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• Teenage Engineering has launched its new OP-XY sequencer, synthesizer, and sequencer.
• The new device costs more than the company's OP-Z sequencer and OP-1 audio workstation
• The OP-XY costs $2,299 / £1,899.

Teenage Engineering has revealed the latest addition to its famed OP lineup of portable synthesizers and sequencers, the OP-XY.

The OP-XY is a sequel of sorts to the OP-Z compact sequencer, adding an OLED screen and an expanded array of controls in the same compact form factor as the company’s legendary OP-1 audio workstation.

At its core, the OP-XY is a 64-step sequencer, and working with it revolves around step-sequencing notes, with 24 voices of polyphony.

You can use these sequences to control multiple internal synth engines or up to eight pieces of outboard gear, like synthesizers, drum machines, and Eurorack modular synths.

(Image credit: OP-XY)

Along with a vast array of physical controls compared to the OP-Z, the OP-XY packs in a new sampler, a selection of punch-in effects for live performance, and a new “brain chord” feature that Teenage Engineering hasn’t really explained. Based on the name, it’s possible this is some kind of melody generator.

The OP-XY comes in a single monochrome black color with gray and white accents. In a clear reference to techno and club culture, its product page is covered in German phrases and pictures of straight-faced dancers in black leather outfits.

And in typical Teenage Engineering style, there are a few just-for-fun features like a gyroscope that lets you fade tracks in and out and a built-in speaker for jam sessions on the move.

Overall, the OP-XY seems to be one of the most feature-rich products Teenage Engineering has ever released, and its price tag reflects this (and then some).

You can purchase the OP-XY right now for a whopping price of $2,299 / £1,899 – drastically more expensive than the OP-Z ($499 / £499) and even a bit pricier than the OP-1 ($1,999 / £1,799).

So, is this Teenage Engineering getting serious about music, or is this another case of paying extra for a chic design from music tech’s coolest brand?

Who is the OP-XY for?

The OP-Z has earned a great reputation in the music gear scene for its relatively affordable price, expansive functionality, and portability, but it also garnered criticism for its cramped workflow and reliance on button combinations.

The OP-XY seems to fix this by adopting the chassis of the OP-1 workstation, but for more than four times the price, there needs to be more that justifies buying one.

What’s more, the internal synth engines and sampler seem to encroach on the song-making capabilities of the OP-1.

However, the OP-XY seems to pack more external connectivity and live performance functions than the OP-1, which mimics a tape machine in how songs are recorded and is generally quite intentional in its workflow.

The OP-XY could therefore be imagined as a live-focused reflection of the OP-1, and a straight-up big sibling to the OP-Z (though it does lose the OP-Z’s video sequencing function).

Whether that’s enough to justify such an eye-wateringly high price is ultimately up to you.

The OP-XY is available now from Teenage Engineering. For the latest on the trendiest music and audio gear, be sure to keep up with our audio coverage.

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• "Sitting Ducks" attack allows crooks to take full control of target domain
• Almost a million websites vulnerable to takeover, experts warn
• Tens of thousands of websites already compromised this way

“Sitting Ducks” might not be a particularly known method of cyberattacks, but it is still quite widespread, and pretty disruptive, experts have warned.

A report from cybersecurity researchers at Infoblox Threat Intel claims almost a million websites are vulnerable, and roughly 70,000 were already compromised this way.

In a new report, Infoblox notes although the attack vector has been around since 2018, it never garnered much attention from the media, or the cybersecurity community. Still, tens of thousands of victims have had their domain names hijacked since then, including “well-known brands, non-profits, and government entities”. The report hasn’t named any organizations, though.

Vipers, Hawks, and other predators

during a Sitting Ducks attack, the threat actor gains full control of the target domain, by taking over its DNS configurations. This has many implications and carries heavy consequences. When hackers take full control of a domain’s DNS configuration, they can funnel compromised web traffic to malware, phishing sites, or spam networks. They can also deliver infostealers, engage in fraud, or affiliate cybercrime programs.

However, Infoblox started monitoring the internet for Sitting Ducks attacks last summer, to alarming results: “The results are very sobering, as 800,000 vulnerable domains were identified, and about 70,000 of those were later identified as hijacked.”

The researchers claim that there are multiple threat actors currently exploiting Sitting Ducks, including Vacant Viper, the “OG” of the exploit, hijacking an estimated 2,500 domains each year since late 2019.

Another group, called Vextrio Viper, was seen using hijacked domains as part of their “massive TDS infrastructure” since early 2020. Infoblox says Vextrio runs “the largest known cybercriminal affiliate program”.

It also mentioned new threat actors, such as Horrid Hawk, and Hasty Hawk, named as they “swoop in and hijack vulnerable domains”.

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Linxura Smart Controller: one-minute review

Smart switches are still a fairly burgeoning smart home technology, meaning it’s a rife space for creativity; enter the Linxura smart controller, a unique smart switch featuring an e-ink display and four-button clickable dial controls.

Slightly reminiscent of Apple’s iPod, the Linxura smart controller has a lot going for it, from its portability to its display and the small fact that it can be programmed with a whopping 52 individual devices across a range of smart home ecosystems and manufacturers. While these qualities do set it apart from many of the best smart switches available today, they aren’t without their drawbacks.

It works over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, meaning there’s no added cost nor hassle from installing proprietary bridge or hub devices, and is compatible with Philips Hue, Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, Sonos, SmartThings and more, though there’s no HomeKit availability. However, not all pairings are made equal with Linxura; I had real difficulty setting up some, and others offer restricted toolsets.

It’s unique, and definitely useful for those who need a device that’s fairly ambivalent and offers a multitude of configurable commands, but ultimately it’s not possible to recommend the device unreservedly when the performance is so mixed depending on the ecosystem it’s paired with and the overall product quality when compared to its price.

(Image credit: Future) Linxura Smart Controller: price and availability

• List price: $99 / £80 (about AU$150)

The Linxura Smart Controller is fairly pricey for a smart switch at $99 / £80 (about AU$150) versus the average $50 / £40 / AU$80 price tag of its competition, though given that you can program so many devices you might be able to get by with just one Linxura device rather than four or five simpler smart switches.

It’s available in three different colorways; Snow Pearl (white), Midnight Onyx (black) and Sterling Moon (greige). There’s one accessory sold for the Linxura smart switch: a magnetic base plate, which costs $14.99 / £16 (about AU$25) and comes in the same colors.

• Value score: 2 out of 5

Linxura Smart Controller: design

Linxura’s smart controller is shaped like a rounded disc which can be attached to a wall-mounted magnetic base plate (sold separately) or carried around the home for easy access, making it a great option if you don’t want to use one of the best smart speakers to control your home but still want the semi-hands free smart home benefits.

The palm-sized dial is great for versatility and portability, but ultimately it looks slightly 80s sci-fi-inspired, which may or may not be the vibe you’re going for at home. Clad in all-plastic, the outer ring of the device is a clickable dial used to control the circular e-paper display it surrounds. It charges through a USB-C port placed on its bottom side, and attaches magnetically to the base plate.

(Image credit: Future)

The wheel isn’t quite as satisfying as Apple’s iPod despite their passing similarities, though I did delight in the little clicky sound as the wheel spins. To operate the dials, you need to press and hold and then turn the wheel, which led to some confusion when I first tried it. Otherwise, your options are to click and double click the wheel.

Because of the puck’s size, it’s not exactly discrete, and protrudes quite noticeably from the wall. Granted, in my home I affixed it with double-sided renter-friendly tape rather than the included screws, but even without the 2mm added by my tape, Linxura’s smart controller could do with being at least a little slimmer for a more contemporary, less obtrusive look.

(Image credit: Future)

The display shows four devices at once, and has thirteen pages you can flick through using the wheel - for all my criticisms of this smart switch, this is a huge boon, with many smart switches relying on stickers or tactile labelling to distinguish between buttons. In dim environments, a backlight will kick in, triggered by the in-built light and capacitive sensors; however, it’s uneven and cheapens the device further.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Linxura Smart Controller: performance

To set up the Linxura smart controller, you’ll need to download the app and follow the instructions to pair; a fairly painless process to begin with. However, once paired, the switch is a bit of a hassle to set up.

It’s worth noting right off the bat that your Linxura experience will at least to some extent be characterized by the ecosystem you set it up in. For instance, on Alexa, it’s a bit of a nightmare, because the way it works is to register each combination of icon and action in the Alexa app as a unique ‘switch’ in your smart home.

That means for each of the 52 devices you can control with the Linxura smart controller, you’ll have to program the single click, double click, anti-clockwise wheel and clockwise wheel controls as separate triggers. If you’ve used Alexa-based automations before, you’ll know the suffering proposed by the necessity to manually configure over 200 triggers.

(Image credit: Future)

First-party software like the Philips Hue app work a lot more effectively, because once you’ve paired the two platforms you can configure everything directly in the Linxura app.

Furthermore, you get a very different experience in terms of the level of control between different platforms. When paired with Philips Hue’s platform directly, I could use the clockwise and anticlockwise dial spin to increase and reduce the brightness and color temperature by a set parameter; on Alexa, it just tuned the light to a set level.

Lag proved to be an issue, too, though during my testing seemed to fix itself. Using the Linxura to turn on my fan when I first began testing took anything from five to twenty seconds to trigger the response, though when I retested just before writing up my review it seemed to consistently change its settings within a few seconds.

(Image credit: Future)

However, I must say its portability did come in extremely useful, and I was impressed with its battery life. The advertised three months battery isn’t quite the case if it’s in regular use, but I found that with moderate use it lasted almost two months, and with frequent use just over a month. There are thoughtful inclusions like the ‘find my controller’ beeper in the app, and compared to display-less smart switches I’ve used in the past, the Linxura was far easier to use and remember which controls were bound to which action.

Conceptually, it’s a fantastic idea, and had it come out just a few years earlier I’m sure it would have scored more favorably. As it is, however, the Linxura feels too limited and too overpriced to compete with the best smart speakers and mobile apps it's up against.

• Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Linxura Smart Controller? Buy it if

You want one controller to rule them all

If your priority is having one puck to operate all of your smart home devices, you’re in luck - the sprawling 52-device menu on the Linxura smart controller is unparalleled. View Deal

You want something portable

Linxura doesn’t need a constant power supply, and can comfortably last a month on a single charge with frequent use. View Deal

You use multiple platforms

With an ever-growing compatibility list, the Linxura offers control comparable to some major platforms across a wide range of ecosystems and manufacturers.View Deal

Don't buy it if

You value svelte design

It’s not ugly, but the puck-shaped Linxura has a distinctly dated feel to it, not aided by its e-paper display and cheaper build materialsView Deal

You're on a budget

Value for money isn’t the Linxura smart controller’s strong suit, and it’s an expensive choice of smart switch, coming in at almost double the cost of its competitors.View Deal

First tested November 2024

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• The tool democratizes access to more users, including students and academics
• Users can ask natural language questions and let AI source the data

Microsoft and NASA have teamed up to launch Earth Copilot, a new custom copilot built on the Azure OpenAI Service platform to help the space agency make sense of the more than 100 petabytes of data that it has collected from space.

In a blog post, Microsoft explained geospatial data is already complex, and additional data being continuously collected from new satellites is adding to this difficulty.

With the new Earth Copilot tool, users will be able to interact with NASA’s data with natural language prompts, making it more accessible to more scientists, students and others.

Microsoft builds new AI chatbot for NASA

Tyler Bryson, CVP for US Health & Public Sector Industries at Microsoft, explained that data collected can include atmospheric conditions, land cover changes, ocean temperatures and more, but navigating technical interfaces, understanding data formats and getting to grips with geospatial analysis can be extremely challenging.

With the new Earth Copilot tool, users will be able to ask questions like “What was the impact of Hurricane Ian in Sanibel Island?” or “How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect air quality in the US?” and let AI do the data retrieval for them.

“We’ve designed the system to handle complex queries and large datasets efficiently, ensuring that users can quickly find the information they need without getting bogged down by technical complexities," noted Juan Carlos López, former NASA engineer and current Azure Specialist at Microsoft.

A side effect of the project is that Microsoft and NASA have democratized access to spaceborne data, allowing a broader demographic to interact with it, including students and academics.

Minh Nguyen, Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, added: “The vision behind this collaboration was to leverage AI and cloud technologies to bring Earth’s insights to communities that have been underserved, where access to data can lead to tangible improvements.”

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