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Crypto's Safe Haven Status Erodes as Prices Plunge After Ukraine Invasion


Crypto's Safe Haven Status Erodes as Prices Plunge After Ukraine Invasion

The prices of bitcoin, ether and other cryptocurrencies plunged after Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine, a loss in value that challenges the widely held notion that digital currencies can serve as a safe haven.

Bitcoin, the best-known cryptocurrency, dropped below the $35,000 level, which cut 8% from its price. Ether, another widely owned digital coin, fell more than 7% to under $2,500.

Gold, the conventional asset of crises, rose above $1,970 per ounce on Thursday, its highest level in roughly a year and a half, according to Trading Economics. 

Though crypto prices rebounded on Thursday, the sharp slide calls into question the popular belief among crypto evangelists that bitcoin, ether and cryptocurrencies generally can be defensive investments during times of geopolitical risk. Bitcoin, in particular, is seen as a hedge against global uncertainty and inflation, which will likely be stoked by rising oil prices caused by the Russian invasion.

"The idea of crypto being a safe haven should be dead," George Monaghan, an analyst at GlobalData, said in a note. He added that believers would likely continue to have faith in cryptocurrencies, saying "the interest-understanding balance is just too skewed." 

Cryptocurrencies are digital assets that are recorded on a blockchain, a distributed digital ledger that can't be altered. They usually aren't backed by an underlying asset, such as fiat currency.

Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency to gain widespread acceptance and is favored in part because the total outstanding balance of the coins is fixed, which proponents say will control inflation.

Though US inflation rose 7.5% in January – the most it has since February 1982 – crypto prices have struggled to hold ground. 

Bitcoin prices peaked in November, before falling sharply in January. The price of bitcoin started to recover in February. However, bitcoin prices started sliding after a high on Feb. 10. Prices slumped further with the invasion, which came after months of tension between Russia and Ukraine.

The total market cap for cryptocurrency currently sits at roughly $1.7 trillion, slightly above the market cap 24 hours ago, according to data from CoinMarketCap. 

James Royal, a principal writer at CNET sister site Bankrate, said cryptocurrencies shouldn't be viewed as safe investments because they aren't backed by assets or business cash flows.

"Their price relies solely on traders' sentiments," Royal said. "When traders become more optimistic, cryptocurrency prices rise. When traders become gloomy, crypto prices fall."

That's why Royal suggested first-time investors in digital assets should proceed with caution.

"Those who are looking to get started must understand that they should not put in more than they're willing to lose," he said.


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Best Buy will stop selling Huawei smartphones


Best Buy will stop selling Huawei smartphones

It's going to get harder for Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei to sell its smartphones in the US.

Best Buy, the nation's largest electronics retailer, has ceased ordering new smartphones from Huawei and will stop selling its products over the next few weeks, according to a person familiar with the situation. The retailer will also stop selling its laptops and smartwatches. Best Buy made the decision to end the relationship, the person said.

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The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is the company's flagship phone. But no US carrier will sell it. 

Josh Miller/CNET

The retailer didn't provide any additional details. 

"We don't comment on specific contracts with vendors, and we make decisions to change what we sell for a variety of reasons," said a Best Buy spokeswoman.

A Huawei spokeswoman called Best Buy a valued partner. But "as a policy, we do not discuss the details of our partner relationships," she said.

The move is a critical blow to Huawei, which is the world's third-largest smartphone vendor behind Apple and Samsung but has struggled to establish any presence in the US. Best Buy was one of Huawei's biggest retail partners, and one of the rare places you could see its unlocked smartphones, laptops and smartwatches in person. Huawei's Android-powered phones aren't sold by any US carriers, which is how a majority of Americans typically buy their phones.

Global Data analyst Avi Greengart called it "devastating for Huawei."

Huawei was widely expected to announce a partnership with AT&T in January at CES to carry the Mate 10 Pro smartphone, but the carrier reportedly backed out because of political pressure. A few days later, Verizon reportedly nixed its own plans to sell Huawei phones. Instead, Richard Yu, CEO of the company's consumer business, spent his time talking about the phones, which were already in the market elsewhere, as well as touting the Porsche Design variant of the smartphone. 

While on stage during his CES keynote in January, Yu acknowledged that the lack of a carrier partner hurt, but said that it was "a bigger blow to consumers" who lose out on a strong alternative for an Android phone in the Mate 10 Pro. CNET editor Andrew Hoyle called it "a beautiful, big-screen bruiser" that earns its place among other high-end smartphones. The Mate's features include a front-facing camera that can shoot portrait mode-style photos and that has a beefy 4,000 mAh battery.

AT&T declined to comment on the reports, but noted it has never publicly committed to selling a Huawei phone. Verizon couldn't be reached for comment but has previously declined to weigh in on the matter.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group, touts the Mate 10 Pro Porsche Edition at CES.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group, touts the Mate 10 Pro Porsche Edition at CES in January.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Security concerns have long dogged Huawei in the US. In 2012, the House Intelligence Committee released a report accusing Huawei and fellow Chinese vendor ZTE of making telecommunications equipment that posed national security threats, and lawmakers banned US companies from buying the gear. Sprint, for instance, has earlier considered using Huawei to supply equipment to its network, but opted not to work with the company.

Following the report's release, the committee stressed that the report didn't refer to its smartphones. 

Huawei had spent the last few years slowly building a fan base by selling unlocked phones through retailers like Best Buy, Amazon and Newegg. But most US consumers have still never heard of the company -- or even know how to pronounce its name. The company also boasts a line of Windows 10-powered laptops under the MateBook brand and its Android Wear-powered Huawei Watch. 

The tolerance for its smartphones has changed in the last few months. Following the reports of political pressure exerted in January, the directors of the FBI, CIA and NSA all expressed their concerns about the risks posed by Huawei and ZTE phones during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing last month.

Huawei, for its part, has noted that its products — both telecom equipment and phones — are sold elsewhere around the world and with different global companies.

"Our products and solutions are used by major carriers, Fortune 500 companies and hundreds of millions of consumers in more than 170 countries around the world," said a Huawei spokesman. "We have earned the trust of our partners across the global value chain."

While ZTE is roped into the conversation, the company does sell its smartphones through US carriers. It has touted the amount of US components and resources that go into its products. And it has more of an established presence in the US, with AT&T selling its Axon M foldable smartphone and with various phones sold through prepaid carriers.  

Amazon declined to comment on the move, but the online retail giant is still offering Huawei products -- which include phones and Android Wear smartwatches -- on a Huawei-specific page. Newegg didn't respond to a request for comment, but Huawei phones are listed on its site. 

First published March 21, 4 p.m. PT.
Updates, March 22 at 3:55 a.m.: Adds background and a comment from an analyst; 4:24 p.m.: Includes additional details on the Huawei products that'll be dropped from Best Buy.

The Smartest Stuff: Innovators are thinking up new ways to make you, and the things around you, smarter.

Special Reports: CNET's in-depth features in one place.


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NASA and SpaceX prep Halloween launch for Crew-3 to ISS


NASA and SpaceX prep Halloween launch for Crew-3 to ISS

Four astronauts could get quite the treat on Halloween. NASA has set a targeted launch time of 2:21 a.m. ET on Oct. 31 (11:21 p.m. PT on Oct. 30). Crew-3 will take off with a lift from a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

NASA announced the Halloween date for SpaceX's Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station back in June, nudging the launch back a bit from its previous date of Oct. 23. 

Crew-3 will follow SpaceX's previous flights as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron and European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer are set to spend six months on the ISS. They will be flying on a new Crew Dragon spacecraft named Endurance.  

Space flight dates can easily slip for reasons ranging from technical delays to weather. In 2020, NASA and SpaceX planned to launch the Crew-1 mission on Halloween, but it ended up taking off on Nov. 15. Crew-3 already has a backup launch date of early morning Eastern time on Nov. 3 if needed.

Halloween might seem like a spooky time to launch into the darkness of space, but the astronauts will take it in stride. The ISS crew has been known to celebrate the holiday in orbit with Elvis and Darth Vader costumes. And as far as group costumes go, Crew-3 will all be wearing matching astronaut suits.    


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Tesla Autopilot under federal investigation for crashes with emergency vehicles


Tesla Autopilot under federal investigation for crashes with emergency vehicles

Tesla's Autopilot system is under federal investigation. On Monday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it is formally looking into the safety of Tesla's Autopilot Level 2 driver-assistance functions. In particular, federal investigators say this new probe will look into Tesla crashes with parked emergency vehicles. The government agency is aware of at least 11 crashes or fires, resulting in 17 injuries, as well as one fatality. Some 765,000 cars from Tesla, including the Model Y, 3,S and X, are covered by this new investigation.

According to an Office of Defects Investigation document, NHTSA describes the core problem as "subject vehicle crashes with in-road or roadside first responders." Tesla vehicles have "encountered first responder scenes and subsequently struck one or more vehicles involved with those scenes," the preliminary report said. "The involved subject vehicles were all confirmed to have been engaged in either Autopilot or Traffic Aware Cruise Control during the approach to the crashes." The reported crashes took place between 2014 and 2021, with four of them occuring this year.

NHTSA did not immediately return Roadshow's request for additional comment. Tesla does not operate a public relations department to field requests for comment.

NHTSA and the National Traffic Safety Board have for years investigated various Tesla crashes involving the company's driver-assistance technology. The system is a Level 2 technology on the SAE's scale of autonomy, and does not provide any sort of autonomous driving technology. The National Transportation Safety Board last year spoke up about a lack of accountability for Tesla, but also regulators, including NHTSA, in the wake of high-profile fatal crashes in which drivers were apparently not in control. It also called on NHTSA to implement more regulations surrounding driver-assistance technology and self-driving cars in the wake of Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" beta.

This past June, NHTSA took its strictest stance yet on these new technologies as it mandated crash reports for self-driving cars and driver-assist systems. If any vehicle equipped with one of these types of technologies is involved in a crash, the agency will require a report from the automaker within 24 hours, plus updates with additional information over the following days.


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Icebergify: Here's How to Create an 'Iceberg' of Your Favorite Spotify Artists


Icebergify: Here's How to Create an 'Iceberg' of Your Favorite Spotify Artists

Scrolled through social media recently? Seen those bizarre musical icebergs floating around in your feed? You're not alone. Screenshots like this have been doing the rounds, particularly on Twitter. 

It's all created via the magic of a website called Icebergify.

Using the data from your Spotify listening habits, Icebergify creates an "iceberg" of your most listened-to artists ranked by popularity. At the tip of the iceberg? Your favorite "mainstream" artists. Your Taylor Swifts, your Beyonces, your Drakes, etc. The further down you go, the more obscure it becomes. It looks a little like this...

Iceberg with names of musical artists listed all over it

Not everyone loves their results.

Screenshot by CNET

If you want to see your own iceberg, you can head to the website directly. Be warned: it does require your Spotify log-in. 

The Icebergify website was developed by Akshay Raj, a freshman studying computer and data science at Rice University. He says he has no plans to monetize the site or use the data collected -- which is limited to your username, Spotify account ID and the top 50 tracks and artists listened to over the past few years. 

How does it work? It's fairly simple. Icebergify takes your most listened-to artists and sorts them according to popularity rankings. Streams, shares, saves, likes and followers are all taken into account. This is why Beyonce might be at the top of your iceberg, but lesser-known artists are at the bottom, beneath the ocean. Also worth noting: It seems like Icebergify is being flooded due to its surprising popularity. Head back later if it doesn't immediately work.


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Asus loads ZenBook and VivoBook lines with ScreenPad displays


Asus loads ZenBook and VivoBook lines with ScreenPad displays

The centerpiece of Asus' 2019 Computex press conference on Monday was the ZenBook Pro Duo, a high-end laptop that sports two 4K displays. But that doesn't mean its less expensive laptops didn't get some love, too.

Asus' ScreenPad is a phone-sized screen that doubles as a trackpad. First introduced in last year's ZenBook Pro 15, it's been improved (it's now the ScreenPad 2) and ported to Asus' midrange laptops.

What's new in the ScreenPad 2? It's slightly larger, more responsive and, perhaps most importantly, it now isn't powered by a discrete graphics card, which makes it much easier on ye' ol' batteries.

If you're having trouble imagining it, just think of the trackpad in your laptop. Now imagine it as a 5.65-inch phone screen, with apps and all, and you have an idea of what Asus is going for. It comes loaded with Asus programs, but you can also put apps like Netflix, Spotify and Facebook Messenger down there. 

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Asus' ScreenPad-eqipped VivoBooks. 

Daniel Van Boom/CNET

It also serves functions that compliment whatever you're running on the main screen. A tech demo showed a PowerPoint-style app where the ScreenPad had options to embolden, italicize or underline text.

Here are the 2019 models you'll find the ScreenPad 2 in. These notably include the VivoBook S lineup, which are cheaper than the ZenBook range. (Also, hilariously, Asus pulled a "hello, fellow kids" and categorized the VivoBook as its "youthful and stylish" range during its Computex press conference.)

  • Asus ZenBook 15: Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeFore GTX 1650 Max-Q graphics, 92% screen-to-body ratio
  • Asus ZenBook 13, 14: Intel Core i7, Nvidia MX250 graphics. The ZenBook 13 has a 95% screen-to-body ratio, while the 14 has a 92% ratio.
  • Asus VivoBook S 13, 15: Intel Core i7, Nvidia MX250 graphics, 5.65-inch ScreenPad, 88% screen-to-body ratio.

Asus also announced a special ZenBook 30, a laptop to celebrate the company's 30th birthday. It's a 13-inch ZenBook laptop, with a Core i7 CPU and Nvidia MX250 graphics like the above machines, but it's got some luxurious trimmings. It's leather encased, and has 18 karat rose gold plating. 

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ZenBook 30

Asus

Find out more about the show-stealing ZenBook Duo laptops in our first-take about the computers.


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Scott Hall, Pro Wrestler Known as Razor Ramon, Dies at Age 63


Scott Hall, Pro Wrestler Known as Razor Ramon, Dies at Age 63

Scott Hall, a hall of fame professional wrestler who performed in the WWE under the ring-name Razor Ramon, died Monday at the age of 63. Hall suffered three heart attacks over the weekend and was placed on life support. His family opted to turn off life support and Hall died soon after. 

Hall began wrestling in 1984 but rose to prominence after signing to the WWE in 1992, using the name Razor Ramon. His character, loosely based on the Tony Montana character in the 1983 movie Scarface, was a Cuban American heel, or bad guy. Soon, the Razor Ramon character became so popular with fans he turned face, becoming a good guy. His ladder match against Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania X is often referred to as one of the greatest professional wrestling matches of all time.

But Hall's biggest impact was felt in WCW, a rival promotion to the WWE. His move there in 1996 heralded the beginning of the "Monday Night Wars" ratings battle between the two wrestling giants. Hall's switch, alongside fellow pro wrestler Kevin Nash, sent ripples through the wrestling business and kickstarted a new era of success for WCW. His onscreen faction with Nash and Hulk Hogan, called the NWO, or the New World Order, was one of the most memorable and influential story lines in professional wrestling history, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in a televised wrestling show

Tributes from fellow wrestlers began rolling in Monday.

"I love Scott with all my heart but now I have to prepare my life without him," said his former tag team partner Kevin Nash.

As Hall once said, "bad times don't last, but bad guys do."


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WWE Hell in a Cell 2020: How to watch, start times, full card and WWE Network


WWE Hell in a Cell 2020: How to watch, start times, full card and WWE Network

Hell in a Cell is WWE's next pay-per-view event, and it takes place on Sunday Oct. 25. There are only five official matches announced for the show -- three of which are Hell in a Cell matches -- so expect a few new ones to be added on the night. 

Clash of Champions ended with Roman Reigns crowning himself the Tribal Chief as he raised the Universal Championship over the brutalized body of his cousin, Jey Uso. At Hell in a Cell on Sunday, the two will battle once again, but this time, as you can probably guess by now, it'll be inside the Hell in a Cell cage... and it'll be an I Quit match.

In the two other Hell in a Cell bouts, Drew McIntyre will defend his WWE Championship (again) against Randy Orton, and Sasha Banks challenges for Bayley's SmackDown Women's Championship. 

Start times

As with Raw and SmackDown, Hell in a Cell will air from Orlando's Amway Center, known as WWE's ThunderDome. The main card starts both days at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. If you're a paid WWE Network subscriber -- at $9.99 a month -- you can watch Hell in a Cell live for no extra cost. Otherwise, you'll need to contact your local cable provider. 

Viewers in the UK will have to stay up late to watch Hell in a Cell; the show starts 11 p.m. Sunday UK time. Hell in a Cell starts for Australians at 10 a.m. AEST on Monday.

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Bayley vs. Sasha Banks.

WWE

Match card

  • WWE Championship Hell in a Cell match: Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Randy Orton.
  • Universal Championship Hell in a Cell I Quit match: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jey Uso.
  • SmackDown Women's Championship Hell in a Cell match: Bayley (c) vs. Sasha Banks.
  • Elias vs. Jeff Hardy.
  • Match for the Money in the Bank briefcase: Otis vs. The Miz.

How to watch: WWE Network 

You can start (or restart) a subscription to the WWE Network here:

The monthly price is $9.99 (US) or £9.99 (UK). New subscribers used to get a free month, but that's no longer the case now that there's a free tier (which pay-per-view events aren't covered by, sadly).

The WWE Network app is available on Roku, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Kindle Fire, Apple TV, iOS and Android.


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Curious About Cryptocurrency? 4 Ways to Start Investing Without Losing Your Shirt


Curious About Cryptocurrency? 4 Ways to Start Investing Without Losing Your Shirt

This story is part of So Money (subscribe here), an online community dedicated to financial empowerment and advice, led by CNET Editor at Large and So Money podcast host Farnoosh Torabi.

If I had a dollar for every email with the words "bitcoin" or "NFT" sent to me over the last few years, I'd be richer than some of the cryptocurrency millionaires making headlines.

OK, that may be an exaggeration. But I will say that in this sector it's exceedingly difficult to separate the fanfare from the fundamentals. As "experts" online tout crypto as the "investment of a lifetime," new data shows that a majority of young millionaires hold the bulk of their wealth in it. What's next? Kim Kardashian promoting an obscure cryptocurrency? Oh, wait...

Then there's the cryptocurrency market's recent steep sell-off, which points to its ongoing volatility and uncertainty about the future.

Through my efforts to learn more, I've found that investing experts and financial and tech journalists tend to agree that crypto has become part of our lives and is not going away. At the same time, there's a ton of investor misguidance. Too many people are making financial moves off of pure adrenaline and speculation. 

"Investing should be boring," says Georgia Lee Hussey, founder of Modernist Financial in Portland, Oregon. "If you're super duper excited about your portfolio, you're doing it wrong. Full stop." 

Spencer Jakab, a longtime Wall Street reporter and author of the new book The Revolution That Wasn't,isn't convinced we have to participate at all. "There's no rhyme or reason to it ... I'm not a fan," he says.

But we can't help but be curious. Many of you have told me you want to understand how to start trying out this market in a clearheaded, substantive way. Are there ways to test the crypto waters that are measured, emotionally intelligent and rooted in a strategy? I have some ideas below.

1. Explore career opportunities in the crypto market

One way to "invest" in the cryptocurrency market is by working for a crypto company. And now, there are more choices than ever. Crypto-related job opportunities surged 395% in the US between 2020 and 2021, according to LinkedIn. That's about four times more than job listings in the broader tech industry.

After spending most of her career working for conventional financial institutions like TIAA and BlackRock, corporate communications executive Lauren Post was tapped to join Bakkt, an Atlanta-based digital asset platform. Bakkt, which went public last fall, works with noncrypto companies that want to offer their clients cryptocurrency experiences. This includes working with credit card companies that offer cardholders crypto rewards, as well as teaming up with banks to help them integrate crypto trading with their platforms. 

"I was both intrigued and slightly apprehensive because I didn't know much about crypto," said Post in an email. "But, after having spent my career at traditional financial services companies, I realized that learning about crypto couldn't be much different from learning about target date funds, fixed income, credit default swaps or any other corner of finance. I also realized that the skills I have unpacking complex topics for general audiences can be applied to any industry and are timely for the crypto space right now."

2. Consider stablecoins

Not into pegging your cryptocurrency's success to a rally sparked by an Elon Musk tweet?

A new cryptocurrency genre called stablecoins bloomed in 2021, and unlike its peers, it promises less volatility and a more direct connection to traditional forms of value. Stablecoins are like "cryptocurrency with a twist," according to CNET's Julian Dossett. He explains: "Instead of being 'mined' by an open, distributed network of computers performing a combination of math and record-keeping, a stablecoin derives its price from the value of another asset. In short, a stablecoin is pegged to some other underlying asset." Many stablecoins are fixed to the US dollar. 

Think of a stablecoin as you would chips at a poker table, says Dossett. Instead of buying bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency directly with fiat money like the US dollar, you pay cash to buy stablecoins first -- they're available on most crypto exchanges including Coinbase -- and can then trade stablecoins for other forms of cryptocurrency.  

3. Engage with blockchain

A blockchain is a digital ledger that facilitates and records bitcoin transactions, but this technology can do more than power bitcoin. More broadly, due to its decentralization and cryptography, a blockchain can create much-needed efficiency and security to a number of markets from insurance to real estate, banking and legal. 

If you're interested in learning about the crypto market, consider looking into blockchain. It can be time well spent for someone seeking to enhance their business or examining how to leverage the technology where they work.

As an investor, I'm bullish on the concept of blockchain. To that end, I've chosen to contribute a tiny portion of my retirement savings in a fund called BLOK, which comprises established companies such as Square, Paypal and Nvidia that are investing in blockchain technology. 

4. Still want to buy crypto? Top off at 5% and diversify

Invest in cryptocurrency if you'd like to, but just because this is a new asset class doesn't mean abandoning tried-and-true methods of portfolio management. For starters, don't bet the farm. Hussey and many financial planners recommend limiting our holdings of so-called alternative and relatively high-risk assets like cryptocurrency, real estate and start-ups to no more than 5% of our total portfolio. "It is an asset class in its infancy," says Hussey. "We don't really understand the market because it's not built to be understandable." 

Finally, invest in a bunch of currencies. No matter how confident you may be in a particular digital coin, remember that diversification helps to mitigate losses over time. (You don't want to be like some of the early investors during the dawn of the internet who went all in on pets.com.)

"If you're really confident about some bet, if you have some reason to believe you've got an edge, you still don't bet all your money because there's no sure thing," says Jakab. "To invest exclusively in a single category is something not even the best gamblers do."


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Motorola foldable phone concept opens up into a tablet


Motorola foldable phone concept opens up into a tablet

Foldable smartphones could be the next big thing, and Motorola has at least one design patented and ready to go.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) approved a Motorola patent (via LetsGoDigital) for a folding phone design. The design includes a long rectangular screen that can be folded for a phone-like experience, or unfolded to work like a tablet. The phone patent shows a flexible display that wraps around a hinge, plus a cover that can protect the display or prop the phone up like a tent. The cover could even provide wireless charging if desired.

The patent was originally filed in September 2016, so the company has been thinking about the concept for years, and may have already moved past this specific idea. Motorola declined to comment when CNET asked about the patent.

Motorola joins a long list of other phone makers (like Samsung, Apple and Huawei) reportedly working on foldable phones. You can read more about them here:

More pictures from the Motorola patent below:

motorola-folding-phone-letsgodigital-bottom

Motorola's folding phone design opens and closes like this. Patent images modified by LetsGoDigital.

LetsGoDigital

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Best Crib Mattress for 2022


Best Crib Mattress for 2022

A good piece of advice for new parents is "sleep when your baby sleeps." That's not always realistic, but if you can take a quick nap when your little one nods off, you definitely should. One way to maximize those opportunities is to invest in a good crib mattress, which can help your baby sleep more soundly and, hopefully, for longer stretches of time. 

If you need another reason to invest in a quality crib mattress, consider that your baby will sleep 12 to 18 hours a day during their first year. Because they spend most of their early life in a crib, you'll probably want to make sure that space is as comfortable and safe as possible. That last bit is key because a mattress that's not firm enough or too small for your crib can be dangerous. Soft sleep surfaces and gaps between the mattress and crib increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Safety should be priority number one when shopping for a crib mattress, but you should also consider how easy it will be to use. Crib mattresses with waterproof covers that are easy to clean can be a lifesaver if your child is prone to diaper blowouts. Along those same lines, a lightweight mattress will help save your body from unnecessary strain throughout its lifetime.

With all that in mind, here are eight of the best crib mattresses currently available.

Screenshot/Nasha Addarich CNET

Foam core mattresses are more popular these days, but a traditional innerspring crib mattress is firm and durable. In this category, Sealy Baby's FlexCool crib mattress shines with its 204 coils and anti-sag steel bars for support. A higher coil count translates to a firmer mattress, as there are fewer gaps between each coil. Innerspring mattresses tend to sleep cooler because air can flow freely between the springs. 

The FlexCool is a two-stage crib mattress with an extra firm side for infants and a softer side for toddlers. The mattress is Greenguard Gold certified, which means it's tested to ensure its materials don't emit any chemicals that could affect the air your child breathes. One downside of innerspring crib mattresses is that they're heavier than their foam core counterparts. The FlexCool weighs shy of 15 pounds. That might not sound like a lot, but the extra weight could make changing sheets even more of a chore.

Screenshot/Nasha Addarich CNET

With the rise of brands such as Casper and Purple, the mattress in a box has carved out a niche in the mattress space. It should come as no surprise then that the mattress in a box model has made its way into the crib mattress category. The Graco Deluxe Foam Crib and Toddler Mattress is a standard mattress that's compressed, rolled up and crammed in a space-efficient box for easy shipping. Like other mattresses packaged this way, the Graco self-expands once it's removed from the box. Once fully expanded, the mattress is ready to be placed in your crib. However, some owners report that the mattress never fully expands to its correct 4-inch thickness. You should contact the retailer and ask for a replacement if this happens with yours.

The Graco Deluxe is Greenguard Gold certified and comes with a removable water-resistant cover that's machine-washable, something you'll appreciate at 3 a.m. when your little one wakes up from a soaked, leaky diaper. Though the mattress is suitable for both babies and toddlers, it has the same level of firmness on both sides.

Screenshot/Nasha Addarich CNET

If you have budget to spare, the waterproof crib mattress from Newton Baby is an excellent option. Newton prides itself on its use of breathable materials and construction, and its crib mattresses show off the company's innovations best. Newton's proprietary Wovenaire core is made of food-grade polymer mesh, which is 90% air by volume. This allows air to flow freely through the mattress, reducing the risk of suffocation. As a bonus, it also allows you to hose down the mattress if it gets super-gross. You need to set aside two to six hours to let it dry. The cover is also washable and waterproof. Hopefully, that would catch all the grossness before it hits the mattress, but it's nice to have options just in case. 

The Newton is a dual-stage crib mattress with a fully breathable side for babies and a waterproof side for toddlers who are potty training. The mattress is not organic, though the company says the materials are all hypoallergenic. It's also Greenguard Gold certified, which is good if you're a parent who plans to put the breathability claim to the test as soon as you get it out of the package (I see you, curious dads). Though it's undoubtedly pricey, the Newton could give you extra peace of mind.

Screenshot/Nasha Addarich CNET

The Newton boasts some impressive tech, but it's not the only breathable crib mattress in town. Halo, a safe sleep pioneer, known for its sleep sacks and swiveling bassinet, has a breathable crib mattress that's worth a look. Called the DreamWeave after its breathable mesh core, the mattress is made up of food-grade polymers, but it's mostly just pockets of air. The mattress cover is also breathable and has two sides -- a 3D mesh quilted side for infants and a toddler side that's waterproof to protect against accidents. Should some leakage get through the cover, the mattress itself can be rinsed off like the Newton.  

The Halo Dreamwave is Greenguard Gold certified and uses hypoallergenic materials. Though this mattress is still expensive, it's cheaper than the Newton and offers similar features.   

If you want your baby to sleep on a crib mattress made of organic, natural materials, you'll like the options from Naturepedic. Their mattresses use a food-grade polyurethane "WaveSupport" core and organic cotton for filling. Meanwhile, the waterproof cover is made of non-GMO sugarcane and wipes clean easily. The mattress is GOTS certified for organic and sustainably sourced materials and Greenguard Gold certified.

This particular crib mattress has the same firmness on both sides, but Naturepedic makes a two-stage version. If your baby has sensitive skin and you like the ecological benefits of going organic, an organic crib mattress might make sense for you. 

Screenshot/Nasha Addarich CNET

Changing crib sheets is hard enough, thanks to the necessary extra-snug fit of the mattress, so we get it if you want to make the process easier on yourself with a lighter mattress. The Lullaby Earth Super Lightweight Mattress is waterproof, Greenguard Gold certified and weighs just 7 pounds. That's a good deal lighter than most foam core mattresses, weighing as much as 15 pounds. 

The Lullaby Earth features a waterproof cover that wipes clean with soap and water. The core and cover are made of food-grade polymers, which the company says increases the mattress's recyclability. A two-stage version with dual firmness levels is also available, costing a little more money but not more weight. 

Screenshot/Nasha Addarich CNET

Not everyone has several hundred dollars to throw at a crib mattress. That's why it's nice to know there are still good options at the lower end of the pricing spectrum. Safety 1st is well known in the industry for its competitively priced baby products, and the brand's focus on affordability and value naturally carries over to its crib mattress offerings. The Safety 1st Heavenly Dreams crib mattress is a sub-$100 option that offers a surprising amount of features for the money. Its core is made of high-density thermo-bonded polyester fiber, while the waterproof cover is vinyl. It's also lightweight, weighing just 7.5 pounds. 

You might not think you can get Greenguard Gold certification at the under-$100 price point, but Heavenly Dreams delivers that coveted green seal of approval. The two-stage version of Heavenly Dreams is currently unavailable, but at this price you could buy the toddler version when you're ready to upgrade and still spend less than you would on many two-stage mattresses on the market. If you don't need ultra-premium features or organic materials, the Safety 1st is a solid bet. 

Screenshot/Nasha Addarich CNET

There are many reasons to go with a mini crib over a full-size crib. They're compact and have a much smaller footprint than their full-size counterparts, which means you'll have an easier time fitting one in your room. Some mini cribs even fold and have legs with lockable caster wheels, further increasing their flexibility. If you decide a mini crib is the right fit for your baby and living space, then you're going to need a crib mattress to go with it. 

Though full-size cribs must accommodate a standard mattress size, there's no such regulation for mini cribs. Manufacturers tend to stick to a certain size (24 by 38 inches), but it's still important to measure your mini crib to ensure you'll have a close fit. If your mini crib is a common size, the Dream on Me Portable Mattress is a stand-out choice. It's Greenguard Gold certified, has a waterproof cover and is exceptionally lightweight at just 2.5 pounds. On top of all that, it's very affordable at under $50. 

Crib Mattress FAQs

What are the different types of crib mattresses?

There are several ways you can break down the types of crib mattresses available, but generally, they fall into two categories:

Innerspring mattress: An innerspring crib mattress is a more traditional mattress that relies on internal coil springs for support. The higher the number of coils, the more supportive the mattress. As a result of having hundreds of steel coils for a core, innerspring mattresses are almost always heavier than their foam counterparts. They also tend to be pricier.

Foam mattress: Foam crib mattresses make up the vast majority of the market. They're typically made of polyurethane foam and can be relatively inexpensive due to their simpler construction than innerspring mattresses. Within the foam crib mattress category, you have breathable mattresses, which feature woven polymer cores that allow air to pass through them more easily. 

Do babies like a firm mattress?

You might like the pillowy, sink-in feel of a soft mattress, but your baby needs to sleep on something a good deal firmer for their safety. According to Alex Savy, a certified sleep science coach and founder of SleepingOcean, a good crib mattress must be firm and supportive as a precaution against SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics says soft mattresses, including those made of memory foam, can form indentations that increase suffocation risk.  

"A crib mattress should not be cushioning and hugging," says Savy. "Instead, it must spring back quicklywhen the pressure is applied."

What does Greenguard Gold certified mean?

You'll often see this certification on crib mattresses and many other baby products. Greenguard Gold certification signifies that a product has passed a battery of tests looking for chemical emissions called Volatile Organic Compounds. These pollutants are released as a gas from paints, cleaning supplies and materials. A Greenguard Gold certified product has proven itself to emit a very low amount of VOCs, if any. 

Though Greenguard Gold is the most prevalent among crib mattresses, you'll see numerous other awards and certifications. CertiPur-US is similar in that it certifies a product has low VOCs, but a mattress with this certification has also been made without ozone depleters, toxic flame retardants or phthalates. However, Greenguard Gold is generally considered to be the more stringent standard.   

Do all crib mattresses fit all cribs?

All standard-size crib mattresses are required by law to measure between 51 and 5/8 to 53 inches long and 27 and 1/4 to 28 inches wide. So yes, in theory, any crib mattress on sale today should fit any crib, but some will fit better than others. Some mattresses' corners are square, while others are rounded, leaving gaps. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, you should have no gaps larger than two fingers between the mattress and the crib's sides. 

Read more: Best Diaper Bags of 2022

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


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CES 2021: Custom mix your own lipstick with this gadget


CES 2021: Custom mix your own lipstick with this gadget

This story is part of CES, where CNET covers the latest news on the most incredible tech coming soon.

My makeup drawer is stuffed with liquid lipsticks of all colors, but this one gadget could eliminate all of those tubes. The Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Sur Mesure Powered by Perso can mix lipstick shades together into nearly any custom color, eliminating the need to buy a new lipstick when you want to try a new shade.

L'Oreal (the brand that owns YSL's cosmetic line) showed off Perso at CES 2020, and at CES 2021 it becomes a real device that you can buy, starting this spring.

Perso costs $299 and is about the size of a venti coffee with a stylish makeup compact perched on top. Inside is space for three liquid lipstick cartridges that are deposited into the compact in precise amounts to create a custom lipstick color with the press of a button. You just swirl the colors together with the included brush and apply to your lips. The brush attaches to the side of Perso with a magnet and the compact lifts off so that you can take your lipstick with you for on-the-go touchups.

You'll be able to buy packs of cartridges in shades of red, fuchsia, nude and orange, each with three cartridges per pack. With those four color families, you can make thousands of different shades.

To pick the colors you want, you use the YSL Rouge Sur Mesure app. There you can select from trending colors designed by L'Oreal and various lifestyle influencers. "You can also choose your hair color and your eye color, and [the app] will recommend you palettes of shades that, based on scientific color data, will most likely will match well to your features," says Guive Balooch, the global VP of L'Oreal Tech Incubator, which created Perso.

You can also snap a picture of your bag, shoes, nail polish, eyeshadow or almost anything else and create a lipstick color that matches it. And you can get even more granular by picking a specific shade from a color wheel.

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The YSL Rouge Sur Mesure app lets you choose colors that will suit your skin tone, or pick a color to match your outfit.

L'Oréal

When I previewed Perso in 2020, I was already impressed. But with the new YSL branding, the final version of the product is even more appealing. The entire device looks stylish, from the slick black base to the compact that looks like a quilted leather YSL handbag.

The $300 price tag might give you pause, but Perso is designed for people who love makeup and already drop hundreds of dollars a year on it. Those customers (myself included) are willing to spend that amount on custom experience like this that both eliminates the need for owning dozens of lipstick tubes and stops you from wasting money on a full-size lipstick in a color that doesn't look good on your face. Been there, done that.

The total cost includes Perso and three cartridges, and you'll be able to purchase additional cartridges for $100 for three. Given that a single lipstick from YSL typically costs around $40, that price is a pretty good deal. In the future, L'Oreal hopes to make Perso available for the company's less-expensive makeup lines, which could bring the overall costs down.

As for a makeup enthusiast like myself, I can't wait to get my hands on Perso now, and I hope that someday we get more color choices and less-expensive cartridges.

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


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