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Shokz OpenRun Pro 2: One minute review

The Shokz OpenFit Air are probably the best running headphones for people in the 5k to half-marathon distance bracket who want to be able to hear their surroundings when they train and race. Offering a very reasonable 6 hours on a full charge, the battery life will get most people through a full marathon, too, although more expensive Shokz options give double the playtime.

Open-ear headphones like the OpenFit Air sit around and over your ears rather than in your ear canal like the best wireless earbuds. This pair is particularly light, at just 8.7g per bud, and you barely feel them on when you're jogging along a bumpy country lane or doing burpees in a virtual class. The design incorporates a flexible silicone ear hook, and this holds them securely in place without creating any pressure or discomfort during long listening sessions.

While they fit a wide range of ears and sit alongside glasses, the open design won't be for everyone. Music is brought to a confusing backdrop when you're near heavy traffic or crowds, and some people will still want active noise cancellation. Of course, many professional running and cycling races have rules on the type of headphones you can use. For safety, you need to be able to hear other runners, marshals, and cars, and the OpenFit Air allow you to do this.

Unlike Shokz's best bone-conduction headphones, open-ear options like the OpenFit Air use tiny speakers to transmit sound. Shokz calls it Air Conduction via DirectPitch, which is a fancy way of saying that sound waves move through the air to hit your ear, as is sort of the case with the best earbuds anyway.

It feels like Shokz has carefully considered its target market with OpenFit Air. The headphones were released in June 2024 as a more affordable open-ear option compared to the original Shokz OpenFit and the Bose Ultra Open earbuds. With IP54 water and sweat-resistance, they're not just for runners either, but yogis, walkers, and cyclists. Other key features include touch controls and multipoint pairing for switching been a phone and a desktop or smartwatch.

Given that the more expensive OpenFit 2 headphones were released in January with almost double the battery life and physical buttons, and that the Shokz OpenRun Pro offer such fantastic bass for runners, are the Shokz OpenFit Air too much of a Goldilocks option? Over more than three months of testing, I've loved wearing them and loved hearing them. They don't suit all my listening needs, but they've been hooked around my ears more than I ever imagined.

Shokz OpenFit Air: Specifications Shokz OpenFit Air: Price and availability

• Cost $119.95 / £94 / AU$199
• More affordable than the OpenFit
• Well-priced for the quality and design

At $119.95 / £94 / AU$199, these headphones are cheaper than the Shokz OpenFit 2 ($179.95/£129.95) by some way. It's fair to say that those offer better waterproofing and more than double the battery life on a single charge, but not everyone needs 11 hours of juice in one go. Contrasting with other options from the brand, the OpenRun Pro2 bone-conduction headphones come in at $179.95/£169, and they give you up to 12 hours of audio.

The OpenFit Air headphones are cheaper than other brands targeting runners and fitness fanatics. The Beats Fit Pro at $199 / £199 / AU$299.95, give up to 6 hours of playback. But they're an in-ear bud, making it a harder comparison. Then there's the premium Bose Ultra Open earbuds at $299 / £249.95 / AU$449.95, which aren't marketed for runners in quite the same way but offer a similar fit and premium audio.

You'll always be able to find cheaper options, of course. The Soundcore V20i by Anker also keep your ear canal bud-free and cost around $40 / £50 / AU$89.99, with four mics to chop out surrounding noise on calls. Without testing, it's hard to say how they compare, but they're marketed for everyday use and light running.

Personally, if I'm going to put a pair of headphones through a lot of wear, tear, and sweat, I'm just not sure I can justify a very expensive option. I think the OpenFit Air are brilliant value when you balance the design, battery life, and functionality they give the average runner.

• Value: 4 / 5

Shokz OpenFit Air: Design Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

• Memory alloy core with a silicone outer
• Super light: only 8.7g per earbud
• Resist dirt and sweat, even in white

The way that Shokz approaches design and packaging for the OpenFit Air feels sleek. The buds, which are made from a mixture of a flexible, matte silicone surface and a metallic ring, come in a solid snap-shut charging case with a USB-C port at the back.

Of the three colorways for the OpenFit Air—white, black, and pastel pink—I reviewed the white pair. While I love white tech, I was worried they’d get grubby with regular wear in sweaty workouts. Three months in, however, and they still look as good as new. Unlike in-ear headphones, they don’t trap sweat, so I wager they’ll last longer even under heavy use. It's worth noting that the IP54 water resistance rating is okay for light rain and sweat, but below the IP55 rating of the Shokz Open Run Pro.

The OpenFit Air are my first pair of open-air headphones, and when I first tried them on, I was amazed at their lightness (just 8.7g each). They fit neatly around my small ears, whereas other headphones can dwarf them. But I was dubious about them staying on during exercise. The flexible silicone ends wrapped around my ears snugly, and I felt confident about taking them for a run. To see how well they'd fit a wider range of ears, I asked my partner, who has larger lugs than I do, to try them too, and the adaptable ear hook gave a good fit and sound without putting pressure on the ear (below).

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Shokz OpenFit Air: Features

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

• Touch controls are easy to press accidentally
• A few equalizer options within the app
• Four microphones for clear voice calls

Unlike the Shokz OpenFit, the Air has a multi-point pairing mode feature. This means you can connect them to your phone and say, a Bluetooth running watch, then switch between the two quickly. I paired them with Android, iOS, and Windows, plus a Garmin Forerunner watch, and found a seamless transition between them. There's no ear detection, so if you take the buds out, they keep playing, and you'll need to cut the audio off at the source.

By design, given that the OpenFit Air are meant to keep you aware of your surroundings, there’s no noise cancellation feature. But there are four microphones on the left bud, with a Qualcomm cVc 8.0 voice recognition algorithm designed to filter out background noise. I tested the mics for voice calls as a listener and a talker, and the sound was clear on both ends, apart from in very heavy wind. The mics are only in the right earbud, so obviously you'll need to wear that one to be heard.

The OpenFit Air has no physical buttons for the volume, pausing, or skipping tracks. Instead, there’s a touch-sensitive interface on the main body of each headphone, which presents a few problems. Although the design keeps the headphone exterior smooth (where buttons would likely gather dirt or sweat), it’s easy to touch these controls accidentally.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

Reaching up to adjust my ponytail or removing a layer would brush them enough to create a loud, confused beep. By default, you have to hold down your finger on the side of either headphone to raise or lower the volume. And when running at even a moderate speed, this feels awkward. You can change which gestures do what in the Shokz app, but the clunky control lets down an otherwise seamless feature set.

Otherwise, the free Shokz smartphone app is satisfyingly simple. It also offers basic info about the buds and case battery levels, and there are five preset EQ settings for changing the audio balance. For the most part, I kept the buds on Bass Boost and enjoyed the richer sound it offered.

• Features: 4 / 5

Shokz OpenFit Air: Performance

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

• 6 hours of battery and 28 hours from the case
• A 10-minute gives 2 hours listening time
• Leaks sound at high volumes, as open-ears do

I wasn't expecting the Shokz OpenFit Air to deliver the same bass and immersive listening as my Bose QuietComfort Over-Ear headphones, but I did want to be able to enjoy my eclectic library of tunes while running. I started using the headphones while training for a half marathon, and although it took me a while to get used to the open-ear design and the ambient noise that was intentionally let in, I learnt to love them.

Sound comes from custom 18 x 11mm dynamic drivers that Shokz has engineered for balanced bass, mid, and treble frequencies. I felt there was a decent amount of bass on pumping tracks like The Veldt by deadmau5, but I also enjoyed quieter, minimalist piano from Ludovico Einaudi when I wanted my runs to take on a more soulful vibe. During podcasts, with multiple people talking, I often had to crank up the volume to hear exactly what was being said.

The headphones let in background noise to keep you safe on runs and walks, lest you get into a spot of bother when crossing roads or tracks. When I was running in the city centre, the music was hard to hear, rather than the main event, but that's sort of the point here. It's not a flaw with the headphones, just something to bear in mind if you're not sure you always want to hear your surroundings. In a busy hipster gym, for example, I still don my over-ear headphones to block out distracting noises and focus on my own workout. But for HIIT classes at home, the OpenFit Air are again the ideal, lightweight companion.

There's noise leakage from the headphones, but it's not obtrusive until you get to three-quarters of the full volume. I'd never wear the OpenFit Air in my open office, or on the bus or train, but for walks around the countryside where I wanted to listen to a podcast and keep my ears open to birdsong, wildlife, and farm machinery, the balance of both was perfect.

Traditional in-ear buds can give me an earache after a few hours, and over-ear headphones neckache. By contrast, the Shokz OpenFit Air are the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn, so much so that I often forget they’re there. I can wear them with sunglasses arms sitting on top, and I've also seen several users reporting comfort when wearing a helmet, although I haven’t yet tested this.

I've worn the Shokz under a bandana or woolly hat during colder runs and found no more discomfort from having them slightly pressed to my head. Whether it's to be recommended or not, when pottering on a day off, I often wear the Airs for as long as the battery lasts.

Speaking of battery, I've found that impressive too. Shokz says you'll get up to six hours of battery life from the buds and a further 28 hours by popping them in the case to charge them up. This is close to what I've experienced; on one day when I wore the OpenFit Air from a full charge, I timed 5 hours 45 minutes of use. Similarly, the buds lasted me a full weekend of travel with top-ups from the case on the go.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Shokz OpenFit Air: Scorecard

(Image credit: Lauren Scott) Should I buy the Shokz OpenFit Air? Buy it if...

You want to hear your surroundings

As a regular city runner and race-goer, the fact I could hear traffic and situational noise while running was one of my main reasons for getting the Shokz OpenFit Air. Even at full volume, you can hear your favourite audio while still being aware of your surroundings - and that helps to keep you safe.View Deal

You want a comfortable fit

I have small ears and have always found traditional earbuds uncomfortable. The OpenFit Air rest gently on your ears and don't cause any discomfort after long listening periods or intense workouts.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want noise isolation

Obviously, the open-ear design of the OpenFit Air lets in ambient noise like traffic and talking. If you’re after something that blocks out sounds from the outside world, that’s not what these are designed for.View Deal

You're a swimmer

The OpenFit Air are sweat and splash-resistant, but not definitely aren't designed for water submersion. If you’re a triathlete or keen swimmer who needs proper waterproofing, look for headphones with an IP67 rating instead.View Deal

Also consider

Shokz OpenSwim Pro

These are specifically designed for swimmers and are fully waterproof. With 32GB of built-in MP3 storage, you can access around 8,000 songs when bobbing about underwater (where Bluetooth can't reach). And the open-ear design gives situational awareness out of the water.

Read our Shokz OpenSwim Pro reviewView Deal

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

While the OpenFit Air aren't specifically for runners, the OpenRun Pro 2 are. The difference is in the wraparound headband design that's super stable during intense runs, and the buttons, which you'll probably find easier to use than touch-sensitive controls when you're moving at pace.

Read our Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 reviewView Deal

How I tested

• Used daily for over three months
• Listened to podcasts, music and phone calls
• Ran two half marathon races wearing them

I've spent more than three months wearing the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, and during that time have used them for all my outdoor runs – including two half-marathon road races and a rainy 10k on bumpy terrain.

I wore them on daily dog walks in the countryside when I still wanted to hear wildlife and farm machinery. I also used them for at-home HIIT workouts, to test how well they stayed on while I was star-jumping, doing burpees, and generally moving around erratically. I didn't use these buds in the gym or the office as I need heavier noise cancellation there.

I connected the earphones to my iPhone 15 Pro and Garmin running watch to see how easy it was to connect and switch between the two devices. I listened to all sorts of audio, from classic music on the radio, to voice calls with my family, to podcasts and audiobooks, and the indie rock from my teenage years. I also tried all four EQ settings available in the Shokz app.

Lastly, to test the microphone, I took several calls both at home and in a city centre with background traffic, noting both how it performed for me and asking the person on the other end to tell me how they found the sound quality.

The Studio, streaming now on Apple TV+, seeks to answer one central question: Can you make great art and still make a billion dollars doing it? And in case you were wondering, the answer is no, but we’re going to have a lot of fun along the way!

The Studio follows the daily trials and tribulations of Matt Remick, played by Seth Rogen, who lands his dream job as head of Continental Studios, a movie studio whose job is to make 'movies' not 'films', you know, the sort of movies that make a lot of money at the box office, but aren’t necessarily going to win an Academy Award.

I got into all of this cause I love movies. Now I have this fear that my job is to ruin them

Matt from The Studio

The problem is that Remick is a film devotee who dreams of making great films, the sorts of films that mean something to people. The kind of films that are actually shot on film. Unfortunately, his efforts get thwarted at every step, normally by his own cowardice and eagerness to abandon all his principles in order to keep his job, often with hilarious results.

What follows, over ten immaculately-crafted and performed episodes, is an ensemble comedic performance worthy of every award going. Think of the great workplace-based comedies like The Office or Parks and Recreation, but put them into the world of LA hotels, parties and movie sets dripping in all the luxury and celebrities that only Hollywood can provide. And that's not to mention the supporting cast that casually throws acting giants like Kathryn Hahn and Bryan Cranston into the mix.

Many of the celebrities and movie directors here are playing themselves, so many in fact that the cameo list (courtesy of Collider) is longer than the cast list on most feature films.

We get treated to appearances by Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, Zack Snyder, Charlize Theron and more all playing exaggerated versions of themselves. In fact, there are so many celebrities in each episode that some of them, like Ben Stiller, just appear in the background and aren’t even part of the plot.

But it’s not just that The Studio has some of the sharpest satirical writing you’ll find in any TV show, it’s made in such a captivating way. Long, single-camera shots are used almost all the time with whip pans across the screen at dizzying speed putting you right in the conversation, which is further fueled by a jazz drumming accompaniment that feels improvised, as if the drummer was playing live while the actors riff their lines back and forth at each other. The drumming often reflects the mood of the scene, starting slow and building to a crescendo, then tense and tight when it needs to be before signaling a sudden breezy change of atmosphere when a key plot point is resolved.

• Watch The Studio on Apple TV+ in the US
• Watch The Studio on Apple TV+ in the UK
• Watch The Studio on Apple TV+ in Australia

Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, Chase Sui Wonders and Seth Rogen in The Studio. (Image credit: Apple)

The one moment when you realize that The Studio isn’t just another Apple TV+ show on one of the best streaming services, but is something genuinely special is halfway through episode one when Remick is trying to find a director for his ridiculous Kool Aid movie. Martin Scorsese actually appears, playing himself, pitching his movie script to Remick, who despite being handed the gift of one of the world’s all-time great directors wanting to actually direct his ridiculously dumb movie, then goes on to fumble the ball spectacularly with hilarious results.

There are so many other great set pieces that you’re guaranteed at least one genuinely unbelievable moment in each episode, but I don’t want to spoil the fun. Let me just say that the burrito incident sticks out in my mind in particular.

When you consider how much money Apple TV+ is losing a year (current estimates are around the $1 billion dollars mark) to make TV like this, I wonder if we’ll look back at 2025 as a high point in ridiculously good streaming shows and if we’ll ever see their like again, because The Studio is up there with the best Apple TV+ shows.

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Three people monitored their air quality in different locations for several months. This is what we discovered.

An 18-year-old from Russian-occupied Luhansk tells NPR how and why he escaped to Kyiv.

(Image credit: Anton Shtuka for NPR)

"Tonight, we're making history. (...) Thank you for making history with me," Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd.

(Image credit: Silvia Izquierdo)

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump proposed sending American troops into Mexico to help her administration fight drug trafficking but she rejected it.

(Image credit: Marco Ugarte)

Nobody Wants This season 2: key information

- Premiering on Netflix later this year
- Currently in production in Los Angeles
- No official trailer released yet
- Main cast set to return
- New cast members announced, including Leighton Meester
- Erin Foster teases potential for season 3

Nobody Wants This season 2 is on its way to Netflix later this year and the cast are officially back in production. So, what's next for Joanne the 'shiksa' and Noah the 'Hot Rabbi'? Well, it turns out quite a lot.

An instant hit on Netflix, season 1 premiered in September 2024 and quickly became one of the best Netflix shows to watch on one of the best streaming services. Hearing it got renewed for a second series then made for some pretty exciting news.

And fortunately, there's plenty more where that came from. Here's everything we know so far about the return of Nobody Wants This from release date, to cast, to plot and so much more.

Nobody Wants This season 2: is there a release date?

A post shared by Netflix US (@netflix)

A photo posted by on

Nobody Wants This season 2 may not have an official release date yet, but it has been confirmed that the show will premiere on Netflix later this year.

As per the Instagram post above, the cast and crew commenced filming for season 2 in early March and it appears the first episode will be called, 'Dinner Party'.

If we take a look at season 1, filming was carried out between February and May 2024 with the show launching in September of the same year. So, since filming for season 2 started in March, that may well mean an October release date, or thereabouts. But, we'll have to wait and see.

Nobody Wants This season 2: has a trailer been released?

There's no official Nobody Wants This season 2 trailer yet, which is not surprising considering the cast and crew only started filming in March. Usually a trailer comes a little closer to the release date, so we'd expect to see one later this year.

What we do have though is the season 2 renewal announcement that plays out over a montage of clips from season 1, and it's always nice to have a quick refresher of where we left off. When a trailer drops, we'll be sure to update here.

Nobody Wants This season 2: confirmed cast

The main cast are all set to return (Image credit: Netflix)

Good news! For Nobody Wants This season 2, the main cast are all set to return:

• Kristen Bell as Joanne
• Adam Brody as Noah
• Justine Lupe as Morgan
• Timothy Simons as Sasha
• Jackie Tohn as Esther
• Michael Hitchcock as Henry
• Stephanie Faracy as Lynne
• Paul Ben-Victor as Ilan
• Tovah Feldshuh as Bina
• Sherry Cola as Ashley
• D’Arcy Carden as Ryann

A post shared by Nobody Wants This (@nobodywantsthisofficial)

A photo posted by on

And, excitingly, there's a bunch of new cast members joining the show. One of which is Adam Brody's real-life wife, Leighton Meester. As revealed in Tudum, Leighton will guest-star as Abby, 'Joanne's nemesis from middle school who is now an Instagram mommy influencer'.

Leighton isn't the only one joining the romantic drama though. There's also Miles Fowler who will play Lenny, 'Noah's Matzah Ballers teammate who gets set up with Morgan (Justine Lupe)'.

And there's some more recurring guest stars including Alex Karpovsky playing Big Noah, 'an overly confident rabbi at Noah's temple' and Arian Moayed as Dr. Andy, 'a charming, highly regarded (particularly by himself) psychotherapist who might just be the perfect match for Morgan.'

There's also some new additions to the crew, with Jenni Konner and Bruce Eric Kaplan, both of Girls fame, joining as showrunners alongside the series' creator, Erin Foster.

Nobody Wants This season 2: story synopsis and rumors

Can Noah and Joanne move past their differences? (Image credit: Netflix)

Full spoilers for Nobody Wants This season 1 to follow. Plus, potential spoilers for season 2.

Nobody Wants This season 1 left viewers on quite the hopeful love heart eyes cliffhanger ending. The couple's tumultuous relationship was seemingly held at a religious stalemate towards the end of season 1, despite them finding plenty of reasons to stay together.

But, Joanne did not feel ready to convert to Judaism, and so it seemed that love was lost. Until, Noah made a grand gesture outside a Bar Mitzvah. Hope restored.

But, when it comes to season 2, Adam Brody told Tudum: "In the light of day, will he still feel that way? I don't know. It's an open question." And fortunately, it seems season 2 will provide the answers.

Brody added: "I think that's what the show an explore. What should we do? What should she do? What versions of sacrifice is worth it? What constitutes growth, or what constitutes dimming yourself to be with someone else? It's a sacrifice, but ideally, you grow together and you're better for it – you don't have to [lop off a limb]."

So, there's clearly some big life-altering questions that the couple need to find answers for if they're going to navigate moving forward, in spite of their cultural and familial differences standing firmly in the way.

An unexpected connection was also sparked in Nobody Wants This season 1 (Image credit: Netflix)

But, it's not only Noah and Joanne that have a love life to navigate in season 2. Joanne's confident and bolshy sister/podcast co-host, Morgan, formed a bond with Noah's married brother, Sasha, in season 1. And many viewers have spoken on how keen they are to see them take that relationship a step further in season 2. But, seemingly that won't be the case.

Speaking to ScreenRant, Timothy Simons who plays Sasha brushed the gossip away, saying: "It's not particularly funny to break up a family". Adding: "Justine, I think, looked straight into the camera when we were at the Golden Globes and was like, "They're not getting together," so I think we can dispel that rumor."

Instead, if we take a look at the new cast members joining for Nobody Wants This season 2, there's new love interests in town for Morgan. And that's why we get to say: "Come on down, Miles and Dr. Andy."

Of course, Noah and Joanne stand at the center of this emotional and captivating drama, praised for its ability to shine a light on a complicated religious relationship. And there's plenty more to unravel in Nobody Wants This season 2.

Will there be more seasons of Nobody Wants This?

Could the 'Hot Rabbit' return for another season? (Image credit: Netflix)

Nobody Wants This season 2 was renewed the month after season 1 aired. Because of this, we aren't sure what the future holds as far as a season 3 is concerned, since season 2 hasn't yet premiered.

But, Erin Foster has hinted of more. Speaking to People alongside her sister Sara, with which she also runs a podcast like the show, she suggested a possible cameo appearance in season 3: "I always thought that it'd be fun to do that, but I never created a character that I thought was the perfect character."

Sara then replied: "Maybe season 3, Morgan and Joanne go on sabbatical and then it's us." To which Erin replied: "Oh, we just replace them."

So, while there's no official line from Netflix yet, there's most definitely hope.

For more Netflix-based coverage, read our guides on 3 Body Problem season 2, Stranger Things season 5, Arcane season 2, and One Piece season 2.

Branch is known for its simple elegance regarding office hardware. They have some great chairs, some fantastic desks, and so on. The Four Leg Standing Desk is no exception to this rule. Much like the Branch range of office chairs and desks I have reviewed, this model is done well and done right.

It's minimalist, elegant, easy to set up, easy to use, and has stood the test of time as my team and I have been putting this desk to the real-world test for the past 173 days.

When I say putting to the test, I genuinely mean it. This standing desk has been the primary and nearly everyday workstation for one of my team members for over four months (at the time of writing this), and so far, there have been zero complaints other than his height. This team member is 6'4" tall, well above the average height. His only complaint is that he wishes it would get taller, but that would not be the problem for most people. Outside of that, this desk has worked without error or stutter.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Branch Four Leg Standing Desk: Unboxing & first impressions

The Branch Four Leg Standing Desk came in a secure and well-protected package, with parts precisely packed away in clearly labeled and organized bags making every bolt and screw easy to find and assemble. I could build this desk by myself in about 37 minutes, and since I got a slightly smaller size, I could flip it over without any problem whatsoever.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

The desk surface feels premium, durable, and easy to clean, all necessary in a quality desk setup. The frame is made of metal and has some openings in the pipes, so grouping cables to feed into the frame itself is easy and painless. The frame components are also quite heavy-duty -- even with the cutouts -- adding to the stability and reliability of the desk.

The controller sits within the desk on the bottom right of the desktop. This is different from what we usually see with the controller on the face of the desk, mounted underneath with a small faceplate. Nevertheless, it's a welcome adjustment, helping keep the front of the desk clean and allowing for easy access.

This desk is elegant and simple enough to easily add into nearly any room of your home or apartment, whether that is your dining room, guest room, bedroom, or living room. It could also fit beautifully in a co-working space or private office at an office building or company.

Branch Four Leg Standing Desk: Design & build quality Specs

Desktop Size: 48 x 27 inches, 59 x 27 inches

Frame Material: Powder-coated steel

Desktop Material: High-density MDF core with laminate finish

Height Range: 27.3 to 44.6 inches

Weight Capacity: 225 lbs

Warranty: 10 years structural, 5 years mechanical

Most of the best standing desks I have tested have a two-leg design, either in a T-Shape or a C-Shape. This desk, however, is a four-legged design. It reminds me of the ultra-premium-priced Beflo Tenon but at a fraction of the cost. The overall build quality of the desk is high. It feels premium, like it will last for a while and withstand some damage without a premium price tag.

I opted for white legs with a light wood top because I wanted something more modern and timeless, and I am happy that I did. Because of this choice in the colorway, this desk can fit just about anywhere, thanks to its modern and minimalistic design.

The desktop is smooth to the touch, easy to clean, and scratch-resistant, though I won't take a knife or sharp edge to it soon to prove that. The desk changes position smoothly, quietly, and quickly, all without a wobble and at the ease of pressing a button.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Branch Four Leg Standing Desk: In use

As I mentioned, my team has used this desk nearly daily for the last 173 days while writing this article. Over time, we have noticed that this desk fits perfectly; it works seamlessly, is clean and straightforward, and has been consistently reliable. Even at max height, there is no noticeable wobble, which is wild to think about, and even if we get into an intense typing session, we don't notice any rocking or wobble.

Even after being used heavily, this desk still looks as good as new without a desk mat. It's held up to daily mouse movements, keyboard movements, coffee cups, soda cans, water bottles, etc. Over the last few months, the only complaint my team has made is that since he is so tall, he wishes it could get a bit taller at maximum height.

Set up as a true work from home desk (Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Branch Four Leg Standing Desk: Final verdict

The Branch Four Leg Standing Desk is a wonderful choice for professionals who need a reliable, stable, functional, and widely usable desk option. This desk, as mentioned, works great in a professional setting or for a home office thanks to the colorway options, the sleek design, and the modern taste. The motors are quiet, the shape is rounded, and the design is clean enough to fit into any space you may need to outfit. If you are looking for a quality desk to add to your arsenal, start a home office for the first time, or outfit a workspace, this standing desk is a great option to consider, especially if you prefer the elegant four-legged style.

To help you get comfortable in your workspace, we've reviewed the best standing desk mats you can get.

• North Korean agents use AI to apply for remote tech jobs
• Simple questions about Kim Jong Un instantly derail their job interviews
• Laptop farms and deepfakes help agents bypass remote hiring defenses

At the recent RSA Conference in San Francisco, security experts raised the alarm over a growing and increasingly sophisticated campaign by North Korean operatives to infiltrate global companies through remote job applications.

Speaking at a panel, Adam Meyers, senior vice president of CrowdStrike's counter adversary division, said thousands of North Korean workers have managed to secure roles in Fortune 500 companies.

According to Meyers, these infiltrators use tools like generative AI to produce polished LinkedIn profiles and job applications, as during technical interviews, multiple collaborators work behind the scenes to complete coding challenges while a single individual handles video calls, sometimes unconvincingly.

An unexpected question

"One of the things that we've noted is that you'll have a person in Poland applying with a very complicated name," Meyers explained. "And then when you get them on Zoom calls it's a military age male Asian who can't pronounce it."

Meyers shared his favorite method of exposing such candidates: asking an off-script question. "How fat is Kim Jong Un? They terminate the call instantly, because it's not worth it to say something negative about that," he said.

Once inside a company, the infiltrators often excel, thanks to team-based efforts behind a single identity.

FBI Special Agent Elizabeth Pelker said this success can make employers hesitant to remove suspected agents. "I think more often than not, I get the comment of 'Oh, but Johnny is our best performer. Do we actually need to fire him?'"

The goals of these North Korean infiltrators are twofold: collecting wages and gradually exfiltrating intellectual property, often in small amounts to avoid detection.

Pelker recommended conducting coding interviews within the corporate environment to observe behavioral red flags. If detected and dismissed, these workers may still hold credentials or leave behind dormant malware for later extortion attempts.

The operation has evolved further. Meyers described how laptop farms in the U.S. allow remote workers to spoof local IPs. In one case, the FBI busted a farm in Nashville. Meanwhile, false identity schemes have emerged in Ukraine, with citizens unknowingly supporting North Korean efforts.

Pelker warned that deepfake technology is also being used to fool hiring teams. Education and vigilance, she said, remain the best defense. As one panelist put it, organizations should be wary of hiring fully remote workers and consider personal meetings whenever possible.

Via The Register

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Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 223, for May 4.

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for May 4.

Ahead of the election of the next pope, a chimney was installed atop the Sistine Chapel on Friday, which will help notify the public of the 267th pope.

The Bees look to boost their top-eight hopes as they host a Red Devils team on a high after another European win.

Can the Hammers get a much-needed win against a Spurs team focused on its European adventure?

The victory hands Venezuelan jockey Junior Alvarado his first career win in the Kentucky Derby. Sovereignty's trainer, Bill Mott, has won the Kentucky Derby once before.

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Arne Slot's Reds head to west London for their first match since being crowned champions.

Florida lawmakers have sent the governor a bill that would provide financial relief to condo owners. The measure softens mandates passed after the deadly 2021 collapse of a condo tower in Surfside.

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• Innodisk launches PCIe Gen5 SSD series for AI and big data demands
• Up to 128TB capacity and 14GBps read speeds for enterprise data centers
• New drives support multiple form factors with enhanced security and VMware compatibility

Innodisk has announced its first PCIe Gen5 SSD series, targeting the high-performance – and lucrative – data center market.

The new drives are designed to meet the demands of AI model training, big data analytics, and other data-intensive environments. The series supports multiple form factors, including U.2, EDSFF E1.S, E3.S, and the newer E3.L, offering flexibility for a wide range of enterprise and data center needs.

“To ensure high quality and alignment with market trends, the PCIe Gen5 SSD aims to enhance integration with industry-leading data center standards, such as OCP Data Center NVMe SSD spec v2.0," Innodisk commented.

Fast read/write speeds

Built on the PCIe Gen5 x4 interface, Innodisk says the new 128TB drives achieve read speeds up to 14GB/s and write speeds up to 10GB/s.

The company says the PCIe Gen5 SSDs have been developed to integrate easily with industry standards, offering compatibility with VMware environments and other virtualized systems to enhance performance.

Enterprises managing large-scale or multi-tiered deployments will benefit from features like NVMe-MI for streamlined SSD management and multi-namespace support, helping to ensure scalable, efficient operations, Innodisk says.

The SSDs also include advanced security mechanisms. Secure Boot technology checks digital signatures during firmware updates, blocking unauthorized modifications and ensuring only verified firmware is executed.

The Innodisk PCIe Gen5 SSD series is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2025, but there's no word on pricing as of yet.

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