Social media platforms have spent years telling parents their children are safe online. New research suggests those assurances don’t hold up. A report from the Cybersafety Research Center tested 86 child safety features across TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. Only 35 worked as promised, and the rest were broken, buried in settings, or missing entirely.
Which social media platforms performed the worst on child safety?
To run the tests, researchers created fake teen accounts and adult accounts to see whether safety features worked in practice. Snapchat had the worst failure rate at 73%, followed by Instagram at 66%, YouTube at 55%, and TikTok at 50%. Every conduct safeguard designed to prevent cyberbullying failed across all four platforms.
On TikTok, a minor’s test account searching for content related to disordered eating was met with the app’s own suggestions for terms linked to pro-anorexia communities, including phrases about hiding food and self-harm.
Dall-E / OpenAI
On Snapchat, an adult test account was able to find and message a child account without any restrictions at all. Meanwhile, Instagram prevented adults from starting conversations with teens who didn’t follow them, but once a child messaged an adult first, that adult could reply freely with no warnings.
Across all four platforms, nine features were classified as completely missing, meaning researchers could not trigger them even after following the steps each company described.
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How the platforms responded and what this means for child safety online
The bigger problem is getting harder to ignore. If platform safeguards are weak and bans are easy to dodge, your child may be relying on systems that are far less safe than they seem.
Apple CEO Tim Cook will soon be Executive Chairman and handle government interactions, but that isn’t stopping him from taking a phone call today with a European Commission head over Apple AI in the EU.
WWDC 2026 was focused on system optimization, child safety, and the new Apple Foundation Models. Apple Users in the EU were cut off completely from that last third of the keynote, as those features can’t launch in the region as they exist today.
According to a report from The Financial Times, first shared by9to5Mac, Apple CEO Tim Cook had a virtual meeting with Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, which reportedly was “constructive.” People familiar with the exchange said that the conversation centered around how Apple might launch its revamped AI tools in the EU without violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
For anyone paying attention, such a phone call was inevitable. It could be months or years of back and forth before Apple and the EU find a compromise here.
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What’s actually interesting here is Tim Cook himself being on the other end of the phone. He’s still CEO, but will be stepping down on September 1 to take over as Executive Chairman with John Ternus taking on the CEO role.
Normally, such things would have involved Eddy Cue or a similar senior executive. It seems that Cook is taking on his role as a government liaison sooner than expected.
Of course, Cook has already acted as a buffer between the United States administration and Apple in the past. That role is expanding with his position as Executive Chairman.
It isn’t clear who might budge first in these negotiations. The problem is that Apple likely won’t be materially affected by this delayed launch and the EU seems rather stubborn in its demands.
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In the end, it is the Apple customers in the EU that lose the most.
The Trump administration is lifting export controls on Anthropic’s two most powerful AI models after the company reached a deal with the Commerce Department. The news was communicated in a letter sent by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to Anthropic cofounder Tom Brown viewed by WIRED.
The department is lifting restrictions on both the Fable 5 model and the more powerful Mythos 5 model, which had so far been approved for release only to select companies and government agencies. “A license is no longer required for the export, reexport, or in-country transfer, including deemed export or deemed reexport, of the Mythos or Fable models,” Lutnick wrote.
The developments come as Anthropic has been working with the Commerce Department and the White House to strengthen safeguards against users bypassing Fable’s safety restrictions to access restricted capabilities, especially those related to cybersecurity, according to people familiar with the matter.
“Among other things, Anthropic has agreed to proactively detect and address security risks associated with the models; to work diligently with the U.S. government on protocols and standards and releases for Mythos, Fable, and future models,” Lutnick wrote.
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Lutnick has been leading the Trump administration’s efforts to resolve its dispute with Anthropic alongside the national cyber director Sean Cairncross.
Anthropic originally contended that the administration’s security concerns were overblown. The company said it was impossible to ensure there were zero jailbreaks that could unlock the more powerful capabilities of the company’s restricted Mythos model.
In recent weeks, Anthropic changed tack to try to get Fable back online, which has also meant changing the company’s communication style with the administration. WIRED previously reported that Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei was recently replaced in meetings with Brown, who officials liked more on a personal level.
Anthropic also assured the administration that it would try to reduce the number of jailbreaks by building more robust safeguards, effectively telling the administration what it wanted to hear rather than relitigating the conceptual issue of whether jailbreaks can be stopped, the people said.
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Update 6/30/26 7:53pm ET: This story has been updated to include references to a letter sent by the Commerce Department to Anthropic viewed by WIRED.
Gas prices in the U.S. hit a four-year high in May 2026, but it seems that things have finally turned a corner for the better. AAA’s Fuel Tracker shows that gas prices have dropped noticeably, with the average sitting at $3.8470 as of June 30. And with the July 4 holidays coming up soon, this means that travel costs for the weekend will be much lower than they otherwise would have been.
According to a GasBuddy report, the average price of gas nationwide has dropped by around $0.069 over the past week, heading into the July 4 weekend. That brings the national average to around $3.78 per gallon, according to its data, though this number, of course, differs by state. GasBuddy notes that the most common rates drivers have seen recently are $3.49, $3.69, $3.59, $3.79, and $3.99 per gallon. AAA data shows most state averages are currently below $4.00, so you likely won’t have to pay more than that to fuel up if you’re planning on taking a drive this Independence Day weekend.
It’s worth noting, though, that GasBuddy’s report suggests that some price-cycling states may see prices rise again before July 4 — although states that increased prices last week will likely see prices drop. Overall, we’re still a ways off from the $3.15 average of the previous July 4 weekend, but any dip in fuel costs is a welcome sight at this point.
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Why gas prices are dropping the way they are
Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
Much of the reason gas prices have dropped comes down to developments in the Iran War. Continued negotiations between the United States and Iran have led to the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, allowing for more crude oil to move through the waterway than in recent months. While peace talks remain shaky and the movement of resources through the Strait has yet to reach pre-war levels, this is still a positive sign for the time being. Assuming the U.S.-Iran talks don’t deteriorate, this downward trend will likely continue. But it is still a volatile situation nonetheless.
With that said, just because gas is getting cheaper doesn’t mean it’s cheap everywhere. State tax rates, environmental regulations, demand, and other factors lead to inconsistent gas prices across the U.S. While gas is indeed below $4.00 in most states, it’s still expensive overall. On the higher end, California’s state average is $5.43, New York is $4.11, and Alaska is $4.83, per the AAA. These prices are down from the past few months, but there’s still a long way yet to go.
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Even with gas prices dropping ahead of July 4, they’re still pretty high at this point, no matter where you are. Even if they continue to fall, you should still be aware of the many ways to save money on gas to stretch your dollar even further.
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When it comes to yard maintenance, investing in the right equipment can mean the difference between an enjoyable summer activity to a frustrating list of never-ending chores. For people with yards that are over half an acre, a riding lawn mower should definitely be up for consideration. Apart from cutting grass, there are so many things you can do with your riding lawn mowers and their many attachments, whether it’s plowing snow, hauling, or fertilizing your garden. While you’ll still need to be mindful of bad habits while driving your mower, the pros generally outweigh the cons for many users.
For people with at least half an acre, it can take too much time to mow your lawn with a self-propelled lawn mower, or it might even be unsafe to do by yourself when there are steep slopes. You could also be approaching the age where a lifetime of physical labor has taken its toll and you need to manage things like joint and back pain. However, not everyone needs an expensive riding lawn mower, especially if you don’t have a massive property to manage. So, if you’re a homeowner looking for an affordable riding lawn mower for residential use, here are some of the cheapest ones you can find at some of your local retailers.
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Craftsman R110 Gas Lawn Tractor
Priced at $2,099 on Lowe’s, the Craftsman R110 30-inch gas lawn tractor has a mid-back seat, soft touch steering wheel, and even a cup holder. It comes with a Briggs and Stratton single-cylinder engine that can generate up to 10.5 horsepower with a six-speed manual transmission. It also has a 30-inch steel deck and 18-inch turning radius. With a fuel capacity of 1.3 gallons, it can go up to four miles per hour in both forward and reverse. It has a minimum cutting height of an inch, but you can adjust it to five positions up to 3.5 inches. Weighing 330 lbs, the base of the unit itself measures 30 inches by 64 inches.
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It includes a mulching kit, deck belt, air filter, oil filter, spark plug, and replacement blade. While it uses global materials, Craftsman also says that it’s made in the United States, which makes it a good choice for people who want to support local industries. If you want to get the CRAFTSMAN R110, but need a wider option, it is also available in three other cut widths (36 inches, 42 inches, and 46 inches). The 30-inch width model shares the same price as the 42-inch variant. On the other hand, the 36-inch model retails for $1,899, while the 46-inch model is listed at $2,299. As of June 2026, more than 6,800 Lowe’s reviewers have rated the Craftsman R110 (plus its other sizes) about 3.8 stars with a 69% recommendation rate.
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Troy-Bilt TB30B Riding Mower
While it’s not exclusively sold there, Troy-Bilt has been consistently rated as being its best lawn mower brand by Home Depot users. Designed specifically for homeowners with small yards up to ½ acre, the mid-back seat type Troy-Bilt TB30B 344cc compact riding gas lawn mower retails for $1,924 on Walmart. With five deck positions, it is capable of six speeds with its 10.5 horsepower Briggs & Stratton engine. While it does have a relatively slow maximum reverse speed of 2 miles per hour, it does have 4.26 miles per hour forward speed capacity. It has a five-point cutting height range can go between 1.5 inches to 4 inches, but the same fuel tank capacity of 1.3 gallons. It also has an 18-inch turning radius, rear tow hitch, and corrosion protection.
Despite its relatively affordable price point, most people who buy the Troy-Bilt TB30B riding mower seem to be quite satisfied with an average rating of 4.1 stars from more than 220 Walmart customers with 60% of them even giving it a perfect rating. On the official Troy-Bilt website, it has a slightly higher rating of 4.1 stars from 170+ reviewers. It is manufactured in the United States and has a two-year limited warranty for its frame, front axle, and deck shell, which is one year shorter than other options on this list.
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CRAFTSMAN T100 Gas Riding Lawn Mower
The Craftsman T100, 36-inch gas riding lawn mower is available on Amazon for $1,899 — you can also pay an extra $199.99 for professional assembly. It shares the same price tag on Lowe’s. It boasts a more powerful 11.5 horsepower single cylinder Briggs and Stratton engine. Compared to other options on this list, it can go a lot faster with a 5.5 miles per hour forward and reverse speed and seven-speed transmission.
It has a low back seat, an 18-inch turning radius for convenient maneuvering, and although it has a wider 36-inch steel deck, it’s still compact enough for many residential gates. With its 1.3-gallon fuel capacity, Craftsman recommends it for yards up to 1 acre with a terrain that is flat with obstacles. It has a five-position cut height adjustment; its two blades can cut grass that ranges between 1.5 inches to 3.75 inches. There’s also a mulching kit included. On Lowe’s, it has a 3.8-star average rating from 6,800+ users with its other sizes. It is made in the United States (with global materials) and it comes with a 3-year limited warranty. On Amazon, it fares much better — it’s both an Amazon’ s Choice product and has an average rating of 4.3 stars from over 160 customers.
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Troy-Bilt Pony 42-inch Gas Riding Lawn Mower
Troy-Bilt is one of the best major lawn mower brands, and the low back seat type Troy-Bilt Pony 42-inch gas riding lawn mower is only marginally more expensive than others at $2,099.99 on Tractor Supply. With a significantly wider cutting width of 42 inches, it’s made for lawns up to 1.5 acres. It has an 18″ turning radius and a slightly larger fuel tank capacity of 1.36 gallons. It also has the same five positions with cutting height capabilities (1.5 inches to 4 inches) as the Troy-Bilt TB30B. However, it is a lot faster and can go up to 5.5 miles per hour forward, while it’s rated to go backwards at 2.5 miles per hour.
Some unique features that set it apart include the two blades, step-thru frame, automatic headlights, and 7-speed shift. While it doesn’t have a stellar review on the Troy-Bilt website – it only has an average rating of 3.5 stars from 41 reviewers, it fares better on Tractor Supply where it has a 3.8-star rating from 140+ people. It comes with a three-year limited warranty for the frame, front axle, deck shell, and engine.
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Cub Cadet CC30H Compact Rider
We’ve mentioned that Cub Cadet has been praised as one of the most reliable gas riding mower brands out there, so it’s unsurprising that it has a budget offering worth considering. On Home Depot, the Cub Cadet CC30H retails for $2,399 with an average rating of 4.3 stars from more than 2,100+ people. On the Cub Cadet website, it’s listed with the same price but holds a slightly lower 3.9-star rating from 260 people. While it doesn’t have armrests, it does have a 15-inch high-back seat and cup holder. It’s also known to be incredibly compact with assembled dimensions of 67 by 35 by 38 inches.
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Similar to other options on this list, it uses a 10.5 horsepower engine from Briggs and Stratton and has a 1.3-gallon capacity fuel tank. It has a hydrostatic drive system and can go up to four miles per hour forward and two miles per hour backwards with an 18-inch turning radius. There’s a 30-inch cutting deck and its single blade has five deck positions that range from 1.5 inches to 4 inches. It also ships with a mulch kit. For its residential warranty, it has a 3-year limited warranty for its frame, front axle, and deck. That said, one of the most common problems with Cub Cadet lawn mowers is with its poor customer service and occasional comments regarding lack of power.
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Methodology
To make this list, we looked through all the riding lawn mower options across multiple online retailers, such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, Walmart, Amazon, and Tractor Supply. We then selected some of their cheapest offers that have an average rating of at least 3.5 stars. In cases where there were few reviews, we referenced feedback from multiple websites. Apart from price, we noted specific features that most people look for with their riding lawn mowers, such as their cutting width, cutting heights, and seat-type. We also highlight things like forward and reverse speed, fuel tank capacity, and comfort-focused fixtures like cup holders. While it didn’t affect their placement on the list, we also noted additional factors such as warranty length, coverage, and availability across other sellers.
SandboxAQ claims its LQMs can offer ‘critical advances’ in sectors such as life sciences, financial services and navigation.
Quantum computing and AI technology company SandboxAQ is to make two of its ‘large quantitative models’ (LQMs) available for Google Cloud Marketplace users with the aim of driving AI-assisted developments in materials science, healthcare and drug discovery.
SandboxAQ said its LQMs are “rigorous, physics-grounded scientific models” built on “real-world lab data and scientific equations” that will now interface with other AI models through Google’s platform.
The ‘AQCat’ LQM, which will be available on the storefront in Q3 of this year, “targets the most critical first step in catalyst and materials discovery, adsorption energy calculation, which is a measure of how strongly molecules bind to a catalyst surface”, its maker said.
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Researchers will be able to use AQCat “to rapidly identify and prioritise the most promising candidates” for materials discovery “before committing costly modelling and lab resources to full evaluation”, according to SandboxAQ, which said that catalysts underpin more than 90pc of all commercially produced chemical products and directly impact initiatives such as green hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, fertiliser production and plastics recycling.
“Bringing our LQMs to Google Cloud’s Marketplace will put the rigour of first-principles science directly into the hands of every researcher, in the tools they already use,” said Jack D Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ.
“Pairing the reasoning of a frontier model such as Gemini with the quantitative precision of our LQMs is a powerful combination.”
The ‘AQPotency’ LQM, available later in 2026 on Google Cloud Marketplace, “will let researchers computationally identify and prioritise the most promising binders at high throughput, evaluating thousands of candidates in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional screening”, according to its creator.
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SandboxAQ said that binding molecule identification is “the foundation of designing a safe, effective drug”, and the new LQM would offer “frontier, physics-grounded drug discovery capabilities” to pharmaceutical and biotech R&D teams.
Brian Goldstein, vice-president of strategic AI and independent software vendors at Google Cloud, said: “Bringing SandboxAQ’s large quantitative models to [our] marketplace is one of the ways we are empowering healthcare researchers to accelerate drug discovery and solve one of the most critical gaps in healthcare today.”
SandboxAQ is already integrated with Anthropic’s Claude AI model. It claims its LQMs can offer “critical advances” in sectors such as life sciences, financial services and navigation.
The company began life at Alphabet, the parent organisation of Google, in 2016, before launching as a spin-out in 2022. SandboxAQ is chaired by Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google.
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The network streamer market has become brutally competitive. WiiM upset the apple cart with the $329 Ultra, a compact digital hub with a touchscreen, HDMI ARC, phono input, headphone output, preamp functionality, and room correction. Eversolo then raised expectations at the next level with the $859 DMP-A6 Gen 2, which brings a large touchscreen, balanced outputs, internal storage capability, HDMI ARC, and software that is far more ambitious than its price suggests.
That leaves the $749 Bluesound NODE in a far less comfortable position than its predecessors enjoyed. Cambridge Audio’s $499 MXN10 and AXN10 offer serious competition for listeners who want a conventional, well-sorted network player without spending close to four figures. The days when BluOS alone was enough to make the NODE the automatic recommendation are gone.
Fortunately for Bluesound, BluOS has not been left to rot in the sun. The platform has gone through multiple updates and remains one of the more mature multiroom ecosystems available, with broad streaming-service support, reliable device control, and none of the “we will fix it in the next update” energy that still haunts too many audio apps. Ask Sonos how that worked out for them.
The current NODE also brings a stronger ESS DAC, THX AAA headphone amplification, HDMI eARC, DSD playback, and Dirac Live Room Correction support to the fight. Dirac is not included in the box; buyers need a license and calibration kit, and correction is not available through the NODE’s USB output. But for systems compromised by real rooms, rather than fantasy listening spaces with acoustics designed by the Ministry of Sound, it could be the feature that matters most.
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Bluesound NODE N132: What Is New Under the Hood
The current Bluesound NODE is not a cosmetic refresh of the older N130. The N132 uses an ESS ES9039Q2M SABRE DAC, an ARM Cortex A53 quad core processor running at 1.8GHz per core, and revised circuitry intended to keep jitter and electrical noise under control before the signal reaches your amplifier, powered speakers, headphones, or external DAC.
The NODE offers support for native PCM sampling rates up to 192kHz, 16-bit and 24-bit files, DSD256 playback, a specified signal to noise ratio of 118dB, and THD+N rated at 0.0007 percent. The NODE does not offer balanced XLR outputs, dual DACs, or the elaborate display found on the more expensive NODE ICON.
It is a stereo streamer and digital preamplifier designed to slot into almost any existing system. Connect it directly to a pair of active loudspeakers, use it as the front end for an integrated amplifier or separate preamp and power amp combination, or feed its digital outputs into an external DAC.
It can also serve as the central music source for an AVR through its analog, optical, or coaxial outputs, while BluOS lets it join a wider whole-home system with Bluesound’s PULSE FLEX wireless speakers, including stereo-paired FLEX units in another room. It is not a replacement for a full home theater processor, but it can be the component that makes a conventional two-channel or AV system feel considerably less stuck in 2016.
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Supported Audio Formats & High Resolution Playback
The NODE supports the formats most people actually use, including MP3, AAC, WMA, WMA Lossless, OGG, ALAC, and OPUS. Its high quality file support includes FLAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF, and MPEG 4 SLS.
MQA remains part of the specification sheet for those with an existing MQA library. More relevant in 2026 is the NODE’s support for lossless FLAC through current streaming services and its ability to function as either a complete streamer DAC or a digital transport feeding an external DAC.
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BluOS Streaming & Multi Room Control
BluOS remains the reason many people buy a Bluesound product in the first place. The NODE supports more than 23 music services and internet radio, along with Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect including Spotify Lossless support, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, and Roon Ready operation.
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The NODE can also access a music library over an SMB network share, with Bluesound rating support for libraries of up to 200,000 files. That will cover most collections unless you have inherited the entire Tower Records inventory and refuse to seek professional help. Call me if you need a number.
BluOS works across iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. The NODE can be grouped with other Bluesound players for synchronized multi-room playback, or used independently in a traditional two channel system. It also supports Amazon Alexa skills and integrates with Crestron, Control4, RTI, ELAN, URC, Lutron, and Josh.ai control systems.
Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and Local Storage
The NODE includes dual band Wi-Fi 5 and a Gigabit Ethernet port. Wired Ethernet remains the sensible choice for large local libraries, Roon use, or homes where the wireless network has been designed by people who believe mesh nodes belong behind furniture.
Bluetooth is specified as Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive support and two way operation. That means the NODE can receive audio from a phone or tablet, but it can also transmit audio to compatible Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
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The USB Type-A port is not a computer input. It supports FAT32 formatted external storage and Local Server mode, allowing the NODE to index music from an attached drive. The same port can also function as a USB Audio 2.0 digital output for an external DAC.
Analog, Digital, and TV Inputs
The NODE is far more than a streaming endpoint. Its HDMI eARC input lets it pull audio from a television, making it a practical front end for a two channel living room system with powered speakers or an integrated amplifier. It also supports Dolby Digital decoding, although this remains a two channel product rather than a replacement for an AV receiver.
There is also a combination 3.5mm analog and Mini TOSLINK optical input. That allows the NODE to accept a line level analog source or an optical source through the same connection. It is useful for a CD player, TV, game console, or external phono preamp.
The important distinction is that the NODE does not include a phono stage. A turntable requires a separate MM or MC phono preamplifier before connecting to the NODE’s analog input.
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RCA, Optical, Coaxial, and USB Outputs
The NODE offers a proper range of outputs for a component that remains physically small. Its main analog output is stereo RCA, with the option to run at a fixed level into an integrated amplifier or preamplifier, or variable level into a power amplifier or pair of active speakers.
Digital outputs include coaxial RCA, optical TOSLINK, and USB Audio 2.0 through the USB A connection. The USB output is useful for owners who want the BluOS platform and system flexibility of the NODE but prefer to use an external DAC.
There is one important operational limitation: when USB Audio output is enabled, the analog RCA, coaxial, and optical outputs are disabled. Connecting headphones also takes priority over USB Audio output. It is not a deal breaker, but it is the sort of detail that tends to appear five minutes after an installation has gone from elegant to mildly profane.
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Subwoofer Output & Bass Management
The NODE includes a dedicated RCA subwoofer output and can also connect wirelessly to Bluesound’s PULSE SUB+. The BluOS app offers adjustable crossover control from 40Hz to 200Hz, with 80Hz as the default setting.
When the subwoofer setting is enabled, the NODE applies a high pass filter to the RCA output and sends lower frequencies to the subwoofer output. The digital outputs remain full range, so users relying on an external DAC or digital preamp need to plan their bass management accordingly.
The NODE also offers basic bass and treble controls, ReplayGain options, mono and channel specific output modes, volume limits, and fixed output level. These are useful practical tools, but they are not a substitute for a full parametric EQ or sophisticated loudspeaker management system.
Dirac Live Room Correction
Bluesound NODE with PSB AM5s and Dirac Microphone
Dirac Live is the feature that changes the conversation around the current NODE. Support for the N132 arrived through BluOS 4.8.15 in January 2025, so this is not a future promise hiding behind a marketing asterisk. At least not anymore.
Dirac is not included with the NODE. Owners need to purchase a Dirac Live license and use a compatible calibrated measurement microphone, such as Bluesound’s Room Calibration Kit. Once installed, Dirac Live measures the room and creates correction filters intended to reduce the influence of bass peaks, cancellations, reflections, and other real world acoustic problems.
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The NODE supports Dirac Live correction through its RCA, optical, and coaxial outputs. The USB Audio output does not support Dirac Live processing. That distinction matters. Owners planning to use an external USB DAC will get the NODE’s streaming platform and digital transport capability, but not its room correction.
For many systems, particularly those in smaller rooms or living spaces where speaker placement is limited by walls, furniture, spouses, or basic architectural hostility, Dirac Live may prove more meaningful than another incremental DAC chip upgrade.
THX AAA Headphone Amplifier
The front panel includes a full size 6.3mm headphone output driven by THX AAA amplifier technology. THX AAA uses feed forward error correction to reduce conventional distortion mechanisms, which is a less theatrical way of saying that the circuit is designed to remain clean and controlled rather than add its own flavor to the music.
Bluesound rates the headphone stage at 160mW into 16 ohms, 230mW into 32 ohms, 53mW into 250 ohms, and 22mW into 600 ohms, all at less than 0.1 percent THD. If you were thinking of driving a pair of your demanding planar headphones with the NODE, you might want to rethink that strategy. Grado? Sure. Meze Audio 99 Classics Generation 2? Absolutely.
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The fact that Bluesound includes a legitimate dedicated headphone section rather than a token 3.5mm afterthought gives the NODE more value as a desktop or secondary system hub, but it’s not a replacement for a proper headphone amplifier.
Controls, Presets, and Remote Integration
The NODE keeps physical controls simple. The top panel includes a touch sensitive volume slider, play and pause control, five programmable presets, status LEDs, and a proximity sensor that wakes the controls when a hand approaches.
Those presets can be assigned to favorite stations, playlists, albums, or inputs, which sounds modest until you have used a streamer daily and realize how often you want music without opening another app.
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The NODE also includes a built-in IR receiver with remote learning, plus a 3.5mm IR input for integration with more elaborate systems. A 12 volt trigger output can power on compatible amplifiers, active speakers, or other components when the NODE wakes up.
Size, Finish, and Included Accessories
The NODE measures 8.7 inches wide, 1.8 inches high, and 5.7 inches deep, and weighs 2.4 pounds. It is available in matte black or white and is compact enough to disappear into most systems without looking like a discarded cable modem.
Bluesound includes stereo RCA cables, an Ethernet cable, a Mini TOSLINK adapter, power cords, setup documentation, and a Dirac Live information card. The NODE uses a universal 100V to 240V AC power input, which is useful for international use and far more practical than another proprietary external power brick cluttering the floor.
Setup and Listening
The network streamer market has become increasingly bifurcated. Below $1,500, WiiM, Eversolo, Bluesound, Cambridge Audio, Shanling, iFi Audio, and FiiO are making it difficult to spend more without asking some uncomfortable questions. At the other end sit brands such as Innuos, Nagra, NAD, Aurender, Esoteric, and TEAC, where performance, build quality, power supplies, digital architecture, and brand ambition all move into a very different conversation.
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There are exceptions, naturally, but the middle has become less crowded than it should be. I have heard the Bluesound NODE ICON at several dealers and came away impressed, although never in my own system, so I am not going to pretend otherwise. Innuos would probably be my personal choice in a blank cheque scenario, but its newer range has moved decidedly upmarket. That leaves a product like the NODE in a rather sensible position.
Some buyers will complain that the NODE lacks a large touchscreen for album artwork and metadata. I am not one of them. I own an iPhone and an iPad Pro. So do tens of millions of other people. More importantly, displays are often among the first things to fail on modern components, and I cannot read most of them from across the room anyway.
In this case, I do not view the absence of a screen as a meaningful compromise. I would rather have a mature control platform, proper connectivity, and the option to improve the system around it than pay extra for a tiny digital picture frame I will barely use.
The NODE’s flexibility also made it easy to drop into a wide range of systems during the review. I used its analog and digital outputs with the Cambridge Audio Edge A, NAD C 316BEE V2, Audiolab 6000A, WiiM Vibelink, Quad 3, and Advance Paris A10 Classic, along with Q Acoustics’ M40 active speakers and Bluesound PULSE FLEX. External DAC duties were handled by the FiiO K11 R2R.
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Cabling came from QED, Chord, Analysis Plus, and Cable Matters, including a CAT 6A Ethernet cable that had been blessed by my Rabbi. Network duties were handled by Verizon 2Gbps fiber service, its supplied modem, and an ASUS Wi-Fi 7 router. Music came primarily from TIDAL, Qobuz, and Spotify Lossless.
One advantage of owning other Bluesound and NAD components is that I have lived with BluOS through several generations. It has improved with each iteration. The interface may not feel quite as slick or immediate as WiiM Home, but it is the devil I know, and more importantly, every one of my streaming accounts has remained stable through it.
TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, and Spotify Connect all worked reliably when used directly from their respective apps. That matters more to me than a few extra animations or a prettier home screen. A streaming platform that gets out of the way and plays music without drama is still worth something.
Bluesound streamers have carried a “warm” reputation for years, and that has generally been fair. Earlier NODE generations were not detail monsters. They tended to favor a full, generous bottom end over the last word in definition or impact, with a smooth, clear midrange, an above-average soundstage, and a slightly rounded treble. In a more neutral or lean sounding system, that balance could be rather appealing.
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Push the rest of the chain too far in the darker direction, however, and things could become a little too warm cocoa and slippers for my taste. Pleasant enough, perhaps, but not especially exciting.
WiiM and Eversolo have largely taken the opposite approach. Both sound more linear, more explicit, and quicker on their feet, with sharper image outlines and more apparent detail. They can also sound a touch thin or overly matter-of-fact when paired with the wrong amplifier or loudspeakers. I own a WiiM and two Cambridge Audio network players, so I have a fairly solid baseline for that comparison.
Not Your Daddy’s Bluesound
The new NODE sounds different. Not “throw the Tim Hortons out and replace it with a cauldron of double-doubles” different, but clearly different. The presentation is more spacious, the low end is tighter, and there is a little less of the old Bluesound warmth in the midbass and lower midrange. Fine detail is easier to hear, transients have more snap, and the treble sounds more open and less toffee-coated.
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It still does not turn into a WiiM or Eversolo overnight, nor should it. The NODE retains enough body and ease to avoid sounding clinical, but it is more neutral, more transparent, and more controlled than the Bluesound players that established the brand’s earlier sonic identity.
Nick Cave’s “Avalanche” showed off the NODE’s improved tonal balance particularly well. Cave’s piano had the right weight and dark resonance, while his weathered baritone retained its grizzly edge and low-register authority without sounding overly smoothed or thinned out.
The decay around the piano notes hung in the air long enough to preserve the recording’s atmosphere, and the NODE cast a wider, more open soundstage than earlier Bluesound streamers I have heard. The track still had real power, but the presentation remained controlled and appropriately bleak.
Sia’s bass-heavy pop, including “Unstoppable,” “Cheap Thrills,” and “Breathe Me,” revealed a similar shift. The NODE gave up a little of the old Bluesound thunder at the very bottom, but the bass was better defined and less prone to spreading across the lower midrange. Her voice also came through with more clarity, while the mixes sounded more open and spacious.
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That worked particularly well with the Q Acoustics 5040, which can throw a wall-to-wall soundstage that seems slightly ridiculous for a compact floorstander. The NODE took full advantage of that quality. It also helped the Q Acoustics M40 active speakers sound less confined between the cabinets on tracks where they can occasionally pull the image inward. Not here. The stage opened up, and the music had more room to breathe without losing its weight.
Switching to electronic music, the NODE proved far more capable than older Bluesound streamers in keeping pace with less expensive WiiM and Eversolo rivals. Kraftwerk’s “The Robots” and “Tour de France Étape 2,” deadmau5’s “Strobe” and “Ghosts ’n’ Stuff,” The Orb’s “Little Fluffy Clouds,” Aphex Twin’s “Xtal,” and Boards of Canada’s “Roygbiv” all benefited from tighter, more convincing midbass and upper bass.
The NODE did not always deliver quite the same top-end bite or etched detail as some of those competitors, but it kept the pulse intact. Synth lines had better separation, bass patterns were easier to follow, and the music filled the space with more purpose. That matters with this material. I can live without the last degree of sparkle, but the low-end drive has to land somewhere below the rib cage and make you want to channel that increasingly tired Jon Hamm dancing-in-a-club meme. I am already on bipolar medication. Stronger chemical assistance seems unnecessary.
Bluesound has improved this aspect of the NODE considerably. It sounds quicker, more spacious, and more confident with electronic music without losing the fuller tonal balance that has long been part of the brand’s appeal.
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The Bottom Line
The Bluesound NODE is not the least expensive way into high-resolution streaming, nor is it the most feature-packed box on paper. The WiiM Ultra remains a ridiculous value at $329, especially for listeners who want a more neutral presentation and the freedom to pair it with a better external DAC later. Cambridge Audio’s MXN10 and CXN100 SE also remain serious alternatives, offering a more familiar British balance that will appeal to listeners who value tonal weight and a more traditional hi-fi presentation.
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At $750, the NODE has to justify the premium. It does. The N132 is a meaningful improvement over the previous generation, with a more open and spacious presentation, tighter bass, better clarity, and less of the soft warmth that defined earlier Bluesound players. It still sounds closer in character to the Cambridge streamers than to WiiM or Eversolo, but it delivers a little more transparency and control than I expected.
Neither BluOS nor the StreamMagic app is perfect. BluOS is not as slick as WiiM Home, but it has been more stable in my experience, and its ability to integrate the NODE into a larger Bluesound or NAD ecosystem remains a genuine advantage. The NODE’s real strength is that it can serve as a complete streamer, DAC, preamplifier, headphone amplifier, and television audio hub today, while also working as a very capable digital transport if the rest of the system improves around it.
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The Dirac Live story is not finished. Bluesound did not provide access in time for this review, and I was not prepared to offer a verdict after trying it with only one amplifier and one pair of loudspeakers. A follow-up focused on Dirac Live is forthcoming, using multiple speaker and amplifier combinations. That is the only sensible way to judge whether it genuinely shifts the NODE’s value proposition.
The changes here also make me want to spend more time with the NODE ICON. A balanced DAC, preamplifier, and a very particular pair of speakers are already waiting in the listening room. That could get expensive quickly.
For now, the answer is straightforward: the new NODE is definitely a better streamer than the model it replaces. It costs more than the WiiM Ultra and asks buyers to live without a touchscreen, but its improved sound quality, mature platform, broad connectivity, upgrade flexibility, and eventual Dirac Live capability make it one of the more compelling network players in its class.
Pros:
Clearer, tighter, and more spacious sounding than the previous NODE
BluOS remains stable, mature, and excellent for multiroom use with Bluesound and NAD components
Flexible connectivity, including HDMI eARC, analog, optical, coaxial, USB Audio, subwoofer output, and THX AAA headphone amplification
Works equally well as a complete streamer, DAC, and preamp or as a digital transport for a better external DAC
Dirac Live support adds useful room-correction potential
Cons:
At $750, it still faces serious value pressure from the WiiM Ultra and Cambridge Audio alternatives
Dirac Live requires an additional license and measurement microphone
No balanced XLR outputs
No touchscreen or onboard album-art display
BluOS is stable, but the app is not as polished or immediate as WiiM Home
While driving in the rain or snow, you’ve probably mumbled to yourself, “It sure would be nice to clear the rear windshield.” But if you’re in a car, you are often out of luck due to a lack of rear windshield wipers. Meanwhile, SUVs appear to have that luxury, and that all comes down to the vehicles’ shapes.
Aerodynamics play a big role in this contrast. Sedans have a sloped rear windshield with a smooth surface, which allows air to flow over it. For this reason, water is naturally carried away from the windshield’s surface. The wipers may even disrupt that airflow since the surface would no longer be smooth. Meanwhile, SUVs and hatchbacks have a more upright shape — especially as boxier styles return. This can lower the air pressure behind it, pulling in surrounding air and water into a vacuum. Since the air is not flowing against a smooth surface, it can end up swirling around the windshield, meaning water and dirt won’t disperse on its own.
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Sedans still get dirty rear windshields sometimes, but wipers are not a viable solution
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While water flows off of sedans’ windshields, that doesn’t mean dirt and snow are going anywhere. It can get difficult to see out of the back of a sedan in some cases — so why aren’t there windshield wipers? Aside from aerodynamics, there are a few other reasons why sedans and windshields don’t mix.
Fuel efficiency is a big one. Remember how we mentioned windshield wipers take away from the sedan’s aerodynamic design? This means adding wipers would also add to more fuel consumption (like when you drive faster), since it would break up the streamlined profile and create drag. Sedans also lack the space to add the electric motor required to power the wiper. It may also get in the way of opening the trunk. If you’re getting fed up with dirty rear windshields, try applying a protective coating (RainX is popular, but we also recommend a few alternative brands) and keeping some windshield cleaning products in your car in case you need to take them out mid-journey.
You often hear of drivers getting pulled over for speeding — especially as some states start to crack down on extremely fast driving. But a Facebook post from an Indiana State Police trooper has gone viral after he pulled a driver over for going too slow. It may surprise some drivers, but this can be just as dangerous.
On June 10th, Sgt. Stephen Wheeles pulled a driver over along the I-65 in Bartholomew County, Indiana for “traveling below the speed limit.” The driver had been cruising in the left lane for miles, not allowing vehicles to get past. As a result, multiple vehicles were lined up behind the slow car. As a result, the driver was issued a citation for left lane camping.
Wheeles wrote on the Facebook post: “Reminder: You must at least travel the speed limit in the left lane of a multi-lane highway AND you must move back to the right lane if there are vehicles behind you that are waiting to pass.”
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Why is left lane camping illegal?
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Drivers are well aware of the dangers of speeding at this point, but driving slow on the highway can be just as dangerous. Many highways have minimum speed limit signs to ensure drivers are not going slow enough to stop traffic flow and lead to congestion, which can create a “dangerous condition,” according to the New York DMV, like drivers braking hard, making drastic lane changes, and attempting to overtake the slower vehicle. “Oftentimes left lane drivers is the main or if not one of the main causes of road rage incidents on the interstates,” Alabama State Trooper Curtis Summerville said (via Go Upstate).
For this reason, slow driving in the let lane is illegal in essentially every state, though the specifics and consequences vary. In many states, slow drivers in the left lane can be pulled over and ticketed. Some states only allow drivers to use the left lane while actively passing. For example, Colorado considers it breaking the law to drive in the left lane. In 2025, Colorado State Troopers pulled over 2,540 drivers for blocking traffic by driving in the fast lane. Wheeles himself concluded: “This is meant to keep traffic flowing and to reduce crashes.”
As the weather heats up, so do the rumors surrounding Samsung’s latest foldable phones — presumably the next versions of the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip. Now, the company is adding fuel to the speculation with its own teasers that hint at what’s to come.
Samsung wiped its Instagram feed on Monday, and it’s now dropping some cryptic, artistically driven videos that encourage viewers to decode what may be in store. They could point to how Samsung is shaping — quite literally — its upcoming foldable devices.
In one video, someone cuts the top portion off of a rectangular photo, reducing its height. In another, someone takes a pizza cutter to the center of a pie, serving up a rectangular piece with on-screen text reading: “A whole new slice.” In yet another teaser, someone removes the top row from a small puzzle, before on-screen text appears saying, “Feels just right.”
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One video appears to confirm that the eighth generation of foldables could be imminent. It shows someone using a squeegee on dollops of paint to reveal a pink and purple ombre “8.”
For months, rumors have circulated about a potential Galaxy Z Fold 8 “Wide,” which, as the name suggests, would have a wider but shorter screen. Samsung’s latest teasers could therefore be pointing to a redesign for its upcoming foldables.
The next Z Fold and Z Flip phones will have some fresh competition. In the spring, Motorola’s released its newest foldables, including its first book-style Razr Fold. A new Pixel Fold and the highly anticipated (and long rumored) foldable iPhone could also be around the corner, the latter of which is also rumored to have a wider-format design.
Samsung has yet to announce its summer Unpacked event, during which it’s expected to showcase new foldable phones alongside the next iteration of the Galaxy Watch. It may only be a matter of time before the company drops that hint — or shares the news outright.
Flipper Devices has built a reputation among hackers and hardware enthusiasts with the Flipper Zero, a pocket-sized gadget capable of interacting with RFID, NFC, Bluetooth, and other wireless protocols. Now, the London-based company is taking a very different approach.
Its latest product, the Busy Bar, is a desktop productivity display designed to help users stay focused, signal their availability, and automate parts of their workflow. After being teased last year, the device is finally going on sale on July 14. While the concept is genuinely clever, its starting price of up to $249 may make many buyers think twice.
A smart desk companion with a premium price tag
At first glance, the Busy Bar resembles a retro digital desk clock. On the front is a 72×16 LED matrix display capable of showing 16 million colours with up to 400 nits of brightness, along with an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts visibility.
The display can show custom messages such as “Busy,” “On a Call,” or “Do Not Disturb,” alongside timers, widgets, and animations. It also supports Pomodoro-style focus sessions, making it useful for remote workers and students trying to minimise distractions.
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Flipper Busy BarFlipper
The hardware itself is surprisingly feature-rich. It includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB connectivity, a 3,250mAh battery that lasts up to 8 hours of active use or 2 weeks on standby, and fast charging that takes about an hour with a 15W adapter. There’s even a secondary monochrome display on the back to show battery, connectivity, and timer information, plus a built-in speaker for alerts and notifications.
The Busy Bar also integrates with iOS, Android, and macOS, with Windows support planned. Users can block distracting apps while focus timers are running, automatically display “On Call” status during meetings on macOS, and silence notifications when recording or streaming.
Thanks to Matter certification, the device can also trigger smart home automations across Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa ecosystems. Developers can go even further using Flipper’s open firmware, HTTP API, MQTT support, and official Python and TypeScript libraries. All of that makes the Busy Bar far more than a glorified LED sign.
The problem is its pricing
Early adopters joining the waitlist can buy it for $179. After that, the first 3,000 buyers will pay $199 before the retail price climbs to $249.
That places the Busy Bar in the same price bracket as tablets, smart displays, and even entry-level smartphones that can perform many of the same productivity tasks.
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Flipper Busy BarFlipper
The Busy Bar is undeniably one of the more interesting productivity gadgets announced this year. Its blend of hardware controls, smart home integration, and developer-friendly software makes it genuinely appealing for remote workers and tech enthusiasts.
Whether that experience is worth $249 is another question entirely. The idea is easy to like. Convincing mainstream buyers to spend that much on a dedicated productivity display may prove considerably harder.
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