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We've been begging for a pink iPhone for years around here, but Google may have just lapped Apple in that regard.
Of course, that's only if you believe in video leaks. This latest one comes courtesy of @habibioud on X, who posted a 13-second clip purporting to show the upcoming Google Pixel 9. Seeing a not-yet-announced device is always exciting, but this time, it's especially so because of the alleged Pixel 9's vibrant hot pink colorway.
SEE ALSO: Is iOS 18 available for iPhone 11? Tweet may have been deletedThere's no knowing if the clip is real until Google's Aug. 13 event where the Pixel 9 is widely expected to be revealed. However, the video is convincing, especially since the phone shown in the clip bears some similarities to modern Pixels, but with a glossier back and a slightly different horizontal camera bar on the rear. In other words, it looks like an incremental evolution of the Pixel 8, so it may well be real.
Let's all hope this is real so Apple finally has the guts to do the right thing.
Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner, and in usual Prime Day fashion, the savings are already starting to trickle in. Lots of deals are ready to shop as we speak, especially when it comes to Apple's beloved MacBooks (including the new M3 models).
SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner — here's how to find the best dealsBelow, we've put together a list of all the early Prime Day MacBook deals that you can scoop up right now. We expect these prices to get even lower, but if you need one as soon as possible, you can still save up to $220.
Best early Prime Day MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3) $1,299.00 at AmazonRead Mashable's full review of the 15-inch M3 Apple MacBook Air.
Apple's latest iteration of the MacBook Air is undeniably the best version of the portable powerhouse we've seen to date. Equipped with the new M3 chip, the Air has never been faster, and can tackle demanding tasks with ease (great news for those of us who constantly have one million tabs open). The M3 Air also adds in support for up to two external monitors, as well as WiFi 6E. Pick one up ahead of Prime Day and save $100.
More early Prime Day MacBook dealsApple MacBook Air, 13-inch (Apple M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $849 $999 (save $150)
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (Apple M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 $1,099 (save $100)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (Apple M3, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,449 $1,599 (save $150)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (Apple M3 Pro, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,779 $1,999 (save $220)
The UK General Election is set to take place this week, and there's an exciting digital partnership playing to election content: Roblox and the BBC.
The BBC is bringing Larry the Downing Street Cat — iconic Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office and pet-in-residence at the official home of the UK Prime Minister — to Roblox for this election.
Larry, along with digital avatars of BBC presenters like Laura Kuenssberg, Clive Myrie, and Jeremy Vine, will appear in a game that requires players to track down ballot boxes outside 10 Downing Street. If you find enough boxes, Larry will become your pet (whether or not you share Larry with the PM is unclear). While playing, Roblox users will also be shown facts about UK elections.
SEE ALSO: The world of Roblox accessories is betting big on young, Black creatorsThe game will be a part of the BBC’s Wonder Chase experience, which has been around on Roblox since April of this year. Wonder Chase, a free experience on Roblox, features a range of areas dedicated to BBC shows like Doctor Who, EastEnders, and The Next Step.
"I’ve never imagined being a gaming character before," says Kuenssberg, long-time political presenter at the BBC, "but like never before, in 2024 the BBC’s coverage of the election really IS getting everywhere." Fiona Campbell, controller of youth audience for BBC Three and BBC iPlayer says that the game is "an engaging and fun way to learn more about the country’s election whilst interacting with our top political experts."
The UK's General Election will take place on July 4, with millions of people in the country headed to the polls to vote despite "mass apathy" towards the presiding political parties.
Amazon has already hit send on some of the biggest price drops of the year. Between its 4th of July sale and early Prime Day savings, the deals are overflowing this week. On July 2, we're seeing record-low prices on Fire devices, Blink cameras, and more. There's really no need to wait for Prime Day if you're in the mood to do some deal shopping.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Be sure to check back at our deals from July 1 — many of those are still live. Then come back tomorrow for all-new picks.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 75-inch Omni Fire TV $699.99 at AmazonIf you're in the market for a new TV and you're a Prime member, you can snag a 75-inch Omni Fire TV for only $699.99 ahead of Prime Day. That's 33% in savings and its lowest price on record. As the second-best TV in Amazon's lineup, the Omni offers 4K everyday entertainment, hands-free Alexa control, Dolby Vision, Dolby Digital Plus, and a slimmer bezel for the ultimate home theater experience. It even comes with a six-month subscription to MGM+.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet with wireless charging dock $84.99 at AmazonThe Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus is a solid option if you're looking for a basic tablet that won't break the bank. As PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) wrote in its review of the tablet, "It won't wow you, but it doesn't need to." It'll last up to 13 hours on a single charge, offers USB-C charging support, and features a strengthened aluminosilicate glass display and hexa-core processor (which is 30% faster than the previous model). The Plus model also adds an extra gigabyte of RAM, improves its rear camera from 2 to 5MP, and supports wireless charging. With this bundle, you'll get both the tablet and wireless charging dock, which allows you to set it up as a countertop smart display in Show Mode. As of July 2, the bundle is down to just $84.99 — that's a savings of 50% and a new record-low price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus Cordless Handheld Vacuum $69.99 at AmazonIn your battle against pet hair, you're going to need quite a few weapons in your arsenal. The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus makes a good addition, as its cordless, lightweight design makes it a breeze to slide into hard-to-reach places. It features two ultra-powerful cyclonic air streams for intense suction, plus a detachable self-cleaning Pet Power Brush that eliminates hair wrap from the floor, upholstery, and the brushroll itself. It's usually $89.99, but you can save 22% and pick it up for $69.99 as of July 2. That's just $2 away from its all-time low.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Outdoor 4 (4th gen) 4-camera system $132.99 at AmazonOne of our top picks for a security camera, the Blink Outdoor 4 is an affordable home addition for pet owners, frequent travelers, or just about any homeowner or renter looking to keep an eye on things that go bump in the night. Its battery life is hard to beat — just pop in some AAs and you won't have to worry about changing them for two whole years. The fourth-generation Blink Outdoor also works seamlessly with other Alexa-enabled devices, comes with customizable motion zones without the need for a subscription (although, a Blink subscription will unlock even more features), and features 1080p HD live view, infrared night vision, and crisp two-way audio. A four-pack is usually $339.99, but you can save 61% ahead of Prime Day and snag it for only $132.99 with Prime — practically a steal.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 14-inch Galaxy Book4 Pro (Intel Core 7 Ultra Processor , 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,149.99 at AmazonReleased in February this year, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro is back down to its record-low price of $1,149.99. That's $300 off the 14-inch model with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD. It's a traditional clamshell-style laptop with all the bells and whistles — an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU with Intel Arc Graphics, a 3K AMOLED touchscreen, AKG Quad speakers, a new Knox security chip, and 18 hours of battery life per charge. Plus, it only weighs 2.71 pounds.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
Ahead of Prime Day, which runs July 16 and 17, deals are sneakily sliding in. The next two weeks are a bit of a waiting game to see what sought-after products will go on sale. Luckily for you, we're on top of our game finding the early deals, including on the latest iPads from Apple.
These discounts might not seem like much, less than $100 off each model, but these are the lowest prices ever on iPads. The spring release of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro brought noteworthy tech, creating tablets with as much power as the best laptops we've tested. So while these deals seem subtle, we can confirm they're the best prices on iPads.
However, we're not so patiently waiting to see what Prime Day brings. We'll be updating this article with the latest prices as we get closer to the main event.
Best iPad 10th generation deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 10th generation, 10.9-inch (A14, WiFi, 64GB) $324.00 at AmazonThe iPad 10th generation saw a price drop this spring, becoming the most budget-friendly iPad. It doesn't have the flashy M-series chips that the iPad Air and Pro possess, but the A14 chip has all the processing power you need for streaming, reading, and working. Normally priced at $349, it's down to $324, officially its lowest price ever. So while it's just $25 off for 7% savings, we can guarantee it's the best price yet.
Best iPad Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 1TB) $1,024.00 at AmazonLoaded with the M2 chip, the iPad Air is a tablet with the power of a laptop. It's our best overall iPad, as it goes beyond just entertainment, and can be a professional workspace too. The M2 chip powers creatives who want to illustrate and with 1TB of storage, you won't run out of space when starting new projects. This iPad Air usually starts at $1,099, but it's currently down to $1,024, knocking $75 off the price. Those 7% savings bring it down to it's lowest price, unbeatable for the amount of power and storage you're getting.
Best iPad Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) $928.99 at AmazonThe iPad Pro is not only the most advanced tablet we've ever seen, but maybe the most advanced computing power period. If you need an iPad for professional use, something that can accomplish all your work, from photo to video editing, look no further than the iPad Pro which scored a 14,586 on the Geekbench 6 test, better performance than both the M3 Macbook Air and M3 Macbook Pro.
Ahead of Prime Day, you can get the latest iPad Pro for $928.99, saving you $70.01. Like the test of the tablets on this list, those 7% savings might seem minor, but it's the lowest price we've ever seen.
More iPad dealsApple iPad 10th generation, 10.2-inch (A13, WiFi, 256GB) — $379 $479 (save $100)
Apple iPad Mini, 8.3-inch (A15, WiFi, 64GB) — $468.99 $499 (save $30.01)
Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M2, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,024 $1,099 (save $75)
Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,198.99 $1,299 (save $100.01)
Astronomers say they've confirmed that three little red dots observed at the dawn of time by the James Webb Space Telescope are in fact galaxies, flouting theories about the early universe.
Not only that, but researchers say those galaxies seem to host enormous supermassive black holes — perhaps 100 to 1,000 times more massive than the one occupying the center of our own Milky Way. Normally, black holes of this maturity and scale would not be found within young galaxies.
The dots now hold the record for the earliest signatures of "old" starlight — meaning the galaxies, formed shortly after the Big Bang, brim with stars that could already be considered old, said Bingjie Wang, a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State.
"These appear to be packed with ancient stars — hundreds of millions of years old — in a universe that is only 600 to 800 million years old," said Wang, lead author on the new research about the galaxies, in a statement.
The team took measurements of the light sources to determine what's generating them and discern the distances of the objects. They published the findings in Astrophysical Journal Letters.
SEE ALSO: Astronomers just witnessed a whole galaxy 'turn on the lights' in real-time A Penn State-led research team took spectroscopic measurements of the little red dots to determine what's generating them and discern the distances of the objects. Credit: Bingjie Wang / Penn State / JWST / NIRSpecThe universe is believed to have started some 13.8 billion years ago, shortly thereafter forming the first stars and galaxies in space. Astrophysicists say the light of those initial galactic neighborhoods is still burning, albeit stretched by time and expansion.
The ancient wavelengths exist in infrared, a form of light that human eyes can't see, but that Webb, a collaboration of NASA and the European and Canadian space agencies, was built to detect with its highly sensitive instruments. In that sense, Webb is a time machine, giving scientists a glimpse of the past.
But these compact galaxies are perplexing to astronomers because they don't comfortably fit in the models for cosmic evolution. They would be about 1,000 times smaller than the Milky Way yet be crowded with about the same number of stars.
A Northwestern team of scientists believe early galaxies of the universe may appear bright due to irregular bursts of star formation. Credit: Aaron M. Geller / Northwestern / CIERA + IT-RCDS illustrationThe galaxies' stars must have formed rapidly, in a way that's new to scientists, in order to be so close together and exist in such an early period, said Joel Leja, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State.
"For whatever reason, the universe stopped making objects like these after just a couple of billion years," he said in a statement. "They are unique to the early universe."
The little red dots were first discovered in 2022. Since then scientists have pored over the data to wring out as much information about the systems as possible. Last October, a separate team led by Northwestern University researchers used advanced computer simulations to assess whether the galaxies could be "bright" without being extremely massive.
Tweet may have been deletedTheir study suggested that small, less-developed galaxies could undergo irregular bursts of star formation, referred to as — and this is not a joke — "bursty star formation." Rather than making stars at a steady clip like the Milky Way does, for instance, these galaxies churn out stars inconsistently, with a proliferation all at once, followed by stagnant periods sometimes stretching millions of years before another so-called burst.
"For whatever reason, the universe stopped making objects like these after just a couple of billion years."Bursty star formation is common in low-mass galaxies, said Claude-André Faucher-Giguère, a professor of physics and astronomy at Northwestern, though it's unclear why. The thinking is that a burst of stars, all of the same generation, form, then die off in supernovas a few million years later at about the same time. The gas may then get recycled to form new stars.
But the case is far from closed. The Penn State-led team plans to collect more spectral data from Webb to better understand the star emissions and the potential supermassive black holes, hunting for the specific light signatures that would come from each.
"We have all these puzzle pieces," Leja said, "and they only fit if we ignore the fact that some of them are breaking."
You may be wondering, "Is iOS 18 available for iPhone 11?" As luck would have it, if you have an iPhone 11, your device does, indeed, make the cut for iOS 18.
Of course, iOS 18 is available for newer devices like the iPhone 15, 14, and 13 and 12 series. However, phones like the iPhone 11 series, the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, iPhone XR are getting iOS 18 support, too. Plus, if you have an iPhone SE, you can upgrade to iOS 18 — but only if you have the second-generation model or newer.
Still, just because you're getting iOS 18 doesn't mean you're getting all the new features.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: What are the differences? Is iOS 18 available for iPhone 11?As mentioned, iOS 18 does, indeed, support iPhone 11. But there is a catch.
While you may get iOS 18 features like the redesigned Control Center and the new Dark Look perk, you won't get Apple Intelligence features like Genmoji and ChatGPT integration. These will be reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
iPhone 11 will also not get Messages via Satellite, Audio Transcription in Notes, the new eye-tracking accessibility feature, and more. However, if there's any solace, iPhone 11 users will receive the updates to Messages (e.g., tapping back to texts with any emoji and scheduling messages). You can also program certain apps to trigger Face ID authentication with the new ID-authenticated app lock feature.
There are plenty other features that iPhone 11 users can enjoy with iOS 18 — and you can play around with them when Apple officially rolls out the major update to compatible devices later this year.
This HP OmniBook X laptop will have Apple shaking in its boots. Why? Because it’s packed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip.
“So what?” you may be thinking. “What’s the big hoopla regarding the Snapdragon X Elite chips?” Well, I’m glad you asked.
For quite some time now, Qualcomm has been insinuating that Snapdragon X Elite-packed laptops are going to leave M3-based MacBooks in the dust. This is a bold claim to make because, let’s be honest, Windows PCs have been struggling to keep up with Apple laptops.
As a reviewer, though rare, I’ve seen some Windows laptops outpace comparable M-series processors, but every single one struggles to beat MacBooks in power efficiency. The M3 MacBook Pro, for example, lasted 16 hours on a charge — and you’d be hard-pressed to find a Windows laptop that can do the same.
The question is, does the HP OmniBook X, featuring the Snapdragon X Elite chip, live up to Qualcomm’s claims? And will it earn a spot on our best laptops page?
SEE ALSO: The best laptops under $500 that are actually worth buyingThe HP OmniBook X I’ve tested has the following specs:
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 processor
Qualcomm Dreno graphics
16GB of RAM
1TB of SSD storage
Windows 11
14-inch, 2240 x 1400-pixel resolution
Touchscreen support
You can purchase this configuration at Best Buy for $1,199. There’s also a cheaper variant, sporting 512GB of storage, that will set you back $1,049.99 via HP.
Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy HP OmniBook X $1,199.00 at Best BuyDesign-wise, the OmniBook X is a bit of a snoozefest. If I could personify this HP laptop, it’s the boring, safe, cookie-cutter partner that you take home to your parents. With a buttoned-up suit and zero tattoos, it won’t offend anyone, but it fails to excite.
HP OmniBook X in Ceramic White Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableNo, the OmniBook X isn’t a looker, but it’s not designed to be. HP wants this to be the laptop that you bring into the office – and it blends right in with the sterile, clinical vibes.
The only striking feature about the OmniBook X is the light-blue power button on the top-right of the keyboard, which sits next to a row of light-gray keys. Woo-hoo, I guess?
The lid is equally uninspired, with a reflective HP logo in the center of the “Meteor Silver” chassis. The OmniBook also comes in "Ceramic White."
The OmniBook X, a three-pound laptop, is lighter than the 3.4-pound 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro (a rival of the HP laptop) I reviewed. It’s also thinner than the M3 MacBook Pro with a height of 0.56 inches, beating the Apple laptop’s 0.61-inch height.
HP OmniBook X displayThe HP Omnibook X has a 14-inch, 2240 x 1400-pixel resolution touchscreen display. No, this 60Hz IPS panel isn’t a visual stunner that’ll leave you wide-eyed and drooling, but it’s sufficient to satisfy my inner display snob.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableI launched YouTube and played the Venom 3: The Last Dance trailer. What caught my eye the most was the satisfactory color richness. In one scene, an actress is wearing a sparkly, bright-red dress that is so scarlet, it looked as if it was popping out of the screen. Fiery explosions reveal how well the display produces various hues of orange, red and gray.
One downside to consider about the HP OmniBook X, however, is that it has a 300-nit display. In other words, the screen will be difficult to see if you take it outside, particularly during a bright day. If your desk is next to a bright window at work, you may want to reconsider the OmniBook X.
The bezels that surround the HP OmniBook X are so passé. The top bezel and chin could stand to be slimmer, but perhaps I’m being too nitpicky.
Finally, it’s worth noting that the HP OmniBook’s touchscreen capabilities work seamlessly. I personally won’t use it because I don’t like the idea of smudging the screen, but if you want to scroll through long-form articles with broad swipes for quicker reading, this laptop is for you.
HP OmniBook X portsThe OmniBook X isn’t teeming with ports, but at the very least, it has a respectable balance of both legacy and modern I/O options.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableOn the right side:
USB Type-A port (3.2 Gen 1)
3.5mm audio jack
On the left side:
Two USB Type-C ports (supporting Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4)
I have to applaud HP for including a USB Type-A port, an I/O option that is on the brink of extinction. Many laptop manufacturers claim that they ditch USB Type-A ports because they’re too thick and hinder their thin-and-light ambitions. But thanks to the drop-jaw technique, a mechanism HP used for the slim OmniBook X, users can "stretch" the port to accommodate their older cables.
See? We can have our cake and eat it, too. Legacy ports and thin-and-light laptops can, indeed, co-exist.
HP OmniBook X audioAudio is an afterthought on the OmniBook X. HP is well aware that OmniBook X consumers aren’t melomaniacs – and it shows.
I fired up Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” on Spotify. (Why is this song so addicting?) The pros? The dual downward-firing speakers get impressively loud. I cranked the volume to the max level, and I’m pretty sure my next-door neighbors could hear me having a mini jam session.
However, the sound quality is mid. The bass is weak and the pop tune sounded too thin on the speakers. But if you aren’t a music producer or an audiophile, it really doesn't matter much.
HP OmniBook X keyboard and trackpadWhenever someone asks me, “Which laptop should I buy if I want the best keyboard?”, I tell them that anything from HP is the answer – and the OmniBook X is no different.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableI can’t stop typing on the OmniBook X; it’s an addiction. From the clickiness of the keys to the springiness of the switches, this keyboard is tactile and responsive.
However, the touchpad hasn’t won me over yet. It’s a little too resistant for my tastes – I prefer a smoother feel. On the plus side, it's quite spacious.
The keyboard features dual-level white backlighting, which can be turned on with the F5 key. Finally, I love the large white letters and symbols on the dark-gray keycaps, which contrast nicely with the light-gray chassis. You won’t be squinting with this laptop – that’s for sure.
HP OmniBook X benchmarks and performanceI could not wait to run Geekbench 6, a benchmark that tests processor performance, on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip inside the HP OmniBook X. For context, Qualcomm has been boasting that the Snapdragon X Elite is a formidable rival of the M3 chips inside MacBooks.
In other words, Qualcomm has its crosshairs on the most au courant, entry-level Apple laptops. On top of that, HP claims that the OmniBook X is a rival to the M3 MacBook Pro – not the M3 MacBook Air.
Take a look at the multi-core scores of each laptop to see whether HP and Qualcomm’s claims ring true:
15-inch M3 MacBook Air: 12,057
14-inch M3 MacBook Pro: 11,998
HP OmniBook X: 13,388
As it turns out, the OmniBook X does, indeed, beat the M3 MacBooks with a performance jump of about 11%.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Snapdragon X Elite boasts an NPU, which aids with AI processing. (And facilitates some of the AI tasks mentioned in the next section.)
HP OmniBook X Copilot+ PC experience and AIThe HP OmniBook X isn’t just any ol’ PC. It’s a Copilot+ PC. (Insert sparkles emoji.) Like most modern Windows 11 laptops, you can fire up Copilot with the dedicated keyboard key.
However, Copilot+ PCs take it up a notch with some eye-catching, AI-powered features. For example, I had a blast playing around with the new-and-improved Paint. It now has a “Cocreator” feature, which helps me draw masterpieces despite my rudimentary, rough-around-the-edges doodles.
The Photos app has a new Image Creator feature, allowing me to create my own AI-powered photos with any wild prompt that comes to mind. Here’s what it came up with when I typed in, “A bunny reading a book.”
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableHonestly? Copilot+ PCs are making Windows fun again – and I’m here for it.
On a more serious note, Microsoft was supposed to debut the controversial Recall feature – a Black Mirror-esque perk that’s like hitting “CTRL + H” on your entire digital life. But it has been delayed for Copilot+ PCs.
Once the Redmond-based tech giant gets it up to snuff after addressing security concerns, Recall is expected to make a return, but only in preview mode for Windows Insiders.
Independently of Copilot lies a pre-installed app from HP called “HP AI Companion.” It's based on GPT-3.5; you can ask it countless questions like you would any other AI chatbot. However, it’s a bit superfluous with Copilot already within reach with a more powerful GPT-4 Turbo.
Wow. When I ran the 1080p video rundown test on the HP OmniBook X, it refused to die. It finally tapped out at an unbelievable 16 hours and 47 minutes.
Up until this point, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 had the longest battery runtime for a Windows laptop: 14 hours and 21 minutes.
Now, the HP OmniBook X has beaten that record. We also tested the M3 MacBooks’ battery runtimes, but the Pro model was benchmarked with PCMark 10, making it incompatible for comparison. But for what it’s worth, it lasted 16 hours and 23 minutes on a charge.
The M3 MacBook Air, on the other hand, was tested with the same video rundown benchmark; it lasted just 10 hours and 36 minutes on a charge.
The HP OmniBook X has a 5MP webcam (as well as an IR camera for Windows Hello facial-recognition logins).
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThere isn't much to write home about when it comes to the shooter. You won't get that crisp sharpness, but I'm OK with that. All that visual noise conceals my flaws.
Plus, thanks to the AI-enhanced Camera app, you can enjoy some cool features via Windows Studio Effects, including automatic framing, background blur, and an eye contact feature that makes it look like you're staring at the screen at all times.
Is the HP OmniBook X worth it?The HP OmniBook X is my first experience with a Snapdragon X Elite-based Copilot+ PC machine – and I'm impressed. Qualcomm wasn't wrong. Its processor does, indeed, beat the M3 MacBooks. Plus, it lasts over 16 hours on a charge, a feat that was completely unheard of for Windows laptops in recent times.
And finally, the Copilot+ PC aspect makes Windows fun again. Do you remember when Windows was a total blast? As a kid, when I'd lose interest in browsing the internet, I'd fall back on pre-installed games like Solitaire, Minesweeper, or 3D Pinball. With the new AI-powered features, you don't need Google Chrome, or whatever browser you use, to enjoy your laptop. You can simply fire up Paint or the Photos app. It'll keep your entertained for hours.
The HP OmniBook X is the best Windows laptop I've tested this year. It's fun, fast, and fierce.
Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy HP OmniBook X $1,199.00 at Best BuySpace and photography fans are in for a treat. The Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition has returned, with its sixteenth edition shortlist featuring a stunning array of photographs.
London's Royal Museums Greenwich received a whopping 3,500 entries from both amateur and professional photographers globally, each of whom captured a breathtaking glimpse of space. The 30 shortlisted entries range from visuals from the Geminid meteor shower to an aurora in the shape of a dragon to ancient supernova remnants. Categories cover everything from stars and nebulae to asteroids to lunar and solar images.
SEE ALSO: You've got to see the best space images of 2023The official winners of the competition will be revealed in September, but for now the shortlist is an incredible first look at the intersection between art and astronomy. Take a look:
"Abandoned House" by Stefan Liebermann. Credit: Stefan Liebermann "A Whale Sailing the Sun" by Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau. Credit: Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau "Observations at Night" by Jakob Sahner. Credit: Jakob Sahner "Earth and Milky Way Galaxy Show" by Yoshiki Abe. Credit: Yoshiki Abe "SNR G156.2+5.7, a Faint Supernova Remnant in Auriga" by Bray Falls. Credit: Bray Falls "A Night with the Valkyries" by Jose Miguel Picon Chimelis. Credit: Jose Miguel Picon Chimelis "Arctic Dragon" by Carina Letelier Baeza. Credit: Carina Letelier Baeza "The Galaxy Devourer" by ShaRA (Shared Remote Astrophotography) Team. Credit: ShaRA (Shared Remote Astrophotography) Team "Serpentine" by Paul Haworth. Credit: Paul Haworth "The Blue Details of M45: The Pleiades" by Sándor Biliczki. Credit: Sándor Biliczki "Misty Mountains" by Bence Toth. Credit: Bence Toth "Run to Carina" by Vikas Chander. Credit: Vikas Chander "M100 (the Blowdryer Galaxy) and Ceres" by Damon Mitchell Scotting. Credit: Damon Mitchell Scotting "International Space Station Daytime Moon Transit" by Kelvin Hennessy. Credit: Kelvin Hennessy "Total Solar Eclipse" by Gwenaël Blanck. Credit: Gwenaël Blanck "M81, a Grand Design Spiral Galaxy" by Holden Aimar. Credit: Holden Aimar "Gigantic Solar Prominence in Motion" by Miguel Claro. Credit: Miguel Claro "Martian Dementors" by Leonardo Di Maggio. Credit: Leonardo Di Maggio "Saturn with Six Moons" by Andy Casely. Credit: Andy Casely "The Fire-Spitting Dragon" by Moritz Telser. Credit: Moritz TelserWant more Astronomy Photographer of the Year wonders? Check out 2023's list.
Time flies, and it's even more so apparent if you own a first-generation Apple HomePod or an iPhone X as those devices are now officially considered "vintage" products.
Spotted by MacRumors, the "vintage" label, which now also applies to first-gen AirPods, basically means that Apple stopped distributing these products more than five, but less than seven years ago. As a reminder, products that Apple stopped distributing more than seven years ago are (sometimes) considered "obsolete."
SEE ALSO: Apple Intelligence might get a paid tier one dayThe moniker seems fitting for the iPhone X, which was the first iPhone with a notch and frankly, it does feel like it came out forever ago (actually, it was in 2017). As a reminder, it was powered by an Apple A11 Bionic chip, and came with 3GB of memory and 64 or 256 GB of storage. It also had just a dual, 12-megapixel camera on the back, as well as a 7-megapixel shooter on the front.
For the HomePod, it feels odd to think of it as a vintage product. It was announced in 2017, but it was only followed by the second-generation HomePod in 2023, and both devices are actually quite similar, with the original actually winning in some regards, with more tweeters and mics, as well as a smaller subwoofer.
Featured Video For You Apple Recap: WWDC 2024 in 20 MinutesThe AirPods don't really change that much from version to version, but the original variant was launched in 2016, which, again, does feel "vintage" in the world of wearables.
The fact that these devices are now vintage don't change all that much to owners, as Apple Stores and Authorized Service Providers will continue to offer repairs for them for up to two more years. The clock is ticking, though; if you still rock an iPhone X, congrats on sticking with it for so long, but it might be time for a new model.
Spotify appears to be testing an emergency alert — but the whole thing is still in the very early stages.
The music streamer is carrying out tests in Sweden, where its headquarters are located, with lines in the app's code referencing the new feature. A spokesperson from Spotify confirmed to Techcrunch that the test was happening, but that it was currently localised to Sweden only.
SEE ALSO: Spotify has increased subscription prices in the US. Yes, again.“At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience,” the company said. “Some of those tests end up paving the way for our broader user experience while most serve only as an important learning.”
To clarify, this doesn't necessarily mean that users in Sweden will be getting emergency pop-ups from Spotify anytime soon. The company is clearly fiddling around with code for the feature, but internal tests might be as far as it's going for now. Mashable has reached out to Spotify to clarify, and we will update this article if we receive a response.
Although emergency alerts might sound like a bit of a departure from Spotify's usual offering, it's not necessarily the biggest leap. Other tech giants like Google and Apple have various safety features, and Facebook has had a Safety Check feature for years.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 2 SEE ALSO: 'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for July 2Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, July 2, 2024:
Across"Yes, ___!" (chorus from a group of line cooks)The answer is chef.
The answer is raver.
The answer is abode.
The answer is bikes.
The answer is text.
The answer is crab.
The answer is habit.
The answer is evoke.
The answer is Fedex.
The answer is rest.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is one of the most highly anticipated tech products of 2024. Ahead of the recently announced July 10 Samsung event, AndroidAuthority claims that it unearthed some health-tracking features the new wearable may sport, including snore detection and menstrual-cycle prediction.
These reported Galaxy Ring features were discovered during an APK teardown of Samsung Health. However, until we hear directly from Samsung, we have no clue whether AndroidAuthority's claims are accurate.
SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 leak in new pictures 5 Samsung Galaxy Ring health-tracking features, according to new reportAndroidAuthority claims that it activated the UI of several health-focused Galaxy Ring features. According to the outlet, the Galaxy Ring can track and measure the following:
Heart rate
Stress
Skin temperature
Menstrual cycle
Snoring
AndroidAuthority says that the Galaxy Ring can detect snores by using the phone as a companion, similar to the Galaxy Watch. Plus, the phone will reportedly need to be charging and adjacent to the user.
On top of that, the tech outlet, complete with screenshots, claims that users will get the opportunity to see timestamped audio recordings of their snoring and deep breathing.
However, we hope that you have your grain of salt ready. All of this is hearsay until we get official word from Samsung.
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