Telsa is looking to recruit owners of its Powerwall batteries to provide electricity to the grid in Texas. The company is hoping to demonstrate to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas that a group of batteries operating together, called a virtual power plant, can provide electricity and stability to a grid that's been criticized for its unreliability in recent years.

ERCOT, which manages the state's power grid, doesn't currently allow batteries to send power to the grid. Tesla says the company hopes the virtual power plant will convince ERCOT of the battery's value and prompt a policy change.

"ERCOT does not comment on specific companies, plans or projects," a spokesperson said.

The risk of blackouts is high  for much of North America this summer, a regulatory board said last week. That's thanks in part to expected higher-than-normal temperatures, which could increase demand, and an ongoing drought that reduced the supply of available hydroelectricity. Battery storage is one way to meet demand. Virtual power plants have been successful in doing so in other parts of the country.

In February 2021, roughly 4 million people across Texas faced days of outages as power generators and natural gas pipes froze, crippling the state's production capabilities. Texas has its own independent power grid and isn't connected to the Eastern Interconnection and the Western Interconnection grids covering the rest of the country.

Tesla ran a similar, voluntary virtual power plant pilot in California in 2021. At the time, analysts suggested that without stronger incentives for participation, the overall impact would be minor.

I recently finished a 5-week, 9,900 mile road trip where I visited 9 National Parks. Last year, I did a 10,000 mile road trip and visited four others. All told, I've been to 23 out of the 63 National Parks in the United States. I hope you're planning on seeing at least one this summer, because they're all amazing. 

Below are a few tips I'd give to those headed to a park (or parks!) this summer. It's also worth checking each park's respective website. Every park has one and they're filled with maps, things to do and see, and most importantly, if there are any road closures or other important info.

1. Prepare yourself for crowds

National Parks are extremely popular, and for good reason. They're amazing! As a destination, or stop on a longer road trip, lots of people want to visit. This is especially true of the larger, more popular parks, like Yellowstone, but even many more remote parks, like Glacier. Parking inside the park will be challenging. Even getting into the park might take time. The last park on my trip was Sequoia, and there was a half hour line just to enter the park.

This shouldn't dissuade you from going, but if you have smaller, less visited parks on your list, you might have a better or more relaxing time at those. 

There will be more traffic in the park as well, so if you think "we can see it all in a day" chances are you won't be able to.

2. Stop at the visitor's center

Whether you're the type of person that plans every moment of every adventure, or not, the first place to stop is the visitor's center. You'll get a map and the park's newspaper at the entrance, but one of the rangers at the visitor's center can help you figure out a plan for the day, based on what's open, how much time you have, and any other considerations. They're fantastic. This is absolutely worth the time.

3. Park in the first space you see

This ties in with the first tip. Parking lots fill fast, but in many cases the roads leading there support roadside parking. If you see a long line of cars parked on the shoulder, definitely assume there will be a wait for parking in the official lot. If the road signs say it's ok, park as soon as you see an opening. You'll spend significantly less time walking from that spot than you will waiting for someone to free up a better space. 

4. The wildlife can kill you

Every few weeks there are stories of people getting injured, or even killed, by wild animals at National Parks. Even during my trip this summer I saw multiple people at different parks get way too close to various large animals. A bison won't eat you, but it will easily mess you up. Same goes for elk. Bears… well, black bears are scared of you. Grizzly bears are most decidedly not. 

The problem, I think, is two-fold. One, I think some people just don't realize how fast animals can be. It doesn't matter if they don't have sharp teeth, if they hit you at 40mph and then kick you, you're going to be in a bad way. The other is that most phones have wide-angle lenses. So people want a cool photo (no judgment, me too), but can't because of the limitations of their phone. So they do the "logical" thing and move closer. 

Two easy fixes here. One, get a telephoto lens for your camera, or a telephoto attachment for your phone's camera. Two, stay back: 25 yards from animals like bison and elk, 100 from things that will eat you, like bears. Ideally, keep something between you and the fuzzy friend, like a car. Or the best option, don't get out of your car if they're near the road.

5. Don't expect cell reception

Cell coverage in National Parks, even the popular ones, is sparse. Some ranger stations and visitor centers have free Wi-Fi, but not all. 

Which is to say, download maps and hiking info before you enter the park. This is easy with Google Maps. Hiking apps like AllTrails allow for offline viewing as well, if you pay for the premium version. 

6. Bring your own food and water

Some parks have small cafes or even full cafeterias. Many don't. Definitely advisable to bring your own food and water. Especially the latter. 

If you're camping in the park, make sure you check with the rangers about how aggressive the local wildlife is. Many parks require all food to be put in bear-proof containers. These will either be heavy metal cabinets at the campsite, or portable versions available at the visitor's center.  Bears absolutely do love pic-a-nic baskets. See #4 for why this is important.

7. Get the year pass

The vast majority of Americans are within a few hours drive of a National Park. Not just any National Park, but the best National Park: the one closest to you. Sappy as that is, it's true. They're all cool. Some are cooler than others, for sure, but there's a reason they made it through the process of becoming designated a National Park. 

So for most people, the Annual Pass makes a ton of sense. This is also called the America the Beautiful or Interagency Pass. Each visit to most parks is ~$30 per vehicle but the year pass that gets you into all parks for 1 year for $80. That math is easy to figure out. You can buy them at the park entrance or online at the USGS store or REI. They also get you entrance into 2,000 federally-protected lands like National Forests and wildlife preserves. There are also lifetime senior passes, and several other varieties.

That said, some parks don't charge an entrance fee, or don't charge for accessing certain areas of the park. It's worth checking ahead of time.

8. Plan additional activities for kids

From my (admittedly distant and anecdotal) experience with the small humans I was near at the parks, they all seemed to be having a fantastic time. If you want to give them something else to do while you're all enjoying the parks, consider National Park passports, journals, and activity books.

9. Stay near the park, not in it

If you haven't booked a campsite or lodge inside a park by now, you're probably not going to get a spot. Some parks also have first-come-first-serve campsites, but don't count on getting one of those either (see #1). While staying in the park is undeniably cool, it's not required. Most parks have a nearby town or towns that exist pretty much entirely to service visitors to the park. For instance, on my trip this summer I stayed in Jackson for Grand Teton, West Yellowstone for, you guessed it, Yellowstone, West Glacier for -- wait for it -- Glacier, and so on.

10. Leave with everything you brought

This includes wrappers, food, water bottles, annoying children, everything. In select places there are wildlife-proof trash containers. Definitely use them. Apparently some people felt it was ok to leave bags of their dog's poop and trust me, this is not OK. 

Related, it's worth reading up on whether your chosen park allows dogs, and if so, to what extent. Many don't want them on hikes, don't want them on certain trails, but all require them to be leashed at all times.

Most of all, I hope you have a grand adventure!

---

As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000 mile road trips, and more. Check out Tech Treks for all his tours and adventures.

He wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, along with a sequel. You can follow his adventures on Instagram and his YouTube channel.

This is part of CNET's #adulting series of stories to help you figure out how to live, work and play now that you're all grown up. 

Here's a partial list of what's causing me anxiety right now:

• The current political climate
  
• Nutjobs with guns and bombs
  
• Impending environmental catastrophe
  
• Starting a new business
  
• A water leak in my basement
  
• The printer won't print -- again

In other words, I have a pretty broad range of things to worry about, same as everyone. The thing is, all this stuff seems particularly overwhelming right now, like I'm surrounded by headaches upon headaches, awful news upon awful news, and then I had a bad night of sleep so I'm super-tired, and that leads to unhealthy eating, which just adds to existing worries about my weight and, hang on, is that burning in my chest acid reflux or something more serious, and all of a sudden, AHHHHHH!

Whoa. Someone needs to calm down. And I'm not the only one: According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, "anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US, affecting some 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18 percent of the population."

But, wait -- adults are supposed to have coping skills, right? You grow up, you learn how to stay calm in the face of life's challenges. Except when the challenges pile up, and seem both insurmountable and frightening, that's when our "adult" coping skills can falter.

Fortunately, there are ways to calm down. What follows is a mix of things I've learned myself and tips from professionals.

October 10 is World Mental Health Day, check out these stories that can help you support your mental health:

Stop, drop and breathe

If you're seriously stressed right this minute, to the point where you feel actual panic (or something close to it), focused breathing can help. "When we experience anxiety or stress our body interprets it as though we are in physical danger. When we breathe deeply, we are able to counteract the natural physical stress response and help our body and brain to realize there is no physical danger and we can relax." That's according to clinical psychologist Angela K. Kenzslowe, who offers a simple remedy: Take 2 or 3 deep breaths (from your diaphragm, not your chest) for a very slow count to four. (That's four seconds on the in-breath, four more on the out-breath.)

For a little more help, try an app like Breathe2Relax (Android|iOS), which provides guided breathing exercises based on your level of stress. The interface is a little clunky, but you get lots of information and how-to help along with the exercises. It's a free app.

Read more: Forest bathing: How nature can help you de-stress and get healthier

Get away from your screens

Every day, most of us face an onslaught of mostly unhappy news. It comes from our TVs, laptops, phones and tablets, delivered relentlessly via countless apps, news sites and social-media outlets. And as you bop back and forth between devices, it's very easy to get caught up in a tornado of negativity. Negativity leads to anxiety. 

The solution: unplug. "Taking a break from technology is a great way to give your brain some much needed down-time, allowing creativity to flow in," says Dr. Chinwe Williams, an associate professor in the College of Counseling Psychology and Social Sciences at Argosy University. "Intentional disengagement with your smartphone may [also] lead to intentional and meaningful engagement with others."

Go for a walk

One great way to disengage from screens and, consequently, calm your mind is to go for a hike. Studies have shown that even a 10-minute walk can release endorphins that improve your mood. And as noted in "10 Surprising Benefits Of: A 10 Minute Walk," walking increases mindfulness (see below): "Walking helps clear the mind. It also helps to increase our awareness. When we step outside, we activate all of our senses." And those senses help combat the things that were making us anxious.

"Engage in [any] movement you enjoy," adds postpartum specialist Thai-An Truong. "Walk the dog, dance, work on your garden, go for a hike, get outside and connect with nature."

Meditate

This is the big one -- arguably the single best way to not only calm yourself down in a moment of anxiety, but also reduce your overall stress level. That's the consensus of the couple dozen psychologists who responded to my inquiries for this story.

For example, Ginnifer Morley, a licensed psychotherapist in Boulder, Colorado, says meditation "allows the sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system to rest, which is what is overreacting when we have high anxiety or panic attacks." She recommends guided meditation, noting that a calm and focused outside voice is the key to relaxing a brain that's "all over the place." Her pick: Stop, Breathe & Think, which is available for both Android and iOS and as a web app.

There are countless other apps designed to help you learn mindfulness meditation, including 10% Happier, Calm, Headspace and -- my personal favorite -- Buddhify.

Skeptical about whether meditation really works? One of my favorite podcasts, Science Vs., recently tackled the subject, and with interesting results: Although science doesn't really have much concrete evidence to support the many benefits promised by meditation, practitioners far and wide -- including a lot of the scientists who conducted the studies -- swear by it.

Read more: The best essential oil diffusers

Practice aversion therapy

OK, you're calm now, but what about next time? David Brudö and Niels Eék, co-founders of mental wellbeing app Remente, suggest training yourself so there won't be a next time. They recommend this simple aversion-therapy trick: "Place a rubber band on your wrist, and every time that you start feeling stressed, lightly snap it. The idea is that your brain will subconsciously start avoiding the stimulus (in this case, stress) to prevent the unpleasant snapping of the rubber band."

Have found any other ways to calm down when life gets crazy? Share your tips in the comments!

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Another day, another Trojan. The malware bot called "Tsunami" that has been developed for Linux systems since around 2002 has been found on OS X.

The malware (OSX/Tsunami.A) is a minimal threat, and like other Trojans and backdoors for OS X requires you to manually install it. While it is almost irrelevant to most users, it is out there and has the potential to cause harm for some.

The malware is an IRC bot, which is a program that connects to Internet Relay Chat (IRC) network servers and channels, where it can be controlled as a client for distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on targeted systems and networks. In addition it has the capability to both download files to an infected system and run shell commands (terminal commands) on it.

The current OS X variants of this malware appear not to work and may be in testing phases.

IRC bots are common programs used for numerous legitimate activities on IRC servers, but as with other well-intentioned routines, there is the potential for these bots to be developed and used for malicious activities.

Malware detection group ESET is claiming that so far there are two variants of this malware that connect to different IRC servers and channels. Both variants require someone to manually open the installer file, which then performs the following actions:

1. It installs the malware in the /usr/sbin/ directory.
   The malware is cleverly disguised as a command-line tool called "logind" that may appear to be important to the system. In OS X various background programs are called daemons and end with a "d" in their name to denote this. The malware both attempts to emulate this, and also places it in a hidden system directory (/usr/sbin) where other background services reside so it may blend in.

   OS X does have a background tool that is called "logind" but this resides in the /System/Library/CoreServices/ directory and not in the /usr/sbin/ directory.



2. It modifies a system launch daemon.
   The real OS X logind process (the one in the system's CoreServices directory) is managed by a system launch daemon called "com.apple.logind.plist" located in the /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ directory, but when the Tsunami malware is installed, it replaces the contents of this launch daemon file with code that automatically launches the malware at startup and keeps it running on the system.

The correct version of this property list file should read as the following:

If the malware is installed on the system, the contents of this file will be replaced and you will instead see the following:

As with other Trojan horses, this malware is a minimal threat, and also should be caught if you have a tool installed like Little Snitch, which will detect when programs and background services try to contact servers on the Internet. If you have Little Snitch installed and see an attempt by a process try to contact the servers "pingu.anonops.li" or "x.lisp.su"--or, for that matter, or any other server, especially if it is using the port 6667 (a port commonly used for distributing malware via IRC connections)--then deny it access and check to see if the malware is installed.

To see if the malware is installed on your system, go to the /Macintosh HD/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ directory and open the file called "com.apple.logind.plist." Compare it with the screenshots above, and if it looks like the second one, then replace its contents with what's shown in the first screenshot. Since this file is in a system directory, you may need a tool like TextWrangler to be able to authenticate properly and edit the file.

In addition to reverting the changed launch daemon file, check to see if the rogue logind process has been installed on your system. In the Finder, choose "Go to Folder" from the Go menu and then enter "/usr/sbin" in the text field. The Finder should open the hidden system directory, in which you can search for and remove the file called "logind" if it is present. When you remove it, the system will ask you for an administrator password, so provide it and then delete the file.

Beyond manually removing the malware, since the Mac version of Tsunami was found on October 25 various malware definitions, including those from F-Secure and Intego, have been updated to detect and remove this malware from systems, so be sure to keep your computer's antivirus definitions updated.

---

Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!
Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.

There are hot hatches, and then there's the Honda Civic Type R. This turbocharged wonder earns holy-grail status among compact performance cars because it's so freakin' good to drive while also being practical, comfortable and even relatively affordable. That's why we're super excited about the debut of the brand-new Type R, a car that's been teased for months. But it looks like we won't have to salivate much longer, as Honda on Monday confirmed it'll show the new Civic Type R on Wednesday, July 20.

What do we know about the new Type R? Next to nothing. It'll be based on the new Civic hatchback, which means it'll have a far more mature design than its overstyled predecessor, though the requisite giant wing will obviously remain. We've seen the new Civic Type R testing at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan (where it set a new lap record) and Germany's infamous Nürburgring, and it looks fast as heck -- as it should be.

Honda previously said the new Type R will be the company's "best performing" Civic, though that kind of goes without saying. We've heard rumors that the new Type R will use a tweaked version of the current car's 2.0-liter, turbo I4 engine, meaning we can expect at least 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching will almost certainly be offered, and front-wheel drive should remain, as well.

For the full scoop, check back on July 20. Honda will reveal the Civic Type R online at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET).

This story is part of Health by the Numbers, CNET's deep dive into how we quantify health.

The scale was viewed as the holy grail for determining how healthy you are for the longest time. With extensive research and understanding, we know that the scale doesn't take into consideration the many factors that can influence our weight. That means that weight isn't always the best indicator of health. 

What makes things more complex is when you meet someone who's the same weight, height and gender, but looks completely different than you. Weight is much more than what the scale tells you, and there are better ways to interpret your health instead of relying on a specific number. I spoke with registered dietitian and diabetes educator, Amelia Ti, to help break down the unique factors that influence weight, as well as a healthier approach we can take to understanding it. 

What determines your weight?

First, it's important to understand the many factors that influence weight. These factors include genetics, hormone levels, stress and sleep levels, moods, trauma, any medications you're taking and health conditions. 

"Our weight is more than just calories consumed versus calories burned," said Ti. She said the number on the scale is not a reliable indicator of health, since our weight is influenced by various details. In fact, many of the factors that determine our weight, such as the environment, genetics, age and gender, are beyond our control -- they were either set before we were born or are inescapable. 

The same can be said when people are dieting and aim to set a goal weight determined by the scale. "Weight is not a behavior, therefore the number on the scale cannot directly be controlled," she said. Setting a specific goal weight is not realistic or sustainable, because it implies that we can control our weight through willpower. In that same vein, Ti pointed out that dieting to lose weight or change one's body shape, size or composition, is not effective in the long-term and usually results in weight regain and cycling. There are exceptions, but we know that many diets fail.

Then there's the set point theory, which implies that we all have a natural weight that our bodies prefer to maintain. The idea is that our bodies periodically adjust our food intake (such as eating more or less) and energy expenditure to keep it balanced. Although the concept is still up for debate, studies have shown that there may be some truth to a biological control of body weight at a set point. However, weight is more complex than that, so it isn't fully proven.  

Same weight, different body composition

What about circumstances where you find yourself weighing the same as a year ago, but you notice your clothes fit a little tighter (or looser)? "Your clothes may fit differently even when your weight has stayed the same due to changes in lean body mass," said Ti. How your clothes fit can also vary on a day-to-day basis due to weight fluctuations caused by bloating or fluid retention.

Similarly, you might compare yourself to others who are the same height and weight -- yet look different from you. For example, on TikTok, women are sharing photos of themselves and labeling their exact weight to celebrate body diversity. While this may seem harmless, this trend could easily be triggering for someone with a history of disordered eating or body image issues. 

"The intentions of this TikTok trend are good, but it still places an emphasis on appearance, such as body size and shape, which may cause people to have unrealistic expectations, become overly critical, and heighten body shame and dissatisfaction," said Ti, adding, "It's important to understand that you can weigh the same as someone else, but look different because each individual has their own genetic blueprint." 

Genetics determine where exactly our bodies carry our weight. Plus, body composition also plays a major role. Body composition refers to the ratio of body fat to muscle, bones, ligaments, organs and other tissue. Again, this varies by individual and can change over time, based on many different factors.

Another aspect Ti said we should be mindful of is that we can't make assumptions about someone's physical or mental health, diet, activity or relationship with food simply by observing their appearance.

BMI and weight

Usually when the topic of weight comes up, body mass index is also discussed.

BMI is a screening tool that measures your weight and height to estimate your body fat and then categorizes you as either underweight, a healthy weight or overweight. But for individuals, BMI is not a great indicator of health. "BMI was created by a statistician based on a population of white, European males -- not a representative sample of diverse populations -- and was meant to be used as a screening tool, not a diagnostic tool," Ti said. 

Furthermore, BMI was never intended to be used to evaluate the health of an individual and does not account for gender, age, body frame or body composition. "Continued use of BMI further contributes to weight stigma in health care," warned Ti, adding that even though the health care system probably won't move away from the concept, we can avoid relying on BMI as the sole indicator of our health because it doesn't tell the whole story. 

When weight matters

It would be remiss to say that weight never matters. There are certain circumstances when it's important to monitor your weight. For example, observing your weight during pregnancy is necessary to make sure you gain the right amount of weight for a healthy gestation.

Weight can also matter if you have a known heart condition. Ti said those with congestive heart failure have to monitor their weight closely because fluid build up in the body causes weight fluctuations and changes that occur as a result of the disease itself.

Additionally, you should be aware of your weight if you have a health condition, such as diabetes, that requires a specific medication dosage. Your doctor will determine your dosage based on your weight to make sure you're being prescribed the right amount.

If you have a clean bill of health, Ti suggested you place less emphasis on having a specific weight. "Ultimately, the focus should be improving your health through changes in your behaviors, habits, thoughts, and how you feel throughout the day," she said. Improvements in mood, sleep, energy and strength will make a bigger difference than what the scale tells you in the morning. 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 for 2022 was the first system announced that would adhere to the 2022 version of AMD's Advantage design framework, as the original G14 model did when it launched in 2020. That means it uses AMD's latest technologies. This year, much of AMD's chip updates aim to increase the battery life of gaming laptops while boosting performance by directing more power where and when it's needed. 

These include the Ryzen 9 6900HS low-power/high-performance processor for small gaming laptops and either the AMD Radeon RX 6700S or RX 6800S, graphics processors targeting the same low-power-yet-high-performance tier. But the catch seems to be it's either-or: either high performance or low power. And that's not just for graphics-intensive tasks, where I'd typically expect to see the tradeoff. 

The other catch is availability. It's already slipped from its initial March estimate, though that's probably attributable to the current production and shipping-related supply chain shortages. But even before the pandemic these Asus and AMD poster-child laptops always seemed to have frustrating availability issues. The price for my evaluation configuration, which you can't even preorder, is $2,500 (£2,000). There's no official retail in Australia, but it seems to sell for about AU$3,499.

AMD's worked hard to interconnect its CPU and GPU operation. So if Asus decides to release models with an Nvidia GPU -- those tend not to have the same availability gaps -- you won't be able to make any assumptions about its speed, battery life or behavior on different power profiles based on the AMD versions. For instance, AMD's SmartShift can juggle the power needs of the CPU and GPU to increase the power to the GPU from 80w to 105w, but only if both processors are AMD's.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402RK (2022)

Price as reviewed	$2,500, £2,000
Display	14-inch 2,560x1,600 120Hz
PC CPU	4.9GHz AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS
PC Memory	32GB DDR5 SDRAM 4,800MHz (16GB soldered)
Graphics	8GB AMD Radeon RX 6800S
Storage	1TB SSD, micro SD slot
Ports	2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A 3.2, 1 x HDMI 2.0b
Networking	MediaTek Wi-Fi 6E MT7922 (802.11ax/HE), Bluetooth 5
Operating system	Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 21H2
Weight	3.8 lbs/1.7kg

Changes from previous models include the improved AniMe Matrix LED array on the cover. This cute but gimmicky animation feature bumps the overall weight from 3.6 to 3.8 pounds. Screen choices include a new 120Hz 1440p-class 500-nit screen with a full P3 color gamut, which I tested, though the default is a 1080p 450-nit 144Hz model. There are the other random design tweaks that constitute a more-than-rote refresh: The webcam now works with Windows Hello facial recognition sign-on but it's still an underwhelming 720p camera. Asus also reorganized the speakers with upward-firing tweeters and downward-firing woofers.

I don't remember enough about the older model to make a better-or-not judgment about the bigger touchpad, easier-to-open lid or more durable coating on the keycaps, but I can say the touchpad is a good size and feel, the lid opens singlehandedly and the keycaps feel premium. The white matte outer coating seems stainproof -- or at least, the coffee I dripped on it came off easily even after drying.

As tested, the factory-calibrated screen has impressive color accuracy, covers 100% of the P3 gamut (only 88% Adobe RGB) and nails 2.2 gamma. Though it's rated at 500 nits brightness, you'll typically see a maximum of closer to 250, and it doesn't support HDR for gaming -- just Dolby Vision HDR, which has meager support in PC games at the moment. 

When you discount performance, the G14 is above average, but not stellar. Once you get past the 14-inch size, decent display and AniMe Matrix LED, the rest is pretty typical. The laptop's real story is in its performance, both good and bad.

Hit the gas

When it's running at full power, plugged in and the discrete graphics processor always on, it's fast for its size. In its default performance profile, the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS performs roughly the same or a bit better as the Intel Core i9-12900H in the Zephyrus Flow Z13 (we're still in preliminary testing on that, though) on multicore operations, but not quite as well on single core operations. It does fare well against the previous-generation high-power Ryzen 9 5900HX I tested in the ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition.

But pulling the plug can result in a huge drop in processor speed using the default (Performance) profile -- I saw it drop by almost 70% on general multicore speed on Geekbench 5. Even moderately demanding web apps (as measured by MotionMark and WebXPRT3) drop by between 20 and 50%. That's because it automatically switches to its aggressive Silent power-and-sound management profile. It's also the main reason battery life runs between 9 and 10 hours on an undemanding task such as streaming web video with the default profile.

The gap between the default profile and forcing it to use the discrete graphics processor is a lot bigger in some cases than I typically see when testing laptops. For example, when I played RiftBreaker, CPU performance in 1080p rose from 83.9fps to 95.8fps (14%) while GPU jumped from 211fps to 267fps (26%). On the other hand, when I ran SolidWorks at 1080p in SpecViewPerf 2020 I saw a negligible difference. The biggest bump was about 14% when I ran Maya. 

If you didn't have to reboot to switch from Hybrid to discrete GPU modes, it wouldn't be such a pain. But you do. It's not nearly as annoying as the Razer Blade 14, which could only force discrete GPU on if you connected it to an external display, but you don't sacrifice as much if you don't force it.

If you want to set it and forget it, unless you're setting and forgetting while plugged in, this probably isn't the system for you. AMD and Asus may have put all that work into making it "automatic," but it's still not automatic enough. It's possible the curves just need some fine-tuning -- though I retested with BIOS and profile settings in early April -- or that I prioritize battery life a little lower than most. I'll also note that it hasn't shipped yet, so who knows what other optimizations will be made to the version that ships.

Geekbench 5 (multicore)

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) on battery

Razer Blade 14 (2021)

Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition (G513QY)

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)

Cinebench R23 CPU (multicore)

Razer Blade 14 (2021)

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)

Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition (G513QY)

Cinebench R23 CPU (single core)

Razer Blade 14 (2021)

Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition (G513QY)

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)

Streaming video playback battery drain test (minutes)

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider gaming test (1080p)

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)

Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition (G513QY)

3DMark Time Spy

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) with discrete GPU

Razer Blade 14 (2021)

Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition (G513QY)

3DMark Fire Strike Ultra

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) with discrete GPU

Razer Blade 14 (2021)

Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition (G513QY)

SpecViewPerf 2020 SolidWorks (1080p)

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) with discrete GPU

Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition (G513QY)

Razer Blade 14 (2021)

Configurations

Asus ROG Flow Z13	Microsoft Windows 11 Home (21H2); 2.5GHz Intel Core i9-12900H; 16GB LPDDR5 SDRAM 4,850MHz; 4GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti; 1TB SSD
Asus ROG Strix G15 AMD Advantage Edition	Microsoft Windows 10 Home (21H1); 3.3GHz AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,200MHz; 12GB AMD Radeon RX 6800M; 512GB SSD
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402RK (2022)	Microsoft Windows 11 Pro (21H2); 4.7GHz AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS; 32GB DDR5 SDRAM 4,800MHz; 8GB AMD Radeon RX 6800S; 1TB NVMe SSD
Razer Blade 14 (2021)	Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (21H1); 3.3GHz AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,200MHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080; 1TB SSD

Jabba the Hutt is not one of the most pleasant characters in the "Star Wars" universe. He kept Han Solo frozen in carbonite and made Princess Leia wear one of the most (choose one: ridiculous, sexist, sexy) outfits in the galaxy. It infamously became known as the "Slave Leia" costume.

An exceedingly rare, set-used version of the costume from 1983's "Return of the Jedi" is headed to auction on October 1 through auction house Profiles in History's Hollywood Auction 74.

The skimpy ensemble is made from gold-painted urethane rubber. "These original flexible pieces were used on set before being returned to the ILM model shop and replaced by altered versions, since several elements had to be resized due to Carrie Fisher's weight loss during shooting," reads the auction description. The fabric and chain are re-creations.

More than just the costume is on offer here. The lot includes "all of the one-of-a-kind original wax masters sculpted by artist Richard Miller" and "all of the alternate Slave Leia masters first deemed too complex by George Lucas." Masters are the original designs for a costume piece that molds can be made from to produce the piece multiple times for filming.

The lot comes with early production slides showing a model sporting the outfit, design drawings, photos, notes and Carrie Fisher's measurements. It's not just a Leia costume, it's the entire history of the costume that's up for auction.

Early birds can place online bids for the costume, starting at $80,000 (about $51,500, AU$111,800). The estimated top-end selling price is $120,000 (about £77,300, AU$167,800), which sounds a little low for such a key piece of "Star Wars" costuming history.

(Via The Standard)

About a month ago, a rumor got started that Apple was planning to do away with the 3.5mm headphone on the iPhone 7, likely to be released this fall, and would steer people toward using wireless headphones or wired headphones that connect via the remaining Lightning port.

The Japanese blog Macotakara was the publication behind the rumor, and it created a bit of a stir because after all, every smartphone out there has a 3.5mm headphone jack and it'd be a big deal if Apple suddenly decided to ditch it.

Well, the rumor grew a few more legs today when the Chinese site Anzhuo wrote that supply chain sources had confirmed that the 3.5mm port would be removed on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and that Apple would make a wireless version of its EarPods and perhaps bundle them with the next iPhones. Naturally, there's no way to confirm any of this -- Apple isn't commenting on it -- but it's certainly worth pondering the possibility that it could happen.

These sites claim that the reason behind the removal of the headphone jack is a space-saving measure that would allow Apple to make the new iPhones even thinner. This wouldn't be the first time Apple has removed once-standard ports or accessories from its devices. For example, it killed the DVD disc drive in its PCs and more recently, replaced the standard USB ports with a new, forward-thinking USB Type-C port in its superslim and light 12-inch MacBook.

If Apple does indeed remove the 3.5mm jack, it could make a lot of people unhappy. I personally use a lot of wireless headphones, but I also like to be able to plug in my wired 'phones, which typically sound better than wireless models. I have a couple pairs of Philips Lightning headphones in the office, and frankly I don't use them much, though they do sound good.

By Lightning headphone I mean the headphone uses a cable that plugs directly into the Lightning port on the iPhone, creating a digital rather than an analog connection. What are the benefits? Well, not only are you getting a direct digital connection, but the headphones can draw juice from your device to power components in the headphone, which could include an internal DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and amplifier that bypass the internal DAC of the iPhone and/or active noise-cancellation circuitry.

The only problem is you can't charge your phone when you have a Lightning headphone using the port (potentially, I suppose, your headphone could be used to charge your phone). Also, it's unclear how you'd connect an analog headphone to the Lightning port. Some sort of adapter would be required and knowing Apple, if said adapter wasn't included with your new iPhone, it'd be a $30 accessory.

What do you think? Good idea to remove the headphone jack, or bad mistake?

Chinese phone-maker Xiaomi has filed a lawsuit against the US government over Donald Trump's decision to place it on a blacklist, which blocks Americans from investing into the company over its suspected ties to the Chinese military. 

The former US President, in the final days of his presidency, designated Xiaomi along with at least eight other Chinese firms as Communist Chinese military companies  (CCMC) -- meaning they're believed to have ties to the Chinese military, under the National Defense Authorization Act of 1999. CCMC-designated firms are prohibited from receiving stock or securities investments from US citizens or organisations.

In response, Xiaomi filed a lawsuit over the weekend against US government officials Janet Yellen, the treasury secretary and Lloyd Austin, the US defense secretary, demanding its removal from the blacklist. Xiaomi also denied in an earlier statement that it has any association with the People's Liberation Army.

"The Company reiterates that it provides products and services for civilian and commercial use," a Xiaomi spokesperson told CNET in January. "The Company confirms that it is not owned, controlled or affiliated with the Chinese military, and is not a 'Communist Chinese Military Company.'"

Xiaomi is one of the world's largest smartphone manufacturers and the latest major Chinese technology company to enter a legal fight with the United States. The blacklist restrictions have dealt a blow to the Beijing-based company, which says it'll cause "immediate" and "irreparable harm" by cutting off Xiaomi's access to US capital markets and limiting its ability for business expansion.

Xiaomi has benefited from the Trump administration's pressure campaign against Chinese rival Huawei. This has resulted in, among other things, a drastic reduction of Huawei's phone sales outside its native China since its devices lost access to crucial American technology including Google's apps and services. In the third quarter of last year, for instance, Xiaomi surpassed Apple to become the world's No. 3 phone-maker in terms of units sold, according to IDC research.

Trump's tough stance on China, and Chinese companies, has been a hallmark of his presidency. Along with levelling trade sanctions on Huawei, Trump has also attempted to ban social media platform TikTok, and last month he signed an executive order that prohibits transactions with eight Chinese-made apps, including WeChat Pay and AliPay. 

Nonstick and stainless steel skillets are mainstays in the average home kitchen. While both have their advantages, each cookware type has its limitations too. HexClad is a new(ish) hybrid cookware that claims to have a true nonstick surface, but one that won't succumb to nicks or wear and tear the way most nonstick does. It also boasts an ability to impart searing surface heat similar to stainless steel and cast iron. 

If these lofty claims are true, a HexClad frying pan would be just about the only one you'd ever need. To see how HexClad measures up to its marketing, I took a 10-inch skillet for a month-long test drive and did side-by-side cooking with both stainless steel and nonstick skillets. We'll see if HexClad really is a one-pan-fits-all cookware innovation.

While the HexClad didn't perform exactly as advertised -- it was unable to do the true searing work of a stainless steel skillet -- it does have distinct advantages over other pans I've tested. It won't (and shouldn't) replace all your stovetop pans, but for the right person with the right cooking habits, it would make a fine addition to your cookware collection.

Here's more on that. 

What is HexClad cookware?

HexClad is the first cookware line to fuse PFOA-free nonstick with stainless steel that is laser-etched in an interwoven honeycomb pattern. The stainless steel lines are slightly raised, while the nonstick is set back in the center of the hexagonal honeycomb shapes. The idea is that the steel will allow for high surface heat when searing steaks, all while protecting the inset nonstick from becoming damaged by metal utensils and general wear and tear. 

Like most cookware, HexClad features an aluminum core which is both light and an excellent conductor of heat. But at 3 pounds, a HexClad 10-inch pan is still heavier than the average nonstick skillet or three-ply stainless steel skillet, most of which generally weigh under 2 pounds. 

Hexclad makes a full line of cookware, but I only tested the frying pan -- the most commonly used piece. The sturdy skillet sports a comfortable, rounded stay-cool handle. It's both dishwasher-safe and oven-safe up to 500 degrees F.

Hexclad vs. stainless steel 

The big test for the HexClad as a replacement for stainless steel (or cast iron) is how well it can impart surface heat and sear meat and veggies. I cooked several searable foods on the HexClad skillet, often side-by-side with an All-Clad three-ply stainless pan. The HexClad did better than a traditional nonstick skillet, which is famously not great for searing, but it never reached the levels of a good stainless pan. 

In one test, I formed two round sausage patties and dropped them into both pans with a teaspoon of oil in each. I cooked them for two minutes on each side. As you'll see in the image below, the stainless skillet delivered a markedly better crust. This was the case for most of the high-heat searing I did with the HexClad pan.

HexClad vs. nonstick

I also cooked several foods in the HexClad that I would typically use a nonstick pan to make. One of the most common nonstick candidates is scrambled eggs. If you've ever made eggs in a stainless pan, you know there's generally some scrubbing that follows, but eggs should lift completely free from a good nonstick pan.

I cooked a scrambled egg in both the Hexclad and an OXO nonstick skillet on low heat with one teaspoon of melted butter. This time, the HexClad performed just as well as the nonstick skillet. The egg glided around with ease once it became solid, and came completely free when it was done cooking. 

Easier to clean than stainless 

While the HexClad didn't sear as well as stainless steel, it was much easier to clean, akin to Teflon or nonstick. Just a rinse of warm water and two wipes with a sponge rendered it spotless. 

More durable than nonstick

One other big claim the HexClad makes is that it can resist the wear and tear of utensils -- even metal ones -- that tend to deteriorate a nonstick pan over time. In the month I used the HexClad, I didn't notice any chipping or visible damage to the protected nonstick coating. I even whacked at it a few times with a metal spatula, but the raised steel guards seemed to protect the more sensitive nonstick material as intended.

Here's why you might want this pan

HexClad was noticeably less proficient at searing than the marketing jargon would have you believe. That said, it still sears meats, fish and veggies better than other nonstick pans. It is, however, about the toughest nonstick pan you're likely to find. Nonstick skillets have the shortest lifespan of any stovetop cookware. Even when you're careful to avoid metal utensils, the surface will inevitably break down and begin to lose its nonstick properties.

The HexClad releases even super sticky foods about as well as any nonstick pan, but it's remarkably tough and will likely last you years longer than traditional nonstick. If nonstick is your preferred material for daily cooking or if you're particularly rough on it, causing it to break down quickly, a HexClad will save you from having to replace your pan as often.  

For a serial crepe or pancake maker, you might opt for HexClad's 12-inch griddle ($139) since it'll release those breakfast foods with ease and allow you to use metal spatulas freely without fear of damaging the coating.

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