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La Liga Soccer Livestream: How to Watch Barcelona vs. Real Madrid From Anywhere

CNET News - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 06:15
It's a decisive Clásico clash in the title race in La Liga.
Categories: Technology

Premier League Soccer: Stream Man United vs. West Ham Live From Anywhere

CNET News - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 06:15
The Red Devils host the underperforming Hammers at Old Trafford.
Categories: Technology

Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, saying 'Never again war'

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 06:09

In his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV called for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza with the release of hostages and delivery of aid

(Image credit: Andrew Medichini)

Categories: News

Best Internet Providers in San Francisco

CNET News - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 06:00
Sonic is the top internet provider in San Francisco, but there are plenty of other options for every budget.
Categories: Technology

Luxury dog hotels give some people pause amid the inequality of South Africa

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 05:51

High-end accommodations for pooches are thriving in one of the world's most unequal countries. They have their defenders and their critics. Who's barking up the right tree?

(Image credit: Tommy Trenchard for NPR)

Categories: News

I wanted to know why my mom was so hard on us kids growing up. So I finally asked

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 05:48

"Work hard my children." That's what my mother always told me and my siblings. All I wanted to do was play hide and seek and netball. Years later, we had a good talk about her parenting style. Essay by Esther Ngumbi. Editor: Marc Silver. Publishing Sunday morning. Adapted from an earlier essay by Esther Ngumbi from a few years ago.

(Image credit: Family photo)

Categories: News

India and Pakistan ceasefire shaken by overnight fighting in disputed Kashmir region

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 05:46

People on both sides of the Line of Control, which divides the territory, reported heavy exchanges of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops. The fighting subsided by Sunday morning.

(Image credit: Roshan Mughal)

Categories: News

Polygamous working on the rise as ease of cheating on employers blamed on WFH and remote working

TechRadar News - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 05:32
  • Many employees secretly hold multiple remote jobs due to low oversight
  • Social media tips help workers juggle meetings across dual roles
  • Undisclosed multitasking causes burnout legal issues and lost productivity companywide

Remote work has opened the door to a growing trend of employees secretly holding multiple full-time jobs, a practice known as polygamous working or being “overemployed.”

While having multiple jobs isn't illegal, doing so without disclosure often breaches contracts, strains productivity, and can pose legal and ethical issues.

HR Magazine notes, “Moonlighting in this way can have serious consequences. It’s not just about reduced productivity; there’s a real risk of employee burnout, misuse of company resources, data security breaches and overall erosion of trust in the workplace."

Tips from Reddit and TikTok

The rise of flexible and hybrid work models means many roles can now be done without ever stepping into an office.

“The practice has boomed since the Covid pandemic triggered a rise in working from home, creating an opportunity for shrewd employees to take on multiple remote roles – sometimes as many as three or four at once,” reports The Telegraph.

One woman, going by the name "Nadia", told the paper she earned £87,000 working two jobs simultaneously from her home office.

On Reddit and TikTok, thousands share tips on managing multiple roles, with some workers boasting about using mouse jigglers and dual laptops to juggle overlapping meetings.

One British influencer claimed: "It worked for me, it was great. I was able to do really nice things and take care of myself, go to nice places, save up for property."

But experts warn of the risks. “These issues can quickly escalate into legal and reputational disasters,” HR Magazine noted, suggesting “ongoing or periodic rescreening” of employees can help manage risk and protect both workers and employers.

In some cases, fraud charges have been brought - The i Paper claims one man was sentenced to a year in prison after being paid for two full-time contracts over 10 months.

Peter Boolkah, a business coach, told The Telegraph of the dangers of polygamous working.

“It could mean small business-owners find their employees off work sick more because of burnout," he said.

"Those who stay working two jobs will be overstretched. Inevitably, this will lead to lower productivity for businesses, and those who are off sick will find themselves back where they started, with less money than before.”

Whether a symptom of economic necessity or opportunism, polygamous working raises urgent questions about trust, governance, and the sustainability of remote-first work culture.

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Categories: Technology

If you're already subscribed to Whoop, you can now get a free upgrade to the latest devices after a user backlash

TechRadar News - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 05:30
  • Whoop changes its device upgrade policies
  • Current users no longer have to pay an extra fee
  • Whoop subscribers had been complaining

Premium fitness company Whoop showed off some shiny new wearables this week, and has now confirmed that existing users with more than 12 months left on their subscription can get hold of the new devices free of charge.

As reported by Bloomberg, the company was facing a backlash from users after initially charging a $49 upgrade fee – a fee that broke a promise made last year, in a now-deleted blog post, that subscribers would get new devices without paying extra

There was plenty of vitriol directed towards Whoop over on Reddit and social media, from users who expected to get the new bands for free within their current subscription. That's now the case again, after Whoop decided to reverse course.

"Like any company, we from time to time update our commercial policies," a Whoop spokesperson told Bloomberg. The company emphasizes that there's also a newly introduced $199 / £169 / AU$299 per year plan, which is the least expensive yet.

The subscription economy

The Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG (Image credit: Whoop)

There are now three pricing tiers for Whoop: the one mentioned above, Whoop One, plus Whoop Peak ($239 / £229 / AU$419 per year) and Whoop Life ($359 / £349 / AU$629 per year. The most expensive option gets you a Whoop MG (Medical Grade) band, otherwise you get a Whoop 5.0, included in the subscription.

Paying more gets you some additional features. If you're sticking with your Whoop 4.0 wearable, you miss out on a few of the features in the new subscriptions, including physiological age estimates and women's health tracking.

There's lots that's new in the 2025 devices, including ECG readings and blood pressure estimates, and the screen-less wearables also offer 14-day battery life. However, existing users feel they're being pushed into an upgrade.

It's not been the most well communicated of u-turns from Whoop, and it's part of the growing trend for fitness companies to put features behind paywalls to get as much money as possible out of users. As with access to music, movies, and software, you have to keep paying to get what's on offer.

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Categories: Technology

We asked, you answered. Here are your most memorable moments with Mom for Mother's Day

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 05:01

NPR received nearly 500 submissions from around the country and beyond from people who shared favorite memories of their mothers — whether she's still present for them to hug or lives on in their hearts.

(Image credit: Julie Walton-Davidson, Lora Hinkson and via Joe Tanner)

Categories: News

Map Your Summer Hikes on Your iPhone With This iOS Feature

CNET News - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 05:00
Plan your hike before stepping out the front door with this handy tool.
Categories: Technology

Federal employee unions fight for survival as Trump tries to eviscerate them

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 05:00

In 1978, Congress gave federal workers the right to organize and bargain collectively, finding it in the public interest. Now Trump wants to end those labor rights for most of the federal workforce.

(Image credit: Andrea Hsu)

Categories: News

Premier League Soccer: Stream Newcastle vs. Chelsea From Anywhere

CNET News - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 04:30
It's a crucial game at St. James' Park for these two Champions League hopefuls.
Categories: Technology

Russia's Putin proposes direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 02:53

Putin proposed restarting direct talks with Ukraine "without preconditions," hours after European leaders urged Moscow to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

(Image credit: Sergei Bobylev/AP)

Categories: News

I tested out the Maxtang SXRL-20 mini PC and with this sort of performance, it's basically as niche as they come

TechRadar Reviews - Sun, 05/11/2025 - 01:47
Maxtang SXRL-20: 30-second review

The Mini PC has undergone some transformation since Intel ended its NUC and left the field open for PC makers to define the market for these small machines.

While some brands are still making traditional NUC-inspired designs, Maxtang, with the SXRL-20, has taken its small computer concept in an entirely different direction.

Conceived explicitly for digital signage use, it can drive up to four displays and achieve this with a passively cooled solution for prolonged running. It’s all-metal construction and wall-mounting accessories deliver a robust and made-for-purpose solution that uses an Intel Core i5-class processor to run Windows 11.

This is the same silicon that has been used in NAS boxes. It provides sufficient CPU and GPU power to drive the displays and sufficient storage options to handle a lot of playback media.

With LAN, WIFi, and even LTE connectivity, this system can be easily and remotely accessed to update the content when required.

At a modest price, the only aspect that potential customers need to be aware of is that there isn’t much performance headroom in the SXRL-20 to repurpose it for other duties. This hardware was assembled for a specific job, and not to become a desktop PC if the requirements change. Because of that, this hardware is a little too niche to make it into our best mini PC round-up.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance) Maxtang SXRL-20: Price and availability
  • How much does it cost? From $429
  • When is it out? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Currently, this machine can be obtained directly from Maxtang and through Amazon

According to the Maxtang specifications, the company intends to make six different versions of this hardware using i3, i5 and i7 class processors.

Maxtang sells the machine directly on a quotation basis, which I’d assume could adjust the unit cost based on volume.

The review machine using the i5-1235u with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD is $479, and the i7-1255u variant with the same amount of memory and storage is $599, available from Amazon.com.

The cheapest option is a $429 machine with just 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, using the i5 processor. That platform can also be had with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for $579.

Interestingly, the i7 model is offered with no memory or storage for $469, which might be helpful if you have plenty of DDR4 SODIMM modules and NVMe drives spare.

Europeans can source this hardware from AliExpress with the i5 and i3 models listed, but there are no i7 options. The Core i5-1235U variant with 16GB of RAM and 512GB is £498.45 for UK customers.

As alternatives, there are plenty of Mini PC designs that support dual monitor outputs and up to four using USB-C or Thunderbolt ports, although docks or adapters would be needed to connect them to a typical HDMI TV input.

The problem with the majority of these options is that the machines are actively cooled and need ventilation to remain operational. They also don’t support operational hours in the BIOS.

For the quality of construction and passive cooling model, the price of the SXRL-20 seems reasonable, with the i5 models offering the best value.

  • Value: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance) Maxtang SXRL-20: Specs Maxtang SXRL-20: Design
  • All-metal passively cooled
  • Designed to be mounted
  • Easy internal access

Most mini PC designs follow the old Intel NUC concept of a small box that mounts a 15cm square motherboard with components neatly stacked to keep everything compact. The SXRL-20 is not like that at all.

It has more of a set-top box feel, or even an automotive component aesthetic, with its flattened metal exterior and integrated heatsink fins.

Along with the PC, Maxtang provides two mounting plates made to connect to the underside, lifting the machine a short distance from the mounting surface. That’s ideal for an information booth or digital signage scenario.

Because this hardware won’t typically be sitting on a desk or used directly, with the exception of the wifi antenna BNCs, all the ports are on one edge.

These include four HDMI outs, dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, plus a selection of USB and a COM port. That last feature could be critical, as from this COM port you could easily hang the relay electronics to fire up lights and other hardware via the PC.

There is an option, not in our review hardware, to also have a side-mounted HDMI-in port, which might be helpful if you wish to record the reaction to promotional material or for security purposes.

The machine is powered by a small 90w laptop PSU, which is more than enough to drive this platform and whatever USB peripherals are connected to it.

In this writer’s experience, getting into mini computers can be more challenging than it should be, but this design is as straightforward as it gets. Simply removing six screws from the underside releases that side of the machine providing full access to the internal system, no spudgers required.

Inside is a large mainboard that fills 70% of the internal volume, with spaces for various upgrades and enhancements. There are two SODIMM slots occupied in the review machine with 8GB of Kingston-branded DDR4 modules for 16GB in total. It’s possible to replace these with 32GB modules for a maximum of 64GB.

The M.2 SSD was also a Kingston product, a 512GB SATA SSD, and that slot can take SATA or NVMe drives, but a second M.2 2280 slot is exclusively NVMe.

I’m not sure why Maxtang used an M.2 SATA drive since Kingston doesn’t list these devices for retail; they must be exclusively for OEM customers and industrial use.

The logic behind using it may be to reduce the chance of overheating since this enclosure is entirely passively cooled.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The WiFi is provided by a now-discontinued Intel AX200NGW controller in a M.2 2230 slot, but alongside that slot is an M.2 2242 slot that could take a second controller. There is also a SIM card slot that I assume requires an LTE modem that uses the spare M.2 2242, and there are four punch-outs on the rear for antennas to be mounted.

With LTE in this unit, reconfiguring it remotely or having it pick up new material to display on an overnight basis would be a breeze.

Overall, this design has two clearly defined objectives: to run without cooling for long periods, and to be easily adaptable should the mission require changes.

It succeeds in both these things, although it’s not something that you would want to repurpose as an Office PC, in case you wondered. While it runs Windows 11, the performance compared to a machine designed for that role is lacklustre for a few reasons I’ll cover in the performance section.

  • Design: 4.5 / 5
Maxtang SXRL-20: Features
  • Intel i5-1235U
  • Iris Xe GPU
  • DDR4 memory

Intel went through a slightly odd phase in which successive generations of its chip designs appeared to make limited headway and, in some respects, went backwards.

One of the most impacted series was the Alder Lake 12th generation, which Intel made for both desktop and mobile platforms. In this context, the chip used in this machine is an Alder Lake-U design that combines Golden Clove P-cores and Gracemont E-cores.

When Intel launched Raptor Lake chips for the 13th generation, these were superseded. With the advent of the Core Ultra series 1 and 2, Alder Lake is four generations behind the current product set.

This particular chip is interesting because it’s found favour in several non-mobile devices, particularly the Ugreen DXP4800 Plus and DXP480T NAS boxes.

Even by Intel’s curious standards, the Intel i5-1235U is an odd processor, but it’s found a number of niches where performance isn’t as important as flexibility.

One advantage it has over the UHD Graphics that the N100 is saddled with is the Iris Xe GPU, although this is hardly something for gaming.

One impressive thing about the Maxtang SXRL-20 is that it has four HDMI outputs, which flies in the face of the Iris Xe specifications. According to Intel, the Iris Xe supports a maximum of three displays, so what Maxtang did to get the fourth one is a mystery. Perhaps it’s an undocumented option, or they mapped one output over two HDMI ports, but it is possible with this machine.

However, depending on what you intend to do with those outputs, there are practical limitations based on the memory that the Iris Xe can map from main memory and the modes it supports. Trying to generate smoothly moving 3D images over all four displays is unrealistic, unless the resolution of each is dramatically reduced.

In theory, the Iris Xe can generate an 8K HDR image over HDMI 2.0, but that’s via a single monitor. If that’s segmented to four displays, then 1080p HDR is possible, and video playback at that level is achievable.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

My issue with this is that it’s hard to see where the limits of this GPU and CPU combination are without actually trying to execute a specific file or scenario. What doesn’t help is that the Maxtang SXRL-20 uses DDR4, reducing the memory bandwidth for both the CPU and the GPU. It’s worth noting that the Intel i5-1235U can use DDR5 modules, but Maxtang chose not to provide that performance headroom for this hardware.

Clearly, those who designed the SXRL-20 had an objective in mind that it should be able to drive four monitors with four video streams smoothly at the target resolution, and it was deemed that DDR5 wasn’t necessary to deliver that.

The problem is that the use case defined by Maxtang might not be the same as one envisaged by a potential customer.

Overall, the hardware in the SXRL-20 is fit for purpose, but only within some narrow constraints.

  • Features: 4 / 5
Maxtang SXRL-20: Performance

Because of this unusual configuration, I’ve not pitched the Maxtang against another Intel system. It’s a little quicker than the typical N100-based machines, but significantly slower than even a Core-i3 N300 machine, like the Zotac P1430AJ Pico.

The issues here are that this CPU only has one performance core, and all the rest are efficiency. Only the P-core has hyperthreading, giving a total of twelve threads of processing.

Intel revised this design with slightly higher clock speeds for the i5-1335U, and Maxtang has that as an option for this series, but with the same underlying core and cache architecture, it won’t be much better.

What’s important to consider is that this system was specified for a job, displaying promotional graphics and videos, and it has sufficient power to do that without breaking any benchmark records.

By desktop PC standards, the performance of the SATA SSD is slow compared to NVMe drives, but again, not so glacial that it would interfere with the machine’s running.

This wasn’t meant to be used as a desktop PC; therefore, judging it by those standards isn’t helpful. It’s an appliance PC made to run throughout the day and not overheat, which seems well suited to do.

  • Performance: 3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance) Maxtang SXRL-20: Final verdict

(Image credit: Maxtang)

The Maxtang SXRL-20 is an interesting system that has more in common with a NAS than a desktop PC. However, given that the objective of delivering digital signage has different priorities, those behind its design approached its construction and specifications from a unique perspective. This hardware was made for a purpose, and it fulfils that brief well.

My only concern is that while the machine is appropriate, I’m unconvinced that using Windows 11 on a customer-facing system is such a great idea.

Given how Microsoft has an unfortunate track record of screwing up its own operating system, and how an ill-considered update might stop this system working, or end up with messages on the screen is a concern. While I’m sure it is possible to lock down a Windows machine to avoid these pitfalls, we’ve all seen Digital Signage with Microsoft enhancements that those running the system wouldn’t care for.

It’s worth noting that on the promotional material for this product, the Ubuntu logo makes an appearance along with the Linux one, so I’m not the only person thinking about this possibility seriously.

Should you buy a Maxtang SXRL-20? Buy it if...

You like computers to be quiet
The design of this mini PC makes the entire case a radiator, avoiding fans entirely.

You want four monitors connected
With HDMI 2.0, it is possible to connect four screens to this system. But, be realistic about what you intend to show on those screens simultaneously. As the Iris Xe (80eu) isn't a discrete GPU.

Don't buy it if...

You want 4K on lots of screens
The Iris Xe GPU used in this system can drive four displays, but 4K video on four outputs might be beyond it. For those scenarios, you might need a discrete video card on a machine that won't be passively cooled.

You want max power
Unlike a lot of mini PCs I've reviewed, this machine isn't built for absolute performance - it's best for businesses with digital displays. View Deal

For more display essentials, we've rounded up the best digital signage software.

Categories: Reviews

Tariff troubles: A rubber duck museum is migrating to Canada to stay afloat

NPR News Headlines - Sat, 05/10/2025 - 22:40

Upset by tariffs and President Trump's insistence on making them the 51st state, Canadians are boycotting the U.S. Without them, the Rubber Duck Museum can't stay afloat. So, it's moving to Canada.

Categories: News

Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for May 11, #230

CNET News - Sat, 05/10/2025 - 21:45
Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 230, for May 11.
Categories: Technology

Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sunday, May 11

CNET News - Sat, 05/10/2025 - 21:38
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for May 11.
Categories: Technology

Slightly unusual 'atmospheric river' event to hit Southeast U.S.

NPR News Headlines - Sat, 05/10/2025 - 20:23

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says an "atmospheric river" event is set to hit Florida and other parts of the Southeast. The weather event typically occurs in the West.

(Image credit: Weather Prediction Center)

Categories: News

I'd jump at the chance to swap my 24-inch LCD monitor for this 25-inch color E Ink alternative – if only I could afford it

TechRadar News - Sat, 05/10/2025 - 19:06

Boox, the maker of some of the best ereaders and E Ink writing tablets, has just announced its first ever color PC monitor. Called the Boox Mira Pro, it uses a 25.3-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display that emulates the look of paper – a screen technology that's already in use in several popular ereaders, including the Kindle Colorsoft and the Kobo Libra Colour.

Like ereaders, the Mira Pro is front lit rather than having backlighting like on LCD screens, with the ability to adjust both brightness and the light temperature (warm or cold). There's also a dedicated refresh button to minimize ghosting which can be a major problem on e-paper displays. This paper-like panel will also reduce reflections and glare.

To bolster its monitor credentials, the Mira Pro also features a pair of built-in speakers and five ports, including USB-C, HDMI, mini HDMI and DisplayPort. You can also get a Mira Pro version to support the operating system you use, whether that's Windows, Mac or Linux.

That's about it for the Mira Pro's main credentials, which is essentially a color version of the black-and-white Boox Mira that was launched in 2023.

(Image credit: Onyx Boox) An easy read

I'm a huge proponent of ereaders because of the E Ink screens they use, whether in grayscale or color. For avid readers like me, they're 'easy on the eyes', allowing you to read right until bedtime. So wouldn't it be nice if there was a capable E Ink PC monitor that didn't strain the eyes as much for the approximately eight hours I spend working?

As a photographer, I wouldn't use an E Ink screen to edit my photos as the colors would be too soft and unsaturated, but I can absolutely see it fitting into my workflow in the office, which is predominantly as an editor of articles for TechRadar. It would replace the aging 24-inch Dell monitor I currently have set up in the vertical orientation specifically for editing articles because it has major viewing-angle issues.

Checking drafts written in a Google Document by one of the writers on my team would be fantastic on an E Ink display. I've already tried doing so on an E Ink screen, albeit on the 10-inch one on the Boox Go 10.3 as it allows me to log into my Google Drive account. However, it's not the easiest device to type on (and I can't write on Google Docs on it), so a dedicated monitor that seamlessly connects with my MacBook and other peripherals would be nice indeed.

(Image credit: Onyx Boox) Got any spare change?

It's the limited use of an E Ink display that has me questioning its launch price of $1,899.99 / AU$2, 499 (about £1,400). I'm also a little concerned with how well the E Ink Kaleido 3 display on the Mira Pro might have been optimized to display the 4,096 colors in its palette.

While color Boox ereaders are good – and I've tested many of them – I think Kobo has done a better job of making full use of the Kaleido 3 tech. So while the Mira Pro might be just enough for my specific use case, I suspect other users would find it lacking.

Moreover, based on my previous experience with Boox ereaders (color or monochrome), the company hasn't always been able to minimize ghosting – except on the Boox Palma – despite offering multiple refresh rates that can be applied on a per-application basis. Would the refresh button be any better? Well, I can't say for sure as I've not tried either the Mira or the Mira Pro.

As high as the price might seem, particularly taking into consideration the limitations of such a screen, it does seem to be kinda, sorta on par with ereader prices. For example, 10-inch monochrome E Ink writing tablets like the 2024 Kindle Scribe and the reMarkable 2 sell for upwards of $400 / £370 / AU$600, while the color reMarkable Paper Pro (which uses a custom version of the newer E Ink Gallery 3 technology) will set you back $579 / £559 / AU$929 with the basic Marker. Extrapolate these prices for a 25-inch display and throw in the cost of the stand and I can see why it's priced so high.

And customers in the US will need to also take into consideration any potential tariffs, so expect to pay more than the listed launch price.

Despite the high price, I'd be very excited to have something like that on my desk.

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