Purdue University To Send Professors, Students & Alumni To Space With Virgin Galactic

Purdue University To Send Professors, Students & Alumni To Space With Virgin Galactic
An all-Purdue University crew is set to make history on a suborbital research flight with Virgin Galactic. Scheduled for launch in 2027, the mission, dubbed “Purdue 1,” will see a professor, a student, and alumni from the university crew a Virgin Galactic spacecraft to conduct live experiments in the microgravity of space. In other news, Notre

Google’s AI Search Live is now available to all US app users

Search Live is now available for Google app users in the US, offering real-time, multimodal search, powered by AI. This feature will enable users to have real-time conversations with Google Search in AI Mode while sharing their phone’s camera feed with the app. Search will be able to see and interpret what the user’s camera is focused on and offer relevant links for deeper context, as well as live guidance.

The new feature can be accessed from a new “Live” icon beneath the search bar in the Google app. It can also be used from Google Lens by selecting the Live option at the bottom of the screen. Camera sharing will be enabled by default here to allow for an instant back-and-forth conversation about whatever is in front of you.

Search Live is available through the Google app on iOS and Android now. This wider rollout only supports English for now.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-ai-search-live-is-now-available-to-all-us-app-users-151849371.html?src=rss

Peloton Has Great Pilates Classes (but They’re Hidden)

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I acquired a “magic circle” Pilates prop for personal use in my ever-expanding quest to get better at working out at home. I wanted to put it into action right away, so naturally, I turned to my beloved Peloton app, where I figured I’d load up a Pilates workout and get to work. Weirdly, though, that wasn’t as easy as it is when I, say, want to follow along with a yoga or stretching class. Eventually, I figured it out and the Pilates workout (which did incorporate my hoop, thank you very much) was great—and challenging, which is how I like it.

Where to locate Pilates classes on the Peloton app

I knew Peloton had Pilates classes. But when I opened up the app, there was no designated Pilates button the way there are buttons for Meditation and Cycling. I typed “Pilates” into the search bar at the top of the mobile app and it brought up 95 class results, some of which were actually categorized as yoga and others which were listed under strength.

So, there are Pilates classes, but they’re listed on different landing pages. Across the top of the search results page, you see Classes, Collections, Programs, and Music Artists. Tapping Collections yields a landing page called “Pilates with Equipment,” which has subcategories: Pilates with a Ball, Pilates with Sliders, Pilates with a Band, and—crucially, for me—Pilates with a Ring. There are only a handful of classes in each and they’re all technically filed as “strength classes” in Peloton’s system. I selected “15 min Pilates” from the section that incorporates the magic circle.

Things got harder from there. I wanted to play the class on my TV, which is possible because Peloton has an app on the Roku, but there is no search function on the Roku app. Instead, you have to look through the categories to find a class—which I couldn’t do, since there is no Pilates category. I ended up getting the one I wanted by adding it to my Peloton Stack, which is like a personal class playlist; deleting everything else from the Stack; and running the Stack on the Roku app. It wasn’t efficient or ideal, but ultimately, it worked.

What Peloton’s Pilates classes are like

As much trouble as I had actually finding a class, I hadn’t even technically done the “hard” part yet. Pilates is supposed to be challenging, after all, and the intermediate-level class I took definitely was. Armed with my mat and my hoop I followed along with some standard moves, like “hundreds” and clam shells. It was difficult, but not impossible, which is exactly what I was looking for.

Again, there are only 95 of these types of classes available and some are more about stretching while others are more strength-focused. That’s a small selection compared to how many other types of classes Peloton offers. But what is available is solid. The instruction is clear and precise, modifications are offered, and the audio/video quality is top-tier, making it easy to hear and see what you’re supposed to be doing.

I did the Peloton class last night and took an in-studio reformer class this morning. Granted, my in-person class was four times longer than the one I did from Peloton, but I’d say that adjusted for time, they were both equal in challenge. Because I am now the proud owner of a hoop and the knowledge of how to find high-quality, expert-led Pilates classes to play through Peloton, I’ll certainly be doing more of these. Here’s hoping we get a dedicated Pilates page on the Peloton app soon.

Razer Blade 14 Gaming Laptop With RTX 50 Gets A Sharp $700 Discount

Razer Blade 14 Gaming Laptop With RTX 50 Gets A Sharp $700 Discount
For a limited time, the latest version of Razer’s Blade 14 gaming laptop is marked down to its lowest price ever, with Razer offering a $700 discount over MSRP. There are a few configurations available, all of which employ one of two mobile GeForce RTX 50 series discrete GPU options based on NVIDIA’s latest-generation Blackwell architecture.

What

How to use Live Translation with AirPods

With the arrival of iOS 26, Apple’s Live Translation feature for AirPods is now ready for use. It’s available on older models of the company’s earbuds, so you don’t need the new AirPods Pro 3 to access it. There are some hardware and software requirements though, so let’s dive into what you’ll need before you can start translating conversations.

Hardware requirements

Live Translation on AirPods only works on models with the H2 chip. This includes the AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3. You’ll also need an iPhone that can run Apple Intelligence, which is the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max or any member of the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 lineups.

Once you have your hardware at the ready, you’ll need to make sure Apple Intelligence is turned on in the Settings app on your iPhone. You’ll also need to make sure that Apple’s Translate app is installed as it’s needed to power this whole thing. Lastly, your AirPods should be on the latest firmware, and you can check that in the AirPods settings menu on your iPhone.

Step 1: Download languages for Live Translation

Before you begin, you need to download language files.
Apple

The first step towards using Live Translation is to download the languages you’ll need. What’s more, you’ll have to download both the language you’re speaking and the one the other person is speaking. For example, if you’re translating Spanish to English, you’ll need to download both the Spanish and English language packs (yes, even if your phone’s system is already set to English). I’d recommend downloading all of the languages you think you’ll need before traveling, that way you aren’t trying to do so in the moment you need them.

Once this is done, all of the processing for Live Translation will happen on your iPhone and your conversation data is private. You will also be able to use Live Translation offline, too, so you won’t have to worry about finding a Wi-Fi connection or buying a local SIM card.

How to complete the download process:

  1. Put your AirPods in your ears and make sure they’re connected to your iPhone.

  2. Go to the Settings app and tap the name of your AirPods on the main menu.

  3. Under the Translation section, tap Languages and then select the ones you want to download by tapping the download icon (downward arrow on the right).

  4. This screen will show what languages you’ve downloaded and which ones are available. At launch, Live Translation works with English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish. Support for Italian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (simplified) is coming by the end of the year.

Step 2: Set up a conversation

There are several ways to start a Live Translation, including doing so from the Translate app.
Apple

After you’ve downloaded the languages you need, you’ll have to set up a Live Translation conversation before you can start talking. This tells the Translate app which language to listen for and which one to translate it to.

To set up a Live Translation conversation you need to:

  1. Put your AirPods in your ears and make sure they’re connected to your iPhone.

  2. Double check to make sure Apple Intelligence is turned on. A quick way to confirm this is by long-pressing the Camera Control key or pressing the power and volume up buttons at once to see if the Visual Intelligence interface appears.

  3. Go to the Translate app and tap “Live” on the menu along the bottom.

  4. Select the language the other person is speaking.

  5. Select the language you want your AirPods to translate to.

Step 3: Use Live Translation

After you’ve completed all of those set-up steps, you’re ready for a Live Translation session. There are a number of ways to activate the feature when it’s ready to use, and some of them allow you to do so without even having to reach for your phone.

All the ways you can start Live Translation:

  • Go to the Translate app, select Live from the menu and then tap Start Translation.

  • Set the Action button on your iPhone to automatically start Live Translation when you’re wearing your AirPods.

  • Press and hold the stems on both AirPods at the same time.

  • Ask Siri by saying “Siri, start Live Translation.”

  • Open Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner of your screen, then tap Translate.

How to use Live Translation in a conversation:

  1. After you’ve done one of the five options above, your session will begin. If you don’t open the Translate app, you’ll see a notification and a Live Translation icon will remain in the Dynamic Island. You’ll also hear a chime in your AirPods and Siri will let you know the translation has begun.

  2. Listen to the other person speaking. AirPods will translate what the person says to your selected language. Active noise cancellation (ANC) will automatically turn on to lower the voice of the speaker and environmental noise so that you can focus on Siri’s translated speech.

  3. In very noisy settings, you can use your iPhone’s microphones in addition to AirPods to enhance performance. To do this, simply move your phone closer to the person speaking.

  4. Say your response as you would during a normal conversation.

  5. Use the Live tab in the Translate app to show a transcript on your iPhone to the person you’re speaking with. You can also press the Play button to hear an audible translation over your iPhone speaker.

  6. The person you’re speaking with can also use AirPods to hear your translated responses. They will need a compatible set of AirPods, an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence and to set up and start a Live Translation themselves.

  7. To stop Live Translation, tap the X button in the Translate app.

A word of caution

Apple’s Live Translation feature is still in beta at this time. And since the tool relies on generative models for translation, the company warns that the results may be “inaccurate, unexpected or offensive.” You’ll want to double check any important information — like addresses, directions and contact information — for accuracy.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/how-to-use-live-translation-with-airpods-144837882.html?src=rss

Movie Studio Lionsgate is Struggling To Make AI-Generated Films With Runway

An anonymous reader shares a report: Last year, the AI video company Runway joined forces with the major Hollywood studio Lionsgate in a partnership the pair hoped would result in AI-generated scenes and even potentially full-length movies. But the project has hit a snag. According to a report by The Wrap, the past 12 months have been unproductive. Lionsgate distributes Hollywood blockbusters including The Hunger Games, John Wick, The Twilight Saga, and Saw franchises. But despite its huge catalog, it is simply not enough for the AI to produce quality content.

“The Lionsgate catalog is too small to create a model,” a source tells The Wrap. “In fact, the Disney catalog is too small to create a model.” Despite Runway being one of the leading names in AI video, the technology needs a copious amount of data to produce AI-generated films. It is the reason AI has proven to be such an unpopular technology, as AI firms help themselves to any type of media they can get their hands on — whether it has copyright protections or not. Another issue is the rights of actors and the model for remuneration if their likeness appears in an AI-generated clip. It is a legal gray area with no clear path.


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Disney+ And Hulu Streaming Prices Are Going Up Again At The Worst Possible Time

Disney+ And Hulu Streaming Prices Are Going Up Again At The Worst Possible Time
Ugh, here we go again. Disney has announced a significant price increase for its popular streaming services, Disney+ and Hulu, in a move that will affect more than 180 million subscribers at a time when the nation’s wallets feel tighter and, somewhat ironically, comes barely a week after the temporary and controversial cancellation of the

You Can Get the Latest JBL Flip 7 Portable Speaker on Sale for Just $90 Right Now

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The JBL Flip 7 (2025) portable speaker is currently on sale for $89.99 as an open-box deal on StackSocial, shipping to the contiguous US with a one-year warranty included. Open-box here doesn’t mean used—it typically refers to excess retail stock that’s been handled, sometimes with stickers or scuffed packaging, but the speaker itself is verified to be in new condition before shipping. On the outside, the Flip 7 looks almost identical to the Flip 6, with the same cylindrical body and fabric covering. The differences show up in durability and usability.

JBL reinforced the rubber bumpers, now thicker and longer, to make the speaker drop-proof from a meter onto concrete, and the upgraded IP68 rating makes it fully dustproof and safe for submersion in water. Also, instead of the flimsy string loop from earlier models, there’s now a PushLock system with a built-in carabiner, which makes clipping the Flip 7 onto a backpack or hanging it from a branch much easier. Pair that with Bluetooth 5.4 and a new USB-C audio option that supports lossless playback (if you have high-res sources from Apple Music or Tidal), and you’ve got a speaker that’s both rugged and more flexible than before.

When it comes to sound, it does about as well as you’d hope for a speaker of this size. The 25W woofer and 10W tweeter give it enough punch to feel bigger than it is, though you’re not getting window-shaking bass. For anyone who likes to tinker with sound, the app now includes a 7-band customizable EQ that gives you more room to adjust things your way. The app also brings in Auracast, which lets the Flip 7 connect with newer JBL models. The catch is that it won’t play nice with older PartyBoost speakers, but this JBL Flip 7 (2025) on sale for $89.99 is a solid deal.

The DHS has been quietly harvesting DNA from Americans for years

For years, Customs and Border Protection agents have been quietly harvesting DNA from American citizens, including minors, and funneling the samples into an FBI crime database, government data shows. This expansion of genetic surveillance was never authorized by Congress for citizens, children, or civil detainees.

According to newly released government data analyzed by Georgetown Law’s Center on Privacy & Technology, the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, collected the DNA of nearly 2,000 US citizens between 2020 and 2024 and had it sent to CODIS, the FBI’s nationwide system for policing investigations. An estimated 95 were minors, some as young as 14. The entries also include travelers never charged with a crime and dozens of cases where agents left the “charges” field blank. In other files, officers invoked civil penalties as justification for swabs that federal law reserves for criminal arrests.

The findings appear to point to a program running outside the bounds of statute or oversight, experts say, with CBP officers exercising broad discretion to capture genetic material from Americans and have it funneled into a law-enforcement database designed in part for convicted offenders. Critics warn that anyone added to the database could endure heightened scrutiny by US law enforcement for life.

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3dfx Voodoo Card Modded With Extra Chips & VRAM Unleashes A Classic Gaming GPU

3dfx Voodoo Card Modded With Extra Chips & VRAM Unleashes A Classic Gaming GPU
If you weren’t there, it’s hard to understand just how disruptive 3dfx and its Voodoo graphics cards were. At the time, simply displaying textured polygons at interactive frame rates was an achievement. When the original Voodoo came out, Intel’s MMX didn’t exist yet, the Pentium Pro was the fastest processor in the x86 world, 32 megabytes

Ford F-150 Lightnings are powering the grid in first residential V2G pilot

The idea of using an electric vehicle’s battery to send energy from the EV to the electrical grid is not a new idea. Ars first covered the technology, known as vehicle-to-grid or V2G, back in 2009 when Ford and American Electric Power in Ohio started playing with the idea, although that pilot involved hybrids rather than battery EVs. A couple of years later, General Motors tried something similar with the plug-in hybrid Volt, and since then, battery EVs with much larger lithium-ion packs have gotten in on the act, although such pilot programs have invariably involved commercial EV fleets.

More recently, we’ve started seeing EVs that have been designed from the ground up to be capable of bidirectional charging. And since July, some owners of Ford F-150 Lightnings have been sending stored energy back into the grid between 5 pm and 9 pm on weekdays, earning them some cash in the process.

Sunrun, which provides home energy storage and solar solutions, started working with Baltimore Gas and Electric Company on the project last year. This summer, it expanded its work to include the nation’s first residential V2G pilot, with a trio of Lightning owners using Sunrun and Ford’s Home Integration System. Participants can earn up to $1,000 from the program, which runs until the end of this month.

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Yakuza Kiwami 3 is official, and it’s out next year with a bonus new spinoff game

Following Sega’s Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios accidentally leaking the game’s existence last week, Yakuza Kiwami 3 has been officially announced by the developer during its RGG Summit presentation. Like Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 before it, Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a full remake of an early entry in the long-running series, in this case 2009’s Yakuza 3, which originally launched on the PlayStation 3.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is another ground-up remake from RGG, featuring modern graphics, enhanced gameplay and new cutscenes. The game continues the adventures of the (at this point in the story) middle-aged Kazuma Kiryu, who temporarily puts his criminal career on hold to help run an orphanage that will become very important in later entries in the series. Yakuza Kiwami 3 is also bundled with a free spinoff game called Dark Ties, which focuses on Kiryu’s adversary, Yoshitaka Mine.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties will be released on February 12, 2026, for PS4 and PS5, Xbox and PC (Steam), as well as the Switch 2. Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 are both coming to Switch 2 later this year, and RGG has also announced that Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut is coming to PS5, Xbox and PC on December 8. The expanded version of what many consider to be the best Yakuza game of all time has been a Switch 2 exclusive until now.

This week’s RGG Summit also gave us a brief update on the studio’s next game, Stranger Than Heaven, which we still know very little about, other than that it’s separate from the Like a Dragon and Judgement series and is set during multiple time periods in the 20th century. The game is still several years away from release, but a new behind the scenes trailer shows off snippets of in-game footage and motion capture sessions with actors.

At the time of writing, we’re still waiting for an announcement of the next Like a Dragon game, with the most recent entry being this year’s wonderfully titled Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/yakuza-kiwami-3-is-official-and-its-out-next-year-with-a-bonus-new-spinoff-game-140315189.html?src=rss

Microsoft Will Let Copilot Take Control of Your Browser, Navigate Tabs and Complete Tasks As You Watch

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman told The Verge today that the company plans to transform Edge into an “agentic browser” where Copilot controls tabs, navigates websites and completes tasks while users watch. Unlike The Browser Company’s new Dia browser, Microsoft will integrate these capabilities directly into Edge.

Suleyman described Copilot opening tabs, reading multiple pages simultaneously and performing research transparently in real-time. The AI visits websites directly, preserving publisher traffic. Current Copilot features include tab navigation, page scrolling and content highlighting. Users will have the option to disable AI features entirely. Suleyman predicted that within years, AI companions will handle most browsing tasks while users provide oversight and feedback.


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This Roborock Vacuum/Mop Combo Is Over 40% Off

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If you’re looking for a new all-in-one robot mop and vacuum to make your life easier, the Roborock S8 Max Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop is currently 42% off, dropping from $1,300 to $750 in this deal ahead of Prime Day in October and marking its lowest price ever, according to price tracking tools.

This vacuum and map combo has a robust auto-dock system with auto-dust emptying, mop washing, and mop drying. It has a suction power of around 8,000Pa compared to the 10,000Pa suction of the pricier and more advanced S8 MaxV model, according to this PCMag review. The mop features hot-water washing with smart dirt detection to better clean the spinning pads as well as heated air drying, which reduces odors. A single fill of the automatic detergent dispenser will last you for about three months of cleaning.  Like the S8 MaxV, they both have a 100ml built-in water tank, a 4L clean water tank, and a 270ml dustbin. Unlike the S8 MaxV, this model doesn’t include an Intelligent Voice Assistant and remote viewing, though the Roborock app uses AI to adjust cleaning intensity based on certain areas.

You can customize cleaning zones by tweaking features like “Add Area” for more targeted cleaning, and “Skip Area” to bypass spots, while the mop lifts to avoid soaking carpets. Furthermore, different modes like deep-carpet cleaning or carpet boost make it ideal for mixed floors. A FlexiArm side brush also reaches edges more effectively, while LiDAR tech and Reactive 3D Obstacle Avoidance stop it from bumping into furniture (and pets) more effectively. Another perk for pet owners, who praise this model on Amazon, is the Pet Area Deep Cleaning setting, which provides extra sanitation of areas where pets sleep or spend their time. 

Overall, if you’re seeking an advanced robot mop and vacuum hybrid with plenty of hands-free features and don’t mind slightly less suction than the S8 MaxV (which will cost you an extra $350) and the lack of an RGB camera and voice control, the Roborock S8 Max Ultra is a top-tier model with solid performance, strong automation, and only a couple of small tradeoffs, offering strong value at 42% off.

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Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 Keyboard Will Make You Forget About Batteries

Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 Keyboard Will Make You Forget About Batteries
To the person on Reddit who, just five months ago, pleaded with Logitech to “please start making solar keyboards again!,” your wish has been granted. Following up on the launch of its solar powered K750 plank released way back in 2010, Logitech today introduced the Signature Slim Solar+ K980, a wireless keyboard that sips on light from any

Cloudflare Blocks Massive 22.2 Tbps DDoS Attack Twice As Big As Anything Seen Before

Cloudflare Blocks Massive 22.2 Tbps DDoS Attack Twice As Big As Anything Seen Before
Hackers are keeping Cloudflare busy these days with increasingly bigger distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks at an alarmingly frenetic pace. In a post on X, Cloudflare said its cybersecurity mechanisms autonomously blocked a gargantuan DDoS attack that peaked at 22.2 Tbps, which Is “twice as large as anything seen on the internet before.”

A

OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank Plan Five New AI Data Centers For $500 Billion Stargate Project

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank on Tuesday announced plans for five new artificial intelligence data centers in the United States to build out their ambitious Stargate project. […] ChatGPT-maker OpenAI said on Tuesday it will open three new sites with Oracle in Shackelford County, Texas, Dona Ana County, New Mexico and an undisclosed site in the Midwest. Two more data center sites will be built in Lordstown, Ohio and Milam County, Texas by OpenAI, Japan’s SoftBank and a SoftBank affiliate.

The new sites, the Oracle-OpenAI site expansion in Abilene, Texas, and the ongoing projects with CoreWeave will bring Stargate’s total data center capacity to nearly 7 gigawatts and more than $400 billion in investment over the next three years, OpenAI said. The $500 billion project was intended to generate 10 gigawatts in total data center capacity. “AI can only fulfill its promise if we build the compute to power it,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a statement. The Tuesday’s announcement, expected to create 25,000 onsite jobs, follows Nvidia saying on Monday that it will invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI and supply data center chips. OpenAI and partners plan to use debt financing to lease chips for the Stargate project, people familiar with the matter said.


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My Favorite Sports Recovery Gadgets (That Aren’t Just Massage Guns)

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My massage guns are precious to me, and I don’t plan on giving them up any time soon. At the same time, the world of sports recovery is so much bigger than a $400 Theragun. Maybe you love your massage gun, but you’re still wondering what other tools are out there to help soothe your sore muscles. I’ve got you covered on this front. After six years of running marathons without any major injury, here are some of my favorite massage gun alternatives that deserve a spot in your recovery arsenal.

Percussive foam rollers

Foam rolling is a recovery staple on its own, but I recently discovered how the Chirp RPM Rolling Percussive Massager (which I review in-depth here) elevates this classic technique with built-in vibration. This hybrid tool combines the familiar benefits of traditional foam rolling with gentle percussion therapy, which seriously reduces the effort required for effective self-massage. Traditional foam rolling can be exhausting, especially when you’re already fatigued from training. The percussive action does much of the work for you, allowing for deeper muscle penetration without the same physical exertion. Anecdotally, I’ve noticed solid improvements in my recovery time when using the Chirp roller, particularly for IT band and calf muscle maintenance.

Orbital massage guns

When most people think of massage guns, they picture the typical back-and-forth percussion motion. Lately, I’ve opted for the Rally orbital massage gun to break up the jackhammering with a unique circular motion pattern. It feels less aggressive than traditional percussion therapy, but just as effective. I’ve found it particularly effective for post-workout recovery on large muscle groups like quads and hamstrings, where traditional massage guns can sometimes feel too intense. Plus, if you turn the orbital massager at a slight angle, it works just like a percussive massage gun, too.

The device is also surprisingly quiet compared to most percussion massagers, making it ideal for apartment living or late-night recovery sessions. It’s no small investment, but for me, it’s been worth every cent.

Compression therapy on a dime

Professional compression therapy systems can cost thousands, but I get a lot out of simple compression socks. While they may not have all the bells and whistles of medical-grade units, there’s a good chance you don’t need a medical-grade unit—just a $20 3-pack of socks.

Tennis or lacrosse balls

Before massage guns existed, athletes relied on simple tools like tennis balls and lacrosse balls for trigger point release. These remain incredibly effective and cost basically nothing. And trust me, a $5 lacrosse ball from a sporting goods store performs identically to a $25 “recovery ball” with fancy packaging.

Pro tip from dealing with plantar fasciitis: You can put your tennis ball in the freezer for a nice cooling effect, especially if you muscles are inflamed.

Recovery techniques that cost nothing

Before you drop hundreds on a fancy massage gun or decompression table, make sure you’re taking care of yourself for free in these ways:

  • Mobility work. The most overlooked recovery tool is completely free: strategic stretching and mobility work. Spending 15-20 minutes on targeted stretches can be more beneficial than any gadget. Focus on dynamic stretching before workouts and static stretching afterward, paying special attention to areas that feel tight or overworked.

  • Quality sleep. Quality sleep is the foundation of all recovery, yet it’s often ignored in favor of expensive gadgets. I’ve invested in my sleep with this pair of sleepbuds so that I can actually sleep through my partner’s snoring.

  • Active recovery sessions. Light movement on rest days can be more effective than complete inactivity. Walking and yoga are great ways to get your blood flowing without adding training stress.

The bottom line

The best recovery protocol is the one you’ll actually follow. Whether that includes high-tech gadgets or a simple tennis ball matters less than your commitment to making recovery a priority in your training regimen. I’ve always made it a priority, and I’ve yet to be sidelined from marathon running in the past six years (knock on wood). My advice is that a combination of one or two quality devices—alongside all those free recovery techniques—used regularly will always deliver better results than a collection of expensive gadgets used sporadically. And remember that the most powerful recovery tool is time itself, so don’t turn to a massage gun when what you really need is a rest day.

I’m currently testing a $599 decompression and massage table, so stay tuned on whether I think that sort of device is worth your money.

Logitech’s new keyboard can be recharged by any kind of light

Logitech has launched the Signature Slim Solar+ K980, a new solar-powered keyboard that you don’t need to put under the sun whenever it runs low on battery. The company says it can use “light from any light source to stay charged and ready to use” and that you can use it in complete darkness for up to four months once it’s fully charged. As long as the light source reaches 200 lux in brightness, which is considered dim lighting during daytime, it can charge the keyboard. “Even the need to think about charging can be a distraction, so we designed Signature Slim Solar+ to take that off your plate completely,” said Art O’Gnimh, the General Manager of Core Products Group at Logitech.

You don’t have to think about plugging the keyboard in or changing its battery: It’s powered by a rechargeable battery that Logitech says can last up to 10 years. But if it does malfunction, the company told The Verge that you can replace it on your own, because it’s encased in plastic and is sold by iFixit. The keyboard absorbs light through a strip above the keys themselves, which use a scissor-switch mechanism and are in a full-size layout with a separate number pad. It’s compatible with multiple operating systems, and you can link it with up to three multi-OS devices and jump from one to the other with its Easy-Switch keys. If you use the Logi Options+ app, you can program its action key to automate simple tasks and to customize its AI launch key to instantly fire up the AI chatbot of your choice. 

The Signature Slim Solar+ K980 is now available for $100. Logitech is also selling a business variant with a USB-C receiver for $110 and a North America-exclusive model with a layout specifically for Mac for $110. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/logitechs-new-keyboard-can-be-recharged-by-any-kind-of-light-120019932.html?src=rss

Supermicro server motherboards can be infected with unremovable malware

Servers running on motherboards sold by Supermicro contain high-severity vulnerabilities that can allow hackers to remotely install malicious firmware that runs even before the operating system, making infections impossible to detect or remove without unusual protections in place.

One of the two vulnerabilities is the result of an incomplete patch Supermicro released in January, said Alex Matrosov, founder and CEO of Binarly, the security firm that discovered it. He said that the insufficient fix was meant to patch CVE-2024-10237, a high-severity vulnerability that enabled attackers to reflash firmware that runs while a machine is booting. Binarly discovered a second critical vulnerability that allows the same sort of attack.

“Unprecedented persistence”

Such vulnerabilities can be exploited to install firmware similar to ILObleed, an implant discovered in 2021 that infected HP Enterprise servers with wiper firmware that permanently destroyed data stored on hard drives. Even after administrators reinstalled the operating system, swapped out hard drives, or took other common disinfection steps, ILObleed would remain intact and reactivate the disk-wiping attack. The exploit the attackers used in that campaign had been patched by HP four years earlier but wasn’t installed in the compromised devices.

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