screens

The chips war is not over and the US is about to declare another one to China: that of the screens

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In the holder of this article we do not exaggerate the least. The US Congress is pressing the Pentagon to officially include BOE, China’s biggest screens manufacturerin the list of Companies with narrow links with the Chinese army. However, this is not all. And as Chris Miller, the author of the very recommended essay book explains ‘The chips war’in Your new newsletterthe administration led by Donald Trump wants the screens used by American technology companies to be manufactured in the US. This strategy is exactly the same as the government has already launched within the semiconductor industry. And with great success. After all, TSMC, Intel, Samsung and other companies that are dedicated to the production of integrated circuits They are building new plants in the US To dodge the Trump administration tariffs, among other reasons. This Howard Lutnick’s statementthe Secretary of Commerce, clearly expresses what the US government has: “We need to have chips and need to have screens. We need these objects to be manufactured in the United States.” The screens are a critical component for China and the US armies The decisions that the US government will take in all likelihood with the double purpose of minimizing its current dependence on Chinese manufacturers and reinforcing the local screens manufacturing industry will be held on several pillars. The most obvious is that LCD and Oled panels are indispensable in a huge amount of electronic products and other items, such as mobile phones, tablets, televisions, cars, monitors, smartwatchesetc. An interesting note: BOE is one of Apple OLED matric suppliers. In the current geopolitical scenario it would not be surprising at all that the Trump administration penalize in the short or medium term with high tariffs the import to the US of LCD and OLED panels. However, before doing so, industrial fabric must reinforce within its own borders to offer electronic products manufacturers Alternatives of American origin to the screens from abroad. This probable measure It will not only affect BOE, TCL and other Chinese panel manufacturers; It will also have a direct impact on Japanese companies, and, above all, South Korean that produce these matrices, such as Samsung or LG. The largest shareholder of BOE is a state entity, and, in addition, 47% of its Chengdú factory belongs to several organizations backed by the State So far I have mentioned BOE three times in this article, and I have done it because this Chinese company is being very closely observed by the US administration. In fact, and this is another pillar of the strategy in which the US government is working, According to Chris Miller This company is being intensely subsidized by the Chinese State. Boe’s biggest shareholder is a state entity, and, in addition, 47% of its new Chengdú factory It belongs to several organizations that are directly supported by the State. The South Korean government You are also supporting subsidies To the Samsung and LG subsidiaries that manufacture screens, but so far it has never been done almost half of the property of a latest generation production plant. Miller holds that BOE has ties with the Chinese armyalthough it does not know if they are deeper than those with other Chinese technology companies. Who do seem clear that this link is intense They are some American congressmen. Otherwise they would not press the Pentagon to include BOE in his “blacklist.” If this request Prospera Boe could be excluded from the US market in the same way that at the end of the last decade Huawei and Zte were sanctioned. Curiously, According to BOE itselfglobal sales of screens for military use amounted to 1,330 million dollars in 2024. It is a modest figure if we keep in mind that this sector globally invoiced more than 156,000 million dollars last year. Even so, for Chinese and American armies the screens are critical components, just like chips. In fact, the US Department of Defense buys avant -garde screens, and, in addition, has expressly funded The development of next -generation visualization technologies. Image | Xataka More information | Chris Miller’s Newsletter In Xataka | China is ready to get fully into the OLED TV market and put South Korea against the ropes

We have been at Roig Arena, the stadium that the owner of Mercadona will open in Valencia. If you don’t have more screens it is because they can’t

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He already owns The most successful supermarket chain in the countryhas a foundation known for the Valencia Marathon Sponsorshiphas Your own startup accelerator And it is even owner of a basketball team. He only lacked the stadium. We talk, of course, Juan Roig. The owner of Mercadona has been embarked on the construction of the pavilion that bears his name and will be the new home of Valencia Basket, in addition to a space for concerts and shows. We have been visiting the works and if we had to summarize it in a word we are clear: screens. 1,700 square meters of screens, to be exact. The eye. Before entering we find a screen giving us welcome. They call it “the eye” and measures 10 meters high by 48 wide. Like the other screens, it has installed it LG that tells us the challenge that has meant such a large panel, resistant to the outside and also looks when the sun affects it. It is on the northwest facade of the enclosure and just at the time that there will be many events (about seven or eight in the afternoon) the sun will be putting on. This screen we have not been able to see it on because they were still installing it, so we cannot judge how it looks. Visuals will be projected in it to announce which event or game will have that day. Screens inside and out The videomarker. Within the sand is the jewel of the crown: a videomarker with 250 square meters of surface that, according to LG, has the highest resolution in Europe. It is in the center of the pavilion and forms four screens, but as it has the rounded edges and the image they project is continuous, it gives the feeling that it is a single panel that wraps the entire structure. In addition, in the inner face there are two more screens in which information will be seen from the basketball matches that are held. More screens. There is no thing left, the interior of the Roig Arena is literally lined on screens (see the first photo). There is a kind of band that they call ‘Ribbon LED’ that surrounds the stadium and separates the lower stand from the superior. And there is even more. Inside is also the largest videowall in Europe, with an area of 500 square meters. Both the Videowall and the Ribbon and the videomarker do have seen them on and has surprised us with the sharpness and luminosity. Folded and deployed bleachers Two ages. The enclosure has a particularity and that is that the capacity is variable. You can house 15,600 people in Basket mode and up to 20,000 in concert mode. This is achieved with a retractable bleachers system in the first level. In a basketball game they will be deployed, creating one more level of seats that extend to the edge of the field, while in the concerts they will fold them so that they are hidden on the sides and the track is larger. Investment. The idea of making a new pavilion for Valencia Basket years ruminating And finally Juan Roig confirmed that he would build an enclosure with a capacity for about 15,000 people. In 2018 He traveled to Berlin to know the Berlin Arenastadium in which the project was inspired, and the works began in 2020. The total investment in the enclosure will be, according to its general director, more than 300 million euros And there is already date for its inauguration: on September 6. Basket and more. In addition to being the new home of the Valencian team, which leaves the mythical (but quite outdated) La Fonteta PavilionRoig Arena was also conceived as a space for concerts and shows. In fact, although it does not open until September, they already have confirmed concerts for all next year, Many of them with Sold Out. Images | Xataka, Roig Arena In Xataka | Juan Roig believes that cooking at home has no future. There are eight million Spaniards who are already giving the right

How an addicted screens is getting hooked on knitting and sewing

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“That’s fashionable.” Sure? Hobbies and craft techniques that until very recently considered outdated now a Second golden age Thanks to the sum of a series of factors: the need for digital disconnection, the dissemination of its practice thanks to (paradoxically) Internet and the recovery of the legacy of previous generations. Thanks to that, crochet, sewing and ceramics, among other hobbies, live a second youth. What’s happening. Many twenty They are recovering Manual hobbies, such as painting ceramic, embroidered or knitting. The workshops and meetings where young people share techniques and results proliferate (for example, in 2025 the fair Love Yarn Madrid It was consolidated as the largest in Europe dedicated to wool, crochet and crochet, with 14,000 square meters of exposure, more than 120 international exhibitors and more than 60 workshops, of which more than 50 are specifically dedicated to these techniques, and whose entries are exhausted with weeks in advance). In a trend driven by the attractiveness of the artisanal, the sustainability and the therapeutic value of the crafts. Social networks and platforms such as Pinterest and Tiktok They also play a key role spreading ideas and tutorials. And there is already a sphere of influencers and creators of content dedicated to the subject: they are people like mindfulmantra_embroidery, Yolanda Andrés, Sarah K. Benningor the original Cristina Chachewhose followers are counted by millions. The boom, in numbers. Some figures that testify to this resurgence are at the value of the world market of crafts, of 50.9 billion dollars in 2024. ETSY, without a doubt a good thermometer of interest in these issues as it is the center of purchase and sale of manufactured products, registered in 2022 gross sales of 11.8 billion dollars, with 94 million buyers and 7.3 million sellers. In 2020, year of pandemic, The Guardian detected an increase of 140% of people who were encouraged To start with the crocheta total of One million people in the United Kingdom. For the future, A Technovio report He estimates that the global fabric and crochet market will grow by 10,690 million dollars between 2024 and 2028. What gives us psychologically. There are many reasons that explain the resurgence of these trends, but one that covers all the others It is the search for authenticity that seems lost in modern times. Articles like this one of The Wall Street Journal They call the trend Granny Core (referring to the fact that they seem grandmother’s hobbies) and collect statements from twenty people who underline the disconnection of digital and the pleasure of preparing handmade pieces as keys to this resurgence. The genuine. In front of the uniformity of industrial products, handmade objects They represent the genuine and the exclusivesince each piece has its own process. These activities do not require large investments and allow to experience, learn and improve skills, which reinforces self -esteem and the feeling of self -sufficiency. Recent medical studies They talk about how “participation in artistic and craft activities provides significant benefits” and even qualifies it as “accessible and affordable tool for public health.” Digital disconnection is key. All states of mental peace that we point out above are under the same umbrella: that of the Digital disconnection. In a life saturated with screens And digital stimuli, crafts offer a path to disconnect and reduce stress. Medical studies like this Mental Health Center in San Diego They list the benefits of disconnection and specify that “creative hobbies such as painting or crafts” are analog entertainments that should be cultivated. Activities such as embroidered, painting ceramic or weaving encourage creativity and concentration (something that goes in the direction opposed to the effect that generate social networks), and generate a sense of achievement and purpose, which contributes to greater personal satisfaction and emotional well -being. Return to the past. There is a key element in crafts and is the connection with our past, an element of generational transmission that had been lost in the digital age. Learning these techniques allows the twenties to connect with their family and cultural roots. We talk about something that goes beyond mere technical learning: It implies sharing time and experiences with older relatives, creating memories and strengthening family identity. Events like the European Artistic Crafts Daysunder the motto “The Golden Thread” underline precisely how crafts acts as an invisible thread that unites past and present. Return in trends. In the fashion industry, so often marked by rapid consumption and lowering costs, Embroidery or crochet resurgence It is a turn (with its obvious and consequent commercial load) towards the artisanal and sustainable, aspects highly valued by certain sectors of consumers. Manual techniques lead what is known as Slow Fashionmovement that promotes the consumption of clothing in an ethical and conscious way, and among its defenders there are names as relevant in the industry as Dior, ValentinoBatsheva there is or Ganni. Photo of Anya Chernik in Unspash But … And the people? People consume fashion and at the same time influences itthat’s why it is not surprising that the general public has also begun to make crochet and embroidery. If it was before the egg (the industry) or the chicken (consumers) in this return to the seamstress tradition it matters well little, but we can set a key moment to get fashionable again at the user level: Pandemia and confinement. Movement restrictions, the need to learn new skills and hobbies, the search for relaxing activities and the redoubled importance of social networks and online communities to forge and strengthen friendships made the rest. Encourage and click. What also led to the pandemic was a resurgence of domestic businesses of handmade clothing. Through Platforms like ETSYwithout a doubt the most widespread, but also through social networks such as Instagram, second -hand sale platforms such as Wallapop or Vinned and simple systems to mount rudimentary stores, such as Shopify, thousands of people were launched. The swings in the traditional employment market led to this resurgence of self -employment through crafts, which in turn later impacted … Read more

Something is stealing our dream and they are not just the screens. A neurologist helps us understand what is really happening

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We sleep, we dream, we forget. But do we really know what happens while we sleep? Sleep paralysis, déjà vusawakening in the early morning or that exhaustion that appears even after Sleep eight hours. In this new section of Xataka we enter all those questions that we have ever asked ourselves and that until now were still without clear response. Or worse: full of myths. We release ‘Science and Apart’, a new section in Our YouTube channelalso Available as Podcast on Spotify and Ivoox. A space where we propose to talk about science with experts in the field. In this first episode, our partner Ángela Blanco talks with the doctor Daniel Blanes Jacquartspecialist in neurology and member of the Spanish Sleep Society. “Dream is a vital function,” explains Blanes. “It helps us to prepare our internal environment and respond to demands From the external environment. ”Sleeping is not simply to rest: it is a biological need that occupies much of our life. Although we perceive it as a kind of blackout, during the dream there are fundamental processes for our body, such as internal reparation. And it is not necessary to be a scientist to intuit it. Just look at the data of a smart watch like the Apple Watch Series 10 or the Huawei Watch 5. Those graphs that divide the night into phases such as REM, deep, essential or vigil are not only decorative: they respond to real processes that fulfill very different functions with each other. In our dialogue with Blanes, concepts such as declarative memory, emotional memory appear, what they are and in which part of the dream are fixed. The talk also addresses ideas such as the relationship between what we remember and the quality of rest. “We all dream a lot, but most dreams are not fixed in memory.” Our guest explains why this happens and what does it mean if We dream very often And we can tell what we have experienced (or we think we have experienced). Angela asks how it is possible to wake up paralyzed, unable to move. “Sleep paralysis is an incomplete awakening,” says Blanes, and adds: “I am awake, I wake up, but I continue with the activation of the visual, auditory cortex, that is, you can see things or you can hear things that are not because in the background is still that part of the REM active and, in addition, the paralysis is complete.” Issues that are very present in everyday life are also addressed. Do we sleep worse than before? Are the guilty screens? Does blue light affect us more than we believe? Throughout the episode we talk about the impact of sleep hormones, why we hate Mondays, narcolepsia and even the collagen we produce at night. “We have a tool to make collagen that is the dream.” We invite you to discover all this and much more in ‘Science and apart’, which starts with a very interesting episode and that makes some key concepts about sleep clear. It will help us better understand this fundamental part of our life. Now we just have to choose the platform you prefer to enjoy this first episode. Images | Xataka In Xataka | The close (and far) that we are not sleeping at all: for the first time in history, we have a small way to try In Xataka | More and more people are going on vacation simply to sleep

Goodbye to the windows for passengers, hello to the immersive screens

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A fuselage that seems sculpted by the wind. Not a single cabin window. And a clear objective: revolutionize private aviation. He Phantom 3500 It is not a conventional plane And that shows from the first glance. Otto Aviation has been perfecting this design for years, first with the Celera 500L as a test bench, and now with a model that wants to go further. On paper, what it proposes is not less: a plane capable of radically overcoming other comparable executive jets. The technical key of the project is the Laminar flow. Otto proposes an approach based on perfectly profiled surfaces, designed so that the air moves better. This aerodynamic optimization seeks to reduce resistance and improve flight efficiency. According to the companyone of its great objectives is to reduce fuel consumption significantly comparable Jets. In combination with sustainable fuels (SAF), Otto aspires to achieve a much lower carbon footprint. No windows, but with digital views and very real ambitions The operational figures that OTTO handles point high. The Phantom 3500 aspires to an autonomy of up to 6,482 km, an 51,000 feet cruise altitude (15,544 m) and a sustained consumption of 435 liters per hour. This places it, on paper, below models such as Bombardier Challenger 350 or the CITATION Latitudewhose average values ​​of consumption are around 1,135 liters. Part of the advantage is in its large surface wing and optimized profile, which improves support and allows to operate from shorter clues than usual. Inside, it also uncheck. The cabin completely dispenses with passenger windows. Instead, Otto implements a system called “Super Natural Vision”, Based on high -definition screens that show the outer environment in real time. The objective is not only of stimulant. The civil sphere is not the only one in which Otto wants to leave a mark. In previous materials, the company has suggested military applications, especially in logistics or deployment missions from remote tracks. He has also collaborated with Darpa agency in several projects. In parallel to technical development, the company works with FAA to obtain the certification of the plane. Paul Touw, CEO of Otto Aviation, recently declared Flightglobal That the first flight could occur in 2027, although the entry into service is not expected before 2030. To expedite the processes and contain the costs, Otto is integrating simulation tools developed by Galorath, which allow estimating technical and economic impacts before moving on to production. However, as we point out above, the Phantom 3500 is not part of zero. Is the direct evolution of Celera 500L, a platform that served as a technological demonstrator. The design has been deeply reformulated, but the base principle remains intact: maximize efficiency without giving up real benefits. If you get your goals, Otto will not only put a new type of plane in the air. It could inaugurate a whole new category in executive aviation. Images | Otto Aviation In Xataka | The old Low Cost airline dream to squeeze their passengers remains the same: vertical seats

How many screens are too many screens

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“Personally, I am convinced that these black glass surfaces inside the cars will leave it behind, sooner or later.” These words are from Matthias Junghanns, the biggest head of interior design of the BMW electric range, collected by Carscoop. We picked them up in 2022 because they seemed surprising. With the car market walking to “all screen”one of the most design responsible for the German brand unmarked the trend. In addition, in that same talk was Conny Blommé, head of Interiors of Polestar, who subscribed the words of Junghanns and assured that “everything has its maximum point, and probably the screens too. Most of the time, you travel in a car and enjoy more of the view than of the screens.” The statements were surprising Because, especially in BMW, the commitment to bring functions to cars screens have been maximum in recent years. To the point that they are capable of Sell ​​a car with a screen for the rear seats that crosses the entire car from side to side. But, in addition, BMW herself has fostered that jump No parachute to giant screens. To the point that it has been selling us for some time that their future cars will have A gigantic head-up display that can visualize all passengers with selected information at each point of it. We have focused on BMW For the incoherent of the matter but, much less, they are the only ones who have entered the swampy world of screens. In Volkswagen they say they want to go backafter they have been criticized for using touch buttons in each of the corners of its cabin. He Tesla Model 3 Renewed not only that it lacks buttons for the intermittent, it has also brought its transmission to the screen. AND Euro NCAP ensures that it will punish to cars that carry especially sensitive functions to it although, for the moment, the decision does not have much practical route. Yet, Mercedes has turned to his Hyperscreen and in the Smart It is mandatory to go through the screen for something as simple as deploying or modifying the vision of mirrors. And it does not seem that the thing will change. At least according to what was seen in the Shanghai Motor Show. How far are we going to get? “It’s not just about ‘how many’ screens are put but ‘what % occupy’ or how easy it is to capture your vision when you should not divert it from the road.” With these words our partner Javier Lacort describes, present at the Shanghai Motor Show, which he seen there. And it is that the event has been an example of how manufacturers are in full search to attract passengers and capture their attention. In China, this work has long been an essential part of manufacturers and The trend indicates that it will growespecially with the use of electric cars and greater autonomy of them. For example, if the car is stopped, you can act as a streaming or video game player but also if the car moves alone. In fact, Audi already has a screen For the passenger that allows you to reproduce applications such as YouTube with the car running. It uses a selective off that prevents the driver from visualizing the screen if the car is moving but does keep the entire level of brightness for the passenger. That work of capturing attention is essential and can become a recurrent income route for manufacturers. In fact, some analysts suggest that this is the reason why Byd will provide their More advanced autonomous car capabilities to its cheapest models. Unlike Tesla, which aspires to earn a lot of money With autonomous driving, they believe that a car that moves is only the Perfect opportunity to generate income With streaming platforms. “It is a trend in several Chinese brands, especially in ministering vans. Not only put a screen after the front headrest, but also put a much larger pantry in the center,” says our partner Javier Lacort that, in addition, points to us that Sony was presented with two concepts “one dedicated to the image and another to the audio” similar. “The idea is that those behind you are at home, with a giant screen, PlayStation …”. This same concept, to convert the back of a van into a living room with a disproportionate screen is not new either. Lexus has already played with this idea for his luxury minivans, a segment that is up to China where passengers value an extremely luxurious experience in their rear seats. We must think that cities in China are so large that most of the paths are made at low speed and are relatively long. Understand the rear seats or the cabin of the car as a HUB technological It is not uncommon. Especially in a country with very specific peculiarities. For example, there are those who turn their cars into Karaoke. It is something we have seen in some byd models but even, has led Tesla to adapt The local market. Already in the front seats, two trends. “Intel was clearly who made a more obvious bet. I counted 15 screens inside a car,” Lacort tells us. But it is not an isolated case. “Audi with his E5, his first Chinese car, opted for a screen that went side by side (including digital mirrors.” Intel proposal for the interior of our cars Intel proposal for the interior of our cars They are two proposals for the future of our cars. Obviously, Intel seems to be especially interested in showing their progress in this type of event and making clear the automobile industry that can count on them to fill the interiors of our screens cars. However, Audi’s proposal seems more elegant and, above all, realistic for the future. As the years have passed, more and more manufacturers are extending their screens from the instrument frame to the co -pilot. Either with continued surfaces or with a curved screen … Read more

Seven CCAA backs down with the screens and mark a change in trend

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The Spanish education system has a peculiar way to embrace innovations: with excessive enthusiasm first, and with equal intensity when rejecting them later. First was the aspirational devotion for the Finnish model, then the obsession to digitize each classroom. Today, just over a decade after that race to fill the laptops, We are seeing the principle of an opposite pendular movement: Seven Autonomies – governments by both PP and PSOE – are regulating to reduce screens in classes, according to The world. This turn is not born from a political whim. The results of the latest PISA tests and international evaluations have been another jug ​​of cold water. The reading comprehension and the basic mathematical skills They are collapsing while students spend more time with a tablet and less with paper and ball. Madrid, the Region of Murcia, Valencian Community, Balearic Islands, Galicia, Asturias and Catalonia are preparing different regulations but with the same spirit: Recover paper. Limit the hours in front of the screens. And reflect on whether we really need to do all duties in digital. We are also seeing many politicians to seek the tribute applause cursing the screens in the classrooms, but none do self -criticism when the tribune rewarded the slogan “a child, a laptop.” Is Selective amnesia that allows to navigate comfortably between opposite trends Without assuming responsibilities. Correction has no political color. The Socialist Asturian Lydia Espina and the popular Murcia Fernando López Miras coincide in the fundamental although they disagree in the forms, for giving two examples. Perhaps the most notable difference is that while Madrid opts for a more blunt prohibition, other regions prefer to set recommendations, leaving a certain margin of maneuver to the centers. But the message is clear: enough of tablets for everything. The most interesting thing about this Pendulazo is that it arrives right now, when the technology industry continues to promise the educational revolution through its devices, and when The AI ​​begins to appear in the classrooms. But between technological determinism and nostalgia for grid notebooks, perhaps what we are really seeing is a healthy maturity exercise: technology must be a medium, not an end. And like any tool, it has its optimal use moments. Not all the time. Not for everything. And of course, not for everyone at the same age. And we are starting to see it. In Xataka | China is planning its future in three dimensions. That is why he will put a subject of AI in schools Outstanding image | Xataka with Midjourney

Pebble creator resurrects his legacy with 30 days of autonomy and electronic ink screens

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Years after the disappearance of Pebble, the smart watch that inaugurated a category through Kickstarter in 2012, Its creator returns to load. Core Devices, the new company founded by Eric Migicovsky, has just presented two models that recover the essence of the original Pebble: Core 2 Duo and Core Time 2. This time, the bet is to recover the original philosophy of the product, thanks to that Google released Pebbleos as an open source in January. Core 2 duo and core time 2 technical sheet Core 2 duo Core Time 2 SCREEN 1.26 inches E-paper monochromatic 144 x 168 pixels, 176 dpi With backhoper 1.5 inches e-paper color (64 colors) 200 x 228 pixels, 202 dpi With backhoper INTERACTION 4 physical buttons 4 physical buttons + touch screen MATERIALS Polycarbonate frame (black or white) Metal frame (several color options) Sensors 6 -axis Imu Compass Barometer 6 -axis Imu Heart rhythm monitor Connectivity Not specified Compatible with iOS and Android Not specified Compatible with iOS and Android CHARACTERISTICS Microphone and speaker Vibration motor (linear resonance actuator) IPX8 water resistance Step and sleep monitoring Microphone and speaker Vibration motor (linear resonance actuator) IPX8 water resistance Step and sleep monitoring BATTERY 30 days of autonomy 30 days of autonomy Load connector Standard pebble charger Standard pebble charger BELT 22 mm 22 mm Operating system Pebbleos (open source) +10,000 WatchFaces and Applications Pebbleos (open source) +10,000 WatchFaces and Applications PRICE $ 149 225 dollars AVAILABILITY Shipping from July 2025 Shipping from July 2025 Unlike the current trend in smart watches, which usually bet on high resolution AMOLED screens in exchange for more limited autonomies, Core Devices Recover the philosophy that made Pebble popular: screens e-paper Always active with an outstanding autonomy of 30 days. Core 2 duo is an evolution of Pebble 2with monochromatic screen and a simplified design with polycarbonate body. Meanwhile, the Core Time 2 represents the high range with a screen e-paper a Color of 64 tones, metallic frame and additional functions such as heart rate monitoring and touch screen. The return of a different philosophy The new Core Devices watches keep Pebble DNA intact, but with notable improvements. The main advance is autonomywhich passes from the 7 days of the original 30 -day models on the new devices. Both models incorporate microphone and speaker, elements that were not present in all the original Pebbles. Pebbleos, now open source after Google’s decision (owner of Fitbit, which in turn acquired the intellectual property of Pebble in 2016), remains the heart of these watches. This guarantees the compatibility with more than 10,000 watchfaces and existing applications. Image: Core Devices. Eric Migicovsky, original founder of Pebble and now in front of Core Devices, explained in his blog A couple of months ago he decided to resume the project because “nobody makes a smartwatch with the basic set of features I want.” Among these essential characteristics, it stands out: E-paper screen always active (visible under sunlight, discreet). Long battery life (to avoid frequent loads). Simple and well -designed user experience focused on basic functions (time, notifications, music control, alarms, weather, calendar, sleeping/steps monitoring). Physical buttons (to control music without looking at the screen). Possibility of customization (creation of Watchfaces own). Sustainability above all Image: Core Devices. Image: Core Devices. Image: Core Devices. Unlike the aggressive growth approach that characterized Pebble in its beginnings, Migicovsky has opted this time for a more sustainable model. “I am building a small and centered company to manufacture these watches. I have not planned to raise money from investors or hire a great team. The emphasis is on sustainability, “he said in his blog. Core Devices has not launched a Kickstarter campaign, but offers direct reserves through its website, with the possibility of complete cancellation and reimbursement until the shipment, estimated for July of this year. Google’s decision of convert pebbleos into open source software It has been fundamental for this rebirth. According to Migicovsky, “Pebbleos took dozens of engineers working for four years to build, along with our fantastic product equipment and quality control. Reproducing that for new hardware would take a long time.” The Pebbleos Source Code It is now available in Githuballowing any developer to use, bifurcar and improve the operating system. This opens the door not only to official Core Devices watches, but potentially to other manufacturers interested in creating devices compatible with the Pebble ecosystem. Price and availability of the core 2 duo and core time 2 The new Core Devices watches They are already available to book. The Core 2 Duo is priced at $ 149 with shipments planned for July 2025, while the Core Time 2 will cost $ 225 and will begin to be distributed in December 2025. International orders will be sent through messaging with follow -up (DHL, Fedex, UPS), although the company warns that buyers outside the United States must be prepared for possible taxes and customs. It is the market, friend. Outstanding image | Core Devices, Unspash, Xataka In Xataka | The smart watches market had been growing for years. Now face his “smartphone moment”

Volkswagen believes that car screens are getting too far

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For some car manufacturers, Only the screens matter. After the extreme minimalism of Tesla Model 3 2017 That eliminated buttons to relegate the control of the car to the huge central screen, there were manufacturers that got into the car. Filling the screw dashboard seemed like luxury at the wheel, but it is an idea that has not set Among users, critics and even the most relevant body in Europe to evaluate the safety of vehicles: EURO NCAP. Now, the brands are realized that they cannotPost everything to the screens And there are such strong statements as that of the Volkswagen design chief, who has recognized that “it is not a phone: it is a car.” Trend. Tesla is the perfect example when talking about cars screens. It is not the one that has the most, but that, in its last models, has relegated virtually all the functions of the car to that central console. Other brands like Mercedes soon got into the car with splashes in which the screens were protagonists and there are those who have taken this to the extreme, especially when we talk about electric car. Mazda 6e, the Electric Berlina And Mazda 3 It seems that talking about 100% implies putting aside the buttons. Even brands such as Mazda who have opted for small and touch screens only with the stopped vehicle have given a flying when they have presented the electric model. But perhaps one of the most exaggerated cases is Volkswagen. “Buttons”. In quotes. In the main image we have the dashboard of the Volkswagen ID. Every1the new 100% electric utility that wants to place itself as the electric car par excellence. The interior is futuristic, science fiction and yes, it has buttons. Real buttons, not like those of the Atlas, the new golf or the ID.4. THE FLYING OF ID.4 In these three models, The buttons are haptic, A kind of digital button that does not offer that pulsation feedback such as when we put pressure on a real button, but a vibration. How to type on a mobile phone, go. On the way, it may not be enough to give information to the driver when there are elements such as the vibration of the vehicle itself when rolling through a land that is not completely smooth. “It’s not a mobile”. This model has not yet went on sale, but the criticisms and the latest decisions of Euro Ncap seem that they have made the German firm rethink things. And he has done it. As we read in CoachAndreas Mindt, the brand design chief, has been the one who has taken the initiative by commenting that, from ID.2 that will arrive next year, all cars will have “physical buttons for the five most important functions.” These functions are volume, heating, fans control and emergency light. “They will be in every car that we do from now on, we have understood.” This reverse is curious, but well received because it is evident that they recognize that there is a real problem with this type of tactile interfaces and that do not use everything. “Never, we’ll never make this mistake again. In the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. We will not have to guess more and have real feedback. People love that and, honestly, it is a car. Not a phone: it’s a car. ” Not a luxury. VW has not been the only one that, recently, has realized that touch screens as the only method of control of the car are a engoring for certain things and a potential risk for safety. The German Mercedes has also considered the screens a luxury symbol in its recent vehicles. The more, and bigger, the better. However, although the ‘Hyperscreen’ will not go anywhere, the design chief of the three -pointed brand admitted in a recent interview that they must devise another way to transfer that luxury to their vehicles, such as better finishes or more handmade pieces … instead of so much screen. With head. The truth is that, since the fever began by the car “Every screen”, each brand has made the war on its own. Lincoln, for example, It offers huge screensbut not tactile and only serve as a information viewer. Mazda (except in the 6e) continues to bet on buttons next to a screen of food dimensions; Peugeot, Renault or Toyota, among others, also incorporate large screens, but there are elements such as physical buttons in the steering wheel and to control the air conditioning that are maintained. Mindt rounded his comment on the future of the interfaces in Volkswagen stating that they will continue to offer touch screens “partly due to the new legal requirements that, as in the US, impose that all cars have a backward chamber. There are a lot of other functions that we can offer in certain areas and the screens will be large, but the five main things will always be in the form of physical button. That is very important. ” Therefore, whether by Euro NCAP warning or because they have realized that delegating all vehicle actions to haptic screens or buttons is not the most sensible, welcome that VW philosophy. Images | Mazda, Volkswagen In Xataka | Is the electric car worth it? Here you have a savings calculator to check it out

All those touch screens in the Tesla and the rest of the cars sound very well. Euro NCAP thinks otherwise

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Euro NCAP has been notifying for about a year: cars that bet absolutely everything to the touch screens will have problems to obtain the coveted five stars of its qualification system. For some manufacturers Only the screens mattera Simply terrible decision that allows them to save costs by adding additional steps that could be made by pressing a simple button. The date on which Euro NCAP will begin to penalize this philosophy is closer, but we have bad news: it will not change practically anything. Euro Ncap pressures. We are more or less agree with the methodologies used by its system, Euro NCAP is the most relevant body in Europe to evaluate the safety of new vehicles. After performing its collision tests and various trials, it is evaluated by a system of stars (up to five) how sure is the car. The system takes into account adult protection systems, children, impact on pedestrians and security assists (ADAS) among others and, from 2026, an additional factor enters into the equation: how simple it is to perform basic car functions. Specifically, these five. Selection of flashes Button activation Warning Ring Activate the windshield wiper Activation of Ecall emergency button If it is not possible to activate each and every one of these functions quickly by means of a physical button, the car will not get the five stars. Why (almost) nothing will change. Virtually all current cars have physical controls for the actions described. One of the few that do not include manufacturers such as Tesla is that of Ecall emergency activation, which currently can only be activated using the upper bar of its touch screen. If the American company wants five stars in the cars that you sell in Europe, you will have to adopt this button in physical shape, or in the steering wheel or location they consider. It is a movement that may seem lower, but introducing a new button in a vehicle, or not in the steering wheel, it is important additional costs for the thousands of units that will have to be manufactured in 2026. Whatever it may be, in the face of the end user, everything will remain practically the same: beyond these mandatory standards, everything will continue to be governed by a screen. An important brake for industry. Although this new Euro NCAP standard will not be especially relevant, the organism’s pressures to the industry to keep the physical buttons are more than necessary. Volkswagen already had among his plans to end them to replace them with screenswith the consequent criticism of your buyers that made them consider backing. Other manufacturers, such as BMW, fantasize with systems starring screens and with hardly any presence of physical buttons. This Euro NCAP requirement will put a certain brake on your plans. And it is that European legislation itself does not expressly prevent cars from dispensing with physical buttons. The Vehicle Homologation Regulation (EU 2019/2144) It forces manufacturers to meet certain standards in terms of usability and ergonomics of controls to avoid distractions, but does not specify that these standards pass through physical buttons. The obsession with the screens. On car manufacturers absolutely obsessed with converting their vehicles into tablets with wheels, We have been talking for five years. Already in 2019, manufacturers like Mazda They jumped against reducing the number of screens to avoid distractions and accidents, while the rest advanced towards more and more complex interfaces. Since then, it is more difficult to find a car that is not full of screens than one with a cleaner and more analog interior. The cars They are increasingly expensive and The trend is that they will continue to rise. Interestingly, consumers are every time more unhappy with new purchases. One of the main reasons has to do with the software. The manufacturers have found in it A new way of earning moneybut the bulk of users does not want to go beyond compatibility with Android Auto and Apple Carplay. The road of the industry by 2026, date on which Euro NCAP will begin to penalize cars without tactile controls, aims to be similar to the current one. Many screens, a lot of software (with subscription options and other payment services), and little presence of physical controls. Image | Tesla In Xataka | What screen with Android Auto for your car buy. Purchase guide with better recommendations and tips

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