At least Ghost Of Yōtei is out this year (Sony Interactive Entertainment) The Thursday letters page worries what will happen if the new Marvel games are flops, as one reader laments the slow death of physical games. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk Summer schedule I really hope that Sony is planning to make more first party games but I have a feeling there’s no going back to how things were. It’s been too long and too much has changed, including Sony still selling tons of PlayStation 5s even without any proper exclusives and Xbox going multiformat.I think it’s reasonable to hope they will do more though. We can’t stop them making any more live service games but they do seem to at least be slowing down a bit. The problem is that slowing up doesn’t mean they’ll speed up with single-player games instead. They could just end up making less overall, like they have over the last few years. We’ve got Ghost Of Yōtei this year, which I’m not super excited about (I’d had enough of the last one by halfway through) but I am very interested in seeing Returnal follow-up Saros next year, so hopefully things are slowly turning around. I want to be optimistic, but the problem is there’s no sign of Sony having a not-E3 State of Play showcase this summer. The past two years they’ve had it at the end of May and I think we’ve probably gone past the point they were going to announce it if it was happening. I hope I’m wrong, or maybe it’s later in June for some reason, but it doesn’t look good.RaeBonn Your story is another castle I see the Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel has had its name leaked as Super Mario World. I’m not sure your average Joe is going to get that reference, but would they actually bother doing an adaptation of the game’s story? Does the game even have a story? I’ve beaten it twice and I honestly can’t remember.Looking at Wikipedia, apparently it was all in the manual and basically Bowser kidnapped Peach and some dinosaur eggs. There’s so little to work with I really have no idea what direction any of these films could do to justify themselves as anything other than a cash-in. The Paper Mario games are the only ones with an actual plot, but even then that’s not what’s good about them.Austin Risky business I’ve got a bad feeling about these upcoming Marvel games. I imagine Wolverine will be fine, but that Iron Man game will be almost two decades too late by the time it comes out. And I can’t believe many people are interested in a Captain America and Black Panther team-up set in World War 2.Normally I’d just shrug my shoulders and write it off as an incoming flop but nowadays that means the whole studio could go down and how many hundreds of people are working on these two games? I’m not exaggerating either. Consider what happened to Firaxis after the (excellent) Midnight Suns flopped. All the lead developers left, the studio was fractured (I don’t think it was a coincidence that Civilization 7 was a rare dud), and now we’ll never get an XCOM 3. I don’t know these developers behind Iron Man and the other one as well, but I do know that lots of jobs are now in danger, just because EA was late jumping on a bandwagon.Cerates Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk Reliable reputation Glad to hear GC got Power Stone back and I like the sound of all the effort Capcom put into the collection and the reasonable price. I’ve never really been into fighting games, so it’s not really of interest to me. But it Does make me think better of Capcom, for when something else I am interested in comes up.I wish this was something other publishers thought of, especially as Capcom is doing so well, financially speaking, at the moment. But unfortunately EA and Activision, and even Ubisoft to a degree, just rely on their big franchises and don’t really put out much else anyway. Sony is another example of doing this well, because their reputation for first party games really wasn’t that great until the PlayStation 4. They just built it up and became someone to rely on. Them throwing that all away now is so strange.Griefer Money issue I’ve been thinking for a while now about this, but Sony could take Xbox out the console market with just one sentence. You can put Game Pass on PlayStation. There wouldn’t be any need for an Xbox and we know Phil wants it on there.Why Sony won’t do that I’ll never know. It’s a win/win for Sony. You never know, Sony might allow them sooner or later and Xbox can go the way of Sega, just with a hell of a lot more money and just to make games.David GC: They won’t do it because they make more money selling games on their store. Although they may change their mind in time, because they’ve begun to make more selling microtransactions than actual games. And another thing You know, I have been witnessing quite a bit of clamour over the last few days. More or less a lot of complaining and quite a stir of negativity. I’ve seen GTA 6 fall surprisingly prey to this. Either people have issues with the inevitably violent content, the sex or the aged fable of controversy. My take is my bond and I say that I gladly welcome the gratuitous violence, the sex, and the glory glitz of Leonida.Because I’ve waited over 12 years for an evolution and no echoes of bemusement will deter me from my course of securing the collector’s edition as soon as possible. If that includes a statue or early access I will be immensely satisfied. My second point is the Nintendo Switch 2. I’ve already mentioned that I secured the Mario Kart World bundle from Amazon and I acknowledge the bricking controversy. But modding isn’t my cup of tea, so Nintendo has nothing to worry about. I’d rather emulate PlayStation 2 games anyway. Thirdly, the PlayStation 6. It matters not the price, storage, exclusives or specs. I’m buying this system, as I did the PlayStation 5. Day one. If it arrives in 2027, the merrier it is for me. I will very much take great stride in playing Horizon Zero Dawn 3 and many other titles.Shahzaib Sadiq Mum’s the word I was wondering when we might get some concrete thoughts about the Switch 2 launch games?Is there an embargo about when Switch 2 games are able to be reviewed? Or perhaps there is an embargo on when you can talk about an embargo, nothing from Nintendo would surprise me.Mark GC: There’s always an embargo on when we can talk about an embargo, but especially when it involves Nintendo. Facing defeat I know the war was lost long ago (shops stopping second-hand games was the end, as far as I see it) but it is so tragic to see how small a part of gaming physical copies are now. I don’t know anyone, amongst my friends or family, that buys physical copies anymore and what would be the point anyway, when they’re not even stored on the disc?.Perhaps it was inevitable, since even if the initial game is on the disc it gets distorted and expanded by updates the second you put it in a console but it’s the fact that there’s literally no benefit to digital. People talk about convenience but what convenience? Not having to change discs is just silly and lazy. And it takes time to buy a physical copy? I could drive to the shops and back quicker that it takes me to download a modern game. Not that I’m in the habit of paying out £60 on a whim, that I suddenly decide I have to have a new game right then and there. Gaming got infinitely more expensive as soon as it became more difficult to sell on your games, especially with eBay’s new payment rules. But apparently nobody cares. Maybe everyone else is a millionaire all of a sudden, and I didn’t get the memo, but the death of physical is just handing more control to publishers and taking more cash out of the wallets of ordinary people.Rufus Inbox also-rans Just watched the Borderlands movie on Amazon. It’s no Fallout or The Last Of Us but it’s not that bad. I particularly liked Jack Black as the annoying android Claptrap. They should make a Brütal Legend movie – it would have a great soundtrack. Think I will check out the Like A Dragon movie next.Johnny Alpha SDCurrently playing: Doom Eternal and Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6Thanks for the heads-up on Very, I managed to get my bundle with a camera so I’m very excited now. I went back and checked and it’s still live though, which seems weird given no one else has any stock at all.Boysie More Trending Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk The small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter. Arrow MORE: Games Inbox: Is it weird to not like GTA games? GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

It already feels like BEYOND Expo 2024 wrapped just yesterday – with its sprawling exhibition halls, a kaleidoscope of cutting-edge tech, and buzzwords ricocheting off every panel discussion. But here we are again, prepping for the return of Asia’s premier tech pilgrimage. BEYOND Expo 2025 is officially on the calendar: May 21 to 24, 2025, hosted once more at the Venetian Macao Cotai Expo. The theme? “Unveiling Possibilities”, a theme that’s perfect for today’s fast-paced world. In the face of uncertainties, BEYOND Expo aims to unveil possibilities – for progress, innovation, and trade. BEYOND has earned its stripes as the central node for startups, unicorns, Fortune 500s, and future-first thinkers who know how to speak fluent AI, blockchain, biotech, and green tech without breaking a sweat. The numbers speak volumes – 2024 clocked in with 820 companies and 20,000+ attendees, including 35% international guests and a surprisingly welcome 30% female participation. For 2025, organizers are aiming for a 40% international exhibitor share out of 1,200 participating companies. Click Here to know more about the BEYOND Expo 2025 At the core of the event are its signature exhibition areas: ConsumerTech, ClimateTech, and Healthcare. Each zone is a hands-on, immersion-heavy playground. Think smart wearables alongside AI-driven diagnostics. Carbon-neutral power systems sharing floor space with next-gen mobility. Everything here feels like it was prototyped in the year 2030. You’ll find familiar titles like the Global Investment Summit, where deal-making isn’t whispered in back rooms but happens in pitch sessions like “FUND AT FIRST PITCH,” which matched 150 startups with 100 VCs in 2024. ConsumerTech, ClimateTech, and Healthcare Summits bring vertical-specific depth, while the Asia-Latam, Asia-Euro, and ORIGIN: Asia forums spotlight the unique tech tensions and opportunities across regional ecosystems. Even the SheTech Summit returns to amplify global female innovation, alongside the wealth-centric BEYOND Wealth Summit and founder-focused Founder Forum. The opening day is expected to pull heavyweight speakers offering deep industry insight, while the closing event is a hybrid of TED Talk and cultural carnival. Expect keynote wisdom, the BEYOND Awards spotlighting future-forward solutions across four categories, and yes, the kind of nightlife Macao’s reputation thrives on – food markets, yoga pop-ups, eSports showdowns, and likely another charity poker faceoff. This year’s narrative, “Unveiling Possibilities,” signals a commitment to embracing chaos, using innovation as a counterweight to uncertainty. BEYOND 2025 sees volatility as a resource, not a risk. And in an age where tech cycles shift faster than government policies, that mindset feels appropriately radical. The backdrop of Macao – cosmopolitan, cross-cultural, and geographically strategic – makes it the ideal launchpad for ideas that refuse to stay regional. If you’re a founder, investor, engineer, or just someone who geeks out at the thought of tech’s bleeding edge, blocking those dates now might be the smartest calendar move you’ll make in 2025. Registration links for Super Early Bird passes are already live. Exhibition slots are filling. Whether you’re showcasing a product or seeking the next one to bet on, BEYOND Expo 2025 promises both visibility as well as momentum.The post BEYOND Expo 2025 Wants to Transform Uncertainty Into A Trigger for Innovation first appeared on Yanko Design.

Until recently, the all-white bedding aesthetic has dominated the bedroom-scape. We’ve forgotten that the best colorful bedding sets bring a sense of personality to our sanctuary. A terra-cotta set can make a room feel distinctly Mediterranean, you can see the Scandinavian influence in a bold stripe, and a pastel bedding set creates a sense of calm and comfort for cuddling up. There’s a lot of interior design potential to unlock in a set of colored sheets, and we consider them one of the small mood-boosting luxuries for a bedroom.From a bold-and-bright plaid duvet to sunny yellow sheets, we’ve selected our favorite picks to brighten up your space and help you part ways with a less than dreamy color palette. Below, find splashy sets from tried-and-true bedding brands and our tips on how to style them.Our Top Picks for the Best Colorful Bedding:Best Mediterranean Style: Quince Bamboo Sheet Set, $130For a Coastal Bedroom: Frette Color Block Duvet Cover, $1,000A Bold and Breathable Sheet Set: Bamboo Bay Sheet Set, $110Best Y2K Style: GreenRow Sloan Patchwork Quilt, $459For an Antique-Inspired Space: Piglet Mix & Match Linen Bundle, $523Nashia BakerNashia BakerQuince Bamboo Sheet SetWe rated these bamboo sheets “best overall” for their breathability and durability. ”This set feels smooth and cool to the touch but still cozy enough to bundle up with during the winter months,” senior commerce editor Nashia Baker adds. She has these sheets in a terra-cotta orange, which brings “desert tones and earthiness” to her room, creating a sense of serenity and openness in her space.Frette Colour Block Sheet SetThese luxurious sheets are made from 100% solid cotton sateen in Italy, and they boast a color palette that feels distinctly Mediterranean. The color-blocking offers a reprieve from any color story that’s too overbearing, and the dusky blue and deep coral make it perfect for a luxurious beach bedroom.Bamboo Bay Sheet SetOur eyes are really on the sage variety here, whose soft, friendly colorway feels bright and comforting. A couple rattan nightstands and you have a coastal bedroom, or a few white end tables and it works within the framework of farmhouse design. What’s more, contributor Jordan Goldberg has these high-quality Amazon sheets in her bedroom and says they boast “the perfect thickness while still being airy and breathable to keep you cool while sleeping.”GreenRow Sloan Patchwork QuiltThis quilt is a bit of a Y2K throwback with bold pinks, oranges, and gold thread woven very subtly into the texture. This feels—if not suitable for a kid’s room—like a great way to liven up your bedroom, especially if you lean toward fun, flashy pieces, or there’s simply not enough of Lizzie McGuire’s vibe going on.Bed Threads 100% French Flax Linen Bedding SetThis 100% French Flax Linen set in a pinky shade of lavender looks old-world and French country, making it a perfect pick for a more antique-style bedroom. Senior digital design editor Zoë Sessums says, “A friend of mine has a range of sunset hues on his bed and frankly, I’m jealous (though it’s hard to go wrong with white linen sheets). I found these to be sturdy, beautiful, and perfect for temperature control.”Photo: Yelena Moroz AlpertPiglet Mix & Match Linen BundlePiglet has more options for interchangeable, mix-and-match bed covers than anyone else on this list. Made from 100% linen, these sheets are as soft after a wash as they are aesthetic. If you’re a fan of cottagecore or vintage vibes, the endless gingham and maxi stripe prints will work wonderfully with your already-established bedroom decor.Brooklinen x Caroline Z. Hurley Classic Percale Core Sheet SetThis brand-new release from Brooklinen makes an impact without sucking the air out of the room. Commerce writer Julia Harrison pairs this set with a white duvet cover for a more muted approach to colorful bedding. She also opted for the taupe shade, but it also comes in coral and sky, should you be interested in a bright, bold bedding moment. As for the quality, Harrison attests, “the cool, clean feel of the percale puts me to sleep right away.”Linoto Linen Sheet SetThis deep burgundy linen set is such a rich color, it’s transfixing. We’d pair this with a small Renaissance-like painting overhead, a white iron bed, and a few dark wood end tables, piled high with books for a studious European look.Ellison Studios Lull BedFor the more modern sleeper, try this upholstered and ’70s-inspired bed from Australian-based design company Ellison Studios. The velvety apricot material is made from 100% GRS-certified recycled plastic bottles, and it brings an unmistakable sunniness to your space. Pair this with bright sheets for full maximalism, or keep things simple with white bedding and a few throw pillows with some personality.Schoolhouse Woven Plaid Duvet CoverSchoolhouse calls this print “reminiscent of a summer camp in the Catskills,” which we’ll lift because we like to imagine we lived that too. It does seem like a print and weight completely suitable for a summer night’s camping trip, with or without a tent, under the stars, in a truck bed, or as a picnic blanket for watching fireworks: the quintessential summer linen.Photo: Lauren ArzbaecherBuffy Cloud ComforterWe’ve raved many a time about Buffy’s Cloud Comforter, but a lesser known feature is the 11 colorways it comes in. If you’re firmly in the duvet-covers-be-damned camp, this duvet insert delivers on color and comfort without any of that corner tie nonsense. The porcelain blue is especially tempting.Parchute Matelasse CoverletFor ultraminimalists, this simple coverlet from Parachute imitates the look of a quilt without the fill, delivers on the work of a good throw blanket, and makes for a perfect year-round bed linen on account of its weight. Use this on top of a flat sheet for your spring and summer setup, and throw it on top of your duvet for fall and winter. The moss brings a splash of color that maintains a sophisticated and minimalist quality, while keeping a space from becoming whitewashed.Ettitude CleanBamboo Pillowcase SetButter yellow is here to stay, and we don’t mind that. This yellow pastel makes for an understated decor moment that still shows design muscle, and it works surprisingly well as a neutral—pair it white, blue, brown, green, even the right shade of purple, and you have something that speaks volumes about your ability to throw a (bed)room together. What’s even more delicious? This particular set is made from 100% bamboo lyocell, and it’s Oeko-Tex-certified.Brooklinen Washed European Duvet SetA total coastal classic, this linen duvet set in striped blue is the ultimate East Coast beach house bedding. Made from 100% Certified European Flax, this set is durable, breathable, and super soft. Contributor Madeleine Luckel can verify: “When I got these I thought white linen sheets year-round might be a slightly bold move, since I don’t live my life on a Greek island, but the nature of the fiber is versatile and temperature-regulating.”

The Department of Commerce (DOC) has slammed the brakes on the sweeping “AI Diffusion Rule,” yanking it just a day before it was due to bite. Meanwhile, officials have laid down the gauntlet with stricter measures to control semiconductor exports.The AI Diffusion Rule, a piece of regulation cooked up under the Biden administration, was staring down a compliance deadline of May 15th. According to the folks at the DOC, letting this rule roll out would have been like throwing a spanner in the works of American innovation.DOC officials argue the rule would have saddled tech firms with “burdensome new regulatory requirements” and, perhaps more surprisingly, risked souring America’s relationships on the world stage by effectively “downgrading” dozens of countries “to second-tier status.”The nuts and bolts of this reversal will see the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), part of the DOC, publishing a notice in the Federal Register to make the rescission official. While this particular rule is heading for the shredder, the official line is that a replacement isn’t off the table; one will be cooked up and served “in the future.”Jeffery Kessler, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, has told BIS enforcement teams to stand down on anything concerning the now-canned AI Diffusion Rule.“The Trump Administration will pursue a bold, inclusive strategy to American AI technology with trusted foreign countries around the world, while keeping the technology out of the hands of our adversaries,” said Kessler.“At the same time, we reject the Biden Administration’s attempt to impose its own ill-conceived and counterproductive AI policies on the American people.”What was this ‘AI Diffusion Rule’ anyway?You might be wondering what this “AI Diffusion Rule” actually was, and why it’s causing such a stir. The rule wasn’t just a minor tweak; it was the Biden administration’s bid to get a tight grip on how advanced American tech – everything from the AI chips themselves to cloud computing access and even the crucial AI ‘model weights’ – flowed out of the US to the rest of the world.The idea, at least on paper, was to walk a tightrope: keep the US at the front of the AI pack, protect national security, and still champion American tech exports.But how did it plan to do this? The rule laid out a fairly complex playbook:A tiered system for nations: Imagine a global league table for AI access. Countries were split into three groups. Tier 1 nations, America’s closest allies like Japan and South Korea, would have seen hardly any new restrictions. Tier 3, unsurprisingly, included countries already under arms embargoes – like China and Russia – who were already largely banned from getting US chips and would face the toughest controls imaginable.The squeezed middle: This is where things got sticky. A large swathe of countries, including nations like Mexico, Portugal, India, and even Switzerland, found themselves in Tier 2. For them, the rule meant new limits on how many advanced AI chips they could import, especially if they were looking to build those super-powerful, large computing clusters essential for AI development.Caps and close scrutiny: Beyond the tiers, the rule introduced actual caps on the quantity of high-performance AI chips most countries could get their hands on. If anyone wanted to bring in chips above certain levels, particularly for building massive AI data centres, they’d have faced incredibly strict security checks and reporting duties.Controlling the ‘brains’: It wasn’t just about the hardware. The rule also aimed to regulate the storage and export of advanced AI model weights – essentially the core programming and learned knowledge of an AI system. There were strict rules about not storing these in arms-embargoed countries and only allowing their export to favoured allies, and even then, only under tight conditions.Tech as a bargaining chip: Underneath it all, the framework was also a bit of a power play. The US aimed to use access to its coveted AI technology as a carrot, encouraging other nations to sign up to American standards and safeguards if they wanted to keep the American chips and software flowing.The Biden administration had a clear rationale for these moves. They wanted to stop adversaries, with China being the primary concern, from getting their hands on advanced AI that could be turned against US interests or used for military purposes. It was also about cementing US leadership in AI, making sure the most potent AI systems and the infrastructure to run them stayed within the US and its closest circle of allies, all while trying to keep US tech exports competitive.However, the AI Diffusion Rule and broader plan didn’t exactly get a standing ovation. Far from it.Major US tech players – including giants like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Oracle – voiced strong concerns. They argued that the rule, instead of protecting US interests, would stifle innovation, bog businesses down in red tape, and ultimately hurt the competitiveness of American companies on the global stage. Crucially, they also doubted it would effectively stop China from accessing advanced AI chips through other means.And it wasn’t just industry. Many countries weren’t thrilled about being labelled “second-tier,” a status they felt was not only insulting but also risked undermining diplomatic ties. There was a real fear it could push them to look for AI technology elsewhere, potentially even from China, which was hardly the intended outcome.This widespread pushback and the concerns about hampering innovation and international relations are exactly what the current Department of Commerce is pointing to as reasons for today’s decisive action to scrap the rule.Fresh clampdown on AI chip exportsIt wasn’t just about scrapping old rules, though. The BIS also rolled out a new playbook to tighten America’s grip on AI chip exports, showing they’re serious about guarding the nation’s tech crown jewels. The latest clampdown includes:A spotlight on Huawei Ascend chips: New guidance makes it crystal clear: using Huawei Ascend chips anywhere on the planet is now a no-go under US export controls. This takes direct aim at one of China’s big players in the AI hardware game.Heads-up on Chinese AI model training: A stark warning has gone out to the public and the industry about the serious consequences if US AI chips are used to train or run Chinese AI models. The worry? That American tech could inadvertently supercharge AI systems that might not have US interests at heart.Guidance on shoring up supply chains: US firms are getting a fresh batch of advice on how to batten down the hatches on their supply chains to stop controlled tech from being siphoned off to unapproved destinations or users.The Department of Commerce is selling today’s double-whammy – axing the rule and beefing up export controls – as essential to “ensure that the United States will remain at the forefront of AI innovation and maintain global AI dominance.” It’s a strategy that looks to clear the runway for domestic tech growth while building higher fences around critical AI technologies, especially advanced semiconductors.This policy pivot will likely get a thumbs-up from some quarters in the US tech scene, particularly those who were getting sweaty palms about the AI Diffusion Rule and the red tape it threatened. On the flip side, the even tougher export controls – especially those zeroing in on China and firms like Huawei – show that trade policy is still very much a frontline tool in the high-stakes global chess game over who leads in tech.The whisper of a “replacement rule” down the line means this isn’t the final chapter in the saga of how to manage the AI revolution. For now, it seems the game plan is to clear the path for homegrown innovation and be much more careful about who gets to play with America’s latest breakthroughs.Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

These retro games feel surprisingly modern.

PROS: Very affordable price points Great sound quality Charming, playful design Great battery life CONS: No interactive control dial Microphone picks up surrounding noise RATINGS: AESTHETICSERGONOMICSPERFORMANCESUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITYVALUE FOR MONEYEDITOR'S QUOTE:CMF by Nothing continues to impress with its ability to balance design, performance, and affordability, and the Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus are perfect examples of that philosophy in action. CMF, the design-focused sub-brand of Nothing, has proven time and again that great sound and great design can coexist in harmony without breaking the bank. With their playful aesthetics, the Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus are CMF’s latest audio offerings that pack a surprising number of features into an impressively affordable price point. The Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus, along with Phone Pro 2, the latest offerings from this innovative brand, showcase just how deeply CMF’s philosophy is embedded into their products. Designer: CMF by Nothing Aesthetics The CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus follow a natural evolution of the design language introduced with the Buds Pro 2 last July. While both models share a nearly identical form, there are subtle differences that set them apart. One prominent feature is the rotating dial on the upper left corner of the charging case, which mirrors the design of the Buds Pro 2. However, unlike the customizable Smart Dial found on the CMF Buds Pro 2, which lets you twist to adjust volume, manage playback, and press for functions like noise cancellation and Voice Assistant, you can do none of these with the dials on the Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus. They are intended for lanyard attachment or simply as a satisfying tactile feature for fidgeting, with no interactive controls. The CMF Buds 2 features a transparent rotating dial, providing a contrast against the sandblast-textured case that adds a playful touch. On the other hand, the CMF Buds 2 Plus sports a matte metallic finish on its dial, giving it a more sophisticated and refined look. This contributes to the cohesive, design-driven ethos of CMF by Nothing, which is echoed across products like the CMF Phone 2 Pro. Both models are housed in square-shaped cases with rounded edges, which creates a soft and approachable aesthetic that feels modern and tactile. The CMF Buds 2 Plus have a rubber-coated texture, offering a more premium, grippy feel. On the bottom left of the case, you’ll find the iconic CMF by Nothing branding in its signature Ndot font, giving the design a clean and minimalist finish. Opening the case reveals the earbuds arranged diagonally inside, securely held by magnets, with the Bluetooth pairing button located at the bottom right corner between two buds. The earbuds themselves feature a simple design, with shiny plastic housings and matte stems. A circular mark on the top of the stem indicates the touch-sensitive area, though there are no markings at the bottom of the stem, unlike the Buds Pro 2. The CMF Buds 2 come in Light Green, Black, and Orange, while the CMF Buds 2 Plus are available in Light Grey and Blue. We received the Orange Buds 2 and Blue Buds 2 Plus for review. The Blue variant, which has a deep navy hue with a hint of purple, is particularly striking. However, the Blue Buds 2 Plus do show oil smudges more easily, which is something to keep in mind. Ergonomics The charging case for the CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus is not the smallest, measuring 53.3 x 53.3 x 23 mm, but the textured surface makes it feel pleasant and solid in hand. I found myself often fiddling with the rotating dial. It’s surprisingly enjoyable, even without the clicking tactile you get to enjoy on the Buds 2 Pro, adding a playful element to the experience. Taking the earbuds out of the case and putting them back in is simple and effortless. Weighing in at just 4.5 grams, the earbuds are lightweight and sit comfortably in my ears, with the medium silicone tips that come pre-installed. Of course, fit is different for each individual, and for those who need a different fit, smaller and larger silicone tips are also included in the box for a more customized fit. The fit of the CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus is particularly impressive. I wore the Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus continuously for over eight hours, and they remained comfortable the entire time. What’s even more surprising is that I usually struggle with getting other earbuds to stay securely in my left ear, but both pairs of these earbuds sat firmly in place, whether I was running, cycling, or doing light yoga. They felt stable and snug, providing a comfortable fit that didn’t shift or cause any irritation, even during more intense activities. Performance The CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus both deliver impressive sound quality, especially considering their price points. The Buds 2 features an 11 millimeter PMI (Polymethacrylimide) diaphragm driver, while the Buds 2 Plus steps things up with a 12mm LCP driver (Liquid Crystal Polymer). Both support AAC and SBC codecs, while the Buds 2 Plus also includes LDAC support for high-resolution audio. Out of the box, both earbuds lean toward a bass-rich sound signature. The low end is prominent but does not overpower the mids and highs. If you want to enhance the bass even further, you can activate Ultra Bass Technology 2.0 in the Nothing X app. This feature lets you boost the bass on a scale from one to five, depending on your preference. The Buds 2 are tuned to emphasize bass more than the Buds 2 Plus. The CMF Buds 2 produce deep and punchy bass that enhances genres like hip-hop and EDM. On the other hand, the Buds 2 Plus offer a more balanced sound profile, with clearer mids and more detailed highs. Both options, however, are geared toward listeners who enjoy a bass-forward experience. The CMF Buds 2 features Dirac Opteo tuning, which helps improve clarity and spatial sound characteristics by optimizing how audio is delivered to your ears. This feature is not available on the Buds 2 Plus. Instead, the Buds 2 Plus offers Personal Sound powered by Audiodo. This function uses a short hearing test within the Nothing X app, where tones are played across various frequencies for each ear. Based on your responses, the app creates a personalized audio profile that adjusts frequencies you may have difficulty hearing. This results in a more tailored and balanced listening experience. Both models work with the Nothing X app, which gives you access to adjustable EQ settings, ANC modes, and control customization. The EQ interface lets you fine-tune bass, mids, and treble across five intensity levels. Unlike Nothing’s flagship audio products, you do not get access to the advanced EQ with granular tweaking. However, the app does include several preloaded sound presets for quick selection. Touch controls are also customizable through the app. You can assign different commands to double taps, triple taps, tap and hold, and double tap and hold for both left and right earbuds. Changing the function assigned to a single tap is not supported. The touch-sensitive area is located near the top of the earbud stem, which may require some practice to hit accurately. A convenient addition would have been the option to mute the microphone during calls with a tap gesture. Both models feature active noise cancellation. ANC works well and introduces no noticeable white noise or hiss in quiet settings. You also get transparency modes to let in surrounding sound when needed. The Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus are equipped with six HD microphones. Call quality is clear in quiet environments. However, in noisy conditions, background sounds such as wind or nearby conversations are often picked up, which can affect clarity during calls. Dual connectivity is supported by both models, allowing you to stay connected to two devices at the same time. I tested them with two smartphones and also with a phone and a laptop, and switching between devices worked smoothly and without delays.  In-ear detection generally functions reliably, though it can be a little too sensitive at times. I’ve occasionally experienced playback pausing even when the earbuds remain securely in my ears. A small adjustment typically gets the audio going again. That said, this doesn’t appear to be a widespread issue based on user feedback from the Nothing Community, so it may just be an isolated case in my experience. Battery life is another strong point. The Buds 2 offer up to 14 hours of playback with ANC turned off, and up to 61.5 hours including the charging case. The CMF Buds 2 Plus, meanwhile, provide 13.5 hours of playback on a single charge, and up to 55 hours with the case, also with ANC off. With ANC turned on, I consistently got around 8 hours on the Buds 2 and about 8.5 hours on the Buds 2 Plus, primarily listening to streaming music and occasional videos in quiet environments. Battery performance will vary depending on volume and background noise. Fast charging is supported through USB-C. A 10-minute charge provides up to 7.5 hours of playback on the Buds 2 and 8.5 hours on the Buds 2 Plus. While there is no wireless charging support, this is understandable for earbuds in this price range. Sustainability CMF by Nothing has clearly put a lot of thought into making the Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus durable enough to last well beyond your typical upgrade cycle. Both models go through extensive durability testing. From a 1-meter drop test, plug and unplug tests for the charging port (tested up to 5,000 cycles), to temperature stability under extreme conditions, ranging from -40°C to 75°C for 96 hours. The earbuds themselves are IP55 rated, so they’re protected against dust and splashes, making them a reliable pick for sweaty workouts or rainy commutes. The charging case, on the other hand, carries a more modest IPX2 rating. That means it can handle the occasional drip, but it’s definitely not made for water exposure. It’s also worth noting that CMF’s packaging is plastic-free, which is a great step in the right direction. Still, we’d love to see them go a bit further, incorporating recycled or biodegradable materials in the earbuds or case would push their sustainability story even further. Durability helps keep these earbuds in use longer, which is a win for the environment. But with just a bit more focus on materials, CMF could take its eco credentials to the next level. Value At $59 and $69, respectively, the CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus deliver exceptional value for money. Both models offer well-tuned audio, thoughtful design, reliable performance, and a feature set that can easily compete with earbuds that cost significantly more. In terms of sound, they stand out in the budget segment with punchy bass and good clarity. The value becomes even more apparent when you consider the feature list. Both models include IP55-rated earbuds for water and dust resistance, a customizable EQ through the Nothing X app, and Ultra Bass Technology 2.0 for those who want to boost low-end performance. The rotating dial on the case, which serves both as a lanyard attachment point and a fun tactile element, adds a bit of personality and playfulness to the design. For those who prefer a more neutral sound signature and are not fans of bass-heavy tuning, the Realme Buds Air 7 are a strong alternative. Priced at around 299 Chinese yuan, which is approximately 41 US dollars, they come in a stylish transparent moss green version. However, the charging case is bulkier, and the earbuds are not officially available in the United States, which might be a drawback for some. Verdict CMF by Nothing continues to impress with its ability to balance design, performance, and affordability, and the Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus are perfect examples of that philosophy in action. Both models deliver surprisingly rich audio for their price. Unique design choices like the tactile rotating dial, sturdy build, and IP55 water resistance make these earbuds feel far more premium than their modest price tags suggest. Battery life is excellent, and the Nothing X app adds a lot of flexibility. At these price points, the Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus punch well above their weight. In fact, when it comes to affordable true wireless earbuds, these might just be the best in their class. If you want earbuds that look great, sound great, and won’t drain your wallet, these are hard to beat. The post CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus Review: Playful, Talented, and Affordable first appeared on Yanko Design.

These retro games feel surprisingly modern.

If the year 2025 has had a message for developing countries, it’s this: “You’re on your own.”Most notably, the Trump administration began with an unprecedented and ongoing assault on foreign aid, including global health programs. But there have been further ill omens. Other rich countries, including the UK and France, followed the US example by cutting their own aid programs as well. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s tariff campaign has hit poor countries that had been achieving export-driven growth, like Bangladesh, especially hard.RelatedThe worst thing Trump has done so farIf there’s a silver lining for the Global South, it’s that being on their own in 2025 means something very different than what it meant in, say, 1990. Countries where poverty was once near-universal, like India or Indonesia, are now considered middle-income. Some populous countries in sub-Saharan Africa, like Kenya or Nigeria, are, if not completely politically stable, now possessed of enough real state capacity to try ambitious projects like universal health coverage.The resources available to these nations are still highly limited by rich-world standards. But they’re still enough to achieve very impressive feats, and I recently heard of an intriguing project that could serve as a perfect test case. If it works, it could show that major international health projects, saving hundreds of thousands of lives, can be funded largely by the countries they’re meant to help, rather than by forces of philanthropy and foreign aid that have suddenly become unreliable.Neonatal sepsis: When babies’ infections go very, very badlyIt’s called NeoTest.The program targets an extremely common and preventable cause of death in young infants: neonatal sepsis. Sepsis is a catch-all term for infections that provoke an overwhelming immune response, damaging internal organs, and in the worst cases, leading to death. Sepsis can in principle be caused by anything — a virus, a fungus, a protozoa — but in practice, most infants who get it get it from a bacterial infection.In one way, that’s good: We have antibiotics! In another way, it’s bad: The risk of antibiotic resistance means you don’t want to overuse them. The challenge, then, is to match antibiotics to the babies who need them the most.The tests we have now for bacterial sepsis in infants are slow and expensive. The main technique is “blood culturing,” which involves taking blood from the patient, putting it in a liquid “culture” that reacts if bacteria are present, and waiting to see the reaction show up. This is expensive and often takes two to three days, potentially delaying life-saving treatment. It also has very high “false negative” rates, with studies showing that a large share of neonatal sepsis cases occur in babies who test negative.This story was first featured in the Future Perfect newsletter.Sign up here to explore the big, complicated problems the world faces and the most efficient ways to solve them. Sent twice a week.So our targeting of antibiotics to babies is currently bad, with the result that hundreds of thousands of babies die every year from sepsis. The estimates we have on the toll of neonatal sepsis aren’t precise, but the best figure I’ve seen, from the World Health Organization (WHO), is a range of 400,000 to 700,000 deaths a year. That’s in the same ballpark as malaria (600 to 700,000 a year) and HIV/AIDS (630,000 deaths in 2023).Other studies go lower (more like 200,000) but, because they exclude infant deaths from pneumonia-caused sepsis, underestimate the number of deaths that could be saved by better targeting antibiotics to babies.The team behind NeoTest — which includes physician and global health research Akhil Bansal, Center for Global Development head Rachel Glennerster, economist and House of Lords member Jim O’Neill, and Nobel-winning economist Michael Kremer — aims to improve that targeting by getting a better test, one that gives results within minutes and is cheap to produce.If you fund it, they will comeThe NeoTest team does not, itself, consist of medical test manufacturers. But in Glennerster and Kremer, it includes two of the inventors of a tool called an “advance market commitment” (AMC).AMCs are a way to communicate to companies that there’s a big market for a product which doesn’t yet exist. The participants, which can include governments or other businesses or philanthropists, commit to buying a set amount of the new product, at a set price, from any manufacturers who meet the deal’s specifications. The hope is that this provides an incentive for manufacturers to develop the product, because they know for a fact there will be demand for it.It’s worked before. The first AMC, for better vaccines against pneumococcal bacteria at a time when that disease was killing as many as 1 million children a year, resulted in three new vaccines being developed, and in the number of vaccine doses growing from just 3 million in 2010 to around 150 million in 2016. By one estimate from Kremer and co-authors, the new vaccines enabled by the AMC saved some 700,000 lives between 2010 and 2020.NeoTest is an attempt to put together funds — about $120 million in total — for an advance market commitment for a better neonatal sepsis test.More famously, Operation Warp Speed, the US effort that got effective vaccines against Covid-19 on the market less than a year after the pandemic began, used a purchasing mechanism that worked quite a bit like an AMC. The government purchased hundreds of millions of doses from vaccine manufacturers months before the vaccines were in fact approved — giving the pharma firms confidence to start producing doses in large numbers, and encouraging them to keep up their R&D work.NeoTest is an attempt to put together funds — about $120 million in total — for an advance market commitment for a better neonatal sepsis test. Test manufacturers who are willing to sell for $8 per test ($5 funded by the AMC, $3 by the government of the country receiving the tests) would be guaranteed at least 24 million subsidized orders. Ideally, the test will settle at around $3 as a final price, with the initial subsidy helping fund initial costs associated with developing the tests and setting up manufacturing.A rapid test is not some outlandish dream. Neonatal sepsis experts have been saying we need better diagnostics for years; there’s a whole Neonatal Sepsis Diagnosis Working Group that puts out papers explaining the problem. The WHO has put together a detailed description of what a useful rapid test for sepsis might look like, including elements like the size of the blood draw required and the ideal wait for results.Rapid, point-of-care tests that can give answers in minutes are common at this point for viruses like Covid and the flu, and already exist for some bacterial infections like syphilis. But in part because neonatal sepsis is so concentrated in poor countries, developing a test for it hasn’t been a priority for profit-driven firms to date. Dangling $120 million in front of them might change that.This is a problem developing countries could solve as a groupOne of the most intriguing aspects of NeoTest to me is that Akhil Bansal, the physician who first devised the idea, is pitching it first to governments of middle- income countries (India, Kenya, South Africa, etc.) that might actually use the test in large numbers.$120 million is a decent sum, but not enormous for a global health project. The pneumococcal AMC, by contrast, was for $1.5 billion. And it’s totally within the budgets of some middle-income countries to contribute a portion of that $120 million, especially when the result is a product that will save the lives of thousands of babies every year in their country.Of course, money is money, and if any foreign aid professionals in upper-income countries or philanthropists reading this piece want to support NeoTest, they should — they’re still actively fundraising and are in need of support. The most important thing is that the problem gets solved.But I found the approach of going first to countries directly benefiting for funding intriguing, and surprisingly heartening at what is otherwise a dark time for global healthFor one thing, it’s remarkable and encouraging that enough middle-income countries have gotten to the point where funding an initiative like this is within their budgets. That wasn’t true 20 years ago.More importantly, though, it serves as a reminder that the work of development will continue with or without Western governments’ support. That support is invaluable, and I hope it returns. But the Global South is resilient, and increasingly shows an ability to solve big problems for itself.A version of this story originally appeared in the Future Perfect newsletter. Sign up here!You’ve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you — threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. 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