A new iPhone in February? Apple could release a new version of the iPhone SE as early as next week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Rumors suggest the new iPhone SE will inherit the iPhone 14's design, signaling the end of the home button and a shift away from smaller screens. At $429, the iPhone SE is Apple's most affordable phone before discounts and could make a big comeback in 2025.Unlike with Apple's flagship iPhone family, the iPhone SE's launch timing is somewhat irregular. The first generation SE launched in 2016, followed by the second version in 2020 and the third in March 2022. Apple also hasn't mentioned whether it plans to release new iPhone SE models moving forward, as it rarely speaks about future products.Read more: I've Been Using the iPhone 16 For a Month. Here's What Stands OutThere's plenty of room for Apple to further improve its cheaper iPhone. While my colleague Patrick Holland praised the 2022 iPhone SE for its accessible price and familiar home button, he criticized it for its lack of night mode photos and dated design. Android competitors like Samsung and Google have also improved their similarly priced budget phones in recent years. The Google Pixel 8A and Samsung Galaxy A55 5G both offer features once reserved for premium devices, like high refresh rates and multiple cameras.It's impossible to know exactly what to expect from Apple until the company makes an announcement. Based on predictions and reports from Bloomberg, MacRumors and the plugged-in TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, along with other leaks and Apple's product launch history, here's what we'd expect from Apple's next budget iPhone.Apple didn't respond to a request for comment regarding a future iPhone SE when this story was originally published. Watch this: The iPhone SE Is Back! Apple Expected To Launch a New Version Soon 03:50 iPhone SE 4 may launch in early 2025There has been a lot of back-and-forth about the iPhone SE 4's launch timing in recent years. But an August report from the often-accurate Mark Gurman of Bloomberg suggests that a new iPhone SE could debut in the beginning of 2025. That suggests it may arrive in the first quarter, which would line up with Apple's previous iPhone SE release dates. The first and third generation models, for example, both launched in March.The analyst Kuo also reported in October that mass production of the new iPhone SE would begin in December 2024, further indication that an early 2025 release may be in store for Apple's next tiny phone.The reports come after rumors and speculation about the iPhone SE's existence have been uncertain over the last several years. In 2019, Kuo said Apple was working on an iPhone SE with a full-screen design similar to the iPhone XR, as MacRumors reportedat the time. Apple has released two versions of the iPhone SE since then that retain the old iPhone 8-inspired design, which raised questions about whether the model Kuo was referring to has been canceled or postponed.Kuo's 2023 predictions regarding the iPhone SE 4 have also been mixed. He reported last January that an iPhone SE originally planned for 2024 was canceledbut followed up to say the project had been revived. He changed his prediction again in April2023 to say that the model he previously referred to might just be an engineering prototype for an Apple in-house 5G baseband chip. His previous comments also suggested the iPhone SE 4 would include this 5G chip.Read more: Inside the Apple Watch Series 10's New Sleep Apnea Detection FeatureBut newer reports, including one from MacRumors, indicate Apple is indeed developing a new iPhone SE that reportedly includes some dramatic upgrades.It will likely have a new processor and Apple Intelligence Apple/ Zooey Liao/ CNETThe iPhone SE typically has the same processor as Apple's most recent flagship iPhone. For example, the 2022 iPhone SE has the same chip as the iPhone 13, which launched in September 2021. Since Apple's newest mobile chip is usually the iPhone SE's standout feature, it's hard to imagine Apple straying from that pattern.But that's more important than ever now that Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of new AI features, is dependent on the company's latest chips. The iPhone 16 family and last year's Pro models are the only iPhones capable of running these features for now. But based on Apple's history andBloomberg's report, which says the iPhone SE 4 will support Apple Intelligence, it looks like that could change in the coming months.Apple Intelligence includes new AI-powered features such as the ability to rewrite, summarize and proofread text, a new version of Siri that's better at understanding words even when you fumble, the ability to erase objects in photos, and notification and message summaries, among other features. The first wave of Apple Intelligence arrived in Apple's iOS 18.1 update, while more features -- such as the ability to generate custom emoji -- will come later in iOS 18.2.Otherwise, the next iPhone SE could have an Apple-made 5G chip, according to Kuo. Still, it's hard to know if that prediction still applies since he later revised his estimate to say this device was likely an engineering prototype to test that 5G chip.MacRumorsalso reports that the iPhone SE 4 will have an Apple-made 5G modem.An iPhone 14-like design with an OLED screen The iPhone 14 James Martin/CNETIf the company is working on another iPhone SE, it will likely have a 6.1-inch screen similar to Apple's modern flagship phones. The current iPhone SE, by comparison, has a 4.7-inch screen with thick borders at the top and chin, much like the iPhone 8.In particular, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to look a lot like the iPhone 14, which Apple launched in 2022.A MacRumors articlereported in September 2023 that the iPhone SE 4 will have a modified version of the iPhone 14's chassis and reiterated that pointagain in November. Bloomberg's report also suggests the iPhone SE 4 will resemble Apple's two-year-old flagship.It's not just the design that's expected to get an upgrade; the display will see improvements too. Multiple reports, including those from Kuo, MacRumors, Bloomberg, The Elecand Nikkei Asia, suggest the next iPhone SE will have an OLED screen instead of LCD. That's a big deal because OLED typically displays richer contrast and deeper blacks, and these types of screens are consistent across the rest of Apple's iPhone lineup. Read more: Thinking About Buying a Foldable Phone? Here's How to DecideThe iPhone SE will likely have a larger batteryThe next iPhone SE could inherit the iPhone 14's battery as well, according to MacRumors. If the blog's previous reports about the iPhone SE 4 following in the iPhone 14's footsteps prove to be accurate, a larger battery would be necessary to power its larger screen. Apple doesn't disclose the battery capacities for its phones, but it says the iPhone 14 should get five extra hours of video playback compared to the third-generation iPhone SE. Between the new chip and bigger battery that we're expecting to find in the next iPhone SE, it sounds like Apple's next affordable iPhone could see some pretty significant gains in battery life.Goodbye Touch ID, hello Face IDFans of Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensor may be out of luck. MacRumors reports that the next iPhone SE will have Face ID, like other modern iPhones, instead of Apple's fingerprint sensor. That conflicts with Kuo's report from 2019, which indicated that the next iPhone SE would have a smaller notch area without Face ID and Touch ID embedded in the power button. But since Kuo's report is about five years old, that information may be outdated.It may get a 48MP camera, USB-C and Action button Kevin Heinz/CNETApple's next wallet-friendly iPhone may have a few things in common with Apple's newer iPhones. Since Apple switched to USB-C starting with the iPhone 15 lineup to comply with new European rules, it seems likely that the iPhone SE 4 could ditch the Lightning connector as well. MacRumors also claims the iPhone SE 4 will have USB-C.The more surprising note in MacRumors' story is that the iPhone SE 4 could gain the Action button, which is a new key for programming shortcuts that's currently exclusive to the iPhone 16 family, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. If true, it would be another sign that Apple wants to make the Action button standard across the iPhone lineup, coming after it brought the Action button to the standard models this year.MacRumors also reports that a 48-megapixel single camera could be in store for the next iPhone SE. That would signal another similarity it could share with the iPhone 15 and 16, which also have 48-megapixel main cameras. If the report is accurate, the iPhone SE will only have one rear camera, unlike Apple's more expensive phones. The regular iPhone 15 has wide and ultra-wide cameras, while the Pro versions have wide, ultra-wide and telephoto cameras.But Apple introduced the "Fusion" camera on this year's regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, which it says enables a 2x optical quality zoom despite lacking a dedicated telephoto lens. While reports don't specify whether the iPhone SE 4 will have this camera, it wouldn't be surprising if Apple implemented it to compensate for the iPhone SE's single camera setup.If the rumors are true, the fourth-generation iPhone SE could bring Apple's tiny, budget iPhone up to date with the rest of Apple's lineup. Depending on the price, it could end up being a solid choice for people in need of a more modern iPhone that don't care about the iPhone 16's extra flourishes, like the Camera Control button. Apple's iPhone 16, 16 Plus Show Off Bolder Colors and Buttons See all photos Patrick Holland contributed to this report.

Just Cause creator's new studio suffers layoffs before launching first gameLiquid Swords remains "committed" to its vision.Image credit: Liquid Swords News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on Feb. 17, 2025 Sweden-based developer Liquid Swords has today announced an unspecified number of layoffs.The NetEase-backed studio was formed in 2020 by Christofer Sundberg, whose name you may recognise from Just Cause's Avalanche Studios, which he co-founded.Liquid Swords is yet to launch its first game, and today announced plans to "reduce its workforce as part of an effort to scale back operations and adapt to current business conditions".Our Ian asks the question: Does anyone really want long games anymore?Watch on YouTubeIn a message on the company's website, Liquid Swords cited "the present challenges of the video game industry" as a reason for the layoffs. It said this move is "intended to ensure the studios long-term sustainability" as it continues to work on its debut game."I promised our employees and shareholders success and to build a studio redefining game development with a small, expert-driven team and a sustainable work model. While we achieved much of this, shifting market conditions prevented us from succeeding within our timeframe," Sundberg said in a statement."As a result, we must part ways with talented individuals who have been instrumental in our journey. This is incredibly difficult, but we remain committed to our vision and will continue to work on our IP and first game with a dedicated team."Despite changes within its team, Liquid Swords believes these layoffs "will not prevent" the studio from "realising its original ambition". Liquid Swords celebrated its fourth birthday in December. "From the outside, it might not look like we've done a lot, but for us inside, it's already been a busy four years," the team wrote at the time. Image credit: Liquid SwordsLiquid Swords is not the only NetEase-backed studio to have been impacted recently. In November, Mac Walters - the veteran writer and producer who worked on Mass Effect for almost two decades - announced a "pause" in operations at his NetEase-backed AAA game studio, Worlds Untold. Its team had been developing a near-future action adventure game set "in a breathtaking world filled with mystery and exploration", backed by investment cash from the Chinese game giant.Then, last month, Jar of Sparks - the Seattle-based "AAA" studio established by Halo Infinite head of design Jerry Hook back in 2022 - halted work its currently-unannounced first title as it searched for a new publishing partner, stating it's looking to "find all of our team new homes" as a result.When Jar of Sparks was initially unveiled in July 2022, it was described as a first-party developer for Chinese publisher NetEase that would focus on creating the "next generation of narrative-driven action games".

Let's face it, we aren't getting any younger. And hell, those of us still lucky enough to call ourselves young will be older soon enough. With great age comes great responsibilities, as the saying goes, but these are not cool responsibilities like kicking a man made out of sand in the face like Spider-Man's got. No, these are responsibilities like doing the weekly shop, working a nine-to-five, or cleaning dog poop off the carpet because someone had an itchy bum (wasn't me, I promise). Read more

AI models are being cranked out at a dizzying pace, by everyone from Big Tech companies like Google to startups like OpenAI and Anthropic. Keeping track of the latest ones can be overwhelming.Adding to the confusion is that AI models are often promoted based on industry benchmarks. But these technical metrics often reveal little about how real people and companies actually use them.To cut through the noise, TechCrunch has compiled an overview of the most advanced AI models released since 2024, with details on how to use them and what theyre best for. Well keep this list updated with the latest launches, too.There are literally hundreds of thousands of AI models out there: HuggingFace, for example, hosts over 900,000. So this list might miss some models that perform better, in one way or another.AI models released in 2025OpenAI o3-miniThis is OpenAIs latest reasoning model and is optimized for STEM-related tasks like coding, math, and science. Its not OpenAIs most powerful model but because its smaller, the company says its significantly lower-cost. It is available for free but requires a subscription for heavy users.OpenAI Deep ResearchOpenAIs Deep Research is designed for doing in-depth research on a topic with clear citations. This service is only available with ChatGPTs $200 per month Pro subscription. OpenAI recommends it for everything from science to shopping research, but beware that hallucinations remain a problem for AI.Mistral Le ChatMistral has launched app versions of Le Chat, a multimodal AI personal assistant. Mistral claims Le Chat responds faster than any other chatbot. It also has a paid version with up-to-date journalism from the AFP. Tests from Le Monde found Le Chats performance impressive, although it made more errors than ChatGPT.OpenAI OperatorOpenAIs Operator is meant to be a personal intern that can do things independently, like help you buy groceries. It requires a $200 a month ChatGPT pro subscription. AI agents hold a lot of promise, but theyre still experimental: a Washington Post reviewer says Operator decided on its own to order a dozen eggs for $31, paid with the reviewers credit card.Google Gemini 2.0 Pro ExperimentalGoogle Geminis much-awaited flagship model says it excels at coding and understanding general knowledge. It also has a super-long context window of 2 million tokens, helping users who need to quickly process massive chunks of text. The service requires (at minimum) a Google One AI Premium subscription of $19.99 a month.AI models released in 2024DeepSeek R1This Chinese AI model took Silicon Valley by storm. DeepSeeks R1 performs well on coding and math, while its open source nature means anyone can run it locally. Plus, its free. However, R1 integrates Chinese government censorship and faces rising bans for potentially sending user data back to China.Gemini Deep ResearchDeep Research summarizes Googles search results in a simple and well-cited document. The service is helpful for students and anyone else who needs a quick research summary. However, its quality isnt nearly as good as an actual peer-reviewed paper. Deep Research requires a $19.99 Google One AI Premium subscription.Meta Llama 3.3 7BThis is the newest and most advanced version of Metas open source Llama AI models. Meta has touted this version as its cheapest and most efficient yet, especially for math, general knowledge, and instruction following. It is free and open source.OpenAI SoraSora is a model that creates realistic videos based on text. While it can generate entire scenes rather than just clips, OpenAI admits that it often generates unrealistic physics. Its currently only available on paid versions of ChatGPT, starting with Plus which is $20 a month.Alibaba Qwen QwQ-32B-PreviewThis model is one of the few to rival OpenAIs o1 on certain industry benchmarks, excelling in math and coding. Ironically for a reasoning model, it has room for improvement in common sense reasoning, Alibaba says. It also incorporates Chinese government censorship, TechCrunch testing shows. Its free and open source.Anthropics Computer UseClaudes Computer Use is meant to take control of your computer to complete tasks like coding or booking a plane ticket, making it a predecessor of OpenAIs Operator. Computer use, however, remains in beta. Pricing is via API: $0.80 per million tokens of input, and $4 per million tokens of output.x.AIs Grok 2x.AI, the Elon Musk-owned AI company, has launched an enhanced version of its flagship Grok 2 chatbot it claims is three times faster. Free users are limited to 10 questions every two hours on Grok, while subscribers to Xs Premium and Premium+ plans enjoy higher usage limits. x.AI also launched an image generator, Aurora, that produces highly photorealistic images, including some graphic or violent content.OpenAI o1OpenAIs o1 family is meant to produce better answers by thinking through responses through a hidden reasoning feature. The model excels at coding, math, and safety, OpenAI claims, but has issues deceiving humans, too. O1 requires subscribing to ChatGPT Plus, which is $20 a month.Anthropics Claude Sonnet 3.5Claude Sonnet 3.5 is a model Anthropic claims as best-in-class. Its become known for its coding capabilities and is considered a tech insiders chatbot of choice.OpenAI GPT 4o-miniOpenAI has touted GPT 4o-mini as its most affordable and fastest model yet thanks to its small size. Its meant to enable a broad range of tasks like powering customer service chatbots. The model is available on ChatGPTs free tier. Its better suited for high-volume simple tasks compared to more complex ones. Cohere Command R+Coheres Command R+ model excels at complex Retrieval-Augmented Generation (or RAG) applications for enterprises. That means it can find and cite specific pieces of information really well. (The inventor of RAG actually works at Cohere.) Still, RAG doesnt fully solve AIs hallucination problem. Coheres models are for enterprise users.

The Wild Robot, Wicked, Nosferatu, Fallout, and Shgun are among the winning films and TV series recognized for excellence in production design at the February 15 ceremony.

Breakdown & ShowreelsAlien Romulus: VFX Breakdown by Weta FXBy Vincent Frei - 17/02/2025 Dive into a universe where chaos meets brilliance. Alien: Romulus features a mind-bending zero gravity sequence, an impressive and destructive space station crash, and a final showdown so terrifying it will haunt your dreamsall masterfully crafted by Weta FX!WANT TO KNOW MORE?Weta FX: Dedicated page about Alien: Romulus on Weta FX website.Dan Macarin & Ludovic Chailloleau: Heres my interview of Dan Macarin (VFX Supervisor) & Ludovic Chailloleau (Animation Supervisor) at Weta FX. Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2025

New Home Entrance | Evelyn Paris via UnsplashMoving to a new home is an exciting milestone but often comes with stress, exhaustion, and endless to-do lists. The process can quickly become overwhelming, from packing and organizing to settling in your new house. However, you can turn a stressful move into a smooth transition with the right strategy. Read on for six practical tips to minimize stress, stay organized, and make your move as hassle-free as possible.1. Plan and Organize EarlyOne of the biggest mistakes most people make when relocating is waiting until the last minute to start packing and organizing. To reduce stress, begin planning your move as early as possible. Consider creating a checklist of all your tasks, including sorting your belongings, gathering packing materials, and finding reliable movers like Alberta Strong Movers. By breaking down the moving process into manageable steps, you can avoid the chaos of a last-minute rush and ensure a smoother transition.2. DeclutterOne of the most significant advantages of moving is that it allows you to declutter and eliminate items you no longer need. Before packing, go through your belongings and separate them into categories: keep, donate, sell, or discard. This will not only reduce the number of items you have to pack and transport. It also makes your new home feel more organized and spacious. Donating and selling some of your items can be rewarding and might help you make extra cash to cover moving expenses. The following are tips to make decluttering easier:Sort items by categories, such as clothes, books, and kitchenware, to mention a fewUse the one-year rule. Consider letting an item go if you havent used it in a year.Separate items into keep, donate, sell, and discard piles.Avoid keeping things out of guilt or sentiment if they no longer serve a purpose.Be realistic about what will fit and be helpful in your new space.Dispose of expired or broken items immediately.Limit duplicate items, especially in the kitchen and wardrobe.3. Pack strategicallyPacking efficiently can make the difference between a chaotic and smooth moving process. Start by gathering high-quality packing materials, such as sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, and markers. Next, pack similar items together and use protective materials for fragile items. Be sure to mark each box with its content and the specific room it should be placed in. This will make unpacking more straightforward and help you find essential items quickly once you arrive at your new home.4. Hire a professional moving company Dina Badamshina via Unsplash Kadarius Seegars via UnsplashPartnering with a professional moving company is an effective way to reduce moving stress. While opting for a DIY move can help you save money, working with an expert saves you time, effort, and potential damage to your belongings. Professional movers have the experience and equipment needed to transport your items safely and efficiently. They can handle heavy lifting, navigate tight spaces, and ensure everything arrives intact.Some moving companies even offer insurance options, which give you peace of mind in case of accidental damage. With professional movers, you can focus on other essential aspects of your move, such as setting up utilities or preparing your new home. The following are tips for finding the right moving company:Research and compare multiple companies to find reputable movers with good reviews.Verify licensing and insurance to ensure the company is legitimate and offers protection for your belongings.Get written estimates from at least three movers to compare pricing and services.Ask about additional fees for stairs, heavy items, or long-distance moves to avoid surprises.Check their experience with moves similar to yours, especially if you have fragile or valuable items.5. Keep Essentials Easily AccessibleYou might not have immediate access to all your belongings during the moving process. Consider packing an essentials box with the items youll need immediately to avoid frustration. This can include toiletries, a change of clothes, important documents, phone chargers, basic kitchen supplies, and medications. Keeping necessities in separate, easily accessible storage will save you from digging through multiple boxes on your first night in your new home.6. Familiarize yourself with your new neighborhoodAdjusting to a new environment can be stressful. Be sure to take the time to explore your new neighborhood to make the transition much more manageable. Here are tips to help you settle in:Explore local amenities: Visit nearby grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and parks to get a feel for whats available.Meet your neighbors: Introduce yourself to neighbors and join community groups to build connections.Learn about local services: Familiarize yourself with essential services like hospitals, police stations, and public transportation options.Try local activities: Participate in community events, sports, or hobby groups to integrate into your new social environment.Understand local rules and regulations: Check neighborhood guidelines, trash collection schedules, parking rules, and homeowners association policies to avoid surprises.EndnoteMoving does not have to be a stressful experience. Plan, declutter, pack strategically, work with a moving company, and familiarize yourself with the new neighborhood to make the moving process smooth and successful.Tips Leave a comment

Matthew Miller/ZDNETWhat's the deal?The Amazfit Helio Ring is on sale for $170 (save $30) during Amazon's Presidents' Day sale. That's 15% off on Amazfit's flagship smart ring.ZDNET's key takeawaysThe Amazfit Helio Ring is available now in two sizes for $299.99.It's comfortable, attractive, and syncs with Amazfit smart watches.The battery life only lasts four days, the Zepp smartphone software is confusing, and active heart rate readings were inaccurate in my testing.As a fan of smart watches, I wear one on each wrist on a daily basis. But I don't like wearing watches to bed, as they get tangled in the sheets and light up when you're trying to fall sleep. This has left me without a way to track sleep metrics, until I started using smart rings.Also:The best smart rings you can buy: Expert testedI tested the Oura Ring a few years ago, and I found that it was the best device for me to capture sleep and health data because of its unobtrusive form factor. The problem is that Oura's sleep data doesn't interface with my sports watch, requiring me to run two different apps to get the full picture of sleep and health data.So when I met the folks at Amazfit at CES in January, I was excited to see their plans to integrate theHelio Ring into the Zepp ecosystem along with the data from the Amazfit smartwatches. Could this be the complete solution for understanding your health and wellness? details View at Amazfit I spent about 10 days with the new Amazfit Helio Ring, along with the Amazfit Cheetah Pro Kelvin Kiptum Commemorative Edition smart watch to find out. The Amazfit Helio Ring is available for $299.99 in sizes 10 and 12, although more sizes will launch in the future. The ring's sole available color is called titanium, even though it has a warm, slightly bronze tint to it.Also:The best smart ring for fitness junkies beats the Oura in 4 major waysI tested the size 12 titanium alloy ring, which weighs just 3.82 grams, with an 8mm width and 2.6mm thickness. It is completely round, with no flat spots, unlike other smart rings. The ring also has a 10 ATM grade for water resistance and is powered by a 20.5 mAh battery with a wireless ring charging dock very similar to the same method used by other smart rings.The ring includes a PPG heart rate sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, temperature sensor, and EDA sensor, so there is a lot of technology packed into this small wearable device. Amazfit advertises up to five days of battery life, but in my testing I'm seeing about 25% battery consumption per day. For comparison, I typically charge the Oura Ring about once per week, so the battery life is a bit lower on this device.The Helio Ring and an Amazfit watch both sync to the Zepp smartphone application, which employs its built-in algorithms to provide the appropriate health data. Wearing just the ring to sleep, as designed, reveals a readiness score, sleep score, sleep resting heart rate, sleep heart rate variability (HRV), and recovery time. A further breakdown of your sleep, including time and percent in deep and REM sleep, appear on the sleep tab of the Zepp app. Matthew Miller/ZDNETThe app is powerful, but it's not the most intuitive, with an overabundance of settings, customization options, and data views that can result in spending too much time trying to find what you're looking for. I've found there are multiple ways to access your data, it just might take some time to discover which way is best for you.Also:Why I wear this $220 smartwatch even after testing Garmin and Apple watchesWhile wearing multiple devices all at once to compare, I found the Helio Ring matched the Oura Ring and Polar watch closely with sleep score, sleep duration metrics, and HRV. However, the time in each sleep stage, resting heart rate (RHR), and readiness scores ended up looking quite different.I compared the RHR to the watches, and found that the Oura Ring closely matched them, while the Helio Ring was the outlier, showing an average of 10 bpm more than the other devices. This is a significant difference when my standard sleeping average heart rate hovers around 40-42 bpm. Matthew Miller/ZDNETThe readiness score is probably the most important metric since many people use that to help inform them of their fitness plans for the day ahead. But with the Helio Ring showing significantly lower scores, a person may avoid activity when their body is actually ready for more. Upon investigating this, I couldn't determine any obvious reason why the Helio Ring skewed lower for readiness scores.In order to view weekly or monthly reports, readiness insights, or Zepp AI Coach details, various subscriptions are required. While there is no subscription required to use the Helio Ring and view basic details, one is required to access all of the data captured by the ring. Matthew Miller/ZDNETAdditionally, during my testing of the Helio Ring, it showed a resting heart rate nearly twice as high as shown by the two watches and the Oura Ring. Regarding exercise data, the Helio Ring also provided some pretty different results than my other devices, leading me to believe that the Helio Ring is best used as a sleep tracker, which, luckily for me, was my goal all along. Also: The best Apple Watches of 2024: Expert tested and reviewedThe potential to have a smart ring and watch work together for a consolidated health and wellness experience is there, but the current experience with the Amazfit Helio Ring provided some inaccurate data that didn't quite meet my expectations. Perhaps additional software enhancements will address these data metrics.ZDNET's buying adviceSmart rings are becoming a very popular accessory for discretely tracking your health and wellness data, particularly for sleep since wearing a watch to bed isn't everyone's cup of tea. The current challenge, however, is integrating the smart ring's data with that captured by a sports watch. Amazfit's Helio Ring has the potential to solve that challenge, but work remains on the Zepp software and reliability of the heart rate data.The RingConn smart ring is another option I previously reviewed if you're looking for a smart ring suitable for fitness metrics. The Oura smart ring, however, is one of the best on the market right now.Featured reviews

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 deliver comfort, utility, and premium features for Android users. They're on sale for $199 during Presidents' Day, their first price reduction since their release last fall.

ToplineMexican President Claudia Sheinbaum moved forward Monday with her threat to sue Google over the company renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on Google Maps, warning the government will take action if Google continues to claim the entire body of waternot just the U.S.-controlled areanow has President Donald Trumps preferred name.President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbuam Pardo speaks at the National Palace on February 3 in Mexico ... [+] City, Mexico.Getty ImagesKey FactsSheinbaum reiterated her warning to Google on Monday after the Mexican leader said last week the country had sent a letter to Google asking it not to rename the gulf, warning that Mexico could take legal action if Google didnt keep the Gulf of Mexico as the name.U.S. users of Google Maps now see the body of water listed as the Gulf of Americaafter Trump signed an executive order renaming itwhile Mexican users still see it as the Gulf of Mexico, and users in other countries see both names.While Google argues its just following longstanding practices of using official government names, the Mexican government claims the change is incorrect, as Trumps executive order only renames the part of the gulf thats under U.S. jurisdiction, not the body of water as a whole.Mexico and Cuba maintain jurisdiction over parts of the gulf, which both countries refer to as the Gulf of Mexico, so only the U.S.-controlled part should be retitled on any maps, Sheinbaum argues.After Google responded to Mexicos initial letter about the name changejust saying it was acting consistent with our product policies and Mexican users would continue to see the historical nameSheinbaum said Mexicos foreign minister sent a new letter to Google on Monday saying the Gulf of America name must be strictly limited to the marine area under U.S. jurisdiction.Extending the name beyond that area exceeds the authority of any national government or private entity, the Mexican government warned, as quoted by CNN, and the Government of Mexico will take the appropriate legal actions as deemed necessary if Google doesnt change the designation.What To Watch ForSheinbaum said Monday the country will wait for Googles response to its new letter before it takes any legal action. Its unclear what any eventual lawsuit could look like and whether it would be brought in the U.S. or in Mexico, though Sheinbaum has previously said it would be a civil lawsuit.Chief CriticGoogle has not yet responded to a request for comment on Sheinbaums action Monday. In a social media post announcing Googles intention to change the body of waters name on Google Maps, the company said it has a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources, which for the U.S. would be the Geographic Names Information System. Google then announced in a blog post Feb. 10 it was rolling out the change on Google Maps, right after GNIS updated the body of waters name.Key BackgroundTrump signed the executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico on his first day in office, also changing the name of the Alaskan mountain Denali back to its previous title, Mt. McKinley. The gulf spans approximately 600,000 square miles and is bounded by the U.S. southern coast and the east coast of Mexico. It also borders parts of the coast of Cuba. The name change has led to multiple controversies: In addition to the threats from Mexico against Google, the Trump administration also barred Associated Press journalists from Air Force One and media briefings after the APs stylebook directed journalists to continue to call the body of water the Gulf of Mexico, but also reference Trumps executive order. The name change has been condemned by Trump critics, and Google confirmed it stopped letting people leave reviews of the gulf after users started flooding the listing with negative reviews criticizing Trump.Further ReadingGoogle Maps Says Gulf Of America While Google Calendar Drops Pride, Black History Month: What To Know (Forbes)Google Maps Admits Deleting Critical Gulf Of America Reviews (Forbes)Mexican President Says Government May Sue Google Over Gulf of America Change on Maps (TIME)