In a new, lengthy report regarding Apple’s AI strategy, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has detailed a number of strategic failures for the launch of Apple Intelligence. As many of us have already believed, Apple was caught off-guard by the new generative AI trend. Additionally, according to Gurman, Apple is ‘unlikely’ to spend a lot of time talking about Siri at this years WWDC. That includes future upgrades and the already announced (but since delayed) features from last years WWDC. What went wrong with Apple Intelligence I won’t be summarizing the entire report, so if you’d like to read it in full – you can do so here. In short, Apple software chief Craig Federighi didn’t believe a ton in AI. He was “reluctant” to invest a lot into the technology, and didn’t see it as a “core capability.” In Federighi’s eyes, it’d take away from everything else without actually paying off. This wasn’t just a Craig Federighi thing, though: Other leaders shared Federighi’s reservations. “In the world of AI, you really don’t know what the product is until you’ve done the investment,” another longtime executive says. “That’s not how Apple is wired. Apple sits down to build a product knowing what the endgame is.” The report also claims that while other executives were “convinced” AI would be “revolutionary”, they were unable to convince Federighi. A lot of it “fell on deaf ears.” On top of that, Apple AI chief John Giannandrea was never truly able to hit the ground running. When he started at Apple, he concluded that Apple would need to spend a lot more money than it currently is. However, his efforts were “often stymied.” The future As for how Apple plans to bounce back from this strategic failure, well – we won’t find out quite yet. According to Gurman, that won’t be too big of a focus at next months WWDC, where Apple will announce iOS 19 and more: Significant upgrades to Siri—including the ones promised nearly a year ago—are unlikely to be discussed much and are still months away from shipping. The report reaffirms that Apple plans on adding additional Apple Intelligence capabilities to other apps, and that the company is also planning on adding an AI powered battery optimization tool. Apple also plans on launching Project Mulberry, a virtual health coach. Apple also is working on implementing a new capability for European Union residents: the ability to ditch Siri entirely. Instead of having Siri as your voice assistant, you’ll be able to use third-party options. Specific third-party options weren’t named, but it’s worth noting that this will be a distinct feature from the already-existing ChatGPT integration in Siri. Last but not least, Apple is continuing to work on its new “LLM Siri” infrastructure, which’ll fix a lot of the engineering mess that got us to severely-delayed Siri in the first place. Despite that, the company wants to separate Siri from Apple Intelligence in its marketing efforts: The Apple sources say the company, despite its hopes for LLM Siri, is also preparing to separate the Apple Intelligence brand from Siri in its marketing. It’s a tacit admission that the voice assistant’s poor reputation isn’t helping the company’s AI messaging.  Apple also wants to stop touting features more than a few months before they’re able to launch, according to the report. My favorite Apple accessory recommendations: Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Starting this week, Xbox Insiders will notice a fresh set of customization options rolling out to the recently played games and apps list on Home. This update is part of our ongoing effort to make Home more personal, flexible, and responsive to your feedback. What’s New? The recently played games and apps list on Home is getting three new settings that give you more control over what you see and how you interact with your content: Hide System Apps – Want a cleaner view focused on your games and entertainment? You can now hide system apps from the recently played games and apps list on Home, reducing clutter and keeping your Home focused on what matters most to you. Pin Favorites to Home – You can now pin up to three of your recently played games or apps directly to the recently played games and apps list. These pins will stay near the front of the list as you launch other things, giving you quick access to your go-to titles. Reduce Tile Count (Coming Soon!) – Prefer a more minimal look? This setting allows you to reduce the number of visible tiles in the recently played games and apps list, helping you streamline your Home and surface only the essentials. We’re still refining this setting, and it will be coming soon. These new options will be available to Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha users first, and we’re eager to hear what you think. Your feedback will help shape how these options evolve before they roll out more broadly. Why It Matters We’ve heard from many of you that Home should feel more like your space. Whether it’s surfacing your favorite games, hiding what you don’t use, or simply making Home feel less crowded, this update is a direct response to that feedback. As always, you can share your thoughts via Report a Problem or join the conversation on the Xbox Insiders subreddit. Your input is a key part of how we build the future of Xbox. Shape the future of Xbox We want to thank all the Xbox Insiders for the feedback you share with us. Your feedback is a key part of our process. If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please join our community on the Xbox Insider subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help. We always recommend replying to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! You can also provide direct feedback to Team Xbox by following the steps here: Provide feedback to Team Xbox, and follow the Xbox Insider Program on Twitter @XboxInsider to stay in the know. If you’re not yet an Xbox Insider, and you’d like to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, join the Xbox Insider Program today by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One or Windows PC. For more information, and to keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes visit the Xbox Insider Home. The post Xbox Insiders Get New Ways to Personalize Home appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The AI winners won’t be the ones slapping “AI” on a landing page — they’ll be creating products enterprises can't live without.Read More

Style: Upscale Traditional Color Combination: Sand beige, charcoal, terracotta, rich brown Who is it for: For homebodies who appreciate the art of setting. Perfect for those who want their living space to feel like the establishing shot of their favorite indie film – thoughtfully composed but never trying too hard. Budget: $-$$ Cinematic Attraction Living Room – Shopping List Below we present a curated list of products presented on the board: 1. Sectional Sofa with Chaise 2. Leaman Upholstered Chair 3. Nira Metal Coffee Table 4. Dotted Ceramic Planter 5. Farmhouse English Manor Rug 6. Velvet Throw Pillow 7. Boucle Ottoman Pillow Covers 8. Greenbury Floor Lamp 9. Tawny Sideboard 10. Antique Wall Mirror 11. Metal Tabletop Candlestick 12. Janie Semi Sheer Curtain 13. Grey and Black Abstract Wall Art 14. Artificial Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Tips and suggestions Colors That Work Together: Think of this palette as natural sophistication. The sand beige creates a warm backdrop that feels instantly welcoming, while charcoal elements add definition without heaviness. Terracotta and rich brown accents bring earthy depth that keeps the space from feeling too pristine. Window Treatment: Don’t overthink your curtains! The sheer beige panels here filter light beautifully without blocking it completely—like the perfect Instagram filter for your actual life. Hang them higher than you think you should to create the illusion of taller ceilings. Furniture Foundation: The L-shaped sectional provides plenty of seating without overwhelming the room. When choosing accent chairs, look for designs with visible wooden frames—they feel substantial without adding visual bulk. The contrast between the cream sofa and darker chairs creates natural visual interest. Art Curation: Abstract art intimidating? It shouldn’t be! The black and white pieces here work like sophisticated neutrals that add interest without demanding attention. Think of abstract art as texture for your walls—you don’t need to “get it” to enjoy it. Lighting: Lighting is your room’s unsung hero. The arched floor lamp here directs light where you need it while adding architectural interest. Always aim for at least three light sources in a living room for the most flattering, flexible illumination. Accent Pieces: Plants aren’t just decoration—they’re living sculptures that improve your air quality! The fiddle leaf fig makes a statement, while the small tabletop plant adds life to your coffee table arrangement. If you kill plants regularly, high-quality faux options are perfectly acceptable. The Final Note: Creating a cinematic living room isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention. Each piece here works together to tell a visual story without screaming for attention. The result is a space that feels both curated and comfortable—somewhere you actually want to live, not just photograph. Remember, the best rooms feel discovered rather than decorated, as if each piece found its perfect home naturally over time.

Does your manager hate to delegate tasks? It might sound like a good thing—after all, that means less work for you. But, just like having a micromanaging boss is no fun, having a manager who takes on much of your work can create a work environment that is both stifling and unproductive. We asked three experts about what causes some bosses to act this way and how to encourage your supervisor to step aside and allow you to do your job.  What is a ‘snowplow manager’? A “snowplow manager” is a supervisor who takes on excessive work themselves rather than delegating to their team, says Frank Weishaupt, CEO of videoconferencing tech company Owl Labs. His team recently came up with the term, says Weishaupt, after noticing this trend in management, which “resembles snowplow parenting, where a parent removes as many challenges from their child’s life as possible.” Signs that your manager is snowplowing can include micromanagement, not letting you lead projects or calls, excluding you from meetings with senior leadership, and stepping in to do work they had previously assigned to you, says Jennifer Dulski, CEO and founder of software company Rising Team. Another telltale sign your boss is snowplowing is that they rarely delegate meaningful tasks to you. “Instead, they hand off smaller, administrative work to your team while they handle bigger, more significant projects themselves,” says Weishaupt. Rather than empower workers with self-reliance, snowplow managers often request constant updates and check-ins, showing their lack of trust in their team. He says they will use phrases like “I’ll just handle this,” or “It’s faster if I do it.”  Why some managers act this way According to Owl Labs’s 2024 State of Hybrid Work Report, the trend of “snowplow managers” likely stems from managers’ worries about their own job requirements and expectations. “The study revealed that managers’ stress levels are 55% higher than non-managers,” says Weishaupt. Respondents said they were concerned about their teams’ productivity and employee engagement—particularly among workers who are hybrid or entirely remote.  Good managers help remove obstacles for their teams, but removing any and all adversity reports may encounter will hinder their team’s development and success. “When managers hog the work, they strip away learning moments,” says Annie Rosencrans, people and culture director at HiBob. ”You lose the chance to problem-solve, build resilience, and grow your skills. The short-term relief isn’t worth the long-term setback to your career.” So, what’s causing managers to behave this way? For some, their own reputation is a top priority. “Some may be concerned that poor results will reflect badly on them, especially in high-pressure situations where the manager’s supervisor expects a lot from them,” says Weishaupt.  Other managers may not trust their team to complete tasks to their standards. And, finally, they may believe that it’s just easier to complete a task themselves. “Efficiency can also be a misleading motivator as some managers convince themselves it’s faster to handle a task themselves than explain how it should be done,” says Weishaupt. The impact of potential layoffs Fear of downsizing can play a role in driving snowplow managers, experts say. “As layoffs increasingly become a looming threat, managers can feel intense pressure to demonstrate results to protect both their team and their own position,” says Weishaupt. “At organizations that emphasize short-term results over long-term team development, snowplow management can become a survival strategy to hold on to your position.” Those in middle management may be experiencing particular worries. “Many recent rounds of layoffs at large companies like Amazon have specifically targeted middle managers, so people at that level may rightfully be worried about their jobs,” says Dulski. “Those middle-management layoffs also leave the remaining managers with more scope, which compounds the problem of them feeling overwhelmed and worried about their team’s performance.” At times like this, she says managers may overcompensate by stepping in to “snowplow” for their teams by helping in areas the team should be able to do on their own. “Ultimately that does not always lead to better team performance, and long-term it kneecaps the ability for the team to deliver without help,” says Dulski. How to deal with a snowplow manager If you realize that your manager is acting this way, there are strategies you can try. Rosencrans recommends thanking your boss for their guidance but then suggests pivoting to express an interest in more latitude at work. Consider saying something like: “I’d love to take more ownership of this project. Would you be open to that?” Or, “I noticed that some of the tasks I’ve been assigned are quite limited in scope. I’m keen to develop my skills further. Could we discuss ways I could take on more responsibility or contribute to higher-level work?” Another strategy could be to offer to give your boss a well-needed break. Dulski suggests saying something like this to a “snowplowing” supervisor: “I know you have a lot on your plate, and I want to find ways to support you more. I’d love to take the lead on [specific task or project] to be helpful. It would also be a great learning opportunity for me. I’d be happy to run with it, check in for your input, and keep you updated along the way. I’m ready to jump in if that would be helpful.” What to do if there’s pushback If your manager resists giving you more responsibility, don’t give up. Instead, try and reframe the conversation. “Ask what specific skills or milestones they’d need to see before entrusting you with more complex tasks,” suggests Rosencrans. “This shifts the dynamic from rejection to development, giving you clear goals to work toward. In the meantime, keep a record of your contributions and successes to build a case for your growth.” You can also seek opportunities outside your direct manager’s scope—join cross-functional projects, find a mentor in another department, or take advantage of internal training, she says.  If, after multiple attempts, your development is still blocked, consider having a respectful conversation with HR. “Focus on your desire to grow and contribute more, rather than criticizing your manager,” cautions Rosencrans. “The goal is to advocate for your potential in a way that opens doors rather than escalates tension.” 

We may earn a commission from links on this page.The reality of home gardening is that you rarely have as much space as you’d like. For many people, all they have is one raised 4x8 foot bed. While that doesn’t feel like a lot of space, you can fit a whole lot of plants into 32 square feet. With a smaller space, you just have to find new and inventive ways to get more variety in your beds. Around where I live, we call this "cramscaping. "Take advantage of plant timing and growth patternsEvery vegetable and fruit out there has recommended spacing (for instance, tomatoes should be 18 inches apart), and in an ideal world, you’d accommodate them perfectly. However, you can plant closer if needed, while understanding your plants might not be as productive as they’d be if they had more space to grow to their full potential.  kohnrabi growing underneath beans, which are trellised up. Credit: Amanda Blum To get the most out of limited space, take advantage of space above and below the soil. For instance, radishes and carrots are mostly below ground, while tomatoes are above ground. Thus, they are great to grow next to one another. Grow beets alongside peas and large squash with climbing beans. Also consider that plants mature at different rates. Lettuce will grow quickly, and be ready for harvest in mere weeks, while eggplants take all summer. If you plant them at the same time when they’re both small, you’ll harvest your lettuce in time to free up space for your eggplants to spread out. Trellising is essential  help plants grow upward using trellises, creating horizontal space Credit: Amanda Blum When you don’t have as much horizontal space, you have to take advantage of the vertical space. You’ll need to keep plants from sprawling on the ground, and the primary way to do that is by training them up. Choose indeterminate tomatoes (which are more vine-like) instead of determinate (or "bush" tomatoes) so they continue to grow upwards despite pruning. Then prune everything but a few stems and train them onto a tall trellis. Use an obelisk or netting to provide structure for climbing beans, peas, or cucumbers. IYellow squash and zucchini can also be trained to grow upwards along a trellis, as can pumpkins and melons. Remember, though, that items on trellises have to be within reach: If you plant a trellis of green beans in the dead center of your bed, you’re not going to be able to reach those beans without stepping on other plants. So trellised plants should be located close enough to the edge of the bed to be accessed. Corners and edges make the most sense. For low trellises such as for squash, you can place them closer to the middle, but test your reach before finalizing planting. Start with the largest plants Start with an empty 4x8 bed (I left last year's nasturtiums.) Credit: Amanda Blum Begin by sketching out a grid for your bed, foot by foot, and a list of everything you’d like to plant. Lay in the largest plants first: in this case, tomatoes. Since they’ll be the tallest, place them in the corners or close to the edge of the bed, so they’re not shading anything. Now consider anything that needs a wide trellis, like peas and cucumbers or beans. Those should live at the edge of the bed, but leave space on either side of the trellis so you can reach what’s on the other side. These trellises are good at the short ends of the bed, so they don’t prevent you from reaching in. Now, start working your way down the list of plants in descending size. I placed eggplants and peppers, which will all need a trellis, on either side. For the center, which is hard to reach, I chose plants that don’t need support and won’t get too tall, but are larger: kale, chard, and onions. What’s left to plan for are short crops that will grow quickly like lettuce, radishes, beets, and carrots. Lettuce is a great buffer between nightshades like eggplant and cruciferous plants like chard and kale, so you can add heads of various lettuces. I don’t worry about root vegetables yet. I then add some beneficial flowers like nasturtium, alyssum and marigolds throughout, particularly hanging over the edges of the bed. These flowers will trap aphids, keep pests at bay, and add color. Next, I lay in herbs like basil, dill, parsley, and cilantro. In addition to being great in the kitchen, these all help control pests. These herbs can be sprinkled throughout the bed, but basil and dill do best next to nightshades. Now, in all the spaces left, I backfill with root vegetables: rows of carrots, circles of radishes, and blocks of beets. Plant established seedlings first, then seeds Sketch of the finished garden. Credit: Amanda Blum When it comes time to plant, work from the inside out. Start with the plants in the dead center of the bed, and work towards the outside by putting your seedlings into the ground. Once your starts are planted, go back and work sector by sector, seeding things like beets and radishes. Working in this way allows you to see what you’ve already done, so you don’t accidentally overseed an area you’ve already worked on. Water everything well and then simply pay attention. Prune plants as soon as they need to be pruned. As plants need to be harvested, replace them or allow larger plants to infill the area.  Keep your bed moist, but not wet, watering at the root —and use a fish fertilizer every other week, adding it to your water. Over the season, some plants might do better than others, and you may need to replace them. Because of the tight spacing, eggplants might not get enough sun where they are, or lettuce might get too much. You’ll learn over the season where each plant might succeed, and you should chart it for next year. Each season is another opportunity to learn about your yard, sun profile, and soil, and each season your vegetable garden—no matter how small—will get better.

If you’re a die-hard fan of Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima, you might still be able to enjoy ideas from the acclaimed game developer for decades to come. Kojima, now 60, built up his reputation by writing, directing, and producing seminal titles like the stealth shooter Metal Gear series, as well as more recent AAA titles like 2019’s Death Stranding. Kojima told the game magazine Edge earlier this week that he gave his personal assistant “a USB stick with all my ideas on it,” calling it "kind of like a will." He added, "Perhaps they could continue to make things after I’m gone at Kojima Productions," so the company doesn't simply "manage our existing IP" after his death.The game industry elder statesman is still coming up with left-field ideas to this day. In a Japanese radio interview last week (translated by IGN), Kojima floated the idea of a new video game where the player character "forgets" his skills and abilities if the real-life player steps away from his controller for too long.Recommended by Our EditorsKojima tells Edge that he's thinking more about mortality and his legacy after contracting a serious illness during the pandemic, and having to undergo eye surgery. "Wait, how many years do I have left to make a game or a film?" he asked. "Perhaps I have 10 years?"Kojima said he had even considered a late-career transition to making films, an early childhood dream of his, but said he was talked out of it by Pan’s Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro and Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn, who advised him to “stick to video games.”But despite all the talk of death, the director still has plenty of irons in the fire. He’s currently pegged to write, produce, and direct OD, an upcoming Xbox exclusive themed on fear, which he told The Verge in 2023 would be "a totally new style of game." His studio is also thought to be developing a new stealth action game known as Physint. Neither has a firm release date.His latest game, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, is planned for release on June 24.

This A$37 app is a smarter way to work with PDFs Credit: Acethinker Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. TL;DR: Take control of your documents with PDF Converter and Editor. Easily convert, edit, and manage PDFs with this lifetime license, now just A$37 with code SAVE20 through June 1.Tired of the daily PDF struggle? With PDF Converter and Editor, you can easily switch between formats, edit text, and organize your documents like a pro. And right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription for only A$37 (reg. A$156) with code SAVE20 before June 1.Conquer PDFs once and for all with this appStop jumping through hoops when it comes to PDFs. PDF Converter and Editor lets you tackle this pesky file format easily on one handy platform. Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, JPG, and more files — or turn other formats into PDFs with just a few clicks.PDF Converter offers lightning-fast conversions without sacrificing quality. You'll enjoy high-quality output, so you can confidently convert files for any purpose. This app does more than convert PDFs — it’s packed with extra tools to make working with PDFs a breeze. Built-in OCR technology can extract text from image-based files. And merging, splitting, or compressing documents is equally straightforward. Need to fill out an existing PDF? It's easy to fill out forms with text, check boxes, shapes, and annotations all on PDF Converter. Want to just grab the images off a PDF file? That's just as simple — you can extract all JPGs and PNGs from a PDF with just one click. If you're dealing with sensitive data, PDF Converter lets you lock or unlock your files, add password protection, and even encrypt sensitive information for peace of mind.Need to enhance your PDF? This app makes it easy to add customizable watermarks and shapes as needed. Mashable Deals Want more hand-picked deals from our shopping experts? Sign up for the Mashable Deals newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! Manage, edit, and convert PDFs with PDF Converter and Editor for just A$37 using code SAVE20 through June 1.StackSocial prices subject to change. Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker PDF Converter & Editor: Lifetime License AU$37 AU$156 Save AU$119 Topics Apps & Software