Star Citizen Developers Discuss New Narrative Content Focus
Star Citizen Developers Discuss New Narrative Content Focus
Today Cloud Imperium Games released a new video about its growing persistent space simulator Star Citizen.
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NASA’s PRIME-1 Mission to Study Lunar Ice and Advance Moon Exploration
NASA’s PRIME-1 Mission to Study Lunar Ice and Advance Moon Exploration
NASA’s Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1) is being prepared to analyse the Moon’s subsurface for resource extraction, with its technology expected to aid future Artemis missions. The experiment, which will assess lunar soil and identify potential resources, has been developed to support sustained human exploration. The instruments onboard will work together to drill, collect, and examine samples, providing data crucial for understanding the lunar environment. The mission is expected to deliver insights that could contribute to establishing long-term lunar habitation.
Instruments to Extract and Analyse Lunar Samples
According to the study, PRIME-1 consists of two primary instruments designed for simultaneous operation. The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrains (TRIDENT) has been engineered to drill into the Moon’s surface and collect samples, while the Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSOLO) will analyse the gases released from these samples. Insights gained from this experiment could influence strategies for lunar resource utilisation, facilitating the production of essential supplies for deep-space missions.
Jackie Quinn, PRIME-1 project manager at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, stated in a report that the ability to drill and analyse samples simultaneously will provide critical information for future lunar missions. The technology is expected to assist in developing efficient methods for extracting and utilising resources available on the Moon’s surface and subsurface.
Scheduled Launch and Mission Objectives
Reports indicate that PRIME-1 is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, set to launch no earlier than February 26. The mission will be transported aboard Intuitive Machines’ Athena lunar lander, which is expected to explore the Mons Mouton plateau near the Moon’s South Pole. This location has been selected due to its potential for resource-rich deposits.
Technology Developed for Lunar Drilling and Analysis
TRIDENT, developed by Honeybee Robotics, a subsidiary of Blue Origin, has been designed as a rotary percussive drill capable of penetrating up to one metre below the lunar surface. The drill will extract 10-centimetre-long samples, allowing scientists to examine the distribution of frozen gases at varying depths. Equipped with carbide cutting teeth, the drill is built to handle the challenging lunar terrain. Unlike the Apollo-era drills, TRIDENT will be remotely operated from Earth, offering valuable data on regolith composition and temperature variations.
MSOLO, developed by INFICON and adapted for spaceflight at Kennedy Space Centre, will analyse the gases released from the drilled samples. This mass spectrometer is expected to identify the presence of water ice and other volatile compounds, contributing to a better understanding of lunar resource availability.
NASA’s CLPS Initiative and Future Exploration
Under the CLPS model, NASA is investing in commercial partnerships to enable lunar deliveries, with the goal of supporting long-term exploration. NASA, as a primary customer, is one of several organisations utilising these missions for scientific and technological advancements. The PRIME-1 mission has been funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate Game Changing Development program and is expected to provide foundational data for future lunar operations.
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Failed Ukraine will also weaken the U.S., EU warns
Failed Ukraine will also weaken the U.S., EU warns
MUNICH, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 14: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during the 61st Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2025 in Munich, Germany. International defence and security leaders from around the world are gathering for the February 14-16 conference. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Failure to secure a “just and lasting peace” for Ukraine would weaken not only Europe but also the United States, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned Friday, as prospects of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal intensify.
Von der Leyen said that authoritarian states were closely watching the progress of U.S.-led negotiations to end the near-three-year conflict, and what concessions may be made to Russia in spite of its invasion of its neighbor.
“A failed Ukraine would weaken Europe but it would also weaken the United States,” Von der Leyen told the Munich Security Conference.
“It would intensify the challenges in the Indo-Pacific and threaten our shared interests,” she continued. “This is why we have to get it right.”
Global defense and security officials are gathered in Munich, Germany for the annual three-day conference, where the future of Ukraine, peace talks with Russia and reshaping Europe’s security and defense architecture are at the ***** of discussions.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
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NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Friday, February 14
NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Friday, February 14
Love crossword puzzles but don’t have all day to sit and solve a full-sized puzzle in your daily newspaper? That’s what The Mini is for!
A bite-sized version of the New York Times’ well-known crossword puzzle, The Mini is a quick and easy way to test your crossword skills daily in a lot less time (the average puzzle takes most players just over a minute to solve). While The Mini is smaller and simpler than a normal crossword, it isn’t always easy. Tripping up on one clue can be the difference between a personal best completion time and an embarrassing solve attempt.
Just like our Wordle hints and Connections hints, we’re here to help with The Mini today if you’re stuck and need a little help.
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Below are the answers for the NYT Mini crossword today.
NYT Mini Crossword answers today
New York Times
Across
What each knuckle represents in a famous mnemonic device – MONTH
Best Picture nominee starring Mikey Madison – ANORA
Something set on a microwave – TIMER
“Here’s to love!,” e.g. – TOAST
Burnt ___ (barbecue tidbits) – ENDS
Down
Not glossy, as a photo – MATTE
Publication with the headline “History Sighs, Repeats Itself,” with “The” – ONION
Wanderer – NOMAD
Lock of hair – TRESS
Comedian Kevin (with a name that’s fitting for Valentine’s Day) – HART
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US Retail Sales Drop Broadly in Month Marked by Fires, Storms – Bloomberg
US Retail Sales Drop Broadly in Month Marked by Fires, Storms – Bloomberg
US Retail Sales Drop Broadly in Month Marked by Fires, Storms BloombergUS retail spending plunged last month, falling for the first time since August CNNRetail sales see biggest drop in a year to start 2025 Yahoo FinanceRetail sales slumped 0.9% in January, down much more than expected CNBCRetail sales slump. Cold snap and post-holiday blues depress spending. MarketWatch
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Our favorite budget Roomba robot vacuum drops to a new record-low price
Our favorite budget Roomba robot vacuum drops to a new record-low price
If you detest vacuuming, like I do, a robot vacuum can make it so you have one less chore to do. The good thing is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good robot vacuum anymore. In fact, our favorite budget robot vacuum for 2025 is currently 52 percent off: the iRobot Roomba Vac Robot Vacuum (Q0120) is down to $119 from $250 — a new record-low price.
There’s a reason iRobot’s Roomba Vac robot vacuum is across all our best lists (check it out alongside our top smart home gadgets). It’s an easy to use, high-performance robot vacuum that’s not going to break the bank. For starters, you can control the entire device with iRobot’s very easy to use app. All that’s required of you is connecting the Roomba to your home Wi-Fi network.
iRobot
The Roomba Vac robot vacuum also offers features like Clean While I’m Away, cleaning schedules and up to two hours of cleaning on one charge — it automatically heads back to its charging station when on low battery. Plus, you can get a Clean Map report to see exactly where it cleaned.
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Daniel Levy protests: Would chairman ever leave Spurs amid fan protests?
Daniel Levy protests: Would chairman ever leave Spurs amid fan protests?
Various reports in recent years have valued Tottenham at between £3.5bn and £4bn.
Chelsea were bought in a deal worth up to £4.25bn from Roman Abramovich in 2022 by a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital. The purchase price was £2.5bn with a commitment to spending £1.75bn over the next 10 years.
Meanwhile, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos bought a 25% stake in Manchester United for £1.03bn in December 2023 in a process which included a rival bid from Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim, reported to be nearer to £5bn for 100% of the club.
Despite those huge sums, both clubs – unlike Tottenham – need major investment in their stadiums to unlock ******* commercial earning potential.
According to the first source, the ******* when Tottenham were building their new £1.2bn stadium, between 2017 and 2019, meant Levy was “all-consumed” and the board “left everyone to do their jobs”.
Spurs secured Champions League football under Mauricio Pochettino for four successive seasons to 2018-19 – and were beaten in the 2019 final by Liverpool.
That source suggested Levy’s approach – namely “open to conversations but set in his ways” – has meant a lot of people with off-field expertise have left Spurs over the years for more influential jobs.
Paul Barber was an executive director between 2005-2010 and is now Brighton chief executive; Michael Edwards was Spurs’ chief analyst from 2009-2011 before leaving for Liverpool; FA technical director John McDermott was Tottenham’s head of academy and player development until 2020; while EFL chief executive Trevor Birch was – very briefly – Tottenham’s director of football operations, from September 2020 to January 2021.
It could be argued that many of these highly-rated executives enjoyed good careers at Tottenham before simply moving on – but the source claims they “left the building far too easily”.
Another source to have worked closely with Levy at Spurs, again speaking anonymously, pointed out he has delivered “a core infrastructure that is probably the best in the world” and suggested that would give the club “an incredible foundation for future success – probably after Daniel’s time”.
They said it had taken Arsenal 10 to 15 years to get back to competing for titles and regularly qualifying for Champions League football after they rebuilt their infrastructure, with Levy having inherited a dilapidated stadium, old training ground and ageing squad.
However, the source suggested Levy has not yet got the “formula right” by employing the right head coach with the right players at the same time.
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Digimon Story: Time Stranger Preorders Are Already Live For PS5, Xbox, And PC
Digimon Story: Time Stranger Preorders Are Already Live For PS5, Xbox, And PC
Bandai Namco announced the next entry in the long-running Digimon Story RPG series, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC later in 2025. The game will let players recruit and train their own team of digital monsters and use them in turn-based battles while on a time-hopping quest that spans the real and digital worlds. While no specific release date has been confirmed, preorders for the game are already live at Amazon and GameStop.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger Preorder Bonus
No preorder bonuses have been announced for Digimon Story: Time Stranger, but we’ll be sure to update this post if anything new is confirmed.
$70 | TBA 2025
So far, Bandai Namco has only announced a Digimon Story: Time Stranger standard edition that includes the base game on your platform of choice. You can preorder physical PS5 and Xbox copies at Amazon and GameStop. Digital preorders are also available on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Steam. Note that the final box art has not yet been revealed.
While Digimon Story: Time Stranger appears to be an all-new storyline within the series, the Digimon Story franchise has been around since the Game Boy Advance. The latest prior releases in the series are Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth and its prequel Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory, both of which feature similar turn-based combat and story presentation as Time Stranger. If you’re looking to play them before the new game is out, you can grab both in a single package with the Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth Complete Edition, which is available for just $25.45 on Nintendo Switch, or $43.49 on PC via Fanatical (was $50).
Several other recent Digimon games are also on ***** right now, including Digimon Survive, which melds a visual novel narrative with tactical combat segments. You can grab it on Nintendo Switch for $22, PS4 for $13.89, or on PC for $50.88 (was $60). There’s also Digimon World: Next Order, which is the latest entry in Digimon’s other long-running RPG series. Digimon World: Next Order focuses more on the monster-taming aspects of the series and features a unique real-time combat system and town management that sets it apart from the traditional JRPG gameplay of the Digimon Story series. You can pick up Digimon World: Next Order on PS4 for $23.71 or on PC for $50.88.
More Digimon Games
Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom.
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YouTube Shorts Now Supports Veo 2 AI Model, Lets Users Create Standalone AI-Generated Videos
YouTube Shorts Now Supports Veo 2 AI Model, Lets Users Create Standalone AI-Generated Videos
YouTube added a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature for the creators on the platform on Thursday. The video streaming platform announced that Google’s Veo 2 AI model is being integrated with the Dream Screen feature. The new video generation model also adds the capability for users to generate standalone AI-generated videos. The company says the tool can be used to add footage that is not easily available or to bring an imagination to reality. Notably, Dream Screen would earlier only allow creators to add video backgrounds using AI.
YouTube Shorts Now Allows Users to Generate AI Videos
In a blog post, the video-streaming giant highlighted that it is integrating Google DeepMind’s latest video generation model Veo 2 with Dream Screen. Using this, users can generate standalone videos to be used in the Shorts. Notably, YouTube Shorts is the short-format vertical scrolling video interface the company launched in 2020.
The company said that the feature is aimed at assisting creators on the platform with generating footage that is not easy to find. The tool is a text-to-video generator, so users can simply describe what they are looking for and the Veo 2 AI model will generate it.
Veo 2, the latest video generation model, was introduced in December 2024 as the successor of the Veo AI model. At the time of launch, DeepMind stated that Veo 2 made significant improvements in the details and realism of the generated videos. The AI model was also more adept in cinematography and can understand genres, lens types, cinematic effects, and camera movements.
To generate videos using Veo 2, users will first have to open the Shorts camera, tap Add to open the media picker, and then tap Create at the top. There, users will see a text field where they can add their prompt. Once done, they can select the style, tap Create video and choose the desired length.
YouTube said it will be adding SynthID watermarks to all AI-generated video clips to help mitigate the risk of deepfakes. Notably, the video generation feature is currently only available in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US.
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‘Such a bummer’: Netflix responds to Emilia Pérez fallout – The Guardian
‘Such a bummer’: Netflix responds to Emilia Pérez fallout – The Guardian
‘Such a bummer’: Netflix responds to Emilia Pérez fallout The GuardianNetflix Breaks Silence on ‘Emilia Pérez’ Scandal: “This Is Such a Bummer” Hollywood ReporterNetflix Scurries to Stem Oscar Fallout From ‘Emilia Pérez’ Scandal The New York TimesThe ‘Emilia Pérez’ mess, explained SFGATE
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Goddess of Victory: Nikke announces second Evangelion collaboration ahead of Stellar Blade crossover in June
Goddess of Victory: Nikke announces second Evangelion collaboration ahead of Stellar Blade crossover in June
Goddess of Victory: Nikke’s latest collaboration will get underway on February 20th
It will feature characters and a storyline based on beloved anime Evangelion
Level Infinite also revealed the Stellar Blade crossover will take place in June
Apparently, it was so good that they had to do it twice. Today, Level Infinite has announced that Goddess of Victory: Nikke will host its second collaboration with the popular anime series Evangelion on February 20th. From it, we can expect new storylines and characters, so pretty much the standard fare for a gacha meets anime team-up.
Of course, I don’t mean to sound overly cynical. It’s just what we’ve come to expect from these things. The new storyline will, naturally, take place in the Evangelion world and introduce characters like WILLE, Rei Ayanami (Tentative Name), and Sakura, who you can see in the trailer below.
Aside from these new characters, some are also set to return from the previous collaboration. That’s right! If you missed out on Asuka Shikinami Langley, Rei Ayanami, and Mari Makinami Illustrious, now you’ll get another chance. To round out the event, you can look forward to exclusive character outfits, free skins, a 3D event map and a mini-game.
A stellar collaboration
But that’s not all the collaboration news we have for you today. Oh, no. There’s more. Level Infinite also revealed that the previously announced Stellar Blade crossover will take place in June. And that’s pretty much it. Any more details on the matter are firmly under wraps, but we’ll let you know as soon as we learn anything new.
Considering it’s a mere two years old, Goddess of Victory: Nikke has already pulled in some big names for its crossovers. I have mixed feelings about them, personally. While I suspect most developers would prefer their games to stand on their own two feet, these collaborations are probably great for pulling in new players. Even the king of the genre Genshin Impact has succumbed to that particular temptation at least once.
Goddess of Victory: Nikke is available on the App Store and Google Play, where it’s free-to-play with in-app purchases. You can download it for your preferred platform using the buttons below.
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Coventry Cathedral hosts mass wedding vow renewal
Coventry Cathedral hosts mass wedding vow renewal
A total of 80 couples have reaffirmed their love in a mass vow renewal at Coventry Cathedral to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
The event, organised by BBC Radio CWR, also featured a wedding disco and a surprise performance by singer Pixie Lott.
Couples – some of whom have only been married for a year, others together for decades – simultaneously re-pledged their love on Friday, as family members watched on.
Read more about this story here.
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Dell slashed $420 off the price of this Alienware laptop with RTX 4080
Dell slashed $420 off the price of this Alienware laptop with RTX 4080
You should be on the lookout for gaming laptop deals if you’re thinking about making an upgrade — these devices are pretty expensive, so any discount will help cushion the blow on your wallet. Here’s an offer from Dell to consider: a $420 discount for the powerful Alienware m18 R2 with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card, which reduces its price to $2,380 from $2,800. You can either pocket the savings or use them to buy more video games and accessories, but you need to act fast because there’s a chance that the gaming laptop’s price will be back to normal as soon as tomorrow.
Why you should buy the Alienware m18 R2 gaming laptop
The Alienware m18 R2 makes a run at the best gaming laptops with top-of-the-line specifications and a striking design. In addition to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card, which our gaming laptop buying guide says is among the top-tier GPUs, the machine is equipped with the 14th-generation Intel Core i9 processor and 32GB of RAM that’s the sweet spot for high-end gamers, according to our guide on how much RAM do you need. You’ll be able to play the best PC games at their most demanding settings on the Alienware m18 R2, and you’ll even be prepared for the upcoming PC games of the next few years.
The 18-inch screen of the Alienware m18 R2 gives justice to the gaming laptop’s capabilities, as it offers QHD+ resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate to let you enjoy the modern graphics of the games that you play. The device also comes with a 1TB SSD for ample storage space for several titles, and Windows 11 Home out of the box so that you can start downloading and installing games right away.
Not all laptop deals will meet the needs of serious gamers. You’re going to have to shell out for something like the Alienware m18 R2 with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card, which you can get from Dell right now at $420 off. From its original price of $2,800, it’s down to $2,380 — still expensive, but a good price for such a powerful device. It would be a shame to miss out on the savings, so we highly recommend adding the Alienware m18 R2 gaming laptop to your cart and finishing the checkout process immediately if you’re interested.
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Market analyst confirms my worst fears about Nvidia GPUs
Market analyst confirms my worst fears about Nvidia GPUs
Hello again, GPU shortage — we really didn’t miss you. Although the RTX 50-series is technically here, the reality isn’t that simple. The RTX 5090 and the RTX 5080 launched in January in a very limited capacity, and now, it looks like the other graphics cards in the lineup may have to pay the price. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known market analyst, the release dates for Nvidia’s best graphics cards for gamers are being pushed back. Worse yet, the GPUs will likely sell out the moment they hit the shelves.
Kuo reports that chip supply constraints are causing shortages, but this is no news to us. The RTX 5090 sold out almost as soon as it hit the shelves, and some retailers report that we might have to wait until June for the GPUs to come back in stock. Meanwhile, scalpers are having a field day on eBay, selling the cards at a massive markup — or even selling photos of the GPU at $2,000.
Most gamers hoped that these issues would be resolved by the time Nvidia’s most popular GPUs became available. So far, two more models have been confirmed, with the RTX 5070 Ti rumored to launch in just a week on February 20. The RTX 5070 is said to follow in early March, which will put it in direct competition with AMD’s RX 9070 XT — a card that has already faced its own share of issues.
Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming
Gamers and power users are eager to get the RTX 5090 and 5080, but chip supply constraints are causing shortages. Supply issues will likely push back mass production of the RTX 5070/5060 from the original Feb/Mar to Mar/Apr. Limited supply means these two cards will sell out…
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) February 12, 2025
Ming-Chi Kuo also shed some light on a possible release date for the RTX 5060, which will likely follow in the footsteps of the RTX 3060 and the RTX 4060 and go on to become the go-to Nvidia GPU for mainstream gamers. Unfortunately, those of us who want a new GPU may have to wait, because Kuo predicts the RTX 5060 won’t arrive until April.
With a staggered release date, I was hopeful that we’d have plenty of RTX 5070s and RTX 5060s to go around, but Kuo doubts that. The analyst claims that Nvidia’s mainstream chips will also face the same supply issues as their far more expensive counterparts. As a result, we might witness another paper launch, where the GPUs are theoretically available but no one gets to actually buy them (without paying scalper premiums, that is).
Another X (Twitter) user, Kakashii, spoke to some retailers in Taiwan to figure out whether the RTX 5090 and the RTX 5080 would soon come back in stock. The news is grim here, too, with Kakashii saying: “None of them have an estimate for the next batch of the 5090 — it could take weeks or even months.”
It’s starting to feel like the RTX 30-series all over again, and I can’t say that I’m happy about it. But, although this is bad news for Nvidia fans, AMD may be able to benefit. If Nvidia’s GPUs are nowhere to be found, more people are likely to give the RX 9070 XT a try, and if priced correctly, it could turn out to be an excellent GPU. We should find out more in the next couple of weeks.
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iRobot’s Roomba Combo vacuum and mop machines are more than 50 percent off right now
iRobot’s Roomba Combo vacuum and mop machines are more than 50 percent off right now
Wellbots is offering multiple of iRobot’s Roomba Combo vacuum and mop machines for 40 percent off, and in one case, over 50 percent off as an early President’s Day *****. You can even get the new Roomba Combo 10 Max and its Autowash Dock, which can empty and cleans your robot, for $789, around $410 off its normal $1,199 price. That’s a good bit cheaper than the last time it was on *****.
The Roomba Combo 10 Max + Autowash Dock is a newer addition to iRobot’s lineup, and an important one. Besides combining the ability to vacuum and mop your floors, the inclusion of the robot’s Autowash Dock means you now have an automated way to clean and sanitize the Combo 10 Max’s mop brush. Combine that with its ability to empty itself, and you go a long way to towards doing away with some of the most annoying parts of owning a robot vacuum.
iRobot
Save $410 with Engadget code ENGAD410.
Save $410 with code
ENGAD410
$789 at Wellbots
The Autowash Dock can hold 60 days worth of dust and only seven days worth of dirty mop water, so you will need to check on it occasionally, but that might be worth it for this deal. You can get the Roomba Combo 10 Max + Autowash Dock for $789, and save $410 with code ENGAD410.
The Roomba Combo j5 doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the Combo 10 Max, but it does start at a much more approachable $449. The robot can both vacuum and mop your floors, and adapt its cleaning patterns based on the layout of your room. It can even identify high traffic areas of your home and give them extra attention so no dirt gets overlooked.
iRobot
The robot’s dock is sold separately, so you won’t benefit from its ability to empty itself, but it should be relatively simple to upgrade down the road if you want. The Roomba Combo j5 is available for over 50 percent off, knocking a good $210 off if you use code ENGAD210.
The Roomba Combo i5 is a little bit older than the Combo 10 Max and Combo j5, but it’s still a competent helper when you need your floor vacuumed and mopped. Like iRobot’s other options, the Combo i5 maps your home to determine the best way to clean it, and can be completely controlled with a companion phone app if you want.
This model is also technically compatible with a self-emptying base, but it doesn’t come included, so you’ll want to buy it separately if you want to automate your cleaning process even further. You can lower the Roomba Combo i5 from its $349 starting price to $189, a savings of $160, with code ENGAD160.
iRobot
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Gaza militant groups name three hostages to be released
Gaza militant groups name three hostages to be released
************ militant groups in Gaza say they will be releasing hostages Iair *****, US-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen and Russian-Israeli Alexandre Sasha Troufanov, in accordance with the terms of the ceasefire with Israel.
The announcement on Friday, after days of uncertainty about whether the ceasefire agreed last month would hold, followed intense efforts by Egyptian and Qatari mediators to keep last month’s US-backed agreement on track.
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel accepted the list but that was later corrected to say Israel had received the list, which it said was a “purely factual description” that did not reflect any Israeli approach to the issue.
****** said Israel was expected to release 369 ************ prisoners and detainees in exchange.
All three of the hostages due to be released on Saturday were seized in Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities around the Gaza Strip that was overrun by ****** gunmen on October 7, 2023. Iair *****’s brother Eitan was taken at the same time and remains in captivity.
****** had earlier threatened not to release more hostages after it accused Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire by blocking aid from entering Gaza, drawing counterthreats of a resumption of fighting from Israel.
Even before the ****** threat not to proceed with the hostage release, Israelis had been outraged by the emaciated appearance of the three hostages released last week and by the public display before a Gaza crowd when they were handed over to Red Cross officials.
****** agreed last month to hand over 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children and older men, in return for hundreds of ************ prisoners and detainees, during a 42-day truce in which Israeli forces would pull back from some of their positions in Gaza.
The truce was intended to open the way for a second phase of negotiations to return remaining hostages and complete the withdrawal of Israeli forces before a final end to the war and the rebuilding of Gaza.
Doubts about whether the deal would hold grew sharply after US President Donald Trump called for Palestinians to be moved permanently out of Gaza and for the enclave to be turned over to the United States to be redeveloped.
The call was rejected by ************ groups and countries in the Arab world and labelled as “ethnic cleansing” by critics including United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Gaza now lies largely in ruins and it remains unclear how it will be rebuilt.
Israel invaded the coastal enclave after the ******-led attack on communities in Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and taking more than 250 as hostages.
The Israeli military campaign that followed has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to ************ health ministry figures, destroyed many of its buildings and left most of the population homeless.
****** has accused Israel of blocking the entry of tens of thousands of tents and temporary shelter materials into Gaza, leaving tens of thousands exposed to the winter cold, a charge that Israel has rejected.
International aid groups say that more truckloads of aid have been entering Gaza since the start of the ceasefire but says it is insufficient to meet the needs of the population.
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This 2013 movie predicted the future of technology. Here’s what came true
This 2013 movie predicted the future of technology. Here’s what came true
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
You won’t have to write your own letters
There are no cars
No more keyboards in desktop PCs
Red, red everywhere
Advertising gets classier
All you need is an earpiece (or two)
Holographic gaming
Technology as a fashion statement
Is AI love real yet?
Twelve years have passed since Spike Jonze’****** film, Her, arrived in theaters. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, and Scarlett Johansson, Her is a sci-fi romantic drama set in a near-future Los Angeles. The movie follows the story of introverted writer Theodore Twombly (Phoenix), a man who leads a lonely life and writes letters for other people for a living. Everything changes when, on a whim, he decides to buy an advanced AI operating system referred to as OS1, later known as Samantha (Johansson).
Her is a moving story that weaves elements of love, connection, and what it means to be human with some quite bold predictions about what the future of technology could possibly look like. Upon watching Her in 2013, we gathered a list of things that may or may not one day become true based on the movie. Shockingly, several are now commonplace.
Read on to learn what Spike Jonze’s AI-centric flick got right, and what is still far off.
You won’t have to write your own letters
Spike Jonze / Warner Bros. Pictures
The lead character in Her makes a living by writing letters for other people. He’s essentially a ghostwriter, and sometimes, his work means that he knows more about the relationship between two people than they themselves are aware of.
Based on Theodore’s occupation, we assumed back in 2013 that one day, none of us would have to write our own letters anymore — we’d hire people to do it for us. We were right, to an extent, as instead of paying for ghostwriting services, most people now lean into AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, or even the latest fad — DeepSeek.
Of course, many people still do hire ghostwriters for services such as LinkedIn posts, cover letters, or even wedding speeches. There are certain things that truly benefit from a human touch, and although AI is super advanced in 2025, it still can’t replace a good writer. (Considering my own job, I hope that it never will.)
Be that as it may, for those things that don’t require heartfelt emotion or really good writing, chatbots are now commonplace. We can use ChatGPT, Jasper AI, and more to do the creative writing for us, be it an email or a blog post. In fact, such services are now public enemy number one for teachers around the globe, as students lean into AI as opposed to writing their own essays.
Verdict: True
There are no cars
Spike Jonze / Warner Bros. Pictures
One interesting thing about Her is the very limited presence of cars and a focus on public transport. Well, as we all know, that’s one claim that most certainly did not come true.
With that said, cars and public transport have seen their fair share of improvements over the last decade. Electric cars are now a lot more common, and there’s a ******* focus on eco-friendly solutions than back in 2013. Many urban areas have excellent public transit, walkability, and car-free zones to encourage going car-less.
Moreover, not having a car is becoming more normalized, with apps like Uber reducing vehicle dependency. However, the roads are still full of cars and we’re all doomed to spend hours in traffic every single month.
Verdict: False
No more keyboards in desktop PCs
Jacob ****** / Digital Trends
As I sit here writing this article on my delightfully pink mechanical keyboard (the Razer Blackwidow V3, in case you were wondering, which is one of the best Razer keyboards around), I am happy to report that this is another one that Her, and we, got wrong.
In the world of Her, people interact with their devices through voice. Desktop computers still exist, as do smartphones, but you don’t need touch inputs or a keyboard and mouse — just speaking is enough to operate the system. And, while voice controls are very much a thing in 2025, we are yet to ditch the good old keyboard and mouse entirely. Seeing the latest advancements, I’m not sure when it’ll happen — let’s check back in another decade.
With that said, there have been a great many improvements in terms of voice controls since the film came out in 2013. Voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, and ChatGPT enable hands-free interaction both with our smartphones and with our computers.
In addition, certain systems rely on voice commands more than anything else; think Apple’s Vision Pro headset. And, with the help of voice assistants, you can now control your PC through voice to do things like write your emails or schedule meetings.
We’ve made some progress, but a fully voice-controlled tech world is still far off.
Verdict: Partially true
Red, red everywhere
Warner Bros / Warner Bros
In our review of the movie, we noted that the color palette in Her was largely red. Many directors lean into color to express additional layers of depth in their works, and although I am no film critic, I believe the use of color in Her was meaningful, and the cinematography in each scene was very well thought out.
That aside, the color red didn’t suddenly bleed all over the world of technology. Sure, we’ve seen smartphones and other pieces of tech in red-ish hues since 2013, but it’s hardly the most trendy color. Silver, ******, and white still dominate.
Verdict: False
Advertising gets classier
Spike Jonze / Warner Bros. Pictures
This is a tough one. In the sleek, more polished version of Los Angeles that we see in Spike Jonze’s Her, advertising is really understated and unintrusive. It’s also pretty strange, surreal, and otherworldly (which makes one wonder just how effective it’d be). A lot of it remains open to interpretation and it’s far from pushy in the way that we’re used to these days.
Although marketing technology evolved by leaps and bounds in the past decade, minimalism isn’t the name of the game for every brand out there. Luxury brands often pivot towards more minimalist, artistic, or sophisticated ways to advertise, but outside of that, we’re still bombarded with commercials at every turn.
If anything, I’d say this one became less true as time went on. We’re now back to annoying pop-ups (which were a hallmark of the early 00s and late 90s but calmed down a little bit around the time this movie came out), and things aren’t any better when we step outside. Every city is littered with billboards. Moreover, the rise of AI voice assistants means that we also get spam calls from bots that almost sound like people (but not quite), adding even more annoyance to an already tiring aspect of our lives.
Verdict: False
All you need is an earpiece (or two)
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
In a world where keyboards aren’t used and all you need is your voice, it’s no wonder that a single earpiece is all it takes for Theodore and others to control their electronics. Similar earpieces have been around for quite some time — you’ll often see them used as a companion to a smartphone, favored by people who need to be hands-free — but newer and better solutions have also largely taken their place.
Two things stand out here. First, the nature of the earpiece. Although we can control our devices or take calls with just an earpiece, you’re more likely to see a pair of AirPods or Galaxy Buds as opposed to something that only goes in one ear (which can’t be fun when you want to listen to music).
These earpieces can be used for a lot of things that the main character in Her would’ve used them for, including making calls, scheduling meetings, putting things in your calendar, or searching the web. Other devices, such as the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, are also used for similar purposes.
The second, and perhaps even more major thing, is the fact that Theodore Twombley’s life is not ruled by screens. His earpiece makes most of what he needs to interact with technology. Meanwhile, we’re more glued to our screens than ever before, be it smartphones or computers — so that one didn’t quite pan out.
Verdict: Partially true
Holographic gaming
Alan Truly / Digital Trends
In Her, Theodore is seen playing a video game while sitting alone in the dark. He doesn’t use a screen, though. The game is a holographic projection that takes place in front of him, and it’s huge. He interacts with it through voice and motion controls. Sounds familiar? So it should, because this type of tech is pretty much here.
The last decade was pretty transformational for gaming, to the point where the reality in Her is no longer such a reach. Devices such as the Apple Vision Pro and the Meta Quest 3 go a long way toward making holographic gaming possible, but it’s not quite the same thing that Theodore deals with in the movie. You still need to wear a bulky headset, and you’ll still hold joysticks in your hands in order to tell the game where you’re pointing.
Of course, it’s a much more immersive experience than using a keyboard and mouse, but there are downsides, such as a lack of comfort and a limited game library. In another decade, the vision we’ve seen in Her very well might be a reality.
Theodore’s interactions with in-game characters are a lot more natural than the usual player-to-NPC dialogue we’re all used to now, but that might soon change. Nvidia’s ACE is bringing generative AI to gaming, which may one day result in much more lifelike interactions, dialogue, and a wider range of personalities in NPCs.
Verdict: Partially true
Technology as a fashion statement
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Now here’s one I can fully get behind. Over the last 12 years, we’ve seen tech go from bulky to fashionable, which falls more in line with what we see in Her.
We’ve got wearables galore, from smart glasses to smartwatches and smart rings. Smartphones, while even ******* than in 2013, are also sleek and elegant most of the time.
Current wearable trends aren’t loud; instead, our devices are meant to blend in with any outfit and situation. Classic-style smartwatches are on the rise for those who prefer that style, but they still pack all the latest features, including the voice controls that play such a big role in Her.
It’s not just about the design language of these devices; it’s more about the fact that they support the way the characters live in an unintrusive way. In the movie, everything is seamless and works together perfectly so as not to distract from living your actual life. Now, in 2025, I can safely say that we’re finally getting to a point where our reality is somewhat similar to the reality in Her — at least in that regard.
Our wearables are all connected, and if you pick tech from one ecosystem, you’ll benefit from automatic syncing across devices. iPhones, Apple Watches, and MacBooks all work together in the background; meanwhile, people who prefer Android and Windows can use Phone Link to benefit from something similar, but not quite on the same level.
All the tech giants are constantly pushing for more AI, but a lot of it is meant to be unobtrusive. Assistants such as Copilot or Siri can now do more than ever before, from reading our texts to reminding us to call our family members, but they’re meant to ease our lives instead of invading our privacy. It’s a thin line to navigate, though, but we’ve made a lot of progress in the last decade.
With all that said, truly “invisible” AI is still in its infancy.
Verdict: True
Is AI love real yet?
Warner Bros. Pictures
Spike Jonze’s Her tells a poignant story of a lonely man who falls in love with his AI companion. Sure, the way Samantha is integrated into Theodore’s reality is different than what we have access to today, but the bottom line remains the same: A human being develops feelings for something that’s meant to be artificial.
But is Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, a sentient being or just a computer-powered voice?
Existential questions of a similar nature are now becoming more and more pressing as we advance deeper into the world of artificial intelligence. Samantha, much like many large language models (LLMs), has the ability to learn and evolve. Today, AI is trained on enormous datasets and has access to the entirety of human knowledge. Sometimes, it even hallucinates and believes that it’s human.
But it’s decidedly not human, and that’s where it all comes crashing down — for us and for the characters in this excellent movie from twelve years ago.
Just a few years ago, the line between humans and AI was very pronounced. These days, the lines are starting to blur. AI companions exist, both on PC and on smartphones, which can give people the illusion of having a partner. Even ChatGPT can talk to you as if you’re its friend, cheer you up, offer advice, and help you with your anxiety. However, unlike Samantha, these companions aren’t self-aware or capable of developing emotions.
As a result, AI love is starting to become real, but it’s a one-sided phenomenon.
As we move further into the age of AI, Her remains an eerily relevant reflection of our technological evolution. While we gravitate toward chatbots that always readily come to our rescue, in the end, we’re still interacting with lines of code powered by enormous data centers — a fact that is becoming scarily easy to forget.
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The Pokemon Company And Niantic Pledge $1 Million For Los Angeles Fire Relief
The Pokemon Company And Niantic Pledge $1 Million For Los Angeles Fire Relief
Earlier this year, Los Angeles and surrounding areas were ravaged by devastating wildfires. At the time, Pokemon Go developer Niantic assured fans that its Pokemon Go Unova Tour – Los Angeles event would go on as scheduled in February. Now, Niantic is stepping up to help aid Los Angeles’ recovery efforts alongside The Pokemon Company for a joint donation of $1 million.
As announced on the official Pokemon site, Niantic will donate $500,000 to GlobalGiving’s California Wildfire Relief Fund, while The Pokemon Company will distribute the remaining $500,000 to nonprofit organizations that are providing aid to the victims of the wildfire.
“Our thoughts are with those affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern California,” said The Pokemon Company’s Raquel Daniels in a statement. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support relief efforts in the greater Los Angeles area alongside our partners at Niantic and GlobalGiving.”
Niantic recently extended an offer to refund tickets for Pokemon Go Unova Tour – Los Angeles through February 23. The event will be held at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena on February 21-23, and it will include citywide gameplay in Los Angeles and Orange County. It will also mark the Pokemon Go debut of ****** Kyurem and White Kyurem ahead of their global rollout on March 1.
Beyond this event, Niantic recently announced a partnership with Major League Baseball that will include Pokemon Go events in baseball stadiums across the country. Niantic has also laid out the rest of the Pokemon Go events for February, as well as what’s planned before the global Pokemon Go Tour: Unova event on March 1-2. In other Pokemon news outside of the mobile game, the Japanese mob is reportedly using Pokemon cards to launder money, while a former US postal worker recently pled guilty to stealing $100,000 worth of Pokemon cards and other collectibles.
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Retail sales slumped 0.9% in January, down much more than expected
Retail sales slumped 0.9% in January, down much more than expected
A customer shops for produce at an H-E-B grocery store in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 12, 2025.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
Consumers sharply curtailed their spending in January, indicating a potential weakening in economic growth ahead, according to a Commerce Department report Friday.
Retail sales slipped 0.9% for the month from an upwardly revised 0.7% gain in December, even worse than the Dow Jones estimate for a 0.2% decline. The sales totals are adjusted for seasonality but not inflation for a month in which prices rose 0.5%.
Excluding autos, prices fell 0.4%, also well off the consensus forecast for a 0.3% increase. A “control” measure that strips out several nonessential categories and figures directly into calculations for gross domestic product fell 0.8% after an upwardly revised increase of 0.8%.
With consumer spending making up about two-thirds of all economic activity in the U.S., the sales numbers indicate a potential weakening in growth for the first quarter.
Receipts at sporting goods, music and book stores tumbled 4.6% on the month, while online outlets reported a 1.9% decline and motor vehicles and parts spending dropped 2.8%. Gas stations along with food and drinking establishments both reported 0.9% increases.
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Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 review: A very business-like laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 review: A very business-like laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6
MSRP $1,737.00
“The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 looks exactly like a ThinkPad and acts like one, too, but its battery life is too short.”
Pros
Solid build quality
Reasonably thin and light
Fast productivity performance
Great keyboard
Very good IPS display
Cons
Touchpad is just okay
Design is getting a little long in the tooth
Expensive
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Specs and configuration
Design
Keyboard and touchpad
Connectivity and webcam
Performance
Battery life
Display and audio
Best for business users who love ThinkPads
If you’re looking for a 14-inch laptop, which is perhaps the most popular form factor around today, there are certain brands you might gravitate toward. Dell’s XPS lineup, HP’s OmniBook, and Lenovo’s Yoga come to mind. Another is the ThinkPad, an iconic brand that goes way back and is instantly recognizable. The ThinkPad has a loyal fan base, but it also tends to appeal to one of two kinds of users.
I recently reviewed the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13, a ThinkPad that’s aimed at a wide consumer market. The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is similar in design, and it’s aimed more at commercial customers. It’s a very nice laptop, held back only by battery life that doesn’t keep up with the competition.
Specs and configuration
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6
Dimensions
12.30 x 8.60 x 0.66 inches
Weight
2.86 pounds
Display
14.0-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS touch, 60Hz 14.0-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS non-touch, 60Hz
CPU
AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360
GPU
AMD Radeon 880M
Memory
32GB 64GB
Storage
256GB SSD 512GB SSD 1TB SSD
Ports
2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack 1 x Nano SIM (optional)
Camera
5MP with infrared camera for Windows 11 Hello
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetoth 5.4
Battery
58 watt-hour
Operating system
Windows 11
Price
$1506+
The ThinkPad T14s has a configuration currently priced at $1,506 (on ***** from $2,739) for an AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 chipset, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 14.0-inch FHD+ IPS display. The Lenovo web store sometimes has strange pricing, and this is one such case, where that configuration is less expensive than you’ll be able to configure. One option, for example, is to upgrade to 64GB of RAM for an extra $337.
However, most people will buy the laptop through Lenovo’s corporate purchasing program and won’t pay whatever’s the list price. That means prices will vary based on the number of units purchased, which is difficult to reflect here. Suffice it to say that you can get similar components for less with a consumer-focused laptop.
Design
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 looks a lot like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 that I recently reviewed. In fact, although I don’t have them sitting side by side, I’m fairly certain that they would be difficult to tell apart even up close. They both have the same all-****** ThinkPad aesthetic with several red accents — the red LED “i” on the logo on the lid, the TrackPoint nubbin in the middle of the keyboard, and a few others — that make it instantly recognizable as a member of the old-school ThinkPad lineup. ThinkPad fans will love it, and it’s attractive enough that most laptop buyers will probably like it. The ThinkPad Z13, for example, shows off Lenovo’s movement toward a more “modern” design, but there’s nothing wrong with the ThinkPad T14s’s design.
In terms of its build quality, Lenovo used its combination of aluminum and carbon fiber that results in a reasonably robust construction with just the slightest bit of bending in the lid and keyboard deck. I’ve used laptops that are more solid, including the HP EliteBook X G1a that has zero bending, flexing, or twisting. That puts the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 a very slight step behind, but still quite good. The hinge requires two hands to open the lid, but it’s certainly nothing to complain too much about.
The top and bottom bezels are a little thick, compared to the slim side bezels, and that’s even with Lenovo’s reverse notch at the top of the display that houses the webcam and other electronics. The bezels are plastic, too, which I always find detracts from a high-quality look. Even so, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is reasonably sized in width and depth, and it’s quite portable without winning any awards in thickness or weight. The Apple MacBook Air 15, for example, is a lot thinner at just 0.45 inches.
Keyboard and touchpad
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
The keyboard is the usual old-school ThinkPad version with highly sculpted keycaps and lots of key spacing. Unlike some I’ve used in the past, the switches on this one don’t require too much pressure but are light and snappy. That makes for a very confident feel that’s different from Apple’s Magic Keyboard with its shallow travel, which is my usual favorite, but just as good.
The touchpad is a mechanical version that’s fine, although the two buttons supporting the TrackPoint nubbin controller in the middle of the keyboard takes up a bit of space. That makes the touchpad a bit too small, and while Lenovo might offer an option for a haptic version (I’m not sure if they do or will), this is a little bit of a disappointment.
Connectivity and webcam
Connectivity is a mix of modern and legacy ports. Unusually, there are two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4; most AMD-based laptops use USB4 rather than Intel’s standard. Wireless connectivity is fully up-to-date, and there’s a nano-SIM slot for optional always-connected internet connectivity.
The webcam is a high-resolution 5MP model that matches up well with the fast Neural Processing Unit (NPU) running at 45 tera operations per second (TOPS), exceeding Microsoft’s 40 TOPS requirement for its Copilot+ PC AI initiative. That means it supports the enhanced videoconferencing features of Copilot+, along with other AI features coming down the road, with fast and efficient on-device processing.
Performance
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 uses an AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 chipset, which uas eight cores and 16 threads, running at up to 5GHz. It uses 28 watts of power that can ramp up to 54 watts, meaning it’s aimed more at performance than efficiency compared to some other new chipsets. It’s fast at CPU tasks, as we can see in our benchmarks, keeping up with all but the the fastest Qualcomm Snapdragon X chipsets and beating out Intel Lunar Lake.
The AMD PRO features mean the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 can plug into advanced enterprise security and management environments. That makes the ThinkPad a great option for large companies that need to manage lots of machines.
As you can see, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is very fast for demanding productivity workflows, but its Radon 880M integrated graphics don’t do a lot for games or creativity apps that can use the GPU. It’s around the same CPU speed as Apple’s M3 chipset, but the M3’s GPU cores are considerably faster. Overall, the ThinkPad is a speedy
Cinebench R24 (single/multi)
Geekbench 6 (single/multi)
Handbrake (seconds)
3DMark Wild Life Extreme
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 (Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 / Radeon 880M)
104 / 672
2677 / 12187
73
4406
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 (Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)
121 / 447
2752 / 11096
117
4771
Acer Swift 14 AI (Ryzen AI 9 365 / Radeon 880M)
110 / 877
2795 / 14351
56
5669
Acer Swift 14 AI (Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)
121 / 525
2755 / 11138
92
5294
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition (Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)
109 / 630
2485 / 10569
88
5217
Asus Zenbook S 14 (Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)
112 / 452
2738 / 10734
113
7514
HP OmniBook X (Snapdragon X Elite / Adreno)
101 / 749
2377 / 13490
N/A
6165
MacBook Air (M3)
141 / 601
3102 / 12078
109
8098
Battery life
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
The AMD chipset is aimed at performance rather than efficiency, which is different from Intel Lunar Lake and Qualcomm Snapdragon X, both of which are highly focused on increasing battery life. That doesn’t mean it can’t squeeze out some longevity, as demonstrated by the Acer Swift 14 AI with the Ryzen AI 9 365.
However, for some reason, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 didn’t do very well. It couldn’t make it to eight hours in our web browsing test or even nine hours in our video looping test. That’s a lot shorter than every other laptop in the comparison group, and a lot more like older Windows laptops. Apple’s MacBook Air M3 remains the best overall performer.
Web browsing
Video
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 (Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360)
7 hours, 39 minutes
8 hours, 47 minutes
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 (Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)
10 hours, 34 minutes
15 hours, 58 minutes
Acer Swift 14 AI (Core Ultra 7 258V)
17 hours, 22 minutes
24 hours, 10 minutes
Acer Swift 14 AI (Ryzen AI 9 365)
14 hours, 6 minutes
18 hours, 36 minutes
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition (Core Ultra 7 258V)
14 hours, 16 minutes
17 hours, 31 minutes
Asus Zenbook S 14 (Core Ultra 7 258V)
16 hours, 47 minutes
18 hours, 35 minutes
Microsoft Surface Laptop (Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100)
14 hours, 21 minutes
22 hours, 39 minutes
HP Omnibook X (Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100)
13 hours, 37 minutes
22 hours, 4 minutes
Apple MacBook Air (Apple M3)
19 hours, 38 minutes
19 hours, 39 minutes
Display and audio
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
There’s just two display options with the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6. Both are 14.0-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS panels, one touch-enabled and one non-touch. Personally, I think FHD+ isn’t quite sharp enough with 14-inch displays because I stare at words all day and hate pixellated text, but most people are likely okay with it. And IPS helps with battery life over OLED.
This is a very good IPS display, in line with what most manufacturers have used for the last several years. The display is bright at 396 nits, well above the 300-nit baseline that’s been our standard for years now and probably should be adjusted. Contrast is excellent at 1,510:1, above our 1,000:1 threshold but not as good as the inky ******* OLED provides. Colors were wide enough at 100% of sRGB, 76% of AdobeRGB, and 76% of DCI-P3, again not as dynamic as OLED and not great for creators, but very good for productivity use. And color accuracy was good at 1.52 (less than 2.0 is more than adequate).
Ultimately, this is a very good IPS display that will please the laptop’s commercial users. Creators will want to look elsewhere, but the laptop isn’t meant for that kind of work in any event. Audio is just okay, with two downward-firing speakers that are good enough for typical use. Headphones are recommended for anything else.
Best for business users who love ThinkPads
The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is a very nice laptop with one glaring flaw. It’s built well, looks good, has a great keyboard and strong performance, and it’s perfect for large companies with a lot of laptops to manage.
At the same time, its battery life isn’t great. And, it’s a bit expensive, although large commercial customers who buy it will do so at better group purchase prices. So it’s an easy laptop to recommend for commercial buyers but not as easy for mainstream users.
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AI game development: Split Fiction’s Josef Fares says developers should ‘work with and not against’ technology
AI game development: Split Fiction’s Josef Fares says developers should ‘work with and not against’ technology
Split Fiction and It Takes Two director Josef Fares has said that he thinks developers should work it AI rather than push against it, and called it “both scary and very exciting.”
Speaking to VGC, Fares said that believes advancements in AI could have a ******* impact on the world than the internet.
“We need to adapt to it,” Fares said when asked about the risk of AI in development. “If it’s part of the industry we should see how to implement it to see how we get better games. I can understand the fact that some people could lose their jobs but that goes for every new technology.
“Bad stuff and good stuff will come out of it. You can’t just close your eyes. I believe AI will have a ******* impact on the world than the internet had, eventually. It’s a long time until you can use it in an actual development, at least not at our place, maybe others can do it.”
AI has been a hot topic in the games industry in recent years, with concerns about generative AI leading to job losses, and potential plagiarism.
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick recently said that not only does he think AI won’t lead to job losses, he believes it could lead to increased employment. He also said that he couldn’t think of any new guardrails that might be required to protect developers.
Split Fiction will be released on March 6 and will be published by EA.
Like its predecessor It Takes Two, the game will come with a pass allowing players to buy one copy of the game and play online co-op with someone else without having to buy a second copy.
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Moderna Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Updates – Moderna Investor Relations
Moderna Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Updates – Moderna Investor Relations
Moderna Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Updates Moderna Investor RelationsModerna beats on revenue but loses more than expected as it scales down manufacturing CNBCModerna’s wider-than-expected loss and soft guidance weigh on battered stock MarketWatchModerna posts ******* loss than expected as vaccine maker scales down manufacturing Reuters
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Josef Fares will never make a live service game: ‘It will not happen with a Hazelight game’
Josef Fares will never make a live service game: ‘It will not happen with a Hazelight game’
DivineHand1259h ago
Sony is doing well this generation mainly because their competition is doing very poorly. Xbox is talking about putting all their games on the PlayStation, and Nintendo is gearing up to launch their new Switch console. If I am being honest and despite the numerous criticisms I give, if someone who is only interested in buying a console came up to me and asked me which console to buy if they want the latest and greatest games, I will tell them with no hesitation to get a playstation.
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#Josef #Fares #live #service #game #happen #Hazelight #game
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Elon Musk says Grok 3 will outperform ChatGPT, DeepSeek in the coming weeks
Elon Musk says Grok 3 will outperform ChatGPT, DeepSeek in the coming weeks
Elon Musk has confirmed that his AI chatbot, Grok 3 is currently being finalized and will be available in the next one to two weeks, according to Reuters.
Speaking in a video call addressing the World Governments Summit in Dubai Musk described the AI tool as “scary smart.”
“Grok 3 has very powerful reasoning capabilities, so in the tests that we’ve done thus far, Grok 3 is outperforming anything that’s been released, that we’re aware of, so that’s a good sign,” he said.
In recent weeks several companies in the AI industry have introduced new products or updated their current tools in the wake of the ******** startup DeepSeek unveiling its latest R1 reasoning model. Musk appears to be no different with the development of Grok 3.
Prior reports have detailed that the businessman built the Colossus Supercluster, a supercomputer in Memphis Tennessee precisely for such a project. According to Business Insider, xAI, Musk’s company that develops Grok plans to hire thousands of “AI tutors” this year to train the chatbot. The current staff is at approximately 900 employees.
DeepSeek and its R1 model have stood out in the AI industry for being an open-source platform that is cost-effective to produce and train.
Grok is notably connected to the social media platform X but can also be accessed as a standalone web-based tool, as well as via iOS and Android apps. The initial version of Grok was an open-source model. However, subsequent development of the tool has been closed-sourced and proprietary. Grok also remains limited to X users, which could prove to be a hindrance to its overall market share, Tech.co noted.
Despite its popularity, DeepSeek has faced bans from several countries around the world. Additionally, several U.S. states, including Texas and New York, have banned the use of the AI tool on government-sanctioned devices. There is also a House bill being proposed that would ban the app from state-provided devices across the country.
As Musk prepares to launch Grok 3, he is also embroiled in a legal case against startup, OpenAI, over whether the company should be allowed to transition from a nonprofit organization to a for-profit company. Notably one of the co-founders of OpenAI, Musk recently offered the company $97.4 billion to buy the assets of OpenAI’s nonprofit. Before this, the businessman sued OpenAI in August in an attempt to halt the company’s efforts to establish itself as a for-profit organization. OpenAI has stated that Musk’s efforts to buy out the company and his lawsuit do not align.
Having been a part of the team that initially pledged $1 billion to the development of OpenAI and its ChatGPT chatbot in 2019, Musk ultimately left when his vision for the company differed too much from the rest of the team. He wanted to integrate OpenAI into his car brand Tesla, while the rest of the team went in a different direction.
Musk established the Grok chatbot in November 2023, after purchasing X, then called Twitter in 2022.
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#Elon #Musk #Grok #outperform #ChatGPT #DeepSeek #coming #weeks
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
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