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Shanghai Shenyin Group Was Recognized as Shanghai "SRDI" Enterprise 12-17-2024 10:54 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire Recently, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology officially released the list of Shanghai "Specialized, Specialized and New" Enterprises in 2023 (the second batch), and Shanghai Shenyin Group was successfully recognized as Shanghai "Specialized, Specialized and New" Enterprises after the expert evaluation and comprehensive assessment, which is a great recognition of Shanghai Shenyin Group's forty years of development. It is also a great affirmation of Shanghai Shenyin Group's forty years of development."Specialized, refined, special and new" enterprises refer to small and medium-sized enterprises with outstanding specialization, refinement, features and novelty, and the selection mainly focuses on the indicators of enterprises in terms of quality and efficiency, degree of specialization, capability of independent innovation, etc., and requires the enterprises to play the role of "wild goose" leading the way in the niche market, and to deeply develop their business in the market. "The selection mainly focuses on the indicators of quality, efficiency, degree of specialization and independent innovation ability, requiring enterprises to play a leading role in market segments, deeply integrate into the industry chain system and master key core technologies in the field.The award of the title of "Specialized, Specialized and New" enterprise is not only another symbol of Shenyin's forty years of development, but also reflects that Shenyin's innovation, specialization and unique advantages in the field of mixing have been affirmed and recognized by the authoritative departments. Specialization Shenyin Group has been plowing into the industry for 40 years, always focusing on the R&D and manufacturing in the field of powder mixing, and specializing in providing intelligent powder mixing solutions for customers. It serves well-known listed and international companies such as Ningde Times, BYD, Yanggu Huatai, Dongfang Rainbow, Aluminum Corporation of China, Sinopec, BASF, TATA and so on.[FineRefinementDuring the forty years of development, Shenyin Group has been constantly learning and improving the industry standard of its own brand. 1996 Shenyin Group started from the awareness, cognition and implementation of the 9000 system certification, followed by higher requirements for the European Union CE certification, in order to be more in line with the modernization and standardization of industry, the Group has put forward higher requirements for its own product production technology and production processes and the professionalism of its staff, which has significantly Improve the quality of enterprise products, and successfully completed iso14001 environmental management system certification and iso45001 occupational health and safety management system certification, for enterprises to build a good production, management, occupational health and other aspects of the foundation, the formation of the three systems of the internal cycle, to promote the enterprise into the benign development, for the sustainable development of enterprises to lay a solid foundation. [Special] Characterization Shenyin Group has summarized the customer groups over the past forty years, and has rich experience in the powder mixing needs of various segments. For the gap between the mixing requirements of customer demand and the actual working conditions, as a mixing expert in the field of mixing we can develop a more rationalized mixing program, so as to customize the industry-specific mixing machine for users in different industries. Can meet the battery, building materials, food, medicine, refractory materials, daily chemical, rubber, plastic, metallurgy, rare earth and other industry characteristics of the mixing needs of various industries continue to provide useful products. [New] Novelization Shenyin Group serves in various industries, based on research in niche areas, to grasp the market demand, and long-term investment in the research and development of mixers. Supported by scientific research, innovation and development, to promote the powder mixer is changing day by day.Shenyin Group will inherit the fine tradition of the past forty years, drive its own development with the advanced manufacturing of the new era, and is committed to becoming a century-old high-end equipment in the industry, and hand over a satisfactory answer for the mixing problems of customers. Media Contact Company Name: Shanghai Shenyin Machinery Group Co., Ltd. Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=shanghai-shenyin-group-was-recognized-as-shanghai-srdi-enterprise ] Country: China Website: https://www.shenyingroup.com/ This release was published on openPR.
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Base Carbon Announces Investor CallThe 11 best litter box furniture enclosures of 2024NEW YORK — Juan Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. “They showed me a lot of love. ... How they're going to make it comfortable for me,” he said. "That's one of the things I was looking for." Soto was introduced at Citi Field a day after his deal was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, he was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and his agent, Scott Boras. “They always talk about family. They always talk about stick(ing) together,” Soto said. “That's one of the things that opened my eyes.” Security men in gray suits wearing earpieces were off to the side. Soto walked in led by Boras, wearing a dark suit, black turtle neck shirt and gold chain with his No. 22. “I’m excited by the Mets future,” Cohen said. “I think this accelerates our goal of winning championships.” Soto chose the Mets' offer on Sunday, deciding to leave the Yankees after helping them reach the World Series in his only season in the Bronx. SAN FRANCISCO — Willy Adames wasted little time making one thing clear: He wants to play all 162 games for the San Francisco Giants. So when introduced as their new shortstop Thursday, Adames looked to his left and gently put a hand on manager Bob Melvin's right shoulder, smiled and said, “if he lets me.” Melvin might not need much convincing, thrilled to suddenly have stability at a position that lacked continuity this year in his first season as skipper. Adames didn't hesitate to also offer a thought to new boss Buster Posey: He plans to win a few championships with the Giants just like the catcher-turned-executive did here. Surrounded by his parents and other family and friends, Adames was formally introduced and welcomed at Oracle Park after signing a $182 million, seven-year contract — the first big, splashy move made by Posey since he became President of Baseball Operations in late September. “There’s no words to describe my feeling right now to be here in this beautiful city, I’m just so happy to be here,” Adames said. "... This is a dream come true for me. I’m thrilled to be here, I’m so excited. Hopefully we can win a few championships like you did, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.” PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, was postponed on Thursday and scheduled to resume June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Only three out of 31 witnesses arrived to the hearing on Thursday. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. “There is no case against Wander, for as many witnesses as they present, there is no case now,” Franco's lead lawyer Teodosio Jáquez told The Associated Press after the hearing. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Avatr secures over 1.5 billion USD investment in its Series C financing round On December 17th, Avatar Technology , co-developed by Changan , Huawei , and CATL , has secured over 11 billion yuan (1.5 billion USD) in its Series C financing round. Funds from this financing round aims to accelerate Avatr’s current operations and enhance its future competitiveness in the luxury EV market. Avatr was first created by Changan Automobile in an effort to create technologically advanced electric cars in cooperation with Nio . A joint-venture company was first formed with Changan-Nio each with a 50:50 share ratio in 2018. Two years later, however, the alliance did not materialize due to the withdrawal of Nio. After the withdrawal of Nio, Changan engaged CATL and Huawei as development partners and named the company Avatr. Changan is the primary shareholder with 40.99% of shares, while CATL holds 14.1% of shares. The rest of the shares are held by local governments and investment funds. Huawei is not a shareholder, but a close collaborator providing much of Avatr’s technology solutions. In August 2022, Avatr launched its Series A round funding, raising nearly 5 billion yuan (680 million USD). In August 2023, Avatr completed its Series B financing round, achieving a valuation of nearly 20 billion yuan (2.7 billion USD). Avatr began its Series C round of funding in November and ended its funding round with an additional 11 billion yuan (1.5 billion USD) raised. The investment will primarily be used for R&D of upcoming models, production line expansion, brand development, and supplementing working capital. On December 12, Avatr and Huawei signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement at Huawei’s Shenzhen headquarters. Both companies agreed to deepen their collaboration in product development, marketing, and ecosystem services to support Avatr’s next-generation vehicle series. Avatr achieved a record monthly sales volume of 11,579 units this November, marking a year-on-year growth of over 180%. In December, Avatr launched its Avatr 11 2024 facelift and unveiled its new Avatr 06 sedan . Sources: ITHomeBy Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald (TNS) MIAMI — As her students finished their online exam, Arlet Lara got up to make a cafe con leche . Her 16-year-old son found her on the kitchen floor. First, he called Dad in a panic. Then 911. “I had a stroke and my life made a 180-degree turn,” Lara told the Miami Herald, recalling the medical scare she experienced in May 2020 in the early months of the COVID pandemic. “The stroke affected my left side of the body,” the North Miami woman and former high school math teacher said. Lara, an avid runner and gym goer, couldn’t even walk. “It was hard,” the 50-year-old mom said. After years of rehabilitation therapy and a foot surgery, Lara can walk again. But she still struggles with moving. This summer, she became the first patient in South Florida to get an implant of a new and only FDA-approved nerve stimulation device designed to help ischemic stroke survivors regain movement in their arms and hands. This first procedure was at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Lara’s rehab was at at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, part of a partnership between Jackson Health System and UHealth. Every year, thousands in the United States have a stroke , with one occurring every 40 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of strokes are ischemic, often caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. For survivors, most of whom are left with some level of disability, the Vivistim Paired VNS System, the device implanted in Lara’s chest, could be a game changer in recovery, said Dr. Robert Starke, a UHealth neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. He also serves as co-director of endovascular neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, part of Miami-Dade’s public hospital system. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms, goes through exercises while her therapist activates the device during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA- approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) The Vivistim Paired VNS System is a small pacemaker-like device implanted in the upper chest and neck area. Patients can go home the same day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the stroke rehabilitation system in 2021 to be used alongside post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation therapy to treat moderate to severe mobility issues in hands and arms. Lara’s occupational therapist can activate the device during rehabilitation sessions to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down to the abdomen and regulates various parts of the body’s nervous system. The electrical stimulation rewires the brain to improve a stroke survivor’s ability to move their arms and hands. Lara also has a magnet she can use to activate the device when she wants to practice at home. Her therapy consists of repetitive tasks, including coloring, pinching cubes and grabbing and releasing cylindrical shapes. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy with the device, Lara has seen improvement. “Little by little, I’m noticing that my hand is getting stronger. I am already able to brush my teeth with the left hand,” she told the Miami Herald in September. Since then, Lara has finished the initial six-week Vivitism therapy program, and is continuing to use the device in her rehabilitation therapy. She continues to improve and can now eat better with her left hand and can brush her hair with less difficulty, according to her occupational therapist, Neil Batungbakal. Lara learned about the device through an online group for stroke survivors and contacted the company to inquire. She then connected them with her Jackson medical team. Now a year later, the device is available to Jackson patients. So far, four patients have received the implant at Jackson. Starke sees the device as an opportunity to help bring survivors one step closer to regaining full mobility. Strokes are a leading cause of disability worldwide. While most stroke survivors can usually recover some function through treatment and rehabilitation, they tend to hit a “major plateau” after the first six months of recovery, he said. Vivistim, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, could change that. Jackson Health said results of a clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet in 2021 showed that the device, “when paired with high-repetition, task-specific occupational or physical therapy, helps generate two to three times more hand and arm function for stroke survivors than rehabilitation therapy alone.” The device has even shown to benefit patients 20 years from their original stroke, according to Starke. “So now a lot of these patients that had strokes 10-15 years ago that thought that they would never be able to use their arm in any sort of real functional way are now able to have a real meaningful function, which is pretty tremendous,” Starke said. Vivistim’s vagus-nerve stimulation technology was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Texas Biomedical Device Center and is being sold commercially by Austin-based MicroTransponder, a company started by university graduates. Similar devices are used to treat epilepsy and depression . For Lara, the device is a new tool to help her recovery journey. “Everything becomes a challenge so we are working with small things every day because I want to get back as many functions as possible,” Lara said. Patients interested in Vivistim should speak with their doctor to check their eligibility. The FDA said patients should make sure to discuss any prior medical history, including concurrent forms of brain stimulation, current diathermy treatment, previous brain surgery, depression, respiratory diseases and disorders such as asthma, and cardiac abnormalities. “Adverse events included but were not limited to dysphonia (difficulty speaking), bruising, falling, general hoarseness, general pain, hoarseness after surgery, low mood, muscle pain, fracture, headache, rash, dizziness, throat irritation, urinary tract infection and fatigue,” the FDA said. MicroTransponder says the device is “covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance with prior authorization on a case-by-case basis.” To learn more about the device, visit vivistim.com. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Smart speakers often act as the centerpiece of a smart home setup since you can use voice commands to control almost any piece of smart home tech. They also have a variety of other uses, such as playing music, answering questions, and they even replace old-school alarm clocks. There are plenty of other uses for smart home speakers that you may not have even thought of yet . In short, these little devices work perfectly as a normal speaker and have the expanded capability to do other things too. As such, companies have already begun the arms race to get their speakers into your home. Google, Amazon, and Apple are the big players since their speakers use each brand's proprietary smart assistants to answer your questions and perform tasks. In fact, choosing a smart speaker is often the first choice consumers run into when starting a smart home since all other smart home tech will need to be compatible with the speaker. Other brands have also released speakers that use the aforementioned tech brands' ecosystem so there are more choices than ever before. Consumer Reports ranks smart speakers to help consumers figure out which speaker is best for them. We've taken that data and narrowed it down by brand to give you an idea of who makes the best smart speakers. Below is a list ranked worst to first that should give you an idea of which brands make the best smart speakers. We should note, however, that Consumer Reports doesn't have every available smart speaker that money can buy, so this list is based solely on what Consumer Reports has covered. Bang & Olufsen is at the bottom of the list with an aggregate score of 57 out of 100 on Consumer Reports. The brand is hampered somewhat by only having one entrant on Consumer Reports' list, the Beosound A1 2nd Gen speaker . The puck-shaped speaker offers some appealing features such as 18 hours of battery life of listening at 70 decibels and an IP67 water and dust resistance rating. In terms of portable speakers , it's actually pretty decent. It's also bigger than it looks as it'll barely fit in the average palm. In B&O's defense, this smart speaker is made for portability more than it is anything else and it really should fit more in the portable Bluetooth speaker category than as a smart speaker. The Beosound A1 does come with Alexa built-in, so there is smart functionality there, but we have our doubts that people will buy this speaker, plug it in, and place it on a bookshelf for all eternity. Indeed, this speaker is built more for trips to the beach or as a shower speaker, and so while it has smart functionality, it doesn't fall into what many would consider smart speaker territory. Overall, the B&O Beosound A1 is a good overall portable Bluetooth speaker that also comes with some smart functionality. In fact, for its size, it has seriously impressive sound quality, which helps because it's also quite expensive, with a MSRP of $299 on Amazon . However, if you're looking for that smart home centerpiece, you'll want to shop for another brand. Belkin is a step up from B&O with a score of 59 out of 100. Similar to B&O, Belkin only had a single smart speaker on Consumer Reports' list, so Belkin's score is a little hampered by that. Belkin's entrant to the list is the SoundForm Elite with an included wireless charger . It's closer to what you would expect a smart speaker to be with a round design that's meant to be plugged in and sat on a table or shelf. Reviews indicate that the speaker sounds pretty good for its price point and people tend to enjoy the wireless charger on top of the speaker. It comes with Google Assistant, so you can talk to it like a Google Home Hub and run your smart home through it, making it automatically better than B&O's offering for smart speakers. For the most part, complaints about the device stem from functionality, as some folks have had trouble pairing with the speaker. The speaker also tends to lose its alleged hi-fi quality after about 50% volume, which bothers some folks more than others. The biggest issue with Belkin is that the SoundForm Elite seems to be running out of stock in many places and it may be replaced with a new offering sooner rather than later. In any case, for a smart home speaker, there are better options out there than Belkin, even if the company makes plenty of other good products. Bowers & Wilkins is the first brand on the list to top a score of 60, with a 61 out of 100 from Consumer Reports. Like the others so far, Bowers & Wilkins only has one smart speaker on the list, so its entire score is judged by that one speaker. The speaker is certainly a head turner with its wide, zeppelin-like shape. It's also among the most expensive speakers on the list at $799 on Amazon . It also comes in white if the black speaker isn't doing it for you. The speaker comes with Amazon Alexa, so it's made for folks who already engage with the Alexa ecosystem. It's also much larger than it looks, spanning over two feet wide and a little over eight inches tall. So, it not only functions as a smart speaker but it's large enough to be the centerpiece of an entire room. In terms of sound, reviewers agree that it's among the best when it comes to smart speakers. There are five total drivers in the speaker, two for treble, two for midrange, and one six-inch subwoofer to deliver bass. The Zeppelin also has an app where you can mess with the EQ a little bit. For the most part, the biggest issue with the speaker is that it's quite expensive. At $800, this thing is for a very specific audience and the $900 McLaren Edition is even more so. It pumps out loud, bass-rich music and it sounds fantastic. However, you can buy a half a dozen smart speakers with that kind of scratch and load your whole house with them. Google is the first smart speaker maker on Consumer Reports' list that has multiple smart speakers to choose from. These include the Nest Hub Max and the Google Nest Audio , each speaker scoring a 63 out of 100 from Consumer Reports. Both speakers are what you likely think of when you think of a smart speaker. The Nest Hub Max has a screen on the front that you can interact with, stream videos, and even conduct video calls. Meanwhile, the Nest Audio looks more like a traditional speaker but still operates as a smart speaker. Each speaker has its pros and cons. The Nest Hub Max is the stronger option overall as a smart speaker thanks to its screen and superior sound quality. It's an upgrade over the regular Google Nest Hub in almost every way, with better audio and a bigger screen. For folks wanting to buy into Google's ecosystem, it's arguably the best speaker to go with as a first smart speaker. The Nest Audio is still quite good, although it lacks bass at louder volumes. It's a less expensive option that omits the screen but maintains the same Google Assistant functionality. For people wanting to go with Google's ecosystem, Google's speakers are a solid choice. The Nest Hub Max is an excellent centerpiece device while the Nest Audio is good for multi-room smart speaker setups. I personally have a Google Nest Hub in my kitchen, and it's worked well for two years now. At this point, my kitchen wouldn't feel the same without it. Amazon is another big player in the smart speaker game. The brand has four total smart speakers on Consumer Reports' list, including the Amazon Echo Show 15 , Amazon Echo (4th Gen) , the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) , and the Amazon Echo Studio . Amazon would actually be ranked higher on this list as three of their four speakers rank quite well at 68, 67, and 65 for the Amazon Echo Studio, Amazon Echo Show 10, and Amazone Echo, respectively. However, Amazon's overall score is dragged down by the Echo Show 15, which Consumer Reports gave a 56 out of 100, the lowest ranked individual speaker on the list. For the most part, the Amazon Echo Show 15 is an okay product. Reviews state that the audio quality is mediocre and oddly, the speaker doesn't come with a table stand. Amazon instead includes wall mounting hardware as you are meant to put it on a wall. There are stands available on Amazon , though, so it is a problem that can be solved. It's otherwise quite nice, with a good screen with plenty of functionality. The other three speakers are a more positive experience overall. The Echo Show 10 is Amazon's response to the Google Nest Hub, which means it comes with a screen and a speaker. The other two are standalone speakers. Of the three remaining speakers, our reviewers note that the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) and Echo Studio have excellent sound quality while the Echo Show 10 is the most versatile with its inclusion of the screen. Any of the three of those would make great starter smart speakers for Alexa-friendly households. The only hold out is the Echo Show 15 and that's mostly because it's ergonomically less friendly. Bose had a solid overall showing on Consumer Reports. The well-known speaker brand sports two smart speakers and each one ranks 65 out of 100, making Bose a solid overall choice for smart speakers. What's more interesting is that both options from Bose on the Consumer Reports list are wireless, which is a bit of an oddity since most smart speakers are plugged into a wall. The first is the Bose Home Speaker 500 and the other is the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a wireless speaker with a small screen. It comes loaded with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant out of the box, giving users some choice when it comes to which smart home platform they want to go with. It can also connect to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to stream music, which is also unusual for a wireless speaker. Per reviews, the Home Speaker 500 sounds quite good for its size, although it can get a little rough at louder volumes. Most of the same can be said for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker , which also houses Google and Alexa and sounds decent at moderate volumes. However, its battery life isn't great and it doesn't get very loud. In all, Bose has the same issue as Bang & Olufsen, where you don't typically shop for wireless smart speakers. However, Bose does have a leg up on its competitors by having multiple smart home assistants available. Even so, for wireless audio, we still think a regular Bluetooth speaker does it better . Apple only has one speaker on the Consumer Reports list and it's the Apple HomePod , which scored a 66 out of 100. As Apple's solo entrant onto the list, that gives Apple a higher score than most. The HomePod comes in two colors and is typical of what you'd find in a smart speaker. It plugs in, integrates with Siri, and you can use it to control your smart home. Interestingly, the HomePod mini isn't on Consumer Reports' list, which is a shame. In any case, the HomePod makes a good case for Apple. It has good overall sound quality, which is good because Apple doesn't give users an EQ to tweak it themselves. Its understated design looks good in most rooms and, of course, it's one of the few smart speakers on the market that can interact with Apple's smart home ecosystem. There are some neat tricks too. For example, if you have two speakers in a stereo configuration, Apple uses beamforming technology to broaden the soundstage and make the speakers sound bigger than they are. The speakers can also be used with an Apple TV device as TV speakers, giving them a little extra versatility. The biggest downside for the HomePod is its price. It costs $299 direct from Apple , which is more than Amazon and Google speakers. The HomePod mini costs $99, which makes it the better value buy if you want speakers in multiple rooms, but the HomePod is excellent overall, so it's one we imagine most Apple smart home users will want. Consumer Reports seems to like JBL quite a bit. Their list has three JBL speakers on it — the JBL Authentics 500, Authentics 300, and Authentics 200. The scores for those three speakers are 73, 70, and 67, respectively, earning JBL a 70 overall and dibs on the second spot on the list. As smart speakers go, JBL does some unique things in this space, including allow the speakers to connect to Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously, omitting the need to choose for the end user. Reviews say that the smart assistants don't always work well together but it's still something you don't see everyday. In general, all three speakers can be used wired, which makes them a good option for sitting on a bookshelf. The Authentics 300 and 500 also have built-in batteries and can be used as portable speakers, making them the only two speakers on the list that are designed for both portable and at-home use. The downside is that the battery life on both speakers is mediocre, so you may not want to take them far. In terms of sound quality, reviews for all three speakers show that they all sound excellent and include JBL's Self-Tuning feature, which matches the sound signature with your room's acoustics. It seems too good to be true until you look at the price tags. The Authentics 200 runs for $349.99 when it's not on sale and that's the least expensive one. You'll spend $449.99 for the JBL Authentics 300 and $699.99 for the Authentics 500 . These are high-end speakers, though, and there's a reason Consumer Reports rates them so well. Sonos tops the Consumer Reports list and therefore it tops our list as well. It has three speakers on the list, including the Era 300 , Move 2 , and the Era 100 . Consumer Reports gives those speakers a 74, 72, and 71, respectively, which gives Sonos a 72/100 overall. Generally speaking, Sonos makes good products and our reviews agree with that notion, so Sonos topping the list isn't the most surprisingly notion. Of the three options, the Era 300 and 100 are wired speakers and the Move 2 is wireless, making Sonos and JBL the only brands on the list that have both options. The Era 300 and 100 are good for the same reasons. Both of them sound good for their respective sizes. They include Amazon Alexa and Sonos' own assistant platform should you choose to use it. Sonos used to support Google Assistant but doesn't seem to on their latest generation of speakers. Additionally, both speakers can be used in stereo configurations for home theater setups or for some excellent music sound in your living room. Meanwhile, the Move II is a wireless speaker that also only has Alexa and Sonos' own assistant. On the plus side, the Move 2 also sounds excellent for its size and has some of the best battery life of any wireless smart speaker on the list. Like JBL, Sonos is an expensive brand. The Era 100 costs $249 when it's not on sale and the Era 300 nearly doubles that price at $449. The Move 2 is also more expensive than most Bluetooth speakers at $449 . So, while Sonos speakers are quite good, it'll cost you approximately one arm and leg to get a multi-speaker setup at home.He is not yet in power but President-elect Donald Trump rattled much of the world with an off-hours warning of stiff tariffs on close allies and China -- a loud hint that Trump-style government by social media post is coming back. With word of these levies against goods imported from Mexico, Canada and China, Trump sent auto industry stocks plummeting, raised fears for global supply chains and unnerved the world's major economies. For Washington-watchers with memories of the Republican's first term, the impromptu policy volley on Monday evening foreshadowed a second term of startling announcements of all manner, fired off at all hours of the day from his smartphone. "Donald Trump is never going to change much of anything," said Larry Sabato, a leading US political scientist and director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. "You can expect in the second term pretty much what he showed us about himself and his methods in the first term. Social media announcements of policy, hirings and firings will continue." The first of Trump's tariff announcements -- a 25 percent levy on everything coming in from Mexico and Canada -- came amid an angry rebuke of lax border security at 6:45 pm on Truth Social, Trump's own platform. The United States is bound by agreements on the movement of goods and services brokered by Trump in a free trade treaty with both nations during his first term. But Trump warned that the new levy would "remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country" -- sowing panic from Ottawa to Mexico City. Seconds later, another message from the incoming commander-in-chief turned the focus on Chinese imports, which he said would be hit with "an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs." The consequences were immediate. Almost every major US automaker operates plants in Mexico, and shares in General Motors and Stellantis -- which produce pickup trucks in America's southern neighbor -- plummeted. Canada, China and Mexico protested, while Germany called on its European partners to prepare for Trump to impose hefty tariffs on their exports and stick together to combat such measures. - Framing the debate - The tumult recalls Trump's first term, when journalists, business leaders and politicians at home and abroad would scan their phones for the latest pronouncements, often long after they had left the office or over breakfast. During his first four years in the Oval Office, the tweet -- in those days his newsy posts were almost exclusively limited to Twitter, now known as X -- became the quasi-official gazette for administration policy. The public learned of the president-elect's 2020 Covid-19 diagnosis via an early-hours post, and when Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani was assassinated on Trump's order, the Republican confirmed the kill by tweeting a US flag. The public and media learned of numerous other decisions big and small by the same source, from the introduction of customs duties to the dismissal of cabinet secretaries. It is not a communication method that has been favored by any previous US administration and runs counter to the policies and practices of most governments around the world. Throughout his third White House campaign, and with every twist and turn in his various entanglements with the justice system, Trump has poured his heart out on Truth Social, an app he turned to during his 20-month ban from Twitter. In recent days, the mercurial Republican has even named his attorney general secretaries of justice and health via announcements on the network. "He sees social media as a tool to shape and direct the national conversation and will do so again," said political scientist Julian Zelizer, a Princeton University professor. cjc/ft/dw/bjt
An Essential Street and Travel Photography Skill To Learn: Zone FocusingMontana transgender lawmaker on Capitol Hill's bathroom ban: 'Do not cede ground'The Great British Bake Off fans were left in shock as Georgie Grasso, hailed as "the very first Welsh winner," was declared the champion of the 2024 series. After an intense series presented by Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, the final three contestants standing were Georgie, 34, Christiaan de Vries, 34, and Dylan Bachelet, aged 20. The finalists' initial challenge in the tent involved crafting scones. They later had to impress the judges with an afternoon tea ensemble. Their final task required them to construct an intricate hanging celebration cake. As the tension escalated, Alison declared: "This is the bake between winning or losing," reports Wales Online . BBC Christmas TV guide - full schedule of what's on this Christmas from Gavin & Stacey to Call the Midwife Great British Bake Off star says 'I quit' as Alison Hammond forced to step in Under the scrutinising gaze of judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, as well as hosts Alison and Noel, Christian, Georgie, and Dylan began to exhibit signs of anxiety. Fan favourite Dylan, who had been performing well throughout the competition, encountered difficulties with his genoise sponge's consistency in the final round. This led viewers to speculate that Christian, who remained composed under pressure, might seize the victory from him. Meanwhile, Georgie also faced her own hurdles during her final showstopper, as she seemed to forget what she was doing. Retreating to the back of the tent, Georgie audibly questioned: "What am I doing here? " What did I come over here for?" Despite initial confusion, Georgie triumphed following three tense challenges. For her showstopper, Pru declared Georgie's cake "absolutely delicious," while both Pru and Paul concurred that its presentation was impressive. Nevertheless, some viewers couldn't make sense of Georgie's victory and took to X to voice their opinions. One viewer commented: "How on earth has Georgie won?" Another expressed: "Even with my Welsh bias, I think Christiaan should've won that. My money was on Dylan at the start, but unfortunately, he chose to morph into the wonderful Lucy Beaumont for the final. Congratulations to Georgie though." Another also remarked: "I'm happy for Georgie BUT Dylan is probably the best contestant this show has ever had. Such a weird result." However, certain fans were delighted with Georgie's win, with one posting: "Bravo Georgie, well done!" and another added: "Go Georgie... well deserved Welsh winner." Children's nurse Georgie, from Carmarthenshire, admitted her final showstopper challenge was "the most challenging bake I've ever done". She said: "When I saw the brief, I thought, game over. "It required considerable thought and planning. I practised about three times. My goal was to enable the judges to experience something truly reflective of myself in the bake, through my choice of colours and flavours. Undoubtedly, the assembly and time constraints comprised the most stressful aspects." As a mother of three, she spoke about the significant sacrifices she had to make to stay in the competition. She revealed: "I've had to put the family on the back burner which has been really hard. I've had to tell the kids 'no' a lot." The Great British Bake Off is available to watch on Channel4.com
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