All posts tagged: rival

I tested a Philips Hue rival, and its best trick is impossible to ignore

I tested a $33 Philips Hue rival, and its best trick is impossible to ignore

Published by skeptic

Paid review, brought to you by Linkind. Linkind paid MakeUseOf to evaluate the Linkind Smart Light Stick. MakeUseOf retained complete editorial control. Linkind did not see the article before publication and had no input on its content, conclusions, or rating. I’ve used Philips Hue color bulbs for years, and their colors have never let me down. What they can’t do is show more than one color at a time. The whole bulb glows purple, or it glows orange. So when Linkind sent me six of its Smart Light Sticks to test, the 50 color zones caught my attention first. I’ve come around to smart switches over smart bulbs for most rooms, but these spent several days on my porch, garage, and patio doing things my Hue bulbs never could. Whether they could replace those Hue bulbs is a different question, and the answer depends heavily on your light fixtures. This is the Linkind Smart Light Stick A 50-zone bulb that fits a standard socket The Smart Light Stick is a tube-shaped T19 bulb with a …

Ukraine Urges US to Sanction Entities Supporting Russia’s Starlink Rival

Ukraine Urges US to Sanction Entities Supporting Russia’s Starlink Rival

Published by Sam Flores

WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) – Ukraine is urging the United States to ⁠impose ⁠sanctions on several Russian entities that it says ⁠are helping develop Moscow’s Rassvet satellite network as a domestic alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink, its acting ambassador ​said on Wednesday. Denys Sienik, deputy chief of mission at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, told reporters Russia was rapidly expanding the Rassvet satellite network, saying its goal ‌to start operations in 2027 would pose ‌grave risks to Ukraine. “If they launch Rassvet by the end of 2026, they will be able to target to hit Ukrainian targets real time ⁠on our territory,” Sienik ⁠said, adding that he would share details with the US government and Congress about the ​firms and individuals that Kyiv accuses of aiding Rassvet. “If these entities are not sanctioned, it will actually make this program possible for Russia and that will be a game-changer,” Sienik said. He also stressed Ukraine’s urgent need for some 300 additional Patriot interceptors by winter, saying that Russia was producing more than 100 ballistic missiles ​per month. The US …

OpenAI Launches Always-On ‘Dots’ Agents to Rival Meta’s Muse

OpenAI Launches Always-On ‘Dots’ Agents to Rival Meta’s Muse

Published by skeptic

OpenAI today announced the launch of “Dots” to compete with Meta’s popular Muse agent. OpenAI describes Dots as always-on agents “built to handle everything.” Dots use the GPT–6 Astra model and have a cloud computer with a web browser, much like Muse. The agents learn from feedback over time, and OpenAI says they can work on the user’s goals “24/7” and connect to over 4,000 apps. From the announcement: You can ask questions, explore ideas, and give feedback along the way; or you can simply hop on a voice call when you need to talk something out. The more you work together, the more your dot learns your preferences, how you think, and what good looks like to you. Users can communicate with Dots through ChatGPT or other apps like Slack or Teams, and options to text Dots are planned. Dots can carry context across different channels and will do “proactive research” on projects in the background. Dots follow ChatGPT’s permissions and support custom rules for which tasks require approval. Users can create a “primary …

I tried the Google Maps rival nobody talks about, and it’s a refreshingly smart alternative

I tried the Google Maps rival nobody talks about, and it’s a refreshingly smart alternative

Published by skeptic

I’ve made no secret of my love for Google Maps over the years, as it has been a regular source of inspiration and provided reliable support on my many adventures. Whether it’s finding a decent restaurant or rerouting me through traffic hotspots, it’s been a constant companion that simply could not be beat—or so I thought. Having recently tried and been impressed by the privacy-focused Magic Earth, another platform called Sygic came on my radar, and it’s unlike any other digital mapping service. After using the app for a couple of long road trips and in city traffic, I am won over by how capable—and in some ways superior—it is, compared to Google’s flagship competitor. OS Android, iOS Price model Free Sygic is a feature-rich navigation app that offers offline maps, real-time driving assistance, and advanced safety tools like lane guidance and a built-in dashcam. Designed for drivers rather than casual explorers, it combines reliability and customization to deliver a smarter, more independent navigation experience. Offline maps that actually work Download entire countries or regions …

Apple Glasses Leaked: the Real Rival to Meta Ray-Bans

Apple Glasses Leaked: the Real Rival to Meta Ray-Bans

Published by skeptic

Apple is reportedly developing AI-powered smart glasses, marking a significant evolution in wearable technology. Unlike traditional augmented reality (AR) glasses, these innovative devices will not include built-in displays. Instead, they will use artificial intelligence (AI), Siri integration, and advanced hardware components such as cameras, microphones, and open-ear audio speakers. The primary objective is to create […] The post Apple Glasses Leaked: the Real Rival to Meta Ray-Bans appeared first on Geeky Gadgets. Source link

Coronation Street’s Junade Khan shares real-life friendship with on-screen rival

Coronation Street’s Junade Khan shares real-life friendship with on-screen rival

Published by Sam Flores

Coronation Street characters Idris Nazir and Adam Barlow may be on-screen rivals due to their alpha male personas, but in real life their respective actors Junade Khan and Sam Robertson are good friends. On his Instagram, Junade shared a series of photos of himself with Sam watching Manchester United play against Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford. While the pair looked like they were having a great time in the photos, Junade’s caption said that the mood was less upbeat by the end of the match. Related: Best streaming services UK 2026 – including Disney+, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV “From 2-0 cruising to 2-3 bruising”, he wrote, referring to how Manchester United threw away a two-goal lead to lose the match. In the first 10 minutes, Shea Lacey and Mason Mount both scored for Man U, but the Seagulls scored just before half-time and then netted twice in the space of a few minutes in the second half to secure a comeback win. “Same old same old,” wrote one fan in the comments, …

Lamine Yamal says Mbappe his only rival for Ballon d’Or

Lamine Yamal says Mbappe his only rival for Ballon d’Or

Published by Sam Flores

Sept 14 : Lamine Yamal said his World Cup success with Spain and winning LaLiga with Barcelona should give him the edge over Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Ballon d’Or. France striker Mbappe was the top scorer at the World Cup as well as in LaLiga and the Champions League and said last week no player was better than him last season, though he failed to win any silverware. Lamine was named LaLiga’s best player in 2025-26 as Barcelona successfully defended the title, and later played a key role in Spain winning the World Cup in North America. “I honestly believe there are two of us who are the best in the world, and this year I’d deserve it because of what I’ve won,” Lamine said in an interview clip shared by Movistar on Sunday. “As far as I’m concerned, Mbappe and I are the two best in the world. It’s clear to me and everyone who watches the matches knows it.” Lamine was runner-up to Ousmane Dembele last year, while Mbappe …

Stoke Space raises another billion to rival SpaceX at re-flying rockets

Stoke Space raises another billion to rival SpaceX at re-flying rockets

Published by skeptic

The fuel for a fully reusable rocket that can unlock truly low-cost access to space isn’t methane or liquid oxygen. It’s cash, and Stoke Space Technologies is tanking up. The company has now “completed the initial closing” of a $1 billion Series E round intended to help it reach orbit and prepare a new, larger rocket for operations. “This round is really to scale,” CEO Andy Lapsa told TechCrunch. “To lay the infrastructure, to scale in production and flight frequency, and importantly to fund the development of the second generation vehicle.” The round was led by Point72 Ventures (hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen’s tech investment vehicle), and Spark Capital, and included investment from General Innovation, Glade Brook Capital, US Innovation Technology, Washington Harbour Partners, Woven Capital and Y Combinator, among others. Stoke is one of a handful of startups attempting to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the low-cost rocket launch space. SpaceX was built around the Falcon 9, which has a reusable booster stage, and now Musk and company are trying to field a …