As I sat down to play the 90-minute South of Midnight preview, I had one major question: Why does the framerate look like that? The trailers display a purposefully choppy animation style thats meant to be reminiscent of stop-motion, but it wasn't clear how this effect would be applied in the games cutscenes, combat and traversal moments. After playing the preview, Im still unsure. I should state my bias at the top: I am super primed to enjoy South of Midnight. Ive been a fan of Compulsion Games since the studio debuted Contrast in 2013, and I eagerly followed the development of its follow-up, We Happy Few, through 2018. Compulsions games are stylish, with an emphasis on polished 3D graphics and lanky characters in fabulous outfits. Microsoft acquired Compulsion in 2018 and the studio has been working on South of Midnight ever since. My intrigue has only grown in the past year, following a drip-feed of trailers with luscious Southern Gothic settings, a bluesy soundtrack and the games magic-weilding protagonist, a young Black woman named Hazel. First, lets talk about what the game does well. The preview begins at chapter three, after Hazel has discovered the basics of her magical abilities but has not mastered the power flowing through her veins. Hazel is a Weaver, capable of manipulating the invisible strands that hold reality together, and shes looking for her mother, Lacey, after a hurricane swept through their hometown of Prospero in the American Deep South. If Hazel is the main character in South of Midnight, the environment is her co-star: The swamps of Prospero are lit with a rich, golden hue and theyre buzzing with surreal life. Towering cypresses, lush ferns and thorny vines the size of tree trunks weave their way through the forest and its cloudy pools. The houses, half-demolished shacks connected over the bayou by crumbling wooden platforms, are filled with rotting trinkets and faded photos, and many have eviction notices stuck to the front doors. Car-sized peaches dot the landscape, plump pinkish skin sticking out of the swampwater and buried at the bases of trees. This land is drowning in magic. Compulsion Games Though Hazel is on a linear journey to find her mom, there are plenty of opportunities for light exploring around Prospero. Chapter three features a handful of hidden paths that conclude with glowing bits of Floof, the games currency, for Hazel to collect. These alternative routes are positioned in plain sight, but theyre integrated into the landscape off the beaten path, so theyre easy to miss if youre not paying attention. Hazel explores by running, jumping, double jumping, gliding and wall running, and her movements through the world feel utterly natural. Her abilities build on one another nicely and theyre perfectly responsive, creating a mini parkour flow that I didnt expect in this game. At times Hazel uses magic to turn ghostly objects into tangible platforms, and her double-jump and glide combo is particularly fun. Hazel always looks cool, regardless of the framerate. She moves her long, thin limbs with the haphazard confidence befitting a teenage track star, and her clothes a waffle-stitched sweatshirt tied around her waist, denim jeans, a tank top with a sports bra, leather arm bands and a holster across her chest are heavily textured, lending each piece a tangible feel. Hazels dialogue is delivered with a hefty amount of adolescent snark, too, and I laughed out loud when she met the giant talking catfish and immediately was like, Nope, and turned to walk away. Actors Nona Parker Johnson, who performs Hazels motion-capture and stunts, and Adriyan Rae, Hazels voice, have done some fabulous work here. Compulsion Games In the preview, Hazel encounters an eccentric local, a few magical creatures and at least one powerful ritual, and she eventually finds herself chasing the ghosts of two brothers, one of whom died after being stuffed inside the trunk of a tree. As she hunts their memories and traps their pain in a blue bottle, banjo music trickles into the scene until it becomes a full-on folk song recounting the brothers tragic story. Its a unique and effective mechanic. The world around Hazel is composed of dark and surreal beauty, and after seeing (and hearing) this sliver of gameplay, Im eager to uncover all of Prosperos hidden stories. Combat in the South of Midnight preview takes place in contained stages, with spiky vines blocking off the exits as soon as the fight begins and the haints ghosts, in Hazels vernacular pop up. The enemies in this chapter come in three basic forms: tall floaty haint, stationary haint nest and floaty blob haint. The enemies are made of gooey black tendons and red magic, and they attack in specific ways depending on their type. The tall one moves quickly and rushes forward, the nest spews out exploding bugs and the floaty blobs shoot parryable projectiles. Hazel has a basic attack, dodge, healing move and four magical abilities: weave, strand push, strand pull and a final locked move. Weave freezes an enemy in place, while strand pull and push can be used to throw objects back in the haints faces. Each combat stage starts out with a healing totem that Hazel can tap into once, as long as she can reach it and (on Xbox Series X) press Y. She also receives health regen by pressing Y near a pile of freshly killed haint meat, unraveling their essence for a little boost. These piles are only available for a few seconds after each kill, so theres some light strategizing involved in staying alive mid-battle. Compulsion Games The fights flow just fine, and a lock-on system allows Hazel to swap her attention among the haints on the fly. Parrying projectiles is the toughest ability to master in the preview, but with a little more time to practice, I think itll become second nature. South of Midnight is not an open-world RPG or anything, but Hazel has a small skill tree with three upgrades for each of her magical abilities and nine slots to unlock moves like ground slam. A second screen contains Hazels collection of magical objects (five slots), patterns (six slots), readables (104 slots) and storybooks (14 slots). By the end of the demo, Id collected four magical objects and one readable. Just looking at the menus, it seems like South of Midnight is a contained, sub-20-hour experience. Now, let's talk about the games animations. South of Midnight begins with a gorgeous, handcrafted stop-motion intro movie that brings Hazel and her storybook adventure to life, but after that, the games stop-motion conceit only half-works. Hazels movements and the world at large are supposed to render at 60 fps, while her facial expressions in cutscenes render at something closer to 15 fps, mimicking the animated in twos style of Into the Spider-Verse. This appears to be true for anything in the game with a face, and its particularly apparent with the catfish character, which is basically all mouth. When it all comes together as Compulsion intended, the effect looks and feels very cool. Unfortunately, this is a rare occurrence. In practice, the stop-motion effect is inconsistent during third-person exploration moments and close-up cutscenes, and it tends to feel less artistic, and more like the game simply has an erratic framerate. Its possible to turn off stop-motion effects and I tried this, but honestly, I couldnt spot the difference. Even with stop-motion turned off, Hazel is rendered at an unpredictable rate that often dips well below 60 fps. The framerate issue appears across characters and vignettes, and its especially shitty during brightly lit memory scenes, where NPCs appear in front of Hazel as glowing white ghosts, filled with particles and visually stuttering all over the place. South of Midnight targets 4K/60 on Xbox Series X, but my preview at times felt like it struggled to maintain 30 fps. Whats more troubling, though, is the screen tearing that appears throughout the preview, spawning from the games use of a-sync. The tearing often appears close to the center of the screen, suggesting the game is far away from its performance target. Of course, Compulsion is still working to optimize South of Midnight and theres some time to address these problems before the game comes out on April 8 but theyre cutting it close. I think the stop-motion effect is a grand idea and it would work well if Compulsion committed to the bit. If the framerate is supposed to be low, keep it low, rather than popping in and out of higher framerates, which makes everything feel like a mistake. Consistency is the key, and South of Midnight hasnt nailed that yet. This is Compulsions first attempt at building a game with all of the resources and attention that Xbox provides, and the studio has crafted a beautiful, mysterious world with an ambitious mechanical conceit and a badass protagonist. The stop-motion effect is still hit-or-miss, but that doesnt detract from the games other successes. I remain incredibly stoked on South of Midnight. South of Midnight is due to hit Xbox Series X/S, PC and Game Pass on April 8. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/south-of-midnight-preview-stopped-motion-160003119.html?src=rss

The Powerbeats Pro 2 ($250) was hardly a secret. Although Beats officially announced the new fitness-focused earbuds today, it has been teasing them since last September. And over the last few weeks, a number of pro athletes have been wearing the earbuds in public, including a few NFL players at the Super Bowl. There was little left to see of the Powerbeats Pro 2, but at least there remain more details to discover about the tech inside. Beats completely overhauled this new model, reducing both size and weight in the process. The company is also utilizing Apples H2 chip to unlock a host of features most notable of which is heart-rate tracking. Given its been nearly six years since the original, there are understandably substantial improvements to audio quality and battery life, as well as the addition of active noise cancellation (ANC). The Powerbeats Pro 2 will be available this week, and since Ive been testing them for several days, I can offer some advice on whether these earbuds are worth investment. Surprisingly, Beats delivered its big overhaul while keeping the price the same as the original Powerbeats Pro. Powerbeats Pro 2 design One of the main updates Beats brought to the Powerbeats Pro 2 is its overall look. An over-the-ear hook has been the main aesthetic and functional element on this product line since the first Powerbeats model debuted in 2010. For this redesign, Beats opted for nickel titanium alloy wiring inside the hook to improve comfort, flexibility and durability. The earhook is over 50 percent smaller than what's on the Powerbeats Pro, a change that Beats made to help the earbuds work better with glasses. Thats a welcome change since the previous model wasnt very glasses or hat friendly. Version 2.0 is definitely more comfy when I wear them with my Goodr shades or a baseball cap. The main housing of the earbuds is smaller as well, and its 20 percent lighter. This results in a more compact frame thats less obtrusive. Beats says it tweaked the shape of both the earbuds and their acoustic housing for improved comfort and an effective seal. Physical buttons are still available on the Powerbeats Pro 2, with a volume rocker on each side and multi-function controls on the b logo button for playback, calls and more. This new model is IPX4 rated for water resistance, so sweaty workouts shouldnt be a concern. Thankfully, Beats also made the charging case more compact. The company says the accessory is 33 percent smaller than the one that came with the Powerbeats Pro. Its still plenty big compared to most earbuds cases these days since it needs extra space to accommodate those hooks. The case supports wireless charging, but theres also a USB-C port around back for wired top ups. The pairing button, should you need it, is inside between the two earbud cradles. Heart-rate tracking Billy Steele for Engadget Theres plenty to discuss in terms of features on the Powerbeats Pro 2, but the biggest of them is heart-rate tracking. Interestingly, these are Apples first earbuds with that technology onboard, an ability that Beats says it borrowed from Apple Watch. The sensor is situated right behind the ear tip to take readings from both earbuds every five seconds. Beats says it developed the Powerbeats Pro 2s heart-rate sensor from the ground up, and that it relies on four key components. A green LED light emits over 100 pulses per second to go through the skin and hit red blood cells. A photodiode then captures reflected light from those cells and an optical lens keeps transmitted and received light separated. Finally, an accelerometer compensates for your movement to aid in accuracy and consistency. Tracking my heart rate with the Powerbeats Pro 2 was accurate and reliable. During my tests, the figures displayed in the Runna app mirrored what was on my Apple Watch. They sometimes took a second or two to sync because the two devices take measurements at different times, but once the earbuds and the smartwatch settled, the numbers always matched. The main issue with heart-rate tracking right now is the relatively short list of supported apps on iOS. The Powerbeats Pro 2 doesn't work with Apples own Fitness app. Instead, youll have to rely on Nike Run Club, Runna, Ladder, Slopes, Open, Peloton and YaoYao for your workouts. You will be able to see all of the collected data in the Health app on iOS. Its a much better situation for Android users as Beats says all fitness and wellness apps that have heart-rate monitoring abilities will be fully compatible with these earbuds. On Android though, you have to manually turn on heart-rate monitoring in either the Beats app or on the Powerbeats Pro 2 and remember to turn it off when youre done. On iOS, it happens automatically once you give your go-to app(s) the proper permissions. Software and additional Powerbeats Pro 2 features Billy Steele for Engadget Beats decided to use Apples H2 chip this time around, the same tech that enables all the powerful features on the AirPods Pro 2. That component assists with everything from heart-rate monitoring to Spatial Audio and ANC. A number of handy AirPods features are available on the Powerbeats Pro 2 thanks to the chip as well. You wont find the AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aid and Hearing Test tools here, but Beats says Apples Hearing Protection is available on these earbuds. The features list is longer for iOS users than Android this time around. On iPhone and iPad, you can expect quick, one-touch pairing that syncs with iCloud for every Apple device on your account. Theres also Audio Sharing with another set of Beats earbuds/headphones or AirPods, hands-free Siri, Find My, Personalized Spatial Audio and controls customization. Like other recent Beats products, all of this is baked into iOS and accessible through the Bluetooth menu, so you dont need to download another app. On Android, you will need the Beats app. Once its installed, youll get one-touch pairing, Locate My Beats, control customization, the ability to switch listening modes and enable or disable heart-rate monitoring. Sound quality Beats completely redesigned the acoustic architecture for the Powerbeats Pro 2, including new venting, an upgraded amplifier, new protective mesh and a custom-designed, dual-layer transducer. The company says it also changed the angle of the transducers for a more direct path for sound to your ear canals. All of this leads to remarkable dynamic range across the frequency curve, according to Beats. The promise of a balanced, powerful sound profile holds true across most genres, although the Powerbeats Pro 2 is at its best with bass-heavy, high-energy tunes. Kendrick Lamars GNX has excellent, nuanced low-end thump on these earbuds, and most hip-hop albums follow suit. Theres plenty of bass to boost your energy levels during training sessions, but it doesnt overpower the mix. Vocals and other elements cut through clearly, which is crucial for less bass-dependent styles like rock and metal. No Cures I Hope I Die Here carries every bit of dirty texture from the distorted guitars, but those instruments dont get mashed up with the metal bands drums, bass and vocals. Amidst the chaos of tracks like Hang Me From the Bible Belt, theres plenty of sonic detail in every breakdown. The Powerbeats Pro 2 supports Apples Personalized Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ. The former works with Dolby Atmos content (including Apple Music) to provide immersive, 360-degree sound. With those albums, movies and shows, these earbuds provide the sensation of being surrounded by 64 speakers. Spatial Audio is a staple of recent Apple and Beats audio products and it works well on the Powerbeats Pro 2. Plus, you get dynamic head tracking with Apple platforms and both lossless audio and ultra-low latency when you pair these earbuds with Apples Vision Pro headset. I dont have a Vision Pro, so I wasnt able to test that compatibility. ANC performance on the Powerbeats Pro 2 Billy Steele for Engadget The Powerbeats Pro 2 are the first Powerbeats earbuds with ANC. In fact, Beats calls the performance here an exceptional noise canceling solution with an immersive listening experience the best ever in a Beats product. Hybrid microphones monitor environmental noise and any clamor that might make its way in your ears, automatically adjusting the level of ANC to match your surroundings. While the Powerbeats Pro 2s noise-canceling tech does reduce distractions from constant annoyances like white noise machines and fans, it doesnt entirely block them. The earbuds also struggle to quiet human voices, which is where a lot of the competition stumbles, too. If youre like me and listen at around 70 percent volume most of the time, this is less of an issue. But at quieter levels, and during podcasts, the mediocre ANC performance here becomes apparent. Call quality ANC might not be impressive on the Powerbeats Pro 2, but the earbuds are certainly handy for calls. Thanks to Apples natural-sounding transparency mode, you never feel like you need to shout to hear yourself over voice or video chats. I dont think that ambient sound is quite as clear as the AirPods Pro 2, though, especially in terms of piping in your voice. Beats says it has employed microphones and an accelerometer to focus on your voice while blocking background noise. In fact, the company explains that the computational audio setup is the same as whats available on the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. The Powerbeats Pro 2 also offers Voice Isolation with compatible Apple devices, which the company says enables clarity and noise suppression that exceeds any other Beats product. In practice, the voice clarity isnt pristine, but its certainly usable, even for work calls when you need to sound as good as possible. Where the Powerbeats Pro 2 does shine in this regard is blocking background racket. The earbuds silenced loud fans and other constant sources of noise to the point they werent noticeable at all on the other end. Powerbeats Pro 2 battery life Billy Steele for Engadget Beats says the Powerbeats Pro 2 will last up to 10 hours on a charge with ANC off and eight hours with either noise-cancellation or transparency mode active. The previous model was rated at nine hours, but it wasnt equipped with ANC. During my tests with active noise cancellation mostly disabled, but still employing all of the sound modes at certain times, I managed to wring out over 13 hours of use. In another test with ANC on the entire time, I surpassed the eight-hour figure with ease. The company explains that the heart-rate tracking doesnt impact battery life, in case that was a concern for you. I didnt notice any speedier battery drain during my workouts for this review, which were once a day and lasted at most one hour. If I do encounter anything to the contrary, Ill update this review with those findings. The competition Plenty of companies make earbuds with a similar hook design to the Powerbeats Pro 2 these days. But none of them come close to offering the tech and features that Beats does, especially for iOS users. If youre looking for an alternative with heart-rate tracking, the Sennheiser Momentum Sport is a reliable alternative. Sennheisers fitness earbuds lack the polish of the companys flagship Momentum set, mostly in terms of audio and ANC performance. However, the heart-rate monitoring is reliable and accurate, plus it even tracks body temperature for workouts. I prefer the design of the Sport to the regular Momentum model as well, and the option of added bass is great for an energy boost. This set is more expensive than the Powerbeats Pro 2 though ($330), so that may factor into your decision. Wrap-up The Powerbeats Pro 2 presents an interesting proposition, at least for the time being. For now, its the only set of Apple earbuds that offers heart-rate tracking. Reports indicate that the upcoming AirPods Pro 3 will also carry such sensors, but those probably wont arrive until September with the new batch of iPhones. It may seem odd that Apple would rely on a subsidiary for such a notable debut, but it makes a lot of sense when you consider these are earbuds designed primarily for workouts and other physical activities. Plus, this is a great stress test for the tech before it makes its way into a set of AirPods. On the whole, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are a substantial upgrade over the original. Theyre more comfortable and have a host of new features that help it match todays earbuds. Beats needs to expand support for heart-rate tracking on iOS and its ANC performance wont silence the world around you. But if youre into the hook design for a secure fit, youll have a hard time finding another spec sheet thats this full. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/beats-powerbeats-pro-2-review-apples-first-earbuds-with-heart-rate-tracking-150026710.html?src=rss

Apple might be partnering with Alibaba for Chinese AI iPhone features.

Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.

The White Houses recent decision to grant press credentials to independent journalists, podcasters, and social media influencers marks a defining moment in the evolution of modern media. It acknowledges a reality that has been unfolding for years: How people consume information has fundamentally changed.For years, traditional media outlets have been the primary gatekeepers of news and information. Today, the landscape is fragmented, dynamic, and decentralized. Millions of people now turn to independent content creators, newsletters, and podcastsoften in place of mainstream news sources. This shift raises essential opportunities and challenges for companies and executives navigating todays complex media environment. Its no longer enough to focus solely on securing a headline in The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times. Brands must now consider a broader media strategy that embraces both traditional outlets and the increasingly influential world of digital-first journalism.But with this new ecosystem comes a critical question: What does credibility look like in a fractured media landscape?The new credibility equationFor decades, legacy news organizations have been built on a foundation of editorial rigor, fact-checking, and accountability. Their reputations were shaped by rigorous journalistic standards and the trust they cultivated over time. Meanwhile, digital-native journalists and independent voices have built influence through transparency, authenticity, and direct engagement with their audiences.These two worldstraditional journalism and the creator-driven media ecosystemare now colliding. The rise of Substack writers with niche but highly engaged followings, YouTubers who command audiences in the millions, and podcasters shaping public discourse means companies must rethink their media approach.This shift makes it more critical than ever to scrutinize who is shaping the narrative and how companies engage with them. The days of assuming that credibility is tied only to newsroom mastheads are over. Today, credibility is about trustand trust is built differently across different platforms.Traditional media still mattersbut its not enoughDespite the rapid changes in how people consume information, traditional media remains criticaland for good reason. Legacy outlets journalistic rigor, editorial accountability, and broad reach continue to make them essential players in shaping public perception.However, traditional media is under immense pressure. Shrinking newsrooms, declining ad revenue, and increased financial strain have led to fewer reporters covering more topics with less time. Many once-dominant outlets have had to pivot toward subscription models or lean into digital strategies just to survive. This means fewer opportunities for companies to secure high-impact, in-depth coverage from traditional newsrooms.In this environment, relying solely on traditional media is no longer viable. Companies must balance traditional earned media with owned content and engagement with non-traditional outlets. Those who do will be in the strongest position to shape and control their narratives.What this means for strategic communicationsAs strategic communicators, our role is not just to secure media coverageits to ensure the right message reaches the right audience through the right medium and with the right voices. This means taking a more nuanced approach in a world where influence is distributed across a diverse range of platforms.Heres how companies should be thinking about media strategy in this new era:1. Expand your definition of mediaThe traditional definition of earned media has changed. Companies must now balance legacy medias historical rigor with independent voices growing influence. That means evaluating a broader range of outlets, from traditional newspapers to influential newsletters, YouTube channels, and LinkedIn thought leaders.Reaching audiences effectively requires meeting them where they are. For younger generations, that might mean TikTok explainers or long-form podcasts rather than a story in a top-tier news outlet. To reach more specific B2B audiences, it could mean a niche Substack written by an insider rather than a mainstream business publication.Companies that fail to expand their media strategy risk missing out on key audiences who no longer consume information in traditional ways.2. Prioritize journalistic integrityvetting mattersWhile the range of credible media voices has expanded, the core principles of credibility remain the same. Companies must vet every media opportunitywhether its an interview with a top-tier publication, a widely followed YouTuber, or an independent podcaster.The key questions to ask:What is their reputation for accuracy and fairness?How do they engage with their audience?Do they have a history of sensationalism or misinformation?Credibility should not be sacrificed for reach. While a viral podcast might attract an attractive audience, if it lacks journalistic integrity, the long-term reputational risks outweigh the short-term exposure.3. Own your narrative through direct storytellingWith more voices shaping the public conversation, companies must take greater control of their messaging. That means investing in owned media channelsblogs, newsletters, corporate podcasts, and executive platformsto provide direct, unfiltered context.A strong owned media strategy allows companies to:Reinforce key messages consistentlyProvide additional context to paint the whole pictureBuild direct relationships with key audiencesExecutives who consistently engage on LinkedIn, for examplesharing insights, reactions to news, and original analysisare positioning themselves as trusted sources in their industries. In doing so, theyre not just relying on traditional media to tell their storytheyre actively shaping it.The future of media engagementThe evolution of media is exciting and complex. In the years ahead, the companies that embrace this shift rather than resist it will shape the narrative. This new landscape offers unprecedented opportunities to connect with audiences more directly and meaningfully. However, it also demands a new level of discernment, strategic thinking, and adaptability.Companies must now balance the credibility and rigor of traditional media with the authenticity and engagement of independent voices while strengthening their channels for direct storytelling. Those who can do this effectively will not only navigate the new media world but also help define it.Tyler Perry is co-CEO of Mission North.

In the aftermath of Trumps executive orders targeting DEI, leading companies across corporate America have been reevaluating their diversity programs. Disney is now joining the ranks of major employers that are shifting their DEI efforts, according to a memo obtained by Axios.One of the major changes will be how diversity goals correlate with executive compensation, which has become a common practice at many large companies. Disney will now consider talent strategy rather than diversity and inclusion as a factor in executive compensation, though that will still include elements of DEIa shift that seems more like a reframing, rather than an outright rejection of DEI practices.Disney is also changing the name of its affinity groups from Business Employee Resource Groups to Belonging Employee Resource Groups, to underscore how ERGs are a crucial part of strengthening our employee community and workplace experience, per the memo. Its not entirely clear what the rebrand means for ERGs, though unlike some other companies (i.e. Ford), Disney does not seem to be restructuring those groups to focus on professional interests rather than shared identity. (The company did not respond to a request for comment and clarification on its ERG strategy.) In addition, Disney is also making content-related changes to the language of its disclaimers and the Reimagine Tomorrow initiative, which has highlighted stories from underrepresented communities.Also, unlike other companies, Disney does not appear to be disbanding its DEI team altogether or completely eliminating its diversity initiatives. Most of the changes outlined in the memo seem intended to move away from the traditional language of diversity programsperhaps to address any legal riskbut Disney is still using terms like belonging that have long been a part of DEI parlance.In fact, the company still seemed to express its support for DEI values in the memowithout using the term itself. Creating a welcoming and respectful environment for our employees and guests is core to our company culture and our business, human resources chief Sonia Coleman wrote. Our valuesintegrity, creativity, collaboration, community, inclusionguide our actions and how we treat each other.

Sticky notes have been the backbone of brainstorming sessions, productivity hacks, and last-minute reminders for decades. But lets be honestpaper notes curl, lose their stickiness, clutter desks, and end up in the trash. As designers and creatives, we need something better. Something modular, flexible, and sustainable. Enter M NOTE, a next-generation sticky note that builds on Bravestormings earlier innovations, pushing the boundaries of what a reusable note can be.At first glance, M NOTE feels familiarsmall, lightweight, easy to jot on. But beneath that simplicity lies an impressive fusion of materials and design thinking. Unlike traditional sticky notes that rely on single-use adhesives, M NOTE combines a magnetic backing with a reusable adhesive layer, allowing it to securely cling to both metal and non-metal surfaces. Whiteboards, glass panels, wooden deskswherever ideas need to live, M NOTE stays put. The best part? It doesnt curl up the way sticky notes do, allowing you to actually use M NOTES more efficiently without having to unfold scraps of paper to see whats written on them.Designer: BravestormingClick Here to Buy Now: $24 $44 (40% off). Hurry, only a few left!According to 3Ms own website, the company produces 50 billion Post-Its annually, which means potentially 50 billion sticky notes are used and thrown globally each year. This serves as an indication of two things sticky notes are incredibly popular, and single-use sticky notes are incredibly wasteful. What Bravestorming does is just take the concept of a sticky note and innovate on it. The result? A note with a patented design thats reusable, easy-to-clean, sticks to multiple surfaces, stacks wonderfully, doesnt curl up, and serves you and your ideas for life.For those of us who think in visual clustersmapping out UX flows, sketching quick thumbnails, or color-coding ideasthe M NOTE goes beyond being just a simple adhesive-backed square, it presents a workspace upgrade. The ability to magnetically stack and rearrange notes turns any flat surface into a dynamic storyboard. Planning a project? Layer tasks by priority. Iterating a design? Move pieces around until everything clicks. M NOTE acts like a hybrid between a sticky note and a modular whiteboard, with the flexibility to grow and change as ideas evolve.Its unique design lets you un-stick the notes as effortlessly as you stick them. Simply press against one of the notes edges and it lifts up, letting you easily pluck the note off just in case you want to rearrange it or discard it for later. The magnetic + adhesive back can be used over 10,000 times according to Bravestorming. The magnets are powerful enough to hold up pieces of paper like charts, paper sheets, or even a whiteboard marker (as is the adhesive-lined backing), and the adhesive works on a whole variety of non-magnetic surfaces, giving you the sticky part of a sticky note.Theres even the tactile pleasure of working with the M NOTES that flimsy paper just doesnt have. The individual notes are small yet substantial, and they stack together wonderfully, creating a toy thats great to fidget with. Its like playing with LEGO or chess, Bravestormings team says.The surface of the M NOTE mimics a whiteboard, making it perfect for detailed sketches, typography layouts, or handwritten notes that need to be erased and rewritten multiple times. Ghosting and ink stainscommon frustrations with traditional whiteboardsare practically nonexistent here. And if the adhesive side starts losing its grip, a quick rinse under water restores its original stickiness, making M NOTE a long-term alternative to its disposable counterparts.The M NOTES come in 3 sizes across 9 colors, and just in case you want a bit of versatility, Bravestomings M POCKET lets you slide a print or photo in, giving you a customizable sticky note instead. This means you can add everything from a photo of your pet or loved one to a company logo or even a QR code. The possibilities are endless Bravestorming demonstrates using the print-friendly M POCKET to plan meals or workouts, track water consumption, or even print templates of your choice that you can use to boost your productivity.Beyond its practical features, M NOTE also speaks to a growing need for sustainable tools. The cycle of writing, discarding, and replacing sticky notes is wasteful, but its been the norm for so long that many of us dont question it. M NOTE offers a shift in perspective. Instead of contributing to endless paper waste, this modular, erasable alternative fits seamlessly into a more eco-conscious workflow. A single set replaces stacks of paper notes, reducing clutter while aligning with a mindset that values reuse over disposal.And unlike traditional sticky notes, which tend to crumple in bags or lose their stickiness over time, M NOTE is built for durability. Whether its being used on a fridge for reminders, a workspace for project management, or a sketchbook for impromptu doodles, it holds up. And when notes need to be digitized, snapping a quick photo using 3Ms free Post-It app transfers them into productivity software like Notion or Trello, ensuring that analog and digital organization work in tandem.Bravestorming has a track record of reimagining workspace tools, and weve seen them push the boundaries of modular note-taking before. But M NOTE refines the concept into something even more versatile, making it a must-have for creatives, organizers, and anyone who thrives on structured yet fluid thinking. The era of disposable paper sticky notes is fading, and M NOTE is here to take their placereplacing potentially 50 billion paper squares with something more versatile, capable, and creativity-friendly.Click Here to Buy Now: $24 $44 (40% off). Hurry, only a few left!The post This Reusable Modular Magnetic Sticky Note is About to Make Post-Its Obsolete first appeared on Yanko Design.

In a letter to a US senator, a Florida-based data broker says it obtained sensitive data on US military members in Germany from a Lithuanian firm, revealing the global nature of online ad surveillance.

Some affected employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were notified with an email that addressed them as [EmployeeFirstName][EmployeeLastName], [Job Title], [Division].

Monday.com has accelerated its push into artificial intelligence (AI) with the announcement this week of its AI vision, which includes three areas of focus: AI Blocks, embedded Product Power-ups, and a forthcoming Digital Workforce of AI agents.The new features, the company said in its announcement, will give SMBs and mid-market companies a competitive advantage to scale and shift business dynamics without increasing resources, and enable enterprise and Fortune 500 companies to accelerate processes often slowed by scale.Our ambition is to make monday.com an AI-first platform, where AI isnt just an add-on but a core part of how businesses operate, Or Fridman, AI product group lead, told Computerworld. We believe AI has the potential to solve some of the most demanding business challenges, whether its making projects more predictable, improving decision-making, or automating complex workflows.AI Blocks in actionWith AI Blocks, available in Monday Pro and Enterprise plans, users can set up their Monday board to automatically use AI on their behalf. Actions are customizable to specific projects and support both new and existing workflows without the need for technical expertise.It doesnt require any prompting knowledge, and in less than 30 seconds, customers can set up their first AI Block, said Fridman. Ease of use is a major differentiating factor for us. Our platform is built on building blocks, helping people use technology easily.Each AI Block wraps an AI capability with context from a users work data. Customers choose the input (emails, documents, board column data), identify what they want the AI to do, and dictate where the output should be located (in a document or on a board column). The AI can be instructed, for instance, to prioritize tasks, assign workers to projects, extract information, assign labels, translate and improve text, and summarize updates.Monday.coms AI Blocks are designed to integrate AI capabilities into existing processes without causing a lot of disruption, said Melody Brue, VP and principal analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy. The goal is to make AI more accessible to users who may not have specialized technical knowledge.Some use cases for AI Blocks, the company said, include lead categorization and file extraction (such as in HR).For example, a hiring manager could create a board to identify qualified candidates who should be moved on to the interview phase. She can add an AI-powered column with the task assign labels, which, based on her specific criteria, such as how many years of experience, skills and competencies a candidate must have, can automatically detect hireability. AI will then autofill columns with information from applicable candidate resums, including email, phone number, and current employment, so that the recruiter can start making phone calls.AI Blocks provide the most help in aggregating information for reporting, reducing the time spent looking for relevant information, and then offering suggestions for the end user to communicate, said Margo S. Visitacion, Forrester VP and principal analyst.She emphasized, users still need to verify the information is correct, but it can trim a lot of time from those tasks.Product Power-ups and Digital WorkforceAlong with AI Blocks, Mondays portfolio now has AI-generated Product Power-ups embedded throughout, which can automatically, for instance, rank best skill matches for tasks and reassign them accordingly, or identify project issues that require attention, such as resource scheduling or conflicts that might be causing delays.Our AI can proactively surface risks in large projects, making them more predictable and manageable, said Fridman.Finally, Mondays upcoming Digital Workforce is a group of autonomously-operating AI agents that can perform tasks for users. The company will roll out its first agent, a monday expert, in March. This agent is designed to assist with onboarding new users and provide guidance around Monday features. Other planned agents include deal facilitator and service analyzer.Fridman explained that customers can choose the relevant digital worker from the Monday marketplace and interact with it through chat and other in-product experiences. Its important to us to give value as quickly as possible without a long onboarding experience, he said, pointing out that the AI workers will quickly learn, and adjust to, user preferences.For instance, in customer support, an AI-first digital service worker could automatically resolve tickets so that human agents can move onto something more complex.If they work the way they are intended, theyll make automating repeatable activities an integrated part of how an information worker executes their day job, said Forresters Visitacion, which can cut down on duplication of activities, task switching or potentially incorrect aggregation.Addressing concerns around predictability, reliability, safetyAll told, the potential for AI agents is enormous when it comes to worker productivity, said Visitacion. Companies can ask more complex questions and get meatier answers to support decision-making or automate the right workflows, she said.But she emphasized: To get there, however, companies really must focus on structuring data and ensuring security and trust to ensure reliability.Thats a big, overarching concern: Addressing AI predictability, reliability and safety. Fridman said that Mondays AI features follow the same data residency standards that exist across its portfolio, including multi-region support and encryption to ensure the privacy and security of customer data.Further, we fine-tune and optimize each AI engine and AI Block using proprietary techniques to ensure high quality, accuracy and built-in safeguards.Ultimately, agents will enable businesses to operate at a previously impossible level, regardless of size, Fridman said. These new capabilities are a game-changer, he said, particularly for SMBs that often lack the resources to scale like their larger enterprise counterparts. For instance, instead of hiring additional staff, SMBs can hire digital workers to complete time-consuming, repetitive tasks such as managing operations, automating client communications, or streamlining order fulfillment.This allows them to scale faster, serve more customers, and focus on growth, all without the overhead of expanding their teams too quickly, said Fridman. He added: Our mission is to democratize AI, making it accessible and impactful for every business, not just the big players.Fridman emphasized that in 2025 and beyond, Monday is doubling down on AI-driven automation and intelligence.We want businesses to use AI not just for small tasks, but to redefine how work gets done, he said. That means evolving our digital workforce to handle increasingly sophisticated workflows. Our vision is a future where any company can build, automate, and optimize their operations using AI without needing data scientists or complex setups.In its announcement, Monday said, To ensure AI remains accessible, monday.com offers a flexible and transparent pricing model for AI Blocks. Every plan includes 500 free AI Credits per month, providing teams with a simple way to explore the power of AI. For organizations with more significant needs, additional credits are available through buckets that scale with usage. Options range from a starter pack of 2,500 credits, geared towards lower usage, to enterprise buckets of 250,000 credits, providing flexibility for businesses of all sizes.AI ESM now GAMonday also announced that its AI-first enterprise service management (ESM) platform is now generally available to all customers.Just emerged from beta, the ESM offers AI-powered ticket resolution and automatic ticket classification and routing. It also features comprehensive service team dashboards intended to provide real-time insights into ticket trends, service performance and organization needs. Finally, a customizable customer portal allows users to access self-service options, submit tickets, track status, and communicate with the service team.