F-WHITE Aerial View | © Kindaikouku In a quiet residential area of Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, F-WHITE emerges as a spatial response to three simultaneous conditions: a client’s desire for unity, the awkward geometry of a leftover suburban lot, and the architectural lineage of the Japanese courtyard house. Designed by Takuro Yamamoto Architects, this one-story residence challenges normative interpretations of courtyard living through a deceptively simple yet highly deliberate plan. F-WHITE Technical Information Architects1-11: Takuro Yamamoto Architects Location: Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan Area: 122.03 m2 | 1,313.86 Sq. Ft. Project Year: 2007 – 2009 Photographs: © Kindaikouku, © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio This oblique angle makes the courtyard look like a box which happened to be thrown out on one very large internal space. – Takuro Yamamoto Architects F-WHITE Photographs Aerial View | © Kindaikouku Aerial View | © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio Facade | © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio Facade | © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio Courtyard | © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio Courtyard | © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio Living Room | © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio Living Room | © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio Kitchen | © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio Interior | © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio Bedroom | © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio Corner | © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio Office | © Ken’ichi Suzuki Photo Studio F-WHITE Context and Design Intent The conceptual genesis of F-WHITE was shaped by the client’s request for a spatially unified home that would not fragment the daily rhythms of a three-member family into disconnected rooms or vertical divisions. The insistence on a single-story scheme was not a stylistic preference but a spatial demand: the desire to maintain a continuous, communal living environment, resisting the compartmentalization typical of multi-story dwellings. The site itself offered both a provocation and an opportunity. At 259.31 m², it is larger than the standard suburban plot yet unusually narrow, an irregularity that had consigned it to use as a parking lot for decades. This inherent contradiction, generous area paired with constrained proportion, led the architects to reconsider the role of central outdoor space. Rather than impose a traditional orthogonal courtyard at the heart of the dwelling, the team sought an alternate geometry to reconcile continuity with division. Spatial Strategy and Courtyard Geometry F-WHITE’s defining gesture lies in the courtyard’s rotation. Placed at an oblique angle within the house’s orthogonal boundary, the courtyard interrupts the expected spatial reading. This tilt is more than a formal device; it allows the surrounding interior spaces to link fluidly at their corners, bypassing the need for corridors and reinforcing a sense of spatial cohesion. This move mitigates the typical courtyard issue in narrow lots, where the outdoor void threatens to divide rather than unify. In F-WHITE, the courtyard is perceived not as a central void to be circumnavigated but as a geometric insert, a spatial wedge around which the house unfurls. It appears almost incidental, like a box that has landed within a continuous interior shell, carving subtle niches and allowing glimpses of the sky without fracturing the whole. Notably, the plan avoids over-articulation. Functions are assigned with clarity, yet the transitions between public and private realms are not demarcated by walls but by proximity, orientation, and visibility changes. The residence achieves a spatial sequence of unfolding rather than zoning, and each corner turned offers a fresh yet familiar perspective on the courtyard’s presence. Material Palette and Tectonic Expression Materially, F-WHITE adheres to a restrained palette that reinforces its conceptual clarity. The interior is defined by birch flooring, lauan plywood ceilings, and plasterboard walls finished with AEP, creating an atmosphere of calm continuity. These surfaces absorb and reflect light with subtle variation, amplifying the temporal and climatic shifts orchestrated by the central courtyard. The mortar lysin exterior gives the house a muted, almost anonymous presence from the outside. This subdued finish resists spectacle and reinforces the introverted nature of the design; its architectural intensity is reserved for those who inhabit the space rather than those who pass by. The project is rooted in wood-frame construction, a pragmatic and contextually appropriate choice structurally. Built by Nagano-Koumuten and furnished by Tallman STUDIO, the residence balances craft with efficiency, eschewing expressive tectonics in favor of modest precision. The architecture does not draw attention to its construction; instead, it invites attention to the voids, transitions, and relationships it enables. F-WHITE Plans Site Plan | © Takuro Yamamoto Architects Section | © Takuro Yamamoto Architects Perspective | © Takuro Yamamoto Architects F-WHITE Image Gallery About Takuro Yamamoto Architects Takuro Yamamoto Architects is a Tokyo-based architectural practice founded in 2005 by Takuro Yamamoto. It is known for its minimalist residential designs that emphasize spatial continuity, natural light, and the integration of voids to enhance privacy and openness. The firm’s work often explores the interplay between solid and void, crafting serene environments that respond thoughtfully to site constraints and client needs. Notable projects include the White Cave House and F-WHITE, which exemplify their commitment to creating timeless, context-sensitive architecture. Credits and Additional Notes Project Architect: Eiji Iwase Structural Engineer: Masuda Structural Engineering Office Construction: Nagano-Koumuten Furniture Design: tallman STUDIO Structure: Wood Frame Construction Client: Married couple with one child Site Area: 259.31 m² Building Area: 122.03 m² Total Floor Area: 118.99 m² (in accordance with Japanese regulations) Design Period: August 2007 – October 2008 Construction Period: November 2008 – April 2009

Let’s get one thing out of the way immediately: you shouldn’t buy Huawei’s trifold phone, the Mate XT. And that’s alright, because you probably couldn’t if you wanted to — while it’s no longer exclusive to China, it’s only on sale in a handful of countries, and not in the US or Europe.Besides, I can reel off a list of major problems with the Mate XT: at almost $4,000 it’s far too expensive, it doesn’t have native support for Google apps (though you can get around that more easily than you might think), it’s limited to 4G, and there are some pretty obvious reasons to worry about its durability. Any one of those individually would be a good reason to steer clear of buying the Mate XT. Taken together, they’re insurmountable.But this isn’t a phone you’re meant to buy, at least not outside China. It’s a phone you’re meant to gawk at on the internet, to marvel at Huawei’s technological prowess, to ooh and ahh about its many and varied folds. This is Huawei showing off, proving to the world that it’s still got it. And in fairness, it has.6Verge Score$4000The GoodA versatile tablet replacementImpressive battery lifeMuch thinner than you’d expectThe BadIncredibly expensiveNo Google support or 5GHow tough is it really?$4000 at HuaweiHow we rate and review productsAs I sit and write this — more than six months after Huawei first released the Mate XT in China — it’s still the only one of its kind. Rumor has it that Samsung has a trifold ready to show off this year, but it hasn’t yet. And by the time it does, odds are Huawei will have spent a full year as the only player in the game.That might ring alarm bells in your head. This must be undercooked tech, you think, rushed out the door to beat everyone else to market. But the most surprising thing about the Mate XT is that it only occasionally feels first-gen. This is the only way to display three apps at once, with one in a floating window.There’s a hint of it in the multitasking, which refuses to allow you to fully open three apps at a time, pinning each to one of the three screen segments. Or when the fully open screen often doesn’t quite go entirely flat, which is more annoying than any crease will ever be. And you notice it when you open the phone, or close it, and the app you’re using seems to briefly reboot itself, losing your spot in a long article or (once, infuriatingly) discarding a Letterboxd review that was almost entirely finished. I’ve learned not to change the configuration while doing something, just to be safe.But for the most part, these just don’t really matter. After several weeks using the Mate XT as my main phone, my primary impression is that it delivers on its promise, effectively offering three different devices in one.First it’s a phone……then it’s a foldable……and then it’s a tablet.Fully closed, this is simply a regular phone with a 6.4-inch display. At 12.8mm thick, it has a little heft to it, but not unduly so — it’s less than a millimeter thicker than Samsung’s Z Fold 6. It’s solid, and weighty, and even the cameras are decent. It’s as good a phone in this form as Samsung’s foldable, so long as you can live with sideloading the Play Store.When I’m reading a long article or trying to keep up in the editorial Slack channels, I open the phone up to a 7.9-inch, squarish display that’s a pretty close match for what other foldables offer. For me, this is the least useful setup of the three, a reminder that current book-style foldables offer something I don’t really want most of the time, extra screen space in all the wrong places. But that’s what the Mate XT’s full screen is for. Flipping one more section nets me a full 10.2-inch display, making this a thin, lightweight tablet I can fold up and fit in my pocket. It’s wider than it is tall, a close match for the aspect ratios in most streaming apps, ideal for watching videos and playing games, tripling the screen real estate for wide-screen entertainment. I haven’t traveled much in the time I’ve been working on this review, but this is a phone crying out for rail commutes and long-haul flights, a big-screen Balatro machine that fits in your pocket, not your backpack.The creases look bad at an angle, but viewed head-on they all but disappear.There are workarounds to get almost any app on Huawei phones these days — Google Wallet NFC payments were the only thing I missed.Nine times out of ten, I use the Mate XT like a regular ol’ phone, and that extra screen space is probably wasted on me. But I don’t travel all that much, or make a habit of gaming on my phone; I wouldn’t make the most of this outside a handful of plane rides a year. Maybe you wouldn’t either, but I imagine anyone who already gets regular use out of both a phone and a tablet is feeling a little pull of temptation to merge them into one.The main thing people have asked me about the Mate XT, once they get over the foldiness of it all, is whether the battery sucks. In my experience, it absolutely doesn’t. The 5,600mAh capacity proves more than capable of lasting a full day (and then some), but I’ll refer you back to the previous paragraph — I’m not spending all day with the phone fully open. 5,600mAh is a decent battery for a phone, but a small one for a tablet, so if that’s your main use case, then you should expect to feel a bit more of a pinch.This exposed screen edge certainly feels like a failure point.The second thing people ask is how likely it is to break. And compared to a regular phone, the answer is pretty likely! There’s a whole extra failure point in the second hinge, and no IP rating, so you can’t trust it to survive either water or dust. I’m more worried that one part of the soft, flexible screen is always exposed to the outside world. It’s going to get nicks, scratches, and dents, and there’s nothing you can do about it. My review unit already has a couple, and I’ve been babying the thing. I’d say you shouldn’t buy this unless you can afford to replace it, but again: you probably shouldn’t buy it at all.Maybe you should buy the next one. Or the one after that. Or one a few generations down the line. Or just the first one that isn’t made by Huawei, because fantastic as the company’s hardware can be, I’m still not convinced it’s worth giving up proper Google support. But while the Mate XT may be the first trifold, I’m confident it won’t be the last. And this hardware, with Google and 5G, for two-thirds the price, and a generation or two of durability improvements? You should buy that phone.Photography by Dominic Preston / The VergeSee More:

Our Pick Apple iPad Air 2025 (M3) Best for most people $499.00 Amazon The Good & The Bad Fast performance Long battery life Comes in 11- and 13-inch models Landscape webcam Very similar to previous generation Our review Read our full review of the Apple iPad Air 2025 (M3). Who it's for The iPad Air is the best iPad for most people. It will be your new go-to device for streaming, reading, or creative projects. And if you plan on using your tablet as a substitute for a laptop, it'll work for that, too, especially when paired with the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air or Apple Pencil. It's fast, moves smoothly between apps, and has a stunning high-definition display.While we prefer the iPad Pro for creatives, the iPad Air is a more budget-friendly option that will still handle tough design jobs, and it's compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro.For all the power this tablet provides, it's an exceptional value. Even with the 2025 upgrade to the M3 chip, the iPad Air starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. Why we like it The iPad Air didn't really need a 2025 upgrade, but Apple delivered one anyway. Now with the M3 chip, it has the same processing power as a MacBook, scoring 11,464 on our Geekbench 6 test. AKA, it packs a lot of power into a more affordable package.While the iPad Pro is technically slightly thinner and lighter, the iPad Air still lives up to its name. It's a great tablet to bring on the go due to its light weight, which helps avoid wrist strain when holding the device.It also has an impressive battery life: It ran over 14 hours in our tests, and it has crisp displays for brilliant graphics. While Apple is desperate to tout the iPad as a gaming device, we wouldn't say it's your best bet with only 8GB of RAM. However, it has plenty of power to handle illustration and design work when paired with an Apple Pencil. Essentially, it gives you everything you'd want in a starter MacBook, but it costs you just $599 and has a touchscreen. Details Processor: Apple M3 chip Screen size: 11 or 13 inches Memory: 8GB Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB Battery life: 14 hours GET IT Apple iPad Pro 2024 (M4) Best for professionals The Good & The Bad Contains Apple's powerful M4 chip Extra-long battery life Razor-thin design Impressive performance Brilliant XDR display Nano-glass only available on 1TB and 2TB models Expensive Our review Read our full review of the Apple iPad Pro 2024. Who it's for Professionals planning on using an iPad as their tablet and laptop should go for the iPad Pro. This 2024 release is loaded with Apple's fastest processing power thanks to the M4 processor. Graphic designers can store all of their creative work on the device, which has up to 2TB of storage. It's also a smart choice for video editors, as the 1TB and 2 TB models feature texturized nano-glass, which prevents glare while working in any environment — even full sun. Plus, the XDR Retina display lets you play back HDR video and use this tablet as a reference monitor.For creative professionals, the Apple iPad Pro 2024 is a dream come true. It's also compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro, a tool that features a unique squeezable design and a barrel roll feature, enhancing precision and control in design work. Why we like it While the iPad Air is going to be the best for most people, the iPad Pro levels things up for professionals.The 2024 iPad Pro isn't just a great tablet but an outstanding laptop. Loaded with Apple's latest M4 processing chip, it's the most advanced option from the brand — or any brand. When running the Geekbench 6 tests, Gedeon did a double take at the results.It got a score of 14,586, making it more powerful than most laptops we've tested. Even better, that peak performance doesn't drain the battery life, as this beast ran for over 16 hours in our tests. And it does all of this in a razor-thin package. As Gedeon says, it feels like "cradling the whispers of technology."You can often find 1TB storage in computers, but 2TB is rare in a laptop and nearly unheard of with a tablet, so it can store large files without a problem. Plus, the 1TB and 2TB models come with nano-glass, a texturized glass front that prevents glare no matter the environment. Details Processor: M4 chip Screen size: 11 or 13 inches Memory: 8GB or 16GB Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB Battery life: Over 16 hours GET IT Apple iPad (11th generation) Best on a budget $349.00 Apple.com The Good & The Bad Quick performance USB-C charging port High-quality cameras No 1TB storage option Who it's for While our top pick, the iPad Air, is still on the affordable side, there is an even cheaper iPad model. If you prefer saving money over splurging on the latest tech, the Apple iPad (11th generation) gets the job done. It's the base model, meaning it won't have the fastest processor like the iPad Air's M3 chip or the latest features like Apple Intelligence. However, it is the most affordable Apple tablet. With the 2024 release of the iPad Air and iPad Pro models, this iPad's price dropped to $349 — a real steal for Apple. Even though its tech is basic compared to the advanced iPad Air and Pro, it's great for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading. It's also a nice choice if you're interested in using your tablet as a laptop, but don't want to spend a ton of money. It's compatible with the Magic Keyboard Folio and together costs $598 — the same price as the iPad Air.Plus, it's especially great for kids if you want to get them a tablet but don't want to spend a fortune on it. Why we like it The iPad (11th generation) doesn't possess the flair of the Pro or Air, but it is a testament that Apple can still produce good entry-level tech. It's currently the lowest-priced iPad, even defeating the Mini. The 2025 iPad model got a slight chip upgrade finally going from the A14 up to the A16. While that's not quite as impressive as the M-series of chips, it is quick and powerful. On the Geekbench 6 test, it scored 6,233, falling quite a bit lower than the iPad Air and Pro. However, it still scored higher than most premium Chromebooks so you can feel confident it can double as a workbook.It has a solid screen size of 10.9 inches, providing plenty of room for those who want to use it as a drawing pad or journal, since it is compatible with the Apple USB-C and Apple Pencil 1st generation.Overall, the iPad (11th generation) is a great entry-level tablet. It's best when working on a budget because if you're willing to spend a little more, the iPad Air is a better value. Details Processor: A16 chip Screen size: 10.9 inches Memory: 4GB Storage: 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB Battery life: 6 hours GET IT $349.00 Apple.com Apple iPad mini (7th generation) Best for reading $399.99 Amazon The Good & The Bad Compact size Fast processing Equipped with Apple Intelligence Now starts with 128GB of storage A17 chip is a generation behind Our review Read our full review of the iPad Mini. Who it's for Tablets are an incredibly versatile device, but we all have our go-to use. If you, like me, use your iPad to read, you gotta go for the iPad Mini. The other models like the iPad Air start at around 11 inches, which is a lot of screen when you just want to flip through your book.But the iPad Mini isn't just a glorified e-reader, it's still a versatile tablet. Like any iPad, you can read on it, but you can also stream your favorite shows — a level of flexibility that a Kindle simply can't match.So when should you avoid the iPad Mini? If you're after a tablet that can double as a laptop, this won't be for you. Eight inches might be plenty of room for reading or watching, but it's going to feel small when you want to flip between email and Slack. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder noted in his review, when up against his M1 MacBook Pro, the iPad Mini 7th generation didn't stand a chance. Plus, it's not compatible with Apple's Magic Keyboard, but you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard in a pinch. Why we like it The iPad Mini got a 2024 upgrade, and is now equipped with the A17 chip but with the same 5-core GPU and 6-core CPU. Along with the chip upgrade comes Apple Intelligence, an especially helpful feature if you plan to use it for reading as it can summarize articles.It's more advanced in some ways than the iPad 11th generation. But on the flip side, it's missing key features like a landscape view camera and Magic Keyboard compatibility. When we calculate all that, it's clear that the iPad Mini is a great tablet, while the rest of the iPads in Apple's line-ups are capable of being great tablets and laptops.Above all, I love the iPad Mini for reading. Previously, I read with my iPad 9th Generation, which works fine but is just too big. When I'm in bed reading, my wrist feels strained with a standard-sized iPad. So when I switched to using the iPad Mini, I was delighted by its light weight; it weighs just over half a pound. At 8.3 inches it's about an inch and a half bigger than a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but having used both, the hand feel is negligible.Plus, unlike the iPad 11th generation, it has an anti-reflective coating to help you read in any lighting. The iPad Mini, while great for reading, doesn't have the matte screen of other e-readers, which at night leads to some eye strain. If you want to give your iPad Mini the Kindle treatment, these Paperlike screen protectors add some nice friction to the screen so you feel like you're reading and writing on paper.The iPad Mini's smaller size also makes it a better option for traveling. It will take up less space and weight in your bag than any other iPad on this list. Despite being smaller than the iPad 11th generation, it costs more. So what are you paying for? Slightly more advanced tech, the convenience of portability, and a better reading experience. Details Processor: A17 chip Screen size: 8.3 inches Memory: 4GB Storage: 125GB, 256GB, or 512GB Battery life: 10 hours GET IT Related Stories

ZDNET's key takeaways The Aurzen Zip is currently available for $339 on Amazon. Its design and construction give it a premium feel, and the ability to project at various angles. Connection issues and limitations on what you can view with it are areas of improvement. $339.99 at Amazon When Aurzen sent me its new Zip Tri-fold Projector, it arrived in a dense, well-designed 5" x 6.5" x 1.75" box. I said aloud to no one, "Wow, this is the smallest projector I've ever seen." But when I opened the box, I was blown away by its actual size -- because it literally fits in the palm of my hand. "OK then," I asked myself, "Is this the world's first true pocket projector?"Also: I replaced my TV with a 4K UST projector - and the visual upgrade was worth itAs it turns out, it isn't. Kodak makes a smaller one for almost half the price of the Zip. But comparing the quality of that model with the Zip will have to wait for a future review.  details View at Amazon Initial impressions and setupThe Zip is 3" x 3" x 1" and weighs less than 10 ounces. Shapewise, it reminds me of a small-bite artisanal hamburger, although much heavier (and less tasty). I can literally fit it easily inside the pocket of my jeans.I already mentioned the delightfully smart packaging, which includes two stylish, magnetic box top flaps for storing the Aurzen Zip, should you need to. You don't need to keep the original housing box, though, because the Zip also comes with a zippable clamshell carrying case that is about the size of a regular sandwich. Also: The best outdoor projectors: Expert tested and reviewedThe carrying case measures only 5.75" x 5" x 1.5", has a plush, velvety interior, and is equipped with a carabiner -- you know, in case you want to clip a mini-projector to your backpack on a 20-mile hiking trip. The Aurzen Zip projector in its carrying case. Adam Breeden/ZDNETOut of the box, the waxpaper sleeve surrounding the unit warns not to "fully flatten the ZIP, as exceeding these angles or forcing it into a flat position may result in irreversible damage." This becomes evident as you tug on the top component to unfold the projector. It's also evident how strong the high-quality hinges are, which jibes with the projector's overall sturdiness.The Zip comes in two colorways: Gold (which actually looks more titanium) and Grey (which I'd call more like Carbon). A row of five pinhole white lights indicates the charge status, and a solid green light indicates fast charging. The onboard controls are minimal, having only five illuminated touch buttons that you'll rarely use after initially checking the settings on its extremely condensed home menu.Its only USB-C port supports 24W power delivery, and its 5,000mAh battery capacity is about the same as most high-end smartphones. The problem is that this battery is running moving parts (internal fans), generating 100 ANSI lumens (and thereby a good deal of heat), and projecting a large image, unlike any smartphone. Well, most smartphones.Also: This Android phone that doubles as a projector will make any tech enthusiast smileAs light as it is (0.62 pounds), the bottom of the unit is coated with a silicon-based texture that gives the base enough grip to prevent it from scooting across high-varnish furniture -- another thoughtful touch that adds to the Zip's premium appeal.By the way, the Aurzen "Zip" is named for its Z-shaped, tri-fold design, but is also meant to evoke a ZIP file, which can be compressed and decompressed. Smart.How does it perform?The Zip is a short-throw projector. At two feet from a screen, it can project a 25-inch image, and at 6.33 feet, it can project an 80-inch image.The Zip only supports vertical keystone correction, but the keystone adjustment is automatic -- and impressively so. As soon as I pointed it at a wall, the trapezoidal projection straightened itself out symmetrically.While this 1280 x 720p projector will never display crisp, highly detailed images, its autofocus feature went to work instantaneously. Whatever surface I targeted, the on-screen text was legible even when protracting its image by moving back as far as seven feet. Also: Finally, a portable 4K projector worthy of replacing my TV - and it gets plenty brightThe Zip also won't deliver high contrast, true blacks, or any of those lofty measures of image quality we look for in LED TVs -- that's asking too much of any projector. But I have to say, the colors were rich enough, and overall, the videos I played looked pretty good.In a dark room, the Zip's brightness level was plenty adequate. A small amount of ambient light creeping into the room, however, will wash out the screen. The only switch on the unit is for a brightness booster, which, when turned on, ostensibly makes the image maybe 10% brighter. So I wondered why bother with this option? Why not always make the image as bright as possible? Yet, the booster does make a noticeable difference in a very dark area. Adam Breeden/ZDNETThe brightness booster is an option because it saps the Zip's battery. In fact, the feature is available only when the projector is at a certain battery level (above 50%). Turning the brightness boost switch on affected power use so significantly that I could hear the poor unit straining. Normally, the little fan inside the Zip emits a subtle white noise, a consistent low-decibel fuzz that could lull you to sleep. With the brightness booster turned on, those decibels triple as the cooling fan accelerates like a tiny jet engine. Turning it off to the dimmer setting, you can hear the engine decelerate and wind down to a glide. I should say that the "engine noise" isn't a problem when videos are playing at any level of volume.Also: One of my favorite smart home accessories turns any room into an aurora showTaking advantage of its folding design, I wanted to see how the Zip would work if I aimed it at the ceiling above my bed. I put it on the nightstand, but this offset the 16:9 projection to the right, placing it above my nightstand, not me. So I set the unit on my chest and watched its image on my popcorn-textured ceiling swell and unswell from my breathing and shake slightly with each heartbeat.I realize this does not paint the picture of an ideal viewing scenario. But, if you have spinal or shoulder injuries that require you to fall asleep on your back with no craning of your neck, and if another "requirement" is that you must be watching TV to fall asleep, then the Aurzen Zip is the only projector I've found that makes that possible. And from five feet away, the image on my ceiling looked just fine for sleepy nighttime viewing.The Zip's middle component houses two 1-watt speakers on opposite sides. They're as powerful as you'd expect for the size; not too much. But what can we expect from such a diminutive device? The volume is certainly adequate for one or two people positioned a few feet away from it, perhaps in a bedroom or inside a tent. Areas of improvementI didn't mean to bury the lede here, but a major shortcoming of the Zip is that it has no built-in operating system. Thereby, it has no streaming capability and zero apps. It operates solely through the command of your phone, tablet, or laptop. I was surprised to open the instruction booklet and read, "Copyrighted content from Netflix, Hulu, and other similar streaming services cannot be wirelessly mirrored or cast due to copyright restrictions."Since you can only screen-mirror content from another device -- and apps like Disney+ or Apple TV won't play because it is illegal --your viewing options become severely limited. I was only able to tune into YouTube to sample videos with a 16:9 layout. Otherwise, I could watch things like TikTok or Instagram in a vertical format, meaning the Zip indeed produced a larger 2D version of my phone on the wall. To access more content, Aurzen claims you can purchase a USB-C-to-HDMI video adapter and an HDMI dongle that streams material through your phone. These supplements could set you back another $50 to $100, and I'm honestly not sure that this will circumvent the copyright issue.I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I had trouble connecting the Zip to my phone. When trying to screen-mirror using AirPlay, my iPhone 16 could detect its presence, but I would repeatedly get the message, "Unable to connect to ZIP-287544D4." Thinking my phone's Defender Otterbox might be jamming the transmission, I borrowed an iPhone 16 Plus (wearing no protective case) and, sadly, got the same result. At just over half a pound, the Zip is one of the smallest, most portable projectors on the market. Adam Breeden/ZDNETBesides the deluxe carrying case, the only accessory that comes with the Zip is a 3.5-foot USB-C cord. Out of desperation, I used it to connect the Zip to my laptop so I could finally play some videos. Yet, in another attempt to screen mirror, I used that cable to hardwire the Zip to my phone. Not only did that not work, but the Zip projected a warning message that dumbfoundingly said: "(!) Please insert the standard adapter." This is the cable it came with!Then I noticed the solid green light on the Zip, indicating that it was fast-charging. It was fast-charging by leaching off my phone's battery to juice itself up, like a cute little robotic parasite. If you want to fast-charge a Zip the right way, you'll need to supply your own USB-C wall adapter.Also: Tariff-proof tech? Back Market's refurbished devices keep prices downThe Zip's max battery life is only about one and a half hours, and that is with the brightness booster turned off. This is certainly problematic if you plan to watch a football game or most feature films. After unboxing, I charged it overnight and was surprised to see how quickly the battery light indicators diminished once I got it up and running.You can always get a power bank, but then you have another device and another cable to deal with. And as I mentioned before, the Zip only has one USB-C port. Assuming you can get the Zip to screen mirror with your phone wirelessly, you'll be able to change it and watch content at the same time.ZDNET's buying adviceThis is my first encounter with Aurzen Zip, and I like what the company is trying to achieve with this projector. Holding it in my hand, the Zip's heft makes it feel solid and durable, while the sleek elegance of its metallic outer package betrays a premium device. I really love the way it looks and feels.The ideal scenario for using the Zip would be in a very dark, quiet space with only one or two people watching. For professional purposes like showing a PowerPoint in a boardroom, it might do in a pinch, but I wouldn't recommend it. The boardroom would have to be pitch black, and you'd need an external Bluetooth speaker. Also: Your TV's USB port is seriously underutilized: 5 features you're not using enoughAnd if you want more power or more (make that ANY) streaming capabilities, you'll need peripheral devices like a power bank and a dongle, not to mention a heartier sound system. This formula would detract from the true portability of the Zip in that now you're carting around three or four things instead of one.As future iterations and copycat designs emerge, the price of the Zip will go down, so I'd consider waiting it out. Incidentally, it is available on Amazon now for 15% off (at $339), and also on the Aurzen website for an equivalent discount if you use code ZIP15 at checkout.With loads of potential, I believe the Zip represents a promising example of what future mini projectors will look like, except they'll be smarter, brighter, and commensurate with their price tag.Featured reviews

Warning: contains spoilers for Doctor Who episode “The Interstellar Song Contest” The Doctor and Belinda find themselves on Harmony Arena during the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest. But an evening of camp cosmic fun becomes a nightmare when horned aliens take over the space station – and the Doctor starts having strange visions. Spoilers ahoy. With “The Interstellar Song Contest”, Doctor Who might have given us its most blatantly self-selecting episode ever. When you hear the description ‘episode set during the Interstellar Song Contest featuring Rylan as himself’, you probably already know, broadly, whether it’s going to gel with your sensibilities. This puts a reviewer in a somewhat tricky position. I try as much as possible to take every episode on its own terms, and I’m very much of the view that Doctor Who contains more multitudes than most TV series, so there is always a place in the show for big, silly, populist spectacle. That being said, this is probably the episode I was looking forward to the least this season. I have no affection for the Eurovision Song Contest, especially in recent years. And while Rylan and Graham Norton admittedly acquit themselves pretty well here, as with the first Russell T Davies era, the showrunner’s enthusiastic engagement with contemporary TV and British celebrity culture can feel awkward, even slightly cringeworthy. Not only does it instantly date things, but it actually makes it harder to suspend disbelief and engage with the stories – having the likes of Davina McCall doing their familiar schtick puts the show that much closer to our reality, which I find just makes me ask questions I don’t want to be asking. All that being said, the idea of Rylan being frozen in stasis and unfrozen every year to host the Interstellar Song Contest is… kind of delightful. So, in conclusion, “The Interstellar Song Contest” is a land of contrasts. Actually, Bart Simpson’s immortal line has rarely felt more apropos. There is a lot going on here, arguably too much. Writer Juno Dawson has said that Davies pitched the concept as ‘Eurovision meets Die Hard’, with disaster movie elements, and the episode broadly fulfils that brief – it’s a perfectly workable concept, and if it had simply been allowed to be that, it might have hung together more cohesively. Ironically enough, the Eurovision / Rylan parts of the episode broadly work. It’s some of the other elements that unbalance proceedings, and while it’s pointless to speculate about which ideas were Dawson’s and which were imposed by upper management, it’s hard to believe that a guest writer would have been allowed to independently include the first appearance of Carol Anne Ford as Susan Foreman in proper mainline continuity televised Doctor Who since 1983. The Doctor’s sudden, unexplained visions of his long lost granddaughter are an absolutely huge curveball to throw into the episode, and they immediately suck all the oxygen out of the room. For viewers who know the significance of the character – and the actress, one of the last surviving links to the program’s very first episode, more than half a century go – it’s likely going to be a massive distraction. Why is this suddenly happening, where is she, when will they reunite, and oh yeah, why hasn’t the Doctor ever gone back for her (a continuity scab probably best left unpicked)? Meanwhile, viewers who aren’t familiar with Susan, even accounting for last season’s oblique mentions, are probably just thinking… huh? Presumably she’s going to feature in the two-part finale in some way – her appearance here will be even more confusing if not – but it feels like kind of an unfair requirement to foist on what should be the fun romp before the season’s concluding fireworks. The other big aspect of the episode that feels jarring is the Doctor’s rage. We’ve seen the character in vengeful mode before, punishing characters in far more baroque and existentially terrifying ways for comparatively less serious crimes. But not only does the Hellions’ plan feel like a gratuitous raising of the stakes that isn’t really earned – surely saving the one hundred thousand people floating in space would have been sufficient – the episode doesn’t really map out a solid trajectory for the Doctor to arrive at the point where he’s enthusiastically torturing Kid. We know it’s not because he thinks Belinda is dead – he’s aware that the people in space can theoretically be saved. Later he awkwardly describes being “triggered” because of the genocide of his own people, which just makes you wonder why trying to kill three trillion people wasn’t bad enough on its own, without the personal associations. The “ice in my heart” line is nice on paper, and delivered with appropriate contempt by Ncuti Gatwa, but it kind of implies that the Doctor is angry because he ended up briefly frozen in space himself, which feels weirdly petty. And the “I think it’ll be there forever now” at the end just feels bizarre. Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! There’s also the issue that Kid has precious little juice as a villain. It’s unfortunate, as Freddie Fox has shown in Slow Horses that he can play a deliciously hissable piece of garbage, but the character isn’t threatening enough to be an effective antagonist and his plan is too psychotically over-the-top for us to feel any real sympathy for his plight. It ends up feeling like a waste of a huge dramatic move – one the show can’t exactly pull regularly – to have the Doctor’s uncontrollable rage unleashed on some random sneering emo, and it then feels jarring for the episode to flip almost instantly back into romp mode with the peppy rescue montage. It also contributes to the feeling that the episode can’t settle on a consistent tone – like the moment where Belinda and Cora are interrupted by the Dugga Doo alien. In theory it’s a fun black comedy beat to puncture the tension, and the kind of thing you should definitely do in an episode called “The Interstellar Song Contest”. But then, after the amusing “where’s that” exchange, Belinda has a tearful emotional moment with Cora, and the score swells, and clearly we’re supposed to now be taking things seriously again, but the Dugga Doo alien is still audibly singing in the background. It’s a comparatively small thing, but it adds to the feeling that the production doesn’t have enough control over the tone. There are bright spots, of course. Gary and Mike are very likeable everyman characters – it’s fun that they’re both instantly smitten with the Doctor, and that they both find it unexpectedly sexy seeing each other being competent at their jobs. The songs could generally stand to be a lot weirder and more alien, but Cora’s final ballad is soaring enough to land the final emotional beat (although the presumably accidental subtext that this is the only legitimate way for an oppressed people to make their voices heard is a tad awkward). The still, silent shot of all the bodies floating in space above the station is incredibly arresting. The Doctor and Belinda bonding over Eurovision is cute, even if it feels like the third episode in a row where Varada Sethu doesn’t get a massive amount to do. The Doctor flying through space propelled by a confetti cannon is just the kind of camp excess this sort of episode needs. And of course, there’s the ending, which leads directly into the first part of the finale. The TARDIS lights going red, combined with the portentous tolling of the Cloister Bell, is more than enough to sell the mavity of the situation – arguably more so than Mrs Flood stage whispering about Vindicators – and the doors being blown inward is an appropriately fiery full stop. Onward to “Wish World”. I love a good show. Grape? Doctor Who continues with “Wish World” on Saturday May 24th on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, and on Disney+ around the world.

About Us:Revenue Vessel is a growing, venture backed software company on a mission to revolutionize how logistics companies sell. In 13 months, we’ve built a product that our customers love, hundreds of thousands in ARR (doubled in the last 3 months), and a path to grow to over a $1.8M in revenue in the next 12 months. Most notably, we’ve only spent as much cash as our current revenue, meaning that we’re already an efficient business.Revenue Vessel is operating in the highly-specialized vertical of logistics, but we’re doing something totally different than other logistics software companies. While other companies sell to operations teams that have entirely unique, mission critical processes, we’re taking advantage of a key secret: every logistics team sells roughly the same, and all of them are poorly served right now.The three co-founders have strong backgrounds in the space: former Head of Demand Gen at Flexport, former top performing SDR manager at Flexport, former Head of Eng at Rutter API, respectively.This could be a billion dollar business, and we don’t need to compete with other Silicon Valley founders in order to get there. We just need your help to pull it off.Role Overview:You will be joining an engineering team of 4, all former startup veterans, as a senior technical IC. You will be given a large chunk of responsibility over the product, and as an early member of the team, you will be a key part of shaping our culture, growing the company, and building an amazing product. You will be expected to tackle projects across front end, backend, or data engineering.For one role, we’re looking for an engineer who can help us the underlying data infrastructure that can support the definitive customer record for this industry. We still need our engineers to be generalists, so we want some full-stack experience, but if you love backend and data, we have a spot for you building something exciting.For our other open role, we’re looking for an engineer who dreams about talking to customers, mapping out requirements, and then spitting out code faster than Cursor’s terrible memory management can handle.You will LOVE this job if:You want to work closely with smart, high integrity, personal growth-oriented co-workers.You enjoy working independently and quickly on things.You are a product-oriented or data-oriented engineer who cares first and foremost about solving customer problems.You are excited to take radical ownership of features and systems.You love being in the thick of it all, understanding the whole workings of a startup, and building a plane as we fall from the sky.This job is NOT for you if:You want the immediate cushy and chill life that a large, stable tech company provides.You find yourself excelling in highly-structured, hoop-jumping cultures.You are worried about taking on personal risk.You want to move into engineering management in the next two years (we probably won’t hire a big team for a while) or build a big team around you.In order to excel here, you will need to:be the type of person who never shies away from a problem just because you haven’t done it before.Learn quickly and teach yourself new concepts as neededBe familiar with our tech stack (TypeScript, Next.JS, TypeORM, React, Postgres, Heroku)Be familiar with full-stack web development as well as backend/data work, and excel at one of them.Write solid code quickly and understand when speed trumps quality and vice versa.Communicate incredibly well and proactively communicate status and priorities.A typical week might involve building a new feature, polishing the product for a 10/10 customer experience, and scaling our systems as our user count grows.Company Values:The company values these things. If you’re excited about this, we’re excited about you. If these aren’t you, then we’re probably not the right place.Brutal focus: We do one thing at a time, and we do it extremely well. Right now, we’re building sales tools for logistics companies. We say no to everything else, even if someone was waving a $1M check in front of our eyes.Too high integrity: We believe that integrity in business is incredibly important. We’d happily lose some money if it meant doing right by a customer or prospect.Improve and Get Better Every Day: We believe in making the business and ourselves 1% better every day. As we make more money, we plan to re-invest most of it in improving our existing team as well as our processes. We give and take kind, candid feedback, and we’re always looking for ways to become better.You want to build a money printing machine: We believe that at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is cash in vs cash out.What We Offer:Fully remote work environment with flexible hoursExtremely Generous equity (we want you to feel so invested in the company's success that you make away like a bandit)Competitive cash compFor US employees, top-tier health insurance, dental, (optional) life insurance, (optional) therapy through talkspaceApplication Process:Our interview process includes a round of interviews focused on your technical skills and problem-solving approach. Once we’re sure you can code, we have another interview focused on culture fit.Apply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now Meet JobCopilot: Your Personal AI Job HunterAutomatically Apply to Remote Full-Stack Programming JobsJust set your preferences and Job Copilot will do the rest-finding, filtering, and applying while you focus on what matters. Activate JobCopilot

Sergey Nivens - Stock.Adobe.com News The Security Interviews: David Faugno, 1Password David Faugno, co-CEO of 1Password, discusses how his background led to him joining the company and why maintaining profitability is a key factor in overcoming the challenges of switching markets. By Peter Ray Allison Published: 16 May 2025 12:15 Although companies may embrace emerging technologies to remain competitive, they can be risk averse, especially when it comes to changing their customer base. However, this shift in focus is what 1Password did when it moved from being consumer focused to providing enterprise grade security solutions. In 2006, the company 1Password developed a password manager of the same name for the Windows, Android, iOS and Linux platforms. Since then, it has earned a reputation for being a secure method for protecting sensitive user information. Software licenses and other sensitive information can also be securely stored in a virtual vault on their servers, which is locked with a password-based key derivation function (PBKDF2) guarded master password (a password storage algorithm that is designed for deterring brute force attacks by making them computationally expensive). David Faugno had previously been enjoying a semi-retirement, working as a board member and adviser for various companies, including 1Password. As his interest in the company grew, he soon became increasingly impressed with its collaborative approach and transparency. He was invited to join the company as its president and chief operating officer in September 2023, before becoming co-CEO just over a year later. Faugno had previously spent more than 10 years with security and storage provider Barracuda Networks as its chief finance officer. Faugno’s experience with Barracuda Networks gave him a broad understanding of the security landscape, as well as a unique perspective for solving security problems facing organisations of all sizes. When Faugno joined 1Password, the world was emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid transformed the way companies operate by accelerating remote working technologies and encouraging people to work from home and, since then, hybrid working has become the norm in many sectors. “The world was fundamentally changing. The way people worked and the tools that businesses had provided to their employees to stay safe and secure, and create a secure perimeter, no longer really existed,” says Faugno. “This got accelerated pretty dramatically during the pandemic, which is right at the point in the time when we first invested and got involved.” As a consequence of the proliferation of remote working, the security perimeter for an organisation also expanded. Previously, the security perimeter had been at the endpoints of the corporate network, but now it has extended into homes of employees. Most cyber security incidents are due to compromised credentials, such as stolen, weak or reused passwords. Consequently, employees who use weak identification systems at home may inadvertently expose corporate networks to attack. It is therefore essential for maintaining security of a corporate network security that the cyber security of devices in the employees’ home is also protected. One method for achieving this is to provide each employee with a free family license for a cyber security package. Balancing security and data privacy against accessibility and usability can be challenging as these aspects can often be at odds with each other. Faugno acknowledges that uncompromised security may cause friction with setup and account recovery, however, 1Password took a decision early in the product development cycle to focus on ensuring that the most secure way was also the easiest. This led to a rapid uptake of its password manager, which resulted in it being adopted into thousands of businesses. Faugno soon noted that although 1Password was primarily a consumer-focused product at the time, it was becoming increasingly used in the enterprise sector. “When the work environment started to change and people started to get access to resources that were not being necessarily centrally controlled through their SSO, or through the tools that the company had put behind the firewall, these security-centric folks in business thought, ‘Oh, I can use 1Password for this’,” says Faugno. “We got pulled into thousands of business environments by these people. That’s when our awakening happened – the battlefield had moved from the building walls to where the end user was, wherever they were, with whatever tools they were using.” One of the first things Faugno did when he joined 1Password was to hire a finance leader. By having a sales team engage with enterprise clients to understand their needs, such as administrative controls or additional reporting functionality, 1Password was able to develop its existing platform and market an enterprise service to the business community. “When we first made the investment in 1Password in 2019, the company had zero salespeople and pretty much zero accountants,” says Faugno. “It was nothing but developers, building a great product, and support people. Those use cases would organically come, but what we weren’t doing is interfacing with the chief information security officers at large enterprises to share how our platform fits into their overall security architecture.” 1Password started building infrastructure around enterprise level support and billing capabilities, as well as sales and post-sales implementation capabilities, to allow it to engage with the business sector. Any change to a company carries with it a certain level of risk and expense, especially when it involves adapting to a changing market. It has taken four years, but 1Password’s core business model has created solid foundation for the company to build on. Despite the absence of salespeople and accountants, 1Password’s cash flow had remained profitable. This strong position allowed 1Password the opportunity for forward investment (investing in a company to improve a return on investment) without sacrificing profitability. Although maintaining durability of growth is essential for financial sustainability, it can be challenging. Unless an organisation has a financially stable core product, significant resources can be spent promoting a product that causes a sudden growth curve, but the growth will stop as soon as the money is used up if it was not sustainable. 1Password had the opportunity to invest in itself while remaining profitable in the different sectors, ensuring a durable growth. Instead of optimising for profitability, 1Password is forward investing across several areas without the need to pay off debt from a private equity transaction. “Over 75% of our sales are to companies, but so many people think of us as a consumer business, because either they know us personally or they’ve seen the legacy of us over the 20 years,” says Faugno.  The cyber security sector is a constantly evolving market, with an ongoing war of attrition between hackers and security teams: what is cutting edge now could be obsolete in six months’ time. Not only must security companies have a solid product, but they must also constantly update it in response to emerging threats. Soon, one of the key challenges that cyber security teams will need robust solutions for is protecting their communications in a post-quantum world. Quantum computers can process vast amounts of information in a fraction of the time that classical computers would take, including today’s supercomputers. This will have massive implications for cyber security as quantum computers will be able quickly break current encryption systems. There are various technologies already being developed that are described as quantum resistant, but testing of these is still ongoing. Rather than focusing on a specific technology, 1Password has teams researching emerging challenges. The future security challenge presented by quantum computing necessitate a multifaceted security strategy – 2FA/MFA, passkeys and federation (authentication across networked systems). “We have teams that are engaged deeply in thinking about what’s not only the next step, but two steps ahead,” says Faugno. “The world is changing across a number of dimensions, and quantum computing represents one. Passkeys are going to help, but the pathway to passwordlesss is a journey that’s going to take decades.   “Our view is that you have to start with the visibility of everything that exists and move everything on the continuum to passwordlesss. Today, that is having strong and unique passwords and encrypted vaults, adding multi-factor authentication, using passkeys where they’re available, and ultimately moving to federation.” Reputation is essential, especially in security. If a tool has proven itself to be viable and effective protection against attacks in the wild, then that will over carry into the business sector and naturally generate interest from organisations. “If you can build that level of endearment to the end user at the individual level, then what you can do for the business user is very similar,” concludes Faugno. “You can satisfy the most robust and hard-to-crack use case for making someone feel like this tool is helping them be secure and productive.”  Read more from the Security Interviews Series Armis CEO Yevgeny Dibrov talks about how his military service and intelligence work opened the door into the world of cyber security entrepreneurship. Okta regional chief security officer for EMEA sits down with Dan Raywood to talk about how Okta is pivoting to a secure-by-design champion. Threat intel expert and author Martin Lee, EMEA technical lead for security research at Cisco Talos, joins Computer Weekly to mark the 35th anniversary of the first ever ransomware attack. In The Current Issue: UK MoJ crime prediction algorithms raise serious concerns Interview: Markus Schümmelfeder, CIO, Boehringer Ingelheim Download Current Issue GraphQL as an ‘essential protocol’ for AI-API orchestration – CW Developer Network Mind the insight-to-impact gap, Qlik captures analytics ‘in the moment’ – CW Developer Network View All Blogs

Whether summer days are approaching or you’re a self-proclaimed hot sleeper, the best cooling pillows are the bedding essentials you need for a soothing night’s rest. Unlike standard bed pillows, these options boast airflow and breathability like no others. Plus, they’ll help keep you refreshed without having to invest in a whole cooling mattress or new A/C. But we’re not just going to talk about the accolades of a cooling pillow, we’re sharing our honest reviews about everything from gel-infused memory foam to moisture-wicking latex pillows after months—and even years—of use. We even sprinkled in some budget-friendly cooling pillows you can find on Amazon, complete with different firmness levels, that’ll help make night sweats a thing of the past.Our Top Picks for the Best Cooling Pillows:Best Overall Cooling Pillow: Purple Harmony Pillow, $199 $179A Refreshing Memory Foam Pick: My Sheets Rock The Cooler Memory Foam Pillow, $129Best for Side Sleepers: Naturepedic Organic Side Sleeper Pillow, $139 $111A Luxe Latex Pillow: Saatva Latex Pillow, $165Best Down Alternative: Casper Original Pillow, $65 $58The Budget Option: Buffy Cloud Pillow, $50 $40For consistency, all prices in this story reflect standard sizes.Browse by CategoryThe best cooling pillow, overallKelsey BorivinskyPurple Harmony PillowUpsidesSupportive designMade of natural latexDurable to maintain its shapeDownsidesPriceySpecsFill: Honeycomb GelFlex Grid, Talalay LatexCare: Machine-wash the cover separately on cold and air-dry. Spot clean the core.Sizes: Standard, kingThanks to premier cooling properties, this Purple pillow is a game changer for hot sleepers. Just take it from contributor Kelsey Borovinsky. This bedding accessory was her first foray into latex pillows, and after sleeping on it extensively, she says it was not only breathable but it also held its shape for supportive sleep. “If you like a Tempur-Pedic type of pillow that is really solid and supportive or in the market for one to support other parts of your body, this would be a great option,” she says.A refreshing memory foam pickPhoto: Nashia BakerPhoto: Nashia BakerMy Sheets Rock Cooler Memory Foam PillowUpsidesStructured pillowDense designDoesn’t flatten over timeDownsidesMight feel too firm for traditional down pillow usersSpecsFill: Bamboo rayon, memory foam, and cooling gelCare: N/ASizes: Standard, kingCombination sleepers, listen up. Senior commerce editor Nashia Baker considers herself a side and stomach sleeper and attests that she feels refreshed and comfortable no matter her sleep position with this memory foam pillow. “It has a structured build and feels slightly firm to the touch, but it shapes to my head when I lay down for a soft, cradling feel as I sleep,” she says, adding that its support helps keep neck pain at bay. “Another perk that caught me by surprise was its cooling gel pad that actually feels refreshing. It’s been a go-to when the weather heats up so I can comfortably doze off.” If you aren’t sure which side is doing the cooling, you can identify it by its “ocean blue” color. Baker adds that the pillow is responsive and needs a lot of force to even make it sink in, and she hasn’t noticed any flattening over the last year she’s used it.Best for side sleepersRachel FletcherNaturepedic Organic Latex Side Sleeper PillowUpsidesIdeal for tall peopleDoesn’t bunchComes with extra fill to customize the firmnessDownsidesOn the larger sideSpecsFill: Shredded latex fillingCare: Machine-wash the outer casing on cold and dry on medium. Spot clean the insert.Sizes: Standard/queenFor those who sleep on their sides, like commerce director Rachel Fletcher, you’ll find this Naturepedic pillow supportive and comforting. It has a shoulder cut-out designed to prevent pillow-bunching or spine-contorting. Fletcher says that it leans softer and longer than other side pillows in her bedding arsenal, plus more. “[It’s] perfect for a taller person (I’m five-two, so most people are taller than me) as well as for someone who doesn’t like a super-firm pillow,” she says. “That said, it does come with extra fill in case you want to stuff it up a bit and increase the firmness.”A luxe latex pillowSaatva Latex PillowUpsidesOrganicHotel-inspired qualityGreat head and neck supportDownsidesExpensiveSpecsFill: Microdenier fiber fill, shredded natural latex coreCare: Machine wash the cover and outer fill layer only. Tumble dry the fill layer on medium heat and hang the cotton cover to dry.Sizes: Standard/queen, kingAccording to the Saatva site, their latex pillow offers “ultimate head and neck support,” and contributor Sydney Gore backs up these claims from her sleep experience. “I have some serious back issues and was surprised to wake up feeling more rested after the many nights I spent snoozing on such a luxurious pillow,” she says. Even though it’s steeper in price, she notes that these high-quality pillows are truly comfortable when put to the test. The organic latex material is naturally breathable to help regulate body temperature too.Best down alternativeCasper Sleep Original PillowUpsidesAffordableSoft yet medium-firmCooling percale weaveDownsidesNot customizable or available in different firmness levels like some other options in this listSpecsFill: Polyester microfiberCare: Unzip the outer pillow and remove the inner pillow. Zip the outer pillow back up. Place both in the washing machine. Wash with cool water and a mild detergent on the gentle cycle. Run the rinse cycle twice. Tumble dry low with dryer balls (or clean tennis balls).Sizes: Standard, kingThis down alternative pillow is such a favorite of contributor Madeleine Luckel and her boyfriend’s that she tries to “steal it all the time” just for herself. “The Original pillow is really nice. Somehow the pillow stays pretty cool and it really is at some indescribable sweet spot in terms of its firmness,” she says. “But the real key is that the pillow is thick enough to work perfectly as a stand-alone sleep piece.” Luckel adds that she usually sleeps with two pillows, so that’s really saying something.The budget optionBuffy Cloud PillowUpsidesComes in three firmness levelsMade of recycled materialsDownsidesSome customers say it can feel flatter than others on the marketSpecsFill: 100% GRS-certified, BPA-free, recycled PET fillCare: Spot clean or dry clean.Sizes: Standard, kingRachel Wallace, senior entertainment editor, recommends this Buffy pillow to “anyone who is a fellow side sleeper, or anyone who likes a soft feel but craves support.” Made of natural materials like eucalyptus, the brand describes it as being incredibly breathable and even softer than down. When it arrived, Wallace thought it would feel too thin and plush for her taste, but she can confirm that it lives up to the hype. “I feel like my head is sinking into it and yet somehow my head remains supported,” she says. “My neck has been feeling great.” And for the affordable price, it’s an all-around win for a good night’s sleep.More AD-approved cooling pillowsTuft & Needle Premium PillowUpsidesDoesn’t flatten or lose cushion over timePowerful infused graphite and gel cooling comboCertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold CertifiedDownsidesSome customers find it too soft for strong neck supportSpecsFill: FoamCare: The pillow cover is washable, but the pillow itself is not. To wash your pillow cover, simply unzip it to remove and wash the cover in cold water with light colors. Be sure not to bleach it. Hang to dry.Sizes: Standard, kingCooling technology from graphite-infused gel leaves digital features editor Katherine McLaughlin impressed and refreshed. This bedding accessory is designed to feel soft and supportive, even more so than traditional memory foam. McLaughlin has had this pillow for over a year and says “it’s held up great—hasn’t gotten thinner or lost any of its plushness.” The high-quality Amazon pillow is often on sale for an even more affordable price too.Pillow Cube Side CubeUpsidesHelps soothe shoulder painBreathable coverCooling coreDownsidesMemory foam can soften over timeSpecsFill: Memory foamCare: Machine-wash on gentle cycle, tumble dry on low heat.Sizes: Standard-size cubeMemory foam—including that used in some of the best mattresses we’ve tested—unfairly gets a bad rap lacking temperature regulation. While some pillows can trap heat, this one is here to debunk the myth. This one gets its cooling effect from its breathable machine washable cover and patented Aero Foam Core. It’s also just as cozy. Calling it a “tiny bed,” commerce editor Audrey Lee says it helps relieve her shoulder and neck pain. “The Pillowcube is one of the longest (and most fruitful) relationships I've had with a pillow,” she says. “I'm notoriously picky when it comes to cushions (or rather my neck is) and I've never had a disappointing night's rest with this one. The memory foam has softened just a touch over the years and it's made it all the more comfortable (especially if you're a side sleeper like me).”Lauren ArzbaecherCoop Home Goods Original Loft PillowUpsidesStrong motion isolationKeeps its shape over timePlush feelDownsidesNot made of natural materials like some others on our listSpecsFill: Cross-Cut Memory Foam & Microfiber Blend (76% Visco Polyurethane Foam, 24% Polyester Gel Fiber)Care: Machine wash in cold water on the gentle cycle. Do not use fabric softener or bleach. Tumble dry low. Ensure the cover is completely dry before use. Secure the zipper closed with a safety pin to ensure the inner pillow does not open or spill fill during wash.Sizes: QueenWith a makeup of memory foam and microfiber, you can consider this a hybrid pillow of sorts. Two AD staffers have this adjustable pillow from Coop Sleep Goods and love that it keeps its shape over time since you can add or remove the fill for just the right feel. Associate commerce director Lori Keong likes how customizable and “plushy they are to snooze on in all sleep positions,” while commerce producer Lauren Arzbaecher adds that they are “life-changing” for side and stomach sleepers like herself. “The memory foam and microfiber combo has helped with movement isolation so I don’t wake up with a stiff neck anymore, plus it just feels luxurious,” Arzbaecher adds.Nest Bedding Easy Breather PillowUpsidesCustomizable firmnessHelps alleviate neck painComes in three sizes including for side sleepersDownsidesSome customers feel like the fill is a bit stiffSpecsFill: 80% Non-Toxic CertiPUR-US® Certified Virgin Foam Blend of Memory Foam and High-Response Foam, 20% Smooth Polyester FiberCare: Remove the outer cover from the pillow. Wash the cover in cold water on a delicate cycle. Do not use fabric softener or bleach. Dry on low heat until the cover is dry. Do not dry on high heat; the cover may warp and shrink.Sizes: Standard/queen, side sleeper, kingSince AD PRO senior editor Mel Studach is pretty choosy when it comes to her bedding, the customization of this adjustable pillow immediately caught her attention. “I keep my shredded memory foam pillow pretty firm, and I’m so happy with the level of support and cooling comfort that it’s provided,” she says. “In comparison to other pillows I’ve had in the past, this one stands out not only for its customization, but also the fact that I have yet to have an uncomfortable night’s sleep or to wake up to soreness in my neck thanks to the firm support.”How we testedWe tested all the best cooling pillows just like everything else across the sleep category here at AD Shopping by, well, actually resting on them. Our editors slept on these pillows for at least a month to see how their sleep was transformed, paying special attention to the factors below.Cooling Technology: Special features like gel-infused pads make several of these pillows feel cool to the touch, while others feature add-ons like moisture-wicking covers. Otherwise, organic materials like latex are a great way to go since they are naturally breathable.Material: Most of the picks on this list are made of memory foam, latex, or a blend of down alternative fills like foam and microfiber. All of the above are known for being cozy to snuggle up with at night, however, we paid close attention to options with machine washable covers, too, for easy maintenance.Sleep Positions: Whether you’re a stomach sleeper or side sleeper, you’ll want to keep your sleep position in mind to make sure you don’t wake up with aches and pains. Like our Naturepedic pick, some pillows have a U-shape that contours around the body for side sleepers. We’ve included adjustable pillows in our list, too, so you can customize the fill and firmness level to meet your needs, no matter your sleep position.FAQsAre cooling pillows really worth it?If you ask us, we say a unanimous yes. The key to finding one that actually feels cooling is to look out for phase change materials, which essentially means there’s a combo between a breathable design—like natural fabrics such as latex—and a moisture-wicking cover to help keep you from overheating.Should you use a pillowcase on a cooling pillow?If your pillow has a machine-washable cover, you technically don’t have to use a pillowcase. However, if you want added coverage for your pillow, opting for a cooling pillowcase made of a crisp material like percale can make it feel even more comfortable.

Bungie admits Marathon includes artwork used without permission "We are conducting a thorough review." Image credit: Bungie News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on May 16, 2025 Bungie has admitted that an external artist's work has been used within upcoming game Marathon without consent. The issue came to light yesterday following recent playable alpha tests of Marathon, from which an artist recognised their designs had been used. "The Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs I made in 2017," artist Fern Hook wrote on social media. "Bungie is of course not obligated to hire me when making a game that draws overwhelmingly from the same design language i have refined for the last decade, but clearly my work was good enough to pillage for ideas and plaster all over their game without pay or attribution." To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Responding via its less-visible Marathon Dev Team social media account, Bungie wrote that it had "immediately investigated" Hook's claim and found that, yes, a former artist at the company had swiped the designs. "This issue was unknown by our existing art team, and we are still reviewing how this oversight occurred," Bungie wrote. "We take matters like this very seriously. We have reached out to [Hook] to discuss this issue and are committed to do right by the artist. "As a matter of policy, we do not use the work of artists without their permission," Bungie continued, stating - if it needed to be said - that the developer does not endorse plagiarism. "To prevent similar issues in the future, we are conducting a thorough review of our in-game assets, specifically those done by the former Bungie artist, and implementing stricter checks to document all artist contributions," the publisher concluded. This isn't the first time Bungie has faced claims of using artists' work without permission - with multiple instances coming to light regarding designs for Destiny 2. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "I don't have the resources nor the energy to spare to pursue this legally but I have lost count of the number of times a major company has deemed it easier to pay a designer to imitate or steal my work than to write me an email," Hook concluded. "In 10 years I have never made a consistent income from this work and I am tired of designers from huge companies moodboarding and parasitising my designs while I struggle to make a living." Bungie's Marathon reboot is set to launch for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on 23rd September. We recently got a solid look at the upcoming sci-fi shooter - here's everything about Marathon you need to know.

Amazon, the multi-trillion dollar e-commerce monolith, seemingly cheaped out on on a key feature installed on its six-propeller delivery drones. Predictably, this backfired almost immediately.On a (lightly) rainy December day at the company's testing range in Oregon, not one but two Prime Air drones suddenly stopped spinning their propellers mid-flight and plummeted some 200 feet to the ground. The crashes, which destroyed both aircraft, happened within minutes of each other. And now, , we know why. According to documents from the National Transportation Safety Board, bad readings from the drones' onboard lidar sensors led the drones to believe they had already landed. Their software, thinking it was on solid ground, cluelessly cut off power to the propellers.But that's not all. After Amazon decided to remove them, the drones no longer had backup sensors that were equipped on older versions. And these probably would've prevented the drones from shutting down, per Bloomberg's sources.Amazon denies this line of thinking."Bloomberg's reporting is misleading," an Amazon spokesperson told the newspaper. "Statements that assume that replacing one system with another would have prevented an accident in the past is irresponsible." Per the NTSB documents, a botched software update made the lidar sensors more susceptible to being thrown off by rain. Lidar is short for light detection and ranging, a form of technology that uses lasers to scan surroundings in a similar manner to radar.A glitch may have been the main reason, but it definitely sounds like it could've been easily avoidable had Amazon kept the redundant system from its previous drone, the MK27. The backup sensors came in the form of two metal prongs on the bottom of the drone called squat switches. When the drone lands, the switches are depressed, providing confirmation that it's on solid ground. A source told Bloomberg that the MK27 drone's software was originally designed to confirm a landing only when two of its three sensors agreed.This was removed with the MK30, and it's unclear why. Reducing costs could be one reason, and it's not uncommon to remove redundant systems to streamline a device.It could also be because of a shift in how Amazon intends to deliver packages with its drones, according to a Bloomberg source. The MK27 was designed to make deliveries by landing in a customer's yard, with enclosed propellers to make them safer. The MK30 moved away from this and drops packages from around a dozen feet in the air.This is far from the only setback Amazon has faced during its drone development, which it first announced back in 2013. In 2021, a drone crash sparked an acres-wide blaze in Oregon, and outside of incidents like that, many residents living where the drones are being trialed simply find them annoying. After the latest December SNAFU, Amazon halted future experiments for months — though it maintained that the crashes weren't the "primary reason" — and only recently lifted the pause.Overall, development has been sluggish and the project remains years behind schedule. Currently, Amazon is only carrying out drone deliveries in College Station, Texas, and Tolleson, Arizona.More on Amazon: The NYPD Is Sending Drones to the Sites of 9-1-1 CallsShare This Article