Pictured Above: Designer Amber Lewis balances New England charm with old-world sophistication with a half Calacatta Vagli marble backsplash in the kitchen of this Martha's Vineyard home. To backsplash or not to backsplash? That is the question. Or is it? Because if anyone’s ever told you “you shouldn’t do anything halfway,” they clearly haven’t heard of the half backsplash. This twist on a design mainstay makes a compelling case for stopping short. So maybe the real question is: to backsplash or to half backsplash?Lately, we’ve seen more and more designers going for the latter. “A trend these days is to use 1/2 or 2/3 stone backsplashes with a six- to nine-inch ledge,” says designer Jennifer Gilmer. “This is typically used behind a range and adds interest as well as softening the overall look.” It’s not just aesthetic—it’s strategic functionality. “The ledge is useful for salt and pepper shakers, olive oil, and other items,” she adds. Ahead, we break down everything to know about half backsplashes and why this kitchen trend is gaining traction in the design world.Related StoriesWhat Is a Half Backsplash?Lisa PetroleMagnolia’s director of styling, Ashley Maddox, enlisted the help of designer Hilary Walker to create her midcentury-modern dream home in Waco, Texas. Complete with walnut kitchen cabinetry topped with a Topzstone countertop continued into a partial backsplash.“A half backsplash or 1/3 backsplash is when the material stops at a point on the wall determined by the design,” explains designer Isabella Patrick. This makes it distinct from a “built-out or existing element, such as upper cabinets, a ceiling, soffit, or some other inherent element of the space.” In other words, it’s intentional, not just the result of running out of tile.Courtesy of JN Interior SpacesTaking the ceiling height into consideration, JN Interior Spaces decided a half backsplash would be suitable for this sleek, modern kitchen.While traditional backsplashes typically reach the bottom of upper cabinetry or span the entire wall, partial backsplashes usually stop somewhere around four to 25 inches up, depending on the look you’re going for.And while it may sound like a design compromise, it’s actually quite the opposite.Related StoryWhy Designers Are Loving the Half-Height LookOpting for a half backsplash is a clever way to balance proportion, budget, and visual interest. “If the design does not have upper cabinets, we would opt for a half backsplash to create visual interest,” Patrick says. “A full wall of the same tile or stone could overwhelm the space and seem like an afterthought.”Shannon Dupre/DD RepsIsabella Patrick experimented with this concept in her own kitchen, mixing materials for a more layered half backsplash look.Instead, Patrick often mixes materials—like running Cambria quartzite up from the counter to a ledge, then switching to Fireclay tile above. “This is a great example of how a singular material would have overwhelmed the space but also may have felt like an afterthought,” she explains. “Mixing materials and adding in details and personal touches is what good design is.”Another bonus? It lets the rest of the kitchen sing. “In another design, we eliminated the upper cabinets in favor of a more open and airy look so that the windows were not blocked—and so you were not walking right into a side view of cabinetry,” Patrick says. “No upper cabinets also makes the kitchen feel more of a transitional space and decorative, especially since it opens right into a dining room.”krafty_photos
copyright 2021This kitchen from JN Interior Spaces proves that a partial backsplash can still make a big impact. They chose to use an iridescent, almost-patina tile in this Wyoming kitchen.For Jill Najinigier of JN Interior Spaces, the choice is just as much about form as it is function. “It's all about how the backsplash interacts with the architecture,” she explains. “Wall height, windows, the shape of the hood, upper cabinets, or open shelves—where do they start and terminate?”In one standout project, Najinigier used a luminous tile just tall enough to tuck under a tapered plaster hood, topped with a narrow stone ledge carved from the same slab as the counter. The result? “Clean lines that make a stunning statement.”Mixing materials and adding in details and personal touches is what good design is.It’s Decorative and FunctionalHeather TalbertDesigner Kate Pearce installed a statement-making marble backsplash. Bringing it only halfway up allows its beauty to be appreciated while giving the other aesthetic elements in the space room to breathe.Don’t underestimate what that ledge can do. Designer Kate Pearce swears by hers: “I love my little five-inch-deep marble shelf that allows me to style some vintage kitchenware in the space,” she says. “And I think the shelf (and the pieces styled on it) is exactly what gives the kitchen an approachable feel—versus having a full backsplash of marble, which would have given the space a more serious vibe.”Stylish ProductionsPrioritizing visually continuity, Italian designer Federica Asack of Masseria Chic used the same leathered sandstone, a natural material that will develop a wonderful patina, for both the counters and the backsplash.Designer Federica Asack of Masseria Chic used a leathered sandstone for both her countertop and half backsplash, adding a ledge that’s just deep enough to style. “It allows for a splash-free decorating opportunity to layer artwork and favorite objects,” she says.Designer Molly Watson agrees: “The simple shelf is just deep enough for some special items to be on display,” she notes of a project where carrying the countertop stone up the wall helped keep things visually calm and scaled to the space. Related StoryThe Verdict on Half BacksplashesErin Kelly"Keeping materials simple in this kitchen was important for scale," says designer Molly Watson. "Carrying the countertop up the wall as a backsplash allowed the space to feel larger."Half backsplashes are having a major design moment, but not just because they’re practical. They’re a blank canvas for creativity. From floating ledges and mixed materials to budget-conscious decisions that don’t skimp on style, they’re a smart (and stylish) way to make your kitchen feel lighter, livelier, and totally considered.So, go ahead—do it halfway.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

“Utopian Visions of Hope” (2025). All images courtesy of Sapar Contemporary, shared with permission An Astronaut Finds Symbiosis with Nature in Agus Putu Suyadnya’s Uncanny Paintings June 6, 2025 ArtClimate Grace Ebert In Symbiotic Utopia, Agus Putu Suyadnya imagines a future in which tropical ecosystems not unlike those of Southeast Asia become sites for humanity to commune with nature. Surrounded by verdant foliage and moss-covered roots that seem to glow with blue and green fuzz, a recurring astronaut figure approaches each scene with comfort and ease. In one work, the suited character cradles a chimpanzee à la notable conservationist Jane Goodall and waves a large bubble wand to create trails of the iridescent orbs in another. And in “Cosmic Self Healing,” the figure sits in a comfortable chair, a large potted plant at his side. This typical domestic scene, though, is situated on the moon, and Earth’s swirling atmosphere appears behind him. “Cosmic Self Healing” (2022) While alluring in color and density, Suyadnya’s paintings are surreal and portend an eerie future irredeemably impacted by the climate crisis. The astronaut, after all, is fully covered in a protective capsule, a sign that people can only survive with this critical adaptation. “Humans cannot live without nature,” the artist says, “whereas the natural world without mankind will continue to survive. So why, as humans, do we think we have the upper hand?” Symbiotic Utopia is on view through July 7 at Sapar Contemporary in New York. Find more from Suyadnya on Instagram. Detail of “Cosmic Self Healing” (2022) “A Hug for Hope” “Steady Humility Wins Every Time” (2025) “Yearning for Home” (2024) “Playful Nature is the Future” (2024) Next article

Study the Secrets of Early American Photography at This New Exhibition “The New Art: American Photography, 1839-1910” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art will feature more than 250 photographs Lillian Ali - Staff Contributor June 6, 2025 This image, taken by an unknown photographer in 1905, is an example of a cyanotype. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, William L. Schaeffer Collection A new exhibition at the crossroads of art, history and technology chronicles the beginnings of early American photography. Titled “The New Art: American Photography, 1839-1910,” the show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City features more than 250 photographs that capture “the complexities of a nation in the midst of profound transformation,” says Max Hollein, the Met’s CEO, in a statement. Curator Jeff Rosenheim tells the Wall Street Journal’s William Meyers that the exhibition focuses “on how early artists used the different formats to record individuals and the built and natural environments surrounding them.” A daguerrotype from around 1850 depicts a woman wearing a tignon, a headcovering popular among Creole women of African descent. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, William L. Schaeffer Collection The oldest photographs on display are daguerreotypes, named for inventor Louis Daguerre, which were introduced in 1839 as the first publicly available form of photography. Creating a daguerreotype was a delicate, sometimes painstaking process that involved several chemical treatments and variable exposure times. The process yielded a sharply detailed picture on a silver background and was usually used for studio portraiture. The exhibition moves through the history of photography, from daguerreotypes and other photographs made on metal to those made on glass and, eventually, paper. It even features stereographs, two photos showing an object from slightly different points of view, creating an illusion of three-dimensionality. Installation view of "The New Art: American Photography, 1839-1910" Eugenia Tinsely / The Met Rosenheim believes that early photographic portraits empowered working-class Americans. “Photographic portraits play a role in people feeling like they could be a citizen,” Rosenheim tells the Guardian’s Veronica Esposito. “It’s a psychological, empowering thing to own your own likeness.” Photographs in the exhibition also spotlight key moments in American history. Items on view include a portrait of formerly enslaved individuals and an image of a conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The exhibition features big names in American photography, such as John Moran, who advocated for the recognition of photography as an art form, and Alice Austen, a pioneering landscape photographer. Group on Petria, Lake Mahopac​​​​​​, photographed in 1888 by Alice Austen The Metropolitan Museum of Art, William L. Schaeffer Collection Many of the photographs on display were taken by unknown artists. One of the most recent photos in the exhibition, taken by an unknown artist in 1905, is a cyanotype depicting figures tobogganing on a hill in Massachusetts. Cyanotypes were created by exposing a chemically treated paper to UV light, such as sunlight, yielding the blue pigment it was named for. Beyond portraits and landscapes, the exhibition features several enigmatic images, such as one of a boot placed in a roller skate and positioned on top of a stool. Rosenheim tells the Guardian that the mysterious photo “asks more questions than it answers.” An unknown photographer took this unconventional still life in the 1860s. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, William L. Schaeffer Collection “It’s very emblematic of the whole of 19th-century American photography,” he adds. The exhibition features photographs from across time and economic divides, with portraits of the working-class and wealthy alike. “The collection is just filled with the everyday stories of people,” Rosenheim tells the Guardian. “I don’t think painting can touch that.” “The New Art: American Photography, 1839-1910” is on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City through July 20, 2025. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Photo Credit: ispace A delay in rangefinder data prevented timely deceleration, causing a hard landing on the lunar surface Highlights Resilience lander lost signal one minute before scheduled moon touchdown Delayed laser rangefinder data caused failure in the landing speed adjust ispace lunar lander crashes on final descent, marking its second mission Advertisement A Japanese spacecraft attempting to achieve the country's first private moon landing instead crashed on the lunar surface, according to mission officials. The Resilience lander, developed by Tokyo-based ispace, lost communication one minute and 45 seconds before its scheduled soft touchdown on June 5 at 3:17 p.m. EDT. The descent was targeted for the Mare Frigoris region on the Moon's near side. ispace had its second problem on the moon when its laser rangefinder broke, which is a big improvement over its prior failure in April 2023.Japan's Resilience Lunar Lander Crashes in Hard Landing, ispace Vows to Learn and RebuildAs per an official statement from ispace, telemetry from Resilience revealed that the rangefinder's delayed data caused a failure in adjusting landing speed. This likely led to a “hard landing”, suggesting the spacecraft hit the moon's surface too fast to survive or complete its mission. The lander, carrying five payloads, such as a Tenacious rover and scientific instruments, crashed with no survivors. The firm's CEO, Takeshi Hakamada, apologised and remarked that the company would use the mission to learn about future missions.The Hakuto-R Mission 2 team launched a 7.5-foot-tall, 2,200-pound Resilience lander into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in early May. But with a perfect orbit, the lander smashed into the lunar surface at 192 metres – an echo of Mission 1's mission failure in 2023, which crashed because a fault in one of its altitude sensors was not corrected.The Resilience crash adds to private attempts to explore the moon, including the unsuccessful Beresheet and Peregrine missions. Crewed landings such as Odysseus and Blue Ghost prove that dreams of commercial space are possible. The second Hakuto-R mission was a private attempt and a blow to Japan's space ambitions. Failure has not stopped ispace development for Mission 3 and Mission 4 with its larger Apex 1.0 lander.Hakamada mentioned that the priority for the team was now to find out what caused the crash. “Supporters are disappointed,” CFO Nozaki says, “but ispace has yet to cover the moon, and the road does not end, even if Mission 2 didn't go as planned.” For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Further reading: ispace, Hakuto-R, moon landing, Resilience, lunar exploration Gadgets 360 Staff The resident bot. If you email me, a human will respond. More Related Stories

The joy of going camping is usually found in going off-grid for a few days and reconnecting with nature. However, having creature comforts like light and warmth, and even access to medical devices like a CPAP machine, make it worthwhile taking a portable power solution with you. That's where portable power stations come in. Think power banks, only bigger. Power stations come in a variety of power capacities and sizes, and that means that you can find a portable power station for every type of camping, no matter whether you're a backpacker, a car camper, or an RVer.  What is the best portable power station for camping right now?  We've tested dozens of portable power stations in a lab setting and have also done hands-on testing during camping trips and road trips. Based on both experiences, our pick for the best portable power station for camping overall is the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus, thanks to its versatility and the amount of power it provides. As an avid camper myself, I've also included other portable power stations from brands like EcoFlow and Bluetti so you can improve your next camping experience. Sort by All The best portable power stations for camping in 2025 Show less View now at Amazon Jackery is a well-known brand in the power station space, and for good reason. Its versatile power stations consistently rank among our best products, thanks to the enormous power these devices provide and their flexibility in setup, especially in a camping scenario.Steve Conaway, the director of CNET Test Labs, at our sister site, has tested dozens of power stations and said the Jackery is one of his top picks. "The versatility of modularity is what makes this power station so impressive," Conaway said. "You can choose to take just the one unit for regular camping, but if you wanted a bigger setup to power a cabin, you could easily add on more units."Review: This portable battery station can power your home for 2 weeksAnd the great thing about this unit is that if you need more power storage capacity, you can add on the PackPlus E2000 Plus battery pack for an additional 2042.8Wh of electrical storage capacity to the system.Jackery has a long track record of building quality, durable, and long-lasting power stations -- which is exactly what you need if you are spending the big bucks on a power station.Remember that the more additions you add to this setup, the heavier it will be. On its own, it weighs 41.9 pounds but can reach well over 100 pounds with more units. Despite the weight, Reddit users note that the solar additions, in particular, have been useful in camping and outdoor situations.Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus specs: Watts/hr: 2042.8W | Continuous watts: 3000W | Surge watts: 6000W | Solar input (W): 1400 | Ports: 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 4 AC | Weight: 61.5 pounds Pros Clean, easy-to-read LCD display Expansion battery modules Solar panels are durable and highly efficient Wheels make moving it a lot easier Cons Expensive Jackery is a well-known brand in the power station space, and for good reason. Its versatile power stations consistently rank among our best products, thanks to the enormous power these devices provide and their flexibility in setup, especially in a camping scenario.Steve Conaway, the director of CNET Test Labs, at our sister site, has tested dozens of power stations and said the Jackery is one of his top picks. "The versatility of modularity is what makes this power station so impressive," Conaway said. "You can choose to take just the one unit for regular camping, but if you wanted a bigger setup to power a cabin, you could easily add on more units."Review: This portable battery station can power your home for 2 weeksAnd the great thing about this unit is that if you need more power storage capacity, you can add on the PackPlus E2000 Plus battery pack for an additional 2042.8Wh of electrical storage capacity to the system.Jackery has a long track record of building quality, durable, and long-lasting power stations -- which is exactly what you need if you are spending the big bucks on a power station.Remember that the more additions you add to this setup, the heavier it will be. On its own, it weighs 41.9 pounds but can reach well over 100 pounds with more units. Despite the weight, Reddit users note that the solar additions, in particular, have been useful in camping and outdoor situations.Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus specs: Watts/hr: 2042.8W | Continuous watts: 3000W | Surge watts: 6000W | Solar input (W): 1400 | Ports: 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 4 AC | Weight: 61.5 pounds Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less Camping takes all sorts of forms, and there's a power station to suit everyone. For those who head outdoors in an RV or to a remote cabin, the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra (DPU) is a powerful option. EcoFlow debuted the Delta Pro Ultra at CES this year, and compared to the EcoFlow Delta Pro model, the Ultra has double the power and charges, a dedicated 4G LTE modem port to access the app in remote areas with weak Wi-Fi signals, and a 32-minute faster recharge time.ZDNET editor Maria Diaz went hands-on with this unit and called it the "Swiss Army Knife of home backup systems," and its impressive specs back that claim up. The single unit has a 6kWh capacity, 7200W output, and 5.6kW solar input, allowing it to run an entire RV or cabin, especially when stacked with other units for increased capacity.This great power packs a lot of weight,186.4 pounds, to be exact. However, it can be divided into two pieces: the inverter, the top portion, is 70 pounds, and the battery, the bottom portion, is 116 pounds. Diaz noted that her family experienced a power outage recently, and her husband was able to transport the battery part much more easily by separating the pieces.EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra specs: Watts/hr. 7200W | Continuous watts: 6kWh | Surge watts: 10.8 kW | Solar input (W): 5.6kW | Ports: 2×USB-A, 2×USB-C (100W), 6×AC Output, 1×DC output | Weight: 186.4 pounds AC outputs 9 Total capacity 10 Expansion ready 10 USB ports 9 Max output 10 Pros Expandable to up to 90kWh Consumption insights in EcoFlow app Modular design Cons Expensive Heavy EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra Best portable power station for RV camping 4.8 / 5 Score Camping takes all sorts of forms, and there's a power station to suit everyone. For those who head outdoors in an RV or to a remote cabin, the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra (DPU) is a powerful option. EcoFlow debuted the Delta Pro Ultra at CES this year, and compared to the EcoFlow Delta Pro model, the Ultra has double the power and charges, a dedicated 4G LTE modem port to access the app in remote areas with weak Wi-Fi signals, and a 32-minute faster recharge time.ZDNET editor Maria Diaz went hands-on with this unit and called it the "Swiss Army Knife of home backup systems," and its impressive specs back that claim up. The single unit has a 6kWh capacity, 7200W output, and 5.6kW solar input, allowing it to run an entire RV or cabin, especially when stacked with other units for increased capacity.This great power packs a lot of weight,186.4 pounds, to be exact. However, it can be divided into two pieces: the inverter, the top portion, is 70 pounds, and the battery, the bottom portion, is 116 pounds. Diaz noted that her family experienced a power outage recently, and her husband was able to transport the battery part much more easily by separating the pieces.EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra specs: Watts/hr. 7200W | Continuous watts: 6kWh | Surge watts: 10.8 kW | Solar input (W): 5.6kW | Ports: 2×USB-A, 2×USB-C (100W), 6×AC Output, 1×DC output | Weight: 186.4 pounds Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less Looking for something more compact for overnight camping or hiking? The EcoFlow River 2 Max 500 weighs just 13.1 pounds but has a battery capacity of 500Wh. In addition, you can recharge the unit using one of four methods: AC, solar, 12V in-car, or USB-C. If you choose AC, the unit can go from zero to 100% in an hour, which means you can leave charging to the last minute while camping.The company claims that one full charge of the River 2 Max can charge an iPhone 41 times, a drone 10 times, and an electric blanket eight times.ZDNET's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tested this unit and called it "compact enough to be portable, big enough to be practical." "If you want to go totally off-grid, EcoFlow offers a 160W solar panel that can recharge the River 2 Max in about four hours," he wrote. "The panel is durable and waterproof to IP68, so it's the perfect adventure companion for the River 2 Max 500."Verified Amazon customers note that this compact unit has been helpful for everything from camping festivals to powering a CPAP machine in primitive areas.EcoFlow River 2 Max specs: Watts/hr: 500W | Continuous watts: 500W | Surge watts: 1000W | Solar input (W): 220W | Ports: 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C, 4 AC | Weight: 13.14 pounds Pros Compact and lightweight Durable build Inexpensive Cons More limited ports and power Looking for something more compact for overnight camping or hiking? The EcoFlow River 2 Max 500 weighs just 13.1 pounds but has a battery capacity of 500Wh. In addition, you can recharge the unit using one of four methods: AC, solar, 12V in-car, or USB-C. If you choose AC, the unit can go from zero to 100% in an hour, which means you can leave charging to the last minute while camping.The company claims that one full charge of the River 2 Max can charge an iPhone 41 times, a drone 10 times, and an electric blanket eight times.ZDNET's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tested this unit and called it "compact enough to be portable, big enough to be practical." "If you want to go totally off-grid, EcoFlow offers a 160W solar panel that can recharge the River 2 Max in about four hours," he wrote. "The panel is durable and waterproof to IP68, so it's the perfect adventure companion for the River 2 Max 500."Verified Amazon customers note that this compact unit has been helpful for everything from camping festivals to powering a CPAP machine in primitive areas.EcoFlow River 2 Max specs: Watts/hr: 500W | Continuous watts: 500W | Surge watts: 1000W | Solar input (W): 220W | Ports: 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C, 4 AC | Weight: 13.14 pounds Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon Portable power stations can get pretty pricey, but this one from Bluetti currently retails at only $359 for Amazon Prime members, making it a great budget pick. Plus, it charges quickly, especially when utilizing its turbocharging feature. Kingsley-Hughes also tested this model and praised it for delivering enough power to energy-intensive devices during a road trip. "It has enough capacity to meet the needs of a small group for several days," he wrote, adding, "I've relied on the power station to charge my smartphone, cameras, drones, and laptops efficiently."In his testing, he also found that charging the station from a car's 12V outlet is particularly efficient for keeping the unit charged, as long as the battery is not drained too much.Verified customers praised the AC70 on Bluetti's website, with most of the reviewers saying they bought it for camping and were pleased with the experience of using it for this purpose. Bluetti AC70 specs: Watts/hr: 768W | Continuous watts: 1000W | Surge watts: 2000W | Solar input (W): 500W | Ports: 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 2 AC | Weight: 22.5 pounds Pros Turbocharge feature Affordable price Cons Some of the better features are only available by using the app Portable power stations can get pretty pricey, but this one from Bluetti currently retails at only $359 for Amazon Prime members, making it a great budget pick. Plus, it charges quickly, especially when utilizing its turbocharging feature. Kingsley-Hughes also tested this model and praised it for delivering enough power to energy-intensive devices during a road trip. "It has enough capacity to meet the needs of a small group for several days," he wrote, adding, "I've relied on the power station to charge my smartphone, cameras, drones, and laptops efficiently."In his testing, he also found that charging the station from a car's 12V outlet is particularly efficient for keeping the unit charged, as long as the battery is not drained too much.Verified customers praised the AC70 on Bluetti's website, with most of the reviewers saying they bought it for camping and were pleased with the experience of using it for this purpose. Bluetti AC70 specs: Watts/hr: 768W | Continuous watts: 1000W | Surge watts: 2000W | Solar input (W): 500W | Ports: 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 2 AC | Weight: 22.5 pounds Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less What makes this portable power station so versatile for camping is the amount of power and port options. There's a 100W and 60W USB-C port on the front, along with four USB-A ports, so all your devices are covered. There is also a 12V car socket capable of outputting 120W of power and six AC outputs, each capable of 1500W or 2400W in a power surge.Kingsley-Hughes tested this unit and said in his review that the Anker 757 Powerhouse is "well thought out, not overly complicated, built with ergonomics in mind, and packs quite a lot of power." Review: Anker 757 PowerhouseAnker is a company that has been in the portable power market for many years, starting out with chargers and power banks, and then later making the leap to power stations. That long heritage is obvious when looking at the overall build quality of the Anker 757.Customer reviews note that adding portable solar panels allows for greater battery charge retention, especially while camping. Kingsley-Hughes said that while he wouldn't carry this 43.9- pound unit too far, the ergonomic handles distribute the weight well, so it's well built for moving from the garage to a truck or RV.Anker 757 Powerhouse specs: Watts/hr: 1229W | Continuous watts: 1500 | Surge watts: 2400 | Solar input (W): 600W | Ports: 4 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 6 AC | Weight: 43.9 pounds Pros Ergonomic design Lots of ports Large display Cons Solar charging could be better What makes this portable power station so versatile for camping is the amount of power and port options. There's a 100W and 60W USB-C port on the front, along with four USB-A ports, so all your devices are covered. There is also a 12V car socket capable of outputting 120W of power and six AC outputs, each capable of 1500W or 2400W in a power surge.Kingsley-Hughes tested this unit and said in his review that the Anker 757 Powerhouse is "well thought out, not overly complicated, built with ergonomics in mind, and packs quite a lot of power." Review: Anker 757 PowerhouseAnker is a company that has been in the portable power market for many years, starting out with chargers and power banks, and then later making the leap to power stations. That long heritage is obvious when looking at the overall build quality of the Anker 757.Customer reviews note that adding portable solar panels allows for greater battery charge retention, especially while camping. Kingsley-Hughes said that while he wouldn't carry this 43.9- pound unit too far, the ergonomic handles distribute the weight well, so it's well built for moving from the garage to a truck or RV.Anker 757 Powerhouse specs: Watts/hr: 1229W | Continuous watts: 1500 | Surge watts: 2400 | Solar input (W): 600W | Ports: 4 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 6 AC | Weight: 43.9 pounds Read More Show Expert Take Show less What is the best portable power station for camping? Based on our hands-on experience and in-lab testing, the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus is the best portable power station for camping. Its modularity makes it a versatile option for all types of camping. Show more Which portable power station for camping is right for you? It depends on the type of camping you prefer before you choose which portable power station will fit your needs. Consider what devices you want to bring with you and keep powered and whether you will be staying in an RV or cabin vs. a tent. Choose this portable power station for camping... If you want... Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus The best overall option. It packs a lot of power at 3000 continuous watts, and its modularity makes it versatile for camping. EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra A powerful portable power station best for RV camping. It can run an entire RV or cabin, especially when stacked with other units for increased capacity. EcoFlow River 2 Max 500A compact portable power station for camping. It weighs just 13.4 pounds and features 60 minute fast charging. Bluetti AC70 A budget-friendly portable power station for camping. This unit also has 2,000W surge capability and a turbocharging feature, which allows for super fast charging that can take it from flat to 80% in 45 minutes. Anker 757 Powerhouse  A versatile portable power station for camping with lots of ports. It also has an ergonomic build, making it easier to carry despite its weight. Show more Factors to consider when choosing the best portable power station for camping: Power stations are a significant investment, but they can ultimately upgrade your camping experience to allow for power off-grid. Before making our top picks, we considered several factors.Weight: Bigger isn't always better, especially when it comes to camping. Will the portable power station be wheeled down a paved trail, or will you be moving it from your vehicle to your camp? Do you want something you could carry in a backpack for a day? Battery capacity: If you plan to power an RV or bigger devices from your power station, you want as much battery capacity as you can afford, but for off-grid adventures, it's important to bear in mind that there's a penalty here in the form of weight.Cost: Some units cost several thousand dollars, while others cost a couple hundred. Plus, add-ons like battery packs and solar panels also increase the price.Charging: How do you plan on charging your power station? Are you mostly going to use AC power from an outlet, or do you want the independence of solar?Battery Chemistry: Lithium-ion (Li-ion) is the traditional battery technology, but the newer lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFePO4) are safer and have a much longer lifespan. Show more How did we test these portable power stations for camping? Over the past few years, we've tested well over 100 different portable power stations to find out which are the best of the best. To do this efficiently, because it takes days to do properly, we've developed a comprehensive testing structure. This not only ensures that manufacturers aren't playing fast and loose with their spec sheet data but also checks whether the units are safe and reliable. Here's an overview of how we test portable power stations.Unboxing and visual inspectionCapacity testsLoad testingUPS capability testingThermal testsSafety testsReal-world usageFor more detailed information on how these tests are carried out, check out this post, where we explore the process more thoroughly.  Show more FAQs on portable power stations How long will a power station last while camping based on its watts? To figure this out, you're going to need to get a pencil and do some back of the envelope calculations.  You're going to need a couple of bits of information.First, you need to know what devices you are going to power. List them all, because forgetting that coffee pot or heated blanket could make the difference between the power station lasting all day, or giving up the ghost on you before the day is over.Specifically, you want to know how much power, in watts, each device draws. This information is usually found on a label on the device. For example, a heater might draw 1,000W, while a CPAP machine might draw 60W. This figure represents the maximum power consumption, and you will find that the power consumption of some devices, such as CPAP machines, fluctuates greatly, while for other devices, like the heater, the power consumption remains quite stable.Next, you need to know how long you plan on running your devices during a day, or between recharges of your power station. Your heater might run for two hours, while the CPAP machine could run for eight hours.Power station capacities are measured in watt-hours (Wh). A device drawing 1,000W running for one hour uses 1,000Wh. Therefore, the same device running for two hours will need 2,000Wh. Heaters are some of the most power-hungry devices that people find themselves needing to run.Similarly, a CPAP machine that uses 60W will consume 60Wh per hour, so running it for eight hours would consume 480Wh.Your total energy usage over 24 hours would then be 2,480Wh.Based on this, you might think that a 2,500Wh capacity power station would be sufficient. However, in reality, nothing is perfect, and there are energy losses in the system. The rule of thumb is to add 20% to your total and then round up to the next highest capacity available. So, you'd be looking at a power station with a capacity of around 3,000Wh to ensure you have enough stored power for the day. Show more How can I make my power station run longer? Simple: Find your biggest power draws and replace them with more energy efficient alternatives. For example, you might find that you can replace that 1,000W heater with a heated throw that only takes 100W to power. That quilt would run for 10 hours on the power that the heater would use in an hour!Another big power hog is incandescent lights. Swapping these out for LEDs will result in huge power savings and dramatically boost your power station's runtime.   Show more What is the difference between a power station and a power bank? The main difference between portable power stations and portable power banks is the amount of power and what they can charge. Power stations have AC outlets and allow you to charge more and bigger devices, including life-saving ones like a CPAP machine, a cooler, or a floodlight for the campsite while going off-grid.Power banks are much smaller and are best for charging devices like phones, headphones, and smartwatches.  Show more Other portable power stations we've tested Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

As long as I can remember, my wife has started each day with 30 minutes of a Candy Crush game. As long as she can remember, I have started each day by telling her it is pointless casual gamer cack. Now I write for the Guardian, I need to find a more eloquent way of putting that, so I thought I would have a go myself. I am begging you: do not do the same. Candy Crush Soda Saga nearly ruined me in a week.I like the game mechanics. As Oscar Wilde said, the man who doesn’t love sliding stuff to form chains of three or more matching shapes does not love life itself. This one is wrapped in a cute candy veneer, all fizzy bottles and gummy bears. And that makes the visuals so alluring. When you slide a Colour Bomb into a Candy Fish all the candies that colour get Candyfished and your eyes are treated to a bazillion of them fizzing around the screen destroying everything, while the firm yet gentle haptic feedback makes it a multisensory burst of pure, effervescent joy.“What’s that clicking noise?” my wife asks.“Don’t you play it with the haptic feedback on?”“Oh, I turned that off because I thought it was hurting my phone.”“In what way?”“I felt it was putting too much … pressure on it.” She says, like her phone is the USS Enterprise and she is Scotty diverting a dangerous amount of power away from the shields.We had many chats about Candy Crush while we both played the game in bed. I’m all for increased interspousal communication, but we used to do this kind of thing with broadsheet newspapers and now we’re matching jelly beans on phones. Luckily, you just need one hand to play, so the other is free to punch yourself repeatedly in the face as you realise how pointless your life has become.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Pushing ButtonsFree weekly newsletterKeza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gamingPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionYou are so hooked by the mechanics you hand over your few quid for some extra virtual bobbins quicker than those kids getting drugs in The WireAnd this game is utterly pointless in the long run. There is no story, no real achievements. It uses a board game path to fake big-time progression, but whether it’s me on level 150 or my wife on level 8,452 (gulp!) the pattern is the same: a few easy levels then a super hard one which, if you haven’t accumulated enough power-ups, is virtually impossible.That’s when the game drops its trousers and flashes its microtransactions. And by that stage you are so hooked by the mechanics and the colour you hand over your few quid for some extra virtual visual bobbins quicker and easier than those crazy kids getting drugs in The Wire. Oh yes! Candy Crush Soda Saga is the game Stringer Bell went to business school to invent. The cigarette was once hailed as the most efficient poison delivery system ever invented. Not now.This game “suggests” moves to you. These are frequently not the best ones. That is no accident. This is a game designed to make you fail. It’s a compulsion loop, sure, but one that encourages you to pay for the pleasure. It’s not gambling per se, because you know what you are buying, but, while gambling company ads now scream about setting limits and walking away, this game screams at you to have one more go.I have been addicted to so many things in my life that I stopped counting. (I became addicted to counting my addictions as well.) But this ranks as one of the worst. It only takes three days until I am dangerously hooked. Last Sunday I played Candy Crush Pop Saga for three solid hours. I nearly missed the Scottish Cup final as a result. Unlike my wife, I was dipping into it during the rest of the day as well, thinking, “Oh it’s been 15 minutes, I may have ended up getting a power-up via the Bake a Cake sub game my Candy Crush team are helping me with.”The self-loathing of the addict envelopes me. I know this is not nurturing me in any way, but I cannot stop. At least cocaine was quick. In terms of time? In one week I wasted what could have been, in Zelda terms, one third of a Breath of the Wild, one half of a Twilight Princess or an entire Majora’s Mask. And at least they tell stories. If the deadline for this article hadn’t made me stop, I would have had to have buried my phone in a lime pit and set it on fire to escape from Candy Crush.The irony is that there’s no real difference between this and the arcade offerings that made me fall in love with gaming as child. Pacman, Frogger, Space Invaders et al were all designed to make you pump another coin in the slot when it winked CONTINUE Y/N at you. They were even more repetitive. So I guess by the definition detailed in this Candy Crush castigation, those games were also a waste of time.But why didn’t they feel like that?Because back then, all I had was time. It wasn’t the dwindling commodity it is in my 50s. Maybe if I played Galaxian now it would feel like playing Candy Crush: a descent into a gaming horror world so uncomfortable it’s like watching that Event Horizon movie on treadmill while wearing Lego pants. A game that offers nothing repeatedly. Waiting for Godot with gummy bears instead of tramps. Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes – it’s awful.

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.It only makes sense to preface this story by admitting that I don’t think a person can ever have too many candles. Some might call this a bias. I call it stumbling upon the truth, like the Da Vinci Code for people who dream of one day having a candle closet. Ok, maybe we'll hedge and call it a self-fulfilling prophecy.One might argue that, of the five love languages—words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts—a candle can tap into (or at least gently singe the edges of) three. A candle can be a gift, sure, but also quality time, since scent is so closely tied to memory, triggering happy thoughts of a time, place or person. Lastly, depending on how you spin it, physical touch. Doth a flame not burn?Home fragrance has become its own all-consuming category. To that end, a candle is not quite an end but the means to it, the end being a home that feels distinctly grown up. So is gifting a candle not also an act of service?Cire Trudon Cire Classique$140 at trudon.comSophie Bille Brahe Nuage Madison$295 at sophiebillebrahe.comMoro Dabron Cecile Candle$185 at moro-dabron.comA lot of the apprehension around candle gifting seems to suppose that the giver doesn’t have taste. Which could be a real issue. But not for ELLE Decor readers. Many candles are simply too desirable to dismiss out of hand. Moro Dabron’s candles come in a fine white porcelain vessel, the delicate form of which is inspired by 8th-century stem cups. (A great gift for any history buffs you may know.) They arrive in a substantive green clamshell box that’s too pretty to throw away; shoppers can also opt to include a hand-written note at check out.Jewelry designer Sophie Bille Brahe’s Nuage Madison candle, available in the designer’s “Cellophane” opal pearl-inspired iridescent glass, is more sculpture than tchotchke. Then there are Loewe’s popular garden-inspired candles, which encourage mixing and matching in their colorful vessels and particular scent profiles—think mushroom, wasabi, and tomato—or Dior’s classic scents, which come in a “giant” size that weighs over 3 pounds and can be used indoors or out. If the recipient’s palette is more attuned to caviar than couture, Petrossian for some reason makes unexpectedly chic candles that smell like fruit and flowers, not fish roe.Ginori Oriente Italiano Scented Candle$210 at ginori1735.comDior 30 Montaigne Giant Candle$650 at DiorLoewe Small Wasabi Candle$130 at LoeweBeyond scent, there is the primal draw to that tiny flame. As TikTok knows, gay men don’t do overhead lighting, and candles emit a dim, warm, and most importantly flattering glow. What dinner party wouldn’t benefit from a set of slim Diptyque tapers? Or votives in Ginori’s Oriente Italiano porcelain?There are candles to help someone wean themselves off a crystal habit (a new line from Foundrae taps into spiritual tenets); candles that support causes (proceeds from Cire Trudon’s new beeswax-scented candle save the bees); and candles that say you sympathize with your friend who is a vegan who lives on the Lower East Side (Boy Smells’s reformulated LES candle).What I’m trying to say is that a candle is so much more than a candle, and if you’re worried about it being the worst gift you've ever given, you might just need to take a look in the mirror.Sean SantiagoDeputy EditorSean Santiago is ELLE Decor's Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality and travel, culture, and luxury shopping. Since starting his career at an interior design firm in 2011, he has gone on to cover the industry for Vogue, Architectural Digest, Sight Unseen, PIN-UP and Domino. He is the author of The Lonny Home (Weldon Owens, 2018), has produced scripted social content for brands including West Elm and Streeteasy, and is sometimes recognized on the street for his Instagram Reels series, #DanceToDecor

The Last Of Us season 2 was a mixed bag and I’m worried about season 3 Adam Starkey Published May 26, 2025 1:00am The performances are still the show’s biggest asset (HBO) The second season of The Last Of Us has been defined by growing pains, but its shortcomings highlight the narrative benefits of video games over TV. After the first episode, I celebrated The Last Of Us season two’s initial changes from the game. Instead of the largely redundant retread of season one, fans of the source material this time had something to chew on beyond just live action novelty. How will the story work when Abby’s motivation is revealed so early? What is the significance of new characters like Gail? And why is Joel now the person who killed Eugene?  Following the rushed finale, the wish for these changes has become a classic monkey’s paw scenario. For every positive (and there are still many), an odd or unsatisfying choice has been lurking around the corner – to the point where I now think this story, structurally and in its emotional impact, simply works better as a video game. Let’s start with the positives. After having some concern around whether Bella Ramsey could sell an older, more intimidating version of Ellie, these were mostly quashed during Ellie’s torture of Nora – for my money, the most effective, and harrowing, scene of the season. The show could do a better job of making Ramsey look older (it’s easy to forget a five year time jump has happened) but Ellie’s descent is hitting all the right, chilling notes. Elsewhere, Kaitlyn Dever makes a big impression as Abby. despite having little screen time, and Jesse, played by Young Mazino, works far better here as a mirror to Ellie’s warped sense of morality. The difficulty in portraying the latter is something the show is clearly wrestling with, and some of the changes in the HBO adaptation range from positive to perplexing. In the finale, pregnant Mel’s death is an accidental casualty of Ellie’s shoot-out with Owen instead of a venomous stab to the throat – a decision which helps make Ellie less of an irredeemable monster in her thirst for vengeance.  This alteration to keep you on Ellie’s side, however, is undercut by choices elsewhere. In the show, it’s explicitly spelled out that she knows Joel killed Abby’s father – a note which was left somewhat ambiguous in the game. This could have been left as a heartbreaking realisation for Ellie, when she finally confronts Abby – the wake-up call where she discovers they’re both locked in the same cycle of hate at the expense of their loved ones. But now Ellie is still actively chasing Abby, and killing her friends, despite having this context. I don’t like to pick sides between vengeful murderers, but it doesn’t take an arbiter of morality to see the lesser of two evils here.  Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby will be the focus of season three (HBO) This decision might be why the pivotal flashback between Joel and Ellie, which comes at the end of the game and recontextualises her unrelenting desire for revenge, was pushed to an earlier spot. However, this choice has its own issues. Sure, audiences might better understand Ellie’s inconsiderate willingness to put others at risk to avenge Joel, but in terms of narrative twists, this story has no big cards left to play – unless the TV show has something new planned, for future seasons.  Between these reshuffled scenes, along with Joel’s more overtly evil characterisation, as someone who lied to Ellie again (!) and killed Eugene before he got his final wish, there’s a clumsiness in this season which has lessened some of the nuance. We might have a clearer sense of all the characters at play, but it’s made the show feel more flat as a result.  As such, the prospect of season three being focused on Abby’s story isn’t as enticing as it should be. The idea of pivoting the show’s cast and focus over an entire season is intriguing, as an unusual experiment in the realm of TV, but I don’t know what shocks or revelations it can deliver now we know Abby’s motivations at the outset.  If the next season does build up to the theatre confrontation with Ellie, albeit from Abby’s perspective, I’m not convinced TV audiences will have the same patience in waiting to see what happens next. This pivot was sustained in the game because the initial novelty was supported by the same gameplay loop, but when you’re relying on the narrative to keep the momentum going, a prolonged clock rewind is a much harsher buzzkill for the pace. More Trending I’m curious how this season has landed with people who aren’t familiar with the games, but the show’s shortcomings, from my perspective, represent the benefits of video game storytelling over non-interactive entertainment. Joel’s death hits a lot harder after you’ve been fighting for survival in his shoes for hours beforehand, while the themes of cyclical violence strike a stronger chord when you’re the one firing the gun against all the very familar ‘enemies’.  The length of The Last Of Us Part 2 does undermine these qualities, and it’s far from perfect overall, but structurally the perspective shift forces you into positions designed to make players uncomfortable, notably in the fights between Ellie and Abby.  When you learn Abby’s side of the story, you don’t want to slash at her with a knife, or mash a button to strangle her throat. Every stab and punch lands with greater significance, and it’s an unsettling payoff which feels unique to video games – a medium where violence is rarely ever questioned or utilised for any other purpose outside of inconsequential thrills.  This is the magic of The Last Of Us Part 2 and a TV adaptation, no matter how much it alters or reshapes the narrative, cannot replicate these strengths as effectively. It doesn’t necessarily have to, but without these unique interactive qualities the biggest challenge for the TV show is what it can offer instead. Based on this season, the only answer seems to be the novelty of live action itself. Young Mazino’s Jesse is a surprise highlight (HBO) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. 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