A new government program is trying to encourage Internet service providers (ISPs) to offer lower rates for lower income customers by distributing federal funds through states. The only problem is the ISPs don’t want to offer the proposed rates.
obtained a letter sent to US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo signed by more than 30 broadband industry trade groups like ACA Connects and the Fiber Broadband Association as well as several state based organizations. The letter raises “both a sense of alarm and urgency” about their ability to participate in the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The newly formed BEAD program provides over $42 billion in federal funds to “expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure, deployment and adoption programs” in states across the country, according to the (NTIA).
The money first goes to the NTIA and then it’s distributed to states after they obtain approval from the NTIA by presenting a low-cost broadband Internet option. The ISP industries’ letter claims a fixed rate of $30 per month for high speed Internet access is “completely unmoored from the economic realities of deploying and operating networks in the highest-cost, hardest-to-reach areas.”
The letter urges the NTIA to revise the low-cost service option rate proposed or approved so far. have completed all of the BEAD program’s phases.
Americans pay an average of $89 a month for Internet access. New Jersey has the highest average bill at $126 per month, according to a survey conducted by . A 2021 study from the found that 57 percent of households with an annual salary of $30,000 or less have a broadband connection.
We Are Lost Video Game On a day that started like any other, you were startled by Ashley and her story of a contest she won, granting you all a trip to an expensive resort. Ultimately deciding to leave, you start packing your things. But not all is as it seems.. As the corporation in charge of this contest has some deeper, more sinister plans for you. Choose your protagonist and unravel the story, discover the goals of this corporation and.. Well, the rest I will leave up to you to discoverSo far, We Are Lost (0.2.13 version) got me on the line, divided between the good and the bad. The story is the perfect example: on one hand it has some interesting ideas and it is decently written, on the other it comes to points that feel completely rushed and unbelievable.
Then the choices: there are none. I mean, there are, but you basically choose between having incestual sex (you can define the relatoinships but they are very clearly a family) or not, and if you are playing an erotic game it’s clear what path you’ll probably choose. Which means that, so far, choices are rather pointless. And, so far, even though it’s been worked on for quite some time, it’s still has quite little amount of content. Character models and renders are pretty good, but the game would need some more images and the animations are a bit basic. I played with the sound off so I can’t talk about it. And at least in my playthrough I didn’t find any bugs.
Features and System Requirements:
Players navigate a vast, procedurally generated world filled with unique landscapes, hidden secrets, and dangerous obstacles.
To survive and thrive, players must gather materials and craft essential tools, weapons, and structures.
The passage of time significantly affects gameplay, with nights bringing increased danger and different opportunities for exploration.
1 :: Operating System :: Windows XP/7/8/8./10. 2 :: Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X @ 3.00 GHz or Intel Core i5-13600K @ 3.00 GHz 3 :: Ram :: 8 GB RAM 4 :: DirectX: Version 12 5 :: Graphics:: 1GB VRAM / DirectX 10+ support 6 :: Space Storage:: 5276 Mb space
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1 :: Download Game 2 :: Extract Game 3 :: Launch The Game 4 :: Have Fun 🙂
Anthony Frausto-Robledo, AIA, architect and editor-in-chief of the online CAD publication Architosh, discussed developments that raise ARES Kudo to a new position in the CAD marketplace.
At this year’s Graebert neXt event, Anthony Frausto-Robledo, AIA, an architect and the editor-in-chief of Architosh, delivered a keynote presentation about ARES Kudo, Graebert’s cloud-based CAD solution for creating, viewing, and editing DWG files online. Here, we’ll focus on some highlights from the keynote presentation.
To see the full discussion about the new capabilities in ARES Kudo, and what they mean for online CAD in the DWG format, you can watch a replay of this presentation on Youtube: “Online CAD in DWG.” You can also read Frausto-Robledo’s in-depth product review, “ARES Kudo 2025 Takes Aim at AutoCAD LT,” on Architosh.com.
ARES Kudo’s Transformation in the CAD Software Market
Frausto-Robledo cut right to the chase, opening his talk by stating, “This year, ARES Kudo has transformed into a bona fide AutoCAD LT competitor. That is the consensus after completing my in-depth first look and the strong view of its developer, Germany’s Graebert.”
Frausto-Robledo continued his comments on Kudo’s position, saying, “This year Graebert has taken ARES Kudo up a weight class. Although it is an online solution, it is now aiming for AutoCAD LT.”
“Is ARES Kudo full-featured enough to replace LT?” he asked. “To begin with, it is important to stress two major changes this year with the addition of the ribbon interface and support for dynamic blocks. The new ribbon interface instantly elevates your sense of the application. And the support for dynamic blocks not only matches LT, but fundamentally gives Kudo desktop CAD utility.”
Exploring ARES Kudo’s New Ribbon Interface
Frausto-Robledo and his co-presenter, Cédric Desbordes, Graebert’s Business Development & Marketing Director, explored the CAD and collaboration capabilities of ARES Kudo. As it has been nearly a decade since Kudo was launched, the software is equipped with a rich array of features. One of the newest is the ribbon interface, which users can choose to display or hide as they prefer.
ARES Kudo now offers a ribbon interface, designed to help new and experienced users find the features they need quickly.
“The new ribbon interface was designed to facilitate the transition from AutoCAD or ARES Commander,” explained Desbordes. ARES CAD software applications have always been developed with an eye to easy adoption, and a familiar interface helps new users feel comfortable quickly.
“The second advantage of the ribbon,” he continued, “is to better expose the hundreds of features available in Kudo.” Both new and experienced users can benefit from this visibility when locating and using features, although they can still enter commands by name as well.
“Kudo’s new user interface is impressive,” commented Frausto-Robledo. “I found the new ribbon layout and new icons very strong compared to all the different CAD and 3D software we have ever reviewed at Architosh. It is attractive, well laid out, and easy to master.”
Desbordes led the conversation to the topic of blocks, pointing out that ARES Kudo has recently added:
A block editor that allows users to edit block definitions without exploding them;
Support for parametric blocks created in AutoCAD (dynamic blocks) and ARES Commander (custom blocks); and
A ready-to-use group of more than 450 dynamic blocks in the Trinity Block Library.
ARES Kudo’s array of blocks features has been boosted by support for dynamic blocks, hundreds of which are included in the Trinity Block Library (below).
“When it comes to blocks, I think it is fair to say that ARES Kudo goes beyond the expectations of most users,” he commented. “And there is a reason for that: For an online solution like ARES Kudo that is also very affordable, It makes sense to take care of the needs of occasional users who are very attracted by the collaboration features but not really CAD experts.”
Using blocks makes design easier for these non-experts, and it also speeds up design for everyone — even the most experienced users. The dynamic blocks that ARES Kudo now supports are parametric blocks created in AutoCAD. “They include grips and visibility states that make them very easy to use, even for a beginner,” Desbordes explained.
Dynamic blocks can be modified quickly, even by non-experts.
To help users get started with dynamic blocks, Kudo now includes hundreds of dynamic blocks in the Trinity Block Library, grouped into libraries organized by industry. Users can also create their own libraries to organize their own blocks or dynamic blocks. The Trinity Block libraries can be accessed in ARES Commander and ARES Touch, as well as ARES Kudo. This makes it easy to share block libraries with other ARES users, and create standard libraries used by everyone in a department or company — or just a few select individuals.
“Working with blocks is faster, as you can focus on simple operations,” Desbordes said, while demonstrating just that. “[By] combining dynamic blocks with ARES Kudo’s CAD features, you can achieve professional-looking drawings in no time.”
Experience the convenience of ARES Kudo’s Cloud CAD. Access, share, and modify your DWG drawings from any device. No installations—just your Internet browser. Start your free 30-day trial of ARES Kudo’s CAD today!
Just Cause Games has proved itself to be one of the best-selling brands in the gaming industry. And now Square Enix has unveiled the date when Just Cause 5 will be released to its avid fans. Studio Square Enix has revealed their latest shareholders updates in their financial results this week, sharing what they have in store for the fans of the renowned action-adventure game series. The news has caused ripples among the gaming community worldwide.
Background of the Just Cause Franchise
For those unaware of the series, Just Cause is the story of Rico Rodriguez, the skilled operative who aims to liberate fascinating places with freedom from oppressive regimes. It has been famous for its visually stunning open-world settings and exaggerated action. The latter of which culminated in its initial appearance on PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
Despite the success of several sequels such as the recent Just Cause 4, 2018 the future of the franchise has been brought into question after the recent Square Enix deal with Embracer Group, made earlier this year. While Tomb Raider and Deus Ex franchises managed to find their new homes, the status of Just Cause was open to question.
What You Should Expect
Now that Just Cause 5 has been announced, long-time fans can at long last feel comforted by knowing that Square Enix still considers this beloved franchise as a top priority. As there is little info about the game now, it is rumored that Avalanche Studio, the creators of the series in the past, will be in charge of developing it.
Nevertheless, the development team of Avalanche Studios has returned its energy to its upcoming title, Contraband. It is an open-world cooperative shooter title that is an Xbox Series X/S console exclusive. Because of this, the players may have to go to considerable lengths just to access the world of Rico Rodriguez as well as the adrenaline-fueled fun that the respective version of this game provides.
Just Cause: Mobile
In addition to the news of Just Cause 5, Square Enix also announced the development of Just Cause: Mobile. First unveiled in 2020, the Just Cause mobile game was set to keep up with the franchise’s signature and excessive action like always, but with one major difference. It was available to play exclusively on mobile phones. However, after facing multiple delays, Just Cause: Mobile, had been scrapped in 2023, thus, dissatisfying players.
Speculation and Plot Details
Even though Square Enix, so far, has not provided any specific information about the story of Just Cause 5, enthusiasts already have a lot of speculations. On the basis of past chapters’ story route, we guess the game will be again taking place in the USA. Rico will be struggling against the Agency – an unknown for now organization that was appointed as the main antagonist in the current part of Just Cause.
Also, the closures of both Just Cause 3 and 4 hint at a possible weather control plot which might make an interesting twist to the franchise’s storyline.
Conclusion
As fans eagerly await further updates on Just Cause 5, one thing is certain: the future of the franchise is bright. With Square Enix not being shy about its plans for the franchise development and all possible scenarios to fill our fantasy with new adventurous experiences. Players are sure to have the chance to jump into Rico Rodriguez’s iconic shoes and spread the chaos one more time.
Q&A
Q: Should Just Cause 5 be on your wishlist this December?
Ans: After the latest announcement about the production of Just Cause 5, the asset is probably on the first line of many gamer’s holiday checklists. The excitement about the sequel is felt everywhere. Fans hope to be the first person to find out an announcement regarding its release.
Q: Could you offer an overview of the Just Cause universe?
Ans: The Just Cause world is filled with a variety of landscapes, tough war sequences, and interesting characters. The character, Rico Rodriguez, is a highly trained operative whose job is to help people who are fighting against dictatorial governments. The franchise’s focus on freedom, disorder, and investigation has made it a fan favorite all over the world.
Q: What can we expect regarding the heat level in Just Cause 5?
A: Even if the details around Just Cause 5 remain secret, players can expect to experience the same adrenaline-fueled action and cinematic battles that made the previous games famous. The heat level indicates enemy activity or pursuit will most likely rise to the max.
Q: How does Square Enix plan to maintain the quality of the Just Cause IP?
Ans: Square Enix has been delivering top-class gaming experience for a long period. The Just Cause franchise meant no different. For Just Cause 5, preserving the success of the series in terms of graphics, immersive gameplay, and compelling narrative is the goal. Through technology and design evolution, the new IP engages the audience and raises the bar for interactive entertainment.
The Dreo 5L Smart humidifier is a powerhouse option. With dual-intake, 360-degree dual mist outlets, and intelligent humidity control, customize your mist experience without compromise. The large, 5L tank ensures less time between refills, and with 42 hours of continuous operation, the Dreo really is something you can “set and forget.”
It features smart capabilities, including app and voice control for easy access and schedule making. And don’t worry about resetting it, either. The modular design and top fill structure allow for easy refills, and a desalination cartridge helps remove up to 7 types of minerals from your vapor.
To top it off, the Dreo comes with a built-in night light, digital display, and aroma diffuser for an even more spa-like experience at home.
ZDNET contributor, Jack Wallen, called the Dreo one of the very best humidifiers in his review. “The Dreo 5L is, by far, the best single-room humidifier I’ve ever used. It’s an elegant solution that should serve you well when the ambient moisture has your lips cracked, your throat dry, and your skin itching.”
Verified Best Buy customers rated the Dreo humidifier a 4.2/5 stars and enjoyed its sleek design, smart functions, large water tank, and quiet operation, though some customers experienced App connection issues.
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You can’t help but feel a little sorry for the old Ranger—it’s a class that was much-maligned in the initial 2014 release of the D&D Player’s Handbooks for a lacklustre suite of features, then polished to a mirror sheen with supplements like Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. Now, in 2024, it looks like we’re having the exact same conversations about the poor sod again. Rangers just can’t catch a break.
In case you don’t speak fluid min-max, here’s the breakdown: Many of the new and exciting features from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything have been stripped back. Hunter’s Mark, a now-mandatory ranger’s spell that deals Force damage (which is a buff, as Force is a rarely-resisted damage type), is now a core class feature—and the focus of the entire package.
What’s more, the Ranger has replaced a bunch of its interesting, though undertuned class features with extra spells and skill expertises. This has, in a word, frustrated the living daylights out of players—mostly because it signals a return to the 2014 Ranger woes—except this time, instead of hyper-specific features that never get used, it’s all looking a little bland and underpowered.
The offloading of design responsibility onto spells is a considerable bugbear in particular, however, in a recent interview with ScreenRant, lead rules designer Jeremy Crawford sought to put players’ minds at ease by saying hey, don’t worry, those Ranger spells are better now:
“While there are certain things like Hunter’s Mark that required concentration in 2014 and continue to require it in 2024, there are other things that used to require concentration that no longer do. And we were particularly mindful of that for classes like the Ranger that have key features that require concentration.”
Concentration is a label applied to certain spells that requires you to roll to maintain them whenever you take damage, as well as making them automatically drop off when you’re incapacitated—ie, knocked out or stunned.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
Crawford’s response here feels a little backwards, if I’m being honest—the only reason these spells need to be stripped of their concentration requirements is because Hunter’s Mark, a spell which deals a piddly 1d6 force damage on every hit to one target, has concentration in the first place.
It’s a doubling down in the face of the main critique—that the Ranger’s class features are, for the most part, being whittled away in favour of dull skill expertises and spellcraft.
Spells, spells, spells
(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast via GameInformer / Art by Tyler Jacobson)
Let’s just run down the list of major changes, real quick:
Favoured Enemy now lets you cast Hunter’s Mark twice per long rest for free, with uses increasing as you level up. In other words, “this feature no longer focuses on tracking and recalling information about certain creature types”.
Natural Explorer, which gave you terrain-based bonuses, has been replaced by one of the options from the Tasha’s Cauldron version of the Ranger: one skill expertise, two languages.
Primaeval Awareness, which lets you track certain creatures, is gone. Instead, the post reassures, you get more access to spells—sort of like Tasha’s Primal Awareness feature.
Land’s Stride, which gave you movement bonuses, has been replaced by another skill Expertise.
Not a replacement, but at level 9 you get—you guessed it—two more skill Expertises.
At level 13, you can’t lose concentration on your Hunter’s Mark via incoming damage anymore.
At level 17, you get advantage against the target of your Hunter’s Mark via Precise Hunter—that sounds good on paper, but it’s a really, really late level to get the feature, especially when you can achieve the same effect with Nature’s Veil three levels earlier (albeit at a limited capacity).
Your capstone level 20 ability, the coup de grace of the entire class, is an increase in your hunter’s mark damage from 1d6 (one six-sided die) to 1d10. That is an average damage increase of two. At level 20.
There are some other general nerfs when compared to the Tasha’s Cauldron Ranger, too. Hide in Plain sight, an admittedly hyper-niche feature, has been replaced with something that gives you temp HP. Nature’s Veil from the Tasha’s Cauldron Ranger has been shoved from level 10 to level 14—which doesn’t sound like a lot, but that’s easily 10-30 sessions based on the pace of your game.
Meanwhile, the feature Vanish, which previously let you hide as a bonus action and had the cool flavour of making you untraceable by non-magical means, has been replaced entirely by Nature’s Veil.
So to sum it all up—a lot of the admittedly undertuned, but flavourful features have been replaced with Expertise in skill checks and spells. Hunter’s Mark is the new core ranger mechanic, and the big buff it gets as you level up is, basically, more free castings. Perma-advantage against one enemy is nice, but at level 17 you have a billion different ways of snagging advantage anyway—including one of your own damn features.
The 2024 revised rules have done some fun things to other classes like the Fighter—and I think Weapon Masteries, which the Ranger does get, are a huge boon to the martial core of the game. But this proposed Ranger feels like it misses its mark entirely.
I’m certainly not alone. Prominent D&D YouTuber XP to level 3 has a similar breakdown (a mechanical one, not an emotional one) in the aptly named video New Ranger Bad: “It’s giving ‘is this an april fools joke?'” he says, referencing the infamous ‘Do you guys not have phones?’ blunder surrounding the Diablo Mobile fiasco of 2018. “You guys have spells, right? You guys can just cast spells, it’s the same thing!”
Currently retired D&D and FF14 YouTuber/Streamer JoCat pipes up in the comments with what we’re basically all thinking at the moment: “goddammit not again”. Another player writes: “‘You can gain greater awareness of the world around you by learning to use your f*cking eyes’—WotC getting rid of Primeval Awareness, 2024, colorized”, referencing the blog’s suggestion that you just take Expertise in Perception, instead.
Responses weren’t great from other communities, either. “I don’t understand why they tripled down on [Hunter’s Mark] as the Ranger’s main feature and then decided to solve none of the issues surrounding the spell. It’s genuinely baffling,” writes user bobbifreetisss on the dndnext subreddit. “Crawford, my dude, you’re the head game designer. If you think no concentration on HM is too broken because of multiclassing, then come up with a new signature ability?”
“No one put a gun to Crawford’s head and told him this level 1 spell had to be the Ranger’s entire identity,” the thread’s author replies.
Look, in the same way that Tasha’s Cauldron offered new supplements and erratas, I’m confident that—even if Wizards is too locked-in to course correct at this point—future books will do a semi-decent repair job. At the same time, there’s a hefty dose of schadenfreude in the fact the Ranger is headed for botch job territory once more. Time is a flat circle. As scheduled, the first of the new 2024 ruleset should arrive September 17.
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Without any other actions, when I try to start the project, I get an error: Unresolved external symbol glewExperimental. Ok, looks like I have to edit linker -> input -> additional dependencies. I download and install files from glew install page. As I understood, nuget already installs header files, so I placed only dll and lib files in the desired folders. I also linked glew32s.lib instead of glew32.lib, as I need static linking.
After that, I got new errors:
1>glew32s.lib(glew.obj) : error LNK2005: glewInit already defined in glew32.lib(glew32.dll)
1>glew32s.lib(glew.obj) : warning LNK4099: PDB '' was not found with 'glew32s.lib(glew.obj)' or at ''; linking object as if no debug info
1>LINK : warning LNK4098: defaultlib 'LIBCMT' conflicts with use of other libs; use /NODEFAULTLIB:library
If you find yourself in need of a cheap new phone this year — say, around $200 —you’re probably not very excited about your prospects. Historically, $200 phones are pretty bad and you really need to have a positive outlook on life in order to enjoy using one at all.
But the CMF by Nothing Phone 1 is different. It’s not just the best $200 I’ve ever used, it’s one of the best phones I’ve used all year and a shoe-in for phone of the year because of its stunning price-to-value ratio. There’s simply nothing like it on the market, and it’s quite amazing what Nothing was able to pull off on such a tight budget.
More than just being a good phone, the CMF Phone 1 is an interesting phone in a way we typically don’t see. Nothing built the back to be removable via a set of four regular screws and one utility thumb screw that can be replaced with several accessories, including some supremely nifty community 3D printed ones.
About the only major thing it’s missing is NFC— something that actually is problematic this day in age when people are paying with their phones more than ever— but this certainly won’t be a deal breaker for everyone. Ready to get excited about a $200 phone? I never thought I’d say I was, but it’s time you should.
Price and availability
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
The CMF Phone 1 is available at Amazon or the Nothing.tech website starting at $199 in the US (8GB RAM/128GB storage), ₹15,999 in India (6GB RAM/128GB storage), and €269 / £239 in Europe (8GB RAM/256GB storage).
Nothing sells the phone in Black, Orange, or Light Green colorways. The CMF Phone 1 sports an interchangeable back and can be switched out with Black, Orange, Light Green, or Blue options for $35 each. Nothing sells three additional accessories for the CMF Phone 1 at launch: a stand for $25, a card case for $25, and a lanyard holder for $25.
I used the CMF Phone 1 for over a week in both North Carolina and New York City. The phone I used was running on Nothing OS 2.6 with the July 2024 security patch, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.
What I loved
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
From every angle, the CMF Phone 1 is immediately recognizable. The uncovered screws on the back, oversized thumb screw (that doubles as a fidget spinner), and chrome accents simply look like no other phone on the market.
There’s something deeply awesome about changing out the back of your phone at will – not just slapping a new case on it. In addition to that, Nothing has created a small number of useful accessories that can be quickly swapped via the thumbscrew, which is far easier than the four flathead screws required to swap out the back.
Accessories like a kickstand and lanyard holder are the first official accessories, and as previously noted, the 3D printing community on Reddit has already designed several new accessories that’ll help you make your phone even cooler than before.
The Orange and Blue backs come with a lovely vegan leather finish that adds grip and makes the phone feel nicer than flat plastic. Black and Light Green use a matte flat plastic, which is fine but feels a bit cheap compared to the other two. On the bright side, the non-vegan leather backs are 1mm thinner.
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(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
Modularity is something I’ve wanted in phones ever since Google’s failed Project Ara was originally announced, and it’s good to see someone finally picking up a sliver of that dream.
Beyond that, the CMF Phone 1 sports specs you would seldom expect at this price range. The phone dons a flat, vision-friendly 120Hz OLED display with DC-like dimming at high brightness and 960Hz PWM dimming at low brightness.
I found it super comfortable over the last week of usage and never experienced the headaches or eye aches that Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phones give my PWM-sensitive brain. It also gets plenty bright with 2000 nits of peak brightness, so outdoor viewing is nothing short of great.
DC dimming above 30% brightness, 920Hz PWM dimming below 30% brightness, SGS Low Blue Light certified
Chipset
MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G
Memory
6GB, 8GB
Storage
128GB, 256GB
Rear Camera 1 (main)
50MP, ƒ/1.8, EIS, 79-degree FoV, Ultra XDR
Rear Camera 2 (portrait)
2x zoom, portrait mode only
Front Camera
16MP
Video
4k/30FPS, 1080p/30 or 60FPS, Slow-mo 1080p/120FPS, night mode 1080p/30FPS
Battery
5000mAh
Charging
33W wired fast charging
Ports and SIM
USB Type-C, Dual SIM
Audio
AAC linear loudspeaker
Wireless
Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6, 5G (some US bands missing)
Security
In-display fingerprint sensor
Weight
197g standard, 202g vegan leather
Dimensions
77mm wide x 164mm tall x 8mm thin (9mm vegan leather back)
Water and dust resistance
3 seconds in 25cm of water (no rating)
Colors
Blue, Light Green, Orange, Black
Software update promise
2 Android updates, 3 years of security updates
Overall performance is simply legendary. If you’ve used a phone at this price point before, you’re familiar with how slow and stuttery they usually are. Not the CMF Phone 1. Everyday performance was incredible and something I’d expect from a phone substantially more expensive.
Gaming on this phone is flawless, and sustained performance is substantially better than similar phones using Qualcomm’s chipsets.
Games like Minecraft ran flawlessly, and multitasking was superb with multi-app switching happening instantly. I seriously couldn’t believe the lack of lag — it’s really unheard of at this price.
The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset is built on TSMC’s 4nm process, which means it’s significantly better at sustained performance when compared to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset. Qualcomm’s chipset might have the same ARM cores and a similar architecture, but it’s built on Samsung’s 4nm process and throttles pretty hard after just a few minutes’ use.
In short, gamers and anyone who uses high-intensity applications for more than a few minutes are going to want to pick the CMF Phone 1 over anything else in the space that uses Qualcomm’s equivalent Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip.
Image 1 of 7
(Image credit: Android Central)
(Image credit: Android Central)
(Image credit: Android Central)
(Image credit: Android Central)
(Image credit: Android Central)
(Image credit: Android Central)
(Image credit: Android Central)
I cannot believe these photos came from a $200 phone. The quality is astounding.
Even the camera blew me away! Launching it takes maybe 2 seconds — again, another massive pain point at this price given phones like the Moto G 5G 2024 can take up to 10 seconds before the camera is usable. Plus, the quality is easily comparable to phones in the $400-500 range.
Seriously, I cannot believe the photos above came from a $200 phone. This quality is simply unheard of.
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Android Central)
(Image credit: Android Central)
(Image credit: Android Central)
(Image credit: Android Central)
What I particularly liked is that Nothing included not only a decent telephoto camera — giving this phone better zoom detail than others at the price. Most phones at this price range include a gimmicky secondary camera that takes garbage quality photos, usually focused on macro photography or something equally useless. The CMF Phone 1’s 2x camera makes portrait photos look substantially crisper.
Even when just zooming in to 2x or 3x, those zoomed in images look like actual photos, not a watercolor painting — something you may be familiar with if you’ve ever zoomed in beyond a camera sensor’s capabilities.
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Android Central)
(Image credit: Android Central)
(Image credit: Android Central)
(Image credit: Android Central)
And the front-facing camera is nothing short of excellent, too. Portrait mode is truly stellar and outperforms even the $900 Google Pixel 8 Pro in portrait mode quality. Nothing seems to have really nailed the algorithm for separating the foreground from the background and doesn’t exhibit any of the nasty blur artifacts so often found on some other phones.
What could use work
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
While the removable back is a fantastic concept, removing it isn’t as easy as I’d like it to be. After unscrewing the screws, the back is still quite difficult to pop off and required me to pry it off at the edge with the included screwdriver. I thought this would get easier over time but I was always worried I’d crack the plastic when removing the back.
I’m also not crazy about the flathead screws being used, as they make it overly difficult to remove and tighten versus something like a star bit or Philips head. All in all, I don’t think too many people will be snapping different backs on the phone regularly to match their outfit every day. Hopefully, the 3D printing community or another user can figure out a better alternative.
Folks using the CMF Phone 1 in the U.S. should expect spotty 5G coverage and slower than expected speeds. As Brady Snyder pointed out in his CMF Phone 1 critique, the phone has pretty terrible network coverage here “due to its old and, frankly, bad modem.”
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
5G coverage is mediocre on T-Mobile in the U.S. and nonexistent on AT&T or Verizon. There’s also no NFC to be found on this phone.
I used it on T-Mobile and had decent 5G coverage but had to do the old “airplane mode reset” to make sure it stayed there. This means I’d see it drop to 4G, 3G, or, somehow, still Edge/2G and then toggling airplane mode would typically get me back on the company’s 5G network. Verizon and AT&T customers shouldn’t bother at all.
I also found that download and upload speeds were notably worse than other phones I had on hand no matter if I was using 5G or Wi-Fi. Not the “this took 2 seconds longer than usual” kind of worse. The “this 200MB file took 30+ seconds to download” kind of slow.
In addition to this, there’s no NFC support on the phone whatsoever. That means no mobile payments or anything else you might do with NFC which can be a make-or-break feature for some people. Personally, I don’t really care about NFC and hardly ever use it, but I’ve seen several people say this is a deal-breaker for them.
I’d say the wallet attachment makes up for the lack of NFC, but I don’t like the construction of it. The actual wallet portion snaps to the phone via a magnet and I wasn’t confident enough in its strength to store any actual important cards in it.
The $200 price point is essentially bereft of any other truly good options. In the U.S., the best option for a new phone is probably the Moto G 5G 2024, a phone that’s utterly sluggish and has terrible cameras when compared to the CMF Phone 1. It’s also got quite a bit of bloatware installed, a problem the CMF Phone 1 doesn’t suffer from.
If you can spend $100 more, the Nuu B30 Pro is a superb launch that actually supports 5G networks in the U.S. but it uses a slower MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor and it isn’t guaranteed the same update cadence or long-term promise as the CMF Phone 1. Nuu had my pick as best cheap phone in the U.S. before the CMF Phone 1 came along.
Internationally, the Poco X6 series is a good alternative but it’ll cost you 30% more and both the cameras and sustained performance of that phone are worse than what you’ll get on the CMF Phone 1. The other obvious tradeoff is that the Poco doesn’t offer customizable phone backs or easy-to-add accessories like the CMF Phone 1.
Should you buy it?
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
You should buy this if…
You need an amazing phone for very little money.
You love the idea of a modular phone with interchangeable parts.
You enjoy a light OS with great features and support.
You shouldn’t buy this if…
You need NFC.
You use AT&T or Verizon.
The CMF Phone 1 by Nothing is near-revolutionary in many ways. Not only is it a mere $200 out the door — not subsidized by a carrier to $200 after a trade-in — but it’s just an amazing phone all-around. Combine fast processing, an excellent camera, superb multitasking, and a fantastic operating system experience with the unique qualities of the modular design and we have a real winner on our hands.
There’s no denying that a lack of NFC is going to hurt the phone’s chances of success. As good as everything else is, NFC is a basic requirement for lots of people who have grown used to securely paying for things with their phones. Not only that, but 5G coverage in the U.S. is spotty at best and nonexistent, at worse, because of Nothing’s choice of an older modem.
But if you don’t care much about NFC or you don’t live in the U.S., there’s no reason to spend more than $200 on another phone unless you absolutely need something specific that a more expensive phone can offer. This is the best value phone on the market today, and it’s going to be near impossible to overtake it for a long while.
Nothing’s spin-off brand, CMF, has created the best budget phone in the world. The CMF Phone 1 is impressively fast, has an excellent camera, a bright AMOLED panel, 3 years of promised software updates, and a unique, customizable build. So long as you don’t need NFC, there’s little else to ask for in a phone!
Want to make money from home as a freelance writer?
That’s the goal, right? Work in your pajamas. Be your own boss. Make your own schedule.
Being a freelance writer is a great career and lifestyle, but it’s also hard work. And scammers know it.
If you have a writer website or social presence as a freelance writer, prospects aren’t the only people checking you out. Scammers are sifting through the same information in search of freelancers who are looking to write articles for money.
You might think you’re too savvy to fall for the cash-this-fake-check and bankwire-transfer scam, but at least one scammer has developed a clever way to lure writers in with big promises, drain bank accounts and disappear.
Think it couldn’t happen to you? Don’t be too sure.
I thought I was pretty immune to “make money from home” scams, but I almost fell for this one.
Here’s what happened:
Are you a scammer’s ideal client?
If you’ve posted your resume on job boards or built a writer website that includes your phone number, email address, and other contact info, you’re a target for this make money from home scam.
Here’s how it works:
An imposter recruiter contacts you about contract work
It looks like they work for a reputable and established company
The recruiter sets up an interview with you to discuss the gig
You get hired. And then you’re supposed to follow a specific set of instructions to start getting paid
It started with an unexpected text from Mr. Oliver Wyman of Mercer Consulting Unlimited. He’d “received my resume online. ” But I didn’t submit one. When I asked about this, he said he learned about me from my writer website and wanted to know if I was interested in an online editor position.
Contract work + benefits
Write and edit content for this talent recruiting firm. The pay was good, but not so high it put me on alert: $45 an hour, $25 an hour for training. I’d be expected to work a minimum of two hours a day at my convenience. And, though I was a contract employee, I’d get health insurance and paid time off.
Google it
I Googled the company and learned it was a reputable corporation. Excited that I’d attracted a potential client with my website and the possibility of steady income, insurance, and vacation pay, I ignored my gut’s frantic signals and agreed to an interview.
An unconventional interview
To my surprise, the interview was to be done on Google Hangouts. Having been out of the job market a while, I thought this might be the procedure these days and agreed.
Within 10 minutes, I was being interviewed via Google Hangouts Chat, “so my answers could be reviewed and documented.”
What about writing and editing skills?
The questions were standard first-interview questions. I noticed they didn’t ask much about my editing experience but decided those questions would be addressed in a second, face-to-face interview.
You’re hired…but first there’s a few things you need to do
The next morning I woke to the news: I was hired! Mr. Wyman told me via text message the company would provide me with software and a new Apple laptop. I was to buy the materials from a specific vendor the company worked with.
The old cash-this-fake-check scam
Mercer Consulting would send me a check to cover the cost. At that point, Mr. Wyman wanted to know the name of my bank to ensure they had an agreement with it. Then he asked for my address.
Gut check and Den help
Finally, my gut got through, and I turned to the Freelance Writers Den for help. Here’s what freelance writer Kaitlin Morrison said:
Following Kaitlin’s advice, I contacted the folks at Mercer Consulting who confirmed this was a scam, and I bailed.
Had I continued, I would’ve received a fraudulent check to deposit, using mobile banking or an ATM, in my account. Then I would’ve been instructed to wire most of that money to the “vendor” immediately. In a few days, the check would’ve bounced, and I’d be $1,000 or so poorer.
How to spot a freelance writing scam
If a prospect you’ve never heard of reaches out with contract work they need help with, it might be a legit lead and potential client. If it is, it’s a sign your inbound marketing efforts are working. But if it isn’t, it might be a scam like this. Here’s how to avoid being Mr. Wyman’s next victim:
Trust your gut. If your gut’s queasy, take heed. Look up the company and see if the job is posted on its website or contact human resources
Don’t buy equipment. Legitimate companies provide any equipment you need to do the job.
Never wire money. Asking you to wire money is a sure sign of a scam
Nix Google Hangouts interviews. Reputable companies don’t use informal sites such as Google Hangouts, and especially not the chat option, for interviews
Examine correspondence. Any email you get from a recruiter should be from the company’s account. If that seems to be the case, test it. Scammers often use emails that resemble a real company’s address: @dukeenergy.com instead of @duke-energy.com. Also, any correspondence with grammar, punctuation, and syntax errors is suspect
Only deposit checks that you know are from legitimate organizations. Many of the checks scammers use look real. If in doubt, call your bank
Protect your financial and personal information. There’s no reason for recruiters to ask for your social security number, bank account access, PayPal password, or credit card information. Keep this information private
If you’re struggling to land client work, getting an out-of-the-blue offer may sound pretty good. And it may pan out. But do your homework, first. Pay attention to the warning signs of scams like this to avoid becoming a victim. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Lynda Van Kuren is a freelancer who specializes in writing about education, health and fitness.
