iPadOS 18.2 Beta 2: Hidden Gems and Surprises

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Apple enthusiasts have reason to celebrate the release of the iPadOS 18.2 Beta 2 update, which promises to transform the way you interact with your Apple devices. This update, weighing in at 1.44 GB, requires a minimum of 3 GB of storage space and is identified by the build number 22c 5125e. As the build […]

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iOS 18.2 Beta 2: Camera Control Upgrades, Find My, and More

iOS 18.2 beta 2

The highly anticipated iOS 18.2 beta 2 update is set to transform your mobile experience with a wealth of new features, integrations, and enhancements. This update focuses on improving your device’s functionality, user interface, and overall performance, ensuring a seamless and efficient interaction with your iPhone or iPad. One of the most significant additions in […]

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iOS 18.2 Beta 2: Top New Features You Need to Know

iOS 18.2

iOS 18.2 Beta 2 brings a wealth of new features and improvements that significantly enhance connectivity, user interface design, privacy, and overall performance. If you are an iOS device owner, these updates are crucial for optimizing your user experience and ensuring that you are getting the most out of your device. Device Compatibility and Installation […]

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You’ll be able to play your Nintendo Switch games on its successor

You don't have to take great pains to preserve your Switch to ensure that you can still play your favorite games on it years and years from now. Nintendo has revealed in its earnings report that the upcoming successor to the Switch will have backwards compatibility and will be able to run games made for the current console. In addition, Switch Online will also be available on the Switch 2, which means your saves stored on the cloud will be carried over and you'll be able to play NES, SNES and Game Boy titles on the new console. 

Nintendo explained that it's making Switch Online available on the upcoming console, because it thinks it's important for the company's future to "carry over the good relationship" it has built with its more than 100 million annual playing users to the new device. The main way to do so is to make use of the Nintendo Account, which ties a user's history to one account and enables the company to "maintain a continuous relationship" with them across console generations. Before the Nintendo Account was introduced, Nintendo had no easy way to carry a user's history and purchases over to the next console. "As a result, our relationship with the consumers was interrupted when a new system was purchased," it said. 

The company promised to reveal more information about the Switch 2 "at a later date," though it didn't say when exactly. In a recent event where we thought the new Switch could be announced, Nintendo launched an alarm clock instead. Based on its earnings results, it looks like people could be choosing to wait for the new console instead of buying the current Switch: The company had to downgrade its sales forecast for the fiscal year due to a big decline in console sales compared to the same periods last year. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/youll-be-able-to-play-your-nintendo-switch-games-on-its-successor-045657774.html?src=rss

This Ergonomic Laptop Stand has a MagSafe Phone Holder and a Multiport Hub with 4K Support

I swear by my laptop stand for two simple reasons. The first is that it elevates my laptop so I can look at the screen without straining my neck. The second is that it allows my laptop to occupy less space on my desk, accommodating for the large ergonomic keyboard I have. Broadly, laptop stands have done just these two things – elevating and space-conserving. The CASA Hub Stand Ultra does some more.

Aside from elevating and angle-adjusting your laptop (or tablet), this stand gives you a dedicated mount for your phone, has a 360° swivel joint for adjusting your gadgets even more, and packs the ultimate accessory – a USB-C multiport hub to give your laptop, tablet, and phone access to extra ports like USB-A, HDMI, and even ethernet.

Designer: ADAM elements

Click Here to Buy Now: $127.2 $159 (20% off, use coupon code “20OFFCSHULAE”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Crafted by ADAM elements and a winner of the 2024 Red Dot Design Award, this laptop stand and hub doubles as a complete workstation upgrade, reshaping how we organize our devices. Built from durable aluminum, the stand’s perforated plate naturally keeps devices cool, optimizing performance even during intensive work sessions. With an impressive weight capacity of 13.2 lbs (6kg), it handles laptops up to 17 inches comfortably. The stability and strength built into this stand means users can rely on it without constant micro-adjustments.

The stand comes with a telescopic arm that elevates your device, and an angle-adjusting friction hinge that lets you set it at any angle you want, but where it differs from most $40-50 stands is the inclusion of a smooth, 360-degree rotating base that lets you face your device anywhere. The adjustable arm ranges from 2.1 to 16.5 inches, elevating your device over 1 foot for better visibility too, allowing you to turn your regular work setup into a standing one, should you choose. For shared workspaces, the rotation feature allows easy screen sharing, adding functionality where traditional stands can’t compete.

Swivel the MagSafe phone stand out, and you’ve got a laptop stand that holds your phone too. The folks at ADAM elements call it their Intelligent Magnetic System (iMS), which also comes baked into the laptop stand part itself, allowing you to safely and securely mount a laptop or tablet on the main stand, and a MagSafe-friendly phone on the swivel-out side stand. Of course, you don’t have to necessarily use Apple devices with the CASA Hub Stand Ultra – a protective lip on the bottom of the stand holds any laptop or tablet, preventing it from falling. For phones, a simple MagSafe sticker easily makes it mount-compatible.

The CASA Hub Stand Ultra’s pièce de résistance, however, is the snap-on multiport hub that gives your device a connectivity boost. The hub’s an add-on that you can either use with the stand, or use independently, making it pretty flexible depending on how you work. This modular hub offers USB-C Power Delivery, HDMI up to 4K at 60Hz, USB-A, and even an RJ-45 Ethernet port. Designed to serve multiple needs at once, the hub handles data transfer, high-resolution video output, and device charging. It’s detachable and magnetic too, which means it can snap onto the stand as well as onto any other magnetic surface like the side of your desk.

The stand’s minimal design makes it a worthy add to your WFH or WFO setup. It’s all-metal, with perforations and cutouts that not only help cut weight but also help with heat dissipation, allowing air to naturally circulate around your laptop, preventing overheating even during long, demanding sessions. And with silicone pads lining the base, the stand won’t slip or scratch your desk surface, allowing you to adjust or reposition it without fear of damage or instability.

Despite all the functionality, the stand still remains fairly compact and lightweight, measuring a mere 53mm (a little over 2 inches) when folded down, and weighing 3.4 lbs or roughly as much as your average laptop. The CASA Hub Stand Ultra secured a Red Dot Design Award for its balance of form and functionality, while also holding the unique distinction of being the only stand we’ve seen that packs its own detachable USB-C multiport hub, and has the ability to adjust your laptop’s height to over 16 inches. Perfect for people looking to reduce desk clutter, or people wanting to dabble with standing work setups, the CASA Hub Stand Ultra starts at $172.57, and comes in silver and space-grey, letting you choose a stand to match your laptop or tablet perfectly!

Click Here to Buy Now: $127.2 $159 (20% off, use coupon code “20OFFCSHULAE”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

The post This Ergonomic Laptop Stand has a MagSafe Phone Holder and a Multiport Hub with 4K Support first appeared on Yanko Design.

New report details ‘vast spying’ by China-linked telecom hackers

New details are continuing to surface about the hacking of US telecom companies by a China-linked group that targeted US officials and campaign staffers. Now, The Wall Street Journal reports that the hackers’ access was even greater than what’s been previously reported, and that the communications of “potentially thousands of Americans” may have been impacted.

Last week, The New York Times reported that FBI investigators suspected call logs and SMS messages had been accessed by the hacking group, known as “Salt Typhoon.” The group reportedly targeted the phones of diplomats and government officials, as well as people associated with both presidential campaigns.

Now, The WSJ is reporting that the hackers, who were “likely” working for a Chinese intelligence agency, spent “eight months or more” in US telecom infrastructure, and that they may have been able to scoop up the data of thousands of people who were in contact with the targeted individuals.

The Journal confirms earlier reports that the hackers “limited their targets to several dozen select, high-value political and national-security figures.” But the hackers, who reportedly exploited routers used by telecom firms, had “the ability to access the phone data of virtually any American who is a customer of a compromised carrier — a group that includes AT&T and Verizon.” Both AT&T and Verizon declined to comment on the report.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/new-report-details-vast-spying-by-china-linked-telecom-hackers-010347224.html?src=rss

This Unusual Observation Tower Works Just Like A Gigantic Sundial

Designed by OPEN Architecture, the Sun Tower reaches a height of 50m and is located in Yantai, Eastern China. It forms an interesting and remarkable structure on the shoreline. It stands tall as a curving observation tower and functions much like a humongous sundial, marking the changes of the seasons.

The tower’s intriguing design draws inspiration from the area’s ancient history of Sun worshipping, and the watchtowers of ages galore that were utilized to warn the Chinese Emperors of possible seaborne attacks. The structure was built in collaboration with Arup, and its unique curving form is built from two layers of slanted concrete shells that allow the sound of the waves to echo.

Designer: OPEN Architecture 

“Informed by meticulous studies of the Sun, the northern edge of the building is parallel to the noon sunlight of the equinoxes, while the entrance tunnel aligns with the sunset during the Winter Solstice,” said OPEN Architecture. “Sitting at the center of the Sun Tower is a semi-outdoor theater, which has been orientated with its central axis pointing towards the sunrise over Zhifu Island on Summer Solstice.

The concave inner shell of the tower is perched towards the ocean. It absorbs the soothing sounds of the ocean, amplifying back through the entire structure, and even down to the amphitheater at the base. The center of the Plaza features a series of elliptical rings that look like planetary orbits. “A water channel is carved into the stone pavement. The intersections between the rings and the water channel mark the building shadow at specific hours during the equinoxes, and one outer ring features a series of fountains that celebrate the 24 solar terms of the traditional Chinese calendar,” continued OPEN Architecture.

The top of the tower includes a library and a viewing point. It also contains a “Phenomena Space” – a semi-outdoor observation deck. This deck is equipped with an oculus opening that lets the rainwater enter. The rainwater is collected in a little pool installation. The tower also houses exhibition spaces including digital screens and projections that have been built around winding pedestrian ramps. These ramps rise throughout the structure. A theater is placed on the ground floor, and it includes stunning views of the sea.

Passive strategies were adopted to better manage the Sun Tower’s interior temperature. Cross-ventilation is encouraged by installing operable openings on both shells, and hot air is removed from the building via the chimney effect. The Sun Tower is truly a unique and one-of-kind observation tower, and is another addition to Open Architecture’s collection of unusual and awe-spiring buildings.

The post This Unusual Observation Tower Works Just Like A Gigantic Sundial first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sony will discontinue its pricey Airpeak S1 camera drone in March

Sony announced that it will stop selling the Airpeak S1 camera drone. Sales of the product will end on March 31, 2025. Sony will also stop selling most of the drone's accessories next year, but replacement batteries and propellers will be available until March 31, 2026. Inspections, repairs and software maintenance will continue through March 31, 2030.

The Airpeak S1 was initially introduced during a virtual presentation at CES in 2021. The drone was intended to capture high-definition footage with Sony's full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens Alpha cameras. It could fly for 12 minutes with a camera attached and achieved a max flight speed of 55.9mph. While the high-end drone would set buyers back about $9,000 even before buying accessories, it had middling to flat-out negative reviews.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/sony-discontinues-its-pricey-airpeak-s1-camera-drone-in-march-234823252.html?src=rss