• Amazon plans to launch 5,105 satellites to support new mobile networks
• The filing with the FCC highlights voice, data, emergency services, and Internet of Things support
• Amazon Leo already has over 390 satellites in orbit, enough to launch the plans ahead of the full deployment

Amazon has confirmed its “low Earth orbit” (LEO) satellite network has submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy a constellation of 5,105 satellites which will provide voice, data, messaging, emergency services access, and Internet of Things support for under the Amazon Leo Direct-to-Device (D2D) project.

The application follows Amazon’s merger with Globalstar, acquiring the US satellite telecommunications company’s operations, infrastructure, and global licenses and authorizations.

The bloc began engaging with Japan over a potential membership in 2024.

Japan has officially joined Horizon Europe, the European Union’s €93.5bn flagship research and innovation programme.

The agreement allows Japanese researchers and organisations to tap EU funding and take part in Horizon Europe on equal footing with the bloc’s member states and the programme’s 22 other associated countries, including the UK, Ukraine, Canada and Israel.

With €93.5bn allocated for a period of six years between 2021 and 2027, Horizon Europe supports cutting-edge research to address global challenges such as the climate crisis, help achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and improve the bloc’s competitiveness and growth.

Japan’s association covers the third pillar of the programme, which has a budget of €52.4bn. This pillar, according to the EU, funds multinational research and innovation projects that address challenges related to climate, energy, health and the digital economy.

For example, earlier this month, an international team of researchers funded by the programme set off on an expedition to track chemical and biological changes in the North Atlantic ocean.

Japan will also contribute financially to Horizon Europe’s budget, the EU said, by covering for the Japanese organisations participating in the programme. Transitional arrangements that started in January this year has already enabled organisations from the country to apply for funding calls, it added.

The bloc has collaborated with the Asian country a number of times outside the programme. In early 2023, the two strengthened their bond in space research by agreeing to share Earth observation data, and jointly launched an enhanced dialogue on advanced materials a year later.

Japan takes the title for the most populous country associated with the programme, with a population of 123m. The bloc began engaging with the country over a potential membership in 2024 and concluded negotiations a year later, it said.

“As Horizon Europe’s 23rd associated country, Japan strengthens a growing global community that believes openness, excellence and international cooperation are essential to turning research into innovation and innovation into prosperity,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva, the EU commissioner for start-ups, research and innovation.

“Science thrives when talent, ideas and innovation cross borders,” she added.

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KEF has spent 65 years proving that loudspeakers do not need to resemble black shipping crates to deliver credible high-end sound. Its LS Wireless range has become a major part of that legacy, with the compact LSX II and larger LS50 Wireless II earning strong reviews by combining amplification, streaming, and KEF’s Uni-Q driver technology in complete stereo systems that do not require a rack full of equipment.

The British manufacturer is now pushing that formula further upscale with the KEF LS LUXE, which it describes as its most ambitious wireless HiFi speaker system to date. Developed with industrial designer Ross Lovegrove, whose previous work with KEF includes the rather less affordable MUON, the LS LUXE is designed to deliver a luxury listening experience without surrendering half the room to loudspeakers, amplifiers, cables, and source components.

The industrial design also has our sci-fi juices flowing. The sculpted enclosure looks less like another pair of compact wireless speakers and more like something that rolled off the Krell assembly line in Forbidden Planet—which is very much a compliment.

Ross Lovegrove Gives the KEF LS LUXE Its Sci-Fi Shape

The LS LUXE is designed as a functional work of art that engages the senses and enhances its surroundings, whether music is playing or not.

The LS LUXE continues KEF’s long-running collaboration with industrial designer Ross Lovegrove, whose previous work for the company includes the towering MUON loudspeaker, Mu3 wireless earphones, Mu7 wireless headphones, and the more recent Muo portable speaker.

Internationally recognized for his sculptural, organic forms, Lovegrove has shaped the LS LUXE into something that refuses to disappear into the background. It is part loudspeaker, part sculpture, and considerably more interesting than another rectangular box covered in fabric.

“At KEF, we have always aimed to redefine the listening experience and make it truly inspiring. LS LUXE is that vision realized,” said Grace Lo, President & Head of Global Marketing at KEF. “True luxury doesn’t announce itself – it transforms the atmosphere of a space, blending design excellence and acoustic mastery in a way that feels both immersive and effortless. When people ask what luxury sounds like, this is our answer.”

The LS LUXE has a rounded, low-diffraction design, robust materials, a flexible decoupling chassis, and an advanced bulk molding compound that enable a purer sound experience, with sharper clarity and deeper bass, setting a new benchmark beyond the gold-standard LS50 Wireless II.

On The Inside 

The LS LUXE incorporates KEF’s 12th-generation 6.5-inch Uni-Q driver with Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT). For added support, the LS LUXE also includes KEF’s debut of Velocity Control Technology (VECO) for speakers. Working together, Uni-Q, MAT, and VECO are designed to help the LS LUXE deliver a level of performance that belies its compact dimensions.

KEF’s Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) is designed to absorb 99% of the unwanted sound radiating from the rear of the tweeter, reducing distortion and coloration while helping create a wider, more consistent listening area.

The Uni-Q driver assembly is also mechanically decoupled from the cabinet by a flexible chassis, helping isolate it from unwanted vibrations and preserve clarity across the frequency range.

The LS LUXE is designed to deliver tighter bass, lower distortion, and greater control across the frequency range. It is also KEF’s first loudspeaker to use Velocity Control Technology (VECO), following the technology’s debut in the XIO soundbar.

The closed-loop system uses a velocity sensor to monitor the movement of the Uni-Q driver in real time. That information is fed to a dedicated amplifier, which corrects inconsistencies in the driver’s motion before they can obscure detail or introduce distortion.

Music Integrity Engine (MIE)

The LS LUXE is designed to preserve detail, tonal accuracy, and clarity at lower listening levels and during longer sessions. Its advanced hardware is supported by KEF’s proprietary Music Integrity Engine (MIE), which uses optimized DSP algorithms to manage the system’s performance across different volume levels.

As the amplifiers and drivers are pushed harder, MIE is designed to maintain balance, definition, and control while reducing the risk of distortion.

Amplication

Each LS LUXE speaker combines a 100-watt Class AB amplifier with a 280-watt Class D current-drive amplifier, for 380 watts of amplification per enclosure.

That hybrid arrangement is unusual in a compact wireless speaker. KEF uses Class AB amplification where finesse matters most and Class D power where greater efficiency and output are required, giving the LS LUXE the headroom to play loudly while keeping distortion under control.

Connectivity

The LS LUXE incorporates KEF’s W2 Wireless Platform, supporting music files at resolutions up to 24-bit/384kHz along with multiroom playback. Listeners can access TIDAL, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Deezer, and other services through KEF Connect, while Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, QPlay, AirPlay 2, and Google Cast provide additional streaming options from compatible apps.

Wired connectivity includes HDMI eARC, analog, optical, and coaxial digital inputs for connecting a television, CD player, game console, or other source component. Dedicated subwoofer outputs are also provided, while support for local NAS drives and compatible music servers gives listeners access to their own digital libraries without relying exclusively on streaming services.

Easy Setup

LS LUXE is easy to set up and can be precisely configured through the KEF Connect App (iOS, Android) that allows users to fine-tune the LS LUXE to suit their room and listening preferences. Normal mode provides step-by-step guidance with minimal setup, while Expert mode offers more granular control over EQ settings in decibels.

Advanced Room EQ DSP helps optimize the speakers for their placement and acoustic environment, while dedicated subwoofer presets are designed to simplify integration with KEF’s subwoofer range.

Control and Customization

Volume, source selection, and system settings can be managed through the KEF Connect app or the C3 Remote. Both are designed for straightforward operation, allowing users to enjoy the LS LUXE without navigating an unnecessarily complicated setup.

LS LUXE Finishes and Accessories

The LS LUXE is available in three finishes: Dusk Titanium, Eclipse Black, and Mineral White. Each pair includes KEF’s C3 Remote, which features an aluminum top plate, backlit buttons, and a customizable favorite button for quick access to frequently used functions.

Optional S-LUXE floor stands include integrated cable management for a cleaner installation. KEF’s K-Stream interspeaker cable supports high-resolution signal transfer and allows the speakers to be positioned up to eight meters apart. For added convenience, the KW1 wireless subwoofer adapter kit (available at Amazon) enables a cable-free connection between LS LUXE and KEF subwoofers.

Comparison

The Bottom Line 

The KEF LS LUXE is more than another compact wireless loudspeaker dressed for Milan Design Week. It is KEF’s attempt to plant its flag at the top of the category, although Focal and Naim’s considerably larger and more expensive DIVA UTOPIA systems might object to the coronation.

What makes the LS LUXE different is the combination of Ross Lovegrove’s sculptural industrial design, KEF’s proven Uni-Q and MAT technologies, and the first use of Velocity Control Technology in a KEF loudspeaker following its debut in the XIO soundbar. VECO monitors driver movement and applies real-time corrections through a feedback loop, while each speaker uses an unusual combination of 100-watt Class A/B and 280-watt Class D current-drive amplification. Few compact wireless systems combine that level of driver control, amplification, streaming support, and visual ambition in one stereo package.

At $3,999.99, however, the omissions matter. The LS LUXE does not include a built-in phono preamplifier, so turntable users will need either a model with an integrated phono stage or a separate external phono preamp. That feels like a missed opportunity for a luxury wireless system aimed partly at audiophiles, especially when the analog revival shows no interest in quietly leaving the room.

It also remains a two-channel speaker system. HDMI eARC makes the LS LUXE a potentially formidable soundbar alternative, but it does not decode Dolby Atmos or DTS. Klipsch’s The Nines II offers both immersive formats, HDMI 2.1 video pass-through, and Dirac Live, while KEF’s own $2,499.99 XIO delivers Dolby Atmos and DTS through a 5.1.2-channel configuration.

The LS LUXE therefore makes the most sense for listeners who want genuine stereo separation, high-resolution streaming, serious amplification, and industrial design that has our sci-fi juices flowing—all without constructing a traditional component system. It is expensive, it leaves vinyl users to supply another box, and home theater buyers can find more immersive alternatives.

But as a compact, high-end wireless stereo system that looks nothing like the competition, the LS LUXE may be KEF’s most convincing argument yet that convenience and ambitious HiFi performance no longer have to occupy separate rooms.

Price & Availability

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LinkedIn is taking aim at the “AI slop” — low-quality, artificially generated content — filling its feed. On Thursday, the company announced that it’s adding a new feature to let users click a “seems like AI slop” button when someone’s post appears to have been written with AI.

The move reflects a broader shift across online publishing platforms to cut back on AI content, as people have grown frustrated with the computer-written, inauthentic posts filling the web.

Last week, for instance, newsletter platform Substack added a tool to help users identify when the content they’re reading on its site was written by AI, through a partnership with Pangram. Meanwhile, Pangram this week announced $9 million in new funding to tackle the problems of AI content flooding the internet. The problem is also impacting new startups, as Digg had to shut down its Reddit competitor in March, saying it couldn’t get a handle on the number of bots flooding its site.

Internet infrastructure firm Cloudflare says the problem is just getting worse, as there is now more bot traffic on the web than human-generated requests — a milestone that was reached faster than it had previously predicted.

In a post on LinkedIn, the company’s Chief Product Officer Hari Srinivasan admitted the Microsoft-owned social network is facing similar problems. “AI slop is a top priority for all of us. We really care about this. People come to LinkedIn to connect with real people and share their real perspectives, ideas, and expertise,” he said.

The exec explained that the new “Seems like AI slop” button is now one of several measures LinkedIn is using to reduce the amount of low-quality, AI-generated content on its platform. The company is also investing in automation defenses, where it now blocks “hundreds of thousands” of automated comment attempts daily, and millions of other automation attempts in just the past couple of months.

Srinivasan said LinkedIn is also introducing new classifiers to identify if a post is AI slop or other low-quality content, which would reduce the amount of slop you’d see in suggested content recommendations from outside your network. (The button ties into this measure as it will provide a source of signal that will allow LinkedIn to tune its AI models to better identify slop.)

Plus, LinkedIn will begin privately flagging in users’ dashboards when people believe their content is coming off as inauthentic due to heavy use of AI. The company believes that this will help posters improve their writing, in the case that they’re simply using AI technology to refine their own work, rather than when they’re posting what’s considered full-on “slop” content.

Notably, the company is pulling its own “enhance your post” feature that had used AI to help you write. It’s replacing it with a feature that proofreads your words, instead of changing your voice.

Other improvements include expanding access to profile and page verification tools, and adding an option to block comments from company pages you no longer want to see, Srinivasan said.

Logging and telemetry in remote controlled racing is a great thing, and not only does [jwachlin]’s Open RC Spotter do a fantastic job of that, it has quite a few clever tricks up its sleeve that make it extra special.

Open RC Spotter is an ESP32-based hardware platform for high performance RC car racing that reads from various sensors (including IMU, GPS, temperature, battery, and IR receiver for IR lap beacons) to create a filtered stream of readings that include position, velocity, lap time, battery voltage, and more.

This data gets logged to an SD card, but can also be broadcast wirelessly via ESP-NOW to a receiver that can in turn send it over serial USB, or do whatever else one wishes. There’s also a neat feature that fires up a temporary WiFi access point on demand so log files can be downloaded with a web browser, no need to hook up a cable.

So far, so cool. But there’s still another nifty feature. Open RC Spotter supports the Crew Chief telemetry protocol. Crew Chief is a piece of free Windows software that serves as a companion application for sim racing. It acts as a virtual race crew member, providing spoken information based on live telemetry read from supported racing sims.

Since Open RC Spotter supports the same telemetry format, one can use the virtual race engineer with RC car racing by simply feeding Open RC Spotter‘s serial data to the Crew Chief application. The RC telemetry data isn’t as rich as what comes from the racing sim APIs, but it’s more than enough to be useful.

People come up with all kinds of neat ideas when it comes to RC racing, and most of them depend on having access to good data. For example, a load cell in the steering mechanism can provides the data for force-feedback steering. We’ve even seen LiDAR and a depth camera used to automatically compute optimal racing lines.

Steven Bartlett has built one of the world’s biggest podcasts on the idea that the right people, obsessively managed, make the machine. Now four of those people have walked out the door. The star host of “The Diary of a CEO” has lost four core staffers in five months, Business Insider reported.

The exits are not junior. One is Jack Sylvester, who calls himself a co-founder of the show and built its YouTube presence to more than 18 million subscribers. Also gone: executive producer Jem Erith, trailers director Anthony Smith, and Grace Miller, whose job title was “head of failure and experimentation.”

Former colleagues did not undersell them. One described Sylvester and Erith as the “inner circle” behind the “heavy lifting” of the podcast. “They’re the reason it gets delivered twice a week,” another said of the four.

A friendly framing, and a bigger picture

Everyone is being nice about it. Bartlett’s company, FlightStory, said the departures were planned over almost a year and that the staff left on good terms. All four posted warm goodbyes. “I owe Steve more than I could ever put into words,” Sylvester wrote, while admitting he did not know what was next.

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Bartlett returned the compliment, saying nobody had a bigger impact on the show. Sylvester told Business Insider he was looking for his next move after the podcast left its early growth phase. Turnover is normal at fast-growing startups, and Bartlett’s previous company, Social Chain, spun off plenty of founders.

The empire is going west

The timing is the story. The nine-year-old show is pushing hard into the US just as its longtime team thins out. Bartlett has moved to Los Angeles and opened a studio there. He is closing on Joe Rogan in YouTube subscribers, and regularly beats him on views.

Around the podcast, he is building a media company. FlightStory has about 150 staff and took in roughly $47m last year, and recently raised an eight-figure round. It now runs a speakers arm and a distribution unit for other creators. It is also exploring a paid membership to squeeze more from its superfans.

Bartlett is also a self-styled operating guru. He is known for obsessing over details, down to the carbon-monoxide level in the studio. He also screens hires with a “Culture Test” that scores how they would handle workplace scenarios. Losing four people who aced that test, all at once, is a curious look for a leadership brand.

The part the goodbye posts skip

There is a harder edge to the DOAC story, too. A BBC World Service investigation found a problem, according to reporting on the probe. Many of the show’s health episodes carried claims that ran against the scientific evidence.

It examined 23 health-related episodes and flagged an average of 14 harmful claims across most of them.

Bartlett has since added fact-check labels to some YouTube episodes where guests make contentious claims. The tension is the interesting bit. He has moved from interviewing chief executives to platforming wellness and self-help voices, the format that drives the biggest numbers and the loudest criticism.

None of that is slowing the growth. Like the wider creator economy, DOAC is a business built on one person’s name, scaling faster than the team around it.

The departures raise a real question. Can a show defined by its inner circle keep its edge once that circle is gone? Like so many media empires before it, DOAC now has to prove the brand outlasts the moment.

When gaming chair maker Secretlab announced the release of its very first home office chair, I wasn’t shocked.

There’s been a gradual trend with office chair makers like Herman Miller teaming up with Logitech to create a gamer-focused version of the Embody, alongside brands like FlexiSpot and Eureka Ergonomic launching its own line of gaming chairs.