Eight months after it was first announced, Apple's first HomePods began shipping on February 9, 2018 and started a peculiar journey of life, death, and resurrection.Apple always promotes the HomePod as a powerful music playerThere's been a subtle but fundamental change about the HomePod since it was first launched, and especially since it was first rumored. But it isn't a technical change, it's an alteration in how we've come round to thinking of it the way Apple always wanted us to.Today, the HomePod sits in a range of Apple audio devices that includes the later HomePod mini, but also the whole AirPods range. The HomePod is a speaker, and if Apple doesn't make the absolute finest and greatest audio equipment, it certainly makes the most. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The real estate quandary that has become of the still-unfinished161 Maiden Lane (aka 1 Seaport or now "the Leaning Tower of New York") in Lower Manhattan captured the attention of The New Yorker writer Eric Lach recently, who tells us, "No broker in the world can sell a leaning tower at twenty-four hundred dollars per square foot, even if the lean is imperceptible to the naked eye."Considering432 Park Avenues well-known problems further Uptown, some say the saga might potentially spell the end for the skinny luxury archetype that has defined NYC's accidental skyline for two decades in favor of more sensible development.

At some point, the open-world genre almost unanimously stood for a stage of potential wonders. A second life of sorts, where you could lose yourself, potentially discovering new stories, mingling with characters and their schedules in fascinating ways. Over the years, however, open world has begun to mean something else a proposition, if you will, from the game to you. Almost like the developers are trying to convince you to take the plunge, and all those dozens of hours are potentially worth it.Instead of serving as a powerful tool to immerse players and provide a vehicle towards untold gameplay possibilities, the world exists as a series of tasks to complete. Its not like you cant have a successful or enjoyable game with that kind of approach, but its becoming a tired one. But hey, even if you grow bored, at least youre a level 100 something or the other and cleared all those icons on the map. Right?Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, as you probably guessed by now, isnt about checklists or ensuring your version of Henry of Skalitz ticks off all the content. Its not about ensuring youre comfortable and catered to at all times. No, the Kingdom of Bohemia in the 15th century only cares about existing on its own terms, primitive or counterintuitive as they may be between all the wars, strife, and murder. Yet its that same push and pull that ultimately makes it an experience unlike anything weve seen over the years, open-world or otherwise.Upon starting the game, you can rely on brute strength, words, or stealth. None of that will matter in the first few hours because youre stripped of everything armor, weapons, skills, even Henrys dignity. Its a throwback to the first game when Henry fell into despair following the destruction of his home village. Theres nowhere to go but up and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2ensures you feel the weight of each step.If it offered a challenge against powerful bosses that you had to overcome through sheer force of will and repeated tries, it maybe wouldnt feel so abrasive. But when Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 wants to push you away, it does so through tedium. In the early going, Henry must content himself with carrying sacks. When you get into a fight, every few punches is a stamina-draining affair.Your friend and comrade-in-arms Hans Capon isnt the most cooperative (or the best kind of person). Coupled with the save system, which could result in hours of lost progress if you get unlucky with an encounter while fast-travelling or annoy some guards or dozens of other unfortunate events, it feels like the game is out to get you.Which is the point, and really reflects how difficult life was back in the day, when cleanliness wasnt easy to achieve, social standing was a commodity, and combat wasnt always about numbers. Yet as you stick with it, leveling up and trying different things, the various systems become that much more apparent, lending to enjoying.For example, you may get bored of following everything the game tells you or its NPCs in general and retreat to the woodland to make a living. Gather plants (which must be identified based on references), create reagents, brush aside complaints about why you smell so bad, ply your trade, and keep on keeping on. Conversely, you can build yourself up by becoming a blacksmith, like Henrys father Martin, and ultimately make a killing by selling swords and armor. Or you could harness all that agility and become a thief, picking locks and stealing from others, even with all the inherent risks if your crimes are discovered.Regardless of what you do, the world will react and draw you in. It becomes all the more seamless when you try to pursue the main quest and reconcile that with your current playstyle. How will you deal with upstanding folks if you have a criminal reputation? What can you do to complete certain quests that demand approaches completely alien to your Henrys way of life?Trying to figure all this out and dealing with the consequences, of which there are plenty is one of the biggest appeals of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Its all the more incredible because dialogue choices arent just dependent on your speech or charisma stats. Talk to someone of higher status like youre the boss, and things might not work out. Then again, exhibit fearlessness in some scenarios or show up covered in blood and you might intimidate the opposition.Even leveling isnt a process thats meant to simply make you stronger. Work on your agility, and you can unlock Deft Hands. This lowers the agility requirement on all weapons by 2. If your agility is higher than the requirement, the stamina consumption while fighting decreases, thus allowing you to strike more often in a fight. Theres also Strong Arm for Strength users, where your stamina can fully recover when remaining in a charged attack state. Combine these, and suddenly, youre standing a much better chance in fights than before.There are also speech perks, like Polished Wares where near-perfect or perfect-condition weapons, armor, and clothing will net you more coin when selling. Final Offer gives you a final chance while haggling to come up with a better deal, while Hustler makes it much easier to sell stolen goods. Of course, if you only care about combat, invest in Battle Cry to deal more damage for 20 seconds and Dreaded Warrior to inhibit enemies or cause them to flee when using Battle Cry.And then all these choices feed back into the game, whether its the alternative life youre leading into of pursuing the main quest or continuing Henrys path towards vengeance. All the while, the world is reacting to your actions and deeds, judging you but also opening up accordingly. Not every quest will work out swimmingly (or smoothly in terms of game logic), but those that do make you feel all the more accomplished.It also doesnt hurt that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2s world is packed with intriguing stories and events. You never quite know what to expect, for better or worse. Could you walk into a battle that will result in many hours lost, especially if you dont have the resources to save? Sure. But what if you discover something interesting, which leads to something even more so?Even if you ultimately fail and lose out on the rewards, youre still opening up avenues through new levels and perks. Almost like the addendum experience is the best teacher is applying, both literally and figuratively, through your collective ups and downs. This makes every action you take feel meaningful, even if the results dont always line up.Again, this wont be an experience for everyone, and thats perfectly reasonable. There are plenty of video games out there, which wont demand you to suffer through tedious activities or harsh restrictions to have fun. Different strokes for different folks and whatnot. However, very few titles offer this level of medieval realism, much less a well-realized world that feels alive, even without your existence. Plunging deep into it and figuring out your place, much less making an impact, is the goal, and watching its various mysteries unfold is the true reward.Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

A common reader request I get goes something like this: what should I buy if I dont want a smartwatch but want basic fitness tracking? When I suggest alternatives like budget fitness bands or smart rings, I get an unsure hmm and a displeased scrunch of the nose. After a few more back-and-forths, I usually find that many people do want a smartwatch. They just dont want one from Apple, Samsung, Garmin, or Google. They want something more akin to ye olde Pebble or this retro-chic $56 Casio. For those folks, consider the humble Amazfit Active 2.Amazfits shtick is delivering an outsized bang for your buck. The Active 2 starts at $99.99. For $30 more, you get a fancier version with an extra leather strap and a more durable sapphire crystal lens. Theres a 2,000-nit OLED touch display, upgraded health sensors, new sleep and heart rate algorithms, offline maps, and the Zepp Flow AI assistant. Theres also the Zepp Coach for personalized training plans and a mini app from Wild.AI, which gives diet and workout recommendations based on your hormonal and menstrual cycles. You wont find dual-frequency GPS on this watch, but it has built-in GPS with access to five satellite systems (the next best thing you can get). If you live in Europe, the watch also now has NFC payments. (Unfortunately, I dont live in Europe and couldnt test this.) 7Verge ScoreAmazfit Active 2$100$100The GoodStacked feature set for the priceLooks spiffyGood battery lifeThe BadTouchscreen and voice commands are finickyCant edit workoutsAI chatbots are meh$100 at Amazfit$100 at AmazonHow we rate and review productsThis is a stacked feature set for under $150. Its bonkers. There isnt even much of a catch.Spiffy on the wristI seldom get compliments when testing budget gadgets. The straps are chintzy and the cases are plasticky. Sub-$200 smartwatches often look like it.I was surprised when I received compliments while wearing the Active 2 during CES. My colleague David Pierce pointed at my wrist and asked, Whats that?! because of the stylish watchface. Two other colleagues inquired because they dug the look. A few showgoers asked about it. All were gobsmacked when I told them the price. The Active 2 does not look or feel cheap. Is it the most elegant watch Ive ever donned? No, but its design is basic and sleek enough to fit with any outfit. Its lightweight and doesnt get snagged on jacket sleeves. Is the leather strap on the premium model the most supple with a vintage patina? Of course not, but its comfortable enough to wear 24/7, and its held up well over several weeks of wear including after several sweaty workouts. (Normally, Id recommend swapping to a silicone strap for exercise, but this uses a standard pin mechanism, and thats hard to use when you wear press-on nails as often as I do.) Its not the fanciest leather strap, but no one will look too closely. And it holds up well. Photo by Amelia Holowaty KralesA capable tracker with a side of AIThe Active 2 wont wow anyone looking for Garmin-level insights or Apple-like finesse. But as a fitness and health tracker, it might appeal to someone seeking a Fitbit alternative. Like Fitbit, Amazfit takes a streamlined, holistic approach to wellness. It emphasizes readiness, sleep quality, and weekly activity over closing rings or throwing every performance metric under the sun into your dashboard. And like older Fitbits, the Active 2 has better battery life compared to more advanced smartwatches. Amazfit estimates 10 days out of a charge. I got around eight or nine in testing.The Zepp app Amazfits companion app has been revamped since my GTR 4 review. It has a sleeker interface. Each morning, you get a Daily Readiness and Daily Sleep Insight score. Theres a prompt at the bottom of each that opens the Zepp Aura Premium chatbot. (Zepp Aura is Amazfits subscription service for sleep and guided breathing content; it costs $77 annually.) Prompts include: Are there specific activities or habits I can adopt to optimize my physical recovery? or How about my sleep quality last night? The former gives you generic wellness tips, similar to what youd get from a ChatGPT query, while the latter summarizes your sleep data and can give you tips on improving your sleep quality. You can write in prompts, but this is the general gist. Samsung, Oura, and other wearable tech companies have implemented similar AI-powered features in the last year. None have been game-changers in contextualizing data. Zepps version is at least well integrated and fast to generate responses, but it costs extra, and youre not missing out on much if you skip it.There are upgraded health sensors from the original Active and pin mechanisms to swap straps. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeThe Zepp Coach is more useful. I had it create a custom eight-week 5K training plan with a time goal of 32 minutes. The result was about what I expected, with a mix of easy runs, interval runs, and long runs that gradually progressed in difficulty. Nothing crazy, but I appreciate that the workouts sync directly to the wrist. Theres a new strength training mode that auto-identifies reps within a set. It mostly works it struggles if a movement doesnt move your entire arm or body, like a plank or alternating bicep curls. But show me a smartwatch that doesnt struggle with this. The Active 2 is similar in accuracy to my Apple Watch Ultra 2 for GPS runs and heart rate. Sleep tracking was also generally aligned with my Oura Ring 4. The differences lie in polish. It takes a second or two longer for the Active 2 to obtain a GPS signal brutal when Im shivering my tuchus off before a wintry run. Viewing historical data beyond the past week is a pain. Also, I was annoyed that I couldnt edit my workouts. While calibrating my first treadmill run, I mistakenly input my distance as three miles instead of two. Normally, Id edit this in a companion app or on the wrist. I had no way of doing either. I still got credit for my workout, but this is a basic feature for fitness apps and a surprising omission.The teeny catchAs I wrote in my hands-on, the Active 2 touch display bugs me. It works fine most of the time. But have sweaty fingers? Forget it. Even if I wiped my hands, I often had to wipe down the touchscreen, too. This made it annoying to pause or control music mid-workout. Casual users wont consider this a deal-breaker, but its something to note. Another gripe is with voice commands on the Zepp Flow assistant. I found I had to emphatically enunciate in order for it to pick up my queries which made me look kooky while yelling at my wrist to set a five-minute timer in public. Your arsenal of requests is also limited, given that this isnt Siri, Google Assistant, or Bixby. You can ask it to show health data, launch apps, set timers, or control settings. Thats basically it. Even then, I got occasional time-out or connection errors. Whatever the quirks, this is a heck of a deal for a smartwatch. Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The VergeWhen I felt irked by these quirks, Id remind myself that the Active 2 on my wrist only cost $130. You get what you pay for and itd be a little unrealistic that a smartwatch at this price wouldnt have a quirk or two. Rather, its surprising that there isnt more for me to complain about. The Active 2 punches above its weight in style, materials, and features. If you want a long-lasting, no-frills tracker, youll be hard-pressed to find a better value.Agree to Continue: Amazfit Active 2Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it contracts that no one actually reads. Its impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit agree to use devices when we review them, since these are agreements most people dont read and definitely cant negotiate.To use the Amazfit Active 2, you must pair it with an iPhone or Android smartphone. That includes the phones terms of service, privacy policy, and any other permissions you grant. If you choose to enable Zepps Aura or Fitness services, youre also agreeing to those privacy policies and services. The same goes if you enable third-party integrations.By setting up Amazfit Active 2, youre agreeing to:Final tally: three mandatory agreements and several optional permissions and agreements.See More:

Today, An hour agoWes DavisTrump drops his Twitter lawsuit appeal.Lawyers representing President Trump, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, and what is now X moved to dismiss Trumps pending case before the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, reports Bloomberg.He was appealing the dismissal of a lawsuit that accused Twitter, which is now owned by DOGE head Elon Musk, of violating the First Amendment when it banned his account in 2021.Trump Ends Legal Challenge Over Twitter Ban After Jan. 6 Riot[bloomberg.com]Nov 20, 2022Elon Musk says hes letting Donald Trump back on TwitterPhoto by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesDonald Trump is allowed to rejoin Twitter, Elon Musk has announced. Musk justified that decision based on the results of his own personal Twitter poll. The @realDonaldTrump account and its tweets are fully visible again, just days after Trump confirmed he will run for president again in 2024.Shortly after taking control of the social network, Musk said he wouldnt be reinstating any banned accounts until the company had set up and convened a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints.Read Article >Jul 19, 2020Kim LyonsTwitter disables video in Trump retweet after Linkin Park files copyright complaintIllustration by Alex Castro / The VergeTwitter confirmed that it removed a campaign video President Trump had retweeted Saturday over a copyright complaint. The Linkin Park song In the End was featured in the background of the video, which included images of President Trump and excerpts from his inauguration speech.Per our copyright policy, we respond to valid copyright complaints sent to us by copyright owner or their authorized representative, a Twitter spokesperson said in an email to The Verge on Sunday.Read Article >Jun 19, 2020Russell BrandomTwitter labels Trump video as manipulated mediaIllustration by Alex Castro / The VergeTwitter has labeled a video tweeted by President Trump as manipulated media, as first reported by The Washington Post. The label is primarily cosmetic, but represents a significant escalation in the ongoing feud between the president and his preferred social media platform.This tweet has been labeled per our synthetic and manipulated media policy to give people more context, Twitter spokeswoman Katie Rosborough told the Post.Read Article >Jun 6, 2020Kim LyonsTwitter, Facebook, and Instagram removed a Trump campaign video over copyright complaintPhoto by Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesTwitter, Facebook, and Instagram have all removed a Trump campaign video from their platforms after receiving copyright complaints, Reuters reported. The nearly four-minute video featured images of the late George Floyd of Minneapolis, who died May 25th after a police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. A video of the incident has prompted nationwide protests of police violence.Twitter disabled the video, while Facebook and Instagram removed posts containing the video. When President Trump objected to the removal in a tweet, calling it illegal, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey responded: Not true and not illegal. This was pulled because we got a DMCA complaint from copyright holder.Read Article >Jun 2, 2020Makena KellyTrumps Twitter order violates the First Amendment, new lawsuit claimsPhoto by Saul Martinez/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trumps executive order targeting social media companies faced its first legal challenge Tuesday, claiming that Trump violated the companies rights to free speech.In its lawsuit, the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) called Trumps order retaliatory because it specifically attacked Twitter for using its First Amendment right to comment and moderate the presidents tweets. By attacking Twitter, the organization claimed that Trumps order could discourage other platforms from exercising their free speech rights to moderate the presidents posts out of fear of retaliation from the federal government. Read Article >Jun 1, 2020Makena KellyFacebook employees walk out in protest of Donald Trumps postsIllustration by Alex Castro / The VergeDozens of Facebook employees staged a virtual walkout on Monday in protest of the companys decision not to take action against incendiary posts by President Donald Trump last week, according to The New York Times.The virtual walkout comes on the heels of a decision from Facebook not to take any action against a series of controversial posts from Trump last week, including one that seemed to threaten violence against protestors by saying, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Twitter determined that the same message violated its rules against the glorification of violence last week, limiting the ability to view, like, reply, and retweet the post on its platform. Read Article >May 29, 2020Casey NewtonLeaked posts show Facebook employees asking the company to remove Trumps threat of violenceIllustration by Alex Castro / ThFacebooks decision not to take action against recent posts about mail-in ballots and the Minnesota protests by President Trump is roiling employees, some of whom are calling on executives to reconsider their stance. In response to an internal post explaining the companys rationale, some employees criticized the companys neutral posture.I have to say I am finding the contortions we have to go through incredibly hard to stomach, one employee wrote in a comment about the shooting post. All this points to a very high risk of a violent escalation and civil unrest in November and if we fail the test case here, history will not judge us kindly.Read Article >May 29, 2020T.C. SottekTwitter isnt a government, but its the best one weve gotIllustration by William Joel / The VergeThis week, Twitter found the courage to finally deal with its most toxic user: the president of the United States. After giving one of Trumps untrustworthy tweets a modest reality check, the president exploded in a tantrum. He threatened to shut down social media companies, and then personally targeted a Twitter employee to intimidate and harass him. Then, Trump quickly threatened Twitter with revenge by signing a scorched-earth executive order that would blow up the entire internet. Trumps Republican lackeys, including Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Josh Hawley (R-MO), scurried to stroke the presidents ego with deceitful interpretations of law and threats to sue Twitter.Republicans who recently warned of a government takeover of the internet are now staging one in reverse trying to turn the internet into the government.Read Article >May 29, 2020Makena KellyJoe Biden doesnt like Trumps Twitter order, but still wants to revoke Section 230Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesFormer Vice President Joe Biden still wants to repeal the pivotal internet law that provides social media companies like Facebook and Twitter with broad legal immunity over content posted by their users, a campaign spokesperson told The Verge Friday. Still, the campaign emphasized key disagreements with the executive order signed by the president earlier this week.Earlier this year, Biden told The New York Times that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act should be revoked, immediately. In recent days, President Donald Trump has reinvigorated a controversial debate over amending the foundational internet law after Twitter fact-checked one of his tweets for the first time. Over the last year, Trump and other congressional Republicans have grown concerned over the false idea that social media platforms actively moderate against conservative speech online. Read Article >May 29, 2020Adi RobertsonLets go through Trumps terrible internet censorship order, line by lineIllustration by Alex Castro / The VergePresident Donald Trump is constantly threatening tech companies with huge consequences and not following through. That includes social media sites, which he both obsessively uses and relentlessly berates for alleged anti-Trump bias. But this week, he went beyond the usual trash talk, issuing an executive order governing how websites can moderate content.The order follows a feud with Twitter after it fact-checked one of Trumps tweets, but its been brewing since at least 2019 when a social media bias rule was rumored but never revealed. An unfinished draft of the order leaked on Wednesday, full of nonsensical demands and pointless blustering, with many dismissing the rule as simply illegal.Read Article >May 29, 2020Makena KellyDonald Trump escalates Twitter feud by cross-posting blocked messagePhoto by Doug Mills-Pool / Getty ImagesTwitter limited the reach of a second tweet from President Donald Trump this morning, as the White House and its allies sought to escalate their feud with the social media company.On Friday, Trump called people protesting the death of George Floyd in Minnesota thugs. The president continued, Any difficulty and we will assume control, but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Shortly after the message was posted, Twitter determined that it violated rules involving the glorification of violence and placed a notice on the tweet. In doing so, the tweet is hidden from Trumps timeline but is accessible once a user clicks a view button. Likes, retweets, and replies are all disabled from the tweet in an effort to limit its reach.Read Article >May 29, 2020Jon PorterTwitter restricts new Trump tweet for glorifying violenceTwitters notice, which says that the tweet broke its rules about glorifying violence. Screenshot: TwitterTwitter has placed a public interest notice on a tweet from President Trump for breaking the platforms rules about the glorification of violence. However, Twitter has not chosen to remove the tweet from its platform entirely, because it believes it to be in the public interest. Twitter announced the notice in a tweet thread from its official comms account.The notice means that the tweet is hidden from Trumps timeline, but is accessible if you visit the tweet directly after clicking a view button. The reach of the tweet will also be limited as part of the process. Although users can still retweet it with a comment, they cannot reply to it, retweet it directly, or like it. Twitter also says that its notice means that the tweet wont be algorithmically recommended on its platform.Read Article >May 28, 2020Russell BrandomDonald Trump is starting a messy fight with the entire internetPhoto by Olivier Douliery / AFP via Getty ImagesToday, President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order that would give the government huge new powers over the internet. As reported yesterday by The Washington Post, Trump will order the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission to roll back the liability protections enjoyed by tech companies under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Its a hugely ambitious proposal, arguably the biggest single attempt to regulate internet platforms, and for better or worse, it signals the beginning of an all-out war between Trump and any platform that tries to fact-check him.As Trump ominously put it on Twitter, This will be a Big Day for Social Media and FAIRNESS!Read Article >May 27, 2020Casey NewtonWhy Twitter labeling Trumps tweets as potentially misleading is a big step forwardIllustration by Alex Castro / The VergeFrom time to time a really bad post on a social network gets a lot of attention. Say a head of state falsely accuses a journalist of murder, or suggests that mail-in voting is illegal those would be pretty bad posts, I think, and most people working inside and outside of the social network could probably agree on that. In my experience, though, average people and tech people tend to think very differently about what to do about a post like that. Today I want to talk about why.When an average person sees a very bad post on a social network, they may call for it to be removed immediately. They will justify this removal on moral grounds keeping the post up, they will say, is simply indecent. To leave it up would reflect poorly on the moral character of everyone who works at the company, especially its top executives. Some will say the executives should resign in disgrace, or possibly be arrested. Congress may begin writing letters, and new laws will be proposed, so that such a bad post never again appears on the internet.Read Article >May 27, 2020Makena KellyTrump wants to fight Twitter more than regulate itPhoto by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty ImagesFor years, Donald Trumps fight against social media companies has been a one-man boxing match. He calls them out over bias, and they rewrite policies making him the one exception to their rules, taking care never to punch back. But on Tuesday, Twitter slapped back for the first time ever, labeling two tweets as making false and misleading claims about mail-in voting.On Wednesday morning, predictably, Trump hit back. In a series of early morning tweets, the president said he would strongly regulate, or close [platforms] down before he allowed them to stifle conservative speech. Trump did not explain the ways in which the federal government could regulate or shutter social media companies in his Wednesday morning tweets, but the fresh threats are lighting a fire under the feet of conservatives who believe, unjustly, that social media companies silence conservative voices and views. Soon after his first set of tweets Wednesday, Trump said to expect a Big action to follow. Read Article >May 27, 2020Nick StattWhite House organizes harassment of Twitter employee as Trump threatens companyPhoto by Alex Wong/Getty ImagesThe White House has set its sights on a single Twitter employee after the company attached a fact-checking link to two of the presidents tweets containing lies and misinformation related to voter fraud. The charge was led on Fox News Wednesday morning, with Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway targeting Twitters head of site integrity, Yoel Roth, after digging up some tweets that were critical of Trump, Conway, and the administration.Conway called the employee horrible and directed listeners to go after him. Somebody in San Francisco go wake him up and tell him hes about to get a lot more followers, she said on air. Immediately, the call was picked up by right-wing personalities and Trump supporters, who began sharing screenshots of the employees tweets. Roth is already facing a torrent of abuse and harassment, including multiple death threats, reports Protocol.Read Article >May 26, 2020Makena KellyTwitter labels Trump tweets as potentially misleading for the first timePhoto by Alex Wong/Getty ImagesOn Tuesday, Twitter labeled two tweets from President Donald Trump making false statements about mail-in voting as potentially misleading. Its the first time the platform has fact-checked the president. The label was imposed on two tweets Trump posted Tuesday morning falsely claiming that mail-in ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent and would result in a rigged election. The tweets focused primarily on Californias efforts to expand mail-in voting due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, the Republican National Committee sued California Governor Gavin Newsom over the states moves to expand mail-in voting.Read Article >

Courtesy of BuildMaxEvery item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.Chip and Joanna Gaines are best known for their renovation TV show Fixer Upper and their Magnolia experience in Waco, Texas. But did you know that the design duo also broadened the entire interior design worlds lexicon with the introduction of the popular barndominium? Lets take it back to 2016: The Gaineses completed a project in the town of Lacy Lakeview, Texas, where they transformed a familys old horse barn into a chic living space in the modern farmhouse style. They dubbed the renovated home (which is now an AirBNB) a barndominium, and the name stuck.Now, these rustic-chic types of homes are gaining in popularity due to their affordability, speedy construction, and resistance to natural disasters. Keep reading to find out all you need to know about barndominiums, straight from the experts in the field. Related StoriesWhat Is a Barndominium?Paul DyerDesigned by Jennifer Robin Interiors and Kroeger Janev Architects.A barndominium, or barndo, is a large, multifunctional residence that resembles a barn. The word barndominium is (as you might suspect) a combination of the words barn and condominium, and its typically defined as a large, barnlike structure thats divided in half, with a residence on the upper levels and some type of workstation, garage, or other multipurpose area on the ground level. However, if you ask around the industry, you'll find that there are a few different definitions of these farmhouse structures floating around. Justin Zook and Nikki-Alvin Smith are the owner and content writer, respectively, of Horizon Structures, a company that specializes in prefab structures ranging from chicken coops to barndominiums. They hew to the more traditional definition of this type of home, with a living space on the upper levels and a workstation on the lower levels. Similarly, Antonia Hart, cofounder of the site Barndominium.org, which sells floor plans and kits for barndos and connects customers to local builders, describes it the same way.But Tony Golladay, owner of the site BuildMax, which also sells barndominium kits, explains that the general view of barndos has shifted in the past few years. He describes this type of house as, A style of architecture with an influence of country, farmhouse, and modern design that draws inspiration from traditional barns.However you define barndominiums, these types of homes have grown in popularity recently as more people become interested in rustic charm with modern amenities and because young people want alternative, affordable ways to buy houses and property.Key Features of a BarndominiumPaul DyerDesigned by Jennifer Robin Interiors and Kroeger Janev Architects.Besides the workstation on the lower level and the living quarters on the upper level, there are a few other key features that make barndominiums what they are. Though interior styles vary, youll often see hallmarks of the modern farmhouse style in barndominiums. Most barndos have open floor plans with high ceilings and large windows. In many cases, barndominiums have free-span trusses that use the exterior walls as load bearing, so designers and homeowners have the flexibility to add or remove interior walls, Golladay says. Because you can purchase a barndo kit, open floor plans make more sense when it comes to convenience and speed of the build. Because of the lifestyle many barndo owners lead, large multibay garages are another common feature. People who work on farms or ranches and people who would choose a home plan that includes an attached work space typically own multiple vehicles. These homes are more commonly found in rural areas, and when you have wide open space, you find larger trucks and cars. Looking to the exterior, youll find that barndominiums typically have very simple designs and are made with either metal or wood frames. Steel framework tends to be more popular than wood due to its durability and unique look. Plus, its less expensive and faster to put up a metal barndo than a wood one, according to Hart. How Much Does a Barndominium Cost?Like with any new build, the cost greatly depends on where you live, the materials you use, and the general contractor you go with. At its most basic, Hart says you can typically find a metal prefab barndo kit for a median price of $16,000. However, that does not include the finishings, appliances, flooring, or anything else besides the basic shell. A typical barndominium kit costs between $35 to $45 per total under-roof square foot, Golladay adds. The more square footage you want, the lower overall cost per square foot you can usually find.Looking at the larger picture, for a barndo thats 1,200 square feet, Zook says itll roughly cost around $275,000 total, depending on customizations. According to Angi, a barndominium will run you $230,000 on average, but it can easily range from $112,800 for a small and simple one to $504,000 for a high-end, luxury barndo. Advantages of Living In a BarndominiumCourtesy of BuildMaxDesigned by BuildMax.Faster, Cheaper HousingGetting a custom home cheaper and faster than a traditional house is a huge advantage of a barndominium. Especially if you opt for a barndo kit, with pre-assembled walls and roof trusses, the build time will be exponentially quicker than a standard home or even a wooden barndo. Recently, our steel erectors had the walls up to a 1,700-square-foot barndominium in just two days, Golladay says. Two Structures in OneIf you follow the standard definition of a barndo, youre getting a home and a separate workstation all for the price of one build. To this point, Zook adds that its less expensive to insure as one unit versus two coverages.Damage ResistanceHowever, probably the most timely benefit has to do with climate change and the effects that come with our rapidly warming world. As more people rebuild from natural disasters, they are educating themselves on the strength and durability of steel frames, Hart explains. Steel is fire resistant and holds up better against strong winds than a traditional house. Besides climate-related benefits, Golladay adds that metal frames are also termite-proof. Drawbacks to Living In a Barndominium Aesthetic LimitationsA main disadvantage to living in a barndominium is limited architectural styles. If you like the idea of a steel-framed house with a workstation on the bottom, you wont find much variety when it comes to the look of your exterior. The main variation comes from either a wood frame or a metal frame and the different stains or paint colors you can choose. NoiseWith metal frames comes concerns with noise. Even with the best insulation, rain, sleet, and hail sound more pronounced on a metal roof than a traditional shingled roof. Though it likely isnt annoying enough to be a dealbreaker, its something anyone considering a barndominium should be aware of. Lack of Awareness Golladay brings up the unfamiliarity of a barndominium as a potential disadvantage too. Though the house style is becoming more popular, especially in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States, builders, bankers, and building departments may interpret the word barndominium differently, he says. It might take more educating on your part if theres some confusion about what a barndominium is, but hey, thats why were here!Can I Convert My Barn Into a Barndominium?While a barn conversion is what inspired the Gaineses to come up with the term barndominium, conversions actually dont make up many barndo projects. Its possible to convert an existing barn into a barndominium, but itll potentially take a lot more time and a lot more money. Barn conversions are difficult to complete effectively, as the substructure needs are often not present in older barns, Smith says. With a barn conversion, youll likely struggle to ensure proper passive ventilation and drainage, address energy usage and concerns, and install proper electrical and plumbing, and you may have foundation issues to address. Theres likely a fair amount of vermin in your existing barn, so you must remove them as well.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

After the reported cancellation of Apples Mac-tethered AR glasses, Apple is still working towards making a pair of standalone AR glasses. It just might take a little bit longer to get right, reports Mark Gurman from Bloomberg.Late last month, Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported that Apple had scrapped plans for an AR glasses product that would tether to your Mac for use:The company shuttered the program this week, according to people with knowledge of the move. The now-canceled product would have looked like normal glasses but include built-in displays and require a connection to a Mac, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the work wasnt public. An Apple representative declined to comment.Despite the fact that this sounds like devastating news, it actually isnt. This cancellation was just for the tethered pair of AR glasses, something like the RayNeo Air 2S glasses that I reviewed last month. Apples pair wouldve been much higher quality (and more expensive) Im sure, but same idea.Nonetheless, Apple hardware chief John Ternus doesnt want another flop on his hands, according to Gurman. For that reason, the company is going to take its time on the standalone dream pair of AR glasses, something that would more closely resemble Metas $10K prototype pair that they showed off last year.Apple is still working on standalone glasses. Its just going to take time. In the meanwhile, the companies Vision Products Group is still working on all of the key underlying tech for such a product:In any case, it seems like the new boss of Apples Vision Products Group, John Ternus, doesnt want another flop on his hands. So he is going totake his time and be cautious. Im told that Apples long-term goal of standalone AR glasses remains intact, and the companywill keep working on underlying technology like screens and silicon to help make such a device more feasible.Regardless of their progress though, its still at least 3-5 years away. visionOS certainly lays the foundation for a pair of AR glasses, so hopefully Apple brings something truly interesting to the table.What do you think of this rumor? Let us know in the comments.My favorite iPhone accessories on Amazon:Follow Michael:X/Twitter,Bluesky,InstagramAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

AI developer Hugging Face says it's created an open-source AI research agent that can trade blows with OpenAI's latest Deep Research feature in just 24 hours.The Sam Altman-led company released the agent, which "uses reasoning to synthesize large amounts of online information and complete multi-step research tasks for you," over the weekend.Simply put, Deep Research the company technically doesn't capitalize the name, but we're just going to go ahead and do so because it looks bizarre not to sits on top of an existing AI model to provide new functionality to the user. In practice, you can ask it to do things like generate a "competitive analysis on streaming platforms or a personalized report on the best commuter bike," according to OpenAI, which could take "anywhere from five to 30 minutes."But it didn't take long for Hugging Face researchers to come up with a worthy alternative."While powerful LLMs are now freely available in open-source, OpenAI didnt disclose much about the agentic framework underlying Deep Research," Hugging Face wrote in a Tuesday announcement. "So we decided to embark on a 24-hour mission to reproduce their results and open-source the needed framework along the way!"The company created an "agent" framework" that writes actions in code instead, which it says immediately led to a major bump in performance.It's not perfect quite yet, it's worth pointing out. Hugging Face's Open Deep Research scored a 55.15 percent accuracy on a benchmark called General AI Assistants, while OpenAI's version scored 67.36, leaving some room for improvement. (OpenAI's version itself still has a lot of trouble distinguishing between "information from rumors," greatly undercutting its current usefulness as a research analyst.)But considering that Hugging Face, which has far fewer resources to work with than OpenAI, created its agent in a mere 24 hours, the challenge highlights just how replaceable OpenAI's AI tools have become.Every time it drops a hot new AI, there now seems to be a race to duplicate its capabilities with a fraction of the gigantically funded company's resources.While Hugging Face's Aymeric Roucher, who led the research, told Ars Technica that the agent "worked well" with OpenAI's o1, he added that Hugging Face's open-source model called open-R1 may soon work even "better."The exchangeability of AI models is an especially pertinent topic, considering the emergence of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, which upended the entire tech sector with its extremely lean and efficient model called R1 last month. (Hugging Face's open-R1 is an open source versionof DeepSeek's model).DeepSeek also likely flexed the power of distillation,which is the strategy of creating "reasoning" capabilities by training an AI model on the output of another one. Whether that constitutes any violation of intellectual property, something that OpenAI has since accused DeepSeek of doing, remains to be seen, especially considering OpenAI's own AI was built by indiscriminately ripping off protected content on the internet.But it's a clever workaround that could give AI industry stalwarts like OpenAI a run for their money. Case in point, researchers at Stanford and the University of Washington developed a worthy rival to OpenAI's o1 "reasoning" model for less than $50 worth of cloud compute credits, as detailed in a yet-to-be-peer-reviewed paper that wasfirst spotted by TechCrunch.Thatnew model, dubbed s1, performed on the level of DeepSeek's R1 and OpenAI's o1 on math and coding tests. It was distilled using the output of Google's (mostly) free-to-use Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental reasoning model.The team trained s1 using a dataset of just 1,000 curated questions with answers from Google's AI. It took less than 30 minutes to achieve strong performance on AI benchmarks, as TechCrunch reports, using a mere 16 Nvidia AI chips.Meanwhile, the industry's biggest players like OpenAI and Meta are planning to pour hundreds of billions of dollars into initiatives to expand AI infrastructure in the US, enormous investments that were thrown into question by the emergence of much cheaper to train and run alternatives like DeepSeek.Whether these tools can ever even turn a profit, let alone stop hallucinating facts every step of the way, remains as uncertain as ever especially when the little guys can quickly clone their best work and offer it for free.Share This Article

It's a tale as old as time. A tenant moves into a place with lower-than-average rent, only to discover some undisclosed horror that takes an indifferent landlord weeks to fix.Now imagine if instead of one landlord, you had hundreds, and in order to get them to fix your hot water problem, youhad to look them up on the blockchain.That's the new reality for hundreds of renters in the Detroit metro area, a region that has dealt with more than its fair share of corporate fat cats and real estate speculators carving out communities for profit.IntroducingRealT: the self-proclaimed "world leader in real estate tokenization." A bombshell investigation by writer Aaron Mondry and his team at Outlier Media a public-service journalism project serving the citizens of Detroit has uncovered a rampant crypto scheme snapping up subsidized homes in the Motor City's most underserved neighborhoods, turning their tenants into lab rats for tech bros."Ive been complaining for years, but nobody has ever come out," one tenant toldOutlier. "As far as I can tell, theyre slumlords."The scheme works like this.First, a real estate firm purchases homes in low-rent neighborhoods. Next, the firm sells "fractional ownership" shares of its properties on the RealT platform in the form of hundreds of thousands of "RealTokens," which can be purchased with the cryptocurrency Ethereum.The property's management is then outsourced to a local property manager that finds tenants and collects rent. RealT then kicks weekly payments back to investors based on their share of RealTokens against the property's rental income in the form of stablecoins, such as USD Coin.In short, it's a long and complicated way to add yet more uncaring middlemen into an already horrifying rental market that overwhelmingly favors landlords at the expense of tenants' well-being."Theres all sorts of terrible, dystopian scenarios you can imagine with crypto in real estate," University of Oxford emeritus business professor Andrew Baum told Outlier. "If your roof is leaking, how do you get money out of the company?" Baum asked. "The platform has to get the money from its token investors. Can it do that? Has it set aside enough in reserve?"Though RealT is based out of Florida, its crypto investors are overseas. The company's full website which can only be accessed from outside the US is packed with investment advice andexplainers for lenders, which make it clear that the company's priority is less about providing housing for communities in need and more about maximizing profit for tokenholders.One article addressing "tenants who don't pay their rents" states that "RealT started as a niche which is the Section 8 program. During the COVID crisis, many tenants stopped paying their rents and despite more flexible rules... to evict tenants, RealT has not been impacted by non-payment. With the Section 8 program, the government pays RealT and the Tokenholders directly."The platform's tenants complained to Outlier that conditions in its properties are squalid, with problems like black mold, flooding pipes, and busted air conditioning going unaddressed by the platform'soutsourced management groups.To give those problems a sense of scale, Outlierreports that RealT-based companies control roughly 1,000 Detroit properties, of which 300 are behind on city taxes, and altogether have accrued over 1,000 blight tickets. All told, those fees represent at least $2 million in unpaid charges. Of those 300 properties owing back taxes, over 200 are facing immediate foreclosure.If RealT's property speculators are a pain for the city's enforcement agencies to hold accountable, it's a Kafkaesque nightmare for tenants, who cite absentee management companies, missing lease agreements, and confusion around who to even pay rent to.Under this system, arbitrary evictions and ineluctable foreclosures are common for its largely underprivileged tenants.With standard real estate speculation, renters at least have a theoretical legal avenue through which to escalate issues with absentee landlords or owners. With RealT, though, the chain of ownership is incredibly difficult to trace, as each property's true ownersare hidden behind digital tokens allowing RealT to skirt the blame for slum-like conditions which are the direct result of its business model."RealT does not oversee or manage any properties," the company said in a statement, adding that "each property is owned by a single company, and that company is responsible to fund home maintenance. Like any owners of a company, if additional funds are needed, such contributions are made."But if the library of blight tickets linking back to the platform are any indication, it seems like the current reality is "out of sight, out of mind."As crypto grifts enjoy renewed fervor thanks to Donald Trump's push to legitimize the blockchain as a serious financial mechanism, it remains to be seen what if any rights lawmakers will assert for the growing number of Americans who've found that their homes are owned by hundreds of people on a blockchain.More on the blockchain:Elon Musk Proposes Putting US Treasury on BlockchainShare This Article

See at ExpressVPN Best VPN for streaming ExpressVPN See at ExpressVPN See more details See at Peacock Watch the 2025 Six Nations in the US from $8 per month Peacock See at Peacock See more details See at BBC Watch the Six Nations in the UK for free BBC See at BBC See more details See at Rte Showing Six Nations matches RTE Player See at Rte See more details See at Stan Sport Watch the Six Nations in Australia from AU$27 a month Stan Sport See at Stan Sport See more details See at DAZN Watch the Six Nations in Canada from CA$30 a month DAZN See at DAZN See more details See at Sky Broadcasting every 2025 Six Nations game live in New Zealand Sky Sport See at Sky See more details Table of Contents Scotland will be looking to end their ten year wait for a win against Ireland on Sunday in this final Gameweek 2 ofixture of the 2025 Six Nations at Murrayfield.The hosts had to work hard to claim a bonus point victory last weekend as they battled to prevent an Italian comeback in a 31-19 victory at home.Defending champs Ireland also made a winning start to their campaign, with the Boys In Green putting in a superb second-half performance to see off England 27-22 at the Aviva in Dublin.Below, we'll outline the bestlive TV streaming servicesto use to stream this Six Nations 2025 match, no matter where you are in the world. Gregor Townsend will be hoping his Scotland side cn register their first victory over Ireland in eight years. Stu Forster/Getty ImagesScotland vs. Ireland: When and where?Scotland host Ireland at Murrayfield onSunday, Feb. 9. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. GMT local time, which makes it a 10 a.m. ET or 7 a.m. PT kickoff in the US and Canada, and a2 a.m. AEDT start in the early hours of Monday, Feb. 10, in Australia. How to watch Scotland vs. Ireland online from anywhere using a VPNIf you can't view this year's Six Nations locally, you may need a different way to watch this match; this is where a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic. It's also a great idea if you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. With a VPN, you can virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like ourEditors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this. Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Australia, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions. Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other greatVPN dealstaking place right now. James Martin/CNET 2024 Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year)Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 35% speed loss in 2025 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands ExpressVPN isour current best VPN pickfor people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month.Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. 61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months) See at ExpressVPN Livestream Scotland vs. Ireland in the USSelect Six Nations matches this season are being broadcast in the US on NBC, but this match isn't one of them. The good news is that streaming servicePeacockis showing every match of the tournament live in the US. You'll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to catch games live. NBC's streaming service, Peacock, offers access to all the matches of the 2025 Six Nations. Peacock offers two Premium plans, and after the recent price increases, the ad-supported Premium plan costs $8 a month and the ad-free Premium Plus plan is $14 a month. See at Peacock Watch Scotland vs. Ireland for free in the UKRugby fans in the UK are once again among the luckiest in the world, with all matches of the 2025 Six Nations set to be shown live on free-to-air networks BBC and ITV. This means viewers in the UK will be able to stream every game for free onITVXandBBC iPlayer. This match will be shown live on BBC 1, with coverage starting at 2 p.m. GMT. BBC With the match being broadcast on BBC1, that also means you'll also be able to watch the game online for free via the network's on-demand streaming service, BBC iPlayer.With an app that's available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs and streaming boxes, all you need is a valid UK TV license to stream the game. See at BBC Watch Scotland vs. Ireland for free in IrelandLive coverage is split between free-to-air terrestrial broadcasters RT and Virgin Media in Ireland. That means you'll be able to stream games for free on streaming platformsVirgin Media Playerand RTE Player. This fixture will be shown on RT2, with coverage staring at 2 p.m. GMT. Irish public broadcaster RTE 's online and on-demand service is free to use for anyone living on the Emerald Isle.RT Playeris available across a wide range of mobile and smart devices. See at Rte Stream Scotland vs. Ireland in AustraliaRugby fans down under can watch Six Nations matches on streaming service Stan Sport, which has exclusive rights to show games live in Australia this season. Stan Sport will set you back AU$15 a month (on top of a standard Stan subscription that starts at AU$12 a month for the service's Basic tier).A subscription will also give you access to UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League soccer action, as well as international rugby and Formula E. See at Stan Sport Stream Scotland vs. Ireland in CanadaIf you want to stream Six Nations games live in Canada, subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the tournament this season. A DAZN subscription costs CA$35 a month or CA$250 a year. It will also give you access to Champions League, Europa League and EFL Championship soccer and WTA tennis.As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there's a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs. See at DAZN Stream Scotland vs. Ireland in New ZealandPay TV broadcaster Sky Sport has broadcast rights to show every 2025 Six Nations game live in New Zealand. Pay-TV broadcaster Sky Sport will be showing every 2025 Six Nations game in New Zealand. That also means you can also watch every game online using the network's Sky Go streaming service. See at Sky Quick tips for streaming the 2025 Six Nations using a VPNWith four variables at play -- your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN -- your experience and success when streaming Six Nations Rugby action live may vary.If you don't see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the "search for city or country" option.If you're having trouble getting the game after you've turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs -- like Roku -- don't have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you'll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you're using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network's sports app, you'll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you're using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommendBrave.