Back in the 1980s, your options for writing your own code and games were rather more limited than today. This also mostly depended on what home computer you could get your hands on, which was a market that — at least in Japan — Nintendo was very happy to slide into with their ‘Nintendo Family Computer’, or ‘Famicom’ for short. With the available peripherals, including a tape deck and keyboard, you could actually create a fairly decent home computer, as demonstrated by [Throaty Mumbo] in a recent video.
After a lengthy unboxing of the new-in-box components, we move on to the highlight of the show, the HVC-007 Family BASIC package, which includes a cartridge and the keyboard. The latter of these connects to the Famicom’s expansion port. Inside the package, you also find a big Family BASIC manual that includes sprites and code to copy. Of course, everything is in Japanese, so [Throaty] had to wrestle his way through the translations.
The cassette tape is used to save applications, with the BASIC package also including a tape with the Sample 3 application, which is used in the video to demonstrate loading software from tape on the Famicom. Although [Throaty] unfortunately didn’t sit down to type over the code for the sample listings in the manual, it does provide an interesting glimpse at the all-Nintendo family computer that the rest of the world never got to enjoy.
Pacific Science Center, or PacSci, is selling less than 25% of its campus to Space Needle LLC. (GeekWire Photo / Lisa Stiffler)
Pacific Science Center, an educational nonprofit centered on innovation and discovery, confirmed it’s selling a wedge of its campus to help keep operations afloat and to start funding the development of a new star attraction.
Almost a year ago, GeekWire first reported that the iconic institution faced an uncertain future and was considering a property sale. PacSci leaders said this week that Space Needle LLC will purchase the northeast corner of the site, which encompasses less than 25% of the facility and includes one of its two IMAX theaters. The Seattle Times broke the news of the sale on Tuesday.
PacSci and the Space Needle are not sharing price details until the transaction closes. The sale also includes a pavilion and exhibit gallery.
The science center occupies facilities built for the 1962 World’s Fair and has struggled to address long-deferred infrastructure renovations estimated to cost more than $70 million. The sale will provide capital for upgrades that include expanding its popular Maker & Innovation Lab (MIL) into the site’s main feature.
“It will be enough to provide a financial runway for operations and support some very targeted capital investments, but not nearly enough to do everything,” said Will Daugherty, CEO of PacSci, via email. “We will still need to raise money for MIL and we will need a capital campaign in the future.”
The plans are to expand the existing makerspace, which currently occupies less than half of one floor of a building, plus add new lab features that will create a 14,000-square-foot exhibit that spans three floors.
The Maker & Innovation Lab currently has desktop and large format 3D printers, a Glowforge laser cutter, vinyl cutters and different types of sewing machines. The improved venue would add wood working equipment, a more advanced laser cutter, stations for soldering and electronics, digital design tools, and coding and robotics technologies.
PacSci shared an overhead photo highlighting the portion of its campus being sold to Space Needle LLC. (PacSci Image)
PacSci leaders and supporters frame the lab as an on-ramp to developing skills that open doors to STEM fields and fulfill a human need to create and improve the world.
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The initiative is expected to cost an estimated $20 million. The state of Washington has provided a $1.4 million capital grant; King County has chipped in $1 million; the Allen Family Foundation has provided $1 million for the lab and courtyard renovations, and individual donors have made commitments of more than $100,000.
PacSci has already started making other improvements, including the opening of new exhibits and ongoing work to remove the gates and fence that have barricaded the campus from the rest of the Seattle Center. The work should be completed in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the Seattle Center is the official gathering place for fans to watch live streams of games being played locally.
Ron Sevart, CEO of the Space Needle, did not share details on what will happen to the space being acquired.
“While continued operation of the Boeing IMAX theater is our short-term focus, we can’t wait to explore other partnership opportunities that support the future of Pacific Science Center and the Seattle Center,” he said in a statement.
Gamer Dorison Hugo has been working on a crazy concept for seven years: squeezing four GameCube controller ports onto a normal Nintendo Switch dock, and he’s finally done it. Players can now just plug in their hefty purple GameCube controllers without having to clutter up their TV stand with additional boxes. The end result appears polished enough to pass as a factory-made accessory.
Hugo starts with the normal Switch dock that comes with the console. Inside, there’s mostly empty space, making it ideal for hiding a Gamecube adaptor. He chooses a little one from Input Integrity, primarily because larger ones, such as the Wii U version, will not fit. Next, he removes some of the adaptor ports to make room. Then a few precise holes are made at the front of the dock. He has a mixture of superglue, epoxy, hot glue, and other adhesives to keep everything together. Some simple connectors allow you to easily replace out cables if necessary. To finish, he only needs to solder four wires from the adapter to the dock’s circuit board. Gamecube controllers now glow up as normal on the Switch screen or any TV you connect.
This bundle includes a system and a full GAME DOWNLOAD for the Mario Kart World game, exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. Limited quantities. While…
One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
There’s also a version that reduces the whole thing down to pocket size. All you have to do is slot the Switch in, connect the HDMI and power, and you can play it from anywhere. There’s even a special “handheld mode” that allows you to utilize the Switch’s built-in screen without a television. If you want to play for hours on end, external batteries make it possible.
Security becomes an issue for tournament participants, so Hugo installs a mechanical lock that snaps over the dock. A modified padlock secures the Switch, cords, and game card, but strong printed walls and side holes prevent bike locks or bolts from causing problems. Organizers of events can assign keys with numbers to keep setups safe.
There’s some good news for Switch 2 owners: there’s more room within the dock, making it easier to hide the connections. The ports are cut down somewhat at the top so that they fit flush. A 3D printed extension maintains the USB-C port easily accessible. Hugo scanned all of the pieces to ensure accurate fits, preventing any frequent mistakes that modders may make.
There are several additional features that improve the design, such as reinforced USB-C ports that can withstand intensive use. Some configurations even offer the option of adding USB hubs and Ethernet slots. Mayflash adapters are good for cheap solutions, but the Input Integrity unit is the one to acquire if you want top-notch reliability (which is essential at a tournament). Every single button and stick works just as Nintendo intended. Hugo is enabling everyone with a 3D printer participate by sharing the print files on Cults3D. And for those who simply want to buy one off the shelf, he is selling limited editions on eBay to fund his expenses. [Source]
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Miofive Mirror 1: two-minute review
While I’ve tried plenty of the best dash cams on the market, I’ve spent less time using one of the alternatives – a mirror dash cam, such as the Miofive Mirror 1 Dash Cam. It’s a chunky hunk of kit, being designed to fit over a standard issue rear view mirror, using one of three different mounting options. It can be strapped, stuck or screwed on, but no matter which option is employed, the result is the same – this is a large gadget.
The Miofive Mirror 1 Dash Cam differs from traditional offerings in the design department, but it’s actually a refreshing variation on the theme. This gadget delivers the same functionality found on a traditional dash cam but everything is presented slightly differently.
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Adding to the appeal is the way it can be an electronic rear-view mirror as well as offering a view out of the front too, or indeed, a split combination of the two. Both views also get recorded in a continuous loop process, much like a typical dash cam.
The Miofive Mirror 1 comes with an impressive specification, and sizable price tag. There are twin Sony sensors for the cameras; a 4K (3840 × 2160 30fps) IMX415 Starvis 2 for the front and a 2K (2560 × 1440 30fps) IMX675 for the rear unit, capable of capturing crips footage for regular day time driving as well as after dark scenarios – these sensors have proven performance characteristics. What they see is also presented on the mirror screen, which is an expansive 11.26-inch modestly curved display that features anti-glare capabilities.
(Image credit: Future)
As a premium device, the Miofive Mirror 1 also boasts excellent connectivity features, including 5GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, which means moving those high-resolution files is quick and easy – Miofive says up to 7MB per second, while data itself can be managed by an accompanying no frills Miofive app.
The Miofive Mirror 1 dash cam also packs sophisticated and in vogue AI-driven driver assistance features and functions, which are all easily accessed via the touchscreen. These include warnings for abrupt acceleration or braking, lane departure and ‘Stop and Go’ traffic movement.
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Along with those bang-up-to-date features, the Miofive Mirror 1 comes with everything needed to keep it running. There’s a super capacitor-based power supply plus the unit can be powered off a 12V socket or, if preferred, hardwired to exploit its functionality more comprehensively. Hardwire features include the 24-hour parking monitor aspect.
Miofive also packs a 128GB microSD card into the mirror’s media slot so, aside from some wiring chores initially, the unit is pretty much ready to go.
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Miofive Mirror 1: price and availability
The Miofive Mirror 1 Dash Camera currently costs $299.99 on Amazon in the US. Meanwhile, the Miofive Mirror 1 Dash Camera is also available to buy from Amazon UK for £259.99, at the time of writing. Normally, the regular UK list price is £299.99, which is comparable to other likeminded mirror dash cam models with similar specs. Cheaper mirror dash cam alternatives can be found too, but I think the quality of construction makes the Miofive Mirror 1 Dash Cam seem like decent value.
While the ample screen real estate offered by the Miofive Mirror 1 Dash Cam, which has overall dimensions of 2.2 x 2.76 x 0.79 inches / 31 x 7 x 2 cm, is impressive, its size should be kept in mind by anyone with a smaller windscreen. In a compact or small sports car, the 11.26-inch IPS touchscreen might feel a little bit too obtrusive. Even in a larger vehicle, such as an SUV, the mirror construction is bulky. However, it looks and feels nicely designed and reasonably durable.
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The same can be said for all of the various accessories and ancillary components needed to get the Miofive Mirror 1 Dash Cam installed and operating. Miofive offers three different ways to mount the mirror unit, which is essentially stuck in place over an existing rear-view mirror. I chose the rubberised strap method which worked well, didn’t vibrate or move on the go and was temporary enough to let the unit be removed from my test vehicle.
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(Image credit: Future)
A more permanent option is using the supplied screws to fasten it in place, while bonding is another long-term method. I suggest using the rubberised strap method initially, just in case the Miofive Mirror 1 Dash Cam isn’t quite the right fit for your needs. The box contains all the other wiring and connectors needed to hook up to the power, including a 12V plug for that port and colour coded harnessing for connecting peripherals.
The peripherals include a small rear-view camera, which can be stuck in place using a sticky pad on the camera’s base and subsequently angled for optimal capture. The other accessory that requires connection to the crop of wires is the GPS unit. Everything is basically finished in grey or black plastic, while most of the cabling is black too. This can be fed behind trim using the usual method just like any other dash cam. There’s just a little more to hide away.
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(Image credit: Future)
Miofive Mirror 1: Performance
Once I had all of the wiring plumbed in, the Miofive Mirror 1 Dash Cam was actually very simple and straightforward to set up. The media card was already in the slot, and I followed best practice and formatted the card following initial power up. From there, the mirrored screen area displayed an array of small icons, plus a split view. To the left was a view of the read ahead and to the right, a view to the rear of the car. I left it in this default mode for testing purposes although views can be tweaked to suit individual preferences.
The picture quality looks less good in my photos but, in reality, the quality of the lenses was easy to see with clear and sharp images from each angle even in decidedly gloomy conditions. Miofive has done a decent job of including a solid level of control options, via screen icons when the cameras are on. This meant it was easy to tap and change anything, such as brightness, before setting off.
(Image credit: Future)
Dipping into the other features and functions – which include Connect Your Phone, Recording Settings, Parking Guard, AI, System Settings, About and Speed Cam Alert –required more thought, but the large color icons worked well. The AI menu option brings up five different functions that can be enabled and set for intensity, like Reverse Assist Line, for example, which is set as Medium by default. These are okay, although I didn’t feel a desperate urge to use them. In fact, Driver Assistance, as one option, is better off disabled as far as I’m concerned.
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Overall, the footage recorded by the Miofive Mirror 1 Dash Cam is largely excellent. It’s crisp and clear, capturing details nicely enough, and didn’t leave me wanting anything better. The detail presented along the bottom of the footage, including date, time and speed is also perfectly acceptable. Used as a pure front and rear dash cam setup, this is a very good product. And, should you require them, there are plenty of neat tools to enhance the functionality.
(Image credit: Future)
One important thing to note is anyone wanting to enjoy the parking monitoring will need to do so by enlisting the services of an optional hardwire kit. This does increase the potential of the bundle, especially for anyone wanting the extra parking features that get unlocked by going down the hardwire route.
Should you buy the Miofive Mirror 1?
(Image credit: Future)
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Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
How I tested the Miofive Mirror 1
I installed the dash cam in a car for an initial period of three to four weeks
I used it for various day and night journeys in all types of weather
I connected it to my phone, downloading recordings to check on quality
I tested the Miofive Mirror 1 dash cam across a period of several weeks. This involved using it in a test vehicle and during a variety of weather conditions. This allowed me to try all of the features and functions, aside from the hardwire options due to it being powered via a 12V power port in a vehicle that was on temporary loan.
On top of that, I downloaded the latest Miofive app, which was installed on an iPhone 17 and used during the installation process and also for file management duties. I also tested the Wi-Fi connectivity between the main camera unit and the app, which based on the size of the 4K video files was a big part of the overall testing procedure and everything worked as anticipated.
“Asus Vivobook 14 is a good template for serving the best of Windows 11 on an affordable and practically rewarding platter”
Pros
Solid trackpad and decent keyboard
Sufficient selection of ports
Decent performance for the price
Reliable battery with fast charging
Generous memory for 2026
Windows Hello for biometric lock
Cons
Display could’ve been better
Plastic flexes on lid and deck
Fan can get noisy
Random performance hiccups
What makes a good laptop? Well, I can give a pretty haphazard answer to that. But if I were to give a broad verdict, I would say any PC that gets the job done without nuking your wallet, heating like a pan, and lasting at least a full day without forcing you to hunt for a wall socket, takes the cake.
Apple has mastered that art with the MacBook Air, and to such an extent that shoppers have no qualms spending on two, or even three-generation-old, machines. Windows, thanks in no part to the extreme fragmentation, has struggled with the idea.
With Intel Evo-certified PCs, an attempt was made, but they just couldn’t hit the performance-efficiency levels of a MacBook. Then came Qualcomm with its Snapdragon silicon for Windows-on-Arm machines bearing the Copilot+ branding. The vision was squarely a Mac-killer machine at various price points.
Now that we are headed into the second generation of Qualcomm-powered laptops, I took a leap of faith away from my trusty M4 MacBook Air and fired up the cheapest Cipolot+ laptop I could find – the Asus Vivobook 14, which is currently going for $649 from the brand’s online marketplace, and often dips lower during sales events.
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Did I regret it? Not exactly. On the contrary, I came out fairly impressed with the machine, though not without a few harsh learnings.
A quick look at the specs
Color
Cool Silver, Quiet Blue
Operating System
Windows 11 Home (ASUS recommends Windows 11 Pro for business)
Processor
Snapdragon X (X1 26 100) (30MB Cache, up to 2.97GHz, 8 cores, 8 Threads)
Neural Processor
Qualcomm Hexagon NPU (up to 45TOPS)
Graphics
Qualcomm Adreno GPU
Display
14.0-inch LED Backlit, 60Hz, 45% NTSC, Anti-glare (87% screen-to-body ratio)
Memory
16GB LPDDR5X on board (Max 16GB)
Storage
512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
I/O Ports
2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A; 2x USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C; 1x HDMI 2.1; 1x 3.5mm Jack
Camera
FHD camera with IR function (Windows Hello) and privacy shutter
I will start with the value perspective first. Asus is more generous with the memory situation on the Vivobook 14 than Apple, matching the memory at 16GB, but offering a healthy 512GB storage on the base model. For anyone who wishes to use their PC for at least the next half a decade, this is the bare minimum.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
I keep my media editing work restricted to the iPad Pro, and it’s a headache. Beyond the cumulative burden of OS updates, the gradual app installs fill up the storage sooner than I would like. Whether you need a machine for work, or college duties, Asus offers a better value for your money if you have an Apple comparison in mind.
Then we have the port situation. Yes, the MacBook Air is sleek, but that comes at the cost of a terrible port selection. And the only way to survive the MacBook Air lifestyle is a dongle. Asus’ affordable laptop won’t outdo Apple’s laptop in the looks department, but it trades a svelte waistline for a reasonable diversity of ports.
You get a pair of USB-C and USB-A ports each, alongside an HDMI port and a 3.5mm combo jack. Now, you may not always use all the ports, but on the days when you are struggling with an external monitor, charger, storage device, and an input device, you really appreciate the I/O versatility at hand.
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Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
Another neat perk, and an expected one at the current asking price, is the IR camera kit for face unlock. On modern PCs, biometric unlock is an extremely underrated perk, especially in an age where passkeys are taking over conventional passwords for identity verification.
The keyboard isn’t bad either. There’s plenty of travel, the keycaps are spaced well, and despite the slight wobble, I actually loved typing on it more than my MacBook Air. The keys offer a springy feedback, and there’s a satisfying resistance, as well. There’s a bit of flex in the central portion of the deck, but not enough to hamper the typing experience.
The display is a mixed bag. The 14-inch panel offers a full-HD resolution, which is fairly standard for the price. But it doesn’t fare well in well-lit surroundings. I mostly work in a dark room, but every time I stepped out for a cafe work session, or the nearby park, I had to crank the brightness all the way up to the 100%, and still felt a tad underwhelmed.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
Thankfully, it’s not a glossy panel, so reflection was never much of a problem. Out of the box, the display has an odd tint to it, and I had to manually adjust the temperature to make it look neutral. And yeah, the saturation could definitely be better. The Asus laptop, however, is hiding a cool trick.
In the MyAsus app, there’s an E-reading mode that gives a monochrome tint to the screen. All the content is rendered in black and white, and you can even adjust the grayscale level. You also get an eye-care mode, with five levels of blue light reduction. I often found myself juggling between these two modes as they tangibly reduced the eye strain, while the e-ink mode helped me with an extra dose of focus.
Another cool trick is hiding on the trackpad. It’s serviceable on its own, but I loved the edge gestures. Across the left and right edges, you can slide to adjust the volume and brightness levels, while the top edge helps with media playback. I love these thoughtful additions, which go beyond gimmicks and don’t burden you with a learning curve either.
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Performance
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
The Snapdragon X is a rather odd processor, which is both good and bad news. For example, it fares almost as well as the MacBook Air… with the three-generation-old M2 chip on Cinebench at multi-core output, but the Oryon core can’t quite drive ahead of the single-core performance.
That’s both good and bad news. Apple’s M-series silicon is terrific, and I have friends and family members still holding on tightly to their M1-powered machines. On the Windows side of the ecosystem, the Vivobook 14 raced ahead of Intel’s Core Ultra 5 226V, and the equivalent Intel Core 12th Gen processor at Geekbench runs
Paired with 16 gigs of RAM and speedy SSDs, the Asus laptop fared pretty well at my day-to-day tasks. It handled Slack, Teams, Chrome with two dozen tabs, and Copoilt with ease. For academic use and basic corporate work restricted to Workspace and Office suites, there’s enough firepower available here.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
But what holds this machine back — and nearly every Windows on Arm machine that I have tested so far – is the inconsistency. On days, the Asus laptop felt buttery smooth. And then there were occasions where it randomly crashed under the stress of a few Chrome windows. Another recurring problem is the update situation, which often left me staring at a blank screen and required a force restart.
Where Qualcomm needs to work, especially when compared against Intel’s Arc and AMD’s Radeon graphics architecture, is the integrated Adreno GPU. On 3DMark Steel Nomad, I got an average tally of around 9fps after three test runs, while an in-game benchmark only reached 18fps. Needless to say, gaming is a distant pipedream, and your only hope is cloud services such as Xbox or GeForce Now.
I wish the fans were a tad less noisy. Even under the stress of web-based work, you can hear them whirring. Thankfully, I didn’t notice any overt heating or scenarios where the laptop became too hot to keep on the lap. Whisper mode offers some respite from the fan house, but to avoid the heat build-up and throttling, I preferred working with the fan profile set to Full-Speed mode. Thankfully, my earbuds helped deal with the noise.
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Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
But when I pushed it while editing videos in Filmora, the upper area of the keyboard deck ran noticeably hotter. What bothered me more was the resource allocation. Between two windows and a total of eight apps in total, the system was using 80% of the memory, which is way too much, while the CPU load remained comfortably under the 18% range.
Battery life
This is one aspect where the Asus Vivobook 14 really surprised me. I was expecting it to be a mediocre performer, but it actually proved to be a workhorse. With Power Mode set to balanced, the laptop managed around 11 hours of work in my most recent run, with the screen brightness set close to the 60% mark.
Dialing up to the high-performance mode, the device still managed around eight to nine hours of consistent work before I saw the first low-battery alert. It’s evident that the entry-level Snapdragon X silicon is focusing more on efficiency, instead of raw performance. This approach, I believe, works well for a machine like the Vivobook 14.
I’ve tested over a dozen Windows machines in as many months, but this Asus machine offered the best mileage in the Snapdragon pool for its size, and fared better than Intel machines from rival brands. If your budget is strictly close to the $700 mark, you already have a certain performance expectation in mind.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
The Asus Vivobook 14 isn’t exactly blowing past those expectations, but it delivers solid results with battery efficiency. The hiccup was the edge scenarios, where I needed the machine to focus more on creative workflows at high performance levels, and the drop in battery levels was haphazardly aggressive.
On the bright side, the laptop offers a few meaningful tricks within the MyAsus app. There’s a dedicated battery care mode that limits peak charging to the 80% mark, similar to iPhones, in order to preserve its longevity. But for scenarios where you want the full juice for on-the-go work sessions, you can temporarily bypass it for 24-hours and get the full 100% juice.
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Verdict
The Asus Vivobook 14 is a laptop that cuts some expected corners, but delivers in a few unexpected ways. It’s got a kit that’s easy on the eyes, but raises the bar with a military-grade (MIL-STD 810H) build. For students and workers who commute daily, this is an underrated perk that can save you hundreds of dollars in accidental repairs and servicing.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
On to the topic of battery life, this laptop does a fine job, and support for fast charging (an hour of plugged-in time for a full tank) is just the cherry on top. Now, I don’t know many souls out there who want a laptop specifically for native Copilot AI perks, but if you’re one of those souls, this Asus laptop is a bargain deal that qualifies for all the Copilot+ AI perks, such as on-device translations, AI-powered image editing, and Windows Recall.
The performance is enough for the asking price, though not exactly an Earth-scorcher. As a sweet bargain for not setting the benchmark tables on fire, you get plenty of ports (with ample diversity), a large trackpad with practical tricks, convenient biometric unlock with a physical privacy shutter, and a decent set of speakers that get the job done, but won’t exactly wow your ear canals.
At an asking price of $649 (and even lower, if you’re a good deal-hunter), the Asus Vivobook 14 is a lovely laptop for its target audience. And at a time when the industry is staring at rising PC prices owing to an unprecedented memory crisis, this laptop feels like a bargain in stormy days for market.
The longtime Microsoft Visitor Center in Building 92 has closed and been sealed off. (GeekWire Photo / Todd Bishop)
Microsoft’s Visitor Center, a hands-on tech showcase and historical exhibit in Redmond that was a destination for guests and employees for many years, has permanently closed.
The company confirmed the decision in response to an inquiry from GeekWire after we noticed that the space had been sealed off. “We have recently closed our Visitor Center and are in the process of repurposing its assets across our campus,” a spokesperson said.
The Visitor Center had been open in Microsoft Building 92 for about 15 years, following the company’s acquisition of the property, the former Eddie Bauer headquarters. Prior to that, the Visitor Center was housed next to the Microsoft Studios space on the outskirts of the campus.
The closure follows the shutdown last month of the Microsoft Library, also in Building 92, as part of what the company described as a shift to a modern, AI-powered learning experience.
A giant illuminated sphere displaying MSN (and later Bing) news headlines was a centerpiece of the Microsoft Visitor Center for many years, as shown in this photo from 2010. (Photo by Patrick Rohe via Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0)
Together, the changes leave a standalone Microsoft Store as the last remaining public-facing space in the building. Microsoft says the store remains open with no changes planned.
The company gave no specific reason for the Visitor Center closure. “We continuously evaluate our offices to ensure we are creating an exceptional workplace that fosters collaboration, builds community, and aligns to our business needs,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
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Microsoft last year opened Experience Center One, a new four-story building and conference center on its revamped East Campus where invited customers and dignitaries get curated demos of AI solutions and meet with Microsoft executives.
The much smaller Visitor Center was more accessible to the public, and took a different approach. The center featured interactive demos of Microsoft’s latest consumer technologies — including Windows, Xbox and Surface devices — and exhibits about the company’s initiatives in areas including sustainability and AI for Good.
An AI for Good exhibit next to a Minecraft display inside the Microsoft Visitor Center, as seen in December 2024. (GeekWire Photo / Todd Bishop)
Historical displays included an Altair 8800 computer, the hobbyist kit that inspired Bill Gates and Paul Allen to write the company’s original software, and a timeline wall tracing the company’s history from its 1975 founding through the modern campus renovation.
Microsoft isn’t saying how the space will be used in the future.
If you don’t see a Samsung phone mentioned in this guide, that might be because it’s not sold in the US and is a little harder to source for testing. But here are a few other Samsung phones I’ve tested to consider.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge for $1,220: Have you ever wanted a really thin and lightweight phone? No? Well, Samsung has an option for you anyway. The Galaxy S25 Edge (6/10, WIRED Review) sits in the middle of Samsung’s flagship lineup and matches several features of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, like a titanium frame, stronger front glass, and 4K 120 frames per second video recording. All the cameras even have autofocus. But it made several sacrifices to achieve its amazingly slim 5.8-mm frame (for context, the S25 Ultra is 8.2 mm thick). There’s no stylus, no telephoto camera, and worst of all, the battery capacity has been slashed. We’ve seen this before—thin phones have always compromised on battery life, and that’s no different here. I constantly had to baby this phone’s 3,900-mAh battery with average to heavy usage, and that’s just not acceptable. (The iPhone Air did it better.) If you find yourself constantly near a power source and you think you’ll enjoy the slim and light design, then go for it. Rumors suggest that the Edge did not perform well, and it may not see a successor in 2026.
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Galaxy A17 5G.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G for $200: On paper, the Galaxy A17 (5/10, WIRED Review) seems like a really great deal. Six years of software support, an AMOLED screen, expandable storage, and a decent camera. Unfortunately, it’s held back by lackluster performance. The problem is specifically the very limited 4 GB of RAM in the US model, which severely ruins the entire experience of using the phone. If you had to use your smartphone in an emergency, I would not trust the A17 to be reliable. But if your needs are extremely minimal, it may suffice.
Galaxy A36.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G for $395: The Galaxy A36 (6/10, WIRED Review) doesn’t quite measure up to its peers from Nothing and Motorola. Performance is just too choppy, and that’s not acceptable at this price. It’s manageable—it’s not so slow that it will frustrate—but you can do better. If your needs are very minimal, it’s an OK phone, and the camera system is good, with day-long battery life, a nice AMOLED screen, and 6 years of software updates.
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Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 or Galaxy Z Flip6: If you don’t want to pay a premium for a new folding phone, then consider 2024’s Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip7 (7/10, WIRED Review). The Fold6 has a close to “normal” smartphone experience on the exterior 6.3-inch screen. Open the phone up, and there’s a vast 7.6-inch AMOLED screen staring at your face, turning this folding phone into a tiny tablet. The Flip6 isn’t as nice as the newer Flip7—the bigger and brighter cover screen on the latest model is a step up—but it’s worth considering over the new Galaxy Z Flip7 FE. Technically, it’s nearly identical to that phone, but the FE uses a Samsung Exynos chip instead of a Qualcomm processor, and performance may not be as smooth. The main drawback? Battery life isn’t great. Make sure you don’t pay MSRP for these 2024 phones.
If you’re looking to save some cash, it’s fine to buy Samsung’s Galaxy S23 range or the Galaxy S23 FE from 2023, as long as the prices are a good deal lower than the original MSRP. (They’re hard to find at most major retailers.) These phones will still get support for a while, and they’re pretty great. I don’t think it’s worth buying anything older.
There are certain perks to this, like how some features on the Galaxy Ring and Watch8 are only available when paired with a Samsung phone, and its earbuds will automatically switch between Samsung devices based on what you’re using. There’s not much in the way of exclusive features when using a Galaxy phone with a Galaxy laptop, but features like Quick Share let you speedily send photos and documents between your devices.
Again, it’s not necessary, and these other devices might not be the right ones for you within their respective categories, but if you’re chasing hardware parity, you have that option with Samsung.
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What Is Galaxy AI?
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
With the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung launched “Galaxy AI,” a selection of artificial intelligence features, many of which are powered by Google’s Gemini large language models. These enable smart features that may be helpful day to day, like real-time translations during phone calls, real-time transcriptions in Samsung’s Voice Recorder app, the ability to summarize long paragraphs of text in the Samsung Notes app, or change a sentence’s tone with the Samsung Keyboard.
In the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy AI expanded to include Gemini as the default voice assistant and the ability for Gemini to work with multiple apps simultaneously. It also debuted Drawing Assist, which lets you sketch or enter a prompt and get an AI-generated image. Now, you can also use video in real-time with Gemini, even from the cover screen of the Galaxy Z Flip7.
You can find many of these features by heading to Settings > Galaxy AI to toggle them on or off. We have an explainer on how to limit Galaxy AI to on-device processing, too.
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What Is Samsung DeX?
Courtesy of David Nield
Samsung’s DeX (short for “desktop experience”) launched in 2017, and it’s a way to plug in your Samsung phone to an external monitor and trigger a desktop version of the Android OS, all completely powered by the phone. You can find a list of compatible Samsung phones here—the Flip7 is the first Galaxy Flip to support DeX—and you’ll need a monitor, mouse, and keyboard, plus a cable to connect the phone to the monitor. (You can also cast DeX to select screens wirelessly.)
When in DeX mode, you can resize Android apps and have them all open in separate windows. It’s a proper computing platform, though you probably won’t want to use this as a permanent laptop replacement or anything of the sort. It’s great if you’re visiting another office, or working out of a coffee shop or airplane (if you have a portable display). We have a whole guide to setting up and using DeX here.
How I Test Phones
I’ve been reviewing smartphones for a decade, but one of my earliest smart devices was a Samsung Galaxy Captivate, which I got for “free” from my carrier at the time. After working during college, I finally saved enough cash for a Galaxy S3, my first flagship. I’ve spent years using Samsung phones in my personal life and began reviewing them for work not too long after.
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With each Samsung smartphone, I always put my personal SIM card inside and spend as long as I can (a few weeks) using the phone as my own. I do camera testing and compare the results with similarly priced devices, I benchmark performance and play graphically demanding games to see how they fare, I try out all the new features, and even take calls to make sure that ol’ function still works fine.
Threat actors are now abusing DNS queries as part of ClickFix social engineering attacks to deliver malware, making this the first known use of DNS as a channel in these campaigns.
ClickFix attacks typically trick users into manually executing malicious commands under the guise of fixing errors, installing updates, or enabling functionality.
However, this new variant uses a novel technique in which an attacker-controlled DNS server delivers the second-stage payload via DNS lookups.
DNS queries deliver a malicious PowerShell script
In a new ClickFix campaign seen by Microsoft, victims are instructed to run the nslookup command that queries an attacker-controlled DNS server instead of the system’s default DNS server.
The command returns a query containing a malicious PowerShell script that is then executed on the device to install malware.
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“Microsoft Defender researchers observed attackers using yet another evasion approach to the ClickFix technique: Asking targets to run a command that executes a custom DNS lookup and parses the Name: response to receive the next-stage payload for execution,” reads an X post from Microsoft Threat Intelligence.
While it is unclear what the lure is to trick users into running the command, Microsoft says the ClickFix attack instructs users to run the command in the Windows Run dialog box.
This command will issue a DNS lookup for the hostname “example.com” against the threat actor’s DNS server at 84[.]21.189[.]20 and then execute the resulting response via the Windows command interpreter (cmd.exe).
This DNS response returns a “NAME:” field that contains the second PowerShell payload that is executed on the device.
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DNS query response containing the second PowerShell command to execute Source: Microsoft
While this server is no longer available, Microsoft says that the second-stage PowerShell command downloaded additional malware from attacker-controlled infrastructure.
This attack ultimately downloads a ZIP archive containing a Python runtime executable and malicious scripts that perform reconnaissance on the infected device and domain.
The attack then establishes persistence by creating %APPDATA%\WPy64-31401\python\script.vbs and a %STARTUP%\MonitoringService.lnk shortcut to launch the VBScript file on startup.
The final payload is a remote access trojan known as ModeloRAT, which allows attackers to control compromised systems remotely.
Unlike the usual ClickFix attacks, which commonly retrieve payloads via HTTP, this technique uses DNS as a communication and staging channel.
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By using DNS responses to deliver malicious PowerShell scripts, attackers can modify payloads on the fly while blending in with normal DNS traffic.
ClickFix attacks rapidly evolving
ClickFix attacks have rapidly evolved over the past year, with threat actors experimenting with new delivery tactics and payload types that target a wide variety of operating systems.
Previously reported ClickFix campaigns relied on convincing users to execute PowerShell or shell commands directly on their operating systems to install malware.
In more recent campaigns, attackers have expanded their techniques beyond traditional malware payload delivery over the web.
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For example, a recent ClickFix attack called “ConsentFix” abuses the Azure CLI OAuth app to hijack Microsoft accounts without a password and bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA).
BleepingComputer also reported today about a novel ClickFix attack promoted through Pastebin comments that tricked cryptocurrency users into executing malicious JavaScript directly in their browser while visiting a cryptocurrency exchange to hijack transactions.
This is one of the first ClickFix campaigns designed to execute JavaScript in the browser and hijack web application functionality rather than deploy malware.
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The Pentagon is pushing AI companies to allow the U.S. military to use their technology for “all lawful purposes,” but Anthropic is pushing back, according to a new report in Axios.
The government is reportedly making the same demand to OpenAI, Google, and xAI. An anonymous Trump administration official told Axios that one of those companies has agreed, while the other two have supposedly shown some flexibility.
Anthropic, meanwhile, has reportedly been the most resistant. In response, the Pentagon is apparently threatening to pull the plug on its $200 million contract with the AI company.
Anthropic did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.
A company spokesperson told Axios that the company has “not discussed the use of Claude for specific operations with the Department of War” but is instead “focused on a specific set of Usage Policy questions — namely, our hard limits around fully autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance.”
A new three-part Netflix docuseries will cover the chaos and complicated legacy of the hit reality series, America’s Next Top Model.
ANTM premiered in 2003 and ran for 24 seasons, helping launch the careers of contestants like Eva Marcille, Lio Tipton and Yaya DaCosta. Netflix’s synopsis describes the new doc as the definitive chronicle of the modeling competition, which “became a pop-culture juggernaut defined by explosive drama, public meltdowns and controversies that still fuel viral moments today.”
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Former contestants, judges and producers — including host and creator Tyra Banks — took part in Netflix’s series, Reality Check, which you can stream shortly.
When to watch Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model on Netflix
Netflix will drop its three-episode doc on the modeling competition series in the early morning hours on Monday, Feb. 16 (3 a.m. ET, to be exact).
Like many other streaming services, Netflix’s cheapest tier is ad-supported, and you can opt for a pricier tier to avoid commercials. You can subscribe to Standard with ads for $8 per month, Standard for $18 per month or Premium for $25 per month.
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James Martin/CNET
For ad-free streaming and access to every title Netflix offers, you should opt for the streamer’s Standard or Premium tiers. The Standard with ads tier comes with some limits on what you can watch due to licensing restrictions. Netflix’s website lets you compare the simultaneous streams, downloads and extra member slots you get with each tier.
Just about every modern electric vehicle on American roads is powered by one of three battery types: lithium-iron phosphate (the most common, also known as LFP), nickel-manganese cobalt (NMC), and nickel-cobalt aluminum (NCA). Each of these is a relatively mature and well-understood system, with each holding certain advantages — LFP batteries are cheap and stable, whereas NCA batteries are energy-dense and powerful. But these EVs have only really been commonplace on today’s roads for the past two decades or so, a comparatively small amount of time when measured against the common internal combustion engine’s history spanning almost 140 years. Technology advances at an ever-increasing pace, and we may be on the precipice of that next evolution — at least on American roads.
Enter the solid-state battery, a pioneering technology that promises to combine all the benefits of the aforementioned configurations into a single entity. High performance, excellent energy density, potentially lasting many years, and stable thermal conductivity, though it comes at a steep cost — one that Karma Automotive appears to be willing to pay. As of February 2026, Karma Automotive announced plans to ship the first mass-production vehicle powered by solid-state batteries stateside, equipped with Factorial FEST SSBs.
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Karma Automotive is the only American ultra-luxury manufacturer offering a diverse portfolio of vehicles, a specialized firm dedicated to producing EVs deep into six-figure USD territory. The company currently fields six distinct models, but only one will receive the solid-state battery at first: the Kaveya super coupe, scheduled for a 2027 debut. Let’s dive in and explore more about the car and solid-state batteries, along with what the technology promises to accomplish.
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How solid-state batteries work
First thing’s first: what is a solid-state battery and how does it differ from most other EV battery types? In short, the typical EV battery houses two poles on either side, the anode and cathode — positive and negative, respectively. In between these is an ion that’s constantly shifting from the positive to negative side, like a relay runner, going from one electrolyte solution to the other. There are several types of these batteries, the most common of which is lithium-ion, but they all use a sort of gel-like electrolyte. Solid-state batteries, or SSBs for short, use a solid electrolyte instead, providing a more stable and energy-dense solution to power storage.
There are several variants of SSBs in service; the one Karma Automotive is testing is actually known as a quasi-solid-state battery. Produced by Factorial Energy, the quasi-SSB design prioritizes a combination of thermal stability (quasi-SSBs are inherently far less flammable than standard lithium-ion batteries) and high energy density, which translates to double the range. The company website cites range figures of at least 500 miles for the next generation of EV while weighing roughly one third less, based on the typical 90 kWh battery. Factorial also lists the Solstice SSB as a potential candidate for future EVs alongside the FEST quasi-SSB.
With standard battery technology fully matured, the current consensus is that SSBs represent the next technological leap forward for battery technology. Implementing such designs in cars holds a number of benefits: lighter vehicles with higher ranges, greater battery longevity, and greater power. However, because it’s still an emerging technology as far as EVs go, costs are currently prohibitively expensive for regular mass-production cars in the United States, and so you still can’t buy them for any U.S.-sold EV — yet.
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The Karma Kaveya
As for the car itself, the Karma Kaveya is a sleek, ultra modern super coupe designed with a high-end grand tourer aesthetic. The name “Kaveya” is Sanskrit, meaning “power in motion,” a theme present in the promised statistics — Karma claims the high-end coupe to be capable of 0-60 times in less than 3 seconds and speeds in excess of 180 mph, thanks to its 1,000 hp powertrain. All of that is speculative for now, of course — especially given the emergent nature of the battery it houses.
According to the official figures listed on Karma’s website, the battery boasts a HV120 kWh output for a grand total of 1,270 lb-ft combined available torque, coupled with a 10-80% charging time of about 45 minutes. This contrasts an earlier estimate by Stellantis, which announced a partnership with Factorial back in April 2025 to use the batteries in Dodge demonstration vehicles to promote SSB technology; their figures listed an estimated charging time of 18 minutes from 15-90%.
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Regardless of the battery’s performance now, it’ll likely exceed that of even the most advanced mass-production standard battery pack, albeit for a steep cost. But Karma isn’t in the business of cheap vehicles, so it’s a model that suits the company well. With the Kaveya representing the current cutting-edge of EV technology, Karma looks poised to leave a definitive mark in the ongoing electric arms race no matter what happens.