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Worried that an unexpected strike could take out critical orbital systems, Pentagon researchers want to know how fast the industry thinks it could launch replacements

War may never change, but its domains evolve, and DARPA is looking for ideas to ensure space infrastructure destroyed in future orbital skirmishes can be rapidly replaced. 

DARPA, on Friday, put out a request for information for an initiative to develop what it’s calling Rapid Reconstitution of Space Capabilities. 

“Other nations seek to position themselves as leading space powers while undermining the stability and tranquility that allows space to benefit all nations,” DARPA said, suggesting that the US would never dare deploy space weapons that could destabilize the tranquility of Earth orbit.

“Space is an increasingly contested environment, presenting a multitude of threats to U.S. space assets,” DARPA added. “Therefore, there is a strategic need to be able to quickly respond to disrupted assets and reconstitute degraded space capabilities.”

While we don’t know if the US has any weapons in space – we asked but didn’t get a response – other countries certainly are striking an aggressive posture.

Both Russia and China have reportedly blown up their own defunct satellites in recent years to demonstrate their space warfare capability, and the US Space Force has noticed what appears to be China experimenting with orbital satellite dogfighting maneuvers. The US has also accused Russia of developing anti-satellite weaponry that may or may not involve orbital nukes, leading the US to update its fleet of satellites designed to keep an eye out for potential nuclear launches. 

“U.S. competitors are implementing a sustained effort to develop a broad range of offensive counterspace capabilities through a variety of anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, including direct attacks on satellites, jamming and spoofing of signals, and continued cyberattacks on satellite and ground infrastructure,” DARPA noted in Friday’s announcement. 

Pointing to the 2023 Space Force tactically responsive space exercise Victus Nox, which saw the USSF launch a space vehicle into orbit just 27 hours after getting the word, DARPA said it wants more of the same, but hopefully faster.

“DARPA Strategic Technology Office seeks information supporting technical solutions and operational concepts and strategies to enable rapid, responsive, cost-effective reconstitution of any lost or degraded space capabilities resulting from attacks,” DARPA explained, adding that it’s not looking for anything more than ideas at this point, but is willing to entertain anyone in the US with a good idea, be they laboratory or private outfit. 

According to the announcement, DARPA wants ideas that would get degraded operations restored in “hours to weeks,” and offer the same turnaround time for cases of surging demand as well as asset loss. 

“Possible solutions could be realized with reconfigurable, software-defined, multifunctional, and multi-mission payloads, as well as proliferated/mesh architectures and rapid on-orbit deployment concepts,” the Pentagon research arm said. 

“Rapid space capability reconstitution is a complex task,” DARPA added, so don’t expect this research to move anywhere near the speed of DARPA’s eventual rapid reconstitution rockets. 

Then again, America just minted the world’s first trillionaire, and he’s a space guy – maybe ask him how to launch rockets quickly? Surely his ideas would be grounded in good sense, right? 

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said the company will ship supervised point-to-point self-driving on all of its second-generation vehicles and the R2 later this year, describing the capability as “very similar to Tesla’s FSD.” Speaking at the Masters of Scale event in Anaheim on Thursday, Scaringe laid out a three-stage autonomy roadmap: supervised point-to-point driving in 2026, eyes-off unsupervised driving in 2027, and a commercial robotaxi service with Uber beginning in 2028.

The announcement represents a significant jump from Rivian’s current driver-assistance system. Universal Hands-Free, which rolled out in late 2025, handles steering and speed on roughly 3.5 million miles of marked roads in the US and Canada. It does not navigate turns, traffic lights, roundabouts, or parking lots.

Point-to-point driving would extend the system’s capabilities to handle complete journeys from origin to destination, similar to what Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Supervised already attempts. The leap from highway lane-keeping to full urban navigation is the hardest problem in autonomous driving, and no company has solved it without significant constraints.

“Later this year, we’ll have full supervised point-to-point, which will be very similar to Tesla’s FSD,” Scaringe said. “And that’ll roll out to all of our Gen 2 vehicles and, of course, R2.” He did not specify a month or quarter for the rollout, and Rivian has not publicly demonstrated the point-to-point system in an uncontrolled environment.

The comparison to Tesla is deliberate but architecturally inexact. Tesla’s FSD relies exclusively on cameras, while Rivian’s platform integrates 10 external cameras, five radar units, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and a high-precision GPS receiver. Rivian began delivering R2 SUVs earlier this month, and future R2 models will add a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor and the company’s custom RAP1 processor, a 5nm chip delivering up to 1,600 trillion operations per second.

The pricing undercut is sharper than the technology comparison. Rivian’s Autonomy+ package costs $2,500 as a one-time purchase or $49.99 per month, compared with Tesla’s FSD at $8,000 or $99 per month. Whether the lower price reflects a competitive strategy or a difference in capability remains to be seen, given that Rivian’s point-to-point system does not yet exist as a shipping product.

Rivian’s autonomy software is built around what the company calls a Large Driving Model, a foundational AI system trained end-to-end through reinforcement learning. The LDM maps raw sensor input directly to vehicle trajectory, analysing multiple driving paths and selecting the optimal one using a technique called Group-Relative Policy Optimization. The approach mirrors the end-to-end neural network philosophy Tesla adopted with FSD v12, though Rivian’s multi-sensor hardware gives the model a wider range of input data to work with.

The 2027 eyes-off milestone is where the roadmap becomes commercially consequential. Supervised driving, regardless of how capable, still requires a human to watch the road. Tesla has been promising unsupervised FSD for years and has pushed the timeline repeatedly, most recently to Q4 2026 at the earliest. Scaringe has said Rivian targets Level 3 autonomy by 2028 and Level 4 by 2030, timelines that no autonomous driving company has consistently met.

The commercial centrepiece of the roadmap is the $1.25 billion deal with Uber announced in March. Uber committed an initial $300 million investment, with the remainder contingent on Rivian hitting autonomous performance milestones through 2031. The deal calls for Uber or its fleet partners to purchase 10,000 fully autonomous R2 robotaxis, with an option for up to 40,000 more beginning in 2030. Commercial deployment is planned for San Francisco and Miami in 2028, expanding to 25 cities by 2031.

Those targets depend on Rivian achieving something it has not yet demonstrated: a vehicle that can drive itself without human supervision. The company’s Gen 3 autonomy platform, which will power the robotaxi programme, is still undergoing validation. The initial R2 production run launched without the Gen 3 hardware, meaning the robotaxi-grade vehicles are at least one hardware generation away from production.

Scaringe framed the self-driving push as essential to Rivian’s long-term economics. The company posted a net loss of $3.63 billion in 2025 despite achieving its first full-year positive gross profit at $144 million. Autonomy, if it works, transforms the revenue model from selling cars to operating a transportation platform. But the gap between announcing a roadmap at a conference and shipping a reliable autonomous system is where most self-driving timelines have historically broken down.

Retroid has brought back the 12GB RAM configuration of the internet-famous Pocket 6, returning it to the lineup at the same $279 price point as the discontinued version.

The original 12GB RAM variant was pulled from sale earlier this year after Retroid cited the rising cost of RAM and storage, leaving the Pocket 6 available only in its 8GB RAM configuration.

However, the updated model comes with the catch of reduced internal storage. That storage reduction is the most consequential change in the new configuration, with the returning 12GB model shipping with 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage rather than the 256GB that the discontinued version carried, effectively halving the built-in capacity at an unchanged retail price.

Fluance has built its reputation by walking the line between affordability and performance, offering a wide range of powered speakers, passive loudspeakers, and turntables aimed at listeners who want better sound without wandering into boutique audio bankruptcy. The new $799.99 Fluance RT87 turntable pushes that formula further, arriving as the company’s most advanced record player to date with a dual plinth construction and a choice of moving magnet cartridges.

That matters because the entry-level turntable category is no longer a sleepy corner of the hi-fi market. Fluance, U-Turn Audio, Pro-Ject, Rega, and Audio-Technica are all fighting for the same growing audience: vinyl buyers who want real performance, clean industrial design, upgrade potential, and pricing that does not require explaining a “lifestyle purchase” to another adult. With the RT87, Fluance is clearly trying to move higher up the food chain without abandoning the value equation that made the brand relevant in the first place.

“With the RT87, we wanted to push every aspect of high-fidelity playback performance further, from vibration isolation to tonearm precision,” said Justin Koetsier, Product Manager at Fluance. “Every decision behind this turntable was made with musical accuracy in mind. As more listeners demand higher-resolution analog systems, the demand is no longer just for a turntable, but for a platform that allows the stylus to retrieve the clearest possible signal from the groove.” 

Dual Plinth Construction

The RT87’s most distinctive physical attribute is its newly developed dual-plinth architecture, designed to isolate key signal-path components from unwanted resonance and environmental vibration. The motor is mounted independently on the lower plinth, while the tonearm and cartridge assembly sit on a decoupled upper plinth, separated by precision conical isolators.

The physical separation created by the RT87’s dual-plinth construction is designed to reduce the transfer of motor-borne resonance and external vibration before it can reach the stylus. The dense wood plinths are also intended to help damp mechanical resonance within the chassis. If properly implemented, this type of isolation can support more stable groove tracking, a lower noise floor, and improved clarity across the soundstage.

The Tonearm

The RT87 features a 9-inch carbon fiber tonearm designed for low resonance, high rigidity, and precise stylus control. Its straight-arm geometry and 230 mm effective length are intended to trace a controlled arc across the record surface, helping reduce tracking error when properly aligned. The tonearm supports cartridges weighing 5 to 9.5 grams.

Adjustable Vertical Tracking Angle (VTA)

This feature enables listeners to fine-tune cartridge alignment for optimal stylus contact and enhanced detail retrieval, while a removable headshell makes cartridge upgrades and adjustments simple, giving listeners the flexibility to evolve their setup over time. 

Two Premium Cartridge Options

The Fluance RT87 is available in two configurations, each fitted with a premium moving magnet cartridge. The Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML version uses a Microlinear stylus and offers a 3.5 mV output, making it the more detail-focused option, particularly for listeners concerned with groove tracing and inner-groove distortion.

The Ortofon 2M Blue version uses a nude elliptical stylus and delivers a higher 5.5 mV output, giving it a stronger signal into a MM phono stage and a different tonal balance. These are not interchangeable flavors of the same cartridge; the AT-VM95ML and 2M Blue have distinct output levels, stylus profiles, and sonic personalities.

“Each cartridge brings its own character to the RT87,” said Justin Koetsier, Product Manager at Fluance. “Whether listeners prioritize warmth, detail retrieval, or overall musicality, both options were selected to fully showcase the capabilities of the platform.”

High-Mass Acrylic Platter

For improved playback stability, the RT87 uses a thicker and heavier 22 mm, 4.1-pound anti-static acrylic platter. Compared with the 16 mm, 3-pound acrylic platter used on the RT85 and RT85N, the new platter adds both thickness and mass, which should increase rotational inertia and may help reduce speed instability. Fluance also claims the acrylic construction helps damp unwanted resonance and reduce static. The belt-drive system supports 33⅓, 45, and 78 RPM playback speeds, and the RT87 also includes auto-stop functionality.

Traditional Connectivity

Fluance takes a traditional connectivity approach with the RT87. There is no built-in phono preamp, USB output, or Bluetooth connectivity, so the turntable is aimed at listeners who plan to use a conventional analog setup. The RT87 provides a standard phono-level output with a ground connection. To connect it directly to an integrated amplifier or stereo/AV receiver, that component needs a dedicated MM phono input. If it does not, an external MM phono preamp must be connected between the turntable and an available line-level input on the amplifier or receiver.

Comparison

In the following chart, we have compared the Fluance RT87 with their popular, but lower-priced RT85N and the popular Denon DP-500BT at a similar RT87 price point, which includes built-in Bluetooth. 

The Bottom Line

The under-$1,000 turntable category has become one of the more competitive corners of hi-fi, and Fluance is clearly trying to move beyond its value-driven comfort zone with the RT87. At $799.99, this is not just another RT85 variant with a different cartridge bolted to the headshell. The RT87 adds a dual-plinth chassis, a thicker 22 mm acrylic platter, a 9-inch carbon fiber tonearm with VTA adjustment, 78 RPM playback, auto-stop, and the choice of either the Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML or Ortofon 2M Blue moving magnet cartridge.

That makes the RT87 more focused than many of the lifestyle-driven turntables now crowding this price range. Fluance is not chasing Bluetooth, USB ripping, app control, or plug-and-play convenience here. There is no built-in phono preamp, no wireless output, and no USB connection, which means buyers will need an amplifier or receiver with a proper MM phono input, or a separate outboard phono stage.

Those omissions will matter to anyone looking for an all-in-one vinyl solution. The Technics SL-40CBT and Denon DP-500BT offer more modern convenience, while Pro-Ject, Rega, and U-Turn continue to fight hard on tonearm design, speed control, build quality, and upgrade paths. But the RT87’s argument is different: spend the money on the mechanical parts that matter most to analog playback and leave the digital extras outside the plinth.

That makes the Fluance RT87 a more serious step up for listeners who already own, or plan to buy, a proper phono stage. It is less convenient than some of its rivals, but also more purpose-built. For the dedicated record listener who wants cartridge flexibility, better isolation, and a more substantial platform without crossing the $1,000 line, the RT87 looks like Fluance’s most credible turntable yet.

Price & Availability

The Fluance RT87 is available now in Natural Walnut, Piano White, and Piano Black with a choice of  an Audio Technica AT-VM95ML or Ortofon 2M Blue phono cartridge for $799.99 at Amazon or Fluance.

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JBL is not done feeding the party speaker machine in 2026. Following the PartyBox On The Go 2 Plus, the company has added two more portable party speakers to the lineup with the new JBL PartyBox 330 and PartyBox 130.

Both models arrive with upgraded woofers, new tweeters, deeper bass extension, and clearer highs, along with JBL’s AI Sound Boost and Smart EQ to help optimize playback across different tracks. That matters in this category, where “loud” is easy and “loud without sounding like a shopping cart full of Bluetooth regrets” is the harder trick.

The design has also been updated, with a new hexangle profile, curved front grille, redesigned lightshow, and a simplified top control panel built around a single dial for volume, sound modes, and lighting effects. Available in Black or White with orange accents, the PartyBox 330 and 130 look like JBL is pushing the line toward a cleaner, more modern identity without forgetting the main job: make the room, backyard, beach, or basement move.

JBL PartyBox 330

At its core, the JBL PartyBox 330 uses dual 6.5-inch woofers and delivers 280 watts of total output power. Making their PartyBox debut, twin PEN dome tweeters bring technology used in JBL’s professional concert systems, with the goal of producing cleaner, more detailed highs that can cut through the mix when the volume climbs.

JBL also includes AI Sound Boost with Smart EQ Mode, which adjusts playback to help keep the sound balanced across different tracks. The redesigned cabinet adds a new profile, ripple-effect side panels built from miniature JBL horn shapes, and a reinvented beat-synced lightshow because, apparently, standing still in the corner was never part of the brief.

Battery life is rated at up to 18 hours, while a 10-minute Fast Charge can provide up to 2 hours of playback. The battery is also replaceable, so users can charge a spare and swap it in when the party outlasts the first pack.

For easier transport, the PartyBox 330 includes a telescopic locking handle and wide all-terrain wheels. The IPX4 splashproof rating adds protection against splashes, making it suitable for poolside use, patios, and outdoor gatherings.

Dual mic and guitar inputs support karaoke, sing-alongs, and basic live performance use. JBL has also added an optical TV input, USB-C for lossless audio, and Bluetooth for wireless streaming from smartphones and tablets.

Auracast support allows users to pair multiple compatible JBL speakers, making it easier to expand coverage for larger spaces or bigger crowds.

JBL PartyBox 130

For those looking for a more compact PartyBox model, the JBL PartyBox 130 delivers up to 200 watts of output power. It uses upgraded 5.25-inch woofers and 25mm silk dome tweeters, with JBL promising stronger bass and clearer highs from the smaller cabinet.

The PartyBox 130 also includes a redesigned lightshow with strobe edge lighting and dynamic visual effects. Battery life is rated at up to 15 hours, while a 10-minute Fast Charge provides up to 80 minutes of additional playback.

A redesigned foldable carry handle makes the 130 easier to move, and its IPX4 splashproof rating adds protection against splashes and light spills. Like the PartyBox 330, it includes mic and guitar inputs, Bluetooth streaming, and Auracast support for connecting multiple compatible JBL speakers.

EasySing Mics

To get more out of the PartyBox 330 and PartyBox 130, JBL also offers EasySing Mics as an optional accessory. They add karaoke-focused features for users who want to use either speaker for sing-alongs, parties, or casual live performance.

Pro Tip: JBL EasySing Mics are not included with the PartyBox 330 or PartyBox 130. They require a separate purchase.

The JBL EasySing Mics provide real-time, AI-powered vocal removal from tracks while maintaining clear, balanced audio. Users can adjust the vocal level to 25%, 50%, or fully removed. The EasySing algorithm enhances live vocals with Voice Boost for improved high-frequency clarity, along with reverb, echo, and noise suppression.

The JBL EasySing Mic Mini is a new compact version that provides a pocket-sized solution for singing and content creation. It includes Voice Boost for high-pitch support and AI-based noise suppression to reduce background interference.

Comparison

The Bottom Line 

The PartyBox 330 and 130 push JBL deeper into the portable party speaker category with more power, upgraded drivers, Auracast support, mic and guitar inputs, splash resistance, replaceable batteries, and updated lightshows. The 330 adds more output and longer battery life, while the 130 offers a smaller, less expensive option that still keeps the core PartyBox feature set intact.

What’s missing? EasySing microphones are optional, not included, and neither model is pretending to replace a serious PA system. But for parties, outdoor gatherings, karaoke, casual performances, or buskers who need portable amplification without a complicated setup, the PartyBox 330 and 130 make a practical case at $629.95 and $449.95, respectively.

Pricing & Availability

The JBL PartyBox 130 and 330 will be available for presale starting June 7, 2026. Shipping is expected to start on June 28, 2026.

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Total Wireless, formerly known as Total by Verizon, is a prepaid, no-contract wireless provider with unlimited data covered by the Verizon 5G network. Total Wireless Total 5G Unlimited plan has unlimited data, talk, and text, along with a five-year price guarantee—meaning it won’t get jacked up after a trial period, guaranteeing you get unlimited data at a low price. Total Wireless has also introduced unlimited data on Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network that promises to be up to 10 times faster than the median download speeds of other providers.

Whether you have to have the newest iPhone 17, or are more of an Android phone person, we wanted to highlight the best Total Wireless promo codes and discounts that will make anyone happy!

50% Off With BYOD at Total Wireless (No Promo Code Required)

My phone bill is always way more expensive than I think it will be, and it doesn’t help that phone contracts can be confusing and difficult. Total Wireless makes it easy, with incentives like free items and price-lock discounts. Right now, you can get 50% off the Total 5G Unlimited plan when you bring your own phone (aka ‘Bring Your Own Device’). These plans start at as low as $20 per month, with taxes and fees included.

Total Wireless Discount: 15% Off

To get this Total Wireless promo code for 15% off, all you have to do is sign up for the Total Wireless newsletter and get 15% off on your first phone purchase. Plus, with the newsletter, you’ll get exclusive Total Wireless offers and promotions delivered to your inbox to save even more and get up-to-date on the latest drops.

Save up to $250 on Select Devices When You Switch to Total Wireless

Total Wireless wants to thank you for switching. Right now, you can get a free Galaxy A36 5G when you switch to a Total 5G or 5G+ unlimited plan. Or, you could choose to get up to 4 free Moto G Stylus 5G phones when you switch to the Total Base 5G Unlimited plan (or higher). They have tons of other promos going on too, so there’s something no matter your taste. Right now, if you switch, you’ll get up to $250 off select devices, including the iPhone 13 for $50 ($249 off), a free Samsung Galaxy, or a free Samsung Galaxy A25 5 (originally $180), and so much more.

Loop in Friends, Get a Month Free

Total Wireless also has a loyalty program; when your friend gives you a referral code to join, you’ll get a free month of service upon joining. Once you make the switch to Total Wireless and join Total Rewards, as long as you enter your friend’s code within 14 days of activation, you’ll both receive 5,000 points, which is enough for a $50 service plan.

Fin raised $250m in debt in March to help fund its AI agents and make 650 new hires.

Salesforce is purchasing Irish customer agent unicorn Fin for approximately $3.6bn, marking the latest in a series of acquisitions aimed at strengthening its enterprise AI capabilities.

Fin was founded as Intercom in 2011 by CEO Eoghan McCabe, chief strategy officer Des Traynor, chief engineer Ciaran Lee and David Barrett, who worked as a front-end developer at the company before departing in 2018. The company changed its name to Fin – after its AI customer agent platform – last month.

The company’s core offering is Fin, an AI service agent that resolves end-to-end customer queries across channels including live chats, email, WhatsApp, phone and Slack. The AI agent is powered by the company’s proprietary AI model called Apex, purpose-built for customer support.

The company said that it surpassed $400m in annual recurring revenue in March, with Fin alone set to reach the $100m revenue mark.

Fin’s wide-ranging customer base includes companies such as Anthropic, cloud company Snowflake and crypto prediction platform Polymarket. More than 30,000 companies use Fin’s products.

The acquisition comes a few months after Fin raised $250m in debt to help fund its AI agents. The company, at the time, said that it planned to make 650 new hires across offices in Dublin, London, Berlin, Sydney, Chicago and San Francisco this year.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Fin to Salesforce as we enable every company to become an agentic enterprise,” said Marc Benioff, the CEO and chair of Salesforce.

“Fin brings proven agent technology, a deep commitment to customer success, and an incredible AI team that will complement Agentforce with powerful service agent capabilities.”

Salesforce’s AI platform Agentforce grew 205pc, hitting $1.2bn in annual recurring revenue in its fiscal quarter ending in May. Fin’s AI package is expected to help Salesforce provide organisations with improved autonomous resolution and reduced cost-to-serve.

McCabe said that “this is a major win for consumers of the world”.

“Our technology has defined this category and set the new standards for what great customer service looks like today,” he said.

Salesforce announced its intention to acquire Berlin-founded digital experience platform Contentful earlier this month.

Last summer, the company acquired enterprise cloud data management business Informatica in an $8bn deal to integrate the tech into its AI platform Agentforce.

In October, it acquired automation platform Regrello, followed by Qualified, an agentic AI marketing solutions provider, this April.

Salesforce shares are up more than 1.5pc today (15 June), but overall has dropped around 35pc over the past year.

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