Theoretically a belt drive makes for a great upgrade to a bicycle, as it replaces the heavier, noisy and relatively maintenance-heavy roller chain with a zero-maintenance, whisper-quiet and extremely reliable belt that’s rated at an amazing 20-30,000 km before needing a replacement. Of course, that’s the glossy marketing brochure version of reality, which differed significantly from what [Tristan Ridley] experienced whilst cycling around the globe.

Although initially he was rather happy with his bike, its sealed car-like Pinion gearbox and Gates carbon belt drive system, while out in the wilds of Utah he had a breakdown when the belt snapped. When the spare belt that he had carried with him for the past months also snapped minutes later after fitting it on, it made him decide to switch back to the traditional bush roller chain.

Despite this type of chain drive tracing its roots all the way back to Leonardo da Vinci, they actually offer many advantages over the fancy carbon-fiber-reinforced polyurethane belt. Although with the Pinion gearbox the inability to use a derailleur gearing system is no big deal, [Tristan] found that the ‘zero maintenance’ part of the belt was not true for less hospitable roads

A big issue was that of abrasive dust, which created a very noisy coating on the belt that’d have to be regularly cleaned off with precious water, or by having silicone lubricant sprayed on the belt. Even with all that care he found that the belt would snap after about 8,000 km, well below the rated endurance.

When it came to super-sticky mud, called peanut butter mud for good reasons, he found that chains also cope much better with this, as the mud will just squeeze out of the chain and be forced off the sprocket, whereas the belt will happily keep compacting the mud onto the contact surfaces, increasing belt tension and requiring constant cleaning to not become hopelessly stuck.

The Utah breakdown also showed why these belts are actually very fragile: the replacement belt had been packed away folded-up for a few months at that point in the luggage, and during storage the carbon fibers had become compromised to the point where the belt just snapped after a few minutes of use. A metal chain will happily be stored away for as long as you can keep it away from corrosion, and fold up very compactly.

Another awesome feature of roller chains is that they’re super-modular, allowing you to carry spare links and such with you for in-the-field repairs, while even the most remote bicycle store in any country can help you out with maintenance and repairs, unlike the special and highly custom belts that need to be shipped in by courier.

Of all the bicycle technologies that [Tristan] has used, it seems that only this drive belt has been an outright disappointment. The sealed gearbox would seem to be a massive improvement over finicky derailleurs, and hydraulic brakes are reliable and common enough that they haven’t been an issue so far.

His conclusion is that bicycle drive belts are fine if you do city driving, where they probably will last the rated kilometers, but they rapidly fall apart in even slightly adverse conditions.

A 180-gram “one step” vinyl reissue of a 1991 release from noted audiophile label Chesky Records featuring jazz legends McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, Ron Carter and Al Foster is a good reason to celebrate music and life. It is a reminder of why great recordings and great players still matter.

The performances within New York Reunion are lush, relaxed and overall exemplary, capturing iconic seasoned musicians in an intimate studio setting with then state of the art recording technology. On the album cover, it states that the album was “recorded using a specially modified microphone with all tube Manley Reference electronics by David Manley from Vacuum Tube Logic Of America”  It goes on to say that it was “recorded with minimalist techniques and without overdubbing or artificial enhancement to ensure the purest and most natural sound possible.”

Crafted using the increasingly popular “one step” process, which reduces the number of plating stages required to press a record and can improve overall fidelity, this reissue comes with a strong technical pedigree. The opaque pink vinyl pressing is generally quiet, well centered, and free of obvious surface issues.

This is a fine sounding all-digital recording of outstanding musicians playing together effortlessly. Perhaps too effortlessly at times. Feel wise, I’m reminded at points of those later period Oscar Peterson CDs on Telarc which at times sounded somehow too pristine and spotless for my tastes (and I say this as a pretty deep Peterson fan). Yet there are no doubt many lovely performances throughout New York Reunion such as Mr. Henderson’s extended solo sax intro (and outro) on Side 3’s “Ask Me Now” before Mr. Tyner comes in for an extended duet essentially.

Generally, I’ve enjoyed New York Reunion. My only question (not a complaint) is whether this pressing might have benefitted from some more empathetic mastering for vinyl? Don’t get me wrong, it sounds good: clean, crisp, and natural. I just wish it leaned a touch warmer. That said, considering the explicit commitment to avoiding “artificial enhancement” which would include equalization, this feels like one of those “it is what it is” scenarios.

Based on available online information, this new 2LP limited edition of 2,000 copies appears to mark the first time the complete New York Reunion album—all eight tracks originally issued on a single CD in 1992—has been released on vinyl. Earlier vinyl editions from 1992 and 2016 do exist, but those appear to have been single LP versions rather than the full 2LP presentation.

At the time of this review The McCoy Tyner Quartet’s New York Reunion can be found easily on Amazon. I have not seen any indication of whether a standard (and perhaps less pricey) black vinyl edition will be available in the future.

Where to buy: $69.98 at Amazon

Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc.  You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.)

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HiBy might not have household recognition in the U.S., but the company isn’t exactly new to this game. With 15 years of experience building digital audio players and portable electronics, and a HiByMusic app ecosystem that spans 100 countries with more than 3 million users on iOS and Android, the brand has quietly built serious infrastructure behind the scenes. Now it’s aiming a little more directly at the portable DAC and headphone amplifier crowd with the release of the HiBy W4.

The W4 is a Bluetooth enabled portable DAC and headphone amplifier designed to handle both wired and wireless hi resolution playback in one compact chassis. That matters because the appetite for Bluetooth capable DAC and headphone amps that can properly decode hi res formats and deliver enough output for modern IEMs and reasonably efficient headphones continues to grow. We saw that firsthand with the iFi GO Blu Air, which impressed us with its balance of sound quality, usable power, and everyday practicality.

HiBy’s pitch with the W4 is similar in concept: fashionable industrial design, dual mode operation, and enough decoding and amplification muscle to make streaming from a smartphone feel less like a compromise and more like a system choice. Whether it can stand out in an increasingly competitive under $250 portable hi-fi segment is the real question.

The HiBy W4 features a flexible physical design that supports both clip on use and magnetic attachment for on the go listening. Its integrated magnetic system allows it to attach directly to compatible smartphones or MagSafe style phone cases, functioning much like a MagSafe accessory for a cleaner, cable managed setup.

The W4’s Uncharge Mode shifts the power source to USB operation, isolating the unit from the connected smartphone so it does not draw from the phone’s battery. In addition to preserving battery life, this separation can also help reduce electrical interference from the handset.

The W4 includes a built in 1500 mAh battery to support extended playback sessions, and Uncharge Mode is engaged using a dedicated button located on the left side of the chassis.

On the inside, the HiBy W4 has dual Cirrus Logic CS43198  DAC chips, paired with dual headphone amplifiers. The DACs support PCM up to 768kHz/32-bit and native DSD512. 

The HiBy W4 employs dual low phase noise active crystal oscillators operating at 45.1584 MHz and 49.152 MHz to support more accurate clocking and stable audio playback across common sampling rates.

Connectivity includes both 3.5 mm single ended and 4.4 mm balanced stereo outputs. In balanced mode, the W4 delivers up to 475 mW of output power, driven by dual SGM8262 amplifier chips. That is a substantial figure for a device in this category and nearly double the balanced 4.4 mm output we measured from the iFi GO Blu Air. It provides enough headroom for a wide range of in ear monitors and many relatively efficient over ear headphones, giving the W4 more flexibility than ultra sensitive IEM duty alone.

For wireless performance, the HiBy W4 incorporates a Qualcomm QCC5181 chipset, supporting Bluetooth 5.4, with codec support for Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, aptX HD, LDAC, AAC, and SBC.

The HiBy W4 is positioned as a stylish everyday carry accessory, pairing a black front display with a contrasting, brightly colored rear module that makes it stand out at a glance.

A 2-inch touch screen provides full device control and can display album artwork when operating in Bluetooth mode. Users can manage pairing, playback, and system settings directly from the W4 itself, reducing the need to constantly reach for a smartphone and creating a more self contained, user friendly experience.

HiBy W4 Specifications

The Bottom Line 

There is no shortage of portable Bluetooth-enabled DAC/AMPs, and the category now stretches from basic sub-$100 dongles to feature-heavy models approaching $1,000. At $99, the HiBy W4 lands at the aggressive low end of that spectrum but brings a feature set that is not typical at this price.

Support for aptX Lossless and LDAC gives it legitimate hi-res wireless credibility, while dual oscillators, balanced 4.4mm output rated at up to 475mW, and a built-in 1500mAh battery push it beyond entry-level expectations. The integrated 2-inch touch screen also sets it apart from competitors like the iFi GO Blu Air, which relies entirely on a smartphone for visual feedback and navigation. Some listeners may prefer controlling everything from their phone anyway, especially when switching between streaming platforms, but the W4 at least gives users the option of direct, on-device control without guesswork.

Add in the magnetic MagSafe-style attachment, clip-on portability, and a Car-Optimized Mode accessible through the HiByBlue app, and the W4 starts to look less like a budget experiment and more like a calculated move into the mainstream portable hi-fi space.

Who is this for? Smartphone listeners who want true hi-res Bluetooth support, enough power for serious IEMs and efficient headphones, and a self-contained interface without spending several hundred dollars. At $99, it is positioned squarely for commuters, students, travelers, and anyone building a compact everyday-carry audio setup without sacrificing codec support or balanced output. That is a hard combination to ignore at this price.

Price & Availability

The HiBy W4 is available for $99 USD via HiBy’s official online store and Linsoul.

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Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? For me, 4-Down was a puzzler, but the other answers filled it in. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Soybeans or rice
Answer: CROP

5A clue: Bit of gossip
Answer: RUMOR

7A clue: South American flatbread made of ground maize
Answer: AREPA

8A clue: ___ 8 Ball
Answer: MAGIC

9A clue: Something a pirate might make you walk
Answer: PLANK

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Sudden muscle tightness
Answer: CRAMP

2D clue: Like the areas beyond suburbia
Answer: RURAL

3D clue: Luxury Swiss watch brand
Answer: OMEGA

4D clue: Stop by unannounced
Answer: POPIN

6D clue: Billiards triangle
Answer: RACK

Meta plans to spend up to $135bn this year to support its Meta Superintelligence Labs efforts as well as its core business.

Meta will reportedly spend billions of dollars on a multi-year partnership with Nvidia to use “millions” of its chips to support Meta’s data centre build-out, the two companies announced yesterday (17 February).

Commenting on the deal, Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang said that no other company deploys AI at Meta’s scale.

The announcement comes as the social media giant gears up to spend as much as $135bn this year to support its Meta Superintelligence Labs efforts as well as its core business, while competing chipmakers attempt to challenge Nvidia’s global dominance in AI.

Even Nvidia’s Big Tech customers, including Meta and OpenAI, are building their own in-house hardware.

As per the mega deal, Meta will deploy millions of Nvidia Blackwell and new Rubin GPUs to build “hyperscale” data centres optimised for both AI training and inference.

The company will also integrate Nvidia’s recently-announced Spectrum-X ethernet switches for Meta’s Facebook open switching system platform, and expand its usage of Nvidia’s confidential computing services beyond WhatsApp and into other offerings.

The companies said they will continue their partnership to deploy Arm-based Nvidia Grace CPUs for Meta’s data centre production applications, representing the first large-scale Nvidia Grace-only deployment.

They are also collaborating to deploy Nvidia’s Vera CPUs, with the potential for large-scale deployment next year. Meta is also tapping Nvidia’s GB300-based systems to continue developing its data centres.

It was reported yesterday that Nvidia sold off the last of its stake in Arm – a company it once tried to acquire. Last September, Huang announced a “giant” $100bn deal with OpenAI that has apparently not yet transpired.

“No one deploys AI at Meta’s scale – integrating frontier research with industrial-scale infrastructure to power the world’s largest personalisation and recommendation systems for billions of users,” said Huang.

“Through deep co-design across CPUs, GPUs, networking and software, we are bringing the full Nvidia platform to Meta’s researchers and engineers as they build the foundation for the next AI frontier.”

Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg added: “We’re excited to expand our partnership with Nvidia to build leading-edge clusters using their Vera Rubin platform to deliver personal superintelligence to everyone in the world.”

Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

Jensen Huang, World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, 2026. Image: World Economic Forum/Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed concerns about AI’s environmental impact this week while speaking at an event hosted by The Indian Express.

For one thing, Altman — who was in India for a major AI summit — said concerns about AI’s water usage are “totally fake,” though he acknowledged it was a real issue when “we used to do evaporative cooling in data centers.”

“Now that we don’t do that, you see these things on the internet where, ‘Don’t use ChatGPT, it’s 17 gallons of water for each query’ or whatever,” Altman said. “This is completely untrue, totally insane, no connection to reality.”

He added that it’s “fair” to be concerned about “the energy consumption — not per query, but in total, because the world is now using so much AI.” In his view, this means the world needs to “move towards nuclear or wind and solar very quickly.”

There’s no legal requirement for tech companies to disclose how much energy and water they use, so scientists have been trying to study it independently. Data centers have also been connected to rising electricity prices.

Citing a previous conversation with Bill Gates, the interviewer asked whether it’s accurate to say a single ChatGPT query currently uses the equivalent of 1.5 iPhone battery charges, to which Altman replied, “There’s no way it’s anything close to that much.”

Altman also complained that many discussions about ChatGPT’s energy usage are “unfair,” especially when they focus on “how much energy it takes to train an AI model, relative to how much it costs a human to do one inference query.”

“But it also takes a lot of energy to train a human,” Altman said. “It takes like 20 years of life and all of the food you eat during that time before you get smart. And not only that, it took the very widespread evolution of the 100 billion people that have ever lived and learned not to get eaten by predators and learned how to figure out science and whatever, to produce you.”

So in his view, the fair comparison is, “If you ask ChatGPT a question, how much energy does it take once its model is trained to answer that question versus a human? And probably, AI has already caught up on an energy efficiency basis, measured that way.”

You can watch the full interview below. The conversation about water and energy usage begins at around 26:35.