go fishing Two days after blowout win, Celtics face Pacers again

The Amazon Omni Mini-LED (2024) delivers a stellar picture and intense audio. Wi-Fi 6E capability and a 144Hz refresh rate help optimize it for gameplay. The remote response and load times seemed a bit sticky. My two foremost considerations for buying a smart TV are price range and performance. Is it within my budget, and how does it stack up to competitors? Assessing those two factors alone can help determine the value you're getting for your purchase. Also: Mini LED vs. OLED: What's the difference, and which TV should you buy? While the 2024 Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED is not a budget model, it's impressive enough to give higher-end, more expensive televisions a run for their money. I tested the 65-inch version at our ZDNET lab -- while surveying the picture quality and experience of other, more premium sets -- to give you this breakdown. Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini LED (2024) The company's latest model features a Mini LED panel, a 144Hz refresh rate, and useful AI features. What's new with this model Amazon's latest iteration in the Fire 4K TV Omni series ambitiously combines the precise control of brightness and contrast of mini-LED backlighting with the vibrant colors and wide viewing angles of QLED. That, plus its picture-enhancing Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive features, results in images with superb depth and detail. In addition to these visual improvements, Amazon upgraded its audio potential from a pair of 12W speakers to a 2.1 system, meaning it added a subwoofer to complement the Omni Mini-LED's left and right speakers. This better equips the TV to make the most of its Dolby Atmos technology and create a spatial, three-dimensional surround sound experience. Also: Changing these 5 soundbar settings made my living room feel like a movie theater The Omni Mini-LED also has better Wi-Fi support than older models, now able to operate on Wi-Fi 6E. Besides futureproofing, this allows for faster data rates if your router is compatible. (The Amazon Eero Pro is a ZDNET-recommended option, and now it has a new model available.) Speaking of accelerated processing, it shouldn't come as a surprise that this is Amazon's fastest Fire TV ever. The Omni Mini-LED features a tantalizing 144Hz refresh rate for hardcore gamers, and PC gamers especially can take advantage of AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to smooth out gameplay and reduce latency. While we're seeing more premium sets hit the 165Hz rating, 144Hz is still a significant step up from the 60Hz we typically see on mid-range TVs. Further, the Fire TV now has two HDMI 2.1 ports in case you'd like to connect devices beyond your Xbox or PlayStation console. It also comes with two HDMI 2.0 ports, an ethernet connection, and an eARC port for a soundbar or peripheral speakers. Also: The best TVs of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed Three features stand out that separate the Omni Mini-LED from lower-end options: motion detection, hands-free operation, and its Ambient Experience, which, according to Amazon, "turns your TV into an all-day useful display." Motion detection is a sweet addition because the TV's integrated radar sensor will notice motion in the room to wake up the unit when idle, displaying a customized screen saver and preferred widgets, like weather information. This feature is part of its Ambient Experience -- a mode in which you can use AI to create your own art to display 24/7, if you so wish. I asked it, for example, to create a "bioluminescent coral seascape." Here is what the AI came up with. A sample of the Omni Mini-LED's generative AI artwork. The hands-free Alexa feature allows you to search for and launch your desired content (and also adjust volume) without even touching the remote. If you don't want your smart TV to hear everything you say, you can turn this off via a manual switch buried at the bottom of the unit's frame. Or, holding down the single blue button on the remote allows you to communicate your requests more discreetly. Setup and performance The Omni Mini-LED's initial setup required jumping through the usual hoops: setting up Wi-Fi, adding apps, opting in or out for Amazon-specific ad features, and so on. One of the first options while setting up included changing the default Picture Mode to a different mode for better picture quality. Do this. Making the switch only invokes a minor increase in power consumption, which adds up to spending a few more pennies per month, so it's worth it. I tried all the picture options and found "Movie Bright" looks best on the Omni Mini-LED. Notably, the Netflix app wasn't an available option in the initial setup, but when I logged into my Prime account, it included all the apps I downloaded there. That process, after attaching the unit's two metal feet to its base, was fairly swift and breezy. Also: LG's G4 OLED TV is my pick for best picture quality, and it's $800 off for the holiday season With Prime's extensive library at my fingertips, I chose to watch Outer Range (in 4K) to get a first impression. And I was impressed by its 1,400 nits of peak brightness and 768 dimming zones which yield a sharp, bright picture and superb contrast, even in a well-lit room. As I always do when setting up a TV for testing, I experimented with the Omni Mini-LED's settings to maximize (in this case) its QLED potential. It's interesting to note that its UX allows access to settings with two different menus: one from the Home screen, and one within each app. For example, pressing the remote's gear icon Settings button while watching a movie gives you limited menu options compared with clicking on the gear icon from the Home screen. Navigating through the options, I turned on AI Picture and Adaptive Brightness under the "Intelligent Picture" option. This purportedly adapts the picture according to your room's current light and color, and the AI upscaling will fine-tune details to keep high-res images sharp. Under Advanced Picture Settings, I further turned on Super Resolution and set both Edge Enhancer and Noise Reduction on high. Also: Changing these 6 TV settings instantly sped up its performance The Omni Mini-LED's native volume is intense, partly thanks to the inclusion of that subwoofer upgrade. Dolby Atmos support and its new 2.1 speaker system also help bring richness and clarity to the sound. While testing, I was more than comfortable with the volume set at 23 out of 100. For comparison, I often need to push the volume on my 2018 Samsung up to 70+ to get comprehensible dialogue. For this Omni TV, in the Advanced audio settings, I found the option called Clear Voice to be best, and I went ahead and turned on Volume Leveler: High. With these settings in place, I was satisfied that I was getting the most out of the Omni Mini-LED in terms of sound and vision. Overall, I only have a couple of minor gripes, and they are persnickety. The network speed at our lab checks out at a respectable 130 Mbps. Despite that, I found the load times lagged a bit when switching between shows and apps, implicating the Fire TV OS as dragging its feet. With a strong Wi-Fi signal, I was surprised to see what was ostensibly buffering between transitions. My other gripe is even more nitpicky. I noticed a delay in the TV's response to pressing any button on the remote. Granted, we're talking about a matter of one or two seconds. If you're impatient like me, though, you might be tempted to hit a button twice when you don't get an instant, immediate response, toggling you back to where you were. This drives me crazy, but I know it's no big deal. ZDNET's buying advice Looking for a mid-range TV that rivals brands with a higher price tag but similar qualities? The Omni Mini-LED is a worthy contender at its list price of $1,089. It offers convincing upgrades from prior Fire TV models and exceeds the needs of many viewers and game players with its lofty specs. If you're keen on Google TVs, consider the Hisense Class U8 -- the company's flagship version of a mini-LED panel. ZDNET's Taylor Clemons suggests it may eclipse the Omni Mini-LED in terms of gaming performance, but its list price is generally higher when not on sale. Specifications (compared to competitors) Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini LED (2024) Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2022) Hisense U8N (2024) Display type QLED, Mini LED QLED QLED, Mini LED Resolution 4K UHD 4K UHD 4K UHD HDR formats HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10+ Gaming HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Advanced HDR Refresh rate 144Hz in gaming mode 60Hz 144Hz HDMI ports 2x HDMI 2.0 / 1x HDMI eARC 2.1 / 1x HDMI 2.1 3x HDMI 2.0 / 1x HDMI eARC 2.1 2x HDMI 2.0 / 2x HDMI 2.1 Connectivity Wi-Fi 6E and Ethernet Wi-Fi 6 and Ethernet Wi-Fi 6E and Ethernet Sizes 55", 65", 75". 85" 43" (LED), 50", 55", 65", 75" 55", 65", 75". 85", 100" Price $819 - $2,099 $449 - $1,099 $798 - $4,997 How we test TVs While testing and researching the TVs featured on this list, I and other ZDNET experts kept these criteria in mind: Price: Not all budgets are created equal. And if you're working with a limited budget, that shouldn't mean you have to settle for a sub-par TV. Each TV model on this list has been chosen across a variety of price points to help accommodate different needs. Screen size: The most important factor to consider, after price, when shopping for a new TV is whether or not it will fit into your space. Each best TV on this list was chosen because they are available in a wide variety of sizes to suit different rooms. Picture and audio quality: A new TV doesn't mean much, even if it costs an arm and a leg, if it doesn't provide a great picture and clear audio. Each TV on this list has been ensured to support various HDR codecs, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, as well as enhanced audio software like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, and object-tracking sound. For a more detailed look, check out our extensive TV testing methodology . Why I pick this ultraportable Lenovo tablet over the iPad Air for multimedia consumption I tested the new Kindle Scribe for two weeks, and it beat my ReMarkable in several ways One of the best QLED TVs I've tested isn't made by Samsung or Hisense These Beyerdynamic earbuds delivered glorious sound for any kind of music I played'Well-planned conspiracy by UP CM Adityanath BJP-RSS' Cong on Sambhal violenceFormer President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest: A somber announcement The longest-lived American president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. A Southerner and a man of faith In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.” A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world. Former Vice President Gore remembers Carter for life "of purpose” Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter. The Associated Press

Former Bollywood diva Preity Zinta responded to a fan’s inquisition, revealing if she ever dated superstar Salman Khan. Taking to her official handle on the social platform X, formerly termed Twitter, Preity Zinta wished her close friend and frequent collaborator Salman Khan on Friday, as the superstar celebrated his 59th birthday on December 27. She posted several photos with the ‘Tiger 3’ star and wrote, “Happy Burrday @BeingSalmanKhan. Just wanna say I love you the mostest. Rest will tell you when I speak to you ... and yes we need more photos otherwise I will keep posting the same old ones! Ting.” In response to her birthday post for Khan, a social user asked Zinta, “Did you two ever date?” to which she replied, “No not at all! He is family & my closest friend.” “And my husband’s friend too .. just in case you were wondering. Sorry! Couldn’t resist,” she added. It is worth noting that Salman Khan and Preity Zinta have shared the screen in multiple hit titles, including, ‘Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega’, ‘Chori Chori Chupke Chupke’, ‘Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha’, ‘Jaan-E-Mann’, ‘Ishkq in Paris’ and ‘Heroes’ among others. Meanwhile, on the work front, Zinta is all set for her movie comeback after a long hiatus. She co-stars with Sunny Deol, Ali Fazal, Karan Deol and Shabana Azmi in Rajkumar Santoshi’s directorial ‘Lahore 1947’, backed by Aamir Khan Productions.I was treated better as a trans woman but changed my mind...now my college won't let me talk about it

‘Sitting with their head in their hands’: farm equipment suppliers fear for impact of budget

BJP-led Mahayuti retains power, Cong-led combine bites dustNigerian Tribune at 75: Awolowo’s Testament of Immortality

By HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, there was still time to read books. U.S. sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market, with many choosing the relief of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up Taylor Swift’s tie-in book to her blockbuster tour, while others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Here are 10 notable books published in 2024, in no particular order. Asking about the year’s hottest reads would basically yield a list of the biggest hits in romantasy, the blend of fantasy and romance that has proved so irresistible fans were snapping up expensive “special editions” with decorative covers and sprayed edges. Of the 25 top sellers of 2024, as compiled by Circana, six were by romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas, including “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third of her “Crescent City” series. Millions read her latest installment about Bryce Quinlan and Hunter Athalar and traced the ever-growing ties of “Maasverse,” the overlapping worlds of “Crescent City” and her other series, “Throne of Glass” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” If romantasy is for escape, other books demand we confront. In the bestselling “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks into studies finding that the mental health of young people began to deteriorate in the 2010s, after decades of progress. According to Haidt, the main culprit is right before us: digital screens that have drawn kids away from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhoods. Although some critics challenged his findings, “The Anxious Generation” became a talking point and a catchphrase. Admirers ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee, who in a letter to state legislators advocated such “commonsense recommendations” from the book as banning phones in schools and keeping kids off social media until age 16. Bob Woodward books have been an election tradition for decades. “War,” the latest of his highly sourced Washington insider accounts, made news with its allegations that Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin even while out of office and, while president, had sent Putin sophisticated COVID-19 test machines. Among Woodward’s other scoops: Putin seriously considered using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president, for some of the problems with Russia. “Barack never took Putin seriously,” Woodward quoted Biden as saying. Former (and future) first lady Melania Trump, who gives few interviews and rarely discusses her private life, unexpectedly announced she was publishing a memoir: “Melania.” The publisher was unlikely for a former first lady — not one of the major New York houses, but Skyhorse, where authors include such controversial public figures as Woody Allen and Trump cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And its success was at least a minor surprise. Melania Trump did little publicity for the book, and offered few revelations beyond posting a video expressing support for abortion rights — a break from one of the cornerstones of GOP policy. But “Melania” still sold hundreds of thousands of copies, many in the days following her husband’s election. Taylor Swift was more than a music story in 2024. Like “Melania,” the news about Taylor Swift’s self-published tie-in to her global tour isn’t so much the book itself, but that it exists. And how well it sold. As she did with the “Eras” concert film, Swift bypassed the established industry and worked directly with a distributor: Target offered “The Eras Tour Book” exclusively. According to Circana, the “Eras” book sold more than 800,000 copies just in its opening week, an astonishing number for a publication unavailable through Amazon.com and other traditional retailers. No new book in 2024 had a better debut. Midnight book parties are supposed to be for “Harry Potter” and other fantasy series, but this fall, more than 100 stores stayed open late to welcome one of the year’s literary events: Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” The Irish author’s fourth novel centers on two brothers, their grief over the death of their father, their very different career paths and their very unsettled love lives. “Intermezzo” was also a book about chess: “You have to read a lot of opening theory — that’s the beginning of a game, the first moves,” one of the brothers explains. “And you’re learning all this for what? Just to get an okay position in the middle game and try to play some decent chess. Which most of the time I can’t do anyway.” Lisa Marie Presley had been working on a memoir at the time of her death , in 2023, and daughter Riley Keough had agreed to help her complete it. “From Here to the Great Unknown” is Lisa Marie’s account of her father, Elvis Presley, and the sagas of of her adult life, notably her marriage to Michael Jackson and the death of son Benjamin Keough. To the end, she was haunted by the loss of Elvis, just 42 when he collapsed and died at his Graceland home while young Lisa Marie was asleep. “She would listen to his music alone, if she was drunk, and cry,” Keough, during an interview with Winfrey, said of her mother. Meanwhile, Cher released the first of two planned memoirs titled “Cher” — no further introduction required. Covering her life from birth to the end of the 1970s, she focuses on her ill-fated marriage to Sonny Bono, remembering him as a gifted entertainer and businessman who helped her believe in herself while turning out to be unfaithful, erratic, controlling and so greedy that he kept all the couple’s earnings for himself. Unsure of whether to leave or stay, she consulted a very famous divorcee, Lucille Ball, who reportedly encouraged her: “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.” A trend in recent years is to take famous novels from the past, and remove words or passages that might offend modern readers; an edition of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” cuts the racist language from Mark Twain’s original text. In the most celebrated literary work of 2024, Percival Everett found a different way to take on Twain’s classic — write it from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. “James,” winner of the National Book Award, is a recasting in many ways. Everett suggests to us that the real Jim was nothing like the deferential figure known to millions of readers, but a savvy and learned man who concealed his intelligence from the whites around him, and even from Twain himself. Salman Rushdie’s first National Book Award nomination was for a memoir he wished he had no reason to write. In “Knife,” he recounts in full detail the horrifying attempt on his life in 2022, when an attendee rushed the stage during a literary event in western New York and stabbed him repeatedly, leaving with him a blinded eye and lasting nerve damage, but with a spirit surprisingly intact. “If you had told me that this was going to happen and how would I deal with it, I would not have been very optimistic about my chances,” he told The Associated Press last spring. “I’m still myself, you know, and I don’t feel other than myself. But there’s a little iron in the soul, I think.”No. 22 St. John's, Georgia pack busy schedule with game on Sunday

This ASX 200 uranium stock is 'incredibly cheap'Arthur Gourounlian and Brian Dowling enjoy ‘incredible’ night at Strictly Come Dancing during London getaway