1. The Bellagio, Las Vegas, USA

A Pinnacle of Sophistication and High-Stakes Thrills

The Bellagio is a legendary name on the Las Vegas Strip, synonymous with luxury and style. Famous for its iconic Fountains of Bellagio, this hotel offers more than just a place to stay—it provides an experience of refined elegance and exhilarating gaming. The casino at The Bellagio is a hotspot for high-stakes poker and blackjack, set within a beautifully designed gaming floor. Beyond the casino, guests can explore the hotel’s fine art gallery, relax in the serene spa, and dine at Michelin-starred restaurants.

Why Stay Here: The Bellagio offers a blend of classic luxury and modern excitement, making it a perfect choice for those looking to enjoy the best of what Las Vegas has to offer.

2. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Where Futuristic Design Meets Lavish Comfort

Marina Bay Sands is a crown jewel of Singapore’s skyline, known for its striking architecture and luxurious amenities. The casino, one of the largest in Asia, features a vast array of gaming options, from slots to table games, catering to both novice players and seasoned gamblers. The hotel’s SkyPark, with its breathtaking infinity pool, offers panoramic views of the city, while the resort’s dining options, led by celebrity chefs, provide culinary delights from around the world. High-end shopping and world-class entertainment complete the experience at this modern marvel.

Why Stay Here: Marina Bay Sands is perfect for travelers who appreciate cutting-edge design, unparalleled luxury, and a diverse gaming experience in the heart of Singapore.

3. Wynn Palace, Macau

Extravagance and Elegance in the Heart of Macau

Wynn Palace in Macau is a testament to luxury, offering a gaming experience that is both sophisticated and exhilarating. The casino is designed with the discerning gamer in mind, featuring an extensive range of high-limit tables and exclusive gaming areas. The resort’s opulent rooms and suites, each with stunning views of the Cotai Strip, complement the overall experience. Guests can indulge in world-class dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, relax in the lavish spa, or take in the beauty of the Performance Lake and its mesmerizing shows.

Why Stay Here: Wynn Palace is the ultimate destination for those who seek luxury and high-stakes gaming in Asia’s most glamorous city.

4. Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas

A Tropical Paradise with a Twist of Gaming Excitement

Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas is a destination that combines the serenity of a tropical resort with the thrill of casino gaming. The casino is the largest in the Caribbean, offering a wide variety of gaming options, including slots, blackjack, and poker. But it’s not just about gaming—Atlantis is known for its stunning beaches, marine habitats, and a sprawling water park that offers fun for all ages. The resort’s accommodations range from luxurious rooms to lavish suites, all designed to provide the ultimate in comfort and relaxation.

Why Stay Here: Atlantis Paradise Island is ideal for travelers who want to combine the excitement of gaming with the relaxation and beauty of a Caribbean paradise.

5. The Venetian Macao, Macau

Venetian Grandeur Meets Modern Luxury in Macau

The Venetian Macao is a masterpiece of design and luxury, bringing the charm and romance of Venice to the Cotai Strip. The casino is one of the largest in the world, offering thousands of gaming options in a setting that mimics the grandeur of Italian architecture. Guests can take a gondola ride on the indoor canals, explore high-end boutiques, or enjoy a meal at one of the many gourmet restaurants. The hotel’s all-suite accommodations are among the most spacious in the region, providing a perfect retreat after a day of gaming and exploration.

Why Stay Here: The Venetian Macao is perfect for those who want to experience the luxury of Venetian-style elegance combined with the excitement of one of the world’s premier gaming destinations.

Conclusion: A World of Luxury Awaits

These five casino hotels redefine what it means to experience luxury and gaming. Whether you’re drawn to the timeless elegance of The Bellagio, the tropical allure of Atlantis, or the futuristic design of Marina Bay Sands, each destination offers something unique. For those who seek the ultimate in luxury, entertainment, and gaming, these casino hotels are the perfect choice for an extraordinary getaway.

The newest version of Sonos’ mobile app is still very bad—so bad, the company is considering ditching the newly redesigned version of the app and bringing back the older version. This news, reported by The Verge, comes along with reports that Sonos is also laying off 100 employees. Indeed, not a great time for the swanky speaker company.

Things first went awry for Sonos when it released the new version of its app in May. It was met with almost universal disdain. Users found the new app format made it difficult to connect to a network, queue up songs, or even change the volume. One of the key complaints was that many of the accessibility features in the legacy app were either poorly implemented in the redesign or removed from the platform entirely. Some users say the app is nigh unusable for blind Sonos owners.

Sonos has at least acknowledged its blunder since the bungled rollout, but the company has yet to fix many of the issues at hand. CEO Patrick Spence has said the fiasco may cost the company upwards of $30 million and has led to it delaying two new hardware products.

Hence the potential frantic backtracking to a version of the Sonos app that actually worked. It isn’t clear whether Sonos will actually let users switch to the previous app version or when such a capability will be available. For now, Sonos users will just have to keep slogging through it.

Here’s some other news from the world of consumer tech this week.

BMW Uno

Great news for anybody who loves the card game Uno and also owns a BMW: You can now combine both of those interests without worrying about losing cards beneath the floor mats.

Uno Car Party! will let riders play Uno together in the vehicle, using a combination of their own phones and the display screens on the car’s dashboard. The new feature—coming to the BMW X3 and select Mini models on August 21—is a joint effort of the game company Mattel and the cloud-based game service AirConsole. This is the same partnership that brought the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? quiz game to BMW cabins a couple of years ago.

It’s sure to be good fun, but just know that you can’t play card games while driving down the road, lucky for all the other humans and robots on the road. Save it for ferry rides.

Browser Hell

Descend into Hell via Google Chrome, because Diablo is playable on a web browser now. This capability comes via a fan-made, open-source project called Diabloweb that is available on GitHub. The game includes the 1997 Diablo, along with its expansion, Hellfire. It takes a teensy bit of setup (you need to download the game and run it locally), but before long you’ll be able to hack and slash some demons on just about any browser you choose.

Sure, it’s not quite as impressive as running Doom on a pregnancy test or strain of gut fauna, but being able to smoothly play one of the most renowned video games right there in your browser is still pretty nifty.

Starlunk

Starlink, the satellite internet division of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, plans to start offering direct-to-cell access, which will beam its connectivity to cell phone users in a partnership with mobile provider T-Mobile. Other cell providers like Verizon and AT&T don’t seem to like that development very much.

This week, Starlink’s competitors filed petitions to deny Starlink’s efforts to implement its cell service with the US Federal Communications Commission, which regulates how satellite internet is distributed in the US (and beyond, once the satellites are up there).

TL;DR: If you want a convenient interface to take calls, manage navigation, and change songs, get the Seven-Inch Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on sale for $79.97 (reg. $139). 

On a road trip, pretty much anything that’d take your eyes off the road falls to the passenger. That means navigation, music selection, and maybe they screen your calls for you. Unfortunately, you might not always have your favorite passenger while you’re on the road, but a good wireless car display is the next best thing. Graduate from screening calls to calls on screen and check out what this display can do. 

This seven-inch Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Display simplifies navigation, media, and more by giving you one interface — and you don’t have to look at your phone to use it. Plus, this versatile car display is on sale for 42% off. This is your chance to get one for $79.97 instead of $139. 

How is this better than a phone mount?

A phone mount is good for a lot of things, but you’re still stuck with a small screen, and it doesn’t do much for cars without Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. This mount takes your older car into the modern age with a 1024×600 screen you can wirelessly connect your phone to. Then it’s distraction-free navigation, media, and hands-free calls. It even takes voice commands. 

Installing your display is super simple. You can mount it onto smooth surfaces like windshields or dashboards with the included suction lock, or attach it to your dash with the pad mounting disk. Either way, the process is quick and painless. Your display also comes with a car charger, 3.5mm audio cable, and USB-C to USB-A cable for a quick and easy setup.

Your new favorite passenger

Add some modern amenities to your ride. 

Mashable Deals

Get the Seven-Inch Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Compatibility for $79.97. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times’ revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

Mashable Top Stories

Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Sunday, August 18, 2024:

Across“Oh, and another thing …”Part of the plane that’s last to get off, usuallyFruit with orange flesh and a large pitCelebrityHave a relaxed get-togetherDownWhere the funny bone is foundWhat a dog may be let off at a dog park”Miracle on 34th Street” figureInstrument with pipesAssociation: Abbr.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

There are so many wonderful TVs now available, there’s a good chance even those that didn’t make our top picks could be a fantastic option for you. Here are some of our favorites that just missed the cut.

Samsung S95C: As noted above, the S95C (8/10, WIRED Recommends) remains a fantastic choice. It may even be the better option for those who don’t want or need the matte screen of the 2024 model, still standing as one of the very best OLED TVs you can buy—especially given its seriously accessible sale pricing.

Sony Bravia 7: The Bravia 7 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a gorgeous display, offering brilliant brightness, naturalistic colors, and suave finesse in the subtle details. Its biggest knock is poor off-axis viewing, which could be tough to swallow at its high price. Otherwise, it’s worth consideration for fans of that Sony glow.

Hisense U8K: Though the U8N is a whole lot brighter, the U8K (8/10, WIRED Recommends) was one of last year’s very brightest, and it adds plenty of other bounty—from excellent contrast to sweet gaming features. It’s still well worth considering if you can find it for a sale price well below the U8N.

Samsung QN90B: Another great deal while still available, Samsung’s QN90B (8/10, WIRED Recommends) was long our favorite bright-room TV. It’s available in a wide range of sizes and provides a bright and colorful picture and plenty of goodies—especially enticing considering its continuously sinking price tag.

The iPhone 16 rumors are flooding in – and we’re curious about how it’ll be different from the iPhone 15.

We’re hearing tons whispers about a possible camera redesign for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are also getting some camera upgrades – as well as a possible new bronze color. Here’s a compilation of all the credible rumors about next year’s iPhone 16 line.

iPhone 16 rumors: Quick summary

The IPhone 16 will reportedly have a new capture button to give users easy access to photo and video functions

The bezels on the next-generation iPhone 16 will reportedly be thinner than ever

The iPhone 16 Pro models will drop the Blue Titanium colorway in favor of a new hue, possibly rose or bronze

Night Mode and ultrawide lenses on the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to get a boost

iPhone 16 release date

You may be wondering, “When will the iPhone 16 be announced?” The iPhone 16 release date is expected to be some time in September. To further nail down a specific date, Apple usually hosts the iPhone event on the second week on September, typically on a Tuesday.

As such, our prediction is that the iPhone 16 event will likely fall on Sept. 10.

After Apple has its whole shebang of an event showcasing the next-generation handsets, the iPhones typically ship about a week or two later.

In the past, Apple has deviated from this cadence due to reported production hindrances (e.g., supply chain issues). For example, the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 14 Plus shipped in October, but typically, we get new iPhones unveiled some time during the first half of September every year.

iPhone 16 design

Let’s dive into arguably the most important aspect of the iPhone’s design: the screen.

There haven’t been any significant changes to the display sizes since the iPhone 12, but according to reliable leaker Unknownz21, the upper-tier iPhone 16 models are going to be a little bit more unwieldy in your hands. For an overview of how the iPhone 16 may look, here are some renders:

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As you can see, you’ll find the Action Button, which was left out of the lower-tier models on the current generation iPhone, now present on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. More on that later.

Display

The iPhone 16 Pro will reportedly have a 6.3-inch display while the iPhone 16 Pro Max will pack a 6.9-inch panel. You may be wondering, “What about the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus? Will they get a screen size bump, too?” The answer is likely no. The lower-tier models will reportedly have the same display sizes as their predecessors.

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iPhone 15 screen sizes

iPhone 15 – 6.1 inches

iPhone 15 Plus – 6.7 inches

iPhone 15 Pro – 6.1 inches

iPhone 15 Pro Max – 6.7 inches

iPhone 16 screen sizes (rumored)

iPhone 16 – 6.1 inches

iPhone 16 Plus – 6.7 inches

iPhone 16 Pro – 6.3 inches

iPhone 16 Pro Max – 6.9 inches

Ross Young, a well-known display analyst and Apple leaker, was the first to claim that the iPhone 16 Pro models will have larger screens. 

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However, he offered slightly different numbers: 6.2 inches and 6.8 inches. What could be the reason behind the discrepancy? According to MacRumors, it’s “likely due to the difference between actual display area and viewable display area.”

Another rumor we’re hearing is that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will continue to have 60Hz refresh-rate displays. This is a little disappointing considering other phones in the market at least have 90Hz screens, making navigating through the UI smoother, zippier and seamless.

Finally, according to MacRumors, citing popular Weibo leaker “Instant Digital,” the iPhone 16 Pro will reportedly have a 20% brighter display for SDR content. In other words, the iPhone 16 Pro will reportedly emanate up to 1,200 nits of brightness.

Thinner bezels

The iPhone 16 will also reportedly have slimmer bezels, according to a report from The Elec (h/t MacRumors). Apple is tipped to be using something called Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology, which reduces the internal footprint of the circuitry inside, allowing for thinner bezels (without sacrificing anything important aspects like display performance, for example).

Thinner bezels means that the iPhone 16 series should yield more screen real estate for users.

In fact, according to popular leaker IceUniverse, the iPhone 16 Pro models will have the world’s narrowest bezels.

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A tipster from Weibo concurred with IceUniverse’s claim, adding that the iPhone 16 Pro series will have the following bezel measurements:

For reference, the iPhone 15 Pro models’ bezels have a thickness of about 1.71mm, give or take.

Dimensions

Thanks to yet another leak from IceUniverse, it appears that we now have information of the most premium next-generation iPhone:

According to the aforementioned measurements, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is bigger than its predecessor: 1mm thicker, 3.1mm taller, and 0.88mm wider.

Action Button

A report from MacRumors claims that every single model in the iPhone 16 line will feature an Action Button — not just the iPhone 15 Pro variants. The current-gen iPhone 15 Pro models’ Action Button can be programmed to launch a range of apps and functions, including Flashlight, Camera, Silent Mode, Voice Memo, Focus, Magnifier, Translate (coming to iOS 17.2), and a range of accessibility features.

When iPhone 16 drops, however, the rumor mill states that Apple will add more functionality to the Action Button.

Capture Button

The Action Button was all the rage for the iPhone 15 series, however, according to MacRumors and The Information, a new Capture Button will be one of the biggest selling points for the iPhone 16. Reportedly placed slightly under the power button, the Capture Button is a camera-focused feature that can do the following:

Mashable Light Speed

Zoom in and out of photos/videos with swiping gestures

Allows users to focus on subjects

Activates the shutter button

While MacRumors and The Information both concur that Apple is testing a “capture button” on the iPhone 16, both aren’t on the same page on whether it’s a mechanical button or a capacitive one. MacRumors says it’s the latter, but The Information claims it’s both.

Solid-state buttons

Apple reportedly planned on introducing solid-state buttons with the iPhone 15 Pro models, but instead, we got a customizable Action Button. For the uninitiated, solid-state buttons aren’t buttons per se – they’re panels that feature haptic feedback sensations that simulate real button presses (Think of the iPhone SE series’ Home button). On the plus side, the solid-state buttons aren’t totally out of the picture. According to respected Apple leaker and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is working on debuting solid-state buttons on the iPhone 16 Pro models instead.

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Kuo added that these solid-state buttons will add two additional Taptic Engines, which will help fire off tangible feedback to users. (If this is true, the number of Taptic Engines in the iPhone 16 will increase to three — up from one.)

According to a tip from Weibo (via MacRumors), the Action Button on the iPhone 16 Pro will be a solid-state button and sit flush against the chassis. To make room for this change, Apple will reportedly move the mmWave antenna to the left of the iPhone 16 Pro as opposed to the right. This Weibo tip comes from a leaker with the moniker “Instant Digital,” a bean spiller that reportedly has an accurate track record, according to MacRumors.

iPhone 16 colors

According to a leak dropped on X, the iPhone 16 comes in five colors: white, black, blue, green, and pink.

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The iPhone 16 Plus is expected to come in the same colorways.

The iPhone 16 Pro, on the other hand, is expected to offer a bronze colorway, according to a Weibo-based leaker. The bean spiller claims that this will replace the Blue Titanium color offered for the iPhone 15 Pro, which contradicts reports that this color will be replaced by a rose-like color.

As MacRumors pointed out, it’s possible that both leakers may have seen the same color, but interpreted them differently.

A late July leak from Sonny Dickson didn’t show the new color that will supposedly replace Blue Titanium, however, it does reveal the other three colors that will possibly be unveiled in September for the iPhone 16 Pro models: white, black, and a natural gray color.

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But then, Aug. 16, Sonny Dickson revealed all the colorways of the iPhone 16 Pro, including the reported bronze color. It’s definitely not a “rose-like color.”

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iPhone 16 Apple Intelligence

Similar to the iPhone 15 series, Apple Intelligence, the Cupertino-based tech giant’s new suite of AI features announced at WWDC 2024, the only phones that likely support Apple Intelligence are the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

With iOS 18, the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to get new AI perks that boost the likes of Siri, Safari, Mail, Messages, and more. (I got a chance to test Apple Intelligence on my iPhone 15 Pro Max).

Siri is about to get a whole lot smarter.

Here’s a guide on the Apple Intelligence features that will likely be present in time for the iPhone 16 launch.

Other Apple Intelligence features, like Genmoji and Image Playground, will likely be delayed.

iPhone 16 cameras

Apple debuted a new zoom lens with a “tetra-prism” design on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which means that engineers found a way to “fold” the shooter so that it still has telephoto capabilities without taking up too much space. This new camera increases the Pro Max’s optical zoom from 3x to 5x.

iPhone 15 Pro

However, according to Digital Chat Station (DCS), a bean-spiller on the Chinese social media site Weibo, both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will get the new tetra-prism telephoto camera.

DCS also added that the iPhone 16 Pro Max specifically is getting the Sony IMX903 sensor, an upgrade from the Sony IMX803 sensor. This means that the iPhone 16 Pro Max wide lens will have a larger sensor size, allowing for more light gathering for better photos and videos in low-light conditions.

According to Jeff Pu, a tech analyst from Haitong International Securities (a Hong Kong investment firm), the ultrawide cameras are getting a boost, too.

Pu stated tthe iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models will also feature a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera with better light gathering. As such, camera performance in dimmer environments should improve. As it stands now, the iPhone 15 Pro models have a 12MP ultrawide camera.

The ultrawide camera is perfect for taking landscape photos, allowing you to capture more scenery. However, compared to the main camera, the ultrawide lens tends to deliver a slight drop in crispness and sharpness. If this rumor is true, the new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera may ameliorate this minor foible.

Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple will upgrade the rear cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro models, introducing a stacked design. What will a stacked design do? According to Apple Insider, it increases light capture and provides wider dynamic range, so Night Mode should get a sweet boost.

Finally, it’s worth pointing out that the iPhone 16 Pro, as we reported in April, will allegedly tackle lens flare and ghosting issues by using anti-reflective coating on the cameras.

As far as the iPhone 16 is concerned, according to a photo leak on X, Apple has rearranged the rear cameras for its entry-level devices from a diagonal configuration to a stacked design.

iPhone 16 battery life

As we reported in early April, a Weibo leaker by the name of “OvO Baby Sauce OvO” seemingly unveiled the new new battery sizes across the iPhone 16 lineup:

All the iPhone 16 models have some sort of increase from two to six percent except for the iPhone 16 Plus, which reportedly has a reduction of nearly nine percent compared to the iPhone 15 Plus.

Keep in mind that an increase in battery size doesn’t necessarily mean that the device will deliver longer battery life. And in the same vein, a battery size reduction doesn’t necessarily lead to shorter runtimes. There are other aspects at play (the display’s efficiency, for example). So we won’t know for sure how battery life is affected until we get the phones in our hands.

It’s also worth noting that Kuo claimed that Apple is increasing the the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s “battery energy density,”

iPhone 16 specs

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are equipped with 8GB of RAM while the lower-tier models, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max, are stuck with their predecessors’ 6GB of RAM. If that bums you out, don’t worry. According to Pu, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to join the 8GB of RAM bandwagon, too.

iPhone 15 lineup

Storage

According to news aggregator account “yeux1122” from Naver, a Korean blog, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature options that offer 2TB of storage.

That is double the current max storage capacity of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Chipset

In recent years, Apple has followed the trend of putting last year’s chip into the two entry-level models while the Pro models, the Pro and the Pro Max, get the new-generation chip. For example, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus got the A16 Bionic chip, the same inside the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. However, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max got outfitted with the new A17 Pro chips.

If this pattern continues, it should follow that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus get the A17 Pro while the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max get the A18 chips. Pu hinted that this is how it will be for the iPhone 16 line, hinting that the A17 Pro will reportedly be less efficient. In other words, the iPhone 16 models equipped with this chip may take a battery life hit. This is because the next-generation chip will offer tremendous performance gains at the expense of power efficiency.

However, another rumor tells a different story.

According to an alleged iOS 18 code leak from MacRumors, the entire iPhone 16 line will get an A18 chip. However, there’s a chance that Apple will use a “Pro” identifier name to differentiate from the standard and Pro models (e.g., A18 chip and A18 Pro).

The iPhone 16 Pro models will also reportedly support Wi-Fi 7 (current models support WiFi 6E). Wi-Fi 7 should offer zippy transfer speeds that exceed 40 Gbps, quadrupling what WiFi 6E can do.

According to Pu (via 9to5Mac), the iPhone 16 Pro will come with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 modem, which can reach a 5G download rate of up to 7.5 Gbps.

We’ll periodically update this rumor hub as new iPhone 16 leaks trickle in, so be sure to bookmark this page. 

We’ve had an Ultimate Ears Boom speaker atop our list for years now, and for good reason. The middle child of the UE portable lineup is fun and convenient, and puts out some of the most pleasant and balanced sound for its size on the market. The Boom 4 is our latest pick, with the most notable difference from 2018’s Boom 3 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) being a USB-C charging port. Why mess with near perfection, right?

We’ve spent a few days listening to the latest version, and even as the world has changed around it, the latest Boom still hits all the right notes for smooth, clear, and groovy sound. As before, the waterproof cylinder comes in multiple colors, is as durable as a chunk of wood, and gives you over 100 feet of Bluetooth range. It has a two-year warranty and connects to the UE app to unlock an EQ, connection to other Ultimate Ears speakers, and more. —Ryan Waniata

15-hour battery life, USB-C charging, IP67 dust/water resistance

★ Also Great: If you like to shake the room even if the “room” is the Great Outdoors, the latest Charge from JBL ($180) is an ultra-portable banger. The speaker is IP67-rated against dust and moisture and offers a great battery life. It has up to eight different finishes and the ability to charge your phone while off the grid. Its tubular shape is designed to fit neatly into your hand, and just as important, it’s capable of kicking the party right off if you want it to. It’s not a blunt instrument, but its prodigious and frankly unlikely low-frequency response never stops surprising. If it’s portable party time you’re after, JBL has you covered in fine style. —Simon Lucas

20-hour battery life, USB-C charging, IP67 dust/water resistance

The next crop of M4 Macs are coming soon, according to Apple leaker Mark Gurman. The first group of M4 Macs are reportedly due later this year (while a few other sets are dropping next year).

We got a sneak peek of the M4 chip’s power when Apple introduced it alongside the iPad Pro. This is the first time the Cupertino-based tech giant has ever rolled out an M-series chip on an iPad before debuting it on a Mac.

Why did Apple make this move? We’re not sure. Perhaps Apple wanted to give us an idea of its beastly capabilities before it rolls out to its laptops and computers. Based on the in-house performance figures we got for the M4 iPad Pro, the M4 Macs are likely going to blow us away.

That being said, let’s take a look at all the leaks and rumors we’ve been hearing across all the Macs.

M4 MacBook Pro

Just like the M3 MacBooks that debuted during last October’s “Scary Fast” event, we’re anticipating the following M4 MacBook models this year:

14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 (cheapest)

14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro

14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max

16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro

16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max (priciest)

Apple reports that the M4 processor is 50% faster than the M2 CPU and boasts a four-fold increase in rendering performance

M4 MacBook Pro release date

According to an April report from Gurman, the next MacBook Pro will launch sometime later this year. While he didn’t provide an exact date, it’s expected to arrive before the M4 MacBook Air, which is slated for a spring 2025 release.

This aligns with a rumor from Ross Young, another well-regarded analyst. Young shared on his subscriber-only feed on X (formerly Twitter) that Apple fans can expect an M4 MacBook Pro release ‘later this year.’

Historically, Apple has held Mac events in October or November, making it likely that the new M4 MacBook Pro will be unveiled during that timeframe. However, as BGR noted, October seems to be the most probable date.

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According to Gurman, the entry-level M4 14-inch MacBook Pro will be released first, followed by the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring the more powerful M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, likely at the end of 2024 or early 2025.

M4 MacBook Pro design

There haven’t been any design rumors about the M4 MacBook Pro, but a major overhaul seems unlikely. According to MacRumors, Apple is planning a future MacBook launch with a new OLED display, though this isn’t expected until 2026.

M4 MacBook Air

According to Gurman, Apple is working on new M4 MacBook Air models, but they won’t be released until next year.

New 13.6-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air models are likely to launch sometime next spring.

M4 iMac

According to Gurman, a new M4 24-inch iMac, like the M4 MacBook Pro, is slated for a late 2024 launch

Other than the date, we don’t have any other additional details.

M4 Mac mini

We have several meaty details about the M4 Mac mini. According to Gurman, it will be available in two configurations: M4 and M4 Pro, and is expected to launch either at the end of 2024 or early 2025.

Mac mini

While the Mac mini may not undergo a dramatic design change, it will be significantly smaller. The Mac mini hasn’t had a major design update since 2010. As 9to5Mac noted, it lost its DVD drive and changed I/O options, but has consistently been a 7.7-inch aluminum slab. The new model is anticipated to be the smallest desktop Apple has ever produced.

The chassis is reportedly about the size of an Apple TV. Although the M4 Mac mini will have a smaller overall footprint, it is expected to be slightly taller than the current generation.

M4 Mac Studio

According to Gurman, the M4 Mac Studio is also set for a refresh, but not until mid-2025.

M4 Mac Pro

The April Bloomberg report mentioned earlier states that the next Mac Pro, featuring an M4 Ultra chip, is expected to launch in the second half of 2025.

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine.

Vacuum decay, a process that could end the universe as we know it, may happen 10,000 times sooner than expected. Fortunately, it still won’t happen for a very, very long time.

When physicists speak of “the vacuum,” the term sounds as though it refers to empty space, and in a sense it does. More specifically, it refers to a set of defaults, like settings on a control board. When the quantum fields that permeate space sit at these default values, you consider space to be empty. Small tweaks to the settings create particles—turn the electromagnetic field up a bit, and you get a photon. Big tweaks, on the other hand, are best thought of as new defaults altogether. They create a different definition of empty space, with different traits.

One quantum field is special because its default value can change. Called the Higgs field, it controls the mass of many fundamental particles, like electrons and quarks. Unlike every other quantum field physicists have discovered, the Higgs field has a default value above zero. Dialing the Higgs field value up or down would increase or decrease the mass of electrons and other particles. If the setting of the Higgs field were zero, those particles would be massless.

We could stay at the nonzero default for eternity, were it not for quantum mechanics. A quantum field can “tunnel,” jumping to a new, lower-energy value even if it doesn’t have enough energy to pass through the higher-energy intermediate settings, an effect akin to tunneling through a solid wall.

For this to happen, you need to have a lower-energy state to tunnel to. And before building the Large Hadron Collider, physicists thought that the current state of the Higgs field could be the lowest. That belief has now changed.

The curve that represents the energy required for different settings of the Higgs field was always known to resemble a sombrero with an upturned brim. The current setting of the Higgs field can be pictured as a ball resting at the bottom of the brim.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for August 19’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT’s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

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Here are today’s Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:

Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today’s Connections #435 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

Music Genres: BLUES, COUNTRY, FOLK, ROCK

Bratwurst Go-Withs: BRAT, BUN, MUSTARD, SAUERKRAUT

Yoga Poses: CHAIR, MOUNTAIN, TREE, WARRIOR

Starting with Pixar Movies: COCONUT, SOULMATE, UPDO, WALLET

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday’s Connections.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.