world, nothing is faster than the speed of human interaction, CEO Michael Dell wrote in the memo. A 30-second conversation can replace an email back-and-forth that goes on for hours or even days. In a statement to Fast Company, a Dell spokesperson added, We continually evolve our business so were set up to deliver the best innovation, value, and service to our customers and partners. That includes more in-person connections to drive market leadership.In his memo, the CEO noted that across departments that had started coming into the office, we have seen these areas come alive with new speed, energy, and passion. Other CEOs and business leaders have used similar rationale to justify bringing workers back to the office at least three days a week, with a growing number of companies ramping up to five days.Amazon CEO Andy Jassy echoed that sentiment when he announced that starting in 2025, the RTO policy would require employees to come into the office daily, rather than just three days a week. When we look back over the last five years, we continue to believe that the advantages of being together in the office are significant, he wrote in a memo. If anything, the last 15 months weve been back in the office at least three days a week has strengthened our conviction about the benefits.Like Jassy, Michael Dell had previously expressed his support for remote work. As recently as late 2022, Dell had openly said, From my experience, if you are counting on forced hours spent in a traditional office to create collaboration and provide a feeling of belonging within your organization, youre doing it wrong. But as corporate America has shown over the past few years, hes not the first business leader to make such a drastic reversal on remote workand certainly wont be the last.

Im willing to fight anyone who thinks tiny EDC is somehow inferior to regular-sized EDC. Size isnt the measure of usefulnessefficiency is. A well-designed micro tool isnt just a scaled-down version of something bigger; its an exercise in precision, stripping away excess until only the essentials remain. The best compact gear doesnt make you compromiseit forces designers to think smarter, engineer tighter, and create something that earns its place in your pocket. When done right, a micro tool can outshine its bulkier counterparts simply by being there when you need it, without getting in the way when you dont.Thats exactly why the BladeNex titanium micro folding scalpel is worth talking about. Weighing less than half an ounce and shorter than a house key, it vanishes into your gear until the moment calls for it. And when it does, the replaceable scalpel blade cuts like a surgeons instrument. From slicing open boxes to detail work that a bulky knife would struggle with, BladeNex proves that being small doesnt mean sacrificing performance. It just means carrying smarter.Designer: MIHClick Here to Buy Now: $42 $59 (29% off) Hurry! Only 28 of 150 units left.At just 2.42 inches when closed and weighing a mere 0.44 ounces, BladeNex is almost imperceptible in your pocket, yet it unfolds into a razor-sharp scalpel with an interchangeable blade system. Unlike bulky pocket knives that demand real estate in your pocket or bag, this one slips onto your keychain, tucks into your wallet, or clips discreetly to your gear. Its small enough to forget about but reliable enough that youll reach for it every day.Crafted from premium GR5 titanium, the body is as tough as it is lightweight, resisting corrosion while maintaining a sleek, modern aesthetic. The titanium isnt just about durabilityit also contributes to the knifes refined, minimalist design, ensuring it looks as good as it performs. The sandblasted and PVD black finish options add a touch of personalization, allowing you to choose between a rugged matte texture or a stealthy, polished look.Microblades arent really given much gravitas in the EDC-purist circles because their compactness takes a front-seat with their design, sometimes overshadowing functionality. I personally dont believe in that school of thought a blade is as useful as its designed to be, whether its 4 inches long or half that size. The BladeNex is tiny, but that isnt its entire personality. Its built for roughing it out, thanks to the titanium construction, and handles travel and the outdoors exceptionally well, owing to its compact form.Open it and its fairly easy to grasp. Dont expect hyper-ergonomic handles and grips. Think of gripping it the way you would a small screwdriver or a pencil. The small design gives you dexterity with the added advantage of a sharp blade that gets the job done. The edgy, angular design of the BladeNex allows for a steady grip, and that #11 scalpel blade is deathly sharp (if youve ever used an Xacto knife you know what Im talking about). To bolster safety, the BladeNex integrates a locking mechanism that secures the blade during use and prevents accidental openings. The latch-release system ensures the knife only deploys when intended, reducing the risk of mishaps.The sharp, pointed blade is perfect for indoor use (opening packages) as well as outdoor use (whittling wood, starting fires, etc.) The tool-steel construction gives it reliable sharpness and edge-retention, but just in case the blade breaks or goes dull, the BladeNex lets you easily swap out an old blade for a new one. Besides, steel is relatively non-corrosive and food-safe, which means you can easily use the BladeNex to cut fruits, veggies, and meats while on a camping trip.The BladeNexs interchangeable blade system is an incredibly handy and underrated feature. Unlike traditional folding knives that require sharpening, this micro scalpel uses readily available #11 replacement blades. Swap out a dull blade in seconds and get back to precision cutting without the hassle of stropping or honing. This makes it particularly appealing to professionals and hobbyists who need an always-sharp edge for crafts, model-making, or even minor medical applications. It also makes the BladeNex TSA-friendly, allowing you to carry the EDC without the blade onto flights.An integrated back clip allows you to attach it to your pocket, belt, or bag, ensuring its always within reach. A built-in keychain hole expands the possibilitiesclip it to your keys, wear it as a pendant, or stash it discreetly on a zipper pull. For those who operate in low-light conditions, the BladeNex even features a tritium slot, allowing for the addition of a glow tube that keeps the knife visible in darkness.Aesthetically, the BladeNex comes in two finishes: Sandblasted Titanium and PVD Black. The sandblasted version offers a classic, industrial look with a textured surface for enhanced grip, while the PVD Black finish adds a sleek, modern edge with increased wear resistance. Both options maintain the lightweight durability that titanium is known for, ensuring long-term reliability.At 2.2 inches when closed and weighing 12.3 grams (as much as an AirTag), the BladeNex is a portability champion. Its small enough to string around your keysClick Here to Buy Now: $42 $59 (29% off) Hurry! Only 28 of 150 units left.The post Small As A Key, Sharp As A Sword: This $42 Titanium Microblade Is a Must-Have for EDC Lovers first appeared on Yanko Design.

Terrorizing classmates, spending a night in jail, tripping on LSD: This isnt the Bill Gates you know.

CallingFallout: New Vegasa fan-favourite would be something of an understatement. The FPS action RPG is regarded not only as one of the betterFalloutgames, but also as one of developer Obsidian Entertainments best ever outings. Now, one of acclaimed titles creative leads has returned to the studio to work on something new.John Gonzalez, who served as the lead writer onFallout: New Vegas,has returned to Obsidian Entertainment. He announced the same on LinkedIn, confirming that he is returning as a Creative Director. Its unknown what project hes working on, but elsewhere on his profile, he says it isnt a sequel toFallout: New Vegas.Gonzalez departed from Obsidian Entertainment in 2011. Since then, he has worked as lead narrative designer onMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordor,and narrative director onHorizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden West.Obsidian Entertainment has two major titles due out this year in the form ofAvowedandThe Outer Worlds 2.