Author: 5hspx

Have you ever stayed up late at night engrossed in a deep conversation with a close friend? In fact, that happened to me with Google's new Pixel 9 Pro, which I've been testing for the past week. One night, when I couldn't sleep, I decided to “talk” using the phone's flagship feature, Gemini Live (which is basically the new Assistant's conversation mode).I told Gemini I couldn't sleep and asked him what to do, and in his eerily human voice he offered suggestions on how to sleep better and reduce work stress, though I'm aware that the conversation itself was actually…

Google got a lot of things right with the Pixel 9 lineup: the hardware is great, the chips are fast, and even that giant camera bump just kind of works. It's every bit as worthy of an Android flagship as it is. And, without wanting to be hyperbolic, it also feels a bit like a doomsday omen. The Pixel 9's AI photo features, especially the “Reimagine” tool that lets you change photos with just a prompt, seem like a big, worrying step toward a world where we can't trust virtually any kind of photo. These aren't AI-generated photos with too…

First impressions can be wrong, and when I walked into Old Town Manassas' newest restaurant, Lume Asian Fusion, I didn't have high expectations — not even from a restaurant that moves so freely between multiple Asian cuisines. Lume's menu includes Vietnamese banh mi, Korean kalbi, and Filipino-style sinigang fries. Looking at the menu, I worried it would be more confusion than fusion, and the fact that much of the stylish dining room is a bar with TVs blaring sports didn't bolster my confidence. But I'll admit I was wrong. Lume's South Pacific-meets-Korean theme had me singing “Bali Hai.” K Wings…

Electric vehicle registrations in Europe continue to slow as the sector's market share fell further in July, according to the latest industry data.Following a slowdown in BEVs recorded in the first half of 2024, data compiled by Jato Dynamics shows that BEV registrations fell 6% year-on-year across 28 European countries, despite an overall increase in registrations. The company's research showed that 139,300 new BEVs were registered in July, with their market share falling from 14.6% in July 2023 to 13.5% last month.BMW topped the BEV brand rankings last month with 14,869 units sold, up 35% year-on-year. In comparison, Tesla sold…

A court has upheld a minimum age requirement of 30 for candidates in local elections, preventing President Joko Widodo's 29-year-old youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, from running for deputy governor of Central Java province in November.Kaesang's party, the Indonesian Solidarity Party, told reporters on Friday that it was in the process of applying for a certificate proving he has never been convicted of a crime, a document needed to run in elections in Central Java province.The court also lowered the bar for party representation in nominating candidates for local elections, a rule that would allow former presidential candidate and Widodo critic…

Shares of Sequans Communications (SQNS) are soaring on Friday. The company signed a definitive agreement with QUALCOMM Incorporated QCOM to sell its 4G IoT technology for $200 million. Qualcomm's acquisition includes certain employees, assets and licenses. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including French regulatory approval. This latest development enables Sequans to continue servicing the IoT market with a strengthened balance sheet, while retaining its license for 4G IoT technology and full ownership of 5G technology. Related article: Palantir nominates former Republican Party chairman Mike Gallagher for defense secretary, sparking new debate over U.S. tech security: Report “We…

Teamsters Mike Wackett August 23, 2024 Trans-Pacific container spot prices were trending higher this week as labor dispute clouds gathered at U.S. East Coast ports. Drewry's WCI Asia-US East Coast spot rate component rose 1% week-over-week to $8,811 per 40 feet, up 157% year-over-year. But for Asian exporters looking to ship goods through U.S. East Coast ports ahead of the potential Oct. 1 strike, that “ship has already sailed” and so for the time being, spot rates for this route are somewhat theoretical. Meanwhile, WCI prices from Asia to the US West Coast rose 2% to $6,401 per 40 feet,…

Equally important to surviving in this highly connected world is the ability to connect with others, navigate complex interpersonal relationships, and manage one's own emotions. This is where emotional intelligence comes in: a key skill that complements technical expertise and enables Gen Z to handle everyday challenges with ease. Emotional intelligence enables young people to stay calm under pressure, make better decisions and maintain emotional balance. It also improves their ability to build strong relationships, resolve conflicts and manage stress. A focus on emotional intelligence can help Gen Z achieve a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle. Here, Pankaj Kumar Singh,…

A group of Southeast Asian flour millers recently became a pioneer of sorts, making up the first international trade team to receive mentoring at the Northern Crops Institute’s (NCI) new home. They were also the first team to visit the U.S. Wheat Council’s (USW) new West Coast office in Portland.More importantly, experts from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines got to experience a harvest of hard red spring wheat and soft white wheat, said to be one of the best crops in years.Following a successful conclusion of the USW Wheat Value Contracting Workshop, the team is returning home with good news.US…

The past 15 years have seen upheaval around the world. There is still uncertainty due to the 2008 financial crisis and its aftermath, the COVID-19 pandemic, and major regional conflicts in Sudan, the Middle East, Ukraine, and elsewhere. Added to this is rising tensions between the United States and countries it perceives as adversaries, particularly China. In response to these turbulent times, commentators often turn to the easy-to-understand metaphor of the post-1945 era to explain geopolitics: We are repeatedly told that the world is entering a “new Cold War.” But as a historian of the United States' place in the…