The US could bring a shuttered nuclear power plant back to life next year

A close-up of buttons and dials on a control panel in the Holtec Palisades Training Center.
A control panel in the control room simulator of the Holtec Palisades Training Center in Covert, Michigan, US, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. | Photo: Getty Images

For the first time, a shuttered nuclear power plant in the US could reopen thanks to federal support. The Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $1.52 billion loan to help restore a nuclear generating station in Covert Township, Michigan.

Although it’s still a controversial option among environmental advocates, nuclear energy could be on the verge of a renaissance as an alternative to fossil fuels. Nuclear power plants are already the biggest source of carbon pollution-free energy in the US, and can fill in for renewables when solar and wind power wane.

“It’s a powerful clean energy comeback story,” White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said in a press release yesterday.

The DOE…

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Author: Justine Calma

Devolver launches new indie label focused on licensed games

Screenshot from Hellboy Web of Wyrd featuring Hellboy, a large red-skinned humanoid, fighting a skull monster.
Image: Big Fan Games

Devolver Digital has announced the creation of a new publishing label designed specifically for licensed games. The label, named Big Fan Games, is helmed by industry veterans who have worked with brands like Disney, Dark Horse, and more. In a press release, Devolver said that the new company’s goals are “helping independent game developers breathe new life into their favorite movies, comics, TV shows, and cult heroes through the power of video games.” Big Fan already has a number of games on its roster, including Reigns: Game of Thrones, Hellboy Web of Wyrd, and John Wick Hex.

Licensed games were a big portion of the video game industry in the late ’80s and early ’90s. A lot of games that have been enshrined in older gamers’ imagination…

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Author: Ash Parrish

Sony’s new LinkBuds add voice controls without a smart assistant

The new Sony LinkBuds Open in white next to the Sony LinkBuds Fit in green.
Sony has updated its LinkBuds line with on-device voice controls and head gestures for answering or dismissing phone calls. | Image: Sony

Sony has announced new versions of its LinkBuds wireless earbuds with “improved wearability” and built-in voice controls, making them easier to leave in your ears all day. Both the new LinkBuds Open and LinkBuds Fit are available for preorder today for $199.99, alongside a new LinkBuds Speaker debuting at $179.99 that will be limited to the US market.

The original Sony LinkBuds, first announced in early 2022, featured a unique “open ring design” that skipped sound-isolating ear tips for a donut-shaped speaker, allowing ambient sounds to be heard at all times. The new version, now known as the LinkBuds Open, features a similar but smaller design, with a new 11-millimeter speaker to enhance volume and bass performance. Sony also includes…

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Author: Andrew Liszewski

Halide app update adds new functions for the iPhone 16 Camera Control button

iPhone with Halide app, shows a sand dune in the shot and the camera control menu on the side of the phone
Focus and exposure are now in the Camera Control menu for Halide. | Image: Lux

Halide, a popular advanced camera app for iOS by the company Lux, is releasing a new update that adds manual photography “Adjustments” features for the iPhone 16’s Camera Control button. In version 2.17 (now available), you can adjust focus and exposure on Camera Control; there’s also a new “Locked” mode to lock down some manual settings so an accidental swipe won’t ruin your current shoot.

Halide’s founder Sebastiaan De With says the Exposure adjustment can be set with an exposure bias “three times” that of Apple’s (plus or minus 6 EV vs 2) and that the Manual Focus on Camera Control is a “really nice, smooth experience on iPhone.” Lux also has its own review of the iPhone 16 Pro’s camera.

Halide already supported the iPhone 16 Camera…

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Author: Umar Shakir

You can keep the door closed on Whirlpool’s new self-drying washers

A whirlpool washer and dryer inside a well appointed laundry room.
You won’t need to remember to leave the door open on Whirlpool’s new washing machine. | Image: Whirlpool

Whirlpool has announced a new feature for its front loading washing machines. Called the FreshFlow Vent System, it will dry the appliance’s drum, door, and rubber seals after a wash cycle. The system will reduce the risk of mold and bacteria growth, and will save you from having to remember to leave the washer’s door open to passively dry its interior.

The new FreshFlow Vent System is being introduced on a pair of new Whirlpool washing machines ranging in price from $999 to $1,199 that are available now. The new feature doesn’t run automatically once a load of clothing has been washed; instead, the system requires you to close the washer’s door and start a “Dry Drum,” cycle, which uses a fan to completely dry out the interior of the…

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Author: Andrew Liszewski

Microsoft is discontinuing its HoloLens headsets

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Microsoft has ended production of its HoloLens 2 headsets, with no sign of a replacement ahead. UploadVR reports that HoloLens 2 will still get “updates to address critical security issues and software regressions” until the end of 2027, but production of the headsets has now ended.

Software support for the original HoloLens headset will reportedly end on December 10th, too. Microsoft originally unveiled its HoloLens headset in 2015, promising the augmented reality goggles would power the future of virtual worlds. Microsoft then followed up with the HoloLens 2 in 2019 with a wider field of view, eye tracking, and more powerful specs.

Microsoft’s struggles with HoloLens have been apparent over the past two years. Former HoloLens boss Alex…

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Author: Tom Warren

Sydney Sweeney Heats Up Dr. Squatch Body Wash Campaign

(Dr. Squatch)

Sydney Sweeney is cleaning up with her latest celebrity endorsement as the “Body Wash Genie” for men’s grooming company Dr. Squatch.

(Dr. Squatch)

The Emmy-nominated Euphoria andThe White Lotus actress is helping launch the company’s new “natural” body wash in a sudsy new campaign. In a series of playful photos and videos, Sweeney showcases the brand’s latest shower-ready formula while also likely working potential customers into a bit of a lather.

(Dr. Squatch)

“There’s something irresistible about a man who knows how to take care of his skin, and guys who aren’t using Dr. Squatch’s new Natural Body Wash are missing the mark,” Sweeney said in a statement issued by the soap brand, adding that she’s particularly “obsessed with Coconut Castaway” in the Dr. Squatch scent lineup.

Dr. Squatch—best known for organic bar soaps and beard products—adds that it’s channeling Sweeney’s “fun, playful energy” to reach guys who need a better body wash. Priced at $15 a bottle and available online via Dr. Squatch and elsewhere, the body wash could certainly prove popular with Sweeney fans who want to upgrade from their usual drug store body wash.

In other Sweeney news, among the red-hot Anyone But You actress’s upcoming projects include her plans to star in a feature-length movie about the life of boxer Christy Martin, who was America’s most popular female pugilist of the 1990s.

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Author: Maxim Staff