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Redmi Pad 2 Renders Price Leaked; Said to Feature MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra Chip, 9,000mAh Battery Redmi Pad 2 Renders Price Leaked; Said to Feature MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra Chip, 9,000mAh Battery Redmi Pad 2 could be inching towards its launch as some photos of the tablet have surfaced online alongside its possible pricing details and specifications. The new model is said to arrive as a direct successor to 2022’s Redmi Pad. The Redmi Pad 2 is tipped to come with an 11-inch display and could be powered by the MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra chipset alongside up to 8GB of RAM and a maximum 256GB of storage. The Redmi Pad 2 is tipped to feature a 9,000mAh battery and is rumoured to debut as a budget offering. Redmi Pad 2 Price (Leaked) Ytechb has leaked the pricing, renders and specifications of the unannounced Redmi Pad 2. As per the report, the 4GB RAM + 128GB storage variant of Redmi Pad 2 will be priced at EUR 229 (roughly Rs. 22,000), whereas the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant will cost EUR 279 (roughly Rs. 26,000). It is said to be available in a graphite gray shade. The renders show the Redmi Pad 2 with a design that’s reminiscent of the older Redmi Pad. It has thick bezels and a pill-shaped camera module. The power button is located on the top right side of the tablet. The volume rocker is also available on the right side. The speaker unit, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB Type-C port are seen placed at the bottom of the device. Redmi Pad 2 Specifications (Leaked) The Redmi Pad 2 will reportedly ship with HyperOS 2.1 and an 11-inch display with 2.5K (1,600×2,500 pixels) resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. It is said to run on the MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra chipset. It could pack a single 8-megapixel AI-backed rear camera sensor with f/2.0 aperture. It is tipped to get a 5-megapixel selfie shooter. Redmi Pad 2 is said to house a 9,000mAh battery and support 18W fast charging. The tablet could include quad speakers with Dolby Atmos support. For reference, the Redmi Pad has a 10.61-inch display and a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset under the hood. It has 8-megapixel front and rear cameras and an 8,000mAh battery. It was introduced in India in October 2022 with a price tag of Rs. 14,999 for the base 3GB + 64GB storage model. Source link #Redmi #Pad #Renders #Price #Leaked #Feature #MediaTek #Helio #G100 #Ultra #Chip #9000mAh #Battery Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Government delivers historic ruling to reclaim illegally seized land: ‘Finally some good news’ Government delivers historic ruling to reclaim illegally seized land: ‘Finally some good news’ Forests are one of the planet’s most powerful tools for fighting the changing climate. They absorb carbon dioxide, regulate temperatures, and support biodiversity. Scientists and policymakers worldwide are strategizing about how to protect these climate guardians. In Brazil, a federal judge has ordered the government to reclaim private land belonging to owners responsible for ******** deforestation or for starting wildfires. The Amazon has been increasingly prone to droughts in recent years, making those wildfires even more dangerous. Although the new policy can still be appealed, it also has provisions to block the practice of regularization, stopping those from clearing forests to claim land. Cattle ranching contributes most to deforestation for agricultural purposes. Paulo Busse, a lawyer with the group Climate Observatory, told AP, “The decision bolsters the Brazilian government’s efforts to fight ******** deforestation and intentional wildfires.” As the temperature of the Earth warms, wildfire risks become more prominent. Legislation like this will help to preserve the forests that do so much to help regulate and protect the planet. Watch now: Giant snails invading New York City? Wildfires destroy the ecosystems that exist within the forest, but they also have wide-reaching consequences. One of these is reduced air quality, especially for those who live in the countries surrounding the Amazon. Children, pregnant people, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions are particularly vulnerable to this smoke-filled air. If the Amazon Rainforest continues to be depleted, it will also lead to a huge loss of biodiversity. With an estimated 10% of the globe’s biodiversity, the Amazon is a treasure trove of plant and animal species. Many of them are at risk from deforestation issues. The Brazilian government and other organizations have implemented a variety of initiatives over the past few years to slow deforestation. A study in Nature Ecology & Evolution assessed different strategies for protecting the forests. The study found that implementing Protected Areas did help to reduce deforestation, but more efforts are necessary to protect Indigenous people in the rainforest. The Supreme Court’s new ruling is another step in the right direction. A Reddit user reacted to the new Brazilian regulation, saying, “Finally some good news.” Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #Government #delivers #historic #ruling #reclaim #illegally #seized #land #Finally #good #news Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GTA 6 Delay Could Wipe Out A Jaw-Dropping Amount Of Money From Global Games Industry GTA 6 Delay Could Wipe Out A Jaw-Dropping Amount Of Money From Global Games Industry Grand Theft Auto 6 being delayed to 2026 is tough news for the industry overall, with a new report saying the game’s push to next year will wipe out an expected $2.7 billion in spending for 2025. Ampere Analysis said in a report that the game’s delay erases that much revenue, which would have been derived from game and hardware sales from the global market. A previous report from a different research company said GTA 6 would sell 40 million copies and earn $3 billion in its first year alone. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Now Playing: EVERYTHING You Missed In The GTA 6 Trailer Another previous report said Sony was specifically hurt by GTA 6’s delay to 2026, due to an expected uptick in game and console sales. It’s also been theorized that Sony has a deal with Rockstar for GTA 6. GTA 6 being delayed to 2026 creates a “vacuum” for other publishers to maximize the sales potential of their games during Holiday 2025, Ampere said. The company added that Nintendo is now “better placed to capitalized” in this environment with the launch of the Switch 2 and its marquee games like Mario Kart World. Like the game’s release date, revenue deriving from GTA 6 is not canceled, but delayed. GTA 6 is expected to be a massive success whenever it’s released. The game was delayed due in part to Rockstar’s teams needing more time to polish the game and get it ready for launch. Even with GTA 6’s delay, Ampere’s report said the total global video game industry is expected to reach $201.3 billion in 2025, which would be up from the all-time annual record of $199.4 billion in 2024. This is a growth of about 1%, but Ampere said 2026 should see an annual growth rate of 2.2% thanks in part to GTA 6. Ampere’s Piers Harding-Rolls said the video game industry’s lack of a new transformative technology or updated monetization and distribution models means game companies are “looking for pockets of growth to exploit and to build content more efficiently and at lower cost.” As for the Switch 2, it’s said to be the “most important product launch” of all time in gaming, with Nintendo predicting it will sell millions of systems and games. The system launches on June 5. Source link #GTA #Delay #Wipe #JawDropping #Amount #Money #Global #Games #Industry Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Redmi Pad 2 Renders Price Leaked; Said to Feature MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra Chip, 9,000mAh Battery Redmi Pad 2 Renders Price Leaked; Said to Feature MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra Chip, 9,000mAh Battery Redmi Pad 2 could be inching towards its launch as some photos of the tablet have surfaced online alongside its possible pricing details and specifications. The new model is said to arrive as a direct successor to 2022’s Redmi Pad. The Redmi Pad 2 is tipped to come with an 11-inch display and could be powered by the MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra chipset alongside up to 8GB of RAM and a maximum 256GB of storage. The Redmi Pad 2 is tipped to feature a 9,000mAh battery and is rumoured to debut as a budget offering. Redmi Pad 2 Price (Leaked) Ytechb has leaked the pricing, renders and specifications of the unannounced Redmi Pad 2. As per the report, the 4GB RAM + 128GB storage variant of Redmi Pad 2 will be priced at EUR 229 (roughly Rs. 22,000), whereas the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant will cost EUR 279 (roughly Rs. 26,000). It is said to be available in a graphite gray shade. The renders show the Redmi Pad 2 with a design that’s reminiscent of the older Redmi Pad. It has thick bezels and a pill-shaped camera module. The power button is located on the top right side of the tablet. The volume rocker is also available on the right side. The speaker unit, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB Type-C port are seen placed at the bottom of the device. Redmi Pad 2 Specifications (Leaked) The Redmi Pad 2 will reportedly ship with HyperOS 2.1 and an 11-inch display with 2.5K (1,600×2,500 pixels) resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. It is said to run on the MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra chipset. It could pack a single 8-megapixel AI-backed rear camera sensor with f/2.0 aperture. It is tipped to get a 5-megapixel selfie shooter. Redmi Pad 2 is said to house a 9,000mAh battery and support 18W fast charging. The tablet could include quad speakers with Dolby Atmos support. For reference, the Redmi Pad has a 10.61-inch display and a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset under the hood. It has 8-megapixel front and rear cameras and an 8,000mAh battery. It was introduced in India in October 2022 with a price tag of Rs. 14,999 for the base 3GB + 64GB storage model. Source link #Redmi #Pad #Renders #Price #Leaked #Feature #MediaTek #Helio #G100 #Ultra #Chip #9000mAh #Battery Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here’s the Bull Case for Roku Stock With Double-Digit Upside Here’s the Bull Case for Roku Stock With Double-Digit Upside There are brands that become so entrenched in everyday life that it simply makes all the sense in the world to consider them in an investment portfolio. Disruption is unlikely, and even new competitors will arguably have a hard time taking market share from the products and services that consumers are so used to and loyal to by now. Today, investors have a chance to pick up one of these names before it keeps on running higher. As part of the technology sector, this stock has seen its stock price drop by double-digits over the past quarter as the aftermath of the new trade tariffs rolled out by President Trump has made a wave of uncertainty and volatility in the space. However, this is where savvy investors can come to realize that not all stocks in this area are as affected as the rest of the group, creating a case for swift recoveries down the line. The stock in question is Roku (NASDAQ:), which is now a brand that most consumers can find across most TV sets and has widely become a requirement on smart TVs today. Thanks to its seamless integration across the streaming and entertainment ecosystem, the company has layered convenience upon convenience, effectively bridging service providers and in-home delivery for customers. Roku’s Discount Won’t Last Long After a decline of as much as 25.5% over the past quarter, an argument could be made as to whether Roku has discounted some of its greatest features and fundamentals, dragged lower by the broader association with the technology sector’s decline. A few factors would prove this right. Starting with the underlying drivers within the latest quarterly financials, investors can see up to $1 billion in revenue reported for Roku, translating into 16% growth over the past 12 months alone. This attractive growth rate shows Roku’s adoption and market share in the United States, but it is also the way this revenue comes in that matters. By having a subscription-based business model, Roku is able to forecast future financials on a more stable basis, allowing for reinvestment schedules to push growth further into the next gear. This is one key metric investors can note: a near tripling of free cash flow, calculated as operating cash flow minus capital expenditures. Free cash flow matters because it allows management to keep reinvesting in growth initiatives, pay down debts, and even initiate a dividend or buyback program to further deliver on shareholder value. However, none of these are front and center for management yet, as the company is still navigating its growth spurt stage. Net profitability is the focus today, as Roku reported a net loss per share of $0.19 for the latest quarter. However, it has all the right components to achieve net earnings per share (EPS) in the near future. This might be one of the reasons why, along with its discount, some institutional buyers decided to buy up shares of Roku recently. Optimism Grows for Roku Stock As of May 2025, those from the Vanguard Group decided to boost their holdings in Roku stock by as much as 2.1%, bringing their net position to a high of $880.7 million today, or 8.6% ownership in the company. This can be taken as a sign of confidence and confirmation of an apparent discount by retail investors moving forward, but that’s not all. Most Wall Street analysts are careful about boosting a stock when it has reported the sort of bearish price action that Roku has, which is why investors won’t see many upgrades from the crowd, though there is one exception today. Realizing this powerful brand’s true value and satisfying financial performance, Daniel Kurnos from Benchmark decided to reiterate his Buy rating on Roku. Not only did this analyst take a risk by going against the crowd, but he also placed a $130 per share price target on Roku stock, calling for as much as an 82% upside from where the stock has fallen to today. This sort of risk-to-reward ratio in the stock can also give investors reason to believe that the worst might already be priced in and behind Roku’s story moving forward. There is one more sentiment indicator to consider here. Markets are willing to pay up to 4.2x in price-to-book (P/B) compared to the average 1.5x multiple in the TV services industry. This is a major difference-maker, and most investors would shy away from believing that the stock is now expensive. There is always a good reason for the market to pay up for the stocks it believes can outperform the peer group and the broader market, and in the case of Roku, all the reasons (fundamental and financial) seem to be as present as ever to deliver this double-digit upside view to investors. Original Post Source link #Heres #Bull #Case #Roku #Stock #DoubleDigit #Upside Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Home Depot Stock Rises Despite Earnings Miss. The Company Will Keep Prices Steady Despite Tariffs. – Barron's Home Depot Stock Rises Despite Earnings Miss. The Company Will Keep Prices Steady Despite Tariffs. – Barron's Home Depot Stock Rises Despite Earnings Miss. The Company Will Keep Prices Steady Despite Tariffs. Barron’sHome Depot CFO says retailer doesn’t plan to raise prices due to tariffs CNBCHome Depot says it’s keeping prices steady as Trump dismisses price hikes CBS NewsStock Market Today: Dow Futures Slip; Home Depot to Keep Prices Steady Despite Tariffs — Live Updates WSJHome Depot plans to keep prices stable in the face of tariffs, bucking competitors CNN Source link #Home #Depot #Stock #Rises #Earnings #Company #Prices #Steady #Tariffs #Barron039s Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Star Wars Battlefront 2 Lootbox Controversy Explained Star Wars Battlefront 2 Lootbox Controversy Explained Star Wars Battlefront 2 was released more than seven years ago, and it had quite a rocky start. Once EA took full control of publishing AAA Star Wars titles, one of the first things they did was reboot the iconic Battlefront series with DICE. The first game in the reboot series, Star Wars Battlefront, came out in 2015 and was mostly well-received by fans of the series. The problems that persisted were fixed in the sequel, Battlefront 2, which was released two years after the first game. But, in classic EA fashion, the game was riddled with microtransactions and lootboxes, which caused major outcry in the community and almost killed the sequel. Let’s take a look at one of the biggest controversies EA ever faced. Lootboxes and microtransactions hindered progression in Star Wars Battlefront 2 The controversy first took shape in October of 2017 when a beta version of Star Wars Battlefront 2’s multiplayer launched, giving players a taste of what to expect. One of the primary returning elements from the first game was the Star Card system. These Cards were amplifiers and upgrades for specific heroes and classes to increase their stats and harness new abilities to progress in multiplayer. These Star Cards were of four tiers: common, uncommon, rare, and epic, and you guessed it. The higher the card, the better the effects. Sounds simple enough, but there was a catch. They could be obtained from dedicated crates containing other rewards such as cosmetics, weapons, and other such things. What made matters worse was that their drops were randomised, so players were forced to grind and try their chances at getting a reward, which was also one of the only ways to progress and obtain Epic-level Star Cards in the beta. Concerns arose within the community as they saw right through EA’s scummy tactics in encouraging players to purchase the crates with real money to reach higher levels quickly. Their “pay to win” strategy was evident. EA did take the feedback and released a blog post later, stating that Epic-level rewards were no longer in the crates as they were being shifted to the in-game crafting system. This, of course, didn’t quite silence the community as it wasn’t good enough a change and the concept of lootboxes still existed in the game. While Battlefront 2 did feature a story mode, EA’s main focus was on multiplayer and especially on monetisation, which encouraged them to add these horrendous lootboxes. Not long after the beta, other types of microtransactions filled the game as players needed insane amounts of in-game credits to unlock fan-favorite Star Wars characters like Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and more. EA took the feedback, again, and reduced the price for unlocking characters, but that didn’t make the situation any better than what it was, since microtransactions were still a thing. Crystals were another type of currency that was used to purchase loot crates for more rewards. Even though they could be earned by completing challenges, the community soon realised that the quickest way of earning them was by purchasing them from the game’s store with real money. This worsened the state of Star Wars Battlefront 2, with the game facing major backlash and receiving accusations of gambling. Before the game’s launch, DICE developers Dennis Brännvall and Paul Keslin expressed their sadness at the player backlash in a Reddit AMA. The situation went from bad to catastrophic, and EA removed all types of microtransactions and lootboxes from the game 24 hours before launch without any prior announcement. They realised how the controversy surrounding the game’s lootboxes harmed its overall perception, so EA finally did the right thing. Ever since then, the game has received a lot of free content updates, and despite all the negative feedback, the developers at DICE have continued to work hard and bring updates and monthly improvements to the game. Even though EA hasn’t supported the game for half a decade, this chapter in their book has a good ending since there has been a sudden surge of players in Battlefront 2 this year. Against all odds, Star Wars Battlefront 2 has made a comeback Star Wars Battlefront 2 has unexpected legs | Image Credit: Electronic Arts Nearly eight years after its release, Star Wars Battlefront 2 has seemingly made a comeback, defying all odds. An account on X called StayBombastic posted a screenshot of Steam, which revealed that nearly 8,000 players were playing the game on the platform over the weekend. Another day, another increase in Battlefront 2 players pic.twitter.com/u6AFcDuFl6 — Bombastic (@StayBombastic) May 18, 2025 Considering the game reached an all-time peak of a little over 10,000 players in 2021, it’s exciting to see that the number of concurrent players nearly reached that level even after four years. While there’s still no crossplay in Star Wars Battlefront 2, this sudden increase in player count has given fans hope for a potential third game in the iconic series. Seems like the Star Wars fanbase is keeping their money where their mouth is. Maybe this is how we get EA to greenlight a Battlefront 3. Following Andor’s universally acclaimed finale, and Fortnite doing an entire Star Wars season (with an AI Darth Vader), it’s good to see Battlefront 2 getting some love from the fans, which it didn’t receive during its original release. Players on other platforms may also be playing the game, but this is a win-win situation regardless. Hopefully, this convinces DICE to come back to Star Wars after they’re done making Battlefield 6, and EA also better learn from their mistakes if they don’t want another Battlefront 2. Source link #Star #Wars #Battlefront #Lootbox #Controversy #Explained Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Culture is the silent force behind slow mobile payment adoption Culture is the silent force behind slow mobile payment adoption Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Cultural values that are often overlooked in technology marketing strategies play a decisive role in consumers’ acceptance of mobile payment systems, according to a new study from the University of Surrey. While the increasing usage of smartphones and wallet apps (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay, and AliPay) has fueled global growth in mobile payment, the adoption rate is not uniform across different countries. The researchers define mobile payments as a transfer of funds to purchase goods or services in which a mobile device executes and confirms the payment. In 2022, only 25% of users in the U.S. adopted mobile payments, which is relatively low compared to countries in Asia such as China (72%), Thailand (65%), and India (63%). The study, published in International Marketing Review, involving a comprehensive survey of 679 respondents in the United States, investigated the relationship between individual-level cultural values and the acceptance of mobile payment technologies. It shows that cultural value shapes consumers’ behavior when it comes to adopting new technologies, including mobile payment. Traditional methods of analyzing consumer behavior often focus solely on national averages, neglecting individual cultural backgrounds that shape decision-making processes. The researchers compared two models: one assessing the direct effects of cultural orientations and another examining their moderating influences on technology acceptance. Dr. Nima Heirati, Associate Professor of Marketing and co-author of the study at the University of Surrey, said, “The findings suggest that businesses must embrace a more nuanced understanding of their customers’ individual-level cultural identities to create effective marketing strategies. “Ignoring these individual differences can lead to missed opportunities and hinder the growth of mobile payment adoption across various demographics.” The research identified five key individual-level cultural orientations—power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation—each of which has a significant impact on how consumers perceive and adopt new technologies. For instance, those with high power distance are more likely to value ease of use and habitual engagement with mobile payments, while individuals with high uncertainty avoidance tend to prioritize trust and reliability in their payment systems. Dr. Heirati continued, “Businesses must tailor their marketing strategies to resonate with specific individual-level cultural values to foster greater acceptance of mobile payments. By understanding that cultural values influence consumers’ beliefs regarding technology, businesses can develop more effective marketing messages that address the unique needs and preferences of different consumer segments.” More information: Klaus Schoefer et al, An investigation of culture’s influence on new technology adoption: the case of mobile payment, International Marketing Review (2025). DOI: 10.1108/IMR-09-2023-0223 Provided by University of Surrey Citation: Culture is the silent force behind slow mobile payment adoption (2025, May 20) retrieved 20 May 2025 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #Culture #silent #force #slow #mobile #payment #adoption Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Spain clamps down on Airbnb as tourism backlash returns for summer Spain clamps down on Airbnb as tourism backlash returns for summer Getty Images Thousands of protesters took to the streets in the Canary Islands complaining of over-tourism The Spanish government has called for the removal of the listings of nearly 66,000 properties on rental platform Airbnb on the grounds that they breach regulations for tourist accommodation. The clampdown comes as protests against over-tourism have begun ahead of the summer season. Demonstrations in the Canary Islands on Sunday attracted thousands of people. The minister for social rights, consumer affairs and the 2030 Agenda, Pablo Bustinduy, said the rental properties in question had “violated various norms regarding housing for tourist use”. The announcement followed a Madrid court ruling that Airbnb must immediately withdraw from the market 5,800 of the properties cited by the ministry. The properties are in six regions: Madrid, Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia, the Basque Country and the Balearic Islands. Bustinduy’s ministry is now awaiting further judicial rulings on the other 60,000 or so properties whose listings it deems unlawful. According to the ministry, the properties it has identified either did not provide a licence number, provided an erroneous number, or did not specify the legal status of the owner to show whether they were renting on a professional basis or as a private individual. He described the court’s decision as “a clear victory for those who fight to protect the right to housing”. Bustinduy added that “it can be possible to ensure that no economic interest has priority over housing and that no company, however big or powerful, is above the law”. Housing has emerged as Spaniards’ biggest concern in recent months, due to spiralling rental costs, particularly in larger towns and cities. Read more: Spanish fightback against record tourism The cost of an average rental has doubled over the last decade, while salaries have failed to keep up. Tourist apartments have been identified by many as a major cause of the problem, depriving local residents of accommodation. Spain is the world’s second most popular tourist destination after France, with 94 million foreign visitors in 2024, a 13% rise on the previous year. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said earlier this year “there are too many Airbnbs and not enough homes”, and he promised to prevent the “uncontrolled” expansion of the use of properties for tourism. Getty Images Spain is the second most popular country in the world for foreign tourists Some local governments have also started to act against Airbnb. Barcelona City Hall has said it will eliminate its 10,000 short-term tourist apartments by the end of 2028. Others have taken a different approach. In recent months, Airbnb has reached agreements with local authorities in the Canary Islands, Ibiza and Murcia aimed at ensuring property owners comply with tourist rental rules. Airbnb responded to the court ruling and Bustinduy’s announcement by insisting it would appeal against decisions linked to this case and that no evidence of rule-breaking by hosts had been provided. It also cited a 2022 ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court which found that the responsibility for listing information lay with the host of each property, not the company, which was a “neutral intermediary” and not a real estate provider. The firm also made a broader point about the Spanish housing problem. “The root cause of the affordable housing crisis in Spain is a lack of supply to meet demand,” said a spokesperson. “Governments across the world are seeing that regulating Airbnb does not alleviate housing concerns or return homes to the market – it only hurts local families who rely on hosting to afford their homes and rising costs.” Last summer, Spain saw a wave of protests against over-tourism in many popular destinations, with its impact on housing the biggest grievance. With the number of foreign visitors to Spain fast approaching 100 million per year, the unrest is expected to continue this summer. On Sunday, several thousand people took to the streets across the Canary Islands under the slogan “Canaries have a limit”. In Majorca, a group called Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less tourism, more life) is preparing for similar actions, with a protest scheduled for 15 June. Source link #Spain #clamps #Airbnb #tourism #backlash #returns #summer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Subtle ligand modifications in aluminum complexes unlock enhanced solid-state light emission Subtle ligand modifications in aluminum complexes unlock enhanced solid-state light emission Credit: Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2025). DOI: 10.1002/anie.202501985 Artificial light, once a luxury, has become central to modern life, with its evolution spanning from fire to LEDs. Now, researchers have developed a new class of efficient light-emitting materials as promising candidates to be applied to lighten the darkness. They demonstrated easily accessible aluminum-based organometallic complexes that have the potential to be applied in optoelectronic devices. The research team is from the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw and Warsaw University of Technology led by Prof. Janusz Lewiński in collaboration with Prof. Andrew E. H. Wheatley from Cambridge University. The paper is published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition. Growing demand for artificial light spurred the development of energy-efficient solutions like fluorescent lamps and, later, light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Once production costs dropped, LEDs became ubiquitous in homes and portable devices. Today, researchers pursue even more efficient technologies such as organic LEDs (OLEDs) and novel fluorescent materials. Fluorophores based on main-group metal complexes have attracted considerable interest in recent years, where their development is driven by the possibility of the practical potential application in optoelectronic devices, chemosensors or bioimaging. Aluminum, being abundant, lightweight, and conductive, is gaining attention as an alternative to rare or toxic metals. Since the breakthrough use of Alq3 (tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum) in LEDs in 1987, aluminum-based complexes have been explored for their promising photophysical properties, particularly in OLEDs and light-emitting sensors. Nowadays, researchers are actively seeking novel and more efficient materials to enhance lighting technologies. Drawing inspiration from earlier work and benchmark materials like Alq3, the researchers synthesized a new series unique tetrameric chiral-at-metal alkylaluminum anthranilates [(R′-anth)AlR]4 incorporating common anthranilates as a core ligand. These aluminum-based complexes demonstrate promising optoelectronic properties due to the coordination between the metal core and tailored ligands. “In this work, we focus on commercially available anthranilic acid (anth-H2) and its N- methyl (Me-anth-H2) and N-phenyl (Ph-anth-H2) derivatives, as model proligands. The reaction between each of these acids and appropriate R3Al compound in toluene has resulted in the formation of a series of aluminum-stereogenic tetranuclear complexes that happen to have unique properties,” claims Vadim Szejko, the first author of the work. Comprehensive physicochemical studies, including detailed analysis of photoactivity, revealed that the aluminum-based anthranilates exhibit photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 100% in the solid state, enabled by their unique electronic structure and non-covalent interactions that stabilize excited states. Subtle ligand modifications were shown to significantly boost emission efficiency, opening new pathways for designing advanced photoactive materials. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter—daily or weekly. These findings contribute valuable insight into the still underexplored photochemistry of multinuclear complexes and their potential applications in optoelectronics. “By changing the N-substituents from H to Me and Ph, we have developed a series of luminophores that exhibit poor-to-excellent performance, providing a [(Ph-anth)AlEt]4 derivative that achieves a unity photoluminescence quantum yield in the condensed phase, which is unprecedented for aluminum complexes,” remarks Dr. Iwona Justyniak. Quantum-chemical calculations provided insights into the nature of electronic transitions and identified specific fragments at the molecule level that most strongly contribute to the material’s photophysical properties. Ligand modifications suppressed unwanted relaxation pathways, enhancing emission efficiency. In the solid state, non-covalent intra- and intermolecular interactions help preserve structural integrity during excitation, minimizing distortions that would otherwise reduce fluorescence. Moderate molecular aggregation adds rigidity, supporting high luminescence. The work is an important step forward in the design of the novel, easily accessible effective fluorescent materials. The simplicity of the ligand framework modification offers the possibility of further upgrading of the system to achieve greater chemical stability and enables modulation of the optical properties, which brings us closer to making it useful in practical applications, especially in technologies like OLEDs, display screens, and sensors. More information: Vadim Szejko et al, Luminescent Alkylaluminium Anthranilates Reaching Unity Quantum Yield in the Condensed Phase, Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2025). DOI: 10.1002/anie.202501985 Provided by Polish Academy of Sciences Citation: Subtle ligand modifications in aluminum complexes unlock enhanced solid-state light emission (2025, May 16) retrieved 20 May 2025 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #Subtle #ligand #modifications #aluminum #complexes #unlock #enhanced #solidstate #light #emission Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

4 things I loved about the world’s first robovac with a mechanical arm – and 3 that need work 4 things I loved about the world’s first robovac with a mechanical arm – and 3 that need work It seems that the big robot vacuum manufacturers all got together and decided that what we really need is a bot with a mechanical arm. One that can move clutter out of its path as it cleans, and even sort your mess out and relocate it where it needs to go. We saw a few arm-equipped robot vacuums at this year’s CES – the event where everyone showcases their upcoming launches – but Roborock surprised everyone by announcing that its own model wasn’t just at the wacky invention stage, it would actually be going on ***** within the year. Fast-forward a few months, and the Saros Z70 is indeed now available to buy. So does it deliver on its potential, or has Roborock rushed it through before the tech is ready? Is this innovative bot ready to compete with the rest of the best robot vacuums on the market? I’ve spent the past two weeks testing it out – you can get the full low-down in my Roborock Saros Z70 review. While it’s not perfect, there are plenty of great things about it – including a few that surprised me. Read on for 3 things I loved about this handy robovac, plus 3 that I think still need work if it’s going to be genuinely useful. You may like 3 things I loved 1. The pincering is excellent The hardware part of the pincer arm is very well designed. In my tests I found I could remote control the robot over to a bit of clutter and tell it to pick it up, and it would – almost without fail – recognize it and adjust its positioning and pincer so it could pick it up. I could then resume control and drive the bot where I wanted the clutter to go. Should the pickup fail, Roborock has included manual adjustment options so you can operate the arm yourself. These are intuitive and precise, and the grip is gentle but firm. The arm also tucks neatly away behind a hatch when it’s not in use, so it can’t get caught on anything while the bot’s on its travels. There’s big potential for people with limited mobility here. 2. There are plenty of safety measures Most people I talk to about this robovac seem afraid that the OmniGrip will be overzealous and try and tidy away the cat. Roborock has built in plenty of safety features to ensure this doesn’t happen. First, all the arm features are off by default, so nothing at all will happen until you specify exactly what you want it to do. It’s designed only to try and tidy very specific objects, having identified them using Roborock’s (generally excellent) object recognition tech, and the arm has a weight sensor that prevents it from lifting objects over 300g. The pincering itself is designed to be ‘firm yet gentle’, to prevent damage to objects, so kind of like one of those fairground claw games, but with a much higher success rate. Finally, there’s a physical ‘Emergency stop’ button on the robot itself, and a child lock. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. 3. It’s easy to use This is a new and potentially intimidating bit of tech, so kudos should go to Roborock for making it impressively accessible. It has placed the robot arm options front and center in the companion app, encouraging users to explore and become familiar with them. Plus, the controls themselves are logical and intuitive. 4. It’s an unexpectedly great security camera A lot of high-end robot vacuums can double as home security cams, but you’re a little limited by the fact that your view is at ground level. Here, Roborock has added a camera on the arm itself. Not only can the arm reach much higher up, it can also tilt vertically, thus offering a much more expansive field of view than if you were using the front-mounted camera alone. Of course, you can only spy on what’s happening inside your home, but useful nonetheless. 3 things that need improving 1. It doesn’t work on its own While the remote control-assisted pincering worked very well in my tests, really, the Saros Z70 needs to be able to tidy up unassisted if it’s to be genuinely useful to most people. Theoretically, you can ask the robot to identify objects suitable for tidying while on a whole-home clean, then once it’s finished, embark on a second run to pick them up and put them in a designated spot. Unfortunately, this bit doesn’t really work yet. It seems all the conditions need to be absolutely perfect in order for the process to be successful. So the bot needs to see the items and correctly identify them, then be able to find them again, then successfully pick them up, and then find its way to the correct relocation spot. I haven’t yet managed a run where one of these factors doesn’t fail. Roborock also told me that the process has a lower success rate on carpet than hard floors, due to a “hardware limitation”. That feels like a significant caveat. If something appears to get stuck on the arm, then all other functions are locked until you manually reset it by pressing physical buttons on the robot. For instance, on one occasion during my tests the arm picked up a sandal, then as it rotated with it, the sandal got caught on a doorstop and the strap twisted, so when the bot tried to drop it, it couldn’t. I had to go and rescue it before I could proceed. It’s probably a logical safety measure, but it’s not ideal to have to physically get involved to fix the matter. I’m hopeful the automation functions will improve with updates, but right now, this bot can’t really be left alone to tidy for you. 2. It can only pick up a few things At time of writing, the list of supported objects is very short – sandals / light slippers, socks, small towels, and crumpled tissue paper. It makes sense that Roborock would be cautious about adding more objects, because it needs to be confident the bot can correctly identify them and doesn’t end up trying to grip something it shouldn’t. But it does limit its usefulness a little, as does the weight (and presumably size) limitation. It’s not so much Roborock’s fault as a limitation of the form factor. Logically, it follows that the bot won’t be able to tackle anything too big or heavy. But it still affects how helpful such a design might be in the longer term. (Image credit: Future) 3. The price At the moment, the Roborock Saros Z70 comes with a price tag of $2,599 / AU$3,999 (*** price TBC, but potentially around £1,950 based on what it costs elsewhere). It’s the most expensive robovac we’ve tested, by some margin, and out of reach of most people. At the moment, it’s the only robot vacuum on the market to feature a robotic arm, so an eye-watering list price isn’t surprising. However, I’m not sure I’d buy it at that price, at least until some of the issues were ironed out. Because the robot vacuum market is competitive, with new models being released regularly, I’m used to seeing good deals and prices dropping fairly quickly as even better bots hit the market. There look to be more arm-equipped robovacs in the pipeline from other brands, so if the idea proves a hit, we might see a more competitive pricing landscape emerge. I suspect it’ll take a while, though. You might also like… Source link #loved #worlds #robovac #mechanical #arm #work Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Synthetic materials mimic seashells to enhance energy absorption Synthetic materials mimic seashells to enhance energy absorption Illinois Professor Shelly Zhang, center, with fellow researchers Rahul Dev Kundu, left, and Shi Zhao, right, have developed a synthetic multilayered material, similar to seashells, where each layer responds to stress differently. The researchers envision this technology being used in things like car bumpers and wearable bandages. Credit: Fred Zwicky Millions of years of evolution have enabled some marine animals to grow complex protective shells composed of multiple layers that work together to dissipate physical stress. In a new study, engineers have found a way to mimic the behavior of this type of layered material, such as seashell nacre, by programming individual layers of synthetic material to work collaboratively under stress. The new material design is poised to enhance energy-absorbing systems such as wearable bandages and car bumpers with multistage responses that adapt to collision severity. Many past studies have focused on reverse engineering to replicate the behavior of natural materials like bone, feathers and wood to reproduce their nonlinear responses to mechanical stress. A new study, led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign civil and environmental engineering professor Shelly Zhang and professor Ole Sigmund of the Technical University of Denmark, looked beyond reverse engineering to develop a framework for programmable multilayered materials capable of responding to local disturbances through microscale interconnections. The study findings are published in the journal Science Advances. “This work was born out of a discussion with my collaborator, Professor Sigmund, about how we already can achieve some very extreme behaviors, but there’s always a physical limit or upper bound that single materials can achieve, even with programming,” Zhang said. “That led us to consider what kind of engineering could enable some of the crazy material behaviors needed in real life. For example, extreme buckling behaviors could help dissipate energy for things like car bumpers.” That is when the team turned their attention to biological materials with multiple layers serving a different purpose, and how they could fabricate a synthetic material and use internal, microscale programming and optimization to control its response to mechanical stress and strain. “We landed on the idea to design multilayered materials with each layer being capable of exhibiting different properties and behaviors,” Zhang said. But not stopping there, the team pushed themselves to include the ability of individual layers to collaborate to essentially behave collectively as one. “Our new framework presents several advantages over existing methodologies for nonlinear stress-strain responses,” Zhang said. “It optimizes nacre-like multiple layers along with their interconnections in a continuum setup, which significantly expands the design space compared to similar work involving a single-layer setup or lattice structures.” During fabrication, the team learned some lessons. The theoretical idea behind this work is to have an infinitely periodic material. Still, the team must fabricate finite units, and it was to be expected that the theoretical material and the actual fabricated material would exhibit different behaviors. “The discrepancy we found is something that will always happen in real life,” Zhang said. “But we can harness this information to intentionally program the sequence of the buckling of each of the individual cells in assembly, store some information inside, and then later we can decode the information. It was fascinating to capture this discrepancy and for it to end up providing information needed to improve the work.” There is still a lot of work to be done to scale up fabrication for this type of material, but Zhang said that one valuable thing learned from this study is that when people collaborate, they achieve much greater things. “I think it works the same for materials,” Zhang said. “When different materials collectively work together, they can do things that are much more impactful than if they do things individually.” More information: Zhi Zhao et al, Extreme nonlinearity by layered materials through inverse design, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr6925 Provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Citation: Synthetic materials mimic seashells to enhance energy absorption (2025, May 16) retrieved 20 May 2025 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #Synthetic #materials #mimic #seashells #enhance #energy #absorption Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Formlabs Form 4L review: Industrial resin made simple Formlabs Form 4L review: Industrial resin made simple Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. The Formlabs Form 4L is the industrial-size big brother of the Form 4, capable of printing massive resin prints with speed and astounding accuracy. The only thing that’s difficult about this machine is getting it physically into your workshop, which requires a hand truck and a few strong backs. I should note right away that the Formlabs Form 4L is not a consumer-grade machine, but an industrial behemoth with an industrial price tag of $9,999 for a bundle that includes all the basics. Though this is far out of reach of our normal readers, I think it’s fascinating to see what 3D printers can do when you loosen up the cash flow. This was probably the most daunting machine I’ve reviewed, right up there with the mammoth Elegoo Orange Storm Giga. It arrived by freight truck on three pallets. Since you simply can not operate a Form 4L on its own, we got the whole enchilada with massive wash and cure stations as well. Due to the size and considerable expense of this unit, Formlabs extended us the courtesy of a loaner machine for this review. You may like Like the Formlabs 4 before it, you need to stay within the company’s admittedly generous ecosystem, which is actually a perk rather than a punishment. The resin is custom-made to perform with its machines, which takes all the guesswork out of the equation. All you have to do is follow the directions on the slicer and check all the boxes on the print screen to get a good print. The resin and vats are tagged with RFID stickers to make sure the computer knows what slicer profiles to offer and also maintains an inventory list. If you are a school or university, Formlabs will let you unlock the printer for free, allowing you to experiment with third-party resins. Everyone else needs to pay for that privilege. But seeing the depth of Formlabs’ material offerings, I think few people in this market actually need it. I also tested out Formlabs own Resin Washing Solution, which is less harsh and non-flammable, unlike Isopropyl Alcohol. Seeing as it was parked next to the furnace in my laundry room, it seemed like a prudent choice. With a build volume of 353 x 196 × 350 mm and prices starting at $8,904, the Formlabs Form 4L is a premium business-class 3D printer for people who demand high quality, ease of use, and reliability. Though it is semi-locked into an expensive ecosystem, the company provides a wide range of materials for every application, including medical, and we find it to be one of the best resin 3D printers and best 3D printers overall. Specifications: Formlabs Form 4L Swipe to scroll horizontally Build Volume 353 x 196 × 350 mm (13.9 x 7.7 x 13.8 inches) Light Source LED with plano-convex lens array X/Y Axis Resolution 46 µm Normal Exposure Time NA Interface 7-inch color touchscreen Connectivity USB, Wi-Fi, LAN Machine Footprint 664 x 528 x 794 mm (26.1 x 20.8 x 31.3 in inches) Machine Weight 58.5 KG (129 lbs) Included in the Box: Formlabs Form 4L (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Unlike consumer-level printers we’ve tested, the Form 4L is sold as a bundle and will come at a minimum with one vat and a manual cleaning kit. The kit consists of a large metal tub with a lid for cleaning models, a metal basket, and an assortment of hand tools. We were loaned the complete system, which also includes an automated wash station, a curing station, a metal tray, gloves, funnels, pliers, scrappers, and wipes. Formlabs also provided extra vats and an automatic pump to transfer resin from the 5-liter jug to the printer as needed. Printing Safely with Formlabs Form 4L (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Formlabs Form 4L requires the same safety precautions as other resin printers. Uncured resin is dangerous, and the solvents used to clean your prints can be irritating to the skin. Use gloves and safety glasses when pouring resin and handling uncured prints. Make sure the room you use your resin printer in is well-ventilated to avoid inhaling fumes. Spilled or dripped resin should be immediately cleaned with 99% isopropyl alcohol. After printing, make sure to wipe down your printer and bottles to remove smudges of uncured resin. Always keep your resin tightly sealed and safely stored out of reach of pets and children. Assembling the Formlabs Form 4L (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The printer comes fully assembled. You only need to unpack the printer, install the vat, put the wiper in, then lock the vat and build platform in their respective places. However, at 126 pounds, you will need some help getting it into place. The machine comes with lift straps to make it easier to move. Calibrating the Build Plate on the Formlabs Form 4L (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Formlabs Form 4L ships with the build plate factory-leveled. However, it does have an internal sensor to make sure the machine itself is level so it can accurately read the liquid contents of the vat. During initial set up, the machine will walk you through leveling the four legs on the bottom of the printer, using a provided tool. Design of the Formlabs Form 4L (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Formlabs Form 4L is a premium machine built with incredible attention to detail. Due to its size, it has a hinged door that opens like a cabinet, instead of the expected flip-top lid. The oversized vats are the size of cafeteria trays and thankfully are made of light plastic and not metal, but they still require that you handle them with two hands. Everything quickly and securely latches into place: the build plate, the vat, and the wiper. The glass surface over the light processing unit has a non-stick texture to prevent the vat’s film from getting stuck to the glass, allowing the film to gently flex when the build plate lifts between layers. Formlabs resin comes in special cartridges that have a standard bottle cap on the top and a flexible nipple on the bottom. The Form 4L can take two cartridges at a time, and can dispense just the right amount of resin from the bottom opening as needed. If you opt for 5-liter ***** – what I was sent – you can get a pump that fits into the bottle holder and behaves the same way. ***** come with RFID tags on a plastic chip you slide into a slot on the pump, allowing the printer to recognize the pump and the material it’s feeding. The pump is further connected to the machine with a USB cord. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The vats have a programmable RFID tag, which allows the printer to connect the dots between resin bottles and the vat you use it with. The vats have UV proof lids so you can stack and store them with leftover resin still inside. When you swap vats, the printer will remember what material was in the vat, how much should be left, and how many layers the film has printed. Formlabs suggests buying one vat for each material you regularly use, though the vat’s RFID tags can be reprogrammed if you want to clean it out and reuse for another material. Formlabs estimates the vat could last a year or two for the average user. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The vat also has something I’ve not seen on a consumer machine – a wiper blade. The blade has two purposes: it stirs the resin to keep it well blended, and it feels for debris in the tank. If it encounters a chunk from a failed print, it will stop the printer, alert you and suggest cleaning methods. The Form 4L has even more sensors that can alert you to dangerous situations. It can track the resin level and will stop when it runs out, it knows if it’s sitting on an unlevel surface, and it knows when the lid is open and will ask you to close it. It sounds an alarm if you try to remove the vat without first removing the build plate, which could drip on the glass and cause a difficult to clean mess. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Like the previous Form 4, the Form 4L “only” has 4k resolution, which sounds pretty disappointing when compared to consumer-grade printers with pixel counts of 12, 14 and 16K. But Formlabs proves something I’ve always suspected: sharp details are more about machine precision and the material than pixel count. The Form 4L produces crisp, clean prints with an amazing level of detail and accuracy. Formlabs printers need to be connected to a computer to receive files, either through WiFi, LAN, or a direct USB cable. This is because the slicer, PreForm, needs a two-way connection to double-check the type of resin that is loaded. It will also track your resin inventory and suggest when you may need to buy more. The Form 4L also comes with a built-in camera to monitor the printer and record time lapses. The wash and cure stations are equally well-designed to make the printing process easy. The wash station sits directly on the floor and is the size of a small deep freezer capable of holding 11 gallons of solution. The lid opens with the touch of a button, and the screen lets you program the wash cycles. The basket is motorized, and like the smaller wash unit, it will raise out of the solution when the timer goes off to avoid soaking too long. It has a built-in sensor to monitor the cleanliness of the washing solution, plus a storage compartment for a battery-powered pump to remove the liquid to a bucket or barrel once it’s done. The manual “wash bucket” and the Formlabs Form 4L Wash unit. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Formlabs only sent five liters of their low-odor, non-flammable washing solution. This only filled the tank a few centimeters, but since it was recommended to follow up with a soapy water rinse, I made do. The chemical solution was placed in the slightly smaller handwashing tank, and I filled the machine washer with water and a splash of dish soap. It was a bit more work, but the parts came out squeaky clean. The curing oven is comparable to a full-sized microwave, complete with a glass platter the size of a medium pizza. This was no doubt the best curing station I’ve used with a resin printer. It was preprogrammed with every Formlabs resin, so all I needed to do was pick the material, confirm the settings, and push the button. It knew if the resin needed a heated chamber or not, and how long to run the UV light. The glass turntable is something I’d like to see more often – it cleaned up easily and never got cloudy, as plastic turntables do. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Slicers Compatible with the Formlabs Form 4L (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Form 4L only works with its custom software, PreForm. Software is a free download, and it needs to be connected to the printer via WiFi, LAN or USB cord. PreForm software is fully automatic and simplified. Because you’re working within the Formlabs’ walled garden, there’s no need for you to tinker with the settings – perfect settings have been found. You only pick the layer line size, which determines speed. It defaulted to a 0.1 mm layer, which is considered quite chunky normally, but was listed as “fast”. The program can do everything a slicer should – it can hollow your model, automatically add supports to the inside & outside, and neatly multiply parts in organized rows. Once the Print Validation area is all green, you’re good to go. You have limited ability to tune the printer in the advanced settings, but I found no need for this on my tests. The Dashboard area takes things a step further. Here you can track your print history, see how much resin is available, and if you have a farm, you can see which printers are open. It tracks when you last used each cartridge of resin, how much it estimates is left in the bottle, and has a handy link to the Formlabs store to order more. Washing and Curing Your Prints Models by Wekster (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Before you can admire your prints, you’ll need to clean off the extra resin. Normally, I wash them with isopropyl alcohol and cure with UV light, but for this printer, I used Formlabs’ bespoke Resin Washing solution, which is a non-flammable and low-odor alternative to alcohol. Prints should be allowed to air dry before being placed in the curing station. Supports are easier to remove before curing because they are softer. Clip the supports off with side cutters and use tweezers to remove stubborn supports. Remember to always wear gloves while handling uncured prints. Then place the print in a UV curing station for 15 minutes, or outside in bright sunlight for a few hours. Your wash solution should never be flushed down the drain, especially after being contaminated with uncured resin. Instead, keep using the resin until it’s too dirty, then leave the container open to evaporate. The remaining sludge can be cured with UV light or the sun before being thrown away. Supports should also be cured before being thrown away. Sample Prints on the Formlabs Form 4L I first tested the printer with the AmeraLabs resin test print using Formlabs Grey V5 resin that was provided for the review, which sells for $79 per liter. The print looked perfect, with some of the cleanest details I’ve ever seen from that model. The print took one hour and 17 minutes to complete using a .05mm layer height at default settings. Though it was unnecessary to run a test print – there’s nothing I could really change in the slicer – it was nice to set a baseline expectation of what the printer can do. The entire model was crisp, and I could see details, like windows in the buildings, that consumer printers often obscure. The raft on the bottom was stuck a bit too tight, and being very thin, broke off. AmeraLabs Town test print (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Next, I ran my favorite Rocket Bust by Wekster, which I’ve been using as a larger comparison test for resin printers. I ran it twice, once using speedy .15mm layers (comparable to more detailed settings on an FDM printer) and again with super fine .05mm layers. The fast model printed in one hour and 20 minutes, and is really quite good. There are visible layer lines, but the part is clear and precise. The finer mode produced a perfectly smooth print with no layer lines in 4 hours and 54 minutes. The fast print is on the left, and the slower one is on the right. The dots on his shoulder are from supports that were not filed off. Rocket Bust by Wekster: .15mm layer height on the left, .05 layer height on the right. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Next up is a book nook model that comes in three parts: a box, the dragon head, and the claw. The box is printed on its own in ****** Resin V5, which sells for $79 per liter. I didn’t hollow it out, so it’s a hefty 543 grams, taking 433 mL of resin. It printed in 7 hours and 54 minutes using thick 0.1 mm layers. The dragon was also printed in speed mode, taking 8 hours and 25 minutes with 0.1 mm layers. I was able to use PreForm’s slicer to hollow the dragon and add holes, so it is a much lighter weight and only took 150 mL of resin. Using the 0.1 mm layer height saved nearly 15 hours of print time and only left the slightly visible layer lines. The book nook is 200 mm tall, not quite 8 inches. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Dragon Emerging Book Nook by CraftyKid 3D (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Formlabs makes an impressive Clear V5 resin, which sells for $79 per liter. Below, you can see a very clear crystal dragon using a standard 0.05 mm layer height and default settings. The one on the left is unfinished, while the one on the right is sealed with Modpodge. This dragon is printed at 95% to squeeze him onto the rectangular bed, but is completely solid and printed flat without supports. He needs a gentle touch to pop him off the bed with a scraper, but the smooth bottom surface is much nicer this way. There are no layer lines to be seen, he has excellent flexibility, and was printed in 3 hours and 49 minutes. Though not pictured here, Formlabs has released a similar clear resin called Creator Super Clear for $45, which can be used on any consumer resin printer. Cinderwing Gemstone Dragon (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The last resin I tested was Formlabs’ Tough 2000 Resin, which has the strength and stiffness of ABS. I used this one to test some practical prints, like a clip that refused to break, a hefty little hammer, and a working wrench. I printed each tool solid for added weight. The hammer may not be good for framing houses, but it did a great job tapping a chisel to get prints off the Formlabs build plate. The whole set took 2 hours and 36 minutes to print on one build plate, using faster 0.1 mm layers. I tested the wrench on some bolts, and it really works. Adjustable Pipe Wrench by EricMan314, Thwack by Mr. MegaTronic, Clip by Referentiel. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Bottom Line (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Formlabs Form 4L is a great tool for businesses that need large models and accurate prototypes fast and don’t want to assign a mechanic to run their printer. My test prints barely scratched the capabilities of this machine. The optional “open material mode” means the ecosystem isn’t as locked down as you might think, and can be purchased for a one-time fee. The open mode is also free for schools and universities. Its $8,904 starting price tag pushes it right out of the consumer market and probably past a number of small businesses. But this kind of machine would be an excellent tool in an educational setting, where you want to spend time on producing parts, not worrying about how to make them print. The helpful guides on the user interface and the constant reminders to follow procedure allow makers to concentrate on their design skills, not their knowledge of chemistry. If you’re looking for a premium resin printer that delivers the same quality with a smaller build volume, then definitely check out the smaller Formlabs Form 4 for $3,499. If you need something with a similar massive build size, a smaller price tag, and don’t mind getting a little experimental with your slicer settings, check out the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S for $1,299. Source link #Formlabs #Form #review #Industrial #resin #simple Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

After Earnings Beats, These 3 Stocks Are on Analysts’ Radar After Earnings Beats, These 3 Stocks Are on Analysts’ Radar When companies deliver earnings that exceed expectations, Wall Street often takes swift action—and that’s exactly what happened with three standout stocks in recent weeks. Their results didn’t just beat on revenue and profits; they also delivered guidance and underlying performance metrics that reinforced investor confidence. As a result, analysts from several major institutions raised their price targets, signaling continued conviction in the companies’ growth trajectories. Importantly, even after strong post-earnings rallies, the new targets suggest there’s still meaningful upside potential. For investors tracking momentum plays with fundamental support, these names deserve a closer look. BIRK Shares Get Back on Their Feet After Impressive Report ******* sandal and footwear maker Birkenstock (NYSE:) reported solid fiscal Q2 2025 earnings that punctuated this stock’s strong recovery over recent weeks. Birkenstock shares closed at their 2025 low in early April of just over $42 per share. On May 19, shares closed at over $56, exhibiting a rise of around 34% over about five weeks. The stock’s second-largest single-day rise over that ******* came on May 15, just after its earnings release. Shares rose nearly 6%, reacting to the company’s better-than-expected sales and adjusted earnings per share (EPS). The company also said it expects full-year revenue growth to be at the higher end of its previously forecasted range of 15% to 17%. This is particularly good news for a company like Birkenstock in the consumer discretionary sector. Analysts have expected these companies to take some of the largest hits from tariff wars. Birkenstock saw robust sales growth of over 18% from a year ago and saw its adjusted operating margin rise by 140 basis points. After the earnings release, MarketBeat tracked a good handful of analysts who raised their price targets on Birkenstock. Overall, the average of these updates leads to a price target of $72 per share. Compared to the stock’s May 19 closing price, this implies shares could rise another 28%, a very notable amount of upside potential. Bank of America says the company’s “sustained brand popularity” can lead to continued sales growth and margin expansion. Cisco’s AI Business Wastes No Time Getting Up to Speed Networking equipment giant Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:) was another post-earnings standout, reporting its fiscal Q3 2025 results on May 14. The company grew sales by 11%, moderately faster than expected. The company also beat on adjusted EPS and increased its full-year revenue and earnings expectations. A particularly important underlying win was the fact that Cisco’s AI infrastructure orders came in at $600 million. Cisco’s total AI infrastructure orders in fiscal 2025 exceeded the company’s initial yearly goal of $1 billion with a quarter to spare. Shares rose nearly 5% afterward. MarketBeat tracked several analyst price target upgrades after this report. The average price target among those tracked updates is just under $70 per share. This implies upside of nearly 10% from the company’s May 19 closing price. Although this might not seem like much, it is notable for a company like Cisco. The company has been around for a very long time, and it’s valued at around $250 billion. As a result, this stock has extensive analyst coverage, and price targets generally don’t stray too far from its trading price. Evercore ISI notes Cisco’s faster-than-expected AI order growth as a reason for optimism and sees growth continuing in fiscal 2026. Goldman Calls Out Dynatrace’s Strong Risk & Reward Outlook In its fiscal Q4 2025 results, observability software provider Dynatrace (NYSE:) delivered significantly more than Wall Street bargained for. The company’s software uses AI to help businesses track and analyze how their applications and assets perform. Essentially, their software helps other software developers make sure their apps work reliably and well for customers. Dynatrace’s adjusted EPS in the quarter of $0.33 was 10% higher than anticipated. The company’s sales growth of 17% also surpassed expectations. The same was true for fiscal 2026 revenue and adjusted EPS guidance. Shares rose by 6% post-earnings. MarketBeat tracked price target updates after the May 14 release. These placed an average price target on the stock of over $62. This implies shares could rise nearly 16% from their May 19 closing price. Goldman Sachs believes that Dynatrace has an attractive risk-reward profile, given secular trends toward GenAI and digital transformation. Strong Fundamentals Drive Confidence in an Uncertain Market The post-earnings action in Birkenstock, Cisco Systems, and Dynatrace highlights the power of strong fundamentals in an uncertain market environment. Each company delivered results that went beyond headline beats, providing visibility into future growth and profitability, two factors that institutional analysts consistently reward. While their share prices have already moved higher, the wave of price target upgrades indicates there could be more room to run. For investors, these updates suggest that the market’s re-evaluation of these stocks may only be in the early innings, especially if broader sentiment continues to improve. Original Post Source link #Earnings #Beats #Stocks #Analysts #Radar Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

French police launch prison hunt for ********-made miniature phones French police launch prison hunt for ********-made miniature phones Hugh Schofield Paris correspondent FRENCH PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE The contraband phones are the size of a ********** lighter French authorities have launched a nationwide hunt for thousands of tiny ********-made telephones used by convicts to continue criminal activities from inside prison. The telephones, no ******* than a **********-lighter, are almost entirely plastic, and have a reputation for being virtually invisible to metal detectors. Under Operation Prison Break, announced on Tuesday by the cyber crime branch of the Paris prosecutor’s office, prison officers have been authorised to conduct searches in 500 cells in 66 detention centres. According to Le Monde newspaper, the devices were nicknamed “suppositories” by prison inmates because of their ease of concealment. “Investigations have established that some of these telephones were used to commit crimes from inside detention, including drugs trafficking, racketeering, arson and attempted *******,” a statement from the prosecutor’s office said. The French supplier of the devices – a company called Oportik – has been stopped from trading and three staff members arrested. It is believed to have sold about 5,000 of the phones, the cheapest of which cost just €20 (£16.84). EPA Authorities said the smuggled phones had been facilitating crime from behind bars France’s Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has pledged to crack down on drug gangs and other criminal organisations, whose leaders he said are too often able to continue to conduct operating even after being jailed. In 2024 some 40,000 mobile phones were confiscated in prisons. Conventional devices are projected over prison walls or dropped by drones. Others are smuggled in by corrupt prison staff. Phone-jamming is deployed in some jails, but there are doubts about its efficacity. Similar mini-phones are manufactured in large numbers in China, according to Le Monde. While they are themselves perfectly legal in France, it is a crime to supply a prisoner with a phone. The French prosecutor’s office said it had passed information on how it traced the Oportik phones to the EU’s judicial cooperation agency Eurojust, so that other countries can conduct similar clampdowns. EPA French authorities have been under pressure to tighten security in prisons Source link #French #police #launch #prison #hunt #Chinesemade #miniature #phones Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Exoplanet’s companion found via orbital mechanics variations Exoplanet’s companion found via orbital mechanics variations Artist’s conception of a “Hot Jupiter,” like Puli. Credit—ESO/L. Calçada Tracking exoplanets via orbital mechanics isn’t easy. Plenty of variables could affect how a planet moves around its star, and determining which ones affect any given exoplanet requires a lot of data and a lot of modeling. A recent paper from researchers led by Kaviya Parthasarathy from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan published in New Astronomy tries to break through the noise and determine what is causing the transit timing variations (TTVs) of HAT-P-12b, more commonly known as Puli. Puli is a “sub-Saturn” exoplanet that orbits the star HAT-P-12, also known as Komondor. Both the star and its planet are named after dog breeds as they reside in the constellation Canes Venatici and lie about 463 light years away from Earth. Nothing is particularly special about the star or the planet, except that they have had a lot of data collected on them. The paper analyzed 46 light curves watching Puli traverse in front of Komondor. Some were previously published, whereas others, including some ground-based observations and some new data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, were never before analyzed. The most noticeable feature of Puli’s transits was its variability. This feature, known in the literature as transit timing variations, was pretty significant, coming in at an “amplitude” of 156 seconds of variability, meaning that the planet would occasionally pass in front of the star either over two minutes earlier or two minutes later than expected given a “regular” orbital *******. That might not seem like much, but orbital mechanics are very precise, so that much variation was definitely a sign of something else affecting Puli’s orbit. Fraser discusses transits, the exoplanet hunting technique used to find Puli. To figure out what, the researchers resorted to statistical analysis. They tried four different orbital models to see which one was the best first. First, they looked at a “linear” model representing a perfectly periodic transit. Given the variability in the transit times, that model did not fit the data well. An orbital decay model, which represents whether the planet’s orbit is slowing due to being pulled into the host star, didn’t fit particularly well either. It represented a slow but steady rate of change, which would have seen the transits’ time change consistently in one direction over the course of the observations. Another model, the apsidal model, tried to understand what would happen with a slightly eccentric orbit that could be reflected in different start and end times of Puli’s transit. This one fit better than the other two models, but wasn’t the best fit for the data. That title goes to a sinusoidal model, representing another planet’s gravitational influence on Puli’s transits. This model caught a periodic signal in the TTVs that was translated into a companion planet with a ******* of 6.24 orbital days and a mass about 2% the size of Jupiter. The output of the sinusoidal model estimated a TTV amplitude of 2.6 minutes, almost spot on what it actually was. To rule out other factors, the authors considered the Applegate mechanism, whereby changes in the star itself could affect TTV measurements. This mechanism includes factors like the star’s magnetic activity or a change in its “oblateness,” or how much it bulges at its center, which could dramatically impact the orbital timing of a transiting exoplanet. However, the predicted amplitude from this effect was only about 0.4 seconds, not anywhere near enough to explain the more than two-minute deviation found in the data. Luckily, Komondor had enough data collected on it that the authors could do this kind of deep dive to discover a potential new planet—not every exoplanetary system is so lucky. But as we start to collect more data on more exoplanet systems, there will undoubtedly be unseen companion planets lurking in them. The more we can run the sort of analysis described in the paper, the more of them we are likely to find. More information: Kaviya Parthasarathy et al, Transit timing variations of the sub-Saturn exoplanet HAT-P-12b, New Astronomy (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.newast.2025.102390 On arXiv: DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2503.10441 Journal information: arXiv Provided by Universe Today Citation: Exoplanet’s companion found via orbital mechanics variations (2025, May 20) retrieved 20 May 2025 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #Exoplanets #companion #orbital #mechanics #variations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Alation boosts agentic AI with Numbers Station acquisition Alation boosts agentic AI with Numbers Station acquisition Alation on Tuesday reached an agreement to acquire Numbers Station in a move aimed at adding new agentic AI development capabilities. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Numbers Station is a 2021 startup based in Austin, Texas, that enables users to quickly build and deploy agentic AI applications as well as connect agents so that they can work together to take on tasks previously performed by humans. Before its acquisition by Alation, the vendor raised $17.5 million in venture capital funding. Alation, a data catalog specialist based in Redwood City, Calif., unveiled Agentic Platform in March. The suite, which is in beta testing, features both an agentic AI SDK as well as a set of agents that automate tasks such as documentation, data discovery and data governance. The acquisition of Numbers Station adds new capabilities to Alation’s Agentic Platform related to using structured data to inform AI applications. As a result, it is a significant move for the vendor’s users, according to William McKnight, president of McKnight Consulting Group. “This move is brilliant on Alation’s part,” he said. “Numbers Station is an undiscovered gem and will enhance Alation’s AI capabilities, particularly in understanding and leveraging structured data. The combined strengths aim to enable trusted, scaled AI and unlock new agentic workflows that deliver business outcomes.” In conjunction with Agentic Platform and Alation’s existing governance capabilities, the acquisition should accelerate Alation’s development of a robust environment for agentic AI development, McKnight added. Adding agentic AI Agents, which are applications that can act autonomously to perform business processes, are at the forefront of AI development. With AI capable of making workers better informed and more efficient, enterprises’ interest in AI development surged following OpenAI’s November 2022 launch of ChatGPT, which represented a significant improvement in generative AI (GenAI) technology. Concurrently, given that data provides the intelligence aspect of AI, many data management vendors created environments for their customers to develop GenAI applications. They also developed GenAI tools of their own to simplify using complex platforms. Initially, bots that enabled users to generate code or ask questions and receive responses using natural language rather than code were cutting-edge. Now, agents that don’t need to be prompted to do work such as exploring data to surface insights, documenting work and monitoring data for anomalies are the latest trend. As agentic AI has emerged, numerous data management vendors have expanded their AI development environments to add agentic development capabilities. In addition, some have already launched agents of their own that make it easier and more efficient to use their platforms. In addition to Alation, Informatica and Boomi are among those expanding into agentic AI development. Meanwhile, Databricks — one of the most aggressive developers of an AI development environment in the wake of ChatGPT’s launch — recently spent $1 billion to acquire PostgreSQL database vendor Neon in a move aimed at simplifying and speeding agentic AI development. Key to Alation’s acquisition of Numbers Studio are the additions of Chat and Workflow, according to Satyen Sangani, Alation’s co-founder and CEO. Chat is an agent that users can embed into workflows and applications to better understand their own business. Workflow enables users to connect and run analytics-based processes. Combined with Alation’s metadata foundation, they will better enable the development of agents that can reason and take action in real time than Agentic Platform alone. In addition, the acquisition of Numbers Station adds predictive analytics and data storytelling capabilities, which is significant, according to McKnight. This move is brilliant on Alation’s part. Numbers Station is an undiscovered gem and will enhance Alation’s AI capabilities, particularly in understanding and leveraging structured data. William McKnightPresident, McKnight Consulting Group “Numbers Station’s technology allows for more intuitive interaction with data and enables users to receive fast insights without requiring technical expertise, which has been a goal of AI players,” he said. Stewart Bond, an analyst at IDC, similarly noted that Alation’s acquisition of Numbers Station adds complementary capabilities. He said Alation’s existing data catalog capabilities help provide the needed context for agents that can be developed with Numbers Station’s capabilities. Meanwhile, Numbers Station’s agentic AI tools can help Alation’s data catalog evolve. “This is a good acquisition for Alation,” Bond said. “This acquisition will provide Alation with deeper capabilities in agentic development, and for Numbers Station, it provides all the necessary data intelligence to improve the accuracy of agent outcomes.” With its acquisition of Numbers Station, Alation chose to buy agentic AI development capabilities that complement Agentic Platform rather than develop them internally. Buying capabilities is faster than building them, and that — along with acquiring expert talent — was a main factor in the decision to purchase Numbers Station, according to Sangani. “The decision to acquire rather than build came down to speed, talent and strategic alignment,” he said. “Numbers Station has built a powerful set of AI agents, and the technology complements Alation’s platform and accelerates our roadmap. Additionally, their team brings deep expertise in applied AI, which strengthens our ability to innovate quickly.” Buying rather than building is not without risk. However, acquiring agentic AI development capabilities to augment Alation’s Agentic Platform is wise, given the speed with which AI is evolving, according to Bond. “To stay ahead of trends and the competition, buying these capabilities accelerates Alation’s growth in agentic,” he said. “Agentic is the future, and if Alation can execute the integration and vision of data intelligence agents, they have an opportunity for success.” Looking ahead Alation’s near-term focus will be on integrating Numbers Station after the acquisition, which remains subject to customary closing conditions, according to Sangani. In particular, combining Numbers Station’s capabilities with applications now in Alation’s recently launched Data Products Marketplace will be a priority. “We expect this to happen quickly,” Sangani said. McKnight noted that Alation’s acquisition of Numbers Station is mainly aimed at making AI agents trustworthy when working with structured data. To further expand, Alation could add other agentic AI capabilities as well as delve into new areas of data management, such as data observability. “To evolve, Alation could expand agentic AI into autonomous data insights and actions, and conversational analytics,” McKnight said. “It could also add data observability to become a full data intelligence platform.” Eric Avidon is a senior news writer for Informa TechTarget and a journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He covers analytics and data management. Source link #Alation #boosts #agentic #Numbers #Station #acquisition Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Spotify Stock’s Rally Still Has Legs To Run Higher Spotify Stock’s Rally Still Has Legs To Run Higher Value investors are often wary about investing in a stock once it has reached a new high, feeling like they are overpaying for a company that might have already priced in most (if not all) of the upside potential that the business may carry. However, choosing to pass on these opportunities creates one of those moments where investors come back a few years later and wish they had bought, even if it represented a premium when the deal was first on the table. What they must realize is that today’s stock market isn’t like the one when the discipline of value investing first floated around for portfolios. When information was slowly spread around different assets, participants had to do the real digging around to find these opportunities. Today, with the advent of information becoming available to nearly everyone, prices move a lot quicker, and information is priced in a lot more aggressively. Under this thinking, those who are looking away from shares of Spotify Technology (NYSE:) because of its recent bullish momentum might come to regret it in the future, as this company will likely keep proving everyone why it has rallied by this much and this consistently. Rooted in fundamentals and momentum, this technology stock’s underlying indicators stand to push the stock higher than where it is today. Performance Is Outstanding At Spotify Starting with Spotify’s most recent financial performance, investors can start to shape up their belief in higher prices through a few very important key performance indicators (KPIs). Breaking down Spotify’s latest quarterly financial results will reveal a few things. Starting with what drives all business growth, Spotify reported 678 million monthly active users, representing a net growth rate of as much as 10% over the past 12 months. This showcases the fast adoption rate despite Spotify still having a significant share of the music and podcast streaming market. This growth translates to a total revenue figure of up to $4.1 billion, or 15% higher than the previous year. Now, this revenue growth isn’t the main push for higher valuations, but the way that Spotify collects this revenue itself, which is a subscription-based model. During times of market uncertainty and volatility (like today’s ), investors tend to prefer companies that collect revenue on a stable and predictable basis (through subscriptions), which might explain some of the momentum behind Spotify stock’s 116.6% upswing over the past year alone. More importantly, a high profit margin and capital retention rate enable management to reinvest in further growth and value compounding moving forward. This is expressed through up to $534 million in free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capital expenditures), pushing over 158% growth for the year. With all of this free cash flow being reinvested into growth, investors can notice Spotify generating up to 17.7% in return on invested capital (ROIC) rates, one of the most important metrics value investors look for. ROIC matters because the annual stock price performance matches the long-term ROIC rate over time, compounding investor capital at attractive rates. The Market’s Optimism For Spotify’s Future This triple-digit growth in free cash flow might only be the beginning for Spotify’s journey, as Wall Street analysts now forecast up to $10.00 in earnings per share (EPS) for the fiscal year 2025, implying a jump of 75.4% from last year’s EPS, and as most investors know this is what tends to drive buyers into any business. Some have already started to position themselves before the new growth wave arrives, as seen through the 2.3% boost in holdings by institutional allocators from Amundi, bringing their net position to a high of $428.6% million today, a sign of confidence in Spotify’s future growth. Another confirmation can be taken from Guggenheim analyst Michael Moris, who decided to reiterate his Buy rating on Spotify stock as of May 2025, along with a $725 valuation. Compared to today’s price, this call would imply as much upside as a 10.5% upside for investors to consider, with the possibility of further upgrades down the line from all this EPS growth. The market is also willing to embrace this path higher for Spotify stock, as it trades at 110.2x price-to-earnings (P/E) to call a significant premium to the rest of the sector average of 27.3x. This is where most value investors turn away, calling the stock expensive and failing to realize that the market will always pay a premium for the stocks it believes can keep outperforming the market. Judging by how Spotify’s financials have grown and are set to keep growing, this premium paid for the stock is justified to keep delivering double-digit growth and upside. Original Post Source link #Spotify #Stocks #Rally #Legs #Run #Higher Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Sex worker ‘terrified’ by plans for new prostitution law Sex worker ‘terrified’ by plans for new prostitution law David Wallace Lockhart Scotland correspondent BBC If the new bill becomes law, it would become an offence to pay for ******* services At 17 years old, Alice was sacked from her job in a call centre. Her home environment was difficult. She had no CV and few employment options. A friend had been involved in sex work and had made “a lot of money”. Alice decided to go down a similar road. Now in her 30s, she’s still involved in sex work, though she balances it with other job opportunities. But Alice (not her real name) believes a potential change in the law in Scotland will make her “terrifyingly” unsafe. Alba MSP Ash Regan is introducing a bill that would make it an offence to pay for ******* services. It’s an approach often referred to as the “Nordic Model”. The former SNP leadership candidate argues that challenging men’s demand for prostitution will help to protect women. Regan says that “buying ******* access to a human being is a form of male violence”, and she’s determined to see the law reformed. As things currently stand paying for sex is not ******** in Scotland. But some activities which are sometimes connected– such as running a ********, loitering in a public place to buy or sell sex or persuading someone to take up prostitution – are against the law. Regan also wants to see women involved in selling sex offered “exit alternatives” and a legal right to support. And she wants to see any previous convictions for soliciting repealed. But these proposals have split those who want to keep sex workers safe. Alice explains that the internet has changed the landscape for what she calls “full-service sex workers” (people who exchange sex for money). She says there are now more opportunities for those selling sex to “screen” potential clients. This can involve asking to see photo ID before meeting a client, asking for a link to their social media or even requesting references from other sex workers. It’s not a failsafe process, but it can help to check whether people are who they claim to be. But she is concerned about the potential change in the law in Scotland. Alice told BBC News she felt the proposed changes to the law would make her feel more unsafe Most of Alice’s unease around the bill revolves around safety. She insists “there’s a difference between good clients and bad clients”. If buying sex is criminalised, then she fears that the “good clients” will disappear and “you’ll just be left with people who don’t care about you as they don’t care about breaking the law”. “I would assume that anyone who doesn’t care about breaking the law is more likely to be dangerous”, she says. She worries that a change in the law would make screening clients harder, as anyone who’s still willing to buy sex illegally won’t be willing to share their details. Alice argues that all these factors combine to mean that Ash Regan’s proposals would make her “terrifyingly” less safe. “My body would become a crime scene, wouldn’t it? So why would I go to the police? I wouldn’t even go to the police now,” she says. Alice believes that further decriminalisation is what would ultimately make her safer, providing her with more protections and enabling a better relationship with the police. But Regan’s proposal is to offer a route out of sex work for someone like Alice. Is that a prospect that appeals to her? Alice is sceptical. She thinks this sounds like swapping sex work for a minimum wage job, which she says “doesn’t really change why people end up choosing to do sex work in the first place”. PA Media Alba MSP Ash Regan says buying sex is a form of male violence Ash Regan is unwilling to tolerate the status quo. She argues that it’s fundamentally “a system of exploitation and violence” that affects the most vulnerable women in society. The Alba MSP describes her bill as “a departure from the failed approach of decriminalising the sex trade without addressing the root cause and consequences of commodifying human beings: demand.” The most effective way to do this, she argues, is to criminalise those who are paying for sex. Regan told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “We need to shift the balance of criminality onto those that are perpetuating this system of inequality and violence, and that is the buyers and the buyers are almost always male. “The data shows that if you implement and enforce this law it will reduce the market of prostitution which means less women will be harmed.” The MSP said the data from other European countries is “very clear”. In Sweden, where the Nordic model was implemented 25 years ago, no women working in prostitution have been killed, she said. She compared this to Germany where, since 2002, a decriminalisation approach has been adopted. She said this has led to the ******* of 99 and attempted ******* of 60 sex workers. She has promised to “confront the injustice of commercial ******* exploitation head-on” and has the backing of a number of women’s groups. However, there is also a campaign that has been specifically set up to oppose her proposals, with sex workers stressing safety concerns. The debate about how to legislate with regards to selling sex is a contentious one. Even the term “sex worker” is rejected by some, including Regan. And every person involved in this world will have their own unique story and set of circumstances. It’s rare to have someone like Alice willing to do an interview and speak so frankly – but she does not speak on behalf of every sex worker in Scotland. Regan has the support of other individuals who have previously been involved in sex work. This all highlights how sensitive this debate could become, with different camps passionately believing that their own approach is the right one. If her bill was to become law, Scotland would not be the first place in the *** to criminalise the buying of sex. It has been a crime to pay for sex in Northern Ireland since 2015. A 2019 independent review by Queen’s University Belfast found that the law did not appear to have the desired effect. Despite a tightening up of the law, sex workers reported increased demand for their services and it found that more sex workers were advertising online. Researchers added that sex workers felt “further marginalised and stigmatised”. The report concluded that the change in the Northern Irish law had “minimal effect on the demand for ******* services.” But there are those – like Ash Regan – who believe that reform can quash demand, make women safer, and provide alternative employment opportunities. This debate could ultimately go nowhere in the foreseeable future. With a Scottish election due in 2026, bills that don’t complete their parliamentary journey in that timeframe will fall by the wayside. Opposition towards this bill remains. And MSPs will now have to think about where they stand on this issue, if they haven’t done so already. Its biggest obstacle could yet be time. Source link #Sex #worker #terrified #plans #prostitution #law Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ChatGPT shown to be more persuasive than people in online debates ChatGPT shown to be more persuasive than people in online debates Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Large language models (LLMs), such as GPT-4, are found to be more persuasive than humans 64% of the time in online debates when adapting their arguments on the basis of personalized information about their opponents, according to a study published in Nature Human Behaviour. The findings highlight the ability of GPT-4 to produce tailored persuasive arguments and suggest the need for further research into mitigating risks associated with their use in persuasion. As conversations between humans and LLMs have become more common, research suggests that LLMs could become more persuasive (able to alter someone’s belief or opinions). However, it has not been clear whether these models can adapt to personalized information to target arguments to specific debating opponents. Francesco Salvi and colleagues matched 900 people in the U.S. with either another human or GPT-4 to debate various sociopolitical issues, such as whether the U.S. should ban fossil fuels. In some pairs, the opponent (whether AI or human) was given demographic information about their debate partner—including their gender, age, ethnicity, education level, employment status, and political affiliation extracted from participant surveys—to better target their arguments. The debates took place in a controlled online setting, with participants recruited via a crowdsourcing platform specifically for the study. When equipped with personal information about participants, Salvi and colleagues found that GPT-4 was 64.4% more persuasive than human opponents. However, without access to personal data, GPT-4’s persuasive capabilities were indistinguishable from those of humans. The authors note that limitations of the study include the debate taking a structured approach—whereas real-world debates can be more freeform—and that the debates featured a time limit. They note the findings highlight the potential for AI-driven tools to influence human opinion, which could have implications for online platform design. More information: Francesco Salvi et al, On the conversational persuasiveness of GPT-4, Nature Human Behaviour (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-025-02194-6 Provided by Nature Publishing Group Citation: ChatGPT shown to be more persuasive than people in online debates (2025, May 19) retrieved 20 May 2025 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #ChatGPT #shown #persuasive #people #online #debates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Best Buy’s Memorial Day laptop deals start at just $139: see my 7 favorite sales on Dell, Apple, Asus, and more Best Buy’s Memorial Day laptop deals start at just $139: see my 7 favorite sales on Dell, Apple, Asus, and more Best Buy’s massive annual Memorial Day ***** has kicked off early this week, with some superb options if you’re on the hunt for a new laptop. • Shop the full Best Buy ***** I’ve been busy scanning through the retailer’s ***** and I’ve found some great options, including cheap Chromebooks, great mid-range Windows machines, and high-end Apple laptops. You can check out my recommendations below. My choices start at just $139 for this HP ChromeBook 14, but I also highly recommend this Lenovo IdeaPad 1 for $269 (was $379) and this Asus Vivobook 14 for $479 (was $799) if you need a machine on a budget. Another highlight has to be this Dell Inspiron 15 for $579 (was $799), which features a Ryzen 7 chipset and 1TB SSD for an exceptionally low price. Today’s Memorial Day ***** at Best Buy is also great for higher-end options like the latest MacBook Air M4 on ***** for a record-low price of just $899 (was $999). This machine was just released back in March, so today’s deal is a real highlight of the entire *****. You can read more about this model and other premium options below. 9 best laptop deals at Best Buy today More Memorial Day sales at Best Buy Source link #Buys #Memorial #Day #laptop #deals #start #favorite #sales #Dell #Apple #Asus Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mexico mourns naval cadet killed when training ship collided with Brooklyn Bridge Mexico mourns naval cadet killed when training ship collided with Brooklyn Bridge XALAPA, Mexico (AP) — Dozens of people gathered overnight in the street where one of the ******** naval cadets who died when their training vessel hit the Brooklyn Bridge lived. América Yamilet Sánchez, 20, was in the final year of her studies at the naval academy when she was killed aboard the naval teaching vessel Cuauhtemoc on Saturday. A small crowd gathered near her home in the early hours of Tuesday, many holding white roses and their cell phones to illuminate the way for the hearse carrying her body. Naval officers accompanied her arrival around midnight at the orange painted house in Veracruz’s state capital Xalapa. Sánchez was the pride of her family, a standout student and athlete, who had already distinguished herself — scoring top marks in her naval systems engineering studies. She was a squadron leader and among those selected for the special group that accompanied President Claudia Sheinbaum at her inauguration. “I’m going to carry you in my heart. My daughter is the pride of all of Mexico, for all the world,” Cosme Sánchez said, holding a photograph of his daughter in her dress uniform. “I’m devastated, but we’re going to move forward. My daughter was an example for everyone, she’s going to be remembered as she should be.” Among the flower arrangements at her family’s home was one with a one with a white sash reading, “Barracudas family, with love.” It came from the local swimming school where Sánchez learned to take her first strokes a decade ago. At the naval academy she won medals and represented the institution nationally in open water swimming competitions. Her most recent honor was being awarded a place aboard the Cuauhtemoc, which planned to visit 22 ports in 15 countries. On Saturday, she sent her parents photos, told them she loved them and spoke excitedly of the ship’s next stop: Iceland. Sánchez was high in one of the Cuauhtemoc’s three masts Saturday night when it slid out of its dock in New York, authorities told her family. It’s a ceremonial practice to greet and pay respects entering and leaving ports. “It’s a display of discipline, skill and respect, common in training sailboats,” said her uncle, Rodolfo Hernández Sayago. “She was the pride (of the family),” Hernández said. “My girl stood out in everything she did.” U.S. investigators laid out a timeline Monday showing the Cuauhtemoc was underway for less than 5 minutes before its masts crashed into the historic span, and radio calls indicating it was in distress went out only 45 seconds before the deadly collision. With the help of a tugboat, the Cuauhtemoc backed away from a Manhattan pier filled with cheering people at 8:20 p.m. on Saturday, U.S. officials said. Four minutes after the ship left, a radio call went out asking for help from any additional tugboats in the area, followed by other requests for assistance, National Transportation Safety Board investigator Brian Young told a media briefing Monday. Forty-five seconds after the first call, the ship, struck the bridge, snapping its three masts. After a few minutes, the ship separated from the tug and picked up speed, still moving in reverse, heading for the bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge escaped major damage but at least 19 of the ship’s 277 sailors needed medical treatment, according to officials. Seven officers and 172 cadets who were aboard the Cuauhtemoc arrived early Monday at the port of Veracruz, where Mexico’s naval school is, the ******** navy said in a post on X. The body of the other sailor killed, 23-year-old Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, was also returned to Mexico on Monday. Source link #Mexico #mourns #naval #cadet #killed #training #ship #collided #Brooklyn #Bridge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chemists develop new approach to synthesizing air-stable four-membered boracycles Chemists develop new approach to synthesizing air-stable four-membered boracycles A schematic to show the synthesis of strained, air-stable boracycles via boron–carbon-centered diradicals. Credit: HKUST Boracycles are important functional scaffolds, finding increasing applications in catalysis, synthesis, materials science, and pharmaceuticals. However, current studies predominantly focus on three-, five-, and six-membered boracycles, leaving four-membered boracycles largely unexplored. A research team led by Prof. Quan Yangjian and Prof. Lin Zhenyang from the Department of Chemistry at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with Prof. Lyu Hairong from The ******** University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has made a breakthrough in developing an efficient synthetic approach to four-membered boracycles. This advancement enables the facile synthesis of other previously inaccessible boracycles, which may lead to valuable applications. The paper is published in the journal Nature Chemistry. As important structural elements, boracycles demonstrate unique application value in the fields of medicinal chemistry and functional materials. Among them, five-membered and six-membered boron heterocycles have been widely applied in bioactive molecules and optoelectronic materials. The lack of efficient and versatile synthetic methods has limited the investigation into the properties and applications of four-membered boracycles. Due to their inherent ring strain, four-membered boracycles are expected to serve as valuable synthons with versatile reactivities and functionalities. Preliminary investigation on the luminescence properties of boracycles. Credit: HKUST In this recent research, the team developed a novel and efficient synthetic approach to four-membered boracycles, made possible by unlocking boron-carbon diradical (BCDR) chemistry. The triplet energy transfer catalysis creates air-stable benzoboretenes through the intramolecular coupling of BCDR. Notably, a balance between the stability and reactivity of four-membered boracycles has been achieved for the first time, enabling the facile synthesis of previously inaccessible boracycles. These new boracycles are expected to have valuable applications in boron pharmaceuticals and molecular functional materials. “More importantly, the concept and strategy of balancing the reactivity and stability of strained boracycles will not only facilitate the development of boracycle synthons but also broaden curiosity-driven research into application-oriented investigations, attracting researchers from diverse fields,” Prof. Quan added. More information: Xinmou Wang et al, Synthesis of strained, air-stable boracycles via boron–carbon-centred diradicals, Nature Chemistry (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41557-025-01807-x Provided by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Citation: Chemists develop new approach to synthesizing air-stable four-membered boracycles (2025, May 19) retrieved 20 May 2025 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #Chemists #develop #approach #synthesizing #airstable #fourmembered #boracycles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How To Zip Files in the Linux Terminal How To Zip Files in the Linux Terminal In this how-to, we’ll look at the zip command, a useful utility that enables us to specify lists of files, set a level of data compression and create compressed archives. Whilst you become accustomed to these commands it’s good to work with example test files and directories and you should take extra care to ensure you are carefully following the instructions. All the commands in this how-to will work on most Linux machines. We’ve used an Ubuntu LTS install but you could run this how-to on a Raspberry Pi. All of the how-to is performed via the Terminal. You can open a terminal window on most Linux machines by pressing ctrl, alt and t. You may like Creating a Zip Archive in Linux (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) To begin, let’s create some empty test files and then add them to an archive. We’ll use the touch command to create files, the ls command to check that the files have been created and then the zip command to create a basic archive. 1. Create a test directory where we can safely try out the command. Change directory so that you are inside the new directory. mkdir test_directory cd test_directory 2. Create some test files to add to our archive. Note the 3 different file suffixes. $ touch test1.txt test2.h test3.c 3. List the files to check that they have been created correctly. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. ls 4. Using the zip command, create a ZIP archive of the newly created files. To create a ZIP archive, we simply use the command zip followed by the name we are giving the archive and then a list of the files we wish to include in the archive. The following command will create a ZIP archive called test_archive.zip and the archive will include the three test files. Note that we don’t need to add the archive suffix .zip to the name of the archive when using the zip command. zip test_archive test1.txt test2.h test3.c 5. Check that the ZIP archive has been created. ls Creating a ZIP Archive Selecting Only Specific File Types (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) It’s possible to supply the zip command with arguments that only add specific file types to the archive. This is a powerful feature that is efficiently achieved on the command line. 1. Delete any previous test archives and check you still have the original three test files. Note that, unlike when creating the ZIP archive, you have to include the .zip file extension when referencing an existing archive. rm test_archive.zip ls 2. Create a new ZIP archive which contains only the test files ending .h and .c . After creating the archive, if you check its contents it will only contain the files test2.h and test3.c and won’t contain test1.txt. zip test_archive *.h *.c 3. To check the contents use less. less test_archive.zip (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Create a ZIP archive Which Contains a Directory (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Often we need to make a ZIP archive containing directories which contain files, we can do this by adding the recursive argument -r to the zip command. 1. Delete the archives inside the test_directory but keep the other files. To avoid confusion it would be good practice to delete the archives leaving only the original files that we created. rm test_archive.zip 2. Go up one directory and check that you are not inside the directory to archive. We can’t be inside the directory that we wish to add to the archive. cd pwd 3. Create a ZIP archive containing the test_directory directory and its contents. Notice when you create the archive using the -r argument that you see a verbose output detailing each stage of the command as it descends into the directory and archives the files and folder. zip -r new_archive test_directory 4. Make another similar ZIP archive using the -q (quiet) argument to disable the verbose output. You should see that this time that no steps are reported to the terminal in the creation of this archive. Then use ls to check the new archive has been created. zip -r -q new_archive2 test_directory ls Change the Level of Data Compression for a ZIP Archive (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) By default, the zip command uses a compression value of 6 taken from a range of 0-9 with 0 being uncompressed and 9 being the maximum allowable level of compression. We can simply add a numerical argument to change the level of compression. 1. Add random data to the test files. Right now our test files test1.txt, test2.h and test3.c are empty. They have zero bytes of data but we can add random “garbage data” to the files using a quick terminal command that will dump 64MB into each file. cd test_directory head -c 64M test1.txt head -c 64M test2.h head -c 64M test3.c 2. Return to the parent directory and create a new ZIP archive with the default compression level of 6. cd zip -r -q archive_default_compression test_directory 3. Create another archive with the same contents but increase the compression level to 9. Check the details of the new archive and the previous archive using ls -l , you should see that the size of the new archive is smaller than the previous archive as the data compression has been increased. $ zip -r -q -9 archive_compressed test_directory $ ls -l (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) We will create a ZIP archive called test_archive.zip which contains a directory test_directory which in turn contains 3 empty test files, test1.txt, test2.h, test3.c . To extract this archive we will use the unzip command. 1. Create a test folder containing the test files. After creating the test directory and files check the files have been created using ls before returning to the parent directory. mkdir test_directory cd test_directory touch test1.txt test2.h test3.c ls cd 2. Create a ZIP archive called test_archive.zip that contains the test_directory. Check that the archive has been successfully created using ls. The zip command has two arguments, the name of the archive that we wish to create, and the source of the files to be put into the archive. zip -r test_archive test_directory ls 3. Delete the un-archived directory. If we extract the test_archive.zip in the parent directory which contains the test_directory we would be asked if we want to replace or rename the archive. rm -r test_directory 4. Unzip the test_archive.zip file. Using unzip with no extra arguments we see a verbose output report of each step of extracting the archive. unzip test_archive.zip (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Often we will want to extract an archive into a different specified location. We can add the-d argument to the unzip command to achieve this. 1. Extract the test_archive.zip to a specified directory. We can specify a relative or absolute location. In this example we extract the contents to the Music directory using a relative path. We could also pass an absolute path which provides the full path to the target location.After extracting the archive, move into the specified directory and use ls to check the archive has been extracted. unzip test_archive.zip -d ./Music 2. Change directory and list the contents to verify the files have been extracted correctly. cd Music ls With these few basic uses of the zip command you now have lots of options when creating ZIP archives in the linux terminal. Being able to select specific file types and being able to set the compression level in the terminal emulator gives quick access to these powerful tools that are often hard to find in a GUI application. Source link #Zip #Files #Linux #Terminal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tuesday Telescope: Finally, some answers on those Martian streaks – Ars Technica Tuesday Telescope: Finally, some answers on those Martian streaks – Ars Technica Tuesday Telescope: Finally, some answers on those Martian streaks Ars TechnicaStreaks on martian slopes are dry NatureDark streaks on Mars may not come from water after all, scientists say Space’Dark Streaks on Mars?’: AI just solved a 50-year-old Mars mystery Business TodayThose Streaks On Mars May Not Be Due To Water NASA Watch Source link #Tuesday #Telescope #Finally #answers #Martian #streaks #Ars #Technica Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]