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L’Oreal Professionnel AirLight Pro Review: Faster, Lighter, and Repairable

WIRED Top Stories - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 07:32
L'Oréal's first professional hair dryer combines infrared light, wind, and heat to drastically reduce your drying time.
Categories: Technology

Premier League Soccer: Livestream Tottenham vs. Liverpool From Anywhere

CNET News - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 07:30
Liverpool look to get back to winning ways as they travel to north London.
Categories: Technology

7 Ways to Ditch Food Guilt During Holiday Meals and Embrace Joy

CNET News - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 07:30
If you feel guilty eating your favorite foods, here's how to enjoy them without the guilt.
Categories: Technology

Leaders pushing for AI investment are gaining competitive advantages

TechRadar News - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 07:28
  • AI investment drives competitive advantage and innovation, report claims
  • Dedicated AI leadership accelerates organizational efficiency
  • Business executives see AI as a long-term asset

AI is reshaping the business landscape, and companies committed to AI investment are likely to reap sustained rewards, new research has claimed.

A report from Unisys reveals as businesses establish structured AI strategies, backed by leadership and a long-term vision, they strengthen their position in an increasingly competitive environment.

AI is expected to be a permanent component of several companies’ strategic roadmap as 93% of executives favor the use of AI to stay ahead of the competition.

Time savings with Chief AI Officers?

Elsewhere, the report claimed 89% of brand executives anticipate their organization’s AI use will rise over the next year, with this growing enthusiasm suggesting businesses recognize AI’s potential to drive efficiency, innovation, and competitive differentiation.

The presence of dedicated AI leadership has proven to accelerate benefits, as 86% of companies with a Chief AI Officer reported substantial time savings.

Moreover, the competitive advantages are evident for companies that approach AI investment strategically. 30% of organizations that have invested in AI as a core component of their business strategy report a noticeable competitive edge.

Executives also recognize AI as a long-term asset, not just a trend. With nearly three-quarters of surveyed executives viewing AI as a reliable source of information, many are committed to sustaining AI’s role in business beyond immediate projects.

The study also indicates 60% of organizations expect to diversify their AI investments across various projects in the coming years, ensuring that AI becomes embedded in different facets of their operations, rather than being limited to isolated use cases.

“As Executives are seeking insights for ROI on AI investments, they should consider AI is designed to help problem-solve — from mundane tasks to complex challenges," said Brett Barton Vice President and Global AI Practice Leader at Unisys.

“This allows organizations to maximize the impact, especially when there is a targeted business challenge. With the right strategy, use case and focus, organizations that deploy AI will thrive."

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Categories: Technology

9 Best French Presses (2024): Plastic, Glass, Stainless Steel, Travel

WIRED Top Stories - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 07:04
The humble French press is affordable, effective, and hard to mess up. Here are our favorites to make your morning cup of coffee.
Categories: Technology

New leak says if your iPhone can run iOS 18, it should be able to run iOS 19 too

TechRadar News - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 06:30
  • The same iPhones on iOS 18 may also get iOS 19
  • One iPad model set to be dropped with iPadOS 19
  • Expect official news sometime in June 2025

This year's launch of iOS 18 has brought a host of new features and functions to millions of iPhones, and a new leak suggests the same handsets that can run iOS 18 are going to be eligible for an upgrade to iOS 19 as well.

According to the usually reliable iPhoneSoft (via 9to5Mac), handsets as far back as the iPhone XS and iPhone XR, launched in 2018, are going to be able to get next year's software update. iOS 18, meanwhile, dropped support for the iPhone X and the iPhone 8, which both launched in 2017.

There is a caveat though: not all the new iOS 19 features will be available on all iPhones. This is something we're already used to of course, because recent handsets have the necessary processing power to handle Apple Intelligence, while others don't.

So far we've not heard too much about the upgrades iOS 19 is going to bring along with it, though apparently Apple is planning a ChatGPT-style update for Siri. At the moment of course, you can use ChatGPT inside Siri for more advanced AI conversations.

iPads and launch schedule

The 10.2-inch iPad 7 from 2019 could be missing out (Image credit: Future)

However, the same report says one iPad model will be left behind when iPadOS 19 rolls out. Apparently the 7th-gen entry-level iPad, which launched in 2019 and runs on an Apple A10 chip, won't be compatible.

The new minimum requirement for iPadOS 19 is said to be an A12 chip, which means every other iPad should get the software update. We can expect a similar set of new features to iOS 19, with a few tweaks and extras to account for the tablet form factor.

If Apple sticks to its usual schedule, then the first we'll officially hear about iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 will be at the WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) 2025, most likely happening sometime in June. After that, we should get a beta testing period, before a full public release in September 2025.

The new software updates will of course run on the iPhone 17 series, plus whatever new iPads Apple decides to bring out this year. We could well get the 11-generation iPad before 2025 is out, as well as a new 8th-generation iPad Pro.

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How to Change the Default Search Engine in Google Chrome

WIRED Top Stories - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 06:30
Just because you use Chrome doesn’t mean you have to use Google. Learn how to invite Bing, DuckDuckGo, Brave, or even ChatGPT into your omnibox.
Categories: Technology

The Universe Is Teeming With Complex Organic Molecules

WIRED Top Stories - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 06:00
Wherever astronomers look, they see life’s raw materials—and hints at answers to one of the great mysteries of science.
Categories: Technology

Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 20, including five children

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 05:26

Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday killed at least 20 people, including five children, Palestinian medical officials said.

(Image credit: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Categories: News

European data centers are having to delay carbon reduction goals and rethink sustainability plans

TechRadar News - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 05:08
  • Carbon reduction timelines keep shifting forward for European data centers
  • Report claims commercial viability comes first as environmental goals are secondary
  • Aggreko suggests need for strategic partnerships between companies and energy providers

Data centers are some of the largest energy consumers in Europe, and are facing unique challenges in achieving net zero goals.

A recent survey by Aggreko found volatile energy costs and grid instability are prompting data center operators to rethink their timelines for carbon reduction.

Of the executives surveyed, over 90% have adjusted their net zero targets, with half of those extending their timelines due to these persistent energy-related challenges.

Decentralized energy solutions are gaining traction

For many data centers, achieving sustainability goals requires balancing environmental targets with economic feasibility, especially as energy prices continue to rise.

In response to these energy challenges, data centers are increasingly adopting decentralized energy solutions to mitigate grid dependence and improve resilience. The report claims 87% of European executives are already implementing some form of decentralised energy, with 54% planning to expand these systems.

The move toward decentralization allows data centers to maintain operational stability while reducing reliance on traditional grid energy, which is often unpredictable and expensive. However, even with decentralized systems in place, data center leaders are cautious about fully committing to ambitious decarbonization timelines given current economic constraints.

The situation is dicey for company executives, as despite the urgency of environmental goals, cost and commercial viability remain the top priorities for data center executives. Only 12% of CEOs ranked speed of decarbonization as their primary objective, while the majority prioritize reducing energy costs and achieving a commercial advantage.

As data centers operate on tight profit margins, any investment in sustainable practices must demonstrate a clear return on investment. For many in the sector, this balancing act between sustainability and financial stability is proving complex, with limited capital available for large-scale green initiatives.

A key risk identified in the report is the role of supply chains in delaying the energy transition. Almost half of the executives surveyed see supply chain issues as a significant barrier, with 21% ranking it as their top concern.

As supply chain disruptions persist, securing the technology and resources needed for sustainable upgrades has become a formidable challenge. This uncertainty adds another layer of difficulty to achieving net zero, particularly as data centers attempt to source low-carbon energy options.

To navigate these challenges, Aggreko recommends strategic partnerships between companies and energy providers. By collaborating with energy experts, data centers can better assess options like energy-as-a-service models and power purchase agreements that offer flexible, lower-risk alternatives to traditional energy procurement. These partnerships enable data centers to explore innovative energy strategies without overcommitting financially, a crucial approach for achieving both short- and long-term sustainability goals.

Though current conditions make it difficult to achieve rapid decarbonization, the report suggests that data centers remain committed to sustainability. With 80% of CEOs planning to increase investment in energy solutions, even if only incrementally, there is optimism for continued progress. By adopting a balanced approach that aligns with economic realities, data centers can move towards a sustainable future while managing the operational demands of today’s market.

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Categories: Technology

Cloud Gaming on the PlayStation Portal Isn’t the Exciting Step Forward We’d Hoped for

WIRED Top Stories - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 05:00
A software update was supposed to free up the PS Portal from its reliance on the PS5 and add a world of streamable games to its appeal. In practice, it does nothing of the sort.
Categories: Technology

This Christmas I'll be grieving. Here's how I'll be finding joy.

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 05:00

Since her husband's death, newscaster Windsor Johnston has been looking for ways to recapture joy and continue her healing journey — one that's taken her to a place she'd never expected.

(Image credit: Windsor Johnston)

Categories: News

I discovered one way to fight loneliness: The Germans call it a Stammtisch

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 05:00

Modern life can be lonely. Some are looking to an old German tradition – of drinking and conversation – to deepen connection through regular meetups.

(Image credit: Laurel Wamsley)

Categories: News

Bluesound Pulse M review: a wireless speaker that fails to justify its substantial price tag, sonically speaking

TechRadar Reviews - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 04:30
Bluesound Pulse M: two-minute review

The Bluesound Pulse M is a mid-market multi-room speaker that promises wide, immersive sound. It's compatible with both lossless streaming and hi-res audio over a wired connection, and is clearly aimed at audiophiles who are looking for a compact yet versatile speaker. On top of this, its angled tweeters are billed as providing a broader stereo effect than many single-unit setups are capable of.

The Bluesound Pulse M’s audio is impressively detailed, as you’d expect from a speaker capable of lossless streaming. I was impressed by how Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon managed to sound both warm and crisp, with his voice rising above the mix and that tight, noodly guitarwork cutting right through. And its stereo effect is genuinely impressive – while you won’t hear two distinct channels for left and right per se, there’s still a separation to its sound that feels broader than a single speaker should be able to deliver.

Unfortunately, this is somewhat undermined by how unbalanced the audio can be. Like a lot of speakers in recent years, the Pulse M bets big on bass, which would normally be a pretty safe bet for a fan of sub like myself. However, in the process it neglects other frequencies, with mids in particular suffering compared to many of the best wireless speakers. With its sub and kicks, a slice of warm tech like Burst by Kiasmos should really shine on a bassier speaker, but instead that dusty arpeggiated synth and lush strings came off as slightly foggy here.

It is possible to rectify this using some of the speaker’s sound profiles. Personally, I found Front Row, Bluesound’s enhanced profile, to be a bit of a damp squib – it absolutely has an impact on the sound, giving it a bit more urgency, but that comes at the expense of a compressed feeling overall. Instead, I found using the BluOS app’s settings to boost treble and duck the bass achieved better results – although I did find myself wishing it had proper EQ settings to give me even more direct control over the sound.

When it comes to setting up and controlling the Pulse M, Bluesound’s BluOS app is easy enough to use, although it has some odd issues here and there. When setting up the speaker, multiple steps would fail, only to immediately succeed when I retried. And these glitches extend to its Alexa voice control skill as well. I found I was able to pause, play and skip music, but every time I asked my Echo Dot to select a specific track the Pulse M remained obstinately silent – so if voice control is your thing, you might be better off with one of the best smart speakers instead.

Design is probably the area where the Pulse M shines most. It’s well built, feeling sturdy without being overly heavy or bulky, while its white matte finish feels suitably premium to the touch. A built-in proximity sensor only lights up the buttons when you wave your hand near, which feels appropriately sci-fi. However, I’d personally prefer the touch-sensitive buttons to have some haptic feedback; offering that immediate feedback when pressed would make it much more obvious when the speaker has registered your input.

All in all, the Bluesound Pulse M is a quality mid-range speaker that's able to produce detailed, hi-res audio. Ultimately though, it lacks the nuance I’d expect from a speaker that costs $399 / £399 – powerful bass shouldn’t come at the expense of lush, expressive mids. Coupled with the fact that similarly priced speakers offer more – the JBL Authentics 200 offers fuller, more rounded sound for $349.95 / £299, while the spatial-audio-equipped Sonos Era 300 costs just $449 / £449 / AU$749 – this makes the Pulse M harder to recommend.

Bluesound Pulse M review: specs Bluesound Pulse M review: price and availability
  • Released October 26, 2022
  • Costs $399 / £399 / AU$899

Launched on October 26, 2022, the Bluesound Pulse M is available to buy now. It retails for $399 / £399 / around AU$899, which puts it firmly in mid-market territory – it costs a fair way north of the Sonos Era 100 at $249 / £249 / AU$399 but doesn’t quite cost as much as its premium cousin the Sonos Era 300 at $449 / £449 / AU$749.

In return for your spend, you’ll get a compact speaker with 80W of combined amplification, a single woofer and two angled tweeters. There’s not a huge variety in terms of options. It comes in just two colorways – black or white – but that’s pretty common with more premium speakers.

(Image credit: Future) Bluesound Pulse M review: features
  • Great range of connectivity options
  • Occasional app gremlins
  • Limited EQ options

The Bluesound Pulse M rocks a decent number of features for a wireless, multi-room speaker, without necessarily ripping up the rulebook. It offers a combined 80W total amplification power, with 50W going to its upfiring 5.25-inch woofer and 15W to each of its 0.75-inch tweeters. The latter two are offset at 45 degrees from each other to give what Bluesound describes as an ‘immersive’ soundstage. Combined with an inbuilt acoustic reflector, this helps to radiate higher-frequency sounds in a 360-degree pattern, reducing the impression that the sound all emerges from a single point in space.

Getting started with the Pulse M is relatively straightforward. Once you’ve downloaded the BluOS app you just need to connect your mobile device to the speaker’s hotspot so it can piggyback on it to join your local Wi-Fi network. This process is pretty simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely smooth sailing – at multiple points I would find the connection process would time out, only to connect instantly when I retried. This did add a bit of friction to the process, particularly given that the Pulse M seemed to need setting up afresh every time it was unplugged.

Once the BluOS app is connected, it enables you to connect to the speaker via Bluetooth or AirPlay 2, as well as connecting specific apps like Spotify, Tidal and Amazon Music directly to the Pulse M. The app also allows you to pair it with other Bluesound speakers to form a multi-room setup, or pair two Pulse Ms with the Pulse Soundbar+ or PowerNode to create an effective surround sound setup for your home cinema.

The BluOS app is also where you’ll find options to tweak the Pulse M’s sound profiles. On top of its default profile, it also offers Front Row, a setting that, according to Bluesound, enhances "richness in the lower frequencies (<60Hz)" and "openness and expansiveness in the higher frequencies (>5kHz)". It also offers access to the Tone Control settings, although these are unfortunately pretty limited: plenty of budget price Bluetooth speakers like the Tribit Xsound Plus 2 offer full nine-band EQ, whereas this speaker only allows you to boost or reduce treble or bass by 6dB either way. The BluOS app also offers ‘Replay-gain’, essentially an auto-gain adjustment that tweaks different tracks or albums to make sure they play back at similar volumes. I can’t say this is a problem I have very often these days, given that many streaming services standardize recordings to be at the same volume, but it’s nice to have I guess.

Naturally, the BluOS app isn’t the only way to control the Pulse M. If you want to control it as part of your smart home network, you can connect it to an Amazon Echo speaker using the BluOS Voice Control skill in the Alexa app. Unfortunately though, the skill seems to have a few holes here and there. Try as I might, I couldn’t get Alexa to select specific songs and artists – it would happily chirp that music was playing through my named speaker and then nothing would start. When I manually selected music though, Alexa was at least able to pause and play, as well as adjust the volume and skip backwards and forwards. So it’s a mixed bag: you’ll still have to reach for your phone a fair amount.

Should you prefer using your own digits to digital controls, the Bluesound Pulse M has a range of touch-sensitive controls on top of the speaker itself. These are invisible most of the time, but wave a hand over them and they’ll light up – you can then tap them to play and pause, skip forwards and backwards, set the volume, and pick one of five audio presets you’ve assigned in the app.

  • Features score: 3.5

(Image credit: Future) Bluesound Pulse M review: sound quality
  • Over-liberal with its bass
  • Front Row audio profile lacks finesse
  • Genuinely impressive breadth to its soundstage

When you actually fire up the Bluesound Pulse M, the first thing you’ll likely notice is its bass. In fact, that’s probably the only thing you’ll notice. When listening to Black Eye by Allie X, I was immediately impressed with how punchy the kick sounded and how warm the low subby end of the bass sounded – but the mids sounded set quite far back in comparison. I tried switching things up to Rosewood by Bonobo, a track that very much shines on a warmer speaker and, once again, it felt like the bass overshadowed the rest of the mix, which is pretty disappointing.

Comparing it to the Sonos Era 100, it became much easier for me to diagnose the problem. In our original Sonos Era 100 review, we criticised it for its over-emphasis on bass and yet it comes across as far better integrated and more coherent. In contrast, the Pulse M pulls way too many punches when it comes to its mids. Weighing up the two while listening to Young Blood by The Naked & Famous, there’s a real slam and thud to the bass kicks and snares to the Pulse M but, like the weightlifter who overlooks their core to focus on their arms and legs, all this flexing only serves to draw more attention to its soggy middle in comparison to its trimmer rival.

That’s not to say it completely lacks all precision. In sparser mixes, things feel like they have much more room for expression. Listening to the sparser ballad-y composition of Rains again by Solji, I was impressed with how polished and detailed her voice sounds, while the drum beats and piano are granted plenty of room to breathe – when the bass isn’t hogging all the limelight, other elements are given their chance to shine.

Given the default sound is a bit of a mixed bag, you might expect Front Row, BluOS’s inbuilt frequency tweaking, to step in and save the day. In practice, it’s a bit of a blunt tool, akin to using a pocket knife for micro-surgery. Some tracks definitely shine more with it on – originally White Dress by Lana Del Rey sounded a bit demure and lacklustre to me but Front Row boosted the breathy edge to her voice and made that light cymbal work a bit more crisp. Conversely, it brought the beat and vocals in Baby It’s You by London Grammar forward a lot but at the expense of making things sound a bit too compressed.

In my personal experience, you’ll get better results getting your hands dirty and tweaking the Tone Control settings according to your own tastes. Upping the treble by 6dB on London Grammar’s track gave its hats and Hannah Reid’s honeyed vocal that little more immediacy, while dropping the bass just a fraction by 6dB tamed the Pulse M’s worst impulses. Ultimately, this setting felt much more balanced for me and I ended up using it as standard pretty much from there on out.

One place I will commend the Pulse M however is for its soundstage. Thanks to those angled, stereo tweeters, this speaker offers a much wider sound than the narrow point of origin that many single speakers are capable of. Playing Manchild by Eels, there was genuinely an impressive sense of separation between the vocal and the guitar in the left and right channels, especially the further back I was sat in the room. While I’m not convinced I would describe this as true stereo, as Bluesound has, there’s no doubt it feels immersive and broad – although it’s not quite as impressive as the Dolby Atmos a speaker like the Sonos Era 300 offers.

  • Sound score: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Bluesound Pulse M review: design
  • Gorgeous, refined design
  • Solidly built but not bulky
  • Controls could offer more feedback

For the most part, I’m a big fan of the Bluesound Pulse M’s design. The brand has nailed the nexus of minimal and premium that’s absolutely appropriate with a speaker at this price point.

Essentially a cylindrical oval shape, it gives off slight Sonos Move 2 vibes, while still being distinct enough to feel like its own beast. It comes in both black or white colorways; for me the latter has the definite edge here, feeling much cleaner and more futuristic. Its plastic body has a pleasing matte finish, while the fabric-covered grille has a curved bottom edge giving the whole thing a nice aesthetic balance. When it comes to the pure look of the device, I – unusually – have nothing negative to say.

Again, in build quality, the Pulse M occupies a Goldilocks zone of both solid without being overly bulky. The absence of a battery helps here, of course: moving it from room to room requires considerably less exertion than something like the Move 2. While it’s close in size to the Sonos Era 300, it's significantly lighter, weighing in at 2.54kg compared to the Era 300’s 4.47kg. While you’re not likely to be repositioning it very often, it’ll definitely be less cumbersome when you do.

One slight niggle centers around the touch-sensitive controls on top of the device. Given they aren’t physical buttons, I’d personally have preferred it if they’d included some haptic, or at least aural, feedback to confirm a successful finger press – I wasn’t always clear when it had actually registered a finger-press on the volume bar, meaning I’d often stab at it several times to be sure. But more of an issue for me is the lack of labelling: minimal buttons sure look cool until you’re trying to work out what half of them do, at which point you start to appreciate why almost all speakers follow certain conventions, like pluses and minus for volume or numbers for presets.

All things considered though, this feels more like splitting gossamer than splitting hairs – the overall style and build of the Bluesound Pulse M is aesthetically pleasing, and creates a decent impact in any room it’s situated in.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Bluesound Pulse M review: value
  • Looks and build match its premium price
  • Sound can’t compete with similarly priced speakers
  • You’ll likely get better value for your spend elsewhere

Weighing up how the Bluesound Pulse M compares in terms of value is a tough undertaking. On the one hand, it looks stunning, works as part of a multi-room setup and can stream true lossless audio. On the other, its bass out-of-the-box is seriously overblown, its app can be periodically frustrating and it’s a bit lacking when it comes to audio optimisation features.

Those kinds of compromises would mostly be fine if the Pulse M was cheaper or the competition wasn’t so good at this price range. But this is not an affordable wireless speaker: at an MSRP of $399 / £399 / around AUS899, it’s reasonable for you to expect more than you’re getting here. For that kind of money, I want a speaker to sound great right out of the box, ideally with algorithms that optimise the sound depending on the surroundings. And the Pulse M just cannot clear that bar, which feels like a missed opportunity.

So while this is a very capable speaker in a lot of ways, it’s still not enough to quite justify the high price tag: there are simply too many speakers out there that will give you better sound for your spend. For example, the JBL Authentics 200 is available for $349.95 / £299 / AU$299 and offers both the full bass and crisp treble of the Bluesound, while providing full, convincing mids. Alternatively, the Sonos Era 300 doesn’t retail for much more, at $449 / £449 / AU$749, and it rocks both full sound as well as that awesome spatial audio effect.

  • Value score: 3/5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Bluesound Pulse M? Buy it if...

You want wide, immersive sound
The Bluesound Pulse M can definitely fill a room. Its soundstage is much wider than many single speakers are capable of and its ersatz stereo effect is strong enough to give decent separation between various elements in the stereo field.

You want a speaker that looks the part
Looking suitably futuristic, with its matt white finish and buttons that only light up when you wave your hand near, the Pulse M will definitely make an attractive centerpiece in any living room.

Don’t buy it if...

You want unimpeachable sound balance
The Pulse M is far from a neutral listen and even unreformed bass addicts might find its subby brew a little too intense. It’s definitely salvageable with some tweaking but should you have to ‘salvage’ the sound from a $399 / £399 speaker?

You want the best value for your money
In many ways, the Pulse M is a quality product but it has an awful lot of competition at this price point. With multiple wireless speakers offering more features and more nuanced sound for not much more cash, it is worth asking whether another product might give you more banging tunes for your buck.

Bluesound Pulse M review: also consider

Sonos Era 300
Coming in at a little more than the Bluesound Pulse M, the Era 300 costs $449 / £449 / AU$749. But in return it offers so much more: on top of the stereo effect you get from Bluesound’s speaker, you also get a sensation of height with its true Dolby Atmos sound. On top of this, its sound is detailed and rich, although it does pull some punches when it comes to bass. Check out our full Sonos Era 300 review.

JBL Authentics 200
If you’d like to go in the other direction and save a bit of cash, the $349.95 / £299 /AU$299 JBL Authentics 200 is a quality multi-room wireless speaker that sounds great right out of the box. It offers well-rounded bass, rich mids and crisp, discerning treble and, while it doesn’t offer as wide a soundstage, it does offer great features like automatic room calibration. Read our full JBL Authentics 200 review.

Bluesound Pulse M review: how I tested
  • Tested for two weeks
  • Used in a range of rooms and settings
  • Played a wide range of music over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and wired connections

I spent many hours testing the Bluesound Pulse M over the course of several weeks. Not only did I try it out in multiple different sized spaces, I also compared it to the Sonos Era 100 and hooked it up to a variety of devices, including my iPhone 16 Pro over AirPlay 2 and the Fiio M11S hi-res music player via analog stereo 3.5mm input.

In terms of music, I used our curated TechRadar testing playlist, as well as a wide array of tracks from my personal library. This allowed me to try out how the speaker handled everything from deep pulsing bass to delicate vocals. I also used a variety of different quality sources, whether that was Spotify’s standard tier, Apple’s lossless tier or Tidal’s hi-res tier.

I’ve been testing audio kit like headphones and speakers for many years now. I’ve also spent decades making music in my free time, which has given me a lot of insight into analyzing the frequencies of music, composition and soundstage.

  • First reviewed: December 2024
  • Read more about how we test
Categories: Reviews

Everything new on Netflix in January 2025

TechRadar News - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 04:00

Well, it's here: the year 2025, and a new year calls for more movies and shows arriving across the best streaming services, starting with Netflix. This past year has been an eventful one for Netflix with the releases of Rebel Ridge, miniseries Griselda, and of course One Day joining the library of the best Netflix shows and best Netflix movies – and it's only going to get better.

January 1 is packed with a blend of movies including fun family favorites and romance stories, but it's compelling dramas like Lion (2016), Interstellar (2014), and Dallas Buyers Club (2013) that top the list of new Netflix titles. In addition to the usual list of new arrivals, Netflix is also ushering in new original shows, starting with Selling the City on January 3 and as a major fan of Selling Sunset, I'll be sat.

Everything new on Netflix in January 2025

Arriving on January 1

13 Going on 30 (movie)
3 Ninjas: Kick Back
(movie)
Apollo 13
(movie)
Blended
(movie)
Bruce Almighty
(movie)
Colombiana
(movie)
Dallas Buyers Club
(movie)
Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat
(movie)
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax
(movie)
Erin Brockovich
(movie)
Hotel Transylvania
(movie)
Hotel Transylvania 2
(movie)
I Know What You Did Last Summer
(movie)
Inception
(movie)
Interstellar
(movie)
Little Fockers
(movie)
Love Actually
(movie)
The Love Scam
(Netflix original movie)
Meet the Fockers (movie)
Meet the Parents
(movie)
Melancholia
(movie)
Missing You
(Netflix original series)
The Net (movie)
Notting Hill
(movie)
Number 24
(Netflix original movie)
Out of Africa (movie)
Rush Hour
(movie)
Rush Hour 2
(movie)
Rush Hour 3
(movie)
Schindler's List
(movie)
Scooby-Doo
(movie)
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
(movie)
Spider-Man
(movie)
Spider-Man 2
(movie)
Spider-Man 3
(movie)

Arriving on January 2

Cunk on Life (TV show)
Stranded with my Mother-in-Law season 2 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 3

Bandidos season 2 (Netflix original series)
Love Is Blind: Germany (Netflix original series)
Shafted (Netflix original series)
Selling The City (Netflix original series)
Umjolo: My Beginning, My End! (Netflix original movie)
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Netflix original movie)

Arriving on January 4

When the Stars Gossip (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 6

My Happy Marriage season 2 (Netflix original series)
WWE Raw: 2025 (Netflix live event)

Arriving on January 7

The Breakthrough (Netflix original series)
Gabriel Iglesias: Legend of Fluffy (Netflix comedy special)
The Graham Norton Show: Best Bits: Week of December 31, 2024 (TV show)
Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action (Netflix original documentary)
Younger seasons 1-7 (TV show)

Arriving on January 8

Dubai Bling season 3 (Netflix original series)
Hound's Hill (Netflix original series)
I AM A KILLER season 6 (Netflix original documentary)
Subteran (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 9

American Primeval (Netflix original series)
Asura (Netflix original series)
I am Ilary (Netflix original series)
Lion (movie)
The Upshaws
part 6 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 10

Ad Vitam (Netflix original movie)
Alpha Males season 3 (Netflix original series)
Love Is Blind: Germany (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 11

SAKAMOTO DAYS (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 13

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on January 14

Ari Shaffir: America’s Sweetheart (Netflix comedy special)
Single’s Inferno season 4 (Netflix original series)

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Hereditary (movie)
Krapopolis
season 1 (TV show)
Public Disorder (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 16

XO, Kitty season 2 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 17

Back in Action (Netflix original movie)
Love Is Blind: Germany (Netflix original series)
Young, Famous & African season 3 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 18

SAKAMOTO DAYS (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 21

The Graham Norton Show: Best Bits: Week of January 10, 2025 (TV show)

Arriving on January 22

W.A.G.s to Riches (Netflix original series)

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NCIS seasons 1-5 (TV show)
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The Sand Castle (Netflix original movie)

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SAKAMOTO DAYS (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 26

You Hurt My Feelings (movie)

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The Graham Norton Show: Best Bits: Week of January 17, 2025 (TV show)
Liza Treyger: Night Owl (Netflix comedy special)

Arriving on January 29

Six Nations: Full Contact season 2 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 30

Mo season 2 (Netflix original series)
The Recruit season 2 (Netflix original series)
The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse season 2 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on January 31

Lucca's World (Netflix original movie)
The Snow Girl season 2 (Netflix original series)

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Categories: Technology

College students get emotional about climate change. Some are finding help in class

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 04:00

A recent survey finds that more than half of young people aged 16-25 are highly worried about climate change. Some universities are now trying to help them navigate those emotions in class.

(Image credit: Rebecca Redelmeier)

Categories: News

On tap for the holidays: A blend of multicultural drink traditions and fond memories

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 04:00

For this year's All Things Considered holiday cocktail interview, we visited Providencia in Washington, D.C., a bar that brings its owners' personal stories to life.

(Image credit: Moriah Ratner for NPR)

Categories: News

Google Whisk is a new way to create AI visuals using image prompts –here's how to try it

TechRadar News - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 03:00
  • Google Whisk uses images as inputs instead of text-based prompts
  • It's built on Google’s Imagen 3 generative AI model
  • The experimental tool is free to try for users in the US

Google’s new AI tool makes it easier to create and remix your visual concepts. Instead of asking you to describe what’s in your mind’s eye, Whisk lets you input three image prompts: one for subject, one for scene and one for style. Whisk takes care of the rest, making it a more intuitive way to experiment with different ideas.

While most of the best AI image generators require you to write a detailed prompt, Whisk handles that behind the scenes. When you drop pictures into the web-based Whisk interface as inspiration, Google’s Gemini model automatically analyzes them and writes a detailed caption for each. These are then fed into the Imagen 3 model, to create a matching image.

For example, you could drop in an image of a car as the subject and a photo of a rural landscape for the scene. You could them add a watercolor as the style to see what Whisk creates. Hit the button and you’ll get a pair of images based on your inputs.

From here, it’s easy to remix the images. The interface allows you to specify additional text-based details to tweak the outcomes. You can also easily drop in different source images or roll the dice if you’re in need of inspiration. New results appear in pairs in the feed, making it an intuitive way to ideate. You can also choose to refine images by revealing the text prompt and adding more details.

Whisk it up

While Whisk is designed to eliminate the need for text-based prompts, Google includes the option to refine the written prompts because results won’t always match up to the source material.

In a blog post about the experimental tool, Google explains that Whisk, “captures your subject’s essence, not an exact replica.” It’s only as effective as Gemini’s analysis of the images you submit. While this is generally very impressive, it also isn’t able to get inside your mind: you might expect Whisk to pull out one detail from an image, where it focuses on another.

The post explains further: “Since Whisk extracts only a few key characteristics from your image, it might generate images that differ from your expectations. For example, the generated subject might have a different height, weight, hairstyle or skin tone. We understand these features may be crucial for your project and Whisk may miss the mark, so we let you view and edit the underlying prompts at any time.”

Even with these shortcomings, Whisk an interesting application of Google’s existing AI tools. The underlying generative models are the same as if you were chatting with Gemini via its text interface. By relying on image inputs, though, Whisk is a more accessible and intuitive way for visual creators to play with their ideas.

Based on early feedback from digital creatives, Google refers to Whisk as “a new type of creative tool” which is intended for “rapid visual exploration, not pixel-perfect edits.”

How to try Google Whisk

Google Whisk is currently only available to users in the US. If you’re based there, you can try it out via your web browser at labs.google/whisk.

The experimental tool is completely free to play with. Data from your experience with Whisk will be fed back to Google to help refine and develop future AI products.

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Categories: Technology

The Race to Translate Animal Sounds Into Human Language

WIRED Top Stories - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 03:00
With big cash prizes at stake—and AI supercharging research—interspecies translation is closer than ever. But what, if anything, would animals want to tell us?
Categories: Technology

Pickup truck driver killed by police after driving through Texas mall and injuring 5

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 12/22/2024 - 02:19

A pickup truck driver fleeing police careened through the doors of a JCPenney store in Texas and continued through a busy mall, injuring five people before he was fatally shot by officers.

(Image credit: AP)

Categories: News

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