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Earlier this year, Nvidia announced its new line of 50 Series GPUs with a hot new feature in tow: "Multi Frame Generation." Building on early frame gen tech, these new GPUs allow games to create multiple video frames based on a single frame rendered the normal way. But is that a good thing? Or are these just "fake frames?" Well, it's complicated. On a very basic level, "frame generation" refers to the technique of using deep learning AI models to generate frames in between two frames of a game rendered by the GPU. Your graphics card does the more grindy work of creating "Frame One" and "Frame Three" based on 3D models, lighting, textures, etc., but then frame generation tools take those two images and make a guess at what "Frame Two" should look like. Multi Frame Generation takes this a step further. Instead of just generating one extra frame, it generates several. This means that, on the highest settings, three out of every four frames you see could be generated, rather than rendered directly. Whether that's a good thing, though, depends heavily on what type of game you play and what you want your gaming experience to be. What's the difference between upscaling and frame generation?Nvidia's new Multi Frame Generation comes as part of its announcement of DLSS 4. DLSS stands for Deep Learning Super Sampling and, as the name implies, its earlier iterations weren't about frame generation, but rather supersampling (or upscaling). In this version of the tech, a GPU would render a lower-resolution version of a frame—say, 1080p—and then upscale it to a higher resolution like 1440p or 2160p (4K). The "deep learning" in DLSS refers to training a machine learning model on each game individually to give the upscaler a better idea of what the higher res frame should look like. Nowadays, DLSS refers more to a whole suite of tools Nvidia uses to eek out better performance, and the above method is usually referred to as Super Resolution. Frame generation, on the other hand, takes two entire frames and generates an entirely new frame between them from scratch. Of course, it's also possible to use all of this tech simultaneously. You can end up in situations where your GPU is technically only rendering one lower-resolution frame for every two—or more, on the newest GPUs—full-res frames you see. If that sounds like a lot of extrapolation, well, it is. And, incredibly, it works pretty well. Most of the time. When is frame generation useful?In a relatively short amount of time, we've seen the demand placed on GPUs explode. As mentioned above, 4K resolutions contain quadruple the amount of pixel information as 1080p ones. Moreover, while media like movies and TV have stuck at a relatively consistent 24-30 frames per second, gamers increasingly demand at least 60fps as a baseline, often pushing that even higher to 120fps or 240fps for high-end machines. And do not get me started on Samsung's absurd display capable of supporting up to 500fps. If your GPU had to calculate every pixel of a 4K image 120 (or 500) times every second, the resulting fire coming from your PC would be visible from space—at least for games with the kind of detailed, ray-traced graphics we're used to from AAA titles. From that perspective, frame generation isn't just helpful, it's necessary. On Nvidia's latest GPUs, Multi Frame Generation can allow a game to increase its frame rate by multiple hundred frames per second even in 4K, while still looking pretty great. That's just not a frame rate that's possible at that resolution without an industrial rig. When it works (and we'll come back to that), frame generation can allow for smoother movement and less eye strain. If you want to get a taste of the difference, this little tool lets you experiment with different frame rates (as long as your display supports it). Try comparing 30fps to 60fps or 120fps and follow each ball with your eyes. The effect gets even more stark if you turn off motion blur which, for many games, would be the default. For chaotic games with a lot of movement, those extra frames can be a huge benefit, even if they're not exactly perfect. If you were to take a close look at the images frame-by-frame, you might see some artifacts, but they might be less noticeable while playing—at least, that's how it should work in theory. What are the downsides of frame generation?In practice, how well this tech works can vary greatly on a per-game basis, as well as by how powerful your machine is. For example, going from 30fps to 60fps with frame generation can look jankier than if you're going from 60fps to 120fps. This is due, at least in part, to the fact that at lower frame rates, there's more time in between reference frames, which means more guess work for the frames being generated. That leads to more noise and artifacts. Whether those artifacts will bother you is also highly subjective. For example, if you're swinging through the city in Spider-Man 2, and the trees in the background look stranger than they should, would you even notice? On the other hand, for slower-paced atmospheric games like Alan Wake II, where graphical detail and set design is more important for the vibes, ghosting and smearing can seem more pronounced. It should also be noted that artifacts aren't necessarily inherent to all frame generation. For starters, better input frames can lead to better frame generation. Nvidia, for example, is touting new models behind Super Resolution and Ray Reconstruction—a whole other piece of tech for improving ray tracing results that we simply don't have enough time to get into—to improve the images that get passed to the frame generation portion of the pipeline. You can think of it a bit like a giant, complex version of a game of telephone. The only way to get the most accurate, detailed frames from your game is to render them directly. The more you add steps to extrapolate extra pixels and frames, the more chances there are for mistakes. However, our tools are getting progressively better at cutting down on those mistakes. So, it's up to you to decide whether more frames or more detail is worth it for you. Why frame generation is (probably) bad for competitive gamesThere's one major exception to this whole argument, and that's when it comes to competitive games. If you play online games like Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals, or Fortnite, then smooth motion isn't necessarily your primary concern. You might be more concerned with latency—which is to say, the delay between when you react to something, and when your game has registered your reaction. Frame generation complicates latency issues because it requires creating frames out of order. Recall our earlier example: The GPU generates Frame One, then Frame Three, then the frame generator comes up with what Frame Two should be. In that scenario, the game can't actually show you Frame Two until it's figured out what frame three should be. Now, in most cases this isn't usually a problem. At 120fps, each frame is only on screen for about 8.33 milliseconds. Your brain can't even register that short of a delay, so it's not likely to cause a huge issue. In fact, human reaction time is typically measured in the hundreds of milliseconds. For a completely unscientific proof, go ahead and try out this reaction time test. Let me know when you get under 10 milliseconds. I'll wait. However, this does become an issue in competitive gaming, because frame delays aren't the only latency issues you're dealing with. There's latency between your keyboard and your computer, between your computer and the server, and between the server and the other players. Most of those individual links in the chain might be pretty low, but they have to get synced up somewhere. That "somewhere" is in the game's tick rate. This is how often the game you're playing updates on the server. For example, Overwatch 2 has a tick rate of 64. That means that every second, the server updates what has happened in the game 64 times, or once every 15.63 milliseconds. That's just enough that if, say, your game shows you our rhetorical Frame One, where the enemy Cassidy is in your crosshairs, but hasn't yet updated to Frame Three, when he's not, the server could have ticked over before your screen has updated. That could mean your shot registers as a miss even though it feels like it should have hit. This is also the one issue that can actually get worse with Multi Frame Generation. There are ways to mitigate this hit—for example, Nvidia's Reflex tech that reduces input latency in other areas—but it's not something that can be avoided entirely. If you're playing competitive online games, you're better off turning your graphics settings down lower to get a better frame rate, rather than using frame generation for now. View the full article

Agency warns of rising debt and deficit payments View the full article

Rocktop Management anticipates rising loan origination volume and increasing borrower distress, driving more servicing sales — key reasons behind its acquisition of Incenter Capital Advisors. View the full article

Key Takeaways Understanding Walmart’s Landscape: Familiarize yourself with Walmart’s retail environment and the unique demands they place on suppliers for increased visibility and sales potential. Supplier Requirements: Ensure your product meets Walmart’s quality standards, competitive pricing, packaging guidelines, logistics protocols, and sustainability practices to improve your chances of success. Preparation is Key: Devote time to create high-quality product samples and design appealing, compliant packaging that effectively communicates your product’s benefits. Strategic Application Process: Follow a structured approach for submitting your product, including utilizing the Supplier Portal, completing assessments accurately, and crafting a compelling pitch. Avoid Common Pitfalls: Be vigilant about adhering to guidelines, providing accurate information, and understanding the competitive landscape to avoid common mistakes that can lead to application rejection. Build Strong Relationships: Actively engage with Walmart buyers and network through industry events to foster connections, gain insights, and improve your probability of retail success. Getting your product on the shelves of Walmart can feel like a daunting challenge, but it’s an incredible opportunity for exposure and sales. With over 4,700 stores across the U.S., Walmart is a retail giant that attracts millions of shoppers every day. If you’ve got a unique product or innovative idea, you’re in the right place to learn how to navigate the process. In this guide, you’ll discover essential steps to prepare your product for Walmart’s competitive landscape. From understanding their requirements to crafting a compelling pitch, you’ll gain insights that could turn your dream of retail success into reality. Let’s dive in and explore how to make your product a staple in one of the world’s largest retailers. Understanding Walmart’s Retail Environment Understanding Walmart’s retail environment is crucial for your small business. With over 4,700 stores across the U.S., Walmart provides an unparalleled opportunity for exposure and sales. Navigating this environment requires insight into the retailer’s unique demands and expectations. Importance of Getting Your Product in Walmart Getting your product into Walmart offers significant advantages for small businesses. Walmart’s extensive customer base means your product gains visibility among millions of shoppers. Increased brand recognition and credibility come from association with a leading retailer. Additionally, successful placement can lead to substantial sales increases, allowing your business to grow and thrive. Overview of Walmart’s Supplier Requirements Walmart maintains specific supplier requirements for product submissions. Key components include: Quality Standards: Products must meet stringent safety and quality benchmarks. Ensure your items comply with all regulations applicable to your category. Pricing Strategy: Competitive pricing is essential. Walmart emphasizes low pricing and expects suppliers to maintain margins while keeping costs manageable. Packaging and Labeling: Consistent and appealing packaging is critical. Your products should feature clear labeling, which includes nutritional information if applicable. Logistics and Supply Chain: Suppliers must adhere to Walmart’s delivery timelines and logistics protocols. Prepare your production and distribution processes to align with their operational framework. Sustainability Practices: Walmart prioritizes sustainability. Show commitment through eco-friendly practices in sourcing and manufacturing. Understanding these factors will position your small business for success in becoming a Walmart supplier, enhancing your retail strategy and market reach. Preparing Your Product for Walmart Preparing your product for Walmart involves several crucial steps to ensure success in the retail environment. Focusing on quality, compliance, and appealing presentation sets you up for a strong position on Walmart’s shelves. Ensuring Product Quality and Compliance Ensure your product meets high-quality standards. Conduct rigorous testing to confirm durability and functionality. Compliance with safety regulations is mandatory; if your product targets a specific audience, like children or pets, it must adhere to additional guidelines. Familiarize yourself with Walmart’s supplier requirements by reviewing their Supplier Inclusion Standards, which outline product safety protocols. Consistency in quality helps establish trust with customers, ultimately enhancing your small business’s reputation. Packaging and Labeling Guidelines Packaging plays a vital role in attracting customers. Design packaging that showcases your product effectively and appeals to Walmart shoppers. Ensure your design aligns with Walmart’s brand guidelines, which emphasize clarity and consumer-friendly information. Include essential labeling components, such as ingredients, usage instructions, and contact information. Clear labeling aids compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations and various state laws, while informed customers are more likely to purchase your product. Remember, appealing and compliant packaging can significantly influence consumer buying decisions in retail. The Application Process Navigating the application process for getting your product into Walmart requires a strategic approach. Understanding specific steps and avoiding common pitfalls can enhance your chances of success. Steps to Submit Your Product Visit Walmart’s Supplier Portal. Start by accessing the Walmart Supplier website, where you can find valuable resources and guidelines tailored for small businesses. Complete the Supplier Assessment. Fill out the necessary forms detailing your business, your product, and your production capabilities. Be thorough and precise with your descriptions. Prepare Product Samples. Create high-quality samples of your product that showcase its features and quality. Ensure your packaging aligns with Walmart’s standards, as it reflects your brand’s image. Submit Your Pitch. Craft a compelling pitch that highlights your product’s uniqueness. Include information on how it meets customer needs, pricing strategies, and your vision for retail collaboration. Follow Up. After submitting your application, follow up. Reach out periodically to check on your status, demonstrating your continued interest and commitment to partnering with Walmart. Common Mistakes to Avoid Ignoring Guidelines. Failing to adhere to Walmart’s specific requirements can lead to immediate rejection. Ensure compliance with all quality, safety, and sustainability standards. Neglecting Packaging. Underestimating the importance of packaging can undermine your product’s appeal. Design packaging that is not only compliant but visually attractive and informative. Inaccurate Information. Providing incorrect contact or product information may delay processing. Double-check all details before submission. Skipping Market Research. Overlooking the competitive landscape can weaken your application. Understand how your product fits within Walmart’s existing offerings and identify what sets it apart. Lack of Transparency. Being vague about pricing or production processes can raise red flags. Be transparent to build trust with Walmart’s review team. By following these steps and avoiding these common mistakes, you can enhance your small business’s opportunity to successfully place your product on Walmart’s shelves. Building a Relationship with Walmart Building a strong relationship with Walmart is critical for small businesses aiming to secure retail space. Effective engagement enhances your chances of reaching broader markets and increases brand visibility. Strategies for Engaging Walmart Buyers Engaging Walmart buyers requires a tailored approach. First, tailor your pitch to align with Walmart’s values and customer demographics. Highlight your product’s unique selling points, focusing on how it meets consumer needs. Next, leverage data showing market demand and sales potential, which strengthens your position. You can also initiate contact through the Supplier Portal to express interest and provide your business information. Prepare for follow-up communications by having detailed product information and sales figures ready. Establishing a feedback loop with buyers can also enhance your relationship, allowing you to make timely improvements based on their insights. The Role of Networking and Industry Events Networking and industry events play a significant role in building relationships with Walmart. Attend trade shows and retail expos to connect directly with Walmart representatives and gain insights into their buying process. Present yourself confidently, ensuring your business stands out among competitors. Participating in industry groups focused on small businesses can equip you with valuable resources and connections. Building relationships with other suppliers can provide mentorship opportunities, enabling you to learn from their experiences with Walmart. Continuous engagement through these channels fosters trust and familiarity, essential for long-term partnerships with the retail giant. Conclusion Getting your product into Walmart can be a game-changer for your business. By understanding Walmart’s requirements and preparing your product effectively, you can significantly increase your chances of success. Focus on quality compliance and appealing packaging to stand out in a competitive market. Building relationships with Walmart buyers and leveraging networking opportunities can further enhance your visibility. Remember that persistence and attention to detail are key in this process. With the right approach and commitment, you can navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that come with being a Walmart supplier. Your innovative product could soon be on the shelves, reaching millions of customers. Frequently Asked Questions What are the benefits of getting a product onto Walmart’s shelves? Getting a product onto Walmart’s shelves offers significant exposure, reaching over 4,700 stores in the U.S. This can lead to increased sales, brand recognition, and market reach for small businesses. It’s an opportunity to gain visibility in a competitive retail environment, highlighting unique products and innovative ideas to a wide audience. What are Walmart’s requirements for suppliers? Walmart requires suppliers to meet quality standards, maintain competitive pricing, ensure appealing packaging, and adhere to logistics and sustainability practices. Familiarizing yourself with these requirements is crucial for positioning your business for success in the competitive retail landscape at Walmart. How can I prepare my product for Walmart? To prepare your product for Walmart, focus on ensuring high quality through rigorous testing, compliance with safety regulations, and effective packaging and labeling. Align your product presentation with Walmart’s brand guidelines to enhance consumer appeal and make a strong first impression on potential buyers. What is the application process for selling on Walmart’s shelves? The application process involves visiting Walmart’s Supplier Portal, completing the Supplier Assessment, preparing high-quality product samples, crafting a compelling pitch, and following up on your application status. Adhering to Walmart’s guidelines and submitting accurate information are key to increasing your chances of success. How can I build a relationship with Walmart? To build a relationship with Walmart, tailor your pitches to align with their values and customer demographics. Highlight your product’s unique selling points and leverage market data to enhance your proposal. Effective engagement through the Supplier Portal and consistent follow-up communications are essential for maintaining rapport with buyers. Why is networking important for getting into Walmart? Networking is crucial for establishing contacts with Walmart representatives and gaining insights into their buying process. Attending trade shows and retail expos can help small businesses connect directly with Walmart. Engaging with industry groups can also offer valuable resources and mentorship for fostering long-term partnerships. Image Via Envato This article, "Mastering How to Get Your Product in Walmart: A Complete Guide for Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Understanding Walmart’s Landscape: Familiarize yourself with Walmart’s retail environment and the unique demands they place on suppliers for increased visibility and sales potential. Supplier Requirements: Ensure your product meets Walmart’s quality standards, competitive pricing, packaging guidelines, logistics protocols, and sustainability practices to improve your chances of success. Preparation is Key: Devote time to create high-quality product samples and design appealing, compliant packaging that effectively communicates your product’s benefits. Strategic Application Process: Follow a structured approach for submitting your product, including utilizing the Supplier Portal, completing assessments accurately, and crafting a compelling pitch. Avoid Common Pitfalls: Be vigilant about adhering to guidelines, providing accurate information, and understanding the competitive landscape to avoid common mistakes that can lead to application rejection. Build Strong Relationships: Actively engage with Walmart buyers and network through industry events to foster connections, gain insights, and improve your probability of retail success. Getting your product on the shelves of Walmart can feel like a daunting challenge, but it’s an incredible opportunity for exposure and sales. With over 4,700 stores across the U.S., Walmart is a retail giant that attracts millions of shoppers every day. If you’ve got a unique product or innovative idea, you’re in the right place to learn how to navigate the process. In this guide, you’ll discover essential steps to prepare your product for Walmart’s competitive landscape. From understanding their requirements to crafting a compelling pitch, you’ll gain insights that could turn your dream of retail success into reality. Let’s dive in and explore how to make your product a staple in one of the world’s largest retailers. Understanding Walmart’s Retail Environment Understanding Walmart’s retail environment is crucial for your small business. With over 4,700 stores across the U.S., Walmart provides an unparalleled opportunity for exposure and sales. Navigating this environment requires insight into the retailer’s unique demands and expectations. Importance of Getting Your Product in Walmart Getting your product into Walmart offers significant advantages for small businesses. Walmart’s extensive customer base means your product gains visibility among millions of shoppers. Increased brand recognition and credibility come from association with a leading retailer. Additionally, successful placement can lead to substantial sales increases, allowing your business to grow and thrive. Overview of Walmart’s Supplier Requirements Walmart maintains specific supplier requirements for product submissions. Key components include: Quality Standards: Products must meet stringent safety and quality benchmarks. Ensure your items comply with all regulations applicable to your category. Pricing Strategy: Competitive pricing is essential. Walmart emphasizes low pricing and expects suppliers to maintain margins while keeping costs manageable. Packaging and Labeling: Consistent and appealing packaging is critical. Your products should feature clear labeling, which includes nutritional information if applicable. Logistics and Supply Chain: Suppliers must adhere to Walmart’s delivery timelines and logistics protocols. Prepare your production and distribution processes to align with their operational framework. Sustainability Practices: Walmart prioritizes sustainability. Show commitment through eco-friendly practices in sourcing and manufacturing. Understanding these factors will position your small business for success in becoming a Walmart supplier, enhancing your retail strategy and market reach. Preparing Your Product for Walmart Preparing your product for Walmart involves several crucial steps to ensure success in the retail environment. Focusing on quality, compliance, and appealing presentation sets you up for a strong position on Walmart’s shelves. Ensuring Product Quality and Compliance Ensure your product meets high-quality standards. Conduct rigorous testing to confirm durability and functionality. Compliance with safety regulations is mandatory; if your product targets a specific audience, like children or pets, it must adhere to additional guidelines. Familiarize yourself with Walmart’s supplier requirements by reviewing their Supplier Inclusion Standards, which outline product safety protocols. Consistency in quality helps establish trust with customers, ultimately enhancing your small business’s reputation. Packaging and Labeling Guidelines Packaging plays a vital role in attracting customers. Design packaging that showcases your product effectively and appeals to Walmart shoppers. Ensure your design aligns with Walmart’s brand guidelines, which emphasize clarity and consumer-friendly information. Include essential labeling components, such as ingredients, usage instructions, and contact information. Clear labeling aids compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations and various state laws, while informed customers are more likely to purchase your product. Remember, appealing and compliant packaging can significantly influence consumer buying decisions in retail. The Application Process Navigating the application process for getting your product into Walmart requires a strategic approach. Understanding specific steps and avoiding common pitfalls can enhance your chances of success. Steps to Submit Your Product Visit Walmart’s Supplier Portal. Start by accessing the Walmart Supplier website, where you can find valuable resources and guidelines tailored for small businesses. Complete the Supplier Assessment. Fill out the necessary forms detailing your business, your product, and your production capabilities. Be thorough and precise with your descriptions. Prepare Product Samples. Create high-quality samples of your product that showcase its features and quality. Ensure your packaging aligns with Walmart’s standards, as it reflects your brand’s image. Submit Your Pitch. Craft a compelling pitch that highlights your product’s uniqueness. Include information on how it meets customer needs, pricing strategies, and your vision for retail collaboration. Follow Up. After submitting your application, follow up. Reach out periodically to check on your status, demonstrating your continued interest and commitment to partnering with Walmart. Common Mistakes to Avoid Ignoring Guidelines. Failing to adhere to Walmart’s specific requirements can lead to immediate rejection. Ensure compliance with all quality, safety, and sustainability standards. Neglecting Packaging. Underestimating the importance of packaging can undermine your product’s appeal. Design packaging that is not only compliant but visually attractive and informative. Inaccurate Information. Providing incorrect contact or product information may delay processing. Double-check all details before submission. Skipping Market Research. Overlooking the competitive landscape can weaken your application. Understand how your product fits within Walmart’s existing offerings and identify what sets it apart. Lack of Transparency. Being vague about pricing or production processes can raise red flags. Be transparent to build trust with Walmart’s review team. By following these steps and avoiding these common mistakes, you can enhance your small business’s opportunity to successfully place your product on Walmart’s shelves. Building a Relationship with Walmart Building a strong relationship with Walmart is critical for small businesses aiming to secure retail space. Effective engagement enhances your chances of reaching broader markets and increases brand visibility. Strategies for Engaging Walmart Buyers Engaging Walmart buyers requires a tailored approach. First, tailor your pitch to align with Walmart’s values and customer demographics. Highlight your product’s unique selling points, focusing on how it meets consumer needs. Next, leverage data showing market demand and sales potential, which strengthens your position. You can also initiate contact through the Supplier Portal to express interest and provide your business information. Prepare for follow-up communications by having detailed product information and sales figures ready. Establishing a feedback loop with buyers can also enhance your relationship, allowing you to make timely improvements based on their insights. The Role of Networking and Industry Events Networking and industry events play a significant role in building relationships with Walmart. Attend trade shows and retail expos to connect directly with Walmart representatives and gain insights into their buying process. Present yourself confidently, ensuring your business stands out among competitors. Participating in industry groups focused on small businesses can equip you with valuable resources and connections. Building relationships with other suppliers can provide mentorship opportunities, enabling you to learn from their experiences with Walmart. Continuous engagement through these channels fosters trust and familiarity, essential for long-term partnerships with the retail giant. Conclusion Getting your product into Walmart can be a game-changer for your business. By understanding Walmart’s requirements and preparing your product effectively, you can significantly increase your chances of success. Focus on quality compliance and appealing packaging to stand out in a competitive market. Building relationships with Walmart buyers and leveraging networking opportunities can further enhance your visibility. Remember that persistence and attention to detail are key in this process. With the right approach and commitment, you can navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that come with being a Walmart supplier. Your innovative product could soon be on the shelves, reaching millions of customers. Frequently Asked Questions What are the benefits of getting a product onto Walmart’s shelves? Getting a product onto Walmart’s shelves offers significant exposure, reaching over 4,700 stores in the U.S. This can lead to increased sales, brand recognition, and market reach for small businesses. It’s an opportunity to gain visibility in a competitive retail environment, highlighting unique products and innovative ideas to a wide audience. What are Walmart’s requirements for suppliers? Walmart requires suppliers to meet quality standards, maintain competitive pricing, ensure appealing packaging, and adhere to logistics and sustainability practices. Familiarizing yourself with these requirements is crucial for positioning your business for success in the competitive retail landscape at Walmart. How can I prepare my product for Walmart? To prepare your product for Walmart, focus on ensuring high quality through rigorous testing, compliance with safety regulations, and effective packaging and labeling. Align your product presentation with Walmart’s brand guidelines to enhance consumer appeal and make a strong first impression on potential buyers. What is the application process for selling on Walmart’s shelves? The application process involves visiting Walmart’s Supplier Portal, completing the Supplier Assessment, preparing high-quality product samples, crafting a compelling pitch, and following up on your application status. Adhering to Walmart’s guidelines and submitting accurate information are key to increasing your chances of success. How can I build a relationship with Walmart? To build a relationship with Walmart, tailor your pitches to align with their values and customer demographics. Highlight your product’s unique selling points and leverage market data to enhance your proposal. Effective engagement through the Supplier Portal and consistent follow-up communications are essential for maintaining rapport with buyers. Why is networking important for getting into Walmart? Networking is crucial for establishing contacts with Walmart representatives and gaining insights into their buying process. Attending trade shows and retail expos can help small businesses connect directly with Walmart. Engaging with industry groups can also offer valuable resources and mentorship for fostering long-term partnerships. Image Via Envato This article, "Mastering How to Get Your Product in Walmart: A Complete Guide for Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Amazon's Memorial Day sale is in full swing, featuring deals on garden, sports, beauty, home items, electronics, and more. A particular sale that stood out to me, as a deals writer who frequently reviews headphones and speakers, is the one on Beats products. While it's not uncommon to see Beats products with a good discount, it is rare to see the newest product (the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2) included in the sale. Right now, you can get the Beats Pill, Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, and the Beats Studio Buds+ for up to 41% off. All of these options are at their lowest prices ever, according to price-tracking tools. Beats Studio Buds + are $40 off Beats Studio Buds + True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds, Enhanced Apple & Android Compatibility, Built-in Microphone. $99.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $169.95 Save $70.00 Get Deal Get Deal $99.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $169.95 Save $70.00 The Beats Studio Buds + are very similar to the Beats Studio Buds, but there are some key differences. The Studio Buds + have an extra small ear tip size, an extra hour of battery life (total of nine hours), 12 more hours from the charging case (total of 36 hours), and perhaps more importantly, they have better ANC and better features for Android users, which you can read more about in PCMag's review. You can get them for $99.95 (originally $169.95), matching the lowest price they have ever been, according to price-tracking tools. The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are $50 off Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Noise Cancelling, Heart Rate Monitor, IPX4, Up to 45H Battery & Charging Case, Apple & Android. $199.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $249.99 Save $50.04 Get Deal Get Deal $199.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $249.99 Save $50.04 The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are the newest earbuds from Beats, and the second generation of the original Powerbeats Pro. Although they're only $20 apart in price, don't let that fool you. This new iteration offers a lot more in quality than the original ones, which you can read more about in Senior Health Editor Beth Skwarecki's review. While your attention might go to its new heart-rate monitoring feature, it's actually a flop. However, they're still great workout earbuds with better flexible and durable ear hooks, ANC, audio quality, battery, case, and the newer H2 chip, which you also see in the AirPods Pro 2. The Beats Pill is $50 off Beats Pill 24H Battery Life, Water Resistant, Bluetooth, Apple & Android Compatible. $99.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $149.95 Save $50.00 Get Deal Get Deal $99.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $149.95 Save $50.00 I've been trying out the Beats Pill speaker since it came out in June, and it has everything I would want in a portable speaker: a stereo sound when connected to another compatible speaker, multi-room mode to play the same music on multiple speakers, the Find My Device feature in case you misplace it, and Class 1 Bluetooth for extended range. If you're an Apple user, you can take advantage of the AAC codec for better audio quality. You can get it for $99.95 (originally $149.95), the lowest price yet. View the full article

The Virginia man filed a false tax return in 2021 claiming an $18.3 million refund, working with a co-conspirator to defraud a real estate agent. View the full article

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Food rations that could supply 3.5 million people for a month are mouldering in warehouses around the world because of U.S. aid cuts and risk becoming unusable, according to five people familiar with the situation. The food stocks have been stuck inside four U.S. government warehouses since the The President administration’s decision in January to cut global aid programmes, according to three people who previously worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development and two sources from other aid organisations. Some stocks that are due to expire as early as July are likely to be destroyed, either by incineration, using them as animal feed or disposing of them in other ways, two of the sources said. The warehouses, which are run by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), contain between 60,000 to 66,000 metric tonnes of food, sourced from American farmers and manufacturers, the five people said. An undated inventory list for the warehouses – which are located in Djibouti, South Africa, Dubai and Houston – stated that they contained more than 66,000 tonnes of commodities, including high-energy biscuits, vegetable oil and fortified grains. Those supplies are valued at over $98 million, according to the document reviewed by Reuters, which was shared by an aid official and verified by a U.S. government source as up to date. That food could feed over a million people for three months, or the entire population of Gaza for a month and a half, according to a Reuters analysis using figures from the World Food Programme, the world’s largest humanitarian agency. The U.N. body says that one tonne of food – typically including cereals, pulses and oil – can meet the daily need of approximately 1,660 people. The dismantling of USAID and cuts to humanitarian aid spending by President Donald The President come as global hunger levels are rising due to conflict and climate change, which are driving more people toward famine, undoing decades of progress. According to the World Food Programme, 343 million people are facing acute levels of food insecurity worldwide. Of those, 1.9 million people are gripped by catastrophic hunger and on the brink of famine. Most of them are in Gaza and Sudan, but also in pockets of South Sudan, Haiti and Mali. A spokesperson for the State Department, which oversees USAID, said in response to detailed questions about the food stocks that it was working to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of aid programs and their transfer by July as part of the USAID decommissioning process. “USAID is continuously consulting with partners on where to best distribute commodities at USAID prepositioning warehouses for use in emergency programs ahead of their expiration dates,” the spokesperson said. Some food likely to be destroyed Although the The President administration has issued waivers for some humanitarian programmes – including in Gaza and Sudan – the cancellation of contracts and freezing of funds needed to pay suppliers, shippers and contractors has left food stocks stuck in the four warehouses, the sources said. A proposal to hand the stocks to aid organizations that can distribute them is on hold, according to the U.S. source and two former USAID sources briefed on the proposal. The plan is awaiting approval from the State Department’s Office of Foreign Assistance, the two former USAID sources said. The office is headed by Jeremy Lewin, a 28-year-old former operative of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, who is now overseeing the decommissioning of USAID. The Office of Foreign Assistance, DOGE and Lewin himself did not respond to requests for comment. Nearly 500 tonnes of high-energy biscuits stored at a USAID warehouse in Dubai are due to expire in July, according to a former USAID official and an aid official familiar with the inventories. The biscuits could feed at least 27,000 acutely malnourished children for a month, according to Reuters calculations. The biscuits are now likely to be destroyed or turned into animal feed, the former USAID official said, adding that in a typical year only around 20 tonnes of food might be disposed of in this way because of damage in transit or storage. Some of those stocks were previously intended for Gaza and famine-stricken Sudan, the former official said. The State Department spokesperson did not directly respond to questions on how much of the food aid in storage was close to expiry and whether this would be destroyed. USAID plans to fire almost all of its staff in two rounds on July 1 and Sept. 2, as it prepares to shut down, according to a notification submitted to Congress in March. The two former USAID sources said many of the critical staff needed to manage the warehouses or move the supplies will depart in July. Children dying The United States is the world’s largest humanitarian aid donor, amounting to at least 38% of all contributions recorded by the United Nations. It disbursed $61 billion in foreign assistance last year, just over half of it via USAID, according to government data. U.S. food aid includes ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) such as high-energy biscuits and Plumpy’Nut, a peanut-based paste. Navyn Salem, the founder of Edesia, a U.S.-based manufacturer of Plumpy’Nut, said termination of transportation contracts by USAID had created a massive backlog that had forced the firm to hire an additional warehouse to store its own production. The resulting stockpile of 5,000 tonnes, worth $13 million, could feed more than 484,000 children, she said. Salem said that email exchanges with Lewin have left her “hopeful” that a way will be found soon to get her product to the desperate children who need it. The UN children’s agency UNICEF warned in late March that RUTF stocks were running short in 17 countries due to funding cuts, potentially forcing 2.4 million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition to go without these crucial supplies for the rest of the year. The four USAID warehouses contain the majority of the agency’s pre-positioned food stockpiles. In normal times, these could be rapidly deployed to places like Sudan, where 25 million people – half the country’s population – face acute hunger. Jeanette Bailey, director of nutrition at the International Rescue Committee, which receives much of its funding from the U.S., said it was scaling back its programmes following the cuts. She said the impact of global shortages of therapeutic foods due to the disruption to U.S. aid flows is difficult to measure, particularly in places where aid programmes no longer operate. “What we do know, though, is that if a child’s in an inpatient stabilization centre and they’re no longer able to access treatment, more than 60% of those children are at risk of dying very quickly,” she said. Action Against Hunger, a non-profit that relied on the United States for over 30% of its global budget, said last month the U.S. cuts had already led to the deaths of at least six children at its programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, after it was forced to suspend admissions. Cuts causing chaos The Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs, which coordinates the U.S. government’s aid efforts overseas, was plunged into chaos by the The President administration’s cutbacks, the five sources said. The bureau’s staff were among thousands of USAID employees put on administrative leave pending their terminations. While some staff were brought back to work until their severence dates, aid administration has not recovered. Three sources told Reuters that the contract to maintain USAID warehouses in the South African port city of Durban had been cancelled, raising questions about future aid distribution. Reuters was unable to confirm that independently. Two former USAID officials said that the Djibouti and Dubai facilities would be handed over to a team at the State Department which has yet to be formed. The State Department did not comment. A spokesperson for the WFP, which relies heavily on U.S. funding, declined to comment on the stranded food stocks. Asked if it was engaged in discussions to release them, the spokesperson said: “We greatly appreciate the support from all our donors, including the U.S., and we will continue to work with partners to advocate for the needs of the most vulnerable in urgent need of life-saving assistance”. —Jessica Donati, Emma Farge, Ammu Kannampilly, and Jonathan Landay, Reuters. Writing by Ammu Kannampilly. View the full article

CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAVA), the parent company of Cava, a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand, announced it is opening up to 68 new U.S. locations in fiscal 2025, after reporting better-than-expected first quarter earnings results. Cava, also known as Cava Grill, currently operates 382 locations across the United States, in 26 states and Washington, D.C. (as of the close of Q1). 2024 was Cava’s first full calendar year as a public company. While Cava told Fast Company it does not release a full list of future locations, a look at the website shows restaurants in the following cities are “coming soon“: Phoenix, AZ Huntington Beach, CA Plantation, FL Bel Air, MD Burlington, NC Charlotte, NC Cava told Fast Company of the targeted 64-68 new restaurants it plans to open this year, it has already opened 15 net new locations (in Q1) representing an 18.3% increase in total restaurants year-over-year. Those are in the following states: Florida (Ocala, Palm Harbor, Hialeah) New Jersey (East Brunswick, Union, Marlton) Massachusetts (Chelmsford, Chestnut Hill) Louisiana (Lafayette, New Orleans) Texas Virginia Indiana North Carolina New York The company previously said it wants to reach 1,000 locations by 2032. At the same time many fast food chains and casual-dining restaurants are struggling, Cava’s growth stands out. Chief Financial Officer Tricia Tolivar told CNBC over the last few quarters Cava has found its hitting a sweet spot for customers who are trading up from fast food to purchase Cava’s healthy bowls and pitas, while trading down, seeing it as cheaper than other casual-dining options. Cava cofounder and CEO Brett Schulman said the chain has purposely priced food items for the current economic times, while focusing on healthy food and hospitality. “At a time when guests are being more selective about where they dine, the appeal of our Mediterranean cuisine continues to resonate with the modern consumer,” Schulman told Fast Company. “We’ve also stayed focused on delivering our unique value proposition, investing in our guests, and underpricing inflation. We offer a warm, welcoming environment that fosters a genuine human connection. It’s why we continue to drive traffic and sales growth, crossing $1B in revenue in the past twelve months.” Speaking of revenue, here’s a look at Cava’s first-quarter earnings numbers: Revenue grew 28.2% to $328.5 million as compared to $256.3 million in the prior year quarter Same restaurant sales growth of 10.8%, including guest traffic growth of 7.5% CAVA Group net income of $25.7 million compared to $14.0 million of net income and $11.9 million of adjusted net income in the prior year quarter Despite a strong quarter, Cava’s same-store sales forecast of a 6%-8% increase remained consistent with last quarter, and could be one reason shares were down about 3% in afternoon trading on Friday. As Fast Company previously reported, while Cava’s revenue grew 33% in 2024 along with a 9% jump in traffic, with same-restaurant sales up 13%, last quarter the chain forecast slower growth in the later half of fiscal 2025. View the full article

May often brings not only flowers, but also a highly anticipated—and in some cases, dreaded—event for college seniors: graduation. On their final day as students, they will walk across the stage to applause from peers, receive their diplomas, and start their lives as adults. Some of them will already have jobs lined up, while others may still be looking. A recently updated report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York suggests that how employable those graduating seniors are could well be influenced by which college majors they chose in their freshman and sophomore years. What do those choices say about a student’s future job prospects? The report offers a number of insights—some more surprising than others. Here’s a rundown of the highlights. College majors with the best early-career salaries Chemical Engineering, $80,000 Computer Engineering, $80,000 Computer Science, $80,000 Early career, defined as those in the workforce that fall between the ages of 22 and 27, doesn’t get much better than this, according to the report. These three majors, with the exact same median early-career salaries, will hopefully get you somewhere close to 80K. Something to note, though: Pay attention to the unemployment rates that we talk about in a few paragraphs. College majors with the best mid-career salaries Chemical Engineering, $120,000 Electrical Engineering, $120,000 Computer Engineering, $122,000 Aerospace Engineering, $125,000 These degrees will all help you get a six-figure salary mid-career, defined as those working who are between the ages of 35 and 45. Aerospace engineering does not rank in the top three for starting salaries, but this major has the highest median salary of all of the majors in this report. Best college majors for finding a job (based on unemployment rates) Special education, 1% unemployment rate Civil engineering, 1% unemployment rate Animal and plant sciences, 1% unemployment rate Construction services, 0.7% unemployment rate Nutrition services, 0.4% unemployment rate The top five college majors for finding a job are those with the lowest unemployment rates, all sitting at 1% or less. Construction services, in particular, boasts a mid-career median salary of six figures, at $100,000. Overall, these fields might be the best for finding a job in an uncertain market, though things can always change. College majors with the highest unemployment rate Computer Engineering, 7.5% unemployment rate Physics, 7.8% unemployment rate Anthropology, 9.4% unemployment rate Yes, you read that correctly. A high early-career salary does not necessarily mean a low unemployment rate. Even though computer engineering ranks in our top three for both early- and mid-career salaries, it has one of the highest unemployment rates of all of the majors within this report. Physics is also notable, considering that a majority of graduates with this major also have graduate degrees. But according to the report, physics is one of the majors struggling the most in the job market. College majors with the highest underemployment rate Medical technicians, 57.9% underemployment rate Performing arts, 62.3% underemployment rate Criminal justice, 67.2% underemployment rate The underemployment rate is a term used to describe the share of college graduates working in jobs that typically do not require a college degree (the share of staff without a college degree is over 50%). These majors include fields that do not always require college educations before starting a job. View the full article

Novo Nordisk announced Friday that it would part ways with its longtime CEO, who steered the company into an unprecedented boom time for weight loss drugs. The Ozempic maker’s chief executive Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen first joined the company as an economist in 1991. Jorgensen has served as Novo Nordisk’s CEO since 2017, leading the company before the current gold rush in weight loss drug development was imaginable. In a press release announcing the move, Novo Nordisk cited market challenges and its declining share price in a press release announcing the leadership shake up. Jorgensen will stay on as CEO temporarily for an undetermined period of time “to support a smooth transition” as the company looks for his replacement. Novo Nordisk’s value more than quintupled between 2017 and 2024, but the company’s shares have fallen sharply since late last year, weighed down by big pharma rivals catching up and the proliferation of compounding pharmacies handing out affordable knockoffs of its signature drugs amid supply shortages. First out of the gate but struggling to stay ahead As a 100-year old company focused on treating diabetes since day one, Novo Nordisk initially enjoyed a first mover advantage – but that edge has faded. Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide drug is a class of drugs known as a GLP-1 agonist, which simulates a hormone that would naturally be released during digestion. Novo’s semaglutide drug, marketed as Ozempic, was originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. In 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy, a version of Novo’s medication designed for weight loss and the first drug in that category to be approved since 2014. Novo Nordisk’s American competitor Eli Lilly made up ground quickly, securing FDA approval for its diabetes drug Mounjaro and its weight management counterpart Zepbound in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Eli Lilly shares have soared since those drugs started hitting the market, showing no sign of flagging. Jørgensen was well aware that Novo Nordisk would need to push an aggressive pace of drug development to stay ahead. In late 2023, the company announced that it would buy a startup developing weight management drugs for $1.07 billion, just one massive deal in a flurry of acquisitions meant to shore up its defenses. A drug for everything To stay ahead, Novo Nordisk is pushing its semaglutide treatments into other areas of medicine. “Cardiologists started being interested in GLP-1s,” Jørgensen told Fast Company in 2023. “The whole medical understanding of the link between obesity and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and all of these cardiometabolic diseases is being understood now.” Last year, the FDA approved Wegovy to reduce the risk of heart disease and in January Ozempic got the green light for treating kidney disease. For semaglutide drugs, and their counterparts from rival companies, osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s, liver disease and even addiction are all in play in the race to the next big thing. This week, the company announced a $2.2 billion partnership with Bay Area biotech startup Septerna to develop a pill form of its weight loss and diabetes drugs. Novo Nordisk characterized Jørgensen’s departure as a mutual agreement but noted that the change was the “wish” of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, an independent nonprofit that controls the company – an ownership structure that is common among large Danish businesses. The foundation is designed to steer leadership from a long-term perspective and also doles out large scientific grants on topics ranging from endocrinology to climate-adapted soil. Lars Rebien Sørensen, who chairs the Novo Nordisk Foundation, will join its board as an observer while the company seeks a new CEO. Sørensen is expected to be nominated for a seat on the board during an annual meeting in 2026. “We think of course in delivering here and now, but equally we think in decades forward,” Jørgensen told Fast Company in 2023, describing the foundation’s role. View the full article

UK government figures say the policy was widely blamed for Labour’s losses in this month’s local electionsView the full article

In February, the newly appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission opened a probe into Verizon just as the company was awaiting approval for a sizable acquisition. The telecom giant had announced plans last fall to purchase internet provider Frontier in a $20 billion deal, which was under review by the FCC. Verizon has now made the decision to cut its DEI programs, seemingly in response to FCC chair Brendan Carr’s investigation into its diversity practices. In a letter to the agency obtained by Reuters, Verizon disclosed that the company would scrub employee trainings of any references to DEI, along with changing its practices around hiring, supplier diversity, and corporate sponsorships. This afternoon, barely a day after receiving the letter from Verizon, the FCC announced that the acquisition of Frontier had been approved. According to Reuters, Verizon is eliminating workforce representation goals and will no longer tie compensation for managers to progress on hiring women and underrepresented employees. The company is also taking down its public page on “diversity and inclusion” and will no longer use the term DEI in its external messaging. (Verizon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.) Verizon conceded in its letter that “some DEI policies and practices could be associated with discrimination.” In a statement, Carr applauded Verizon’s decision, calling it a “good and important step forward—one that promotes equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and the public interest.” Verizon is hardly the first company to divest from its DEI commitments or make significant changes to those programs. Since January, President The President has issued a wide range of executive orders targeting DEI programs across the federal government and private sector. Many major employers have pulled back on DEI to shield against potential litigation, accelerating a shift that had already been underway since the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action in 2023. Like Verizon, a number of companies have stopped tying executive compensation to diversity metrics, while tech giants like Meta and Google have also eliminated representation goals. It’s not yet clear which corporate sponsorships will be impacted by the changes at Verizon, but other companies have stopped sponsoring Pride events. Still, Verizon’s decision stands out as an example of how the private sector is responding to explicit pressure from the The President administration to stamp out DEI programs. In an interview with CNBC, Carr was direct about what companies would need to do if they were seeking FCC approval. “We’ve told everybody that’s trying to do deals before the FCC that they need to end their own promotion of invidious forms of DEI,” he said. Carr also specifically noted that the agency would be willing to block Verizon’s deal with Frontier over the company’s DEI practices. The FCC has already launched similar probes into Comcast and Disney to investigate their DEI practices. Paramount’s negotiations with the FCC over its proposed merger with Skydance reportedly involved a commitment to steer clear of DEI programs, according to the Wall Street Journal—in line with changes the company already made earlier this year. Other commissioners at the agency have been critical of Carr’s investigations into DEI practices. “Stoking partisan culture wars is not the FCC’s job,” FCC commissioner Anna Gomez said following the probe into Comcast. In a statement, FCC commissioner Geoffrey Starks added that “from what I know, this enforcement action is out of our lane and out of our reach.” View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. If you’re deep into comparison shopping for fitness watches, you’ve probably come across some debate on the different display technologies. Manufacturers are moving toward AMOLED style screens (bright! Colorful! Sharp! Modern!) while some longtime users are diehards for the older MIP or LCD style screens (the general vibe is: pry them out of my cold dead hands). So where does that leave you, the shopper, wondering what to get for your first or next watch? I’m going to break down all the pros and cons. What’s the difference between MIP and AMOLED displays? I’m going to gloss over a lot of the detail you’d need to be an engineer to love and concentrate on what it’s like to use these screens. With that in mind: AMOLED displays have tiny pixels that glow to create the display, leaving black areas where the pixels are not turned on. (Your phone’s screen is probably AMOLED.) AMOLED displays are full color, and they use power any time they’re on. They’re bright and highly visible in the dark, but can potentially get washed out in extremely bright sunlight. MIP displays (memory-in-pixel), also called memory LCD, do not light up on their own. These displays reflect light, much like old-school LCD watches, so they are highly visible in sunlight but require a backlight to be seen in the dark. They can display color, but only a limited range of colors and they are not as vibrant or as high-resolution as AMOLED screens. AMOLED displays tend to be higher resolution, brighter, and sharper. MIP displays look more old-fashioned, but they always look good in bright sunlight, and they can be always-on without running down the battery life (assuming you have the backlight turned off). AMOLED displays tend to be touchscreens, but MIP displays can have touchscreens as well. For example, the Coros Pace 3 has a touchscreen, while the Garmin Forerunner 55 does not. (If you don’t want a touchscreen, you should know that you can disable the touchscreen on most sports watches.) Which watches have MIP and which have AMOLED displays? We’re currently at a transition point where most manufacturers are moving toward AMOLED if they haven’t switched already. Any fancy-looking smartwatch is likely to be AMOLED; there’s no MIP Apple Watch, for example. But among sports watches, there are plenty of models with MIP displays still being sold new. Here’s a breakdown of some of the more popular watches: AMOLED (or similar) displays: Apple Watches Samsung Galaxy Watches Pixel Watches Fitbit Charge 5 and Charge 6 Coros Pace Pro Garmin Forerunners 165, 265, 965, and the new 570 and 970 Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Garmin Vivoactive 5 and 6 Garmin Venu 2 and 3 Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED Polar Vantage, Ignite 3, Grit X2 Pro Suunto Race, Suunto Run MIP (or similar) displays: Coros Pace 3, Apex 2, Apex 2 Pro, Vertix 2 (everything except the Pace Pro) Garmin Forerunners 55, 255, 955, and any other Forerunner not ending in -65 or -70 Garmin Instinct, Instinct 2, Instinct E, and Instinct 3 Solar (these are actually a regular 2-color LCD rather than full color MIP) Garmin Vivoactive 4 and earlier Garmin Fenix 7 and earlier Garmin Fenix 8 Solar (and pretty much any solar watch) Polar Pacer, Pacer Pro, Grit X, Grit X Pro Suunto Core, 9 Baro, 9 Peak As this list should make clear, MIP screens are mostly found on older models—although often those models have similar functionality as their AMOLED brethren. For example, the Garmin Forerunner 255 and 265 are basically the same watch with two different displays (and very different price points). The only place I'm seeing MIP or reflective screens on new watches would be Garmin's solar offerings, since the charging panel isn't compatible with AMOLED. The Fenix 8 and the Instinct 3 both come in a MIP version with solar charging, and an AMOLED version without. MIP is always "on" This photo shows what different screens display when you're not looking at them. Left to right: Apple Watch (AMOLED) with AOD, Coros Pace 3 (MIP) with full display, Garmin Forerunner 265S displaying nothing. Credit: Beth Skwarecki The biggest argument in favor of MIP screens is that you can have an "always-on" display without draining the battery. There's a big caveat on that statement, though: MIP screens aren't actually "on" at all. They're like e-ink in that they always display something, but you may not be able to see what they're displaying without proper lighting. So in normal daytime conditions, a MIP screen is readable even without turning on its backlight. If you're typing on your computer, wrist in view, you can glance at your MIP watch and see the time even without pushing a button or turning your wrist. AMOLED watches, meanwhile, only get that feature if you turn on their "always-on display" (AOD). There are two downsides to the AOD on most watches: First, it eats battery. And second, to avoid eating too much battery, the AOD face will be a lower-energy version with less data and a dimmer display. A MIP watch, on the other hand, will display the same watch face all the time. To view a MIP screen in the dark, you can usually set the watch to turn on a backlight when you raise or turn your wrist. There's also typically a button that turns on the backlight as well. Some watches let you set the backlight gesture so that it's only available in the evening, assuming that you'll have plenty of light at other times of day. Real-world visibility testsI've happily reviewed a ton of AMOLED sports watches, with no problem viewing any of their displays in strong sunlight, but on forums like Reddit you'll find MIP devotees who say they would never consider an AMOLED watch for outdoor sports. They're afraid it wouldn't be readable in the sun. Ever since I read those posts, I’ve been paying attention to visibility, the better to form my own opinions. I got into the difference in display types in my comparison between the Coros Pace 3 (MIP) and Pace Pro (AMOLED), for example. And for today’s analysis, I’ve also borrowed a Forerunner 55 (MIP) to compare to my Forerunner 265S. So let’s take a look, using those two pairs of watches as our test subjects. In bright sunlight, at the right angle, MIP has a slight edge Left: Coros Pace 3 (MIP). Right: Coros Pace Pro (AMOLED) Credit: Beth Skwarecki This is a win for MIP, with caveats (see below about shadows). When you have bright light shining directly on a MIP screen, it practically glitters. Modern AMOLEDs tend to be pretty bright as well, and it seems every new watch release claims to have "our brightest screen ever." But on the brightest of days in the directest of sunlight, AMOLEDs can indeed be a bit washed out. That said, AMOLED screens don't show up well in photos on sunny days, so I don't think the photo above quite does the AMOLED screen justice. (Those black horizontal lines on the AMOLED are an artifact of the camera taking the picture faster than the display could refresh; they're not visible in real life.) In my opinion MIP screens look great in direct sunlight, while AMOLEDs are just OK. Left: Garmin Forerunner 55 (MIP). Right: Garmin Forerunner 265S (AMOLED) Credit: Beth Skwarecki I didn’t have a lot of great side-by-side photos in sunlight, so for another test I put both Forerunners directly under a bright desk lamp. A desk lamp is not the sun. However, I feel like this is a better demonstration of typical conditions—as judged by my own personal eyes and brain. Your own opinion might differ. If you're making your shopping decision based on how the displays look in sunlight, trying them out in person will tell you a lot more than any photo will. (Underrated shopping tip: show up to a running club and ask everybody about their watch. They'll be more than happy to show them off.) In shadow (even on a sunny day), AMOLED stays visible Left: Coros Pace 3 (MIP). Right: Coros Pace Pro (AMOLED) Credit: Beth Skwarecki I went for a few runs on bright sunny days with both of the Coros watches, and found I actually preferred the AMOLED display even in the sun. That’s because sunny days are also days with deep shadows. You have to get the angle just right to get that bright glittery effect on a MIP screen, while an AMOLED will shine from the shadows. Most of the time, either my body or the screen’s own bezel was shading it a bit. The photo above was taken on the same day, same run, as the outdoor Coros photo in sunlight. The sun didn't go behind a cloud, I was just standing in a different position. Left: Garmin Forerunner 55 (MIP). Right: Garmin Forerunner 265S (AMOLED) Credit: Beth Skwarecki And the photo here is the exact same setup with the desk lamp, but with the watches angled just a few degrees downward. Drastic difference in readability. Now, if you’re used to MIP watches, you’re used to angling them into the sun to get a good look. If you’re fine with that, great. I prefer the AMOLED in this situation. In medium-light scenarios, both are good Left: Garmin Forerunner 55 (MIP). Right: Garmin Forerunner 265S (AMOLED) Credit: Beth Skwarecki Here are both watches outdoors, on an overcast day, displaying the kind of screen you'd see most often during a running or other sports activity. This is probably the most telling photo of all: they are both fine. The MIP watch makes up for its potential visibility issues by defaulting to a white background, and the AMOLED just keeps showing bright numbers on a dark screen like usual. I use the AMOLED (the 265S) in this photo for most of my runs—it's not a review unit, it's the watch I actually own—and it's always visible, always looks great, in any weather and with or without sunglasses. But the MIP? It's good too! Nobody loses points here. And here are both watches indoors, with normal ambient lighting: Indoors with normal lighting. Left: Garmin Forerunner 55 (MIP). Right: Garmin Forerunner 265S (AMOLED) Credit: Beth Skwarecki In the dark, both screens light up just fine Left: Garmin Forerunner 55 (MIP). Right: Garmin Forerunner 265S (AMOLED) Credit: Beth Skwarecki You probably expected me to say that AMOLED is better in the dark. Honestly, while AMOLED is prettier in the dark (and prettier almost anytime, because AMOLED displays tend to be higher resolution and have more vivid colors), both screens are equally readable. The same gesture that wakes the AMOLED screen can wake the MIP screen’s backlight. (Please note that both watches are much sharper than the photo in real life. The blur you're seeing is just me failing to hold the camera perfectly steady in a dark room.) In actual darkness, like when you’re putting your kids to bed, your best bet is an AMOLED watch with a “sleep mode” that displays the time dimly. That way you don’t need to turn on a backlight to see the time. So if you’re concerned about the light being too bright, you probably want AMOLED. Battery usageMIP diehards like to say that MIP screens are more battery efficient. That may be technically true, but nobody buys a watch based on the battery life of its display. We want to know about the battery life of the entire watch. And honestly, AMOLED watches tend to have just as good a battery life as their MIP counterparts. Whether it’s better battery technology, power savings elsewhere in the software or hardware, or AMOLED itself being more efficient than you’d expect, it doesn’t matter. The Forerunner 965 (AMOLED) and the Forerunner 955 (MIP) both have a battery life of 8.5 hours during an activity with multi-band GPS mode and music playing. In smartwatch mode (not tracking activities), the 965 lasts 23 days in smartwatch mode, compared to 15 days for the 955. In other words, the AMOLED watch lasts eight days longer. If battery life is your priority, in this situation you’d want the AMOLED. This will vary by model, of course. Look up the battery life specs for the specific watches you’re interested in. Maybe the MIP model will last longer, but maybe the AMOLED will. Don’t make assumptions about the battery based on the look of the screen. How to make a decisionYou've seen my photos and heard my opinions, but ultimately you need to make a decision for yourself. And of the two display types, I'll be honest: neither is unusable or terrible or has some horrific misfeature that should be a dealbreaker. I do think that most people will prefer the AMOLED style. But if you end up with a MIP display, it will be fine. So let me run through a few things to keep in mind: If always-on display is important to you, consider MIP. You get this feature for free (in terms of battery life) as long as you're OK with angling it toward the light when needed. If bright colors and high resolution are important to you, AMOLED looks sharper and prettier, and is probably what you'll be happiest with. If you currently have a MIP watch but are afraid that you wouldn’t like an AMOLED watch, don’t let that stop you from shopping AMOLED models. The downsides of AMOLED (as the internet tells them) are wildly exaggerated. If your dream watch needs to be an older MIP watch to fit in your budget, go ahead and get it. It will be fine. If you have seen both watches in person, in a wide variety of lighting conditions, and have a strong opinion, just go with your preference. If you’re new to all of this and feeling confused right now, you’ll probably like AMOLED better. All the new watches are AMOLED anyway. Often you can get an older generation of a feature-rich watch for the same price as the newest generation of a more barebones model. That’s the case right now for a lot of Garmin models, where pretty much everything released in the last year or so has an AMOLED screen, and everything before it is MIP. Personally I think the Forerunner 255 is the best value for money of any Garmin watch, since it's nearly identical to my beloved 265—the only major difference is the screen type, and you can usually find it at least $100 cheaper. View the full article

For NFL teams’ social media departments, May 14 is the Super Bowl. NFL Schedule Release Day has become an unofficial holiday on the league calendar. All 32 teams unveil their season schedules in the most creative and entertaining ways possible—chasing quote tweets and marketing impressions before the internet crowns a winner. This year, the Los Angeles Chargers dropped a Minecraft-inspired video, complete with a nod to a viral Starbucks altercation between NFL reporters Ian Rapoport and Jordan Schultz during the combine. “Give the Chargers every award,” ProFootballTalk posted on X. The Washington Commanders put their own spin on the classic game RollerCoaster Tycoon, while the Atlanta Falcons went with a Mario Kart theme. The New York Giants reimagined their 2025 opponents as contestants on Love Island. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles weren’t done flexing last season’s success. This unofficial competition started nearly a decade ago with the Seattle Seahawks’ “cupcake schedule” video. What could’ve been a simple email has since evolved into full-blown productions—in which the schedule itself can feel like an afterthought. Brainstorming starts as early as December, months before the reveal. Teams usually don’t receive their finalized schedules until the day before the official release, prompting a last-minute sprint to produce and post final edits within 24 hours. Everything is kept under tight wraps until 8 p.m. ET, on May 15. “People will ask me,” said Megan Julian, the Chargers’ senior director of digital and social media, in an interview with Sports Illustrated. “I definitely have been on Hinge [the dating app], and people are, like, ‘What are y’all doing [for this year’s schedule video]?’ This is Hinge, bro. We gotta calm down. We gotta chill out. I’m not telling you.” And, as a truly unbiased Brit: This year, the Tennessee Titans won. View the full article

Brussels and Washington exchange negotiating documents after weeks of deadlock View the full article

After a record-breaking 2024 and exciting offseason, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is primed to keep the ball dribbling in 2025. The season kicks off tonight (Friday, May 16, 2025) with three exciting matchups. Here are some fun facts, history, and everything you need to know to get up to speed about the new season, including how to stream the games live. A brief history of the WNBA The WNBA was not the first professional women’s basketball league. That honor fell to the American Basketball League, which operated from 1996-1998. But it is the only one to have the support of the NBA. The WNBA was founded in 1996 and began balling in 1997, following the popularity of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team at the Summer Olympic Games. Eight teams battled it out on the court, but the Houston Comets prevailed as the first-ever WNBA champions. What happened during the 2025 WNBA offseason? Fast-forward to 2024 and the League had 12 teams. This year, it’s expanding to 13 with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries, based out of San Francisco. The new team on the block will be led by the first Asian American WNBA head coach, Natalie Nakase. Her impressive resume includes assistant coaching for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces. Last season, the Dallas Wings were shut out of the playoffs for the first time since 2020. This year, the organization has made changes, such as adding No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers to the roster. She will be led by new general manager Curt Miller and a new head coach, Chris Koclanes, who both have high hopes for a comeback. One cannot talk about the WNBA without mentioning last season’s Rookie of the Year, Caitlin Clark. Despite coming off a grueling college season, she helped the Indiana Fever reach the playoffs for the first time in eight years and set a new record of 337 assists. Imagine what she might do this year after getting a bit of a rest. Weekend WNBA schedule and how to stream the games live Be prepared, fans, as this weekend is going to be jam-packed with layups and three-pointers. Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET national: The Minnesota Lynx will face the Dallas Wings. Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET local: The Atlanta Dream take on the Washington Mystics. Friday, 10 p.m. ET national: The final game of the night has a California theme when the LA Sparks and the Golden State Valkyries. All of these games can be viewed on the broadcast TV network Ion, whose full WNBA schedule is on its website. The station is available in many areas with an over-the-air antenna, or as part of a cable bundle. You can also watch Ion on live-TV streaming services such as Fubo and YouTube TV. The league also has a subscription-based service, WNBA League Pass. Saturday brings another triple header. Saturday, 1 p.m ET: The Las Vegas Aces will try to take a bite out of the Big Apple, playing the New York Liberty. Saturday, 3 p.m. ET: Following that, things get hot and windy with the Chicago Sky challenging the Indiana Fever. Saturday, 10 p.m. ET: To end the day, the Seattle Storm will face off against the Phoenix Mercury. The first two Saturday games can be viewed on ABC, ESPN+, and Disney+, while the last one can only be watched on WNBA League Pass. Sunday will bring two more chances to see nothing but net. Sunday, 1 p.m. ET: In the afternoon, the Washington Mystics take on the Connecticut Sun. Sunday, 6 p.m. ET: In the evening, the Minnesota Lynx face the LA Sparks. Both games can be viewed on WNBA League Pass. How can I stream the rest of the WNBA season? This weekend is just the beginning of 175 regular-season games. These feats of athleticism will be available to watch across multiple networks and streaming services: ABC, ESPN, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ION, NBA TV, Prime Video, and WNBA League Pass. There’s so much basketball to look forward to. The All-Star Game comes around on July 19. The playoffs begin on September 14 with the finals following in October. To plan accordingly, you can see the full WNBA schedule here. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The gold standard for a bang-for-your-buck portable speaker is the Beats Pill, which you can easily find for $100. But if you're looking for an even more affordable equivalent, it is the Tribit StormBox Flow, which you can currently find for $55.99 (originally $79.99) after using the 30% on-page coupon. Tribit StormBox Flow 30H Playtime, IP67 Waterproof, Bluetooth 5.3, TWS, Custom EQ, Type-C. $55.99 at Amazon $79.99 Save $24.00 Get Deal Get Deal $55.99 at Amazon $79.99 Save $24.00 I've had the Tribit StormBox Flow for a couple of months—what makes it special is what you get for the money. At $55.99, you won't find another portable speaker that is rated IP67 for waterproof, has a well-made companion app with full EQ, has Bluetooth 5.3, and a speakerphone function. You can read more about its feature set in PCMag's full review. Tritbit seems to be focused on making the best outdoor speaker and earbuds it can while staying under a certain budget. Not all of its products are home runs (I've tried a couple of speakers), but the Tribit StormBox Flow was one of the few that did surprise me based on what it can do for the price. The sound quality is acceptable for what you'd expect from a portable speaker. If you play it too loud, you will hear some distortion. But as long as you're playing it below about 85%, it won't be noticeable. The full EQ is helpful and surprisingly, one of the best I've seen on a portable speaker. The bass punches above its weight, especially for a speaker this portable. If you get more than one, you can pair them to make a stereo sound. The 30 hours of battery life is also competitive with high-end outdoor speakers. View the full article

Four months after Donald The President returned to the White House, governments are still agonising over how to approach an erratic, unpredictable American presidentView the full article

In a dramatic move, conservative hardliners blocked President Donald The President's tax and spending bill, which would have included many measures favored by banks. View the full article

OpenAI launched a research preview on Friday of what it’s calling its most capable AI coding agent yet. Codex, a cloud-based software engineering agent, can write features, answer questions about a codebase, fix bugs, and propose pull requests for review. Several tasks can run simultaneously, and users retain full access to their computers while the agent takes anywhere from one to 30 minutes to complete a task. Since it’s still in research preview, the tool remains in early development. The company said in a blog post that it “currently lacks features like image inputs for frontend work, and the ability to course-correct the agent while it’s working. Additionally, delegating to a remote agent takes longer than interactive editing, which can take some getting used to.” Over time, however, the company said using the service will feel more like asynchronous collaboration with colleagues. Codex is available to ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, and Team subscribers. Users will have “generous access at no additional cost” for a few weeks, after which OpenAI plans to introduce pricing options and rate-limited access. Friday’s launch comes as part of a broader rise of AI tools for software engineers that are meant to handle repetitive, boring tasks rather than take over the whole gamut. “We imagine a future where developers drive the work they want to own and delegate the rest to agents—moving faster and being more productive with AI,” OpenAI said. Companies in the AI coding space are seeing massive revenues and high valuations. Anysphere, the startup behind coding platform Cursor, reportedly raised $900 million at a $9 billion valuation. Major tech companies are also racing to stake their claim. OpenAI competitor Anthropic released an agentic coding tool in February. In April, Google added new features to its AI coding agent, and Microsoft has been active in the space as well. In addition to Codex, OpenAI is reportedly in talks to acquire Windsurf, a maker of AI coding tools, for around $3 billion—potentially its largest acquisition to date. Investor confidence in OpenAI appears strong. In March, the company announced it had raised $40 billion at a $300 billion post-money valuation, making it one of the most valuable companies in the world. Codex is available for ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, and Team subscribers. Users will have “generous access at no additional cost” for a few weeks and after OpenAI will roll out pricing options and rate-limited access. View the full article

Deal with Australian developer Lendlease is part of joint venture for six projects expected to be worth £22bnView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Vegetable plants are expensive. To get the best yield out of them, you need to pay attention to more than just the soil, sun, and watering. You need to get your plants off on the right foot by planting them the right way. Here's what I mean. Choose the right plant at the nursery Credit: Amanda Blum When I first started gardening, I thought the best vegetable starts to buy were the ones that were the biggest, with flowers and fruit already on them. This would give the plant a head start, right? Sadly, no. Plants go through something called "transplant shock" when you move them. You’re disturbing the plant's roots, and moving it to a new environment. To survive, the plant needs to focus all its energy on the plant's roots, and if there's a lot of plant matter like leaves, flowers, and fruit to support, energy is wasted supporting them. Plants with established fruit, in particular, struggle during the transplant process. Choose plants that look healthy, with strong stems and leaves without damage, but that don't yet have flowers or fruit. Prepare your soil Credit: Amanda Blum There are legions of ways to handle your garden from season to season. Some people till the soil, while others employ a no-till method, and still others use something called "chop-and-drop." Regardless of the method, the soil you’re planting into has to be pliable enough that roots can flourish in them. For that reason, ensure that the soil is turned over and broken up—from a shovel to a shovel and a half’s depth. You can use a broadfork for this, if you don’t want to disturb the soil structure, but otherwise, just use a shovel. Breaking up the soil will help you see the texture—so you can add sand if the soil has too much clay in it, or compost if it isn't holding any moisture. You can use this time to add amendments such as vegetable fertilizer and lime. Fertilizer is obvious, but lime is used to turn your soil less acidic, which happens over time through watering and growing. Most vegetables don’t enjoy acidic environments. Turn the amendments into the soil. Choose an overcast dayYour plants will already be stressed by transplanting. Planting them into the blazing sun is even more stress. A stretch of overcast days is the perfect planting time. If that's not an option, plant at twilight to give your plants a night to adjust. Consider giving the plant some shade the next day to help it acclimate. Get the plant out of the pot without damaging the roots Credit: Amanda Blum By the time plants reach the nursery, they’re often root-bound in the plastic pots or six packs you buy them in. Roots are resilient, but you don’t want to disturb them more than necessary. The best way to break a plant free from a plastic pot is to use two fingers and squeeze the bottom of the pot. This should free the plant. Don’t turn the pot over or pound on it with your palm, and definitely don’t try to pull it loose by the plant’s stem. on the left, the eggplant seedling just out of the pot, and on the right, after the roots have been broken up Credit: Amanda Blum Once the plant is out, you want to break up the roots by using your fingers like a comb on the bottom of the plant, so that roots are freed. That said, these plants do not enjoy their roots being disturbed: cucumbers, beans, pumpkins, luffa, beets, and most root vegetables. For these, I simply dig a hole, remove the plant from the plastic tray, carefully plop the plant in, and walk away. Separate plants as necessary Credit: Amanda Blum Most pots have more than one seed in each cell. In some cases, like tomatoes, someone usually culls the seedlings so only one is left to flourish. However, in some cases, like herbs and lettuce, nurseries leave the seeds alone and let multiple seeds grow. In other cases like onions and carrots, the cells are purposely overseeded to be filled with lots of seedlings. Strawberries usually come in a pot of five to 10 starts. If you take a cell of onion seedlings out, you can separate them by diving the block in half over and over again, until you have individual seedlings. Credit: Amanda Blum When there’s more than one seedling, you need to separate them. You shouldn’t try to plant them altogether. For lettuce or herbs, this is simple: Remove one cell, and with your fingers, gently pull the soil pod apart. Start by pulling the pod in half, and then keep dividing until all the seedlings are free. This works on larger plants like squash, and smaller plants like carrots where there can be 20 or more seedlings in a single cell. Once the individual seedlings are free, they can each be planted as if they’re a whole plant. This is how you get a whole row of carrots or onions. This is also a great way to save money, since you usually get far more than six lettuce heads from a six-pack of lettuce. Know the right depth Credit: Amanda Blum Plants need to go in the ground at the right depth, ensuring that the base of the plant is at soil level. In some cases, though, you can (and should) plant the stem deeper. Leeks and onions, for example, can be planted deeply. In particular, leeks can be planted as deeply as possible, with only an inch or two of seedling above the surface of the soil. This will help blanch the leek (keep it white). Tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers can be planted deeply, as they’ll form roots along their entire stem. If your tomato is leggy (tall with little horizontal branching), this is a spectacular way to fix the problem. When in doubt, follow the directions on the plant tag, or simply plant at a standard depth so the roots are covered, but the stem is exposed above the soil. Don’t mulch against your stemsWhile mulch is an important part of insulating your vegetable plants and keeping moisture in the ground, it’s also a way to spread pathogens. You want to ensure plants have a few inches of clearance between them and the mulch. Keep your labels or make new ones Keep those plant tags. Credit: Amanda Blum In the melee of planting, it’s common to lose your plant tags. After all, a tomato is a tomato. However, you’ll be sad at the end of the season when one tomato does spectacularly and another doesn’t, and you don’t know what variety each was. Label your plants! View the full article