Understanding Nuclear Stability: Magic Numbers in Physics
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A pivotal set of numbers has served as the foundation of nuclear physics research for decades, revealing how they stem from the quantum interplay of nuclear particles and forces.
Nearly 80 years ago, physicist Maria Goeppert Mayer discovered that atomic nuclei exhibit remarkable stability when they contain specific numbers of protons and neutrons, such as 50 or 82. Subsequent research has reinforced the existence of these “magic numbers,” which characterize the most stable and abundant elements in the universe.
Goeppert Mayer’s contemporaries introduced the concept that protons and neutrons occupy discrete energy levels or shells. While this shell model persists in explaining numerous nuclear physics experiments by treating each nucleus particle as independent, modern quantum theory contends that these particles engage in strong interactions.
Yao Jianming and researchers from Sun Yat-sen University in China have reconciled this discrepancy, revealing how magic numbers originate from these interactions.
According to Yao, the shell model does not derive intricate details of particle interactions. Instead, he and his team approached their calculations from first principles, elucidating how particles interact, cling together, and the energy required to separate them.
Yao likens the two models to images captured at differing resolutions: “Historically, researchers either modeled the system at low resolution or explored nuclear structure at high resolution. We applied contemporary methods to bridge these models.”
The team initiated their analysis with a high-resolution perspective, then deliberately blurred it at each calculation stage, observing how particle structures evolved.
The researchers noted that the symmetry of a particle’s quantum state shifts across a mathematical bridge. By graphing these state equations, they produced shapes showcasing various symmetries at different resolutions. This transformation led to a nuclear structure where nuclei are most stable when particles correspond to magic numbers.
Jean-Paul Ebelin from the French Alternative Energy and Atomic Energy Commission emphasizes that this study offers a theoretical exploration akin to a mathematical microscope, effectively mirroring experimental observations. “Nature reveals a different facet depending on the observational resolution,” Ebelin notes.
The identified symmetry alterations correlate with effects noted in Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity, as Ebelin points out, enhancing our understanding of how magic numbers unify various elements of nuclear theory.
To date, researchers have validated their theoretical findings on a specific type of tin, known for its double magic property due to possessing 50 protons and 82 neutrons, along with several other nuclei. Looking ahead, Yao expresses intentions to extend their analysis to heavier and typically unstable nuclei, exploring how these are formed during supernova events and the collision of neutron stars.
Many mushroom species produce the psychoactive compound psilocybin
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Magic mushrooms have been providing transformative experiences for thousands of years. Researchers suggest that fungi developed hallucinogenic compounds like psilocybin as a biological defense against insect herbivores.
Psilocybin is the main psychoactive component in magic mushrooms, present in various species found on every continent except Antarctica. Historically, these mushrooms have been utilized by shamans in traditional cultures. Recent studies are investigating psilocybin’s potential as a therapy for mental health disorders, including depression and PTSD.
This psychedelic compound primarily interacts with serotonin receptors in the human brain. However, the evolutionary reasons that lead fungi to produce compounds similar to animal neurotransmitters remain unclear. As John Ellis from the University of Plymouth points out, “There’s speculation that psilocybin serves a protective role against invertebrate fungivores, but these ideas need further exploration.”
To explore the effects of psilocybin on insects, Ellis and his team fed fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) larvae with dried magic mushrooms (Cylocyber cubensis). The researchers monitored the larvae’s survival rates, growth rates, and adult size and development.
Additionally, the team created liquid extracts from the mushrooms, combined them with a minimal amount of sucrose, and observed the larvae’s movements after exposure. “It resembled immersing them in a sweet magic mushroom solution,” says team member Kirsty Matthews Nicholas.
“By quantifying how rapidly the insects crawled, the distances traveled, and their overall movement coordination, we assessed the immediate impacts on their nervous systems,” Nicholas explains.
Results showed that larvae exposed to a magic mushroom diet exhibited significantly reduced survival rates. At lower doses, more than half of the larvae did not survive to adulthood. At higher doses, survival rates dropped to just about 25%.
“Among the flies that did reach adulthood, the consequences were evident. Adult flies were smaller, had shortened bodies, and asymmetrical wings – all indicators of developmental stress,” Nicholas reported. “They crawled shorter distances, moved less overall, and displayed erratic movement patterns, leading to slower and less coordinated motion.”
However, it is unlikely that insects experience psychedelia as humans do. “Our findings imply that compounds like psilocybin disrupt essential insect physiology and behavior in ways that could be detrimental rather than psychedelic,” she notes.
The research team also collected and analyzed seven mushroom species from Dartmoor, UK, and found that the DNA of invertebrates present varied according to the psilocybin-producing fungi—indicating a specific interaction pattern between these fungi and their insect hosts.
Unexpected outcomes highlighted the complexity of psilocybin’s ecological role. For instance, fruit flies with decreased serotonin receptor counts, typically impacted by psilocybin, were found to be more affected. Furthermore, the flies also showed adverse reactions to extracts from control mushroom species devoid of psilocybin.
Fabrizio Alberti from the University of Warwick indicates that their findings demonstrate that non-psilocybin mushrooms also generate other metabolites that harm insects’ speed and survival.
“Ongoing research utilizing pure psilocybin on insects will be essential to clarify its ecological significance and explore whether this psychedelic compound evolved as an insect deterrent,” Alberti emphasizes.
This study raises critical challenges in understanding the evolutionary implications of psilocybin-producing fungi. Bernhard Rupp from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, suggests, “Mushrooms producing psilocybin and similar compounds may have significant evolutionary advantages, such as deterring consumption by insects and snails.”
Insect and Ecosystem Exploration Safari: Sri Lanka
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Honor’s newest folding phone-tablet aims to challenge Samsung’s dominance with a sleek SuperSuma design, an impressive battery, and a camera module reminiscent of a giant lens on the back.
Closed, the Magic V5 measures approximately 8.9mm thick, which is comparable to the USB-C port thickness, and feels similar to a conventional flat phone while being able to unfold into a mini tablet format.
Priced at £1,699.99 (€1,999.99), this folding device competes fiercely with offerings from Samsung and Google, though it remains on the pricier side, which may deter some consumers.
The Magic V5 comes in several colors, featuring different materials on the back that affect both thickness and weight. At 222g or less, it is slightly heavier than Samsung’s latest foldable, yet remains lighter than many other competitors, equating its weight to that of a larger standard phone.
When closed, the Magic V5 has a weight, thickness, and width comparable to that of a large conventional phone. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The external 6.43-inch OLED display is remarkable and functions like a standard smartphone, while the internal 7.95-inch folding screen stands out for its brightness. Though it has visible creasing in the middle, it remains unobtrusive during use. The inner screen is more flexible than typical smartphone displays and requires careful handling, plus it tends to attract fingerprints.
This device is one of the first folding phones to offer water resistance comparable to standard smartphones, ensuring that dust and particles cannot penetrate behind the flexible screen or around the metal hinges, addressing concerns about durability.
Specifications
Main screen: 7.95in (403ppi) 120Hz OLED Flexible Display
Water resistance:IP58 and IP59 (Immersion and high pressure jet)
Folded dimensions: 156.8 x 74.3 x 8.88-9mm
Expanded dimensions: 156.8 x 145.9 x 4.1-4.2mm
Weight: 217-222g
Top Snapdragon Chip and Large Capacity Battery
Using a standard 100W USB-C power adapter (not included), it takes 55 minutes to fully charge, reaching 70% in under 30 minutes. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The Magic V5 is powered by Qualcomm’s top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, offering robust performance that rivals flagship devices. It handles everyday tasks effortlessly, remains cool under pressure, and excels in gaming.
Its multitasking capabilities shine through, allowing up to four apps to be displayed simultaneously on-screen.
Moreover, the generous battery life extends the device’s usability while maintaining a sleek form factor, larger than typical flat phones. Its battery performance varies significantly based on screen usage; primarily used as a tablet with 5G for video watching, it lasts around 37 hours. Balanced use across both screens can get you through three days before requiring a charge.
Magicos Software Still Needs Improvement
Multitasking on a large internal display offers a delightful experience with three apps available on split screen. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Running Honor’s Magicos 9 (based on last year’s Android 15) instead of the latest Android 16, the Magic V5 promises seven years of Android updates and security patches for European customers.
While the software features some promising ideas, it still exhibits rough patches and unexpected behaviors. The outer screen operates like traditional Android devices, but the inner display is where the software shines, allowing for multitasking with three apps on split screen. One app can be partially hidden to maximize space without closing the others, a clever feature first seen on the OnePlus Open. The taskbar simplifies window management.
Mini-floating windows offer enhanced desktop multitasking capabilities. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
However, tapping on app notifications within the internal screen consistently opens the app in a mini window, which may be suitable for small messaging apps, but could be unsatisfactory for larger applications like Gmail.
Furthermore, the software doesn’t utilize the partially folded mode that the inner screen offers, lacking a counterpart to Samsung’s well-regarded flex mode—representing a missed opportunity. Another bug in Honor’s font choice makes it challenging to identify unread emails in bold within Gmail, which is frustrating.
While these minor irritations may be overlooked in budget devices, they stand out on a premium device priced at £1,700. Honor has work to do.
Camera
The Camera app features multiple modes suitable for closed, partially open, or fully open configurations, ideal for selfies. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Equipped with a solid camera array nestled within a pronounced circular camera bump, the Magic V5 features a 50MP main camera that captures appealing images across varying lighting conditions, though details can soften in lower light.
The 50MP ultra-wide camera performs well but slightly distorts edges and loses fine detail. The standout is the 64MP 3x optical telephoto camera, which excels in clarity and color accuracy, even under indoor lighting, and can achieve a 6x zoom that softens details at full size but performs admirably in bright conditions.
The dual 20MP selfie cameras produce decent results, yet using the main camera with the outer screen as a viewfinder yields superior quality.
The camera app supports various modes, including smart motion capture for action shots and robust video capabilities. There’s a range of AI filters and effects typical of many Chinese smartphones, allowing for personalized aesthetics.
Overall, while the camera is one of the better options among folding devices, it falls short of the top-tier camera phones available on the market.
Sustainability
The capacitive fingerprint scanner on the power button integrates seamlessly with the slim design. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The expected battery lifespan is at least 1,200 charge cycles with a minimum of 80% original capacity remaining. The Magic V5 is generally easy to repair, with the internal screen priced around £700 and the external screen around £200. Additionally, Honor offers complimentary screen repairs for 12 months if purchased within the first month after release.
This device incorporates recycled plastics, and while Honor provides limited environmental reports, trade-in and refurbished options are available.
Price
The Honor Magic V5 retails for £1,699.99 (€1,999.99).
For context, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is priced at £1,799; the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold costs £1,749; the Galaxy S25 Ultra is listed at £1,249, while the Honor Magic 7 Pro is available for £1,099.
Verdict
Honor has crafted an impressive folding phone, yet the software experience has room for improvement. While the Magicos has progressed over time, it lacks the customization and features seen in competitors.
The main issues are minor glitches, rough edges, and abnormal behaviors throughout the software. None of these detract significantly from the product, but they accumulate and cannot be ignored in a device priced at £1,700.
It’s unfortunate because the phone is rapid, boasts great battery life, has a capable camera, and presents aesthetically well. It’s great to see a meaningful rivalry among Samsung and Google in this foldable segment. Nonetheless, there’s insufficient incentive to choose the Magic V5 when it costs nearly the same as the industry-leading Samsung.
Pros: Super slim design, functions like a regular phone when closed, excellent performance, outstanding battery life, superb internal display, solid camera capabilities, effective fingerprint scanner, and a water and dust resistance rating.
Cons: High price point, software lacks polish for advanced behaviors, less durability compared to standard devices, expensive repairs, and limited folding modes.
The Magic V5 is a visually appealing and well-crafted device. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
In In July 2022, Morgan Rose Hart, an aspiring veterinarian with a passion for wildlife, passed away after it was found unresponsive in the Essex mental health unit. She’s just turned 18. Diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Hart’s mental health was affected by bullying, which forced her to move from school several times. She previously tried to take her life and was transferred to Harlow’s unit three weeks before her death.
Hart, from Chelmsford, Essex, passed away on July 12, 2022 after it was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor. The prevention report of future death reports issued after her questioning turned out to be overlooked, and it turns out that important checks were missed, observation records were forged, and risk assessments were not completed.
Investigation by observer And newsletter Democracy for Sale Her death has established that she is one of four, including a high-tech patient surveillance system called Oxevision, which is deployed in almost half of mental health struts across the UK.
Oxevision’s system allows you to measure the patient’s pulse rate and breathing, interfere with the patient at night, and also broadcast CCTV footage temporarily if necessary, without the need for a person to enter the room. The high-tech system can detect a patient’s breathing rate, even when the patient is covered with a futon.
Oxehealth, which was spin-out from the University of Oxford’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering in 2012, has agreed to 25 NHS mental health trasts, according to its latest account, reporting revenue of around £4.7 million by December 31, 2023.
However, in some cases, it is argued that instead of doing physical checks, staff rely too heavily on infrared camera systems to monitor vulnerable patients.
There are also concerns that systems that can glow red from corners of the room could exacerbate the pain of patients in mental health crisis, which have increased their sensitivity to monitoring or control.
Sofina, who had experience being monitored by Oxevision among patients and who asked not to use her full name, stated:
“The first thing you see when you open your eyes, the last thing you do when you fall asleep. I was just in a visually impaired state. I was completely hurt.
Advocates argue that the technology can improve safety, but this weekend there will be a call to stop the deployment of Oxevision, raising concerns about patient safety, privacy rights and the conflict of interest in research supporting its use. The campaign group said Oxevision was often installed in patients’ bedrooms without proper consent, with surveillance technology likely causing distress.
In a prevention report of future deaths issued in December 2023 after Hart’s questioning, the coroner pointed out that if a person was in the bathroom for more than three minutes, a staff member would “have to complete a face-to-face check.” Instead, “Oxevision Red Alert has been reset” by staff and Hart was not observed for 50 minutes, and was discovered to be “not responding on the bathroom floor.”
The coroner expressed concern that “some staff may have used Oxevision in their place of instead of just an aid to face-to-face observation.” The conclusion of the judge’s investigation was death from misfortune, which contributed to the contributions of negligence.
Two days before Hart’s death, Michael Nolan, 63, a warehouse operator at risk for self-harm, passed away as a mental health patient at Basildon Hospital. The study said staff used Oxevision as an alternative to physical observations and failed to carry out effective observations. The story’s verdict by the judge included the findings of inadequate training on the Oxevision system.
The following month, 27-year-old Sophie Alderman, who had a history of self-harm, passed away in a patient at Rochford Hospital under the custody of the University of Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Her family says the Ooshivision system caused her pain and hurt her mental health. A few months before her death, she complained about the camera in her room, but she believed it was hacked by the government.
Tammy Smith, Alderman’s mother observer: “I don’t think Oxevision is effective in keeping patients safe. It’s a major invasion of patient privacy.
“Staff aren’t properly trained or used properly on it. People have died while Oxevision is in use, and questions have been raised about its use. That’s enough to pause deployment and actually consider whether this technology will keep patients safe.”
The Care Quality Committee also raised concerns. “A sad death was found in the safety room,” said the NHS Foundation Trust’s testing report, which was released last February. [St Charles hospital in west London] If staff were not fully involved and monitored patients, they were dependent. [Oxevision] It was turned off at the time. ”
The Trust said this weekend that a “tragic death” in March 2023 led to the firing of three individuals, with the use of technology never being designed to replace responsibility and care from staff.
The Lampard study, which examines the deaths of mental health hospitalized patients under the control of the NHS Trust in Essex between January 2000 and December 2023, is being asked to investigate Oxevision.
Sophina of a former patient monitored by Oxevision.
Bindmans, a law firm representing Alderman’s family and another patient’s family, spoke to Baroness Lampard about the concerns about consent and the safety and effectiveness of the system. He said there are concerns that staff may delegate the responsibility to monitor patients to “Digital Eye.”
A review by the National Institute of Health Therapy, published in November and commissioned by the NHS England, examined nine studies on Oxevision along with other studies, finding “inadequate evidence” suggesting that inpatient mental health unit surveillance techniques achieve intended results and achieve “improve safety, improved costs, etc.”
Only one of these papers was rated as “high quality” for their methodology and no conflicts of interest were reported. All eight other studies report all conflicts of interest, all related to Oxehealth. In some cases, OxeHealth employees were co-authors of the paper.
“There’s no independent research done. There’s almost always been involvement of the companies that create and market these devices,” said Alan Simpson, professor of mental health nursing who co-authored the review.
The Stop Oxevision campaigner said he was worried about the threat that technology poses to patients’ “safety, privacy and dignity.”
Lionel Tarassenko, professor of electrical engineering at Oxford University and founder of Oxehealth, said Oxevision only intermittently broadcast CCTV footage of patients. This is up to 15 seconds, and if clinical staff respond to alerts, they will only see blurry videos.
Tarassenko Lord said the paper reviewed by the National Institute team showed the benefits of Oxevision, including reduced self-harm, improved patient sleep and safety. He added that it was written by an independent clinician who maintains editorial control and in some cases, OxeHealth co-authors were included to reflect their contributions.
He said: “There is no evidence that proper use of Oxevision technology is a factor that contributes to inpatient deaths. The experience of Oxevision patients is very positive.”
In a statement, the company said the Oxevision platform was NHS England Principles Regarding mental health digital technology, the decision to use technology, announced last month for inpatient treatment and care, said it must be based on consent.
The company said: “Oxevision supports clinical teams to improve patient safety, reduce incidents such as falls and self-harm, and ensure staff can respond more effectively to clinical risks,” he said, adding that it welcomed the dialogue on responsible ethical deployment of technology.
Paul Scott, chief executive of the University of Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), said that his patient’s death was devastating because he was in charge of caring for Hart, Nolan and Alderman, and that his sympathy was sympathetic to those who lost loved ones. He said: “We are constantly focused on providing the best possible care and use remote surveillance technology to enhance safety and complement the treatment care and observations our staff has implemented.”
A spokesperson for NHS England said: “Vision-based surveillance techniques must support a human-based rights approach to care, be used only within the scope of legal requirements, and ensure that patient and family consent is implemented.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health’s Social Care said: “These technologies should only be used in line with robust staff training and appropriate consent, with robust staff training and appropriate consent, and are transforming the care that people facing a mental health crisis receive by modernizing mental health law.
Triple J played continuously for 8 hours. The DJ remixed it, the dancers grooved to it, and many of us listened, sat down, and felt frustrated.
Slowly, Centrelink Hold Music has become a part of the cultural landscape, serving as the backdrop for art and going viral on TikTok.
Influencer and comedian Lyanna Kea’s TikTok dance in 2024 garnered 91,000 likes and 2,297 comments, echoing the frustration of a caller on hold.
“Everyone recognizes the tune on Centrelink,” Kea remarked. “Everyone knows the feeling of being stuck on hold for hours before being abruptly disconnected.”
“It’s ingrained in everyone’s minds.”
In 1989, Tim Carlton, a 16-year-old American at the time, created a song that was later used by Cisco, a major supplier of corporate mobile phones, and has since gained global recognition.
The tune is now known worldwide for its presence on Cisco’s hold music playlist. It was even featured in a 2023 Bud Light commercial and has garnered millions of plays on Spotify.
In 2018, Centrelink swapped its classic hold music for Opus No. 1 synth melodies, even reaching audiences in countries like Switzerland and Poland.
Both Australians and global citizens have been impacted. Artist Jonathan Hobbsey created a performance piece for the Fringe Festival in 2023, inspired by lockdown experiences.
“I wanted to evoke a communal experience that resonated with people,” Hobbsey explained. “Music is the sound of limbo.”
Music On Hold Australia’s manager Jenny Crosby emphasized the importance of a good hold song having consistent beats, volume, and minimal emotional content.
“Hold music may seem dull in the music world, but it serves a purpose,” she noted.
Twenty years ago, Crosby curated a collection of songs for the ATO, with some still playing today, proving their lasting appeal.
Lauren Roseworn, a social sciences professor, suggested that Centrelink embrace its hold music legacy to connect with people’s shared experiences.
“Instead of dwelling on the negative, we can find humor and solidarity in these familiar tunes,” she concluded.
Amazon has been attempting to enter the gaming industry for quite some time. Despite having abundant resources and hiring top designers, progress has been slow. However, in recent times, Amazon has found success in releasing massively multiplayer online games. First came New World in 2021, a fantasy game focusing on survival and player-built settlements. This was followed by Lost Ark in the next year, developed by SmileGate from South Korea, blending MMO elements with Diablo-style combat. While reviews were mixed, both games found popularity among players. Now, Amazon is launching its third MMO in four years, Throne and Liberty, also developed in Korea. Here’s what you need to know about this latest offering.
What is Throne and Liberty?
A large, detailed world… Throne and Liberty. Photo: Amazon Games
Throne and Liberty is an MMO set in a fantasy world akin to World of Warcraft. Players create characters and embark on adventures, either alone, with friends, or as part of a guild. The game offers main storylines, cooperative dungeon battles, and player-versus-player combat for territory control.
The game had a prolonged development, initially announced in 2011 as an expansion of the Lineage series. It was released in South Korea in December after facing delays, technical changes, and leadership shifts. Amazon is the global publisher, having acquired the rights in February the previous year.
How is Throne and Liberty different?
Traditional MMO combat combined with action-game dodging and parrying for real combat. Photo: Amazon Games
Throne and Liberty offers unique elements, such as the ability to transform into various animals for faster travel. Combat and character progression stand out; instead of fixed classes, character abilities revolve around weapon usage. With six different weapons and customizable combinations, players can create unique playstyles.
Is Throne and Liberty worth playing?
A unique world… a massive floating whale in the sky. Photo: Amazon Games
Throne and Liberty offers engaging exploration and combat mechanics, blending MMO and action elements. However, it lacks depth in storytelling and character development. Crafting and upgrading systems may feel complex and tedious. Overall, the game is free-to-play and provides a decent gaming experience without requiring excessive time investment.
Should I try Throne and Liberty?
Fashionable style… Characters resembling a mix of wizards, warriors, orcs, and goblins. Photo: Amazon Games
Throne and Liberty is recommended for casual play, offering basic yet enjoyable gameplay. However, if choosing between Amazon’s Korean MMOs, Lost Ark may be a better choice due to its more engaging combat and storytelling. Both games are free-to-play, providing diverse experiences for players.
TThere's a reason why many websites devote huge virtual pages to the question of whether and when a new movie is on Netflix. For many casual viewers, the biggest streaming sites are almost synonymous with streaming itself, with even big brands like Disney+, no longer HBO Max, Peacock, and Paramount+ essentially battling for second place. But at some point, you might have to admit that this is, at best, a battle for third place: last month, all of the aforementioned glitzy non-Netflix services lost out to Tubi in viewership numbers.
While premium streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video are experimenting with ad-supported versions to boost revenue (either by lowering the price of their ad-supported subscriptions, hoping that customers will pay more to avoid the ads, or by making revenue from the ads themselves), Tubi offers a rotating lineup of ad-supported movies and TV shows at an unbeatable price. It's a free service that doesn't even require you to sign in (I know this firsthand: I've been a regular Tubi user for years, but I've yet to create an actual account). Tubi combines the thrilling browsing experience of an old-school video store, the instant gratification of Netflix, and the old-school channel flipping of cable (when everyone embraced the built-in ad breaks that came with watching a movie). Apparently, viewers don't mind a little retro in their streaming experience. Tubi is still growing viewership and ad revenue; in the most recent quarter, the latter increased by 22% (the CEO says the service is growing viewership and ad revenue by 22%). There is no profit yetBut growth in such a competitive and fickle industry is still remarkable.
Even before those numbers were released, Tubi was no longer a timid upstart. The part of the media conglomerate that wasn't sold to Disney, Fox Corporation, which owns the various Fox-branded TV stations, acquired the service in 2020. But its basic approach seems to be much the same: offering viewers a wide range of ad-supported choices (even shows that might have been offered recently or at the same time on other, more premium streaming services) without pumping too much money into flagship originals aimed at subscribers. Tubi's original programming is indeed plentiful, but it also has a retro feel, more in keeping with what you'd expect from cable or direct-to-video exploitation movies of the '90s or early 2000s than, say, HBO. The company has begun experimenting with star-studded, high-profile originals, such as a new series starring TV mainstay Lauren Graham, but they're unlikely to outweigh the appeal of a virtual video store.
In fact, a secret weapon that sometimes goes unmentioned when describing Tubi's rise is the fact that it has a ton of movies older than 30 years ago, which is relatively uncommon for many paid streaming services. At the moment, Netflix has about two dozen movies from before 1990, which is up from the last few months thanks to a recent anniversary effort that promoted movies from 1974 and 1984 together. Max does a little better on average because it owns Turner Classic Movies, but it doesn't have the depth or variety of actual TCM (or a good streaming app that's exclusive to cable TV subscribers). For other services, it's easy to find what's on offer by searching for genres that are less common today, like westerns or musicals. For example, Peacock has one musical from before 1990. Tubi's choices in this department include the original West Side Story, Seven Brides, The Royal Wedding, The Pajama Game, The Jazz Singer, Fiddler on the Roof, Yentl, The Music Man, and High Society. Of course, it won't tell you everything you need to know about the genre, but it's a better start than what more expensive services offer.
That makes Tubi seem like an option for older people who want to complement their MeTV viewing and take a peek into the past. But the company says Tubi has the youngest average age of TV viewers, at 39. The “TV” moniker probably rules out TikTok and YouTube, which are attractive to the youngest media consumers, but Tubi CEO Anjali Sood said: Recent Interviews The company is eyeing a younger audience and sees itself competing with major alternatives to traditional movies and TV, rather than as a future version of cable channels with particularly rich content.
YouTube’s reach (and creators’ endless supply of attractive, algorithmically refined thumbnails) will likely be hard to beat, but for now at least, the two services are impressive contenders. While YouTube lets you rent movies and shows, the platform owes its explosive growth to its original content and creators, who aren’t always immersed in anything more than other YouTube videos and the fickle whims of the algorithms that serve them. This material can combine in many ways: sketch comedy, talk shows, reality TV, visual essays, animated shorts, and more, but much of it has its own parameters and genres, and to outsiders it often seems untethered from history. Tubi, on the other hand, can offer a surprisingly decent crash course in classic movies, if you’re willing to endure a few ad breaks (again, most of us who grew up on cable TV in the ’80s, ’90s, and ’00s were). Even in months when a particular “classics” section is on the wane (or when a particular public domain title's transition is less than optimal), there's an eclecticism that stretches beyond the very recent past and can actually satisfy your curiosity on a tight budget. If streaming is rotting our brains and keeping us indoors, maybe streaming can offer at least a little breadth.
Maybe it's a middle-aged fantasy. The culture would return to a richer sense of history that actually makes entertainment from different eras more enjoyable to connect. But now the brand that streaming stands for is hostile to theatrical releases, funding writer-driven projects, and churning out shows that are increasingly removed from the craft of TV production. Netflix has inadvertently created a new, worse kind of monoculture, one where choice is scarce and binge-watching is encouraged, insatiable and unsatisfying. Imagine a future where you lounge on Tubi instead.
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
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.
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.
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
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