On a warm night in San Francisco earlier this week, Elon Musk stood on a small round coffee table bathed in purple light. Crowds of AI engineers and researchers gathered around him, some sitting on a nearby staircase, as the billionaire suggested they join his fledgling AI company xAI.

At the event, a recruiting party for potential employees, Musk’s main selling point was speed – he praised the company’s speed in developing products and developing AI tools in a fast and flexible environment, comparing xAI to an SR-71 jet . “No SR-71 Blackbird has ever been shot down and it had only one strategy: to accelerate,” Musk said, according to one attendee.

The location was fitting: The Pioneer Building in the city’s Mission District, a 122-year-old former truck factory and most recently home to OpenAI, ChatGPT’s juggernaut maker led by co-founder Sam Altman. xAI had just moved into the building, Musk said, attendees said Forbes.

Musk is not afraid to deal with OpenAI. He co-founded the company with Altman and others in 2015 before leaving three years later after an alleged internal power struggle. Since then, Musk has sued the company twice, accusing it of abandoning its mission to develop artificial intelligence to benefit humanity. (He filed his last lawsuit in August after withdrawing a similar lawsuit in June.)

“He really wants to be the counterpart to OpenAI,” said one of the participants, Marvin von Hagen Forbes when asked about the key takeaways from the evening. “They really want to move on and say, ‘Okay, we’re the good guys now.'”

At the event, Musk spoke to about 150 people, mostly men, and answered questions from attendees for about an hour and a half. During the talk, Musk said he didn’t trust OpenAI, calling it “closed-loop, maximum-profit AI,” one attendee said.

xAI did not respond to a request for comment.

Musk’s comments – as well as the location of the office – highlight the upcoming role OpenAI plays for xAI. Musk hosted the event on the same day as OpenAI’s annual Dev Day, which some believe was more than a coincidence. At the event, Musk joked about the development of “BasedGPT.” xAI cleared out OpenAI’s furniture from the office the day before the event, but at least one remnant remains: A printed photo clipping of OpenAI President Greg Brockman hangs on the ceiling of one of the rooms, two attendees said. (Brockman is currently on leave from OpenAI until the end of the year.) Von Hagen estimated that about 10 current OpenAI employees were in attendance. The Verge previously reported some details of the open house.

“He really wants to be the counterpart to OpenAI. They really want to move on and say, ‘Okay, we’re the good guys now.'”

The gap between xAI and OpenAI is huge. Altman has become the face of generative AI and ChatGPT is a household name. Meanwhile, xAI, which launched last July, is best known for its Grok AI model, a paid subscription feature on X, the social platform that Musk owns. Earlier this week, OpenAI closed a $6.6 billion funding round at a $157 billion valuation, the largest venture capital funding round ever. But Musk hasn’t slowed down when it comes to raising money. In May, xAI announced a $6 billion Series B from backers including Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital and Valor Equity Partners, with a valuation of $24 billion.

During the extensive question-and-answer session, Musk touched on several topics. He said xAI will open source its models about nine months after release. When asked what he recommends to young people in AI, he went into pitch mode and said they should work at xAI, just like Musk’s 18-year-old son, who just started at the company. When he traveled to Mars with his other company, SpaceX, he reiterated that the schedule would be “2028 in the best case, 2030 in the realistic case,” one participant recalled. When asked about a succession plan if he retires, he said he is more focused on building artificial general intelligence.

The company also had set up a station where attendees could demonstrate an unannounced imaging model that xAI had developed itself, attendees said. At one point, it showed an AI-generated image of a man in a strawberry costume, according to photos viewed by Forbes.

The event had a party atmosphere with a nerdy twist. The first floor of the office was darkly lit like a club, participants said, with an open bar, hord’oeuvres and a DJ playing music programmed in real time. Chess boards were set up and some participants challenged each other to games. Security was tight. Attendees passed through metal detectors and had their bags checked before entering, while multiple security guards roamed the building.

Still, attendees were surprised at how close they were able to get to Musk, who is said to be the richest person in the world Forbes 400 list was released earlier this week. “I was about three feet away from him,” said Andrew Gao, a Stanford student known on X for his posts about AI Forbes. “I couldn’t have touched him, but we could have high fived.”

The day after the event, von Hagen posted on X about the differences between OpenAI’s Dev Day and xAI’s Open Day. He said the OpenAI meeting felt more like an Apple event, while the xAI meeting was less sophisticated.

Musk responded to his post: “OpenAI certainly didn’t get off to a great start.”

REDWOOD CITY, California – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) sets a new standard in hockey authenticity with EA SPORTS™ NHL® 25now available worldwide on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S. The new ICE-Q gameplay system gives players the time and space to control every inch of the ice, bringing a whole new level of hockey intelligence to EA SPORTS NHL. There’s also a revamped Franchise mode, a revamped presentation with the brand new Grudge Match system, and the integration of SAPIEN technology to improve character similarities. NHL25 is the truest representation of the sport.

“EA SPORTS NHL25 brings an unprecedented level of intelligence to the franchise with the introduction of ICE-Q,” said Chris Haluke, Senior Producer for EA SPORTS NHL. “Whether it’s creating time and space in gameplay with ICE-Q or running the front office with the revamped Franchise Mode, this year’s game offers a truly immersive NHL experience that will appeal to both veterans of the game and Chel- will appeal to newcomers.”

EA SPORTS NHL25 launches today with a number of exciting new features:

• ICE-Q is true hockey intelligence: Based on a new logic-driven animation system, ICE-Q responds to contextual events on the ice with unprecedented authenticity. Next-generation vision control, powerful AI and reactive actions form the basis of Chel’s gameplay overhaul, while skill-based one-timers provide authentic gameplay tension as offensive excitement and anticipation mix with defensive concern and anticipation. Learn more about the brand new features in the Deep Dive trailer here and in the blog post here.

• Revamped Franchise Mode: Franchise mode is being overhauled NHL25. Starting with the Franchise Hub, streamlined navigation gives players access to new, relevant and easy-to-understand information. Contract clauses and trade protections now add authenticity and give players insight into what happened during negotiations. Additionally, new conversation features improve negotiations by making commitments, waivers and countermeasures faster and more intuitive. Learn more about the revamped Franchise mode in the deep dive trailer here and the blog post here.

• Immersive presentation updates: Hockey isn’t just built differently NHL25it looks different. The new Grudge Match System tracks the history of matchups between teams in online and offline modes. The characters in the game have received an impressive visual overhaul with the introduction of SAPIEN technology, and the new Infinite Camera System completely overhauls replays with more variety and authenticity of viewpoints. Hypestage introduces a universal 3D platform that creates dynamic and immersive storytelling moments at major games and live events throughout the year. Find out more about the improved presentation with the blog post here.

• Hockey Ultimate Team Innovations – The new Wildcard mode implements unique rule sets per competitive cycle – such as different salary cap systems, a specific number of players from a specific team or nation, and more. Additionally, with the new HUT XP progression system, all XP earned in Squad Battles, Rivals and Wild Card will be consolidated into a single progression path. Learn more about the improvements to HUT in the deep dive trailer here and the blog post here.

• New structure for WOC live events – An updated World of Chel live event structure and schedule offers players a new way to conquer the ice. A new playlist structure keeps the selection of game modes feeling fresh, along with new competitive tournaments and rewards, metas and design-focused themes, as well as the ability to view all current and past offerings in WOC.

These features and more are now available in EA SPORTS NHL25Additional post-launch content will be announced soon.

Developed by EA Vancouver, EA SPORTS NHL25 is rated E10+ and is now available worldwide on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S. Also available now: EA SPORTS NHL25 The Deluxe Edition includes 4600 NHL Points, the HUT NHL Player Pack, the HUT “Hockey is Family” Objectives Choice Pack (x2, 82 OVR), the HUT Cover Athlete Choice Pack (85 OVR, 1 of 8) and the HUT Wildcard Starter Choice Pack (84 OVR). , 1 of 6), WOC Battle Pass XP Boost (x2) and exclusive WOC player set. For more information about EA SPORTS NHL, visit

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for all our trailers and videos. Join the EA SPORTS NHL community on TikTok and Instagram. You can also follow us on X at @easportsnhl to stay up to date with the latest news.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and PCs.

In fiscal year 2024, EA had GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is known for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands including EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL, Need for Speed™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and EA SPORTS F1®. For more information about EA, visit www.ea.com/news.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Titanfall and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, FIFA and F1 are the property of their respective owners and with permission used.© 2024 Electronic Arts Inc. Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, Frostbite and the EA SPORTS and Frostbite logos are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc.

About the NHL

Founded in 1917, the National Hockey League (NHL®) consists of 32 member clubs. Each roster reflects the league’s international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries all vying for the most valuable and historic trophy in professional sports – the Stanley Cup®. Each year, the NHL entertains more than 670 million fans in the arena and through its national television and radio partners; more than 191 million followers – league, team and player accounts combined – across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube; and more than 100 million fans online at NHL.com. The league broadcasts games in more than 160 countries and territories through its rights holders, including ESPN, WBD Sports and NHL Network in the United States; Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada; Viaplay in the Nordics, Baltics, Poland and the United Kingdom; MTV3 in Finland; Nova in the Czech Republic and Slovakia; Sky Sports and ProSieben in Germany; MySports in Switzerland; and CCTV5+ in China; and reaches fans around the world with games available to stream in every country. The free NHL® app allows fans to interact with the league’s digital assets on mobile devices. on nine social media platforms; on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio™; and on NHL.com, available in eight languages ​​and with unprecedented access to player and team statistics as well as all regular season and playoff game results since the league’s inception, powered by SAP. NHL Productions develops compelling original programming with unparalleled access to players, coaches, and league and team personnel for distribution across the NHL’s social and digital platforms.

Committed to building healthy and vibrant communities, the NHL uses the sport of ice hockey to celebrate fans of every race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. The NHL’s Hockey Is For Everyone® initiative underscores that the sport’s official policy is inclusion on the ice, in locker rooms, boardrooms and in the stands. The NHL expands access and opportunities for people of all backgrounds and abilities to play ice hockey, promotes a more inclusive environment and promotes the sport through greater diversity of participants. To date, the NHL has invested more than $100 million in youth hockey and grassroots soccer programs and has committed to investing an additional $5 million in diversity and inclusion programs next year.

NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team trademarks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2024. All rights reserved.

About the National Hockey League Players Association

The National Hockey League Players’ Association, founded in 1967, is a labor organization whose members are the players of the National Hockey League. The NHLPA works on behalf of players in a variety of disciplines such as labor relations, product licensing, marketing, international hockey and community relations to advance their efforts to advance its members and the game of hockey. In 1999, the NHLPA Goals & Dreams Fund was created to give players the opportunity to give back to the game they love. Over the past 24 years, more than 80,000 vulnerable children in 34 countries have benefited from players’ donations of hockey equipment. NHLPA Goals & Dreams has donated more than $25 million to grassroots hockey programs, making it the largest program of its kind. For more information about the NHLPA, visit www.nhlpa.com.

NHLPA, National Hockey League Players’ Association and the NHLPA logo are registered trademarks of NHLPA and are used under license. © NHLPA. All rights reserved.

The original Google Pixel Fold was a bit of a strange one. Sure, it had devoted fans, but a few things stopped it from being as popular as the competition. Fortunately, the tech giant went back to the drawing board with the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. After all, it’s not the Fold 2. It’s now part of the main Pixel 9 family. This means the specs are completely up to date, and it benefits from a complete redesign with a much more familiar form factor.

At a glance, it seems Google has delivered everything you could want from a modern foldable. It’s slimmer, lighter, bigger, and brighter. But the competition has been working hard, too. In our Honor Magic V3 review, we saw a device pushing the boundaries of foldable hardware, while our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review showed a phone polished to near perfection over the years. I wanted to find out if Google’s latest foldable has what it takes to compete with the big hitters from our guide to the best foldable phones. After using it as my main phone for a couple of weeks, here’s what I found out.

Price and availability

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is available to order in most regions across the globe. The 256GB model retails for $1,799 / £1,749, and the 512GB version goes for $,1919 / £1,869. You can buy the phone directly from Google or third-party retailers like Amazon. There’s also the option to spread the cost with a contract deal from most major networks, including Verizon.

Specs

Here are the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold specs:

Features and software

Google chose to launch the Pixel 9 series a little earlier this year, which means the whole lineup ships running Android 14, rather than the fresh new Android 15 that lands in October. It’s not something that matters much in reality; the Pixel UI is already jam-packed with exclusive features and AI tricks, but it is unusual for Google.

This means the experience of using it is very familiar, and as always, the OS is about as clean and bloat-free as it gets. It’s exactly what you want on a premium handset like this, and Google’s friendly-looking Pixel UI adds to the charm.

Of course, being a large-format foldable, multitasking is more important than with your typical bar phone, and I have mixed feelings about Google’s approach. On one hand, it’s extremely intuitive, and you can quickly open apps side by side whenever you like. It’s easy to save pairs of apps you frequently use together, too.

On the other hand, it’s a little too simplistic for power users. There’s no floating window support, so you only ever get two apps at once, unless you’re using the pop-out player of the YouTube app. Other brands offer much more in this regard, especially OnePlus; the Open Canvas feature is light-years ahead of what Google is doing. There’s also no way to move multiple apps around simultaneously, as with all Pixel phones. It’s nothing new, but it still annoys me.

That’s all basic stuff, but since it’s 2024, no flagship phone launch is complete without mention of AI. With the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, you get all the same AI features as the other Pixel phones, including tools to help you write, edit images, and summarize notifications and emails, plus Google’s new Gemini assistant.

I don’t use most of these AI features often, but there are two exceptions. The first is Gemini. I was already a frequent user of Google Assistant, and for the most part, Gemini is the same thing with better contextual awareness and more natural responses. Gemini Live is ridiculously impressive; it feels so much like speaking to a human that it’s almost spooky.

The other feature I use a lot is Circle to Search. It’s the same feature that debuted on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series at the start of the year, and it’s just as useful here. You can quickly circle anything on your screen, and it’ll reverse image search for results and information about the object or place in question.

The problem is that neither of these features are exclusive to Pixel, and I’ve happily used them on other Android devices. Circle to Search is still somewhat exclusive, but the latest Xiaomi 14T models support it too, and I can only imagine that becoming more common.

The exclusive features are far less exciting. There’s the newly redesigned weather app, and it looks lovely, but it’s just a weather app. Then there’s the new screenshots app, which uses AI to make your screenshots more organized and searchable. It’s handy, but Google could have built the function into Photos instead.

Design

Immediately after getting the Pixel 9 Pro Fold out of the box, I was struck by how premium and well-made it feels. Of course, this is an expensive phone, but something about the Pixel makes it feel fancier and more durable than the competition. It’s much slimmer than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and has relatively traditional dimensions on its cover display, which is almost the same size as the non-folding Pixel 9 Pro. This means it feels very natural in the hand when it’s folded down.

Despite being the slimmest foldable in the US market, that’s not the case internationally. I moved into this phone directly after testing Honor’s exceptionally slim and light Magic V3, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold felt like a chunky beast by comparison. It’s not a pain to live with, but despite best efforts, you’ll feel it weighing down your pocket.

The aesthetics match the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup; it has a boxy iPhone-like shape and a matte glass rear with a contrasting metallic camera island. However, unlike the other Pixels, the camera island is off to one side and doesn’t span the phone’s width. I don’t think it looks quite as impressive, but crucially, it’s wide enough to prevent the phone from rocking about on the table.

Another difference is that the Fold has a matte finish on its side rails, and I much prefer this. It means the phone picks up fewer smudges and fingerprints than the mainline Pixel 9 models. However, the hinge is still a high-gloss smudge magnet.

Speaking of the hinge, it’s among the best on any foldable, able to hold its position without springing open or closed at almost any angle. Thankfully, this model isn’t prone to sitting at a slight V-shape like its predecessor was, and it unfolds completely flat every time.

The phone has sweeping curved edges on the right, which makes it more comfortable to grip than the angular Z Fold 6. However, it doesn’t match the left-hand side, which has a squared-off section for the hinge. Overall, it still looks quite nice, but the symmetry of devices like the Fold 6 and Magic V3 does feel a little more modern.

One thing that bugged me throughout my testing was the positioning of the volume rocker. It’s very low down on the right-hand side of this phone, so much so that it felt like a strain to turn the volume down when holding it one-handed. If you have smaller hands or grip your phone differently, you might not have as much trouble, but for me, it was a constant annoyance.

Displays and speakers

Since this is a foldable phone, we’ve got two screens to talk about, so let’s start with the cover display. As I’ve already mentioned, it’s almost the same size as the standard Pixel 9 Pro. It’s also completely flat, and using it feels nice and natural, but there are some differences.

Firstly, you get some very chunky bezels on this screen, and quite a sizable camera cutout, too. In use, it didn’t bother me at all, but it looks a little retro compared to modern flagship slab phones. It’s a 120Hz OLED panel, but it’s not LTPO, so it can only switch between 60-120Hz. This isn’t something you’ll notice, but it’s a peculiar omission on the screen you’ll use most often and could cost some battery life.

Otherwise, it’s a lovely display to live with. It’s nice and spacious, with a peak brightness of 2700 nits making it visible on the sunniest days, and the fully flat design eliminates the odd reflections and phantom touches that can happen with curved displays.

Opening the phone, you’ll find a massive 8-inch foldable panel that dwarfs Samsung’s efforts. This one is slightly less bright, maxing out at 1800 nits, but I never had trouble seeing it. It’s also a true LTPO panel, so it’ll shift the refresh rate down as low as 1Hz to conserve battery life.

The crease is still fairly sizable on this model. It’s less noticeable than the Z Fold 6, but it doesn’t come close to matching the shallow groove offered by Chinese brands like Honor, Vivo, and Xiaomi. The screen has a high-gloss protector applied, like Samsung’s, making the crease even more obvious. On the plus side, there’s less friction on your fingertips, and this shiny coating is much less of a fingerprint magnet.

Google’s marketing hails this as the largest display ever on a foldable, and while that’s true in the US, that’s not the case everywhere. Huawei’s gargantuan tri-fold Mate XT is larger, but I also found I had more usable real estate on my Honor Magic V3 and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro. This is mainly due to the curvy corners of the Pixel, which eat into the display space.

That said, it’s still a massive panel. Full-screen content looks wonderful, and there’s loads of room for multitasking with side-by-side apps. I was glad to see that Google has tucked the selfie camera cutout away in the corner, and now it rarely interrupts letterboxed content. That’s something that I wish was true of the Honor Magic V3.

Interestingly, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is one of the only foldables I’ve tried that feels like it’s not forcing you to rotate the display sideways. The speaker positioning means that the one is almost always muffled by my palm in landscape mode, and the almost-square aspect ratio means that your content doesn’t get much larger when you rotate it. It’s not an issue; on the contrary, I enjoyed not having to switch orientation all the time.

The speakers are very impressive, easily among the best of the current foldables. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a slightly better bass response, but you can expect comparable clarity, loud output, and a solid amount of low-end weight.

Google Pixel 9 Pro camera

Disappointingly, the camera hardware is completely unchanged from the original Fold. This phone is still capable of taking some brilliant photos, but a lot of the magic comes from Google’s image processing rather than the hardware.

The main camera has a respectable 48MP resolution, but the ultrawide, 5x telephoto, and selfie cameras are all around 10MP. The auxiliary cameras all have very small sensors, too, especially compared to phones like the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro. This means they’re heavily reliant on night mode when the light gets low.

Hardware woes aside, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold can take some excellent shots, especially in the daylight. Photos have that signature Pixel look with sharp detail, vibrant colors, and a wide dynamic range. The main lens is a great point-and-shoot snapper that hits more often than it misses.

I was less impressed with the 5x telephoto. It’s nice to have, but in less-than-perfect lighting conditions, my photos often came out looking blurry or grainy. It can’t focus very close either, so you don’t get to take telemacro shots, which is one of my favorite ways to use telephoto cameras on other phones.

The selfie cameras failed to wow me as well. Two identical units pierce through each display, and photos tend to look washed out and dull on either one. They’re fine for video calls, but if you’re looking to take an impressive selfie, it’s well worth flipping the phone around and using the rear cameras. Thankfully, on this phone, that’s super easy to do.

Of course, much of the Pixel photography allure comes from its image editing tools and features, and you benefit from all the usual perks on this handset, too. The list includes Best Take, Photo Unblur, Super Res Zoom, and the unique new Add Me feature fresh for the Pixel 9 series.

There’s a new feature exclusive to the Fold called Made You Look. It uses the cover display to show dancing animated characters, and it’s designed to make babies and toddlers look towards the camera. It’s a nice idea, but honestly, I thought at first it was just a gimmick. However, when I tried it with my friend’s kid, it was amazing. They were immediately transfixed by the cover display, making it incredibly easy to snap some photos.

The downside, though, is that this feature uses the selfie camera rather than the rear cameras. I understand the decision, as that’s exactly where the child will be looking, but it means it’s pretty useless in low-light conditions. I wish there was a toggle to choose which camera to use.

Performance

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold features the Tensor G4 chip, just like its non-folding siblings. It comes with a generous 16GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. Thankfully, there’s no 128GB option. That would feel very out of place on a device this pricey.

It’s no secret that the latest Tensor chip is a few steps behind Qualcomm’s best in benchmarks, but I was pleasantly surprised by the day-to-day performance. The phone feels snappy, quick, and responsive, more so than many of its Snapdragon-powered rivals. Whether it’s some kind of optimization or just a very speedy animation style, whatever Google is doing to make the most of the G4 is working well.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold can run challenging games like Zenless Zone Zero without issue, too. I found that the experience was smooth and reliable on maximum graphics settings at 30 fps. However, 60 fps proved too much, and there were quite a few frame drops and stutters that made the game less enjoyable. In this department, there’s still no competition for the picks on our list of the best gaming phones, such as the Asus ROG Phone 8 and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

The haptics are strong and precise, among the best I have felt from any folding phone. This adds to the gaming experience when titles utilize it, and it also makes typing feel much more natural. I was also impressed by the thermal performance. The phone does heat up when playing a challenging title, but it never gets to a concerning level, and it always remains comfortable to grip. It’s an impressive feat given the slim dimensions of this foldable.

Battery

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 4,650mAh battery pack, a respectable size, larger than Samsung’s Z Fold 6. However, it’s not as big as some of the Chinese foldable competition, and it’s a little smaller than the original Pixel Fold, too. In the real world, the Fold never failed to see me to the end of the day, and I’m a fairly heavy user. You’ll certainly be charging it every night, though, as I often only had 10-20% capacity remaining at bedtime. It lasts a little longer than the Samsung, but not by a huge degree.

When it comes to charging, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is woefully slow. I didn’t get on with the Samsung Z Fold 6’s lethargic speeds, but somehow, the Pro Fold is slower even still. It maxes out at just 21W with a wire and 7.5W wirelessly. If you drain the phone fully flat, this means a full charge will take about an hour and 40 minutes. It’s not terrible, but it does mean you have to give charging some forethought. With brands like Vivo and Xiaomi offering 100W+ charging on their foldables, it’s hard to understand why mainstream manufacturers aren’t pushing the boat out a little more.

On the plus side, there are plenty of battery health features built into the Pixel UI. So you can happily charge all night, every night, without fear of nuking your battery.

Should you buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a huge improvement on the original design and is one of the most polished and premium-feeling foldable devices on the market today. It’s not a perfect phone, but despite some shortcomings, the overall experience is excellent and a delight to live with.

I would have loved a faster processor for gaming, but the Tensor G4 still gets the job done surprisingly well, and while I crave more advanced multitasking, there’s no denying the allure of the Pixel’s bloat-free software. If we limit the discussion to phones available in the US market, it’s probably my favorite foldable.

When we talk about phones that are available internationally, things get a lot more complicated. The Honor Magic V3 has a more impressive design, an almost imperceptible crease, better cameras, faster charging, and a bigger battery. It does all of this while being significantly cheaper, too.

However, hardware is only part of the story, and if you want the clean, bloat-free pixel experience, the Honor doesn’t come close. It can’t match the lengthy seven-year support window of the Pixel, either. So, while it’s far from perfect, as a total package, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is still one of the best foldables you can buy.

Alternatives

If you’re not sure that the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is right for you, here are a couple of other excellent foldables to check out.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Samsung’s latest foldable is its most refined model yet, and of course, it’s packed with AI smarts. Samsung’s One UI is one of the most customizable skins around, and it’s the only other book-style foldable to match Google’s seven years of updates and support. For more details, check out our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review.

Honor Magic V3

The Honor Magic V3 has the most impressive hardware of all the current foldables. It’s incredibly slim and lightweight, but despite its size, it still packs top-of-the-line specs and a very big battery. The downside is it lacks some of the more advanced AI features, you don’t get the same length of software support, and the only way to get it in the US is by importing it from Europe or China. If you want the full lowdown, see our Honor Magic V3 review.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will hold a news conference on Friday, while a federal judge in Missouri on Thursday temporarily put President Joe Biden’s latest student loan cancellation plan on hold.

The event is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. EDT. Watch it in the player above.

Just when it briefly looked like the Biden administration had a window of opportunity to move forward with its plan, U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp in Missouri issued an injunction blocking any sweeping cancellation.

Six Republican-led states sought the injunction hours earlier after a federal judge in Georgia decided not to extend a separate order blocking the plan.

The states, led by Missouri’s attorney general, urged Schelp to act quickly, saying the Education Department “could unlawfully cancel hundreds of billions of dollars in student loans en masse as early as Monday.” Schelp called it an easy decision.

The Education Ministry promised to defend its proposal in court.

“This lawsuit was filed by elected Republicans who made it clear that they will stop at nothing to prevent millions of their own constituents from getting relief on their student loans,” the department said in a statement.

Biden’s plan has been on hold since September, when states filed a lawsuit in Georgia saying Biden had exceeded his legal authority. But on Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall decided not to extend the pause after determining that Georgia does not have standing to sue in the case.
Hall dismissed Georgia from the case and referred it to Missouri, where Hall said there is “clear authority” to challenge Biden’s plan.

Supporters of student loan cancellation briefly had a glimmer of hope that the plan would be implemented — Hall’s order was set to expire after Thursday, allowing the Education Department to finalize the rule. But Schelps’ order put the question to rest.

“This is another victory for the American people,” Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in a statement. “The court rightly recognized that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris cannot saddle working Americans with Ivy League debt.”

Biden’s plan would forgive at least some of their student loan debt for an estimated 30 million borrowers.

This would eliminate up to $20,000 in interest for those whose original balances have increased due to out-of-control interest rates. It would also provide relief for those who have been paying off their loans for 20 or 25 years and those who attended college programs where graduate debt is high relative to their income.

Columbus police are investigating a strange find buried in the backyard of a Columbus woman’s East Side home after her videos went viral on TikTok.

“It could be anything,” Columbus Division of Police spokeswoman Jennifer Watson said Friday.

Katie Santry was digging holes for a fence in her backyard when she came across what looked like a buried carpet, she said in a video posted to TikTok earlier this week. She also joked that her house might be haunted, saying her laptop was broken and items had been misplaced.

Santry’s first video has over 3 million views and her entire chain of more than 20 clips about the carpet mystery has accumulated over 100 million views.

A new study from Cornell University provides a stark warning about the climate impacts of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Contrary to the fossil fuel industry’s claims that LNG is a clean “bridge fuel” to a renewable future, the study shows that LNG’s greenhouse gas emissions are even worse than those of coal. This discovery has sparked new calls for the Biden administration to rethink its policies on LNG exports and take stronger action on climate change.

The study, conducted by Cornell scientist Robert Howarth, provides a detailed analysis of the greenhouse gas footprint of LNG produced and exported from the United States. The results are alarming: the climate impact of LNG, measured over a 20-year global warming potential, is 33% higher than that of coal. Even over a 100-year period, which tends to downplay the immediate impact of certain emissions like methane, LNG’s footprint is equal to or greater than that of coal.

The enormous climate footprint of LNG

Howarth’s research highlights the significant environmental costs of LNG. Methane, the main component of natural gas, is more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over a 20-year period. This makes methane leaks, which are widespread throughout the process of LNG extraction, liquefaction, transportation and storage, a crucial factor in LNG’s outsized greenhouse gas footprint.

“Emissions of methane and carbon dioxide released during the extraction, processing, transportation and storage of LNG account for approximately half of the total greenhouse gas footprint,” Howarth explained in the study. This means that while LNG is promoted as a cleaner source of energy, the reality is that methane leaks during extraction and transportation make it one of the most harmful fossil fuels.

To convert natural gas into LNG, the gas must be supercooled to -260 degrees Fahrenheit, a process that requires enormous amounts of energy. The LNG is then transported on ships, many of which burn LNG as fuel, releasing more methane into the atmosphere. Howarth says: “Almost all methane emissions occur upstream when the shale gas is extracted and liquefied. All of this is being exaggerated just to bring liquefied natural gas to market.”

Despite advances in shipping technology, even modern tankers with more fuel-efficient engines leak methane. This leakage further increases the environmental impact of LNG. “Despite better fuel efficiency and lower carbon dioxide emissions, methane still escapes in the tanker’s exhaust,” notes Howarth.

The myth of LNG as a “bridge fuel”

The results of this study go to the heart of the narrative that LNG can serve as a “bridge fuel” to renewable energy. For years, LNG has been marketed as a cleaner alternative to coal and oil, offering a path to a low-carbon economy. But the data shows something different.

Howarth’s study is a clear refutation of this argument. His analysis shows that LNG not only offers no significant climate advantage over coal, but also carries its own risks. The study states: “Liquefied natural gas will always have a larger climate footprint than natural gas, regardless of assumptions about it being a bridge fuel. It’s still a lot worse than coal.”

These findings have significant implications for U.S. energy policy, especially given that the U.S. has become the world’s largest LNG exporter after lifting its LNG export ban in 2016. The vast majority of LNG produced in the United States comes from shale gas extracted through hydraulic fracturing (fracking), a process known for its environmental damage, including methane leaks.

Calls for policy reform and industry accountability

In the wake of the study, climate advocates are once again calling for the Biden administration to take decisive action. Jamie Henn, chief executive of Fossil Free Media, said: “This should be the final nail in the coffin for the false narrative that LNG is somehow a climate solution. “Approving further LNG exports is clearly inconsistent with the public interest.”

Henn’s call is part of a broader movement urging the Biden administration to make its temporary pause on permits for LNG exports permanent. As the climate crisis escalates, advocates argue that further investment in LNG infrastructure is economically and environmentally unsustainable.

Jason Rylander, legal director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, expressed these concerns. “LNG is not a bridge fuel to clean energy. “It’s a highway to climate hell,” Rylander said, emphasizing that expanding LNG infrastructure would tie the U.S. to emissions-intensive energy for decades.

Howarth’s findings are particularly timely as the Biden administration is under pressure to accelerate the clean energy transition. In light of the study, environmental groups are urging the government to prioritize investments in renewable energy over LNG and other fossil fuels.

Global impact and the path forward

The implications of the Cornell study extend beyond U.S. borders. As the world’s largest LNG exporter, the US’s LNG policy has global implications. Because methane is a significant contributor to short-term global warming, LNG exports could undermine global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet climate goals.

Alex Walker, climate finance program manager at Environmental Defense, pointed out that “LNG is not a bridge fuel.” He and other climate advocates emphasize that the future of energy must be based on truly clean alternatives such as wind, solar and energy efficiency measures, rather than fossil fuel-based solutions that exacerbate climate change.

“Liquefied natural gas will always have a larger climate footprint than natural gas or coal,” concludes Howarth. “We urgently need to move away from LNG and focus on renewable energy solutions to truly tackle the climate crisis.”

EUGENE – The caliber of opposing quarterbacks continues to increase for Oregon as it takes on Michigan State and Aidan Chiles.

The Oregon State transfer is completing 56.3% of his passes for 1,058 yards with five touchdowns and eight interceptions and has three rushing scores for the Spartans this season.

The No. 6 Ducks (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) have the No. 6 ranking in pass efficiency defense and No. 15 in passing yards, but have yet to face a passing attack as prolific as MSU’s. Chiles is also the most athletically gifted quarterback UO has faced to date, although he turns the ball over a lot this season.

“He’s a really talented player,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “One of the biggest things that stands out is the way he manages to keep plays alive and continue to make things happen with his legs. Their average target depth is well below the field; They take a lot of shots. They have some wide outs out there who have done a good job winning at the rim, and he throws a really good ball deep.”

RELATED: Scouting the Spartans: 5 Questions, Prediction with a Michigan State Reporter

Michigan State (3-2, 1-1) has 51 passes of at least 10 yards, including 17 of 20 yards, both the most passes among Oregon’s opponents so far this season.

No. 6 Oregon (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) vs. Michigan State (3-2, 1-1)

• When: Friday, October 4th
• Time: 6:00 p.m. PT
• Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene
• TV channel: fox
• Electricity: You can watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). If you already have a provider, you can also watch this game live on Fox Sports Live using your cable or satellite provider login details.
• 2024 Oregon Ducks Football Season Schedule, Results
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Although the Spartans have allowed 10 sacks, the Chileans’ ability to improvise, extend plays and avoid negative plays is better than any quarterback the Ducks have played this season.

“His legs are a weapon,” outside linebacker Teitum Tuioti said. “Up front we have to make sure we keep him in check and we play soundball.”

With the exception of a few runs by Oregon State’s Gevani McCoy, Oregon has done a good job of preventing quarterbacks from breaking free for long runs, whether by design or through scrambles.

Keeping Chiles in check will once again rely on an improved front seven while the secondary competes against a talented group of targets including Nick Marsh and tight end Jack Velling.

“I think he does a great job of beating receivers with aplomb, and even when his reads aren’t right, he’s able to get going, and he’s a really nimble quarterback as well,” linebacker Jeff said Bassa. “Sometimes they are a team that likes to move the pocket, so it can be little things like boot action. The straight dropback pass times are going to be really crucial for the D-line and the backs if we blitz, or if not, we have to keep him in the cage.”

— James Crepea covers that Oregon Ducks and Big Ten. Listen to this Ducks Confidential Podcast or subscribe Ducks Roundup Newsletter.

Meta has developed a generative AI video tool that allows its users to create and edit video and audio files based on text input. The feature, called Movie Gen, can even create video footage from a person’s uploaded photo.

Movie Gen won’t be available to the large number of meta users on platforms like Facebook and Instagram until next year at the earliest. The company said it is currently being tested internally and by a small number of filmmakers. Meta has published a research paper for Movie Gen in which the company says its model will produce high-quality 1080p HD videos with different aspect ratios and synchronized sound.

The video feature is Meta’s latest announcement in the AI ​​space. Facebook users can already generate AI stickers and the company has announced plans to introduce more AI chatbot features on platforms like Instagram. The company is even adding AI functions to its Ray-Ban smart glasses. But on the path to AI-generated videos, Meta will compete with companies like OpenAI and Google, two tech giants that have already launched AI video models.

The company promoted Movie Gen’s features with a series of videos and still images in its blog post, including “Perzonalized Video,” which takes a still image of a person and creates full-motion videos based on that image. It also uses text prompts to edit AI videos on the fly. In an example used by the company, props such as pom-poms could be added to a video with a text request.

In addition to its video capabilities, Movie Gen will also be able to create sound effects and full soundtracks, Meta said.

Cybersecurity researchers at Gen Threat Labs have observed several websites spreading a malware called WarmCookie disguised as updates to popular software.

These websites were either created from scratch or were once legitimate and then eventually taken over, the experts found. However, they were all found to be sending visitors a false warning that various components of their computer were outdated and needed to be updated.