Yet it’s only $699 (or $599 for students). The XPS 13 makes similar trade-offs as the MacBook Neo. First, it starts with only 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. It also starts with a slower Intel Core 5 processor (note: not Intel Core Ultra). I’ll be interested to find how the performance and battery life stack up against the MacBook Neo, but Dell is clearly taking notes from Apple, which used a slower iPhone chip in the Neo instead of an M-series laptop-grade processor.
What’s nice about the Dell XPS 13, though, is that you can scale it up appropriately. The MacBook Neo is capped in both storage and memory, but the XPS 13 can be configured up to 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.
I’ve been testing a lot of $500 to $600 laptops recently from companies like Acer, Lenovo, and HP, many of which take a more conventional Windows approach to rivaling the MacBook Neo by offering better specs at lower prices. They all have 16 GB of RAM and use more powerful chips, too. But none challenge the MacBook Neo in display quality and chassis materials. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for something like the HP OmniBook 3, but it doesn’t play for the same audience as the Dell XPS 13 and MacBook Neo.
The Wrong Direction
Inevitably there would be a company that thinks it can ride on the success of the MacBook Neo without understanding what makes it tick. Last week, Microsoft announced two versions of its Surface Laptop for Business PCs: a higher-end 13.8-inch model and a cheaper 13-inch device. The 13.8-inch model is a more standard refresh, implementing Intel’s new Core Ultra X7 368H Panther Lake chip—and most notably, it still starts with 16 GB of RAM.
The smaller 13-inch model is where things get problematic. Despite its starting price of $1,200, that configuration only comes with 8 GB of RAM. Don’t get too caught up in the price, since business PCs always come with an up charge. The starting RAM is the eyebrow-raising spec. Unlike the new Dell XPS 13, Microsoft isn’t tricking this out with a thinner chassis and an upgraded screen—it’s just giving you less computing power and calling it good.
And to be fair, this “optional” 8 GB model is coming later this year, separate from the 16 GB and 24 GB versions. But it’s hard to imagine Microsoft being willing to sell an 8 GB laptop in 2026 if Apple hadn’t paved the way. While there’s no 2025 Surface Laptop 13 for Business for direct comparison, the consumer version of the Surface Laptop 13 started with 16 GB of RAM. This feels like a straight generational downgrade.
Yet it’s only $699 (or $599 for students). The XPS 13 makes similar trade-offs as the MacBook Neo. First, it starts with only 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. It also starts with a slower Intel Core 5 processor (note: not Intel Core Ultra). I’ll be interested to find how the performance and battery life stack up against the MacBook Neo, but Dell is clearly taking notes from Apple, which used a slower iPhone chip in the Neo instead of an M-series laptop-grade processor.
What’s nice about the Dell XPS 13, though, is that you can scale it up appropriately. The MacBook Neo is capped in both storage and memory, but the XPS 13 can be configured up to 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.
I’ve been testing a lot of $500 to $600 laptops recently from companies like Acer, Lenovo, and HP, many of which take a more conventional Windows approach to rivaling the MacBook Neo by offering better specs at lower prices. They all have 16 GB of RAM and use more powerful chips, too. But none challenge the MacBook Neo in display quality and chassis materials. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for something like the HP OmniBook 3, but it doesn’t play for the same audience as the Dell XPS 13 and MacBook Neo.
The Wrong Direction
Inevitably there would be a company that thinks it can ride on the success of the MacBook Neo without understanding what makes it tick. Last week, Microsoft announced two versions of its Surface Laptop for Business PCs: a higher-end 13.8-inch model and a cheaper 13-inch device. The 13.8-inch model is a more standard refresh, implementing Intel’s new Core Ultra X7 368H Panther Lake chip—and most notably, it still starts with 16 GB of RAM.
The smaller 13-inch model is where things get problematic. Despite its starting price of $1,200, that configuration only comes with 8 GB of RAM. Don’t get too caught up in the price, since business PCs always come with an up charge. The starting RAM is the eyebrow-raising spec. Unlike the new Dell XPS 13, Microsoft isn’t tricking this out with a thinner chassis and an upgraded screen—it’s just giving you less computing power and calling it good.
And to be fair, this “optional” 8 GB model is coming later this year, separate from the 16 GB and 24 GB versions. But it’s hard to imagine Microsoft being willing to sell an 8 GB laptop in 2026 if Apple hadn’t paved the way. While there’s no 2025 Surface Laptop 13 for Business for direct comparison, the consumer version of the Surface Laptop 13 started with 16 GB of RAM. This feels like a straight generational downgrade.
Scientists in Singapore and Japan have developed a tiny 3D-printed scuba suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater and other low-oxygen environments for up to three hours.
The suit can transform a regular cockroach, and potentially other insects, into “an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water,” according to a new research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University.
So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway?
Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.
Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach.
These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.
There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater.
“This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”
The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem.
How the suit works
Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them.
Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks.
The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.
According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments.
Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes.
The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.
Scientists in Singapore and Japan have developed a tiny 3D-printed scuba suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater and other low-oxygen environments for up to three hours.
The suit can transform a regular cockroach, and potentially other insects, into “an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water,” according to a new research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University.
So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway?
Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.
Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach.
These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.
There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater.
“This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”
The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem.
How the suit works
Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them.
Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks.
The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.
According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments.
Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes.
The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.
#Researchers #Built #Scuba #Suit #Cyborg #CockroachesInsects,Robotics">Researchers Built a Scuba Suit for Cyborg Cockroaches
Scientists in Singapore and Japan have developed a tiny 3D-printed scuba suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater and other low-oxygen environments for up to three hours.
The suit can transform a regular cockroach, and potentially other insects, into “an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water,” according to a new research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University.
So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway?
Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.
Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach.
These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.
There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater.
“This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”
The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem.
How the suit works
Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them.
Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks.
The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.
According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments.
Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes.
The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.
Barragán, a journalist and researcher at The New York Times, flew to Lagos to embed himself with a group of young, desperate grifters. The account he brings back is a funny, sad, enraging read about how the internet can fuel heartbreak.
On the Panel
Kate Knibbs: senior writer at WIRED, covering prediction markets, the future of media, and how AI is changing the internet. She also leads WIRED Book Club.
Carlos Barragán: reporter and researcher for The New York Times based in Madrid. He was formerly a reporter at El Confidencial before receiving his MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University. The Yahoo Boys is his first book.
Ask a Question
Submit your burning questions about the book in the comments section below. The event will be streamed right here, so bookmark this page and mark your calendar to return on July 16 at 12pm ET / 9am PT.
How to Watch
This livestream is reserved as a subscriber benefit. For subscribers who are not able to join, a replay of the livestream will be available after the event. Not a subscriber yet?Subscribe now to get access to this livestream, plus full access to WIRED.
Barragán, a journalist and researcher at The New York Times, flew to Lagos to embed himself with a group of young, desperate grifters. The account he brings back is a funny, sad, enraging read about how the internet can fuel heartbreak.
On the Panel
Kate Knibbs: senior writer at WIRED, covering prediction markets, the future of media, and how AI is changing the internet. She also leads WIRED Book Club.
Carlos Barragán: reporter and researcher for The New York Times based in Madrid. He was formerly a reporter at El Confidencial before receiving his MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University. The Yahoo Boys is his first book.
Ask a Question
Submit your burning questions about the book in the comments section below. The event will be streamed right here, so bookmark this page and mark your calendar to return on July 16 at 12pm ET / 9am PT.
How to Watch
This livestream is reserved as a subscriber benefit. For subscribers who are not able to join, a replay of the livestream will be available after the event. Not a subscriber yet?Subscribe now to get access to this livestream, plus full access to WIRED.
#Submit #Questions #World #Online #Romance #Scamslivestreams,q&a,scams,wired book club,books">Submit Your Questions: Inside The World of Online Romance Scams
Barragán, a journalist and researcher at The New York Times, flew to Lagos to embed himself with a group of young, desperate grifters. The account he brings back is a funny, sad, enraging read about how the internet can fuel heartbreak.
On the Panel
Kate Knibbs: senior writer at WIRED, covering prediction markets, the future of media, and how AI is changing the internet. She also leads WIRED Book Club.
Carlos Barragán: reporter and researcher for The New York Times based in Madrid. He was formerly a reporter at El Confidencial before receiving his MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University. The Yahoo Boys is his first book.
Ask a Question
Submit your burning questions about the book in the comments section below. The event will be streamed right here, so bookmark this page and mark your calendar to return on July 16 at 12pm ET / 9am PT.
How to Watch
This livestream is reserved as a subscriber benefit. For subscribers who are not able to join, a replay of the livestream will be available after the event. Not a subscriber yet?Subscribe now to get access to this livestream, plus full access to WIRED.
The Austrian GP offered another thrilling weekend of racing from the best drivers in the world. George Russell came out on top after holding off the advances of Verstappen and Antonelli. Ferrari and McLaren constantly swapped positions just behind in what was one of the most interesting GPs of the season.
Will we get more of the same from the British GP? We certainly hope so.
If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.
When is the British GP?
The British GP is the ninth race of the 2026 F1 season. Here’s the full schedule from Silverstone:
Practice 1 — 7:30-8:30 a.m. ET on July 3
Sprint Qualifying — 11:30 a.m. to 12:14 p.m. ET on July 3
Sprint — 7-8 a.m. ET on July 4
Qualifying — 11 a.m to 12 p.m. ET on July 4
Race — 10 a.m. ET on July 5
Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.
How to watch the British GP for free
It’s important to note that Channel 4 will be providing live coverage of the 2026 British Grand Prix for free in the UK. That’s nice and easy for fans in the UK.
If you’re based in the U.S., you’ll need to take a few additional steps to watch this race weekend for free.
I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I subscribe for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. It’s the access to Prime Video that becomes all-important for F1 fans.
It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this renewal at any time. By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the British GP this weekend without spending anything.
Mashable Deals
By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
I understand the argument that I’m not really watching for free because I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I get that, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you’re new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.
If you’ve already used this hack to watch a race this season, there are some alternatives.
My recommendation is to go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.
The best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you’re planning on buying something from Apple, you could gain access to Apple TV for a pretty large chunk of this season. You will obviously need to buy something, but if you were already in the market for an upgrade, this method makes a lot of sense.
The Austrian GP offered another thrilling weekend of racing from the best drivers in the world. George Russell came out on top after holding off the advances of Verstappen and Antonelli. Ferrari and McLaren constantly swapped positions just behind in what was one of the most interesting GPs of the season.
Will we get more of the same from the British GP? We certainly hope so.
If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.
When is the British GP?
The British GP is the ninth race of the 2026 F1 season. Here’s the full schedule from Silverstone:
Practice 1 — 7:30-8:30 a.m. ET on July 3
Sprint Qualifying — 11:30 a.m. to 12:14 p.m. ET on July 3
Sprint — 7-8 a.m. ET on July 4
Qualifying — 11 a.m to 12 p.m. ET on July 4
Race — 10 a.m. ET on July 5
Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.
How to watch the British GP for free
It’s important to note that Channel 4 will be providing live coverage of the 2026 British Grand Prix for free in the UK. That’s nice and easy for fans in the UK.
If you’re based in the U.S., you’ll need to take a few additional steps to watch this race weekend for free.
I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I subscribe for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. It’s the access to Prime Video that becomes all-important for F1 fans.
It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this renewal at any time. By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the British GP this weekend without spending anything.
Mashable Deals
By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
I understand the argument that I’m not really watching for free because I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I get that, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you’re new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.
If you’ve already used this hack to watch a race this season, there are some alternatives.
My recommendation is to go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.
The best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you’re planning on buying something from Apple, you could gain access to Apple TV for a pretty large chunk of this season. You will obviously need to buy something, but if you were already in the market for an upgrade, this method makes a lot of sense.
#British #livestream #watch #free">British GP 2026 livestream: How to watch F1 for free
TL;DR: In the UK, Channel 4 will be providing live coverage of the 2026 British Grand Prix for free. In the U.S., sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free.
Watch the British GP for free with a 7-day trial
The Austrian GP offered another thrilling weekend of racing from the best drivers in the world. George Russell came out on top after holding off the advances of Verstappen and Antonelli. Ferrari and McLaren constantly swapped positions just behind in what was one of the most interesting GPs of the season.
Will we get more of the same from the British GP? We certainly hope so.
If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.
When is the British GP?
The British GP is the ninth race of the 2026 F1 season. Here’s the full schedule from Silverstone:
Practice 1 — 7:30-8:30 a.m. ET on July 3
Sprint Qualifying — 11:30 a.m. to 12:14 p.m. ET on July 3
Sprint — 7-8 a.m. ET on July 4
Qualifying — 11 a.m to 12 p.m. ET on July 4
Race — 10 a.m. ET on July 5
Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.
How to watch the British GP for free
It’s important to note that Channel 4 will be providing live coverage of the 2026 British Grand Prix for free in the UK. That’s nice and easy for fans in the UK.
If you’re based in the U.S., you’ll need to take a few additional steps to watch this race weekend for free.
I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I subscribe for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. It’s the access to Prime Video that becomes all-important for F1 fans.
It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this renewal at any time. By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the British GP this weekend without spending anything.
Mashable Deals
By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
I understand the argument that I’m not really watching for free because I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I get that, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you’re new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.
If you’ve already used this hack to watch a race this season, there are some alternatives.
My recommendation is to go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.
The best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you’re planning on buying something from Apple, you could gain access to Apple TV for a pretty large chunk of this season. You will obviously need to buy something, but if you were already in the market for an upgrade, this method makes a lot of sense.
Post Comment