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Review of the Oakley Meta Vanguard: Impressive AI Running Glasses Featuring Garmin Integration

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T
he Oakley Meta Vanguard represents a new era of display-less AI glasses, crafted for running, cycling, and action sports, featuring robust integration with Garmin and Strava. These could potentially be the first functional sports smart glasses on the market.


These innovative glasses serve as running eyewear, open-ear headphones, and alternatives to head-mounted action cameras—all in one. They mark the latest collaboration between Meta and the sunglasses giant, Essilor Luxottica, which includes brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley.

Unlike the popular Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer, which focuses on leisurely use, the Vanguard is specifically engineered for athletes, enabling them to move fast and track their performance without hesitation.

As one of the priciest screenless AI glasses available, they start at £499 (€549/$499/AU$789), surpassing the £399 Oakley Meta HSTN and £379 Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer.




The included silicone nose pads come in three sizes, allowing for a customized fit that remains secure and balanced. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The Vanguard distinguishes itself from traditional smart glasses, thanks to a design brought together by Oakley, ensuring a great fit and finish. The large wraparound visor and 3-point fit system take cues from the renowned Oakley Sephala sports glasses, ensuring that the 66g frame stays snugly in place, even under a helmet.

With two frame colors and four contrast-enhancing lenses, though without prescription options, the glasses incorporate a small button on the left arm to power on and off, allowing for dual functionality as sunglasses.




The speaker is conveniently located next to a large camera button and a small action button, allowing you to configure various functions using the Meta AI app. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The hidden speakers within each arm can be directed towards your ear for listening to music, taking calls, and engaging with Meta’s AI chatbot. They offer superior sound quality compared to other open-ear speakers, and are loud enough to be heard over wind and road noise. Although they may not deliver the bass of traditional headphones, they are well-suited for music during physical activity. The five beamforming microphones effectively minimize background noise during calls or interactions with the AI, even in busy environments.

A touch panel on the right arm allows for manual control of playback and volume. Music automatically pauses when the glasses are removed, and the volume adapts to match surrounding noise—a great feature for road use.

Specifications

  • Size: 136×120×59mm

  • Weight: 66g (258g case)

  • Water resistance: IP67

  • Camera: 12MP/3K Ultra Wide

  • Speaker: Stereo open-ear

  • Microphone: 5-microphone array

  • Battery life: 6 hours of music playback (30 hours with case)

  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6

  • Storage: 32GB




The ultra-wide camera is discreetly mounted between your eyes and remains unseen when worn. An LED directly above indicates when the camera is in use. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The central camera captures quality 12-megapixel photos and stable video at up to 3K resolution for five-minute intervals. It also supports hyperlapses that combine a series of action shots into a single fast-paced clip, as well as slow-motion video at up to 120 frames per second at 720p.

While it cannot compete with high-end smartphones, the camera effectively captures live action—similar to mid-range action cameras commonly used by adventurers. Users can take photos by pressing the camera button, initiate video recording with a long press, or request the Meta AI for hands-free photo or video capture.

All functionalities, including voice controls for music, auto volume adjustments, and camera operations, work seamlessly with Bluetooth-connected devices, like running watches. For enhanced AI features, however, connections to Android or iPhone devices are necessary, via the Meta AI app.




The Meta AI app enables you to configure settings for the glasses, sync media, and translate or transcribe conversations with the chatbot. Composition: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Similar to any chatbot, you can query Meta AI about its visual input. It can identify plants, translate text, and address inquiries about your surroundings. Notably, it also quickly converts distance and pace between metric and imperial units while running, although it falls short of the comprehensive capabilities of Google’s Gemini on mobile.

Furthermore, users can send messages, share photos, and make hands-free calls using their glasses, connected to devices or apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram.

One of Vanguard’s standout features is its seamless integration with the latest Garmin running watches and bike computers. Utilizing the free Meta AI app on Garmin, you can access real-time statistics during activities just by asking.




An LED indicator next to the right eye flashes to inform you when the AI is listening, interacting, or capturing an image. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The AI can relay personal metrics such as pace, distance, heart rate, and cadence on request by saying “my stats,” which are gathered directly from Garmin at that moment. It audibly communicates your pace and other metrics for each lap, mile, or kilometer using a small LED indicator at your right eye to indicate your status in pace or heart rate zones, turning red when outside desired ranges.

Garmin integration also allows the camera to automatically document your workouts, whether walking, hiking, running, or biking. It captures five-second videos every kilometer or mile, or during significant milestones like sprint finishes or heart rate spikes. After your activity, the Meta AI app compiles your manually captured videos and highlight reels. You can overlay workout stats like distance, pace, altitude, time, heart rate, and power data, then quickly share this content with Meta’s app or Strava for immediate posting to your activity log.




The Meta AI app showcases a workout summary and processes any videos automatically captured via the glasses. Composition: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

All functions operate effectively, and although not every run needs a video documentation, the capability to automatically capture highlight moments without hassle is a substantial bonus.

However, video capture does drain the battery. During a one-hour run, I interacted with Meta AI multiple times, listened to music, automatically recorded 14 five-second videos, and manually shot 13 minutes of 1080p/30fps video along with 14 photos. The glasses concluded the run with 25% battery life intact.

They should survive a full marathon with automatic capture activated, but caution is advised for prolonged filming to ensure coverage over the entire 42km distance.

For those without Garmin devices, the Meta AI app can sync with Apple Health, Google Health Connect, or Strava to retrieve data retrospectively from other trackers, such as Apple Watch and Coros devices. However, the metrics displayed on videos are limited, and there are no automatic capture features or running statistics available for these integrations.




The glasses provide up to six hours of continuous music playback and come stored in a durable Oakley case, complete with four additional charges while transmitting photos and videos to the cloud during recharging. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Sustainability

The glasses’ battery retains at least 80% capacity even after 500 full charge cycles. Replacement lenses (£69), charging case (£139), and nose pads (£10) are offered, but the glasses themselves cannot be repaired, and the battery is non-replaceable, ultimately deeming them disposable. Currently, these glasses do not incorporate recycled materials, and Meta lacks any trade-in programs or environmental impact reports for the product.

Price

The Oakley Meta Vanguard is priced at £499 (€549/$499/AU$789).

For reference, the pricing for other models includes the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 2) at £379, the Oakley Meta HSTN at £399, the Oakley Sphaera at £191, and the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 at £169.

Verdict

The Oakley Meta Vanguard stands out as the finest sports smart glasses available. While expensive, they are clearly crafted for athletes by individuals who comprehend the needs of runners and sports enthusiasts.

By concentrating on the essentials for runners, cyclists, and adventure seekers—like an impeccable fit, lenses that effectively shield from the wind, decent water resistance, clear open-ear audio, extended battery life, and user-friendly controls—you end up with an excellent product without unnecessary bells and whistles.

The nose-mounted camera is excellent and could easily substitute for action cameras for many users. The microphone performs adequately, and Meta’s integrated AI is beneficial for answering inquiries that arise while on the move.

The primary highlight is unquestionably the integration with Garmin, allowing users to monitor statistics and create an automatic highlight reel from their camera capture during activities. However, it requires you to carry your phone while running, which could be a minor inconvenience. The glasses also have links to Strava and other fitness applications for non-Garmin users.

If you utilize them with your running watch to listen to music without needing your phone, basic voice commands for volume, playback, and camera will still operate smoothly.

Although the steep price is hard to justify, the main drawback remains the non-replaceable battery. While the lenses and nose pads are replaceable, like most earbuds and other smart glasses, they cannot be repaired, which detracts from the overall score.

Pros: Large, high-quality lenses; secure fit; powerful and clear open-ear speakers; nose-mounted camera; IP67 waterproof rating; long battery life; protective case; excellent Garmin integration; compatible with Strava and other fitness apps; customizable lenses and nose pads.

Cons: Very costly; non-repairable; advanced features necessitate a phone; excessive vocal commands while driving.




The Oakley logo doubles as part of the touchpad for controlling music playback and volume adjustments. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cockatoos Showcase an Impressive Variety of Dance Moves

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White Cockatoos Display a Natural Inclination to Dance

Andrew Angelov/Alamy

The head nods, side-to-side movements, and body rolls are just a few of the over 30 dance moves showcased by these remarkable cockatoos.

Since gaining online fame in 2009, the sulfur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) has become an Internet dance sensation. In 2019, Aniruddh Patel from Tufts University and his team revealed that Snowball, a well-known dancing cockatoo, created 14 unique dance moves and even mixed some of them together.

To explore how prevalent this behavior is, Natasha Love and her research team from Charles Sturt University in Australia examined 45 videos of dancing cockatoos shared on social media. They discovered five different species: the sulfur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua alba), the umbrella cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis), Tanimbar cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana), and a lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sanguinea).

The researchers identified 30 distinct dance moves, each performed by at least two birds. Of these, 17 had not been previously documented in scientific literature. Interestingly, closely related species exhibited varying styles in their dance.

Love and her team also conducted experiments on two pink cockatoos (Lophochroa leadbeateri) and two galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla) at the Wagga Wagga Zoo and Aviary in Australia.


They played various music tracks for the birds—such as “Wake Me Up” by Avicii, a financial podcast “She’s On The Money”, and white noise—and observed that the birds engaged in their dance moves regardless of the type of audio played.

This suggests that cockatoos are not merely mimicking human actions. “It’s uncertain why they dance, but it’s plausible they are expressing themselves in playful ways,” says Love.

Many of the observed dance moves correspond to displays seen during wild parrot courtship, indicating that the ability to dance may have roots in mating behavior, according to Love.

Video evidence leads her and her colleagues to conclude that dancing behavior can be found in at least 10 of the 21 known cockatoo species.

“Snowball developed his dance moves without formal instruction, yet it remains unclear how much of these behaviors are influenced by genetic factors. Recent research indicates that the similarity of movements among different parrots’ dances may not be as predictable,” Patel remarks. “These findings are exhilarating as they show that the capacity for flexible and creative dancing to music is not a trait exclusive to humans.”

So, which cockatoo species stands out as the best dancer? “From our zoo observations, Major Mitchell’s cockatoos seemed to display more enthusiasm and energy in their dances compared to other species,” Love notes.

She emphasizes that further studies are necessary to discern whether birds actually enjoy dancing and if encouraging this behavior can enhance the well-being of domesticated parrots.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Larry Niven’s Ringworld: Our Take on the Sci-Fi Classic – Impressive Math but Disappointing Teela

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Book Club shares their thoughts on Larry Niven’s Ringworld

Eugene Powers/Alamy

Experiencing the vibrant world created by Michel Nieva in his dystopian vision was something special—even more so while exploring Larry Niven’s classic science fiction work, Ringworld. Initially published in 1970, it reflects the hallmark traits of that era’s science fiction writing. While not a negative experience, it certainly offers a jarring shift for the New Scientist Book Club. Revisiting Ringworld as an adult from my teenage years prompted me to reflect on how it held up over time.

It’s important to note that much of what I cherished from Ringworld remains intact. The novel still evokes a sense of wonder, showcasing the depth of imagination, the expansive scale of its universe, and the cosmic distances it portrays. I fondly remember our protagonist, Louis Wu, at the brink of a distant planet, captivated by the Longfall River cascading into the highest waterfall in known space. His gaze followed it through the foggy mist, enthralled by the allure of the unknown.

Its grand scope is a significant aspect of why science fiction resonates with me. What insights can one gain, and what remains uncharted? The haunting imagery of razor-sharp sunflowers on Ringworld—the crew’s exploration of its vastness—created indelible impressions. Ringworld encapsulates that sense of wonder perfectly with lines like, “Men can lose their souls among the white stars… They call it A distant look. It’s perilous.”

Furthermore, I appreciated Niven’s ability to weave historical breadcrumbs into the narrative, referring to influential figures like Freeman Dyson, who inspired the concept of the Dyson sphere, as “one of the ancient natural philosophers, predating even the atomic age.” Such details are enjoyable nuggets to uncover. Additionally, Niven’s portrayal of aliens—from speakers to creatures—brilliantly evokes their essence through clever naming and design, particularly the inspiring vision of the speaker as a colossal version of our domestic cat.

As I previously mentioned, the prose does feel distinctly rooted in its time—somehow dated—with sexist undertones amidst the engaging scientific elements and intricate mathematics. The characters tend to lack depth; Louis Wu, for instance, can be quite off-putting, while Teela, our sole female character, deserves more agency. The narrative often drifts rather than following a tightly plotted journey, with characters simply moving from one event to the next without clear direction.

Intense discussions have emerged within our Facebook group, with many sharing similar sentiments. “I found enjoyment, yet felt distracted by the slow progression and the scientific facets overshadowed by the pervasive sexism,” remarked Eliza Rose, who likened it to early spy films where attractive women exist merely as accessories to the male protagonists.

Alain Pellett expressed distinct discomfort regarding Louis Wu’s treatment of women, noting that his interactions come off as unsettlingly superficial.

Gosia Furmanik, who grew up during Niven’s era, pointed out the challenge faced by non-male authors in finding supportive literary spaces. She stated, “Returning to science fiction after discovering works by authors beyond this genre’s prevalent pitfalls has been crucial,” reflecting on Ringworld in her review.

Undoubtedly, the arc of Teela’s character drew significant criticism from many readers. “I was frustrated with the conclusion of Teela’s storyline, which suggested women can only achieve significance through male figures,” wrote Samatha Lane.

Samantha also addressed a pivotal critique regarding the notion that “human males stand as the most astute beings in the universe.” This hubris roots itself in traditional humanism, positioning humanity at the center of all. This echoes the ongoing narrative surrounding our historical conquests in space—just a year after landing on the moon.

On a positive note, Niall Leighton spoke highly of the sheer scale of the novel, noting it hasn’t aged as poorly as some science fiction from that time.

Some readers appreciated Niven’s rigorous incorporation of mathematics into the narrative, stating it added an enjoyable layer to the experience. Linda Jones noted, “It has certainly enriched my enjoyment,” whereas Darren Rumbold found Klemperer Rosettes “particularly appealing.” However, not all shared this enthusiasm, as Phil Gersky commented, “I was eager to delve into this classic sci-fi novel. Unfortunately, the technobabble often marred my experience.”

Ultimately, I believe our Book Club’s exploration of this science fiction classic serves as a fascinating exercise capable of resonating with modern readers. I’m contemplating a journey into another classic soon, with suggestions pouring in from members eager to explore works by Ursula K. Le Guin, NK Jemisin, and Joan D. Vinge.

Next, we’re diving into a more contemporary read: Karian Bradley’s bestselling time travel novel, Time Saving. Yes, it features a female lead, and indeed, it passes the Bechdel Test. You can visit Karian’s site to read more about her novel and explore the intriguing opener. Join us for the discussion and share your thoughts over at our Facebook page.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Review: Nothing Phone 3A Pro – A Stylish Midrange Smartphone with Impressive Zoom Camera

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Nothing, based in London, has introduced a top-tier phone that stands out from cheaper mid-range models with its more affordable price and high-quality camera zoom.

The battle for mobile phone cameras has always been competitive, with each brand striving for better quality, longer reach, and multiple lenses. While many advancements have trickled down to cheaper models, optical zoom cameras have remained above the £600 mark.

Priced at £449 (459 Euro/$459/$849), Nothing’s offering is quite compelling.

The phone is based on the excellent 2A model, featuring striking “Glyph” LED strips that light up in intricate patterns for various notifications and functions.

The three “Glyph” light strips around the camera bumps are a visually appealing feature, especially when the phone is face-down. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The design of the phone is accentuated by the large camera cluster at the back, which protrudes significantly. The 3A Pro boasts glass on the front and back, with high-quality plastic sides.

Featuring a large and vibrant OLED screen, the phone also includes a fast optical fingerprint scanner located at the bottom of the screen.

specification

  • screen: 6.77in 120Hz FHD+ OLED (387PPI)

  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7S Gen 3

  • Ram: 12GB

  • Storage: 256GB

  • operating system: Nothing OS3.1 (Android 15)

  • camera: 50MP Main, 50MP 3X Tele, 8MP Ultra Addie, 50MP Selfie

  • Connectivity: 5G, ESIM, WiFi 6, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4, and GNSS

  • water resistance: IP64 (spray resistant)

  • size: 163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4mm

  • Weight: 211g

The battery can fully charge in 80 minutes and reach 50% in 25 minutes using a 50W USB-C power adapter (sold separately). Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The 3A Pro is powered by Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 chip, offering a balance of performance without feeling sluggish. The battery life is impressive, lasting around 3 days with general use.

Running on Nothing OS version 3.1, the 3A Pro provides a unique user experience with customization options and AI tools like Gemini. The AI-powered screen capture and note-taking features show promise but may need further refinement.

The 3A Pro’s camera setup includes a 50MP main camera, 50MP 3X telephoto lens, and an 8MP ultrawide lens, delivering solid performance and real optical zoom capabilities.

Sustainability

The dedicated button on the side of the phone provides quick access to screen capture and note-taking features. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Nothing promises the 3A Pro’s battery will maintain at least 90% capacity after 1,200 full charge cycles, showcasing its sustainability focus. The materials used in the phone’s construction include recycled aluminum, copper, plastic, steel, tin, and other elements.

price

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is priced at £449 (459 Euro/$459/$849).

Compared to competitors like the Google Pixel 8A and Samsung Galaxy A56, Nothing’s offering stands out with its unique design, camera capabilities, and long-term software support.

verdict

The Nothing Phone 3A Pro is a solid contender in the mid-range smartphone market, offering a combination of impressive features, sleek design, and long-term support.

Strong Points: A great camera with 3x optical zoom, interesting design, 6 years of support, excellent screen, solid performance, long battery life, excellent fingerprint scanner, and excellent software with splash resistance.

Cons: AI requires work and cannot customize additional buttons. Only three years of Android version updates have a huge camera cluster protruding from the back.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Researchers have identified the invertebrate prey of the impressive reelbird “farm”

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Amazing lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), a species closely attached to the ground of a wet, moist eucalyptus forest in southeastern Australia, engineer microhabitat fattens its prey, worms, centipedes, spiders and more with its host before returning to the East Feast later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovteokvs5zw

“Superrier birds are large ground-dwelling passers-inhabiting the wet forests of eastern Australia, and are renowned for their imitation and incredible courtship displays,” said a researcher at Latovo University. Alex Maizie And a colleague.

“During nutrition, aging populations replace vast amounts of garbage and soil during foraging.”

“The reelbird spits out the litter from its leaves and digs into the soil, creating a fine mosaic of exposed soil and foraging herds within the leaf matrix.”

“Depending on the long-term lyrebird activity, reduced soil compaction and increased litter and soil aeration and infiltration can benefit macroinvertebrates.”

“This presents a mechanism that allows lyrebirds engineering activities to create a feedback loop and essentially “farm” prey. ”

Maisey et al. We looked into whether this engineering activity by the amazing lyrebirds is (Menura novaehollandiae) It helps to promote the “agricultural” effect on prey by increasing biomass and taxonomic abundance of biomass and invertebrate animals and altering the composition of invertebrate communities. Image credits: Alex Maisy, University of Wollongong.

This study was conducted in three forest areas in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia. (i) Sherbrooke Forest, part of the Dandenong Mountains National Park. (ii) Yarrarrange National Park. (iii) Britannia Creek catchment in Yarra State Forest.

Researchers surrounded an aging environment from small areas in the forest, creating an environment that does not age.

In some of these areas, the authors raked up leaf trash and soil to simulate highlands.

When racking was performed, there were more types and larger invertebrates than the areas without foraging of simulated lyrebird.

“This type of animal agriculture was essentially rare,” Dr. Maisie said.

“Grey establishes a home that is best for prey, creates conditions with more food resources and effectively fattens them before they are eaten.”

“Through foraging, these birds had a major impact on the plants and animals that lived in forests southeastern Australia.”

“In this project, Reelbirds were measured to move an average of 155 tonnes of garbage and soil per hectare per year while farming invertebrates.”

“They also reduce the strength of wildfires by filling up leaves and branches that burn fuel fires, thereby shaping the entire ecosystem.”

“Rielbirds operate across millions of hectares of forests. Their agricultural behavior plays an important role in maintaining forest biodiversity.”

study It was released this week Journal of Animal Ecology.

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Alex C. Myge et al. Foraging activities by the stunning lyrebird, an ecosystem engineer, “farm” its invertebrate prey. Journal of Animal EcologyPublished online on March 4th, 2025. doi:10.1111/1365-2656.70009

Source: www.sci.news

The Impressive UK Private Employment Drivers on Valentine’s Day in the Gig Economy

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wHensimon Waite began working as a private rental driver in 2017. It gave him the flexibility and income to spend time with his children. “School is my son’s soccer, and I was able to make money in my life,” he says.

But over the past few years, the 41-year-old Waite from Hertfordshire says he has to spend dramatically more time on the roads to make a living. “It took me about 50 hours to make £1,000 a week a few years ago, but now it’s about 70 hours. Most drivers will need to pay insurance, taxes, vehicle fees, maintenance, fuel, license, rent, bills, and maintenance fees. Living costs.”

Waite claims that drivers reduced fares to compensate for costs after the Supreme Court was classified as eligible to acquire workers’ rights, such as holidays and sick pay in 2021.

To challenge his working conditions, Waite will not work for the private rental driving app on Valentine’s Day from 4pm to 10pm. He has taken part in logoff actions against Uber, Bolt, and Addison Lee and withdraws his labor Thousands of others Requires better pay, rights, and safety measures.

Friday’s action is organized by three drivers and supported by the Independent Workers Union UK (IWGB). “The driver reports that he just got worse. [2021] The ruling responded to the enforcement of rights by lowering its fees,” the IWGB said. Approximately 200 drivers from cities across the country contacted the Guardian and shared their opinions on the actions.

Wait, who is signed up with Bolt, says Uber is a great app that “has done so many amazing things about how people avoid it.” But he says the decline in wages has “at a place I can’t.” He is considering quitting his job.

Valentine’s Day action is about raising awareness among drivers [and] We build that momentum,” Waite said. “We’re going to strengthen Uber and run this system. If we’re united, we can actually make changes.”

Another driver scheduled to log off on Friday is Isaac Mohammed, 30, a part-time Cardiff driver since 2016.




Isaac Mohammed, 30, said fares could drop to £1 per mile. Photo: Isaac Mohammed/Guardian Community

“It used to be the best ride app, but things have changed dramatically over the past two years,” says Mohammed. It was often 3 pounds per mile.

“Today, having a takeaway for me is considered a luxury,” he says. “Unless you live in your car, it’s very difficult to survive.”

The core issue of Mohammed is what counts as working time. Uber calculates it from when the ride is accepted until the passengers leave the exit, but he says this doesn’t take into account the time they wait for the ride.

Also involved is Kieran Airey, 36, of Merseyside, driving for Uber and a local private employment company. He says he realized in early 2024 it was taking time to reach his £200 a day goal. This meant rising from 55-60 hours a week, up from 45 hours. “At one point, I was basically working seven days a week,” he says.




“I just want fair wages for fair work,” says 36-year-old Kieran Airey. Photo: Kieran Airey/Guardian Community

He had to take his 14-year-old son to soccer and had to take a weekend nap, as he had eaten a processed microwave meal rather than a home-cooked dinner due to increased fatigue. So, “I had enough energy to do the job then, then.”

Airey says he is frustrated with the lack of transparency around the algorithms and payment structure. “I just want to make fair payments for fair work,” he says.


Uber claims that drivers are being paid unfairly. “Uber offers a national living wage guarantee for all drivers, and while they can earn money below that level, most drivers can make more money,” the spokesman said. Ta.

“All drivers are paid weekly as cash, representing an additional 12% of the revenues paid each week.

A spokesman for Addison Lee said the company has “close collaboration with our drivers” and “doesn’t expect to see disruptions with volume or service levels” on Friday. I contacted Bolt for comment.

Gavin, a 45-year-old driver from Uber and Bolt of Birmingham, says he sympathizes with some concerns but has not taken part in the action.

“I really have to thank Uber for giving me this opportunity to acquire a private employment driver,” he says. More than his previous work.

But with Martin Hayward, 54-year-old Southampton, a private employment driver for 20 years, joining in, he says the logoff action hasn’t gone far enough to make an impact. “I’m happy to log off for a week,” he says.




“I work seven days a week for under £500,” says Martin Hayward. Photo: Martin Hayward/Guardian Community

He claims he could earn around £750 a week ago by October last year, but now he’s earning around £450 in the same time.

“I work seven days a week for under £500. I don’t have a social life,” he says. “The worst thing about being a driver is always having a place to have a good time, whether it’s a theatre, a holiday, a trip, or a cruise. You’re just thinking… I’m not going to do these things. you can’t.

“It’s just putting you on the floor.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Nvidia Continues Impressive Growth as AI Chip Leader Shows no Signs of Slowing Down

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Nvidia, the AI chip maker that is the world's most valuable company and the driving force behind the artificial intelligence boom, delighted investors on Wednesday with new quarterly results.

The company's corporate value soared by $2.2 trillion this year to $3.6 trillion on the back of nearly doubling chip sales, but sales fell to $35.08 billion, compared to expectations of $33.15 billion. It was announced that it was worth $1,000,000. Profits more than doubled compared to the same period last year. Sales increased by 94% compared to the same period last year. The company predicted a 70% increase in revenue for the next quarter.

Analysts had expected NVIDIA to report earnings of $0.75 per share. The company reported $0.81. Nvidia stock fell about 5% in extended trading following the announcement, but quickly recovered its losses and maintained a similar price. The previous New York closing price was $145.89.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in a press release last week that he expects the computing power driving advances in generative AI to increase “a million times” over the next decade.

Huang said on the earnings call that the global adoption of Nvidia technology is causing a platform shift from coding to machine learning, and traditional data centers are being re-architected for machine learning to produce AI. said.

“Generative AI is not just a new software feature, it’s a new industry with AI factories producing digital intelligence, a new industrial revolution with the potential to create a multi-trillion dollar AI industry,” he said. .

“AI is transforming every industry, business, and country,” Huang added. “Creating an omniverse of synthetically generated data…the era of robotics is here.”

A surge in demand for Nvidia's Blackwell GPU chips appears to have eased fears that the company would be hit by a backlash in demand from tech giants, which are spending billions of dollars on AI processing and data centers. .

Nvidia stock has rebounded from its summer slump and is up 45% from its August lows. Semiconductor stocks are up nearly 200% this year, more than 1,100% over the past two years, and hit a record high after the election.

However, many of NVIDIA's chipmakers are struggling to compete with the advantages of AI, which is holding the industry back.

Before the results were released, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said he expected more “drop-the-mic performance” from Nvidia, adding that “it's expected to generate more than $1 trillion in the next few years.” “This is the only game in the city where AI capital investment is planned.” Nvidia's GPUs will bring new oil and gold to this world. ”

The world's largest technology companies have increased their spending on AI by billions of dollars in recent quarters, with Nvidia positioned as a major beneficiary.

Nvidia is seen by many as a bellwether for the technology sector and artificial intelligence demand that helped propel Wall Street to multiple record highs this year.

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But the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war, the threat of global tariff hikes by the incoming Donald Trump administration and the possibility that the US Federal Reserve will not lower US interest rates are also spooking markets.

Other analysts echoed Ives' assessment that demand for Nvidia's new Blackwell chips could push Nvidia's sales and market capitalization to new heights. Charu Chanana, Saxo's chief investment strategist, said signs of “extraordinary demand” for new chips, including record sales forecasts and reports of sold-out inventory next year, are strong indicators that Nvidia's strong performance will continue. I wrote that.

But Chanana cautioned that “any signs of production delays or lack of demand could put pressure on the stock given valuation growth.”

Earlier this week, report Chipmakers say their latest graphics chips are having overheating problems with servers. www.theguardian.com

Meta’s investment in AI drives impressive earnings report, leading to soaring shares

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Meta shares saw a rise in after-hours trading on Wednesday following a positive earnings report, as the company continues to heavily invest in AI tools.

After the report, the company’s shares increased by about 5%, surpassing analysts’ expectations for the second quarter results.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, disclosed revenue of $39.07 billion and earnings per share of $5.16. These results exceeded market expectations of $38 billion in revenue and $4.70 per share. However, the company’s capital expenditures of $8.47 billion were lower than what analysts had anticipated.

In a statement, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed optimism about the company’s performance, highlighting Meta’s AI advancements, the success of Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, and growth across their apps.

While Meta had reported strong profits in the previous quarter, there were concerns about its future outlook, causing a temporary drop in stock prices. However, a positive earnings forecast issued by Meta on Wednesday helped stabilize the stock.

Meta’s recent focus has been on AI development, with plans to make Meta AI accessible to millions of users. The company recently launched its latest AI model, LLama 3.1 405B, to compete with other AI companies.

Tech giants such as Alphabet, Tesla, and Microsoft have faced challenges in the market recently due to lackluster financial reports related to their AI investments. This has led to a market shift towards smaller companies.

In addition to its financial performance, Meta has also been dealing with legal issues, including a $1.4 billion settlement in a Texas privacy lawsuit and a lawsuit in New Mexico related to child safety concerns.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge Review: Impressive Performance, but Limited Battery Life

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Samsung’s first entry into Microsoft’s new Arm-powered Copilot+ PCs is the Galaxy Book 4 Edge, set to deliver impressive speed and battery life that can compete with Apple’s MacBook Air.


This sleek, ultra-thin laptop comes in 14-inch or 16-inch sizes and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip, aiming to challenge Intel as the top PC laptop chip.

Prices start at £1,399 (€1,699/$999.99) for the base model, with the top-of-the-line 16-inch version priced at £1,700, positioning it as a premium competitor to products from Microsoft, Dell, and Apple.


The Galaxy Book features HDMI, USB-A, a microSD card slot, and a USB4 port, all in an incredibly thin and light 16-inch design. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The laptop boasts a familiar Samsung Galaxy Book design with premium aluminum construction, but lacks originality in its aesthetics.

The standout feature is the vibrant OLED touchscreen display, though it may attract fingerprints and could be brighter. The anti-reflective coating enhances usability under various lighting conditions.

While the keyboard is standard, the oversized trackpad feels somewhat redundant with its traditional mechanical design. The speakers are decent but can be obstructed when using the laptop on soft surfaces.


The 16-inch model includes a number pad on the right side, contributing to a slightly off-center keyboard and trackpad layout. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The laptop’s webcam offers AI effects but lacks facial recognition, requiring a fingerprint scan for unlocking.

Specifications

  • Screen: 14″ or 16″ 3K AMOLED 2880 x 1800 (120Hz)

  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite

  • RAM: 16 GB

  • Storage: 512GB or 1TB

  • Operating System: Windows 11 Home

  • Camera: 2 megapixels (1080p)

  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, 2 x USB4, headphones, HDMI2.1 (USB-A and microSD 16″ only)

  • 14 inch Dimensions: 312.3 x 223.8 x 10.9mm

    • …

Source: www.theguardian.com

Review of the Nothing Phone 2a: An impressive budget-friendly Android smartphone

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London-based tech company Nothing’s latest Android is aiming to disrupt the budget phone market with something more intriguing.

Priced at £319 (€329/AU$529), the Phone 2a by Nothing seeks to capture the cool design and appeal of its high-end models and deliver it in a more affordable and fresh package, complementing the £579 Phone 2.

This new model continues Nothing’s distinctive semi-transparent design, featuring a large, sleek OLED screen on the front and a translucent back that showcases unique design elements, including Nothing’s signature “glyph” LEDs.


Three LED strips on the back light up in complex patterns to match tones, alerts, or timers and charging. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

While the Phone 2a opts for a plastic construction over the metal and glass of the Phone 2, the LEDs are now positioned only at the top of the phone around the central camera module. Despite this, it can display intricate patterns for ringtones and notifications, as well as other entertaining features like volume levels, charging percentage, timer, and music visualizer.

Although the phone feels smooth and well-crafted, the plastic back tends to attract dust easily and is prone to scratches.

specification

  • screen: 6.7 inch 120Hz FHD+ OLED (394ppi)

  • Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro

  • Ram: 8GB or 12GB

  • storage: 128 or 256GB

  • operating system: None OS 2.5 (Android 14)

  • camera: 50MP main and ultrawide, 32MP selfie

  • Connectivity: 5G, eSIM, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, GNSS

  • water resistance: IP54 (splash proof)

  • size: 162×76.3×8.9mm

  • weight: 190g

Mid-range power and long battery life


Phone 2a charges to 80% in 39 minutes and fully charges in just under an hour using a 45W power adapter (sold separately). Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Powered by a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chip, the Nothing Phone 2a delivers impressive performance for its price. The software runs smoothly and swiftly, with apps loading quickly and games running well. While it may not match the high-end phones in performance and tends to get warm during gaming, it handles most tasks competently.

The Nothing Phone 2a also boasts a solid battery life, lasting 52 hours of general use or two days between charges, including several hours of 5G usage per day. However, gaming drains the battery faster compared to its high-end counterparts, consuming about 18% per hour of gameplay.

sustainability


The ribbon and pattern visible through the plastic back adds a bit of interest along with the LEDs. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Nothing guarantees that the battery will retain at least 90% of its original capacity for a minimum of 1,000 full charge cycles. The Phone 2a is typically repairable in the UK, with screen replacements costing £70, batteries costing £36, and additional costs for labor and shipping totaling around £35.

Constructed from recycled aluminum, copper, plastic, steel, tin, and other materials, which constitute 20% of the phone’s weight, the Phone 2a generates 52kg CO2 equivalent in carbon dioxide emissions. The company also publishes a sustainability report and offers a trade-in system.

None OS2.5

www.theguardian.com

Review: Commodore 64 Collection 3 – Classic games delivered in impressive style by retro console

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IIt’s a strange feeling to have childhood memories constantly shot out of a game cartridge the size of a matchbox. That’s certainly been my experience with C64 Collection 3, the latest in a series of vintage game compilations put together by Blaze Entertainment for their Evercade retro console. Each of these little carts contains a dozen or so classic titles from various arcade manufacturers and home computers, all emulated to a fairly high standard. This is a must-see for me and probably many other C64 veterans as well. There are several reasons for this.

For one, it includes Paradroid, which I think is one of the best home computer games ever made. This is Hewson’s top-down, multi-directional sci-fi blaster with beautiful style and terrifying difficulty, one of the earliest examples of the now ubiquitous hacking mini-games.

Playing in 2024, nearly 40 years after its original release, I’m amazed at how well the game has held up in terms of visuals and gameplay when viewed on my LED TV via an Evercade VS console. It looks vivid. Exploring this game’s vast spaceship again on a big TV in your living room, rather than just a dodgy PC emulator, was a far more emotional experience than you’d expect from a very old game about shooting robots.

There are also two more true classics here. The cave exploration puzzle game Boulder Dash and the multiplayer sports sim Summer Games II. Like Paradroid, these hold up well to 21st-century scrutiny, but the latter is nothing like the visual delight I remember from my school days. It’s nice to be able to go to the pause menu and change the aspect ratio or add the traditional CRT effect scanlines. And, I won’t lie, the built-in save feature is nice too.

Elsewhere, the selection of compilations is a bit more vague, but that’s a nice thing about Evercade’s compilations. Even fans like me can find something new to discover. There are a lot of titles by Hewson (one of the great British developers of the time) that I’ve never played before. Among them is Netherworld, another multi-directional scrolling game. Golden Ax style side-scroller Deliverance: Stormlord II. And Cybernoid II combines Contra and R-Type with a great SID chip soundtrack.

But the most unexpected treat is still the inclusion of Epyx’s breakdancing. It’s a street dance game (a forerunner of the rhythm-action genre) in which you have to imitate the movements of computer-controlled performers. It’s very kitschy and totally awful, but I remember buying it because I was into hip-hop. I played it a lot while repeatedly renting Breakdance: The Movie from my local video haven. It was so strange to encounter it again so many years later.

C64 Collection 3 is a strange, endearing, and scattered compilation that not only fills in the gaps left by its two predecessors but also mines strange nostalgic seams. Even if you never owned a computer in the ’80s, these games are worth checking out as museum exhibits. These games show how much the original home computer contributed to arcade culture but also how far it was moving away in the mid-1980s. Based on these prototypes, we are experimenting with new ideas. Yes, you can find most of these games online for free if you know how to download and use emulators and find ROMs. But I like the ease and convenience of the Evercade. I appreciate the save feature, and I love that the game looks fine even on my stupid TV. These games hold special memories for me and probably many others as well. If I’m going to go back anyway, I want to do it in style.

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C64 Collection 3 is available now for £20

Source: www.theguardian.com

Review of Honor Magic V2: Impressive hardware overshadowed by software shortcomings

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Honor’s Magic V2 is the best designed foldable phone tablet ever. When it’s closed, it feels like a regular phone, but when it opens like a book, it reveals a big, gorgeous screen.

Magic V2, which was launched in China last year, has now arrived in Europe, but it’s not exactly affordable. Priced at £1,700 (€2,000), it falls between the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus’ slightly cheaper Open.

However, it has one major advantage over competing products. It’s the thinness. Honor has managed to slim down the hinge and body to effectively remove the bulk that has burdened foldable phones in the past. The large, bright outer screen has slim bezels and curved sides, and when closed, it feels and behaves like regular Android. The tablet is also only 4.8 mm thick when opened, which is the same as six credit cards stacked on top of each other. It’s incredible.


The Magic V2 is only 10.1 mm thick when folded, which is about the same as a regular phone in a case. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The 7.92-inch screen inside is slightly larger than its rivals, but just as bright, smooth, and looks great. The crease in the center is a little more noticeable than the open one, but it blends in better with the background when used.

The hinge is rated to withstand at least 400,000 bends, allowing you to hold your phone open at a variety of angles. However, the hinge doesn’t feel as solid as some rivals, and the phone doesn’t have any water or dust protection.

specification

  • Main screen: 7.92 inch (402ppi) 120Hz OLED flexible display

  • Cover screen: 6.43 inch (404ppi) 120Hz OLED

  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 2nd generation

  • Ram: 16 GB

  • storage: 512GB

  • operating system: MagicOS 7.2 (Android 13)

  • camera: 50MP + 50MP Ultra Wide + 20MP 2.5x Tele; 2x 16MP Selfie

  • Connectivity: 5G, dual sim + esim, USB-C, wifi 7, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, GNSS

  • water resistance: none

  • Dimensions when folded: 156.7×74×10.1mm

  • Unfolded dimensions: 156.7×145.4×4.8mm

  • weight: 237g

Last year’s top Android chips


The phone charges in about an hour using a 45W USB-C charger (not included in the box), but there’s no wireless charging. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The Magic V2 is powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Qualcomm’s top chip since 2023, rather than the new Gen 3 version that started appearing in phones last month. It still provides plenty of power for multitasking, gaming, and whatever you want to do with it, but it’s not exactly the latest technology despite the high asking price. Battery lasts longer. With more than 6 hours of active use of two screens and 3 hours of active 5G, the battery will last up to 49 hours between charges. This means recharging every two days.

sustainability

Honor doesn’t provide an expected lifespan for the battery, but it should last more than 500 full charge cycles at at least 80% of its original capacity.The phone is Normally repairable by Honor.full battery Replacement cost is £110 Replacing the folding screen will cost £737.80 outside of warranty.Phone contains recycled plastic and Honor We will publish the breakdown environmental impact and We offer a trade-in system.

MagicOS 7.2 is unsophisticated


The multitasking system allows you to use up to four apps on the screen at the same time, but it comes with a number of quirks. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Software is the Magic V2’s biggest weakness. It ships with MagicOS 7.2, which is based on 2022’s Android 13, rather than Android 14, which we’d expect from new devices in 2024. Honor only provides Android updates for his 3 years since release and security updates for a total of 5 years. It’s at least two full years short of the benchmarks set by Google, Samsung, and Apple.

MagicOS has some great ideas, like a mode that turns your phone into a digital desk clock when idle, but it’s generally a little rough around the edges when compared to the best software experiences of its competitors. It has advanced multitasking tools and can display up to 4 apps on screen. Two are split screen and two more are displayed in small free-floating pop-out windows.

But when you tap a notification for a message like email or WhatsApp, your phone asks to open each app in a mini floating window instead of full screen. Sometimes that’s useful. Other times, it’s just frustrating and there’s no way to stop it. You never want Gmail to open like a chat app.

This phone also comes pre-installed with unnecessary apps like Booking.com, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, WPS Office, etc. All of this can be uninstalled, but this is a £1,700 phone and you don’t need the kind of bloat you get on lower priced devices.

camera


The Honor camera app has a wealth of features, including manual mode, and can be used in both open and closed positions. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The Magic V2 has three cameras on the back, one selfie camera on the front, and one camera on the inner screen.

Both selfie cameras are solid, but the main camera is better at taking photos, and you can use the outer screen as a viewfinder to easily take selfies.

The main 50MP camera takes good photos in a variety of lighting conditions, but colors tend to be oversaturated and scenes are frequently brightened, losing contrast and looking a bit flat. The 50MP ultra-wide angle performs well in bright scenes, while the 20MP his 2.5x telephoto typically produces stable images. However, the reach is not very long, especially when compared to his best competitors with 2x optical magnification.

All three cameras struggle a bit in low light levels, losing fine detail and sharpness, and becoming increasingly unstable at night. There is also a noticeable difference in color between the ultrawide camera and his other two cameras, which is disappointing at this price.

None of these issues are deal-breakers, but Honor has some work to do to catch up with the best in the market.

price

Honor Magic V2 cost £1,699.99 (1,999.90 euros).

For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 prices are as follows: £1,749Google Pixel Fold price £1,749 and OnePlus Open cost £1,599.

verdict

The Honor Magic V2 is a sophisticated piece of hardware with software that doesn’t live up to expectations.

When folded, it looks so much like a regular phone that it’s easy to forget that there’s a huge screen hidden inside.

However, the software isn’t as sophisticated, doesn’t have as many features, and doesn’t have as much support as its rivals. There is no water resistance rating, so durability is questionable, and the camera’s performance may be a little weak in some areas. None of these issues are completely deal-breakers, and many could be fixed with updates. But for a device at this price, it’s disappointing, especially when cheaper rivals are better in these respects.

Strong Points: Ultra-slim and lightweight phone and tablet in one, just like a regular phone when closed, with great performance, very long battery life, a great internal screen, and a great fingerprint scanner. Masu.

Cons: It’s not water resistant, it’s very expensive and expensive to repair, its software isn’t as sophisticated as it needs to be, its software support is short, its chips are outdated, and its camera performance lags behind

Source: www.theguardian.com

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