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WA urban heat expert calls for ‘cooling centres’ to assist residents unable to afford air-conditioning WA urban heat expert calls for ‘cooling centres’ to assist residents unable to afford air-conditioning Cooling centres in the US and Europe usually have bathrooms, chairs, beds, charging devices, food, and entertainment like books and TV. They can also have kennels and **** food. Source link #urban #heat #expert #calls #cooling #centres #assist #residents #unable #afford #airconditioning Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Snapdragon X CPUs for Affordable PCs With Up to 45 TOPS of NPU Performance Launched at CES 2025 Snapdragon X CPUs for Affordable PCs With Up to 45 TOPS of NPU Performance Launched at CES 2025 Qualcomm on Monday unveiled its latest Snapdragon X platform for budget PCs at CES 2025. The company’s latest octa-core CPUs are designed to compete with affordable chips from Intel and AMD, while offering support for AI features via a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) and improved battery efficiency. The new Snapdragon X platform is expected to power computers that are priced under $600 (roughly Rs. 51,400), which should bring down the cost of Arm-based Windows laptops by a considerable amount. Snapdragon X Platform Specifications The newly announced Snapdragon X platform (X1-26-100) is designed for affordable computers, and features eight Oryon CPU cores with a peak clock speed of up to 3GHz. This is lower than the Snapdragon X Plus (up to 3.4GHz) and Snapdragon X Elite (up to 3.8GHz), for midrange and high-end laptops, respectively. The 4nm chipset supports up to 64GB of LPDDR5x RAM, with 135GB/s memory bandwidth. It features a Qualcomm Adreno GPU that supports up to three external displays at 4K/ 60Hz. It supports Windows 11 along with Copilot+ features that are available on more expensive PCs. Snapdragon X platform specifications Photo Credit: Qualcomm Qualcomm has also equipped the Snapdragon X CPUs with a Hexagon NPU that is capable of delivering 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of AI performance. As a result, we can expect to see more affordable Copilot+ PCs in the coming months, and these will compete with similarly priced processors from Intel and AMD that lack a dedicated NPU. The Snapdragon X platform will also support features available on Qualcomm’s more expensive chips, such as instant wake and standby efficiency. The company claims that it offers up to two times longer battery life and up to 163 percent faster performance than competing processors. Besides, it supports 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4, USB 4 Type-C connectivity. Customers can expect PCs equipped with the Snapdragon X platform from OEMs like Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, and Asus in “early 2025”. Qualcomm also says that these devices are expected to be priced around $600 (roughly Rs. 51,400), which should make Copilot+ PCs more accessible in the coming months. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Oppo Reno 13F 5G, Reno 13F 4G Introduced Globally Alongside the Oppo Reno 13 5G, Reno 13 Pro 5G Source link #Snapdragon #CPUs #Affordable #PCs #TOPS #NPU #Performance #Launched #CES Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Snapdragon X CPUs for Affordable PCs With Up to 45 TOPS of NPU Performance Launched at CES 2025 Snapdragon X CPUs for Affordable PCs With Up to 45 TOPS of NPU Performance Launched at CES 2025 Qualcomm on Monday unveiled its latest Snapdragon X platform for budget PCs at CES 2025. The company’s latest octa-core CPUs are designed to compete with affordable chips from Intel and AMD, while offering support for AI features via a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) and improved battery efficiency. The new Snapdragon X platform is expected to power computers that are priced under $600 (roughly Rs. 51,400), which should bring down the cost of Arm-based Windows laptops by a considerable amount. Snapdragon X Platform Specifications The newly announced Snapdragon X platform (X1-26-100) is designed for affordable computers, and features eight Oryon CPU cores with a peak clock speed of up to 3GHz. This is lower than the Snapdragon X Plus (up to 3.4GHz) and Snapdragon X Elite (up to 3.8GHz), for midrange and high-end laptops, respectively. The 4nm chipset supports up to 64GB of LPDDR5x RAM, with 135GB/s memory bandwidth. It features a Qualcomm Adreno GPU that supports up to three external displays at 4K/ 60Hz. It supports Windows 11 along with Copilot+ features that are available on more expensive PCs. Snapdragon X platform specifications Photo Credit: Qualcomm Qualcomm has also equipped the Snapdragon X CPUs with a Hexagon NPU that is capable of delivering 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of AI performance. As a result, we can expect to see more affordable Copilot+ PCs in the coming months, and these will compete with similarly priced processors from Intel and AMD that lack a dedicated NPU. The Snapdragon X platform will also support features available on Qualcomm’s more expensive chips, such as instant wake and standby efficiency. The company claims that it offers up to two times longer battery life and up to 163 percent faster performance than competing processors. Besides, it supports 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4, USB 4 Type-C connectivity. Customers can expect PCs equipped with the Snapdragon X platform from OEMs like Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, and Asus in “early 2025”. Qualcomm also says that these devices are expected to be priced around $600 (roughly Rs. 51,400), which should make Copilot+ PCs more accessible in the coming months. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Oppo Reno 13F 5G, Reno 13F 4G Introduced Globally Alongside the Oppo Reno 13 5G, Reno 13 Pro 5G Source link #Snapdragon #CPUs #Affordable #PCs #TOPS #NPU #Performance #Launched #CES Pelican News [Hidden Content]

What happened when a town removed fluoride from its water What happened when a town removed fluoride from its water On Thursday, the Senate will hold a confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Servies. His nomination has raised alarms with health officials because of Kennedy’s skepticism of vaccines and his vow that he will advise water systems to stop adding fluoride. Some cities have already made the move. Our CBS News Confirmed team visited one community. Source link #happened #town #removed #fluoride #water Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Meta Reportedly Planning to Add ‘Hundreds of Thousands’ of AI Users to Facebook, Instagram Meta Reportedly Planning to Add ‘Hundreds of Thousands’ of AI Users to Facebook, Instagram Meta reportedly plans to flood its social media platforms with artificial intelligence (AI) bots that will act as regular accounts. As per the report, the tech giant is working on introducing AI-powered characters that can post, share, like, and perform other activities that human users can do. These AI bots are said to be added to both Facebook and Instagram. Notably, the company added the feature to let users create AI characters last year in July, however, this feature is currently only available in the US and the created characters cannot be made public. According to a Financial Times report, the social media giant is trying to integrate AI into its platforms in different ways. It has already introduced the Meta AI chatbot, AI writing tools in Instagram DMs, AI avatars for influencers and creators, and more. Now, Connor Hayes, vice president of product for generative AI at Meta, told the publication that AI-powered user accounts are the next step for the company. “We expect these AIs to actually, over time, exist on our platforms, kind of in the same way that accounts do,” he told the publication. Explaining the vision, he reportedly added that these AI accounts will have a profile similar to human accounts complete with bios and profile pictures. They will also be able to generate and share AI content on these platforms. Hayes reportedly said that Meta has a priority project to make its platforms “more entertaining and engaging,” likely due to rising competition from TikTok and X (formerly known as Twitter). The company is said to have decided that adding more AI tools and these AI characters could boost engagement and interaction on the Meta-owned social media apps. However, experts have reportedly highlighted several negative consequences of the move as well. One such concern includes the risk of spreading misinformation, which could see a snowball effect due to the large number of AI accounts that are all powered by hallucination-prone AI models. Another concern is the flooding of low-quality content on the platform given the lack of true creativity in the current generation of AI models. If the overall quality of content goes down, it can also turn users away from Facebook and Instagram. Source link #Meta #Reportedly #Planning #Add #Hundreds #Thousands #Users #Facebook #Instagram Pelican News [Hidden Content]

ICE planning major enforcement operation in Chicago after Trump inauguration ICE planning major enforcement operation in Chicago after Trump inauguration An ICE agent monitors hundreds of asylum seekers being processed upon entering the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on June 6, 2023 in New York City. David Dee Delgado | Getty Images Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are planning a major enforcement operation that will target immigrants for several days following the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, according to a document reviewed by NBC News and a person familiar with the planning. The person, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the operation, said multiple locations across Chicago will be targeted. According to the document, the operation is expected to start as early as Tuesday and end by the following Monday, but the dates could change. ICE officials referred NBC News to the Trump transition team for comment, and the transition team did not respond. In an exclusive interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker on Saturday, Trump declined to describe any details of the operation but said mass deportations would begin “very early, very quickly.” “We’re already geared up and it will begin,” he said. “We have to get the criminals that have come here illegally out of our country.” A briefing for agents who plan to participate in the operation, called “Operation Safeguard,” was scheduled for Friday afternoon in Chicago, according to the document. It also says the operation will involve agents who were asked to volunteer and that more agents than needed have volunteered. The Wall Street Journal first reported that the operation is expected to occur in Chicago. Operations in other cities are also possible. Before NBC News reviewed the document, several sources familiar with the planning said major metropolitan areas that could see early enforcement actions include the Washington, D.C., area, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Denver and Chicago. As a candidate, Trump promised the largest deportation operation in American history. A 2022 federal estimate said that as many as 11 million undocumented migrants lived in the U.S., but the exact number today is unknown. The American Immigration Council, a pro-immigration group, estimates that it could cost at least $315 billion to deport all of them. In addition to the costs, experts have warned that mass deportations could increase the price of some goods in the U.S. The federal government estimates that 40% of agricultural workers are undocumented immigrants. ICE currently has a $230 million budget shortfall and does not have the funding to carry out Trump’s plans on a prolonged and widespread scale. Congress must first appropriate additional funds for enforcement operations and detention facilities. After arrest, migrants are held in detention before they are deported. According to ICE’s website, there are currently no beds available in its detention facilities in Chicago. Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming border czar, has said he would like at least 100,000 detention beds across the U.S.; currently, the U.S. has approximately 34,000. And the highest number of people deported in a single year during Trump’s first term was 267,000 in fiscal 2019. The Biden administration deported more people annually than the first Trump administration did in his first term. The highest number of people deported from the U.S. in a single year was 438,000 in fiscal 2013 during the Obama administration. Trump’s apparent plans to target Democratic-run cities will also likely be met with political pushback. Responding to reports that the new administration could start deportation operations in Chicago, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Friday that he will protect migrants if they are arrested unlawfully. “We have laws that protect people that are undocumented,” Pritzker said. “I am going to make sure to follow the law. I am concerned that the Trump administration and his lackeys aren’t going to follow the law.” Homan has told NBC News that the new administration is willing to take on the political fight and the fiscal costs of mass deportations. “I think mass deportation and results of mass deportation are more important to this country than anything,” he said. “I don’t put a price on our national security.” Source link #ICE #planning #major #enforcement #operation #Chicago #Trump #inauguration Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Freetrade acquired up by IG Group at 29% valuation discount Freetrade acquired up by IG Group at 29% valuation discount The Freetrade application on a smartphone and desktop PC. Freetrade LONDON — Freetrade, a British rival to popular stock trading app Robinhood, said Thursday that it’s been acquired by online investing platform IG Group. The deal values Freetrade at £160 million ($195 million) — a 29% discount to its last valuation. The startup said that it would continue to operate as a commercially standalone entity under its own brand. Founded in 2016, Freetrade garnered popularity among mainly younger, more inexperienced traders in the U.K. with its zero-commission trading platform. The app initially began by offering equities but later expanded to roll out trading in exchange-traded funds, savings products and government bonds. In pandemic times, Freetrade was riding high on a retail trader frenzy. The app benefited heavily from GameStop “short squeeze” in early 2021, when traders on a Reddit forum for retail investors piled into the stock and caused it to rally in price. Short-selling refers to the practice of an investor borrowing an asset and then selling it on the open market with the expectation of repurchasing it for less money in future for a profit. However, worsening macroeconomic conditions in 2022 and 2023 hit Covid high-fliers like Freetrade hard — and in 2023, Freetrade completed a crowdfunding round at a valuation of £225 million down 65% from the £650 million it was worth previously. The deal is a potential signal for further consolidation coming to the wealth technology industry. It comes after Hargreaves Lansdown was acquired for £5.4 billion by a consortium of investors including private equity giant CVC Group. Viktor Nebehaj, CEO and co-founder of Freetrade, described the takeover as a “transformative deal that recognizes the significant value that Freetrade has created.” “Together with IG Group’s significant resources and backing, this is an exciting opportunity to accelerate our growth and delivery of new products and features,” he added. Freetrade said the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals, adding that it expects it will close the deal later this year. Source link #Freetrade #acquired #Group #valuation #discount Pelican News [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Outdoor learning company closes seven *** activity centres Outdoor learning company closes seven *** activity centres BBC Seven outward bound centres have closed after the firm that ran them went into administration Seven residential activity centres for schools have closed after the company that ran them went in administration. The Inspiring Learning Group said the centres – operated by its subsidiary Kingswood – would close immediately, adding it was “devastated”. Three Kingswood centres have been acquired by outdoor education firm PGL Beyond (PGL) and will stay open. They are Overstrand Hall in Cromer, Norfolk, Dearne Valley in Doncaster and Grosvenor Hall in Ashford, Kent. PGL said: “This will ensure that the the planned residentials for over 50,000 young people in 2025 will go ahead.” The Kingswood centres closing immediately are: West Runton, NorfolkGreen Park, BuckinghamshireDukeswood House, NorthumberlandPeak Venture, South YorkshireStaffordshire, near WolverhamptonRyde, Isle of WightColomendy, north Wales In a statement, Kingswood said: “We are very sorry to let you know that we have gone into administration. “Unfortunately, seven of our centres will now close, and any planned trips to these will not be fulfilled by Kingswood.” It added: “We appreciate that this news will be difficult to absorb…” Kingswood said PGL had agreed a deal with administrators “to provide a package of support to groups where centres are closing, by offering alternative arrangements at PGL centres, with no financial impact to parents”. PGL said its acquisition of the three centres had secured 150 jobs. Its chief executive, Anthony Jones, said: “We know how important a milestone in a young person’s journey a school residential provides, and are mindful of the potential impact should they miss out on this life-changing experience.” Geograph/Adrian S Pye Overstrand Hall at Cromer in north Norfolk will continue to operate as a residential centre for schools Source link #Outdoor #learning #company #closes #activity #centres Pelican News [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Another frustrating reason to upgrade to Windows 11 Another frustrating reason to upgrade to Windows 11 Beata Zawrzel / NurPhoto/Getty Images As if you didn’t already need plenty of reasons to finally upgrade to Windows 11, here’s yet another. The latest Windows 10 update, version KB5048239, isn’t just failing to install — it’s actually updating successfully over and over again. This is the update that Microsoft first released in November 2024 on 21H2 and 22H2. As TechRadar reports, the software giant is rereleasing it again this month. This installation loop affects various users and is part of Microsoft’s patching for January 2025. Microsoft created the patch to cure problems with the WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment), but things didn’t go as planned. The installation failed because some users didn’t have the 250MB required on their Windows 10 recovery partition. Users have expressed frustration about the various installation attempts on Microsoft Answers by saying, “Hi to you all. I checked my updates this morning and KB5048239 was waiting to be installed again! I run the troubleshooter and it installed again, I checked ‘View updates’ and it had changed the date from yesterday to today! It is like a Merry-go-round. I can feel a migraine coming on!” from Brian Lofthouse. That wasn’t the only complaint. Dean Wortmier on Answers.com wrote: “This particular update installed successfully for me in November 2024, and is trying to install again today — over and over and over… — each time ‘successfully.’” Three-hundred and fifty-three other users with the same issue backed up those comments. As if this wasn’t as frustrating as it is, what makes it even worse is that there is no official word from Microsoft about fixing the issue soon. Nothing seems to be working since users who have tried removing previous versions of the update before installing this one are still experiencing the issue. Even users whose WinRE setup is good, even if the portion is big enough, experience this issue. There isn’t a workaround for it, either. With the Windows 10 end-of-life coming later this year, add this one to the list of reasons to finally get off Windows 10 for good. Source link #frustrating #reason #upgrade #Windows Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Screen Queen TV Reviews: Section 31, Silent Witness, The Night Agent, and Prime Target Screen Queen TV Reviews: Section 31, Silent Witness, The Night Agent, and Prime Target Prime Target Wednesday, streaming on Apple TV Plus Maths gives me anxiety. It’s been 30 years since I’ve had to do it in school, but to this day I break out in a cold sweat thinking about equations. I have this dream, and it’s always the same: I’m taking a maths exam, I open the paper, look at the questions — and can’t decipher anything written on the page. It’s all gobbledegook and I get so panicked I wake up and sit bolt upright, the feeling of dread and anxiety lingering well into the morning. I get the sense I may start feeling that again as I dip into this new series because it’s all about — yep, you guessed it — maths. But it’s not about the maths problems that give me nocturnal anxiety. In fact, early indications are that it has more in common with The Day Of The Jackal or ****** Doves — two excellent espionage series doing the rounds right now — than A Beautiful Mind. And thank goodness for that. It centres on a genius Cambridge maths postgraduate student, played by One Day and The White Lotus star Leo Woodall, who is on the cusp of a brilliant discovery. “If he succeeds in finding a pattern in prime numbers, he will hold the key to every computer in the world,” an official description reads. And needless to say, there are shady forces at work trying to track him down and put a stop to his research before it can be finished. Joining the dots is National Security Agency agent Taylah Sanders (played by Quintessa Swindell), and they’ll need to team up if they’re to get to the bottom of what’s afoot. Honestly: I didn’t have “maths drama” on my bingo card of shows I’d be hanging to see released this year — but that trailer! It certainly hints this series will be far more interesting than any of those boring exam dreams I’ve been having. Mark your diaries for this one. The Night Agent Thursday, streaming on Netflix Camera IconThe Night Agent returns for a second season. Credit: Netflix/Christopher Saunders Talk about rapid career ascension: former low-ranking FBI agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) went from answering phones in a dingy basement to investigating a high-stakes government conspiracy — and all in record time! Now he’s back, and as Netflix is cleverly touting that “he’ll be the one making the calls” as he fully embeds into the mysterious world of the Night Action division. Congrats on your promotion! This show is by no means my favourite in its genre, but one thing it has in abundance is action, and lots of it. Best just zone out and enjoy the ride — goodness knows we need a distraction. Silent Witness Friday, 8.30pm, ABC Camera IconJohn Hannah pops up in Silent Witness as Charles Beck. Credit: Gary Moyes Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and her team are back, and you’d best believe we’ll be tuning in, especially as John Hannah is popping up. Real talk: I will watch anything this delightful silver fox is in. Twenty-seven seasons, and this show still has me in its clutches. Abbott Elementary Wednesday, streaming on Disney Plus Camera IconAbbott Elementary returns to Disney Plus. Credit: Gilles Mingasson/Disney Confession: this unassuming show totally passed me by. My new year’s resolution is to go back and watch from the beginning — four seasons on, people are still raving about it. Star Trek: Section 31 Friday, streaming on Paramount Plus Camera IconMichelle Yeoh stars in Star Trek: Section 31. Credit: Supplied Am including this for my colleague Laura, whose love for the Trek runs deep. This flick sees Michelle Yeoh reprise her role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou. She’s joining Section 31, a clandestine division of Starfleet “dedicated to protecting the United Federation of Planets”. Not sure what that means — Laura, please advise. Source link #Screen #Queen #Reviews #Section #Silent #Witness #Night #Agent #Prime #Target Pelican News [Hidden Content]

The Museum of Failure Is a Real Thing and Unsurprisingly, It Has Concord The Museum of Failure Is a Real Thing and Unsurprisingly, It Has Concord In a world where the gaming industry is known for its immense hype and equally immense risks, Concord stands out as one of the most dramatic failures in recent history. After years of development and hefty investment, the game was supposed to be a grand experience but failed spectacularly. The game is going to be added to a museum. | Image Credit: Firewalk Studios While the game didn’t find its place in many players’ hearts or minds, in an unexpected but fitting move, it certainly did at the Museum of Failure, a quirky institution that is dedicated to showcasing the products, ideas, and innovations that didn’t quite live up to expectations. Concord finally went where it belongs: The Museum of Failure The museum preserves failures as a reminder to learn from others’ mistakes. | Credit: Firewalk Studios For those who don’t know, the Museum of Failure is not your average museum, its name pretty much gives it away. It was founded in 2017 to highlight the failures of companies, products, and ideas, basically innovations that didn’t make it for various reasons, becoming valuable reminders for others. It is a collection of “history” that many companies would rather erase from their memory. From failed gadgets and poor marketing campaigns to overhyped products and unfulfilled promises, the museum collects and preserves these artifacts to demonstrate the importance of failure in the pursuit of success. It is in this spirit of learning from past failures that Concord was recently added to the museum’s growing collection. Despite its existence for a few weeks, it quickly earned a reputation for being a failure in almost every aspect. The game not only failed to meet lofty expectations set by gamers (after its 8-year development cycle) but also showcased that time and money are valuable resources that need to be spent efficiently. For these reasons alone, it became a perfect piece to showcase to visitors at the museum. The game became a worthy and unsurprising addition The game is a perfect artifact for the museum. | Image Credit: Firewalk Studios Developed over the course of 8 years and costing over $400 million supposedly, Concord was expected to be the next big thing from Sony’s lineup, aiming to revolutionize the gaming landscape with its hero-shooter mechanics and character design. Unfortunately, the game failed to deliver on all fronts. The gameplay was uninspiring, the character models were lackluster, and it even failed to do what other live service games were doing: being free, as it was priced at $40 on launch. Naturally, fans were disappointed and reviews quickly plummeted. In the context of the Museum of Failure, it is a textbook example of how an ambitious project can sometimes outpace reality, especially when the development process is poorly handled. Its addition should be a fitting reminder for other studios about the risks of overambition and chasing others. Even though Sony’s ambition to release its own hero-shooter live service game failed miserably, hopefully, it becomes a powerful lesson for the company that failure is not the end, but part of a broader learning process. In the end, the museum encourages developers and innovators to learn from others’ mistakes, refine their ideas, and take creative risks while understanding that not every endeavor will succeed. Source link #Museum #Failure #Real #UnsurprisinglyItHasConcord Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Raspberry Pi 4 brings the Raspberry Pi stream deck to life Raspberry Pi 4 brings the Raspberry Pi stream deck to life All sorts of stream decks are available on the market today, but where’s the fun buying something you could create from scratch? At least, that seems to be the spirit of the Raspberry Pi maker community, as shown in projects like this one, which was created by maker and developer Last-Shake-9874. Using our favorite SBC, he’s made a Raspberry Pi stream deck from scratch. If you’re unfamiliar with stream decks, these devices connect to PCs and provide buttons that let you do things like open applications or trigger specific macros. In this case, Last-Shake-9874 has programmed his Raspberry Pi stream deck to check PC stats and open software like Chrome or Thonny. According to Last-Shake-9874, the project isn’t finished, and new features and functions will be added to the operating system. Currently, the hardware consists mainly of the Pi and a screen. In the future, Last-Shake-9874 intends to improve things by designing a case to house the components. As we mentioned, the main board powering this project is a Raspberry Pi 4, but Last-Shake-9874 expressed interest in running the stream deck on a Pi Zero or even a Pico. The Pi is connected to a 7-inch touchscreen used for both video output and user input. Last-Shake-9874 briefly discussed the software used in the project, clarifying that the code runs on Boot2qt. The desktop also runs an application that interfaces with the Pi and interprets the input commands. In the demo video, we see Last-Shake-9874 select the calculator app from the touchscreen, which then launches on the desktop. If you want to look at this Raspberry Pi project in action, you can check out the project thread shared on Reddit by Last-Shake-9874. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Raspberry #brings #Raspberry #stream #deck #life Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Butler elementary school officer earns prestigious award Butler elementary school officer earns prestigious award Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways A police officer in the Butler Area School District is being honored for going above and beyond. On Friday, state and federal officials celebrated Broad Street Elementary School Police Officer James Green, also known as “Officer Jim.” Green was selected as a recipient of the prestigious Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award. The accolade given out by the U.S. Department of Education honors those who play a vital role in the ********, safety and success of students. A school spokesperson says Green, a retired police officer, is a parent volunteer who started at Broad Street in 2021 and knows his job is to protect the kids. Green is known for many things at the elementary school, like fist bumps, custom cartoons or a penny drive to help the local Humane Society. “As a school police officer, he goes above and beyond to serve as a father figure, a mentor, and a protector,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a statement. “His unwavering commitment to the well-being of Broad Street Elementary School students, his selfless service to his community, and his daily example of integrity and care make him a true hero to Pennsylvania students. Officer Green embodies the very best of what it means to serve and inspire, and on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I am proud that he has been recognized as one of the most outstanding school employees nationally.” Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Source link #Butler #elementary #school #officer #earns #prestigious #award Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Apple Supplier Goertek to Be NPI Supplier for Two New Products Expected to Arrive in 2026: Ming-Chi Kuo Apple Supplier Goertek to Be NPI Supplier for Two New Products Expected to Arrive in 2026: Ming-Chi Kuo Apple is reportedly working on two new products that are expected to launch in 2026, and the Cupertino company has tapped Goertek as its new product introduction (NPI) supplier. according to details shared by TF Securities International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The iPhone maker is expected to launch a new pair of AirPods in 2026, which will be equipped with new health management features, while the second product will be related to the smart home IP camera segment, according to the company. Apple Picks Goertek to Produce New Products Arriving in 2026 In a post on Medium, Kuo states that Apple is planning to launch its first smart home IP camera device in 2026, which will offer wireless connectivity with Apple’s other devices, as well as software integration with Siri and Apple Intelligence. According to supply chain analyst, the company is looking at a long-term goal of annual shipments of over 10 million, and has picked China-based Goertek to be the sole assembler for the product. Apple’s second product will be an upgraded version of the company’s AirPods truly wireless stereo (TWS) earphones, Kuo claims. The analyst predicts that the company’s upcoming AirPods will also focus on health-related features, and that these earphones will be assembled by Goertek Earlier this year, Apple announced that the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) would be updated with support for using the headset as a hearing aid — the company received approval from the US FDA in September. In 2023, a patent related to a wireless audio product was spotted online, that suggested Apple was working on AirPods sensors that could measure brain electrical activity, while another report claimed that Apple was designing a new AirPods Pro model that could monitor body temperature using inbuilt sensors. Citing supply chain reports, Kuo claims that Goertek’s relationship has Apple has “normalised” in the second half of 2024, months after it lost many orders due to “supply compliance issues”. Goertek is expected to be the sole supplier for the smart home IP camera, and the primary supplier for the next-generation AirPods. Source link #Apple #Supplier #Goertek #NPI #Supplier #Products #Expected #Arrive #MingChi #Kuo Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Enthusiast mulls reviving Sony’s retro micro PC — Orange Pi CM5 planned as mainboard upgrade Enthusiast mulls reviving Sony’s retro micro PC — Orange Pi CM5 planned as mainboard upgrade A fan of Sony’s classic handheld Windows slider PC designs is planning a drop-in upgrade. On Friday, Tomsek68 shared his plans on Reddit, proposing swapping out the decrepit internals of a Sony Vaio VGX-UX Micro PC (circa 2006) with a custom PCB and assembly based on an OrangePi CM5. If the above-outlined project works out, the old Intel Core Solo-driven Windows XP device from Sony Vaio will be transformed into a modern octa-core processor packed with portable Linux. Moreover, Tomsek may be interested in crowdfunding these drop-in replacement boards if they see signs there are enough interested backers. Tomsek68 says they have two Vaio VGN-UX devices that are too old to repair or revive. The Redditor has spent several weeks remodeling the internals of the Vaio, which comes out of the outer shell in one piece. Ultimately, the intention is to fine-tune 3D models to duplicate these innards and prepare a new PCB to become the new heart of the device. Citing his PCB design skills, the Redditor seems confident of a successful project providing a drop-in replacement capable of revamping and revitalizing a Vaio VGN-UX UMPC. Instead of completing the project according to his needs, Tomsek68 generously asks other UMPC subreddit readers for opinions. (Image credit: Orange Pi) Tomsek68 knows that some aspects of the Vaio VGN-UX are well past their sell-by date, such as features like i.Link and the Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo slot. However, they are polling the community about desirable new features, acceptable price points, and the optimal SBC for powering these reanimated Sony UMPCs. Nothing larger than a CM4/CM5 will suit explains the Redditor. Redditor and PCB design hobbyist Tomsek68 specifically asked about a drop-in replacement upgrade board for these UMPCs. In other words, don’t distract them with requests for new screens, thumb boards, or other off-topic upgrades. As a reminder, the Sony Vaio VGN-UX devices launched with slide-out 4.5-inch 1,024 x 600-pixel XBrite TFT LCD touchscreens, a full QWERTY keyboard for thumbing, a fingerprint reader, plus cameras front and back. Hopefully, enough people will be interested in these upgrade plans and subsequently respond to the Redditor’s Google forms to get this project off the ground. Should the groundswell of interest be sufficient (>50 units), Tomsek68 seems likely to move to crowdfunding. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Enthusiast #mulls #reviving #Sonys #retro #micro #Orange #CM5 #planned #mainboard #upgrade Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Solskjaer off to Turkey in first job since Man Utd axe Solskjaer off to Turkey in first job since Man Utd axe Turkish Super League club Besiktas have appointed former Manchester United manager and striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their manager. The 51-year-old Norwegian has agreed to a deal until the end of next season, with an option to extend for another year. It’s his first managerial role since being sacked by United in 2021. Besiktas, who have won the Turkish title 16 times, are currently sixth in the standings and have been without a permanent head coach since Giovanni van Bronckhorst left in November. “We believe Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will make significant contributions to our club, and we warmly welcome him to the Besiktas family, wishing him great success,” Besiktas said in a statement on Saturday. Besiktas are 28th in the Europa League standings, a point off the play-off places, with two games left to play in the league phase. Source link #Solskjaer #Turkey #job #Man #Utd #axe Pelican News [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How Hades 2's Bonk Builds Stack Up Against Its Magic-Oriented Weapons How Hades 2's Bonk Builds Stack Up Against Its Magic-Oriented Weapons In Hades 2, there are many weapons that players can decide to use, and so the heavy-hitting options compete with those that mostly utilize magic. Source link #Hades #2039s #Bonk #Builds #Stack #MagicOriented #Weapons Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Apple Reportedly Working on ‘AI Wall Tablet’ With Smart Home Controls and Apple Intelligence Apple Reportedly Working on ‘AI Wall Tablet’ With Smart Home Controls and Apple Intelligence Apple is reportedly working on a new product designed to function as a wall-mounted display, according to a Bloomberg report that cites sources familiar with the company’s plans. The display is expected to offer smart home device controls, along with support for voice commands using Siri and Apple Intelligence. Apple’s next product will reportedly offer support for making and receiving video calls. The product has reportedly been in development for three years and is expected to debut in the coming months. Apple’s Wall-Mounted Display Might Not Support Third-Party Apps According to the report, Apple’s first smart home device powered by Apple Intelligence will comprise a 6-inch display that appears to resemble two iPhone units placed next to each other. It will reportedly be equipped with a camera and built-in speakers that enable support for video calls, and it can be used with optional bases that are equipped with speakers. Apple is also developing a new operating system for the new wall-mounted display that is codenamed “Pebble”, according to Bloomberg. It will reportedly feature a customisable home screen that shows icons for various apps, while widgets will provide information at a glance. The first-generation smart home device, codenamed J490, is expected to feature support for the company’s applications such as Apple News, Apple Music, FaceTime, and Safari, but it is unlikely to include an App Store, as per the report. While the wall-mounted display is expected to operate independently, it will reportedly require an iPhone to be set up. There’s no word on the hardware powering the device, but we can expect to offer performance on par with Apple’s A17 Pro chip or an M1 chip, along with 8GB of RAM. Apple has spent over three years on developing the new wall-mounted display and the company plans to launch the device in March 2025, according to the report. It could be available in ****** and silver colourways. Meanwhile, another advanced smart home device that is equipped with a robotic arm that can move a display is reportedly in development. It is unclear when Apple plans to launch this device, but it could be priced as high as $1,000 (roughly Rs. 84,400). Meanwhile, the wall-mounted display is expected to have a much lower price tag, according to the report. Source link #Apple #Reportedly #Working #Wall #Tablet #Smart #Home #Controls #Apple #Intelligence Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Should You Buy Ethereum While It’s Under $3,500? Should You Buy Ethereum While It’s Under $3,500? As of Jan. 16, the Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) cryptocurrency had gained 37% in a year. It was a wild ride along the way, however, with coin prices ranging from $2,220 to $4,070. All told, the second-largest name in crypto barely managed to outperform a stellar showing by the S&P 500 stock market index over the same *******. Ethereum is worth about $3,333 per coin this morning. I love alliteration and repeating patterns, but the cryptocurrency won’t stay at this appealing price for long. (Actually, it’s already moved since I wrote down that price — it’s hard to keep up with these volatile digital assets.) But none of that matters if you’re thinking about becoming an Ethereum owner. What does is whether the smart contracts platform is poised to move higher, or whether it peaked 10 months ago. Ethereum has been worth more than $3,500 several times before. It reached that level on at least seven occasions in 2024, and briefly topped $4,000 in May and December. Those spikes didn’t even set records — Ethereum’s all-time high was a brief visit to $4,892 in November 2021. A simplistic review of the cryptocurrency’s price chart suggests that it tracks the four-year cycle of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) halving events. Ethereum prices tend to soar about a year after each Bitcoin halving, skyrocket for another year or so, and then fall back amid a crypto winter. If the market is going to reiterate that pattern, then, timing-wise, Ethereum and other cryptos are in the early innings of a fresh bull market. There are many issues with this chart-glancing analysis, though. As with stocks, Ethereum’s past results are no guarantee of its future performance. Every Bitcoin halving cycle has been different from those that preceded it, and this one is no exception. Several price-boosting events impacted Ethereum last year, perhaps undermining its potential for short-term gains in 2025. Ethereum has a fairly short charting history to look at. This is only the third crypto market cycle since Ethereum was introduced in 2014. Maybe investors shouldn’t draw conclusions based on this limited data pool. That brings me back to the first point — chart squiggles from the past can’t really tell you what’s next. Technical analysis is neither an art nor a science, but more of a gamble. I don’t recommend making investment decisions on such a flimsy premise. Let’s forget about the price chart for a minute. What’s actually going on in the Ethereum project, and what could it mean for owners, users, and investors in the long run? Story Continues Both Bitcoin and Ethereum are essentially encrypted transaction ledgers, managed on publicly available computer networks. But they serve fundamentally different purposes. Bitcoin offers a digital coin that can be used for payments, and its value should rise over time due to rising demand and a strictly limited supply. Ethereum is the functional coin of a massive, global computer. Smart contracts embedded in its transactions are executed automatically, performing a wide range of digital functions based on real-world data. This functionality is the core of decentralized finance (DeFi) systems, which move financial processes out of banks and into your smartphone. As such, the coin’s value doesn’t rely on tight supply limitations. It’s all about the smart contracts finding many use cases, millions of daily users, and a massive volume of actual Ethereum transactions. Each transaction makes something happen in somebody’s blockchain wallet, or in a decentralized game, and so on — and the transactions incur gas fees. Some of the tokens used to pay those fees are “burned” — permanently removed from circulation. The rest go to holders who stake their Ethereum coins, which gives them the opportunity to validate transactions on the blockchain and keep it secure. Importantly, you can pay extra gas fees to execute your smart contracts faster, which should result in significant price increases when Ethereum-based apps go mainstream. Moreover, Ethereum is always upgrading its software. Upcoming improvements include tighter security, changes that should lead to cheaper transaction fees, and technical foundations for game-changing upgrades later on. These boosts will be required in order to stave off challenges from younger and faster smart contract platforms. It would be a shame to build a worldwide market for decentralized apps, only to see Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) and Cardano (CRYPTO: ADA) reap all the long-term benefits of your work. What’s missing from this overview is a timetable for decentralized finance apps to take off. With or without assistance from Bitcoin’s tenor-dictating price trends, Ethereum’s real value won’t become clear until we see the first killer apps of the DeFi and Web3 movements. It’s hard to pin a proper value on a digital transaction-tracking network, especially in a rapidly changing market that includes several credible alternatives. That said, I’m convinced that DeFi and Web3 will revolutionize personal finance around the globe. Disrupting the enormous banking industry will be a heavy lift, but it also may be inevitable. The financial systems you use every day in 2025 have been around for decades or even centuries, and there are better tools available these days. And despite a plethora of challengers, Ethereum remains the leader of the smart contracts pack. Many signs point to a healthy user community. More than half of all crypto value locked into app development projects belongs to the Ethereum market. There are roughly 300 million active Ethereum addresses, up from 130 million four years ago. The network effect of that rapidly expanding user group should boost Ethereum’s value over time. According to Metcalfe’s Law, the value of any network grows in proportion to the square of the number of people involved. This value formula was originally applied to telecommunications networks in the 1980s, but has also been applied to the internet, social networks, airport networks, and financial services. On that note, I expect Ethereum’s real-world value to soar as more people embrace its fast and inexpensive solutions to age-old financial problems. I can’t promise that $3,333 is the best buy-in price ever; still, I see a bright future for this crypto community in the long run, and the coin should build value over the years. Ethereum may or may not skyrocket in 2025, but it doesn’t really matter. I suggest holding this cryptocurrency for the long haul. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $357,084!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $43,554!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $462,766!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 “Double Down” stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of January 13, 2025 Anders Bylund has positions in Bitcoin, Cardano, Ethereum, and Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Cardano, Ethereum, and Solana. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Should You Buy Ethereum While It’s Under $3,500? was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Buy #Ethereum Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Bang & Olufsen’s new earbuds with ‘replaceable batteries’ don’t seem to be very repairable Bang & Olufsen’s new earbuds with ‘replaceable batteries’ don’t seem to be very repairable Bang & Olufsen announced its , back in November, touting among other things their replaceable batteries “for sustainability” and alignment with the EU’s impending device repairability requirements. But an teardown tells a more complicated story about actually replacing those batteries, describing the process of just getting the case open as “a very onerous and labor intensive task… even for a trained technician.” And inside, the battery is affixed to other components in ways that require heat to remove it, which in itself wouldn’t comply with the EU’s upcoming rules. Given all the work involved, the earbuds scored an abysmal 1/10 on iFixit’s repairability scorecard. Bang & Olufsen said the earbuds’ design “allows for battery replacement by service,” which, as iFixit notes, suggests that this isn’t meant to be a repair you can do yourself at home. It did ultimately turn out to be possible to take one of the earbuds apart without damaging any of the electronics inside, but the laborious teardown calls into question how feasible — and sustainable — battery replacement would be even when carried out at a B&O service center. After opening up the case and finding “a plastic weld mark barring access to the battery,” iFixit’s Shahram Mokhtari notes in the video that, “at a minimum, any battery replacement service would need to dispose of the plastic housing completely.” “I’d love to see B&O’s process for changing these batteries out,” Mokhtari wrote in the blog post. “I’m willing to bet it’s neither cheap nor waste-free but I would love to be proven wrong.” The teardown also revealed the Beoplay Eleven to be a “carbon copy” of the 2022 Beoplay EX internally. “Even the peel-away film on the rear of each earbud says ‘Beoplay EX’ — not ‘Beoplay Eleven,’” Mokhtari wrote. Yikes. Source link #Bang #Olufsens #earbuds #replaceable #batteries #dont #repairable Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Lenovo Yoga Pad Pro AI (2024) With Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Chipset, 10,200mAh Battery Launched Lenovo Yoga Pad Pro AI (2024) With Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Chipset, 10,200mAh Battery Launched Lenovo Yoga Pad Pro AI (2024) was launched in China on Tuesday as the company’s latest tablet model with artificial intelligence (AI) features. It is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and has 16GB of RAM and 512GB of inbuilt storage. The Yoga Pad Pro AI (2024) also features a large 12.7-inch display that has a 144Hz refresh rate, and six Harman Kardon-tuned speakers with Dolby Atmos. Lenovo has equipped the tablet with a 10,200mAh battery that can be charged at 68W. Lenovo Yoga Pad Pro AI (2024) Price, Availability Lenovo Yoga Pad Pro AI (2024) price is set at CNY 4,799 (roughly Rs. 55,900) for the 16GB + 512GB RAM and storage configuration. The tablet is also listed in a 12GB+256GGB variant on the company’s website, but pricing is yet to be revealed. The Lenovo Yoga Pad Pro AI (2024) offers stylus support Photo Credit: Lenovo The tablet is available to pre-order in China, via the company’s website. It will go on ***** in the country on December 7. There’s no word from Lenovo on whether the Yoga Pad Pro AI (2024) will be launched in global markets. Lenovo Yoga Pad Pro AI (2024) Specifications Lenovo has equipped the Yoga Pad Pro AI (2024) with a 12.7-inch (2,944×1,840 pixels) display with a 144Hz refresh rate and up to 900nits peak brightness. The tablet runs on an unspecified version of Android, along with the company’s ZUXOS skin. The newly announced Lenovo Yoga Pad Pro AI (2024) features a octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset from Qualcomm, along with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. It is also equipped with up to 512GB UFS 4.0 storage. You get a six-speaker setup tuned by Harman Kardonn on the Yoga Pad Pro AI (2024). The company’s website has yet to list out the connectivity specifications of the tablet. It also supports Lenovo’s stylus, which has a response rate of 4ms. It packs a 10,200mAH battery that can be charged at 68W, which is claimed to charge the tablet up to 80 percent in 45 minutes. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. India to Launch European Proba-3 Satellites Today: How to Watch Live and Everything You Need to Know Source link #Lenovo #Yoga #Pad #Pro #Snapdragon #Gen #Chipset #10200mAh #Battery #Launched Pelican News [Hidden Content]

We left the U.S. for Switzerland and our apartment costs $2,883/month We left the U.S. for Switzerland and our apartment costs $2,883/month When Mary Braun met her husband Sébastien, they were both living in Chicago. But on their second date, Sébastien, a France native, told Braun he wasn’t planning on staying in the United States for much longer — he had been in America for 15 years and wanted to move back to Europe soon. “He actually almost moved back but then decided to stay just a little bit longer and met me, so it was very serendipitous in that way,” Braun tells CNBC Make It. At the end of 2020, the couple moved into a two-bedroom apartment together on the North Side of Chicago. At the time, Sébastien worked as the head of the business unit for ZF Group, a ******* technology manufacturing company, while Mary worked as a social media manager for a haircare company. Both worked remotely and eventually the apartment proved too small for them, so the couple moved across the street into a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom duplex where they paid $2,585 a month in rent. “I miss it so much. It was a really cute building that still had brick walls and Chicago character but was gutted and renovated,” Braun says. When Mary Braun met her husband Sébastien, they were both living in Chicago. But on their second date, Sébastien, a France native, told Braun he wasn’t planning on staying in the United States for much longer. Mary and Sébastien Braun Braun and Sébastien lived in the apartment for about a year and got through the covid-19 pandemic together there. During that time, they started seriously considering a move to Europe and which country they would soon call home. Switzerland was at the top of their list. Sébastien was enrolled in an executive MBA program at the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland. “He chose it because he was able to do a lot of it remotely from the U.S.,” Braun says. “Since the long-term goal was moving back to Europe, it made sense for him to do a European program.” Another mitigating factor for the couple was that Sébastien hadn’t been able to see his family in France for an entire year because of pandemic travel restrictions. He started actively working to get transferred to his company’s European offices. The ZF Group offered Sébastien a transfer to an office in Germany, but Braun balked at the idea. She didn’t speak the language and there were no direct flights to and from Chicago. Sébastien was then offered a transfer to Belgium, but that fell through. He was given one more opportunity to work out of a brand new office in Bern, Switzerland, the country’s capital. Though a move to Bern still didn’t appeal to Braun — it also has no direct flights in and out of Chicago — she realized Zurich was close enough that Sébastien could commute into the office every day. “He really thought it was the best career opportunity for him, and at the time, the company that I worked for was willing to let me go and work remotely for them from Switzerland,” Braun says. “The stars aligned.” By December 2021, the couple had started the process of moving to Switzerland — which included attaining Swiss visas — so, they didn’t end up actually moving until September 2022. Braun and Sébastien married in March of that year, shipped most of their belongings to Switzerland, and moved in with Braun’s parents while they waited for the paperwork to clear. “We still had a long time to adjust to it and be with my family,” Braun says. “Which I think helped make the transition easier.” When Braun and Sébastien finally made their move to Zurich, they lived in temporary housing — first in a furnished 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom that they paid 3,880 francs or $4,253 USD and then a 2-bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms that rented for 5,090 francs or $5,580, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. “I remember sitting on the bed in the temporary housing with our dog and thinking how is this real? How are we in Switzerland? How did our dog make it here? How did everything fall into place?,” Braun says. “This was our real life now and we had to deal with it. It was just surreal.” That December, the couple found a more permanent living arrangement. It was a 2-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom apartment in the Enge neighborhood of Zurich where rent was 4,120 francs or $4,516. When Braun and Sébastien finally made their move Zurich, they lived in temporary housing. The couple soon found a more permanent living arrangement. Mary and Sébastien Braun The couple loved that apartment, but in January 2023, Braun learned she was pregnant. Living on the fourth floor of a building with no elevator became a major concern. The couple were also notified that their rent would be raised. They figured it was the right time to find a place with more space. Five months later, Braun and Sébastien left the old apartment behind and moved to a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment in Uitikon, a town just outside of Zurich, for 3,950 francs or $4,330 a month. Braun says one of the upsides for them was that their taxes went down because they weren’t living in the city anymore. In Switzerland, people pay federal income tax rates ranging from 0 to 11.5%, but that doesn’t include local taxes, according to H&R Block. The cantons, which are similar to states in the U.S., and municipalities also charge taxes. The couple lived in this apartment in Uitikon for about eight months. Mary and Sébastien Braun A downside? It wasn’t all that easy to get around their new town without a car. When Braun gave birth to the couple’s daughter and went on maternity leave, she was employed as a social media manager for a Swiss company that wasn’t friendly towards remote work. “I was starting to get concerned about just balancing life,” she says. There was a possibility that Braun would lose her job if she didn’t return to her office full-time when her leave was up. “If I were in the U.S., I would have my mom or someone I knew well to watch our daughter. We started thinking that we needed to have a plan for the worst-case scenario financially.” The couple and their daughter currently live in a town just outside of Fribourg, Switzerland. Mary and Sébastien Braun When Braun’s boss confirmed the worst, Sébastien set out to find a higher-paying job while she considered her options. “I appreciated that [my boss] was very honest with me, but it was a bummer because I kind of had to choose between my career or my family,” she says. “I took the loss, but there are other bonuses to being at home with our daughter. Being a stay-at-home mom is just a different job.” Last year, the couple and their daughter moved to a town outside of Fribourg, just under two hours from Zurich’s city center, where the family still resides. They pay 2,630 francs, or $2,883, a month for their 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment. “We were able to save a huge chunk of change and Sébastien was making more money. It didn’t really close the gap between me losing my income but it definitely helped from a financial standpoint,” Braun says. The family has a scenic view of the town from nearly every window in their apartment. Mary and Sébastien Braun Plus, as French is a primary language in that area, Braun was excited to raise her daughter there, knowing she would learn the language and she could improve her own. Since becoming a stay-at-home mom, Braun says she really appreciates the sense of safety that comes with living in Switzerland. She takes a lot of nature walks alone with her daughter and the family dog. “The safety level is so different here that honestly, as a woman, I just feel safer doing things that I would probably think twice about doing in the U.S.,” Mary says. “It feels very secure and safe while still being beautiful at the same time.” Braun and Sébastien have lived in Switzerland for over two years now, and though they miss America’s sense of celebration and having so much readily available to them like Amazon delivery and stores that stay open later than 6 p.m., the results of the 2024 presidential election means that, for them, moving back is off the table: “There’s too much uncertainty in the U.S.” “I never want our daughter to feel like she’s not American and I want her to culturally identify with the U.S., at least the good parts of it,” Braun says. “It’s also tempting because for me, it would be easy to get back into the job market with my journalism background, especially as a freelancer, which isn’t really a thing in Switzerland. The apartment has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Mary and Sébastien Braun But, “I think socially it doesn’t really make sense for us at the moment,” she adds. The couple thinks they will eventually move again to be closer to Sébastien’s family, but that won’t happen any time soon. “To have the ability to have help and have someone to rely on and watch our daughter is amazing,” Braun says. “To have her grow up in one of her cultures, I think, would be really cool for us.” Mary doesn’t think the family will be moving back to the U.S. any time soon. Mary and Sébastien Braun Until then, Braun is focused on learning French to expand her career opportunities if and when they move to Sébastien’s home country and she’s ready to return to work. Want to up your AI skills and be more productive? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Use AI to Be More Successful at Work. Expert instructors will teach you how to get started, practical uses, tips for effective prompt-writing, and mistakes to avoid. Sign up now and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $67 (+ taxes and fees) through February 11, 2025. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. Source link #left #U.S #Switzerland #apartment #costs #2883month Pelican News [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

My Hotel Review: Flawed Execution of a Compelling Concept – Power Up Gaming My Hotel Review: Flawed Execution of a Compelling Concept – Power Up Gaming Mystery games and resource management games are strange bedfellows, but in My Hotel, Brainswapper games attempt this fusion. Does it work? Source link #Hotel #Review #Flawed #Execution #Compelling #Concept #Power #Gaming Pelican News [Hidden Content]

AMD Ryzen 9950X3D and 9900X3D, Ryzen Z2, Ryzen 9000 Mobile, and Ryzen AI Series CPUs Unveiled at CES 2025 AMD Ryzen 9950X3D and 9900X3D, Ryzen Z2, Ryzen 9000 Mobile, and Ryzen AI Series CPUs Unveiled at CES 2025 Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) introduced several Ryzen-branded gaming CPUs including Ryzen 9900X3D and 9950X3D series, and Ryzen Z2 lineup at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 on Monday. The company says its newest gaming-centric processors are aimed at bolstering desktop, mobile, and handheld gaming. Alongside, the US-based chipmaker has also expanded its portfolio of consumer and commercial-grade AI PCs with the unveiling of Ryzen AI Max, Ryzen AI 300, and Ryzen 200 series processors which are claimed to deliver maximum computing in thin and light notebooks. AMD Gaming Products at CES 2025 According to AMD, its new lineup of processors comprises four new products for different platforms. The first two are AMD Ryzen 9900X3D and 9950X3D series desktop processors for content creators and gamers, with the latter having a 16-core architecture. AMD 9950X3D leverages second generation 3D V-Cache technology and has 16 “Zen 5” CPU cores and AMD RDNA 2 graphics. The company claims it can deliver higher clock speeds at lower temperatures by relocating the cache memory below the core complex die (CCD). Model Cores / Threads Boost / Base Frequency Total Cache PCIe Gen TDP AMD Ryzen 9950X3D 16C/32T Up to 5.7 / 4.3 GHz 144 MB Gen 5 170W AMD Ryzen 9900X3D 12C/24T Up to 5.5 / 4.4 GHz 140 MB Gen 5 120W For handheld gaming devices, AMD introduces Ryzen Z2 series processors with up to 8 “Zen 5” CPU cores and RDNA 3.5 architecture-powered graphics. Meanwhile, the new Ryzen 9000HX series processors target mobile notebooks. They feature the same second generation 3D V-Cache technology as the desktop processors and are equipped with up to 16 cores, capable of delivering 32 threads of processing performance. Model Cores / Threads Boost / Base Frequency Total Cache Graphics Model Graphics Cores cTDP AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme 8C/16T Up to 5.0 / 2.0 GHz 24 MB AMD RDNA 3.5 16 15-35W AMD Ryzen Z2 4C/8T Up to 5.1 / 3.3 GHz 24 MB AMD RDNA 3 12 15-30W AMD Ryzen Z2 Go 4C/8T Up to 4.3 / 3.0 GHz 10 MB AMD RDNA 2 12 15-30W The AMD Ryzen 9900X3D and 9950X3D desktop processors and Ryzen Z2 series chips will be available in the market in Q1 2025, while the Ryzen 9000HX series is scheduled to be made available in the first half of the year. AMD Chips for AI PCs The US chipmaker also expanded its AI PC CPU lineup with the introduction of Ryzen AI Max, Ryzen AI 300, and Ryzen AI 200 series. The Ryzen AI Max offers up to 16 “Zen 5” CPU cores, up to 40 AMD RDNA 3.5 graphics compute units, and an AMD XDNA 2 neural processing unit (NPU) with up to 50 TOPS of AI compute. It features up to 128GB of unified memory, out of which 96GB is claimed to be available for graphics. Part of the lineup is the new Ryzen AI Max Pro series processor which is said to be capable of handling AI-accelerated workloads when working with large engineering and architectural models. Model Cores / Threads Boost / Base Frequency Total Cache Graphics Model AMD cTDP NPU TOPS Graphics Cores AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 16C/32T Up to 5.1 / 3.0 GHz 80MB AMD Radeon 8060S Graphics 45-120W 50 40 AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 12C/24T Up to 5.0 / 3.2 GHz 76MB AMD Radeon 8050S Graphics 45-120W 50 32 AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 8C/16T Up to 5.0 / 3.6 GHz 40MB AMD Radeon 8050S Graphics 45-120W 50 32 AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 16C/32T Up to 5.1 / 3.0 GHz 80MB AMD Radeon 8060S Graphics 45-120W 50 40 AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 12C/24T Up to 5.0 / 3.2 GHz 76MB AMD Radeon 8050S Graphics 45-120W 50 32 AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro 385 8C/16T Up to 5.0 / 3.6 GHz 40MB AMD Radeon 8050S Graphics 45-120W 50 32 AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro 380 6C/12T Up to 4.9 / 3.6 GHz 22MB AMD Radeon 8040S Graphics 45-120W 50 16 Meanwhile, the new Ryzen AI 300 and Ryzen AI 300 Pro chips feature up to 8 “Zen 5” CPU cores, an RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture, and an AMD XDNA 2 NPU. AMD says they are compatible with the next generation of Microsoft Copilot+ devices, offering peak 50+ NPU TOPS of AI performance. Model Cores / Threads Boost / Base Frequency Total Cache Graphics Model AMD cTDP NPU TOPS AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 8C/16T Up to 5.0 / 2.0 GHz 24 MB AMD Radeon 860M Graphics 15-54W 50 AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 6C/12T Up to 4.8 / 2.0 GHz 22 MB AMD Radeon 840M Graphics 15-54W 50 AMD Ryzen AI 7 Pro 350 8C/16T Up to 5.0 / 2.0 GHz 24 MB AMD Radeon 860M Graphics 15-54W 50 AMD Ryzen AI 5 Pro 340 6C/12T Up to 4.8 / 2.0 GHz 22 MB AMD Radeon 840M Graphics 15-54W 50 The company also unveiled the AMD Ryzen 200 series processors. They are equipped with up to 8 “Zen 4” CPU cores and 16 threads, AMD RDNA 3 graphics, and up to 16 NPU TOPS. The Ryzen AI Max series and Ryzen AI 300 series chips will be available in Q1 2025. Meanwhile, the AMD Ryzen 200 Series is expected to hit the markets in Q2 2025. Source link #AMD #Ryzen #9950X3D #9900X3D #Ryzen #Ryzen #Mobile #Ryzen #Series #CPUs #Unveiled #CES Pelican News [Hidden Content]

Marvel Rivals Fans Dissing on Adam Warlock’s Ult Conveniently Ignore Another Support Hero With Even Worse Abilities Marvel Rivals Fans Dissing on Adam Warlock’s Ult Conveniently Ignore Another Support Hero With Even Worse Abilities Marvel Rivals is reaching an unbelievable number of players that one could have never imagined before its release, and it is all coming true because of one simple formula: the game is fun. Unfortunately, making a game this fun often involves playing around with the power balance of the characters in the game, a meta that many in the player base might not be fans of. Marvel Rivals is a fun game with a growing player base, but it still lacks in some areas | Netease Games As a result of the above, some players have taken to forums and social media to criticize Adam Warlock’s ultimate ability, calling it horrible and underwhelming. While the criticism isn’t entirely baseless, there’s a significant oversight in these arguments: Rocket Raccoon, another support agent in the game, that arguably takes the cake for having the least impactful ultimate ability. Why Adam Warlock Might Need a Buff Soon Adam Warlock has one of the most unique sets of abilities in-game | Netease Games Adam Warlock is a unique support character in Marvel Rivals and has a niche set of abilities and team-up advantages that help him gain an edge over the enemies amid a battle. However, when compared to other agents, a user on Reddit argues that Adam Warlock’s Ultimate, in particular, is so horrible that it is ‘borderline useless’, essentially becoming a call for help to the developers. The user argues that Warlock’s ultimate calls for the player to leave the battlefield while your team is fighting in order to properly and efficiently make use of the ult, which just brings back your teammate at just 100 HP. These are all valid concerns, and this is something that the brains behind the game should make sure to look into as it impacts the game and ultimately the already chosen few support players who play Adam Warlock. Rocket Raccoon: The Ultimate Marvel Rivals Underdog Rocket Raccoon is one of the most underrated characters in Marvel Rivals | Netease Games While Adam Warlock’s ultimate has its issues, Rocket Raccoon’s ultimate, Cosmic Yarn Amplifier, is arguably even less effective. As another support agent in Marvel Rivals, everything that Raccoon’s ultimate ability does is throw down a gadget that provides a 40% damage boost and a bit of HP buff to the players around. Making what could have easily been just a seasonal team-up benefit the whole ultimate is something that is beyond the players of the game. For an idea, while Marvel Rivals already takes a lot of inspiration from Valorant, the game could have easily copied something like Raze’s ult and given our favorite Raccoon an ultimate that suits his character. The frustration with Adam Warlock’s ultimate is understandable; it doesn’t deliver the high-impact results players expect from a game-changing ability. However, comparing it to Rocket Raccoon’s C.Y.A is what finally puts things into perspective. Source link #Marvel #Rivals #Fans #Dissing #Adam #Warlocks #Ult #Conveniently #Ignore #Support #Hero #Worse #Abilities Pelican News [Hidden Content]