It used to be that if you asked a classroom of kids what they want to be when they grow up, youd get answers like firefighter and astronaut. These days, Gen Alpha dreams of becoming content creators.A survey of 910 U.S. Gen Alpha kids (ages 12 to 15) by social commerce platform Whop found that nearly a third want to be YouTubers, while one in five aspire to become TikTok creators. Content creation isnt their only ambition19.1% also expressed interest in becoming mobile app or video-game developers.While the iPad kid generation is learning plenty from screen time, many feel their schools arent keeping up with the rise of digital careers. More than half of Gen Alpha say they feel unprepared by their education when it comes to building a personal brand and online presencekey components of a successful online career.Everyone wants to be a content creator, especially kids who have grown up online. They can see the opportunities that exist to make money, find a community, and build a following, says Cameron Zoub, Whop cofounder and chief growth officer. [For] a 15-year-old today, if you have a laptop, theres a million ways to make money on the internet.Long gone are the days of lemonade stands and car washes. Gen Alpha sees real earning potential in streaming video games, selling products online, reviewing brands, securing sponsorships, and even competing in esports tournaments.Entrepreneurship is also on the rise. More than one in six Gen Alpha kids aspire to start their own business, with many already earning hundreds of dollars annually, despite being too young for traditional jobs. Brands are taking notice too: Nearly a quarter of Gen Alpha report that either they or someone they know has been approached for a sponsorship deal. With mid-tier YouTubers charging $5,000 to $10,000 per brand partnership, thats some serious pocket change.

Millions of social security recipients are about to receive retroactive payments, as well as get a permanent hike in their monthly check.The increase in social security payments is due to the Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law by President Biden. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), about 3.2 million recipients who previously only received partial payments will be impacted. The SSA made the announcement in a press release on Tuesday.The Social Security Fairness Act, which Biden signed in December shortly before leaving office, eliminated two major policies which reduced social security payments for millions: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Both policies barred employees with a public pension from collecting their full benefits under the federal retirement program and reduced survivor benefits for family members.The former administration previously said that it could take up to a year for the payments to go out. However, Tuesdays announcement explained that the retroactive payments, which should include any funds due after January 2024, will now be expedited.Social Securitys aggressive schedule to start issuing retroactive payments in February and increase monthly benefit payments beginning in April supports President Trumps priority to implement the Social Security Fairness Act as quickly as possible, said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, in the press release. The agencys original estimate of taking a year or more now will only apply to complex cases that cannot be processed by automation. The American people deserve to get their due benefits as quickly as possible.The press release explained that recipients impacted will include some teachers, firefighters, and police officers in many states; federal employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System; and people whose work had been covered by a foreign social security system.Most people will receive their one-time retroactive payment by the end of March, which will be deposited into their bank account on record with Social Security, the release explained, noting that monthly increases, which will vary from person to person, should begin in April.A recent study on how COVID impacted social security pointed to a $205 billion increase in the nations social security fund. An extra 1.7 million deaths related to the pandemic meant that costs to the program were greatly reduced when people who had paid into the program prematurely passed, and therefore stopped collecting benefits. The Trump Administration did not point to the surplus as an explanation for expediting payments.

The refreshingly short turnaround between announcement and release is almost up for Hazelight Studios and EAsupcomingSplit Fiction, and new details continue to emerge on the game.In an interview with MinnMax, for instance, creative director Josef Fares recently revealed what the co-op action-adventure titles runtime is going to be. As per Fares,Split Fictionsmain story will be about the same length as the studios last game,It Takes Two-i.e., about 12-14 hours.Depending on how much side content you do, the game can be a little bit longer, though Fares didnt provide any specific details on that front. Assuming that it will be comparable toIt Takes Twoin this area as well, the total runtime could be 16-17 hours. Fares does add that players wont want to miss out onthe side content inSplit Fiction,so theres that.Split Fictionlaunches on March 6 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Learn more about the game through here.

If Wuchang: Fallen Feathers wasnt enough, Nexons The First Berserker: Khazan also received a new trailer during the IGN Fan Fest. It features some interesting new bosses, including a water-wielding woman who fights (and can impale) Khazan with her parasol. Check it out below.It also highlights the different skills that players can wield, depending on the weapon type, like fast twirling attacks with the spear, a rising attack into a falling stab with the Greatsword, and more. Theres also an intriguing new awakening element, where Khazan seemingly borrows the Blade Phantoms armor for special attacks like a powerful charged slash.He can also seemingly transition between different weapon attacks at lightning speed. Developer Neople has yet to detail the mechanic, though perhaps well learn more in the coming weeks.The First Berserker: Khazan launches on March 27th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, with Deluxe Edition owners gaining access on March 24th. Check out our interview for more details.

Europe has an electric bike problem. Direct-to-consumer e-bikes from inexpensive Chinese brands like Engwe and countless others can be easily purchased online despite openly flouting EU restrictions. They feature throttles and powerful motors that can be easily unlocked to far exceed the 25km/h (16mph) legal speed limit no pedaling required.Here in Amsterdam, cheap Super73-knockoffs ridden at almost twice the legal speed have made the citys renowned bicycle lanes increasingly chaotic and dangerous. Across the Netherlands, over 10,000 of these electric fat bikes were seized in 2024. Engwes new Mapfour lineup is the companys attempt at going legit by expanding from souped-up electric fat bikes and foldables into premium commuter e-bikes. And because theyre the first e-bikes that Engwe has designed exclusively for European roads, the company swears they cant be unlocked for more speed.Ive been riding the new Mapfour N1 Pro model for the last few weeks. It lists for 1,899 (almost $2,000), or 1,799 during the initial launch a price that brings heightened expectations. The N1 Pro is slathered in premium capabilities like GPS/GSM tracking for which some bike makers charge subscriptions. The monocoque frame and fork are made from carbon fiber supplied by Toray the same high-quality carbon fiber as Trek and Specialized, claims Engwe. Theres even turn-by-turn navigation built into the full-featured app, a large colorful display integrated into the handlebars, and a built-in mechanical lock in the rear wheel hub that automatically engages when the bike is turned off and stationary. My review bike was missing a fender bolt, occasionally flashed a strange error code, and the solar-powered rear light wont turn on. Still, its likely the highest quality electric bike Engwe has ever made.6Verge ScoreEngwe Mapfour N1 Pro$1714$199414% off$1714The GoodLooks and rides sportyLong list of features for priceRemovable batteryCant be speed hackedThe BadStrange error messagesServicing parts likely an issueDoesnt support height range claimedCant be speed hacked$1714 at EngweHow we rate and review productsI have lots of experience with assembling direct-to-consumer e-bikes and the N1 Pro was ready to ride in about an hour, which is typical. Even with a carbon-fiber frame it weighs 20.1kg (44lbs) fully assembled according to my scale, which is heavy for an e-bike just not Veloretti-heavy.I had to raise the saddle higher than recommended despite Engwe claiming support for riders much taller than me.In the box youll find a basic toolset that includes everything needed for assembly and instructions written in stellar English unlike some previous Engwe tutorials Ive read. I had to assemble the pedals, front wheel, kickstand, handlebar, and fenders, and fish out a replacement fender bolt from some spare bicycle parts I had lying around. I then went to adjust the saddle to my height only to discover that I was too tall for the N1 Pro.The saddle stem has a marked safety line that stops well before the height needed for my 6 foot (183cm) frame, despite being sold in the Netherlands where Im considered a short king. Nevertheless, exceeding the line by about 2.5cm (one inch) hasnt made the saddle feel insecure, even when riding over rough cobblestones. Engwe claims the N1 Pro supports riders from 165190cm, and is considering offering the option for a longer saddle stem at checkout based upon my feedback.The N1 Pros geometry puts the rider into whats essentially a mountain bike stance: a moderate forward lean with hands spread wide out in front of the body. That wrist and body angle combined with a rather stiff saddle are not ideal for riding long distances, especially in combination with a backpack thatll put even more weight on the hands and derrire. I do like that fun, sporty posture over short distances, but if youre looking for a more relaxed ride then Engwe has the upright 1,399 MapFour N1 Air available in both step-over and step-through frames.The battery can be unlocked and removed. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeThe smart lock is reminiscent of the VanMoof kick lock. It automatically engages when the bike is turned off and stationary. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeThe wires are mostly hidden and the lighting is integrated. The light bar can be customized with colors and animations that make it breath, pulse, or flow. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeThe integrated display (pictured at startup) shows battery remaining, speed, light status, distance travelled, and direction and distance to next turn when using Engwes navigation. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeThe 250W mid-drive Ananda motor on the N1 Pro is nearly silent under the din of road noise, and the integrated torque sensor provides an intuitive pedal-assist at all speeds. It produces up to 80Nm of torque that lets me easily start from a dead stop in fourth gear (of seven) on flat roads, but testing on a hill with a gradient of about 15 percent required a start from first gear. Typically, I only needed to shift to a high gear when I wanted to use my leg power to propel the bike at speeds above the 25km/h motor cutoff. Despite claiming a range of up to 100km from its modest 360Wh battery, my first test performed over a few weeks yielded just 23km off a full charge in near-freezing conditions. I usually rode in power setting three of five on mostly flat roads. The second test performed on a single warmer day improved the range to 27km with 28 percent charge remaining or an estimated 36km if I had time to run the battery dry for a below average 10Wh consumed per kilometer travelled. The bike battery seems to suffer from idle battery drain of about 1-2 percent per day when parked inside my house.Worrisome for a premium e-bike: on two occasions I saw an 09 error message flash on the display which Engwe is still diagnosing. Once, while starting the bike after it had been sitting outside in the rain for a few hours. Another time after riding home on a rain-soaked street while switching between the N1 Pros regular and high-beam lights. In the first case, a simple reboot cleared it and I was able to ride away fine, but the other time required riding home under my own power before it inexplicably cleared the next morning.Other observations:The bikes integrated display is readable in all lighting, and shows the remaining battery level, speed, power level, and even distance and direction of next turn if using the navigation built into the useful but overwrought Engwe app. I didnt find Engwes turn-by-turn navigation very useful as the guidance presented on the display wasnt informative or urgent enough for me to make confident decisions when traversing the dense network of crossroads in Amsterdam.It has a very loud alarm that can ward off thieves and help locate the e-bike in large parking garages.The daytime running lights are fun and help with visibility, but also dorky if you choose the animated options.The solar-powered rear light never worked on my review unit.Engwe provides a chain guard on shipping units.The hydraulic disc brakes from an unspecified vendor provide good controlled stops.Includes a 1-year warranty on electrical components, chassis, and battery.1/19Some parts are standard and easy to source.There was a time when premium e-bikes had list prices around 2,000 / $2,000. Those days are as gone as the free venture capital propping up e-bike startups, pushing premium prices up to a starting price closer to 3,000 / $3,000. The 1,899 (about $1,960) Engwe N1 Pro is therefore priced about right. Its not a bad e-bike, but its also not great despite checking off lots of features on a marketing sheet.Just remember, servicing a direct-to-consumer e-bike can be a problem as it requires the ready availability of spare parts and the knowledge to replace them. As with any electric bike exposed to the elements and regular road use, the N1 Pros motor and any proprietary electronics like the controller, display, battery, lights, buttons, and integrated lock will eventually need servicing. So youd better be on very good terms with your local bike shop or be handy with a wrench and oscilloscope to prevent your mail-order e-bike from quickly turning into e-waste.Photography by Thomas Ricker / The VergeSee More:

Creating songs from text is difficult because it involves generating vocals and instrumental music together. Songs are unique as they combine lyrics and melodies to express emotions, making the process more complex than generating speech or instrumental music alone. The challenge is intensified by the insufficient availability of quality open-source data, which restrains research and development in the area. Some approaches incorporate several steps, with vocals generated in the first place and the accompaniment generated separately. Such a method hinders the process of training and prediction and lessens the control of the final song. A major challenge is whether a single-step model can simplify this process while maintaining quality and flexibility.Currently, text-to-music generation models use descriptive text to create music, but most methods struggle to generate realistic vocals. Transformer-based models process audio as discrete tokens and diffusion models produce high-quality instrumental music, but both approaches face issues with vocal generation. Song generation, which combines vocals with instrumental music, relies on multi-stage methods like Jukebox, Melodist, and MelodyLM. These methods produce vocals and accompaniment independently, so the process is complicated and hard to manage. Without a common strategy, flexibility is restricted, and inefficiencies in training and inference are enhanced.To generate a song from text descriptions, lyrics, and optional reference voice, researchers proposed SongGen, an auto-regressive transformer decoder with an integrated neural audio codec. The model predicts audio token sequences, which are synthesized into songs. SongGen supports two generation modes: Mixed Mode and Dual-Track Mode. In Mixed Mode, X-Codec encodes raw audio into discrete tokens, with training loss emphasizing earlier codebooks to improve vocal clarity. A variant, Mixed Pro, introduces an auxiliary loss for vocals to enhance their quality. Dual-Track Mode separately generates vocals and accompaniment, synchronizing them through Parallel or Interleaving patterns. Parallel mode aligns tokens frame-by-frame, while Interleaving mode enhances interaction between vocals and accompaniment across layers.For conditioning, lyrics are processed using a VoiceBPE tokenizer, voice features are extracted via a frozen MERT encoder, and text attributes are encoded using FLAN-T5. These embeddings guide song generation via cross-attention. Due to the lack of public text-to-song datasets, an automated pipeline processes 8,000 hours of audio from multiple sources, ensuring quality data through filtering strategies.Researchers evaluated SongGen with Stable Audio Open, MusicGen, Parler-tts, and Suno for text-to-song generation. MusicGen produced only instrumental music, while Stable Audio Open generated unclear vocal sounds, and fine-tuning Parler-tts for singing proved ineffective. Despite using only 2,000 hours of labeled data, SongGen outperformed these models in text relevance and vocal control. Among its modes, the Mixed Pro approach enhanced vocal quality (VQ) and phoneme error rate (PER), while the Interleaving (A-V) dual-track method excelled in vocal quality but had slightly lower harmony (HAM). Attention analysis revealed that SongGen effectively captured musical structures. The model maintained coherence with minor performance drops even without a reference voice. Ablation studies confirmed that high-quality fine-tuning (HQFT), curriculum learning (CL), and VoiceBPE-based lyric tokenization improved stability and accuracy.In conclusion, the proposed model simplified text-to-song generation by introducing a single-stage, auto-regressive transformer that supported mixed and dual-track modes, demonstrating strong performance. Its open-source feature made it more accessible so that beginners and experts could produce music with precision control over voice and instrument components. However, the models capability to mimic voices is ethically problematic, calling for protection from abuse. As a foundational work in controllable text-to-song generation, SongGen can serve as a baseline for future research, guiding improvements in audio quality, lyric alignment, and expressive singing synthesis while addressing ethical and legal challenges.Check outthe Technical Details and GitHub Page.All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,feel free to follow us onTwitterand dont forget to join our80k+ ML SubReddit. Divyesh Vitthal JawkhedeDivyesh is a consulting intern at Marktechpost. He is pursuing a BTech in Agricultural and Food Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He is a Data Science and Machine learning enthusiast who wants to integrate these leading technologies into the agricultural domain and solve challenges.Divyesh Vitthal Jawkhedehttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/divyesh-jawkhede/Optimizing Imitation Learning: How XIL is Shaping the Future of RoboticsDivyesh Vitthal Jawkhedehttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/divyesh-jawkhede/Sony Researchers Propose TalkHier: A Novel AI Framework for LLM-MA Systems that Addresses Key Challenges in Communication and RefinementDivyesh Vitthal Jawkhedehttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/divyesh-jawkhede/Meet Fino1-8B:A Fine-Tuned Version ofLlama 3.1 8B Instruct Designed to Improve Performance onFinancial Reasoning TasksDivyesh Vitthal Jawkhedehttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/divyesh-jawkhede/Ola: A State-of-the-Art Omni-Modal Understanding Model with Advanced Progressive Modality Alignment Strategy Recommended Open-Source AI Platform: IntellAgent is a An Open-Source Multi-Agent Framework to Evaluate Complex Conversational AI System' (Promoted)

Steelcase is one of the most respected brands in the world of office furniture. Having been in business for 113 years, its safe to say that it knows a thing or two about making a quality office chair that can also excel for everyday use and gaming. The Think is one of the most popular chairs in the companys lineup, offering a minimalist but refined appearance with plenty of customization options to make it your own. It also features several signature Steelcase features, like its LiveBack back support system. Starting at $1,008 and extending to $1,175, its a premium option and best suited for those who don't mind losing some features in exchange for its elegant style.Steelcase Think PhotosSteelcase Think Design and FeaturesThe Steelcase Think is a mid-back office chair that is subtly but definably a cut above most other options youd come across in an office. It's subtle enough that you might not notice at first glance, but when you look close, there are lots of small details that highlight that theres something more going on here. Its not your average Staples computer chair.There's an elegance to its design. It's the kind of thing that is easy to miss or quick to write off, but that actually makes a noticeable difference in its quality. The backrest, for example, has a natural contour to support your lower back and promote good posture. It's not just the outward curvature, however. It also is scooped to guide you toward its center, as is the seat, which tapers off to a waterfall edge to promote proper circulation to your legs. In this way, it subtly guides you toward proper positioning, better posture, and better comfort over time. The version Im testing here is a simple black and gray and would fit right into any modern office. In fact, I was recently walking past the local realtor's office, which happens to have a bay window that looks directly into their conference room. Around the desk were eight identical chairs to the one I configured myself. I think it looks great. Kind of a sleeper chair. One that you can initially ignore but then sit in for a while and quietly claim as your own from the conference room. Not that any of those upstanding realtors would do such a thing. You dont have to stick with such low-key colors, however. In true Steelcase fashion, you can customize about every part of its design to match your personal tastes. There are a total of 30 different colors spread across three fabrics for the upholstery. A handy online configurator allows you to see each one on a real time 3D model, so youre not shopping blind. Fabric differences can be a bit harder to tell, but helpful tooltips break down the differences between each. You can also choose from three different frame colors (black, grey, and white). The wheelbase and armrests can also be customized from a selection of a half dozen more hues. Each change carries a higher or lower cost, but the range is between $1,008 and $1,175 from what I can tell, or you can save a little bit of money with a preconfigured version through Amazon, though youre not buying directly from Steelcase when you shop there. No matter which you choose, it's important to know that youre buying into the upper echelons of desk seating. The Think exists in a higher category than your average big box or gaming chair. Steelcase, with its long history in industry, has been a staple of office life around the country for decades. They're made to be used, and heavily, all day, every day. Because of this, they offer impressive 12-year warranties and build quality that you can immediately tell is robust and made to last. Just as importantly, they're designed to be ergonomic and supportive, warding off typical office place injuries and the aches and pains that can come from long hours seated at a desk.The Think checks all of these boxes, though I have to admit there are fewer adjustments than I expected here. The Think is not the company's flagship chair. It exists in the middle of the stack. It's still very comfortable and can still be customized to match your body, but you're missing a couple things, like the highly adjustable armrests of the Gesture. And compared to the Amia, which I reviewed previously, I do find it to be a touch less comfortable (though both are a far sight above most gaming chairs).It takes a different approach to ergonomics and support than either of its sibling chairs, however. Its backrest uses a LiveBack system, which lines the frame with flexible strips. Any time you twist, stretch, or lean, the backrest is able to flex and move with you, keeping its support in place. A more rigid seat, like a cold cure foam gaming chair, isnt able to do this. Similar movements cause your back to shift and be unsupported at intervals. A separate lumbar support runs on rails and can be moved up and down to target a specific point of curvature unique to your body. Visually, the system looks interesting and helps it stand out from other chairs, and theres a silver badge on the lumbar that looks quite slick.It also uses weight activation for tilt instead of using a tensioning knob to adjust its resistance and how much the backrest pushes back against you. This is an important feature and one that isnt going to work for everyone. Below the seat, its single knob can be twisted to one of four settings. The first locks the back upright. The second provides a small amount of tilt before hitting a wall. The third unlocks the recline completely and provides stronger resistance, while the last is essentially a free tilt.You can also adjust the depth of the seat with a lever under the seat edge. You can easily slide the seat in and out even while seated, which is refreshing after testing so many mesh chairs that force you to get up to slide or to awkwardly scoot back and forth, trying not to let the casters roll. Other standard adjustments are also present. A lever on the recline knob unlocks the gas piston to adjust its height. The armrests can also be moved up and down, in and out, angled, or adjusted for depth. They have the same free-floating design as the Amia and Leap where the cushioned pad can slide along the top of the armrest to make adjustments. Theres no lock, however, and theyre fairly easy to shift by accident.The build quality is expectedly excellent. Its metal frame is heavy, durable, and well-finished. The backrest uses plastic for its flexors, but its necessary for their function and they feel solid and shouldnt break with normal use (and are covered by Steelcases warranty, just in case). I also love the upholstery. The three fabrics to choose from span from exceptionally soft (Era) to still-soft but felt-like (Billiard Multi-Use) for added robustness. My sample was sent with the latter and the quality is just exceptional. From the impeccable stitchwork to simply how nice it feels to touch and sit on, its excellent. The seat padding isnt exceptionally thick, but I found that it hid the frame well so I couldnt feel it in normal use (for context, Im about 175 pounds). The armrests are also padded in soft but rubbery foam to prevent elbow soreness from leaning.Taken as a whole, its less adjustable than some of the other chairs in Steelcases lineup but is still very good and has a lot to appreciate, especially if you spend long hours at your desk.The final thing to note: assembly. Its minimal and just about anyone can do it within five minutes. The chair comes almost completely assembled straight out of the box. The only portion that needs to be assembled is the wheelbase, which is as simple as pressing the casters into place, dropping the gas cylinder in, and putting the top of the cylinder into the slot in the bottom of the chair. I was able to do it by myself with ease and most other users should too.Steelcase Think PerformanceIve been testing the Think in regular rotation for both gaming and day to day work at my office. Throughout that time, I've sat in it for everything from quick play sessions to extended hours of work. There's a lot to love about this chair, and I've enjoyed it and found it quite comfortable, but it's not the one I would choose from Steelcase's lineup if I was shopping today. That may be different for you, so, allow me to break down my impressions a bit further and explain that while also acknowledging that this is a high-quality chair that has rightly earned its place as one of the companys best sellers.Testing chairs for a living, I've been able to experience a handful of options from the brand at this point, and I think it's safe to say that it has ergonomics dialed in. The backrests on each of the four Steelcase chairs I've tried at this point have all been very supportive with pitch perfect contouring that allows the small, rather simple lumbar support to dial in its focus right where you need it the most. Its a bit like pulling focus on a camera: the smart contouring of the backrest gets you most of the way there while the adjustable lumbar piece brings its support into clarity.Thats the case here on the Think, though this type of design inherently means that the experience will be a little different between users. Someone that has a long back may find the experience different than someone with a shorter one. The chair has other things going for it that could still make it a good fit for taller users, including that adjustable lumbar slider, but the point is that when compared side by side, it's pretty likely that different individuals will lean toward different models based on exactly how that back is contoured. While I can sit in the Think all day without discomfort, there's something about the Amia that just matches my body a bit better, making it my preferred chair. There are a number of things about the chair that I really enjoy, however. The armrests, like the Amia and Leap before it, are excellent. There's a nice height range to support different sitting postures, and the floating cushion caps are easy to adjust and have a wide range of movement to get them exactly where you need them to be. The Gesture is still the hands down winner in that department with its monitor arm like armrests, but these are excellent and soft enough that you can actually use them for extended periods of time when necessary. I also found that, while I wish I could get them even more out of the way, they do depress far enough that I could have an acoustic guitar in my lap without them making me feel crowded.For gaming, it works exceptionally well. The seat has flexible sides, so you can cross your legs underneath you and adjust your sitting position without feeling any hard edges pressing into your skin. The adjustability of the armrests also makes transitioning from a mouse and keyboard to a controller effortless. Most importantly, the cushioning, fabric, and support are all aligned to make a comfortable long-term sitting experience that doesn't fatigue your body, even if you're gaming for several hours at a time.Like all ergo chairs, however, it's important that you take the time to dial it in. That includes the height, armrests, seat depth, and lumbar. The one area where you can't do that is the tilt tension, and that's a shame. While Steelcase asserts the benefits of the weight-activated responsive recline, what it amounts to in practice is less adjustability. I found that the tighter recline setting worked well enough, but I would have preferred a bit more pushback and that wasnt an option.The ideal here is that the chair should essentially make you feel like youre floating. You can lean back naturally to any depth and the chair will hold you there, not fighting to push you back and not just falling back as far as it will go. For this to be the case, it really needs to be matched to each individual user, and the Think limits you to two settings.While support and build quality are clearly the most important qualities in a computer chair, I do think its worth highlighting its appearance. The Think is a much sharper looking chair than the Amia, which really doesn't look all that different from any other office chair. The open backrest and silver plate on the lumbar adjustment, as well as the stitching on the backrest, really do make it look and feel more premium. And when youre paying $1,000 or more for a chair, I think its reasonable to expect classy looks.Purchasing GuideThe Steelcase Think is available directly from Steelcase beginning at $1,008. It can be customized across thirty different upholstery colors and three fabric types. The frame, as well as the wheelbase and arm color are also customizable with black, merle, and grey available for the frame and a selection of six additional colors for the base and arm. Its also available on Amazon in a handful of pre-configured designs.

Apple last week announced the iPhone 16e, a new entry-level iPhone with an A18 chip and OLED display that costs $599. A day ahead of the official launch in stores, the first iPhone 16e reviews went live on the internet, and they all talk about battery life, C1 chip, and price.First iPhone 16e reviewsFrom the outside, the iPhone 16e looks like an iPhone 14. It has a 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch and Face ID. Inside, it has the A18 chip with 8GB RAM, just like the iPhone 16. However, at $599, you miss out on a few things like extra cameras and MagSafe when you choose the iPhone 16e.When it comes to performance, all the reviews are consistent in saying that the iPhone 16e is one of the best phones in its price category. Despite having a GPU with one less core than the A18 chip in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, the iPhone 16e still performs well for everyday tasks.However, CNET notes that the difference in GPU performance becomes noticeable with benchmark tests. In this case, the graphic performance of the new iPhone is on a par with the GPU of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.In everyday use, the phone had no issues playing video games, editing and saving videos and using Apple Intelligence. In benchmark test for the CPU, the iPhone 16E scored higher than the iPhone 16, iPhone 15 and iPhone SE.When it comes to the camera, the iPhone 16e has a single 48-megapixel rear lens. Although this is the same resolution as the iPhone 16s camera, MKBHD notes that the sensor behind it is much smaller, which results in photos with way less shallow depth of field and less sharpness in low-light environments. Because of this, the iPhone 16e relies much more on Night Mode for photos in the dark, for example.The Verge says that most people will be perfectly happy with the iPhone 16es camera despite its compromises, as it still takes good photos and videos in most cases.Apple C1 and battery lifeAs for the C1 chip, Apples first 5G modem, the reviews say that it seems fine. Apple hasnt said much about C1 other than that it uses much less power than Qualcomms chips, but tests show that it performs just as well as the modem in the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup. The Verge says:Every time I thought the iPhone 16 was faring better with video call quality or upload speeds, Id try the same test again and the 16E would come out ahead. If I were none the wiser, I wouldnt have given the modem a second thought as I used the phone. Given the difficulty Apple seemingly encountered building this thing and the complexity of a cellular modem, it seems fine is actually a great outcome for the C1.CNET also had a similar experience:I ran tests side by side with an iPhone 16 Pro Max that was also on AT&T using the Speed Test app by Ookla. [] And while the 16 Pro Max had faster download speeds, the 16Es results were still good. In fact, its upload speeds beat the 16 Pro Max, which means selfies and videos post quickly to Instagram and TikTok, while video calls look and sound good without any freezes.Speaking of power consumption, the reviews also praise the iPhone 16es battery. Engadget said that the phone had no problem lasting well longer than 24 hours, while MKBHD also seems to agree that its a really good battery.Most reviews were also consistent in their criticism of the new iPhone 16e. They all point out how the lack of MagSafe can be a problem for someone coming from an iPhone 12 or newer. MKBHD notes that charging the phone using the old Qi technology is much slower and makes it heat up a lot more in the process. They also agree that the price may be a bit expensive considering what the iPhone 16e lacks compared to other iPhones.Watch the iPhone 16e reviewsiPhone 16e is now available for pre-order with the official launch scheduled for Friday, February 28. You can watch some of the reviews below.Best deals on Apple productsAdd 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

Virtual privacy networks are gaining popularity. Between January's short-lived TikTok ban, the rise of AI scams and online privacy concerns, Americans are turning to VPNs to access restricted content or to increase their security. An exclusive CNET survey found that 43% of US adults are using VPNs, and nearly half do so to safeguard their online activity and IP address. Given how much we do online, Neal O'Farrell, a cybersecurity expert with over 40 years of experience and founder of Think Security First, believes we all should be using VPNs -- especially if you're worried about someone tracking your web surfing habits. "Instead of rolling the dice and hoping that no one's snooping, just don't take the chance," said O'Farrell. Although the majority of Americans are not yet using a VPN, O'Farrell suspects that usage will increase as privacy concerns grow. Interest in using a VPN to access banned or blocked content increased earlier this year, particularly when TikTok went down for a few hours on the night of Jan. 18. CNET's survey found that 50% of Gen Zers and 50% of millennials used a VPN to attempt to access a restricted app or site since the start of 2025."The threat of a TikTok ban in the US caused a surge in VPN interest because many folks were seeking ways to bypass restricted access," saidMoe Long, a CNET senior security editor. "But in my testing, using a VPN to unblock TikTok wasn't a viable solution. Still, this illustrates how VPNs are becoming more mainstream -- we've also witnessed this trend with more folks turning to VPNs for streaming region-restricted content, like loading foreign Netflix libraries or watching BBC iPlayer outside of the UK."VPNs are legal in most countries. However, several countries ban or restrict VPN usage, and using one could lead to legal consequences. Here's what CNET's survey uncovered about why and how people use VPNs. If you're interested in trying a VPN, I've compiled tips from online security experts. Key takeaways Privacy:Over half of US adults who have used a VPN (52%) use one to protect their IP address when using the internet.Mobile use: 51% of those who use a VPN do so on their phone, followed by 50% who use a VPN on their computer or tablet.By generation: VPNs are used most by younger generations -- 50% of Gen Z and millennials have used one this year. Saving money:23% of US adults use a VPN to save money, primarily on streaming services costs.Accessing banned apps:Since Jan. 1, 2024, 17% of US adults have tried to access a banned website or app in their area. Since the start of 2025, 50% of Gen Zers and 50% of millennials have used a VPN to attempt to access a restricted app or site. Who's using VPNs? Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. CNET found that 43% of US adults use a VPN, a number O'Farrell expects to rise as people become more worried about their data being tracked. Here's how that number breaks down: Men tend to use a VPN more than women. Half of the men surveyed have used or currently use a VPN, compared to 36% of women. Younger generations tend to use VPNs more, with 50% of both Gen Zers and millennials reporting they use a VPN. Once people try a VPN, they seem to stick to it; 10% say they've used or tried using a VPN for one to two years, while 19% say they've used one for over two years. Here's a closer look: More people are protecting their phones with VPNs In the past VPNs have been commonly used on laptops and tablets, especially for work or to stream sports. However, 51% of US adults are now using VPNs on their phones. followed by 50% who use them on their personal computer, laptop or tablet. O'Farrell thinks using a VPN for mobile phone usageis wise. "We forget that we transact and conduct so many sensitive discussions and transactions on our phones," said O'Farrell. "Threats are everywhere, and if you're using your phone as a daily tool, you need to be protecting that." If you're considering a VPN for your phone, you don't need to look specifically for a mobile VPN, said Long."The best VPNs seamlessly switch between Wi-Fi and mobile networks, and in my testing, the major VPNs all worked smoothly on phones and computers," said Long. Most VPNs support Android, iOS, and iPadOS, Long added.Why are people using VPNs?Most US adults turn to a VPN for its primary function -- to protect their IP address. The second leading reason is to keep their online activity private. Other reasons range from streaming video games to accessing restricted content and apps. We asked experts to weigh in on the top reasons people are using VPNs, and here's what we learned. Privacy Nearly half (47%) of US adults use VPNs to keep their online activity private. A VPN routes your online traffic through an encrypted virtual server, preventing apps and websites from viewing your IP address by masking it with your VPN server's IP address. This protects your actual IP address, as well as your internet service provider, your online activity and your location. There are limits to what a VPN protects, however. It can't secure your payment information, cookies and account logins. If you use public Wi-Fi, such as at a coffee shop or airport, O'Farrell recommends connecting to a VPN. CNET's technology writer, Attila Tomaschek, added that a quality VPN is usually fast enough for regular internet activities, even on public Wi-Fi. Accessing banned content Accessing content that's banned in your area is another common reason people are using VPNs, according to CNET's findings. Users might connect to a VPN to watch regionally locked sports games or a show only offered in another country. Others might have even tried a VPN to access TikTok during the hours it was down in January. Since Jan. 1, 2024, 17% of US adults have tried accessing a banned app or website in their area, such as TikTok. Of those using a VPN to access illegal or banned apps, 45% started using a VPN in the past year. You can't always use a VPN to access banned apps, however. For example, Long tried accessing TikTok through a VPN during the app's temporary ban last month and couldn't. Some websites and apps have firewalls and VPN detection features that can block you. Content can also be restricted to certain regions due to licensing agreements and copyright restrictions, Tomaschek said. It's also important to understand if accessing content is legal in your country. For example, accessing a TV show that's regionally blocked is generally not illegal, as long as VPN usage is legal in your country. However, there are other ramifications you can face. If accessing blocked content violates your streaming service's user agreement, your account could be suspended. You should never use a VPN to access illegal content or violate VPN laws in your country. If you do, you could face fines or imprisonment. "If it is banned in a specific country, the authorities in that country will have a right to access who's accessing it," O'Farrell said. VPNs are banned or restricted in the below countries: BelarusChinaIranOmanRussiaTurkmenistanUnited Arab Emirates Saving money on streaming Using a VPN to alter your server's location can help you lock in lower prices on items or services, which may be cheaper in other states, regions or countries.We found that 19% of US adults who use VPNs do so to save on streaming service costs, including TV, sports, and music. This breaks down to 12% who use VPNs to save on streaming TV, 9% to save money on streaming sports and 8% on streaming music, with some respondents using VPNS to save on more than one streaming service.For example, Longtested using a VPN to save money on streaming contentand was able to save $6 on renting a movie by using a VPN to change his location to the UK.If you want to try using a VPN to save on streaming costs, make sure you check the service's terms and conditions for any language that prohibits the use of VPNs. VPNs can also help you save money on travel, but only 9% of VPN users are using one to save on plane tickets, hotels, rental cars and other travel expenses. When using a VPN to get the best price on travel, don't forget to factor in exchange rates and international transaction fees. Interested in trying a VPN? CNET experts have been testing VPNs for over a decade, and have done hands-on testing to help you find the right one. If you're considering trying a VPN, here's what CNET experts say to look for. Privacy standards CNET editors recommend looking for a VPN with AES 256-bit encryption to hide sensitive information, and a no-logging policy to prevent any of your online activity from being saved by your VPN provider. Look for other privacy features, too -- like DNS leak protection and a kill switch. Tomaschek recommends ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Proton VPN as quality providers. Watch out: VPNs aren't a security measure to shield you from identity theft or scams. Yes, you'll shield your location, but that doesn't stop your device from getting a virus or malware. Tomaschek recommends both a VPN and antivirus software since they serve different purposes. Some VPNs are now even offering identity theft protection like ExpressVPN's Identity Defender and NordVPN's NordProtect. Internet speed Many VPNs will slow your internet speed by 50% or more, but a VPN that's considered fast will only slow your speed by 25% or less. If you're using a VPN to stream or play video games, you'll want to find one with low speed loss. Tomascheck recommends NordVPN. Servers and locations As you narrow down your VPN choice, pay attention to the number of servers and locations the VPN offers. The more servers and locations it has, the more options you'll have for bypassing geo-restrictions and accessing a wider variety of content from different countries. More importantly, you'll have other options if a server is down in one location. VPN support If you plan to use your VPN on multiple devices, make sure your VPN can handle those simultaneously. Some VPNs allow eight to 10 devices at once, while others don't have a limit. It's also important to make sure your VPN supports your operating system. Some VPNs may be better compatible with Windows and MacOS, while mobile VPNs may work better on iOS and Android. Your device may also play a part in your VPN's performance. We recommend looking at CNET's best VPNs to help you narrow down your search. Methodology All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,429 adults, of which 1,057 have ever used a VPN. Fieldwork was undertaken between 3 to 5 Feb. 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18 or over).

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