In Seattles historic Wedgwood neighborhood, a 1970s home has been revitalized for modern living, thanks to a collaboration between Best Practice Architecture and Ainslie-Davis, a family-owned contracting firm with a sentimental connection to the property. The home, originally crafted by the late uncle of the Ainslie Davis team, has been reimagined to accommodate the evolving needs of a young family while respecting its architectural lineage.The project, affectionately named The Wedge(wood), embodies a thoughtful balance of preservation and transformation. The redesign begins with the heart of the home the kitchen. Outdated and enclosed, the space was opened up to establish a fluid connection to the dining area. A wooden bench now anchors the room, seamlessly transitioning between the kitchen and dining space. The addition of a lowered leaf on the kitchen island encourages the childrens active participation in meal prep, making the space as functional as it is welcoming.The redesign also honors key original features, such as the sunken living room and its vintage wood-burning stove, giving nostalgic nods to the homes past. To better integrate this space with the adjacent kitchen and dining areas, the architects replaced partial-height walls with custom wood shelving, maintaining openness while subtly delineating the zones. The shelves wrap the seating area without disrupting sightlines to the outdoors.One of the most significant structural changes was the conversion of a covered porch into a dedicated mudroom. In a city known for its rainy weather, this space featuring patterned tiles and ample storage provides a practical and cheerful entryway for managing wet gear. This update added valuable square footage to the home, directly addressing the needs of the active household.Upstairs, the renovations continued with the addition of a full bathroom and the reconfiguration of an underutilized great room into a bedroom and playroom for the familys younger members. The primary suite underwent a transformation that maximized natural light from clerestory windows and introduced an airy connection between the bedroom and a newly designed spa-like bathroom. By removing the top portion of a dividing wall, the space now offers serene views of the surrounding trees and sky, enhancing the homes tranquil ambiance.For more information on Best Practice Architecture, visit bestpracticearchitecture.com.Photography by Rafael Soldi, courtesy of Best Practice Architecture.

Screenshots are a core pillar of the smartphone experience. When you come across something you simply must share with friends, family, or followers, taking a screenshot is often the fastest way to do so. But if you recently bought a brand-new Android phone, and especially if youre coming from an iPhone, you might have no idea how to take screenshots.Unlike iPhones, which are all made by Apple, Android phones come from many different manufacturers. You might be trying to figure out how to take a screenshot on your Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus, Nokia, or Motorola. All are running Android, but each deals with Android in its own unique way. Luckily, screenshot shortcuts have largely been standardized, and the tips below should work on most moderns Android devices.If these general tips dont help, or you want to dive deeper, look up the manual for your specific phone to see all the ways you can take screenshots on it.How to take a general screenshot on AndroidFirst, try this: Press and release the Power and Volume down buttons at the same time. If it worked, youll see an onscreen flash, and your screenshot minimized as a thumbnail. This gesture should work on most modern Android devices, including those from Google, Samsung, and OnePlus. Its the evolution of the traditional shortcut where youd hold down the Home button (remember that?) and the Volume down button. Credit: Jake Peterson The exact timing of these button presses may vary per phone, so experiment with your device. The Pixel I have available, for example, takes a screenshot when you quickly press and release these buttons together, but you may need to hold the buttons together for a second or more for it to work. Another shortcut that works on some versions of Android is to hold down the Power button until you see expanded options appear. If your phone and Android version supports it, you should see a Screenshot option here. How to take a screenshot with voice controlIf youre a voice control person, your phones digital assistant will likely take a screenshot if you ask it to. For example, say Hey Google, take a screenshot, and the assistant will follow suit. You can also pull up your assistant with a keypresslike long-pressing your Power buttonand ask that way.How to take a gesture screenshot on AndroidDepending on your phone, you may have the option to take a screenshot using a gesture. On Pixel, for example, this option appears when you pull up from the bottom of the display as if you were switching apps. When you do, you should see a Screenshot option appear on the bottom of the screen for the app youre hovering over. You can also do this with three button controllers by pressing the Overview (square) button.You can also use a feature called Quick Tap to take screenshots. Quick Tap assigns a function on your phone to activate after you double-tap the back of your device. To set this up, head to Settings > System > Gestures > Quick Tap, then enable the toggle next to Use Quick Tap. Take screenshot should be the default option, but if not, select it. Going forward, you can use the index finger on your hand that's holding the phone to quickly double-tap the back of your device. When done correctly, this will trigger a screenshot. On Galaxy phones, you can head to Settings > Advanced features > Motions and gestures, then enable Palm swipe to capture. Going forward, you can swipe your palm across the display to take a screenshot. How to take a screenshot with your Galaxy's S PenIf you have a Galaxy phone with an S Pen, you can use your stylus to take a screenshot. To do so, take out the S Pen, tap the Air command menu icon, and then tap Screen write to take a screenshot. Note: With the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung removed Bluetooth functionality with the S Pen, which means Air command features (like screenshots) won't work.How to take a scrolling screenshot on AndroidA scrolling screenshot (or full page screenshot) takes a picture of the entire page youre visiting, rather than just the portion that appears onscreen. Theyre great for saving longer pages, like news articles. If you know how to take a screenshot, you almost know how to take a scrolling screenshot. Start by taking a screenshot as you normally would, then choose the scrolling capture button that appears next to the screenshot thumbnail. On Pixel, that's Capture more; on Galaxy, it's Scroll Capture, and on OnePlus, it's Scroll. Here's how things continue, at least on Pixel: Android will open a new window, showing the entire page in one long image. The original screenshot appears in a crop window: You can resize it to take a screenshot of any section of the page, or, most usefully, drag the bottom of the crop window all the way down to take a screenshot of the full page. Other smartphones may handle the particulars a bit differently, but the general function should be the same. Credit: Jake Peterson How to screen record on AndroidIf you're looking to record your phone's display, none of the above will help. Instead, you'll want to use Quick Settings. To start, swipe down from the top of the screen, then tap Screen record. Choose whether you want to record A single app or your Entire screen, then choose whether to record audio (and its source). If you've chosen Entire screen, choose whether to Show touches on screen or not (helpful if using the screen recording to show someone how to do something). Then, hit Start recording. Your phone will count down from three, then start recording. To stop recording, swipe down from the top of the screen, then hit Stop.If you don't have the option, swipe down from the top of your display, then tap the pencil icon. Here, find Screen record, then tap and drag it to the position where you want it. Where do screenshots go on Android?When you take a screenshot on your Android phone, they'll end up in your photos app. For example, I use Google Photos on my Pixel, so to retrieve my screenshots, I open Photos, choose Collections, then choose Screenshots. If you need to take screenshots on your other devices, check out our guides below:All the Ways to Take Screenshots on WindowsHow to Take a Screenshot on a MacHow to Take a Screenshot on a Chromebook

The idea of eating a pile of onions seems absolutely absurduntil you caramelize them and make them into soup. Suddenly, and your entire family is talking about an onion dinner with great reverence. You might think its the cheesy raft of bread floating on top that wins hearts, but students of umami know to credit the sweet, hearty, caramelized flavor from a mountain of slowly cooked sliced onions. Caramelizing onions is an annoying business, which is why Id like to present you with a version that doesnt demand helicopter babysitting.If youve ever successfully caramelized onions before, you know it takes at least 45 minutes to do it properly. In order to get silky-soft, deeply browned strands of onion in your average pot, youve got to cook them over low heat and stir them frequently to prevent burning. Knowing that youre already signing up for a bit of a process regardless, why not make the technique less precarious with the mighty Dutch oven?French onion soup was made for the Dutch ovenThis method does take plenty of time to cook, but the weighty material of a Dutch oven allows for evenly distributed heat, allowing you to cook the onions slowly, without the dreaded hot spots that threaten scorched alliums. This method essentially braises them in their own buttery onion broth until they're extremely soft. The lid keeps the moisture in, so the flavors can fully blossom and the onions won't start browning too fast. Eight to 10 cups of sliced onions will cook down to less than half of this volume. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Dutch ovens have the added benefit of being enamel glazed. When fond (the bits of food that stick to the bottom of the pot and brown) occurs in a regular pot, you have to scrape it up pretty quickly so it doesnt scorch. The glass finish of a Dutch oven doesnt seem to burn fond as quickly, and the slick surface easily releases it whenever you get around to stirring.With this low-maintenance method, you can basically chill for the first 45 minutes. You'll then face roughly 15 minutes of intermittent action in the middle, before letting the soup simmer away for another 20 minutes. (All the while, youll be enjoying the most intoxicating aroma of caramelized onions and butter.) Caramelized onions before adding any beef broth. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann This soup is broth-y but full of soft, velvety onions, and rich in umami. Plus a slab of cheesy bread never hurt anyone. (Though they seem like small additions, I must insist on the herbsthey elevate the dish, and once you let them simmer for 15 minutes youll smell the difference.)Low and Slow French Onion Soup RecipeIngredients:4 tablespoons unsalted butter8 to 10 cups sliced onions (use a variety or one type)1 teaspoon saltA splash of sherry vinegar (about a tablespoon or so)A splash of dry red wine (about a tablespoon or so)3 cups of beef broth6 sprigs of thyme2 small bay leavesSlices of stale hearty bread for toppingSemi-firm cheese for topping1. Melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the onions and salt, and give it all a thorough toss. Cover the pot with its lid and let it simmer and cook the onions for about 15 minutes.2. Remove the lid and stir the onions. They should be very soft and theyll have released a lot of water. If its bubbling viciously, reduce the heat for a steady simmer. Let them continue to cook, uncovered, for another 30 to 45 minutes, but come around and give them a stir every 10 minutes or so to check on things. The buttery onion water will reduce during this time.3. At the end of this cooking time youll notice a few brown bits develop and the onions will become more golden. This is when you need to be more present. Continue cooking the onions, but scrape and stir them every three to five minutes. Theyll begin to darken. Do this until youre happy with the color of your onions. If they ever become too dry, you can add a splash of water to help deglaze the fond on the bottom of the pot.3. Stir in the sherry vinegar and wine, then add the broth and herbs. Let this simmer together for 20 minutes on low heat. You can cover the pot, but crack the lid.4. Meanwhile, top the bread slices with cheese. (Classically a gruyre is used but you can use Swiss, pecorino, provolone, or anything with a little bite.) Broil the sliced bread to melt the cheese.5. Remove the herbs from the soup. If you have extra stale bread, chop it up and drop some into the bottom of each soup bowl. Spoon the soup into the bowls and shave some cheese over it. Then top each serving with a slab of cheesy bread.

Proving that truly no IP is safe from modern reboot culture, Ataris Breakout is back. The upcoming version of the simple 1976 brick-smashing hit rotates the playing field by 90 degrees and adds auto-scrolling, neon effects, power-ups and local co-op. In other words, Breakout Beyond is the Tetris Effect formula applied to the Led Zeppelin-era arcade classic.The original Breakout was a product of dramatically more limited 1970s hardware, but its simplicity was part of its magic. Rows of bricks sat up top, a player-controlled paddle lived down below and a ball (actually a square, thanks to 70s graphics) bounced in between. Move paddle, hit ball, smash bricks, wow bellbottom-wearing arcadegoers.The core formula moving a paddle to bounce projectiles against bricks remains intact in Breakout Beyond. But the games landscape perspective, while better suited for todays televisions and monitors, may be hard for old-school gamers to get used to. Ditto for auto-scrolling, as this version pans left-to-right toward a goal rather than simply requiring you to break all the bricks on a fixed screen.AtariVisually, the new versions ball is more like a comet, with a long neon tail trailing off behind its round head. Seizure-inducing effects abound. And there are multiple balls to contend with, not just one. (However, Super Breakout, the original games direct sequel, had two modes with extra balls.)Like Tetris Effect, Breakout Beyond introduces combos, rewarding you with intensified visual and sound effects for stringing together streams of broken bricks. You can also break special blocks that unlock power-ups: bombs that clear out everything from a set radius, a force field to shield the ball and a freakin laser cannon that lets you blast bricks out of your way, a la Space Invaders.The game supports two-player local co-op so you can smash bricks with a couch buddy. It has 72 levels and an optional focus mode that slows down time (at the expense of higher scores).Breakout Beyond will arrive later this year for PC, Switch, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, PlayStation 5/4 and Ataris rebooted VCS console. Theres no pricing info yet. You can check it out in the trailer below and learn more on Ataris product page.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ataris-breakout-is-getting-a-side-scrolling-reboot-175410378.html?src=rss

Xbox just announced the new titles that will be available for Game Pass this month, and its a good list. Theres a big day one release, an indie gem and, of course, a newish Madden title. Lets get to it.The big news? Avowed is a day one release for subscribers. We knew Obsidians upcoming fantasy epic would come out on February 18, but now we know itll be instantly available for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass users. This is a first-person action RPG from the company that brought us Fallout: New Vegas, so its a pretty big deal. Its a spinoff of Pillars of Eternity, though set in a new land.Another Crabs Treasure is a unique soulslike that trades in the genres typical grimdark aesthetic for a bright, cartoon-like color palette. However, its still tough as nails. You play as a crab trying to get its shell back. The game was already available for Ultimate subscribers, but on February 5 it drops for Standard users.Madden NFL 25, not to be confused with the Madden 25 that actually came out in 2013, is EAs latest football sim. You know the drill here: Its a Madden game. The title will be available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on February 6.Far Cry New Dawn is available right now for all Game Pass tiers. This 2019 FPS fell under the radar a bit, but its a solid entry in the franchise. Its also set after a nuclear apocalypse, which is always a fun time.There are also some more games coming to Game Pass Standard that used to be locked behind an Ultimate subscription. These include Starfield and Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on February 5.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/februarys-game-pass-additions-include-avowed-and-madden-nfl-25-164313670.html?src=rss

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could land in July, with a bigger screen and more power than the current model.

Apple just announced an entirely new app, Apple Invites, and it's all about event planning. Here's everything you need to know, including why you need iCloud+.

Apple on Tuesday introduced a new app for creating event invitations called Apple Invites.

Google is slated to report fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday after the close of regular trading.

In recent years, pay transparency has grown increasingly common as many states have passed legislation to help arm workers with more data as they enter into salary negotiations. Across 14 states and many more localities, employers are now required to either provide explicit salary ranges in job postings or share that information during the hiring process. That means some of the biggest employers in the country now have to disclose compensation data in states like California and New York.But according to a new report from compensation platform Beqom, despite all this progress, many workers still feel like pay transparency isnt within reach and that they have little insight into how their compensation is being determined. Of the nearly 2,000 people surveyed, which included workers in both the U.S. and U.K., only 38% said they understood how their compensation was calculated. Over half of respondents also said they believed their performance reviews were subjective, which in turn could impact their compensation.When it comes to pay equity and transparency, many workers said that their employers did not adequately report data on pay disparities: Nearly 60% of U.S. employees said their company did not disclose information on gender-based pay gaps. More than half of workers also believed that their employer was not taking meaningful steps to address those pay gaps.Inflation also continues to be a major concern: Just 40% of respondents in the U.S. said their salaries were adjusted to match inflation in 2024. Wage stagnation was also a source of frustration for all respondents: Almost half of them said their pay had not increased in the last year and cited it as a top concern, alongside a lack of pay transparency. The findings on pay equity also underscore just how halting progress has been on combatting the gender pay gap. While pay transparency laws were intended to help mitigate pay gaps on the basis of race and gender, the data indicates that there has been limited movement on a broader scale: In fact, the gender pay gap actually increased in 2023 for the first time in 20 years, with women earning 83 cents on the dollar compared to men. While wages actually increased overall, men benefitted more than women did. Even as the gap has narrowed over the years, experts have also said its unlikely that the gap will disappear altogether due to a combination of factors, from fluctuations in the workforce to the motherhood penalty. But employers do have a role to play in helping women and other underrepresented employees reach parity in the workplace, from conducting pay equity audits to embracing pay transparency whether or not its mandated by lawand making sure they demonstrate a commitment to addressing those issues.