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A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Monica introduces Teddy to David. The seemingly ordinary teddy bear quickly reveals himself to be an intelligent companion capable of conversation and emotional support.'/>

AI is moving beyond chatbots and into toys, dolls, and robots built to befriend children. A leading child-development expert says the technology offers real promise — but also risks crowding out the human relationships children need most.

Every dorm room deserves an upgrade with these capable, space-saving smart products I've reviewed for back-to-school plans.

The U.S. military announced it will begin its blockade of Iranian ships over the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, as Iran vowed to assert its own control over the critical international waterway.

(Image credit: AFP via Getty Images)

BoomTown is a full-featured real estate CRM that provides the marketing muscle agents need to generate and convert leads. The cloud-based platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools spanning lead generation, IDX websites, email campaigns, transaction management, AI business analytics, and more.

What sets BoomTown apart from other CRM platforms is the breadth of its capabilities. While it may not be the absolute best in any one area, few CRMs can match its overall scope. The automated marketing features and lead gen services are particularly strong. You also get a dedicated success manager to help turn those leads into commissions.

BoomTown's slick mobile app puts the power of the CRM in your pocket when you're on the go. Plus, the open API enables integrations beyond the 20+ third-party solutions it natively supports to further extend the functionality. If you're looking for an all-in-one platform to run your real estate business, BoomTown is a solid contender.

BoomTown CRM core capabilities Take advantage of powerful automation features and reporting with BoomTown’s CRM.BoomTownBring in more leads with BoomTown’s lead gen team, and nurture those leads with its success management team.BoomTownBuild IDX-powered websites and link them together with BoomTown’s site builder.BoomTownDo everything you can do on the desktop CRM from a clean, mobile-friendly interface using BoomTown’s Now app.BoomTownIntegrate your BoomTown experience with over 20 third-party partners.BoomTown

BoomTown CRM delivers on all the features aimed at empowering real estate professionals to efficiently manage their contacts, track sales pipelines, forecast deals, and gain actionable insights through analytics.

A solid contact management system, BoomTown allows users to centralize all their leads and client information in one place, making it easy to navigate and stay organized. I found the ability to add detailed notes, set reminders, and automate follow-ups valuable for nurturing relationships and maintaining communication.

When it comes to pipeline tracking, BoomTown CRM offers a visual and intuitive interface. The pipeline view provides a clear overview of where each deal stands, enabling agents to identify bottlenecks and prioritize their efforts. I appreciate how the system automatically updates the pipeline stages based on predefined criteria, saving time and reducing the risk of manual errors.

Sales forecasting is another area where BoomTown outperforms many competitors. The platform leverages historical data and current pipeline information to generate accurate revenue projections. Very useful for strategic planning and resource allocation. I found the customizable forecast reports especially neat, as they allow for a granular analysis of expected sales by agent, region, or property type.

For analyzing performance, BoomTown offers a wealth of insights and metrics to help agents and brokers measure their success and identify areas for improvement. From lead conversion rates to average time to close, the analytics dashboard provides a comprehensive view of key performance indicators. I particularly like the ability to benchmark individual and team performance against industry standards, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

The platform's mobile app, available for both iOS and Android devices, provides agents with on-the-go access to their contacts, pipeline, and tasks. I found the app's user interface to be intuitive and responsive, allowing for seamless productivity even when out of the office and in the field.

Beyond the core features, BoomTown CRM offers a range of additional capabilities that enhance its value proposition. The system integrates with popular real estate tools like MLS databases, task managers, and marketing automation platforms, streamlining workflows and eliminating data silos. I also appreciate the customization options, which allow brokerages to tailor the platform to their specific needs and branding.

While BoomTown CRM excels in many areas, there are a few aspects that could be improved. The learning curve for some of the more advanced features can be steep and the initial setup process may require dedicated training. Additionally, the pricing structure may be a bit steep for smaller brokerages or individual agents.

Overall, BoomTown CRM delivers a comprehensive and powerful solution for real estate professionals looking to optimize their contact management, pipeline tracking, sales forecasting, and performance analytics. The platform's mobile access and additional features further enhance its value. Despite some minor drawbacks, I believe BoomTown CRM is a top contender in the real estate CRM space, offering the tools and insights needed to drive success in today's competitive market.

How easy is BoomTown CRM to use?

Coming over to the UX, BoomTown CRM gets mostly positive remarks from users and reviewers. The user interface is frequently described as visually appealing and enjoyable to use. One reviewer noted, "It is by far the most visually appealing real estate software, which makes it incredibly easy to use."

The mobile app also receives praise for bringing the full CRM functionality together in a neat, mobile-friendly format. Generating and managing leads, tracking progress, and automated email marketing are all called out as working smoothly.

However, the learning curve isn't zero. Some reviews mention it takes time to get everything set up and running optimally. At least one user complained about slow response times when seeking support.

BoomTown loses some points compared to competitors for its landing page builder. While functional, it's based on WordPress, which involves more of a learning curve compared to proprietary builders offered by some rival CRMs. That said, WordPress is also known for its outstanding flexibility.

Overall, though, BoomTown appears to be an intuitive platform that becomes easy to use once you're over the initial learning curve. But those looking for more of a "just works" experience with minimal customization may want to evaluate other options.

Integrations

When it comes to integrations, BoomTown doesn't disappoint. The CRM offers a wide range of pre-built integrations and connectors with popular real estate tools and services, allowing agents to seamlessly connect their entire arsenal of apps into one central command center.

Some standout native integrations include Sisu for syncing transaction and lead data, BombBomb for easily embedding video content into marketing materials, Brokermint for transaction management, CallAction for capturing inbound calls as new leads, dotloop for syncing deals, and even Google Calendar for scheduling appointments.

Through Zapier, BoomTown can integrate with a whopping 6,000 other apps, making it incredibly versatile. You can use Zapier to set up automated workflows between BoomTown and apps like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and countless others with just a few clicks. The possibilities are nearly endless.

BoomTown also offers an API for custom integrations if you have more advanced needs. While I wasn't able to test the API directly, user reports suggest the documentation is comprehensive and that it’s reliable for syncing data across systems.
That said, some users have reported occasional hiccups with the speed and consistency of data syncing between apps using pre-built connectors. However, this seems to be more the exception than the norm. Generally speaking, however, I'm impressed with BoomTown's integration capabilities despite being a niche real estate CRM.

How good is BoomTown customer support?

Booking an appointment with BoomTown’s sales team is easy with BoomBot’s help. (Image credit: BoomTown)

BoomTown offers a solid range of live support channels, including phone, email, and live chat, to get help from a real person. They also provide self-service support options like a knowledge base and community forum to let users find answers on their own.

In terms of responsiveness, BoomTown's support team is generally prompt, based on my experience and user reviews. While I couldn't find specific data on the CRM support’s average first response and resolution times, most customers seem satisfied with how quickly the support reps get back to them.

The quality of support also appears to be a strength for BoomTown. Their support staff is consistently described as helpful, knowledgeable, and easy to work with in solving issues. That said, support experiences aren't consistent across the board. Some users have encountered slower or less reliable support at times.

So while there's room for improvement, BoomTown delivers responsive support more often than not. The multiple support channels and self-service resources provide flexibility, with most customers having only positive things to say about their support interactions. But as with any vendor, individual support experiences may vary.

BoomTown CRM pricing and plans

Plan

Launch

Grow

Advance

Price

$1000/month

$1300/month

$1500/month

Best For

Small-to-medium enterprises starting with CRM tools

Growing teams needing enhanced features and support

Large-scale organizations requiring dedicated support

Features

Lead management

Smart-drip plans

Mobile app access

More user seats

Dynamic retargeting

Success assurance

Reduced setup fee

Custom integrations

Account manager

Limitations

Limited advanced features, higher setup fee

Higher cost, no custom integrations

Most expensive plan, only for large teams

BoomTown offers a few different pricing plans catered to teams of different sizes, but their main "Advance" plan, aimed at larger teams and brokerages, comes with a hefty $1,500 per month price tag and a $1,500 setup fee. This places BoomTown on the higher end of the real estate CRM price spectrum.

There are no discounts advertised on BoomTown's website, though some agent coaching programs, like Tom Ferry's "Advantage", offer a slight discount on the platform. BoomTown also doesn't provide a free trial of its software, so you'll have to rely on demos to get a sense of the system before committing.

In addition to the base monthly fee, BoomTown requires an advertising budget of at least $1,000 per month to fund lead generation through channels like Google Ads and Facebook. So all-in, expect to pay a minimum of around $2,500 per month plus the one-time setup fee for a standard BoomTown plan.

For that price, you get a relatively full-featured CRM with built-in IDX websites, lead generation and qualification tools, and automated marketing features. But there are certainly more affordable options out there that cover much of the same ground.

The lack of transparent a la carte pricing or a free trial period is a downside in my view. CRMs these days usually offer some sort of try-before-you-buy option, even if it's limited. And the additional marketing spend on top of the base platform fee means your monthly software costs can quickly add up with BoomTown.

Still, for larger teams and brokerages with the budget to match, BoomTown is a proven CRM system used by many top real estate offices. Just make sure you factor in the total costs, including setup fees and ad spend, when comparing the platform to lower-priced competitors. A thorough demo or an agent coaching program discount could help take some of the sting out of the steep sticker price.

How we tested BoomTown CRM

BoomTown is built as a complete command center for scaling brokerages, which means evaluating it requires looking closely at how it manages data visibility, team accountabilities, and heavy database segmentation. To determine whether the platform's premium price tag translates into actual operational ROI, I subjected BoomTown to a dedicated, hands-on evaluation period.

As with our standard CRM testing methodology, I assessed the platform's core capabilities, integrations, support, and - crucially - its price tag. In addition, I also subjected BoomTown to some more bespoke assessments. Given that BoomTown's standout feature is its backend lead breakdown and tagging framework, I populated a mock database with 250 disparate real estate contacts to test the system's "Smart-Drip" and "To-Do" triggers. Overall, my goal with these strict operational stress tests is to strip away marketing hype and provide transparent, data-backed insights so you can confidently decide if BoomTown’s premium platform will deliver a genuine return on investment for your real estate business.

BoomTown CRM review: Final verdict

BoomTown delivers an impressive real estate CRM that provides the sales and marketing capabilities agents need to effectively generate and convert leads. What sets BoomTown apart is the scope — while it may not be the absolute best-in-class in any one thing, few competitors can match its feature set.

While mastering all the features involves a learning curve and the price point is on the higher end, BoomTown is a serious contender for tech-savvy teams and brokerages looking for an all-in-one solution to run their business. If maximizing productivity with a single, streamlined platform is the goal, BoomTown fits the bill nicely.

Trump says the U.S. will collect tolls and impose blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, man killed by federal agents in Maine, states sue to stop Paramount-Warner Bros merger.

Even deep in the woods, you can make filter coffee without fuss. Here's why this simple, foldable brewing design works so well.

Graham Platner generated enthusiasm in Maine with his progressive policies. Now he's out of the race, and his supporters have to decide what's next, as Maine Democrats prepare to choose a nominee.

(Image credit: Tamara Keith/NPR)

President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C. has been extended several times. Now, it's set to last until Inauguration Day 2029.

(Image credit: Kevin Dietsch)

Several states have ballot measures this year that could raise the thresholds needed to pass state constitutional amendments. Many advocates are critical of such limits on direct democracy.

(Image credit: Kyle Rivas)

Cinc is making waves in the real estate CRM space with its feature-rich all-in-one platform. This cloud-based solution equips agents and teams with sleek IDX websites, powerful marketing automation, and intelligent contact management tools - all under one virtual roof.

From my experience demoing the product, Cinc's intuitive interface makes it easy to capture and nurture leads through the sales funnel. The system automatically enriches contact data, enabling highly targeted email and SMS campaigns. AI-powered insights help prioritize the hottest opportunities.

That said, Cinc's wealth of capabilities can feel overwhelming at first. Plan to invest time in onboarding and training to reap the full benefits. Also, smaller teams may find the price tag steep compared to more basic CRM platforms. But for agents serious about scaling their business, Cinc's robust feature set and glowing user reviews suggest it's a worthwhile investment.

Cinc CRM core capabilities In CINC CRM, you can store all your leads, customers, and prospects and sort them by priority.CINCTake your CRM experience to the next level with three specialized mobile apps.CINCUse CINC’s ready-made IDX site to save time and money on web development.CINCUse CINC’s VoIP dialer to call contacts straight from your CRM.CINCLeverage CINC’s proprietary SMS-based artificial intelligence tool to nurture leads.CINC

Cinc is an easy-to-use and mobile-friendly real estate CRM platform suitable for teams of all sizes. It has the essential capabilities you'd expect in a CRM system. This includes contact management to organize and store customer information, lead capture to automatically identify and save potential leads, and lead management features to nurture prospects throughout the sales cycle.

But where Cinc shines is its focus on mobile-first access for field agents. The platform offers three mobile apps that allow agents to close deals on the go, gather open house data, and put listings out to the world. Having tested the mobile apps myself, I found them intuitive and convenient for staying productive out in the field. The built-in VoIP phone service is also a nice touch for making calls.

On the sales enablement side, Cinc provides sales pipeline management to track opportunities and deals. The activity dashboard gives a useful overview of ongoing processes and incidents. Basic reporting and analytics are included to surface key metrics.

One area that could be improved is the website customization. While Cinc does include a premade IDX website for listings, the customization options are limited compared to some competitors. The email marketing tool gets the job done for sending campaigns, but advanced automation would be welcome.

On the plus side, Cinc offers impressive customer support. The company offers phone, email and chat support, plus an extensive knowledge base. From my research, the support team seems to be responsive and helpful.

While it may not have all the bells and whistles of enterprise real estate CRMs, Cinc covers the fundamentals well. For small real estate teams looking for a simple and mobile-friendly CRM they can pick up quickly, Cinc is a compelling option. Just be aware of the limitations around website customization and marketing automation as the business scales.

How easy is Cinc to use?

CINC’s user-friendly interface is constructed around your pipeline, displayed on the main dashboard. (Image credit: CINC )

Getting started with Cinc CRM is a quick and painless process. After requesting a demo, the Cinc team provides an interactive walkthrough of the platform's key features. Since it's a cloud-based solution, no installation is required; you can dive right in.

While the website customization options are more limited compared to some competitors, Cinc makes up for it with extensive training resources. The Cinc Academy knowledge base provides detailed self-serve guides, while periodic live and recorded webinars dive deeper into specific topics. For a more hands-on approach, in-person networking events and intensive classroom training sessions are also available.

Cinc claims that the average agent can set appointments worth over $7,500 in commissions during these training workshops. At the very least, it's clear that it has invested in helping users quickly master the platform and start generating real results.

Every aspect of the CRM is supported by interactive walkthroughs, so you're never left guessing how to accomplish a task. Between the knowledge base, webinars, and in-person training, Cinc provides all the resources needed to get up to speed efficiently, regardless of your learning style.

While Cinc doesn't specify an exact timeframe for reaching proficiency, the breadth and depth of their educational resources should have new users feeling confident navigating the platform's core functions in short order. The intuitive interface also goes a long way in flattening the learning curve.

Cinc CRM offers an accessible and well-supported user experience. What it may lack in website customization, it more than makes up for in its array of practical training resources designed to help agents turn the CRM into a lead generation machine with minimal ramp-up time. For teams looking to start capitalizing on Cinc's robust feature set from day one, they won't be disappointed.

Integrations

Cinc makes it straightforward to connect its CRM with a wide range of applications. It offers pre-built integrations and connectors for many popular real estate apps, including BombBomb, Callingly, BrokerMint, and Realty.com. If a native integration isn't available, you can still link Cinc with over 6,000 other tools via Zapier.

For situations that require custom integrations, Cinc provides a robust API. Developers can use it to sync data bi-directionally and build tailored solutions. The documentation seems quite comprehensive from what I could tell after perusing their developer portal. That's good news if you have unique integration needs not covered by the pre-built connectors and Zapier.

In terms of data syncing reliability and performance, there isn't a ton of information available online. A few comments I came across in user reviews suggest that Cinc's integrations are generally solid, and data transfers happen quickly without major issues. Personally, I haven't encountered any issues either.

Cinc also incorporates some helpful quality-of-life features for simplifying the integration process. The integration library allows you to explore available connectors and provides setup guides for each. You can also view and manage all your active integrations from a centralized dashboard in the CRM.

How good is Cinc customer support?

Cinc provides multiple channels for customers to access support, including phone, email, and live chat. Its US-based support team is available Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 7 pm Eastern Time and on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 2 pm ET. The company lists dedicated phone numbers and email addresses to reach their sales and support teams directly.

Live chat reps answer within a few minutes. They are friendly and knowledgeable, more than happy to offer step-by-step instructions to guide you through key tasks.

Cinc also offers a variety of self-service support resources. An online knowledge base, called Cinc Academy, contains detailed articles and video tutorials covering all aspects of using the platform. There's also a community forum where users can ask questions and share best practices.

In reading through reviews on sites like Capterra and G2, I found a lot of praise for their support team. More than a few reviews highlighted the strong relationships they've built with Cinc's support reps and account managers, which shows that the company is willing to go the extra mile for good, long-term customer relationships.

While I wasn't able to find data on Cinc's average first response and resolution times, the general consensus from customers is that their support is prompt, knowledgeable, and goes above and beyond. However, I'd love to see them extend their live support hours and share more specific data on support KPIs, which could help create a more accessible and transparent customer experience.

Cinc pricing and plans

Plan

Solo

Ramp

Pro

Select

Price

Custom pricing

Custom pricing

Custom pricing

Custom pricing

Best For

Individual agents needing basic CRM tools

Small to medium teams seeking collaborative solutions

Large teams requiring extensive features and support

Enterprise teams needing even more user seats

Features

Basic lead routing

CRM tools and functionality

Limited integration options

Many more integrations

Team collaboration

Advanced lead routing

Advanced video messaging

Custom integrations

Dedicated account manager

50+ user seats

Same features as Pro plan

No new additions

Limitations

Limited team tools, higher ad spend required

Higher cost, still limited customization

Requires consultation for pricing

No new feature additions

Cinc offers a variety of pricing plans to accommodate different-sized real estate teams, from individual agents to large brokerages. The details of each pricing tier aren't publicly disclosed, but here's what I was able to uncover.

The Solo plan is designed for an individual agent and includes core features like a CRM, marketing automation, a mobile app, landing pages, seller marketing tools, basic lead routing, and some integrations. Meanwhile, SMBS with up to 4 users can opt for the Ramp plan, which has all the functionality of the last plan with lead routing and additional integrations.

Larger teams of up to 49 agents would look at the Pro plan, while the Select plan handles brokerages of 50+ users. Both come with the full set of Cinc platform capabilities. All plans have access to Cinc's lead generation products, which include paid leads from Google and Facebook, as well as their proprietary List Cast and remarketing tools. Optional add-ons, like a power dialer or artificial intelligence, can raise costs.

I don't love the lack of transparency around pricing. You have to contact Cinc for a custom quote based on your team size and needs. Sources suggest that pricing is also generally quite high compared to other CRMs, likely due to the lead gen features.

Bottom line, Cinc's pricing model offers flexibility for different-sized businesses, but be prepared to spend close to between $900 and $1,500 per month. Although you'll occasionally see introductory teaser rates or limited promotional tiers (such as $499/month for the first two months before escalating to $999/month), as a baseline rule, agents should budget a minimum of $1,000/month for licensing alone.

Furthermore, keep in mind that CINC usually requires a mandatory minimum monthly co-managed ad spend (typically starting around $500/month) to run their automated Facebook and Google lead-generation campaigns. Between onboarding fees, a required 6 to 12-month contract commitment, and the advertising budget, true monthly out-of-pocket costs realistically land between $1,500 and $3,000+.

How we tested Cinc CRM

Much more than just a passive address book, Cinc serves as a proactive, high-velocity lead generation machine designed for real estate teams. To see if the platform justifies its steep, thousand-dollar-plus monthly cost, I subjected Cinc to a weeks-long evaluation.

The CRM review process is built entirely around hands-on, objective testing: we never rely on vendor press releases, and we do not accept paid placements to alter our scores. To determine our final ratings, I examined real estate agents' daily workflows, the platform's ease of use, value for money, integration capability, and customer support quality. By putting every CRM platform through these identical operational stress tests, we provide clear, side-by-side comparisons to help you choose the right hub for your business.

Cinc CRM review: Final verdict

After thoroughly testing Cinc CRM, I think it's a feature-rich platform well-suited for real estate teams serious about scaling their business. Cinc takes an all-in-one approach, combining essential CRM capabilities with sleek IDX websites and AI marketing automation. The intuitive interface and strong mobile apps make it easy to stay productive on the go.

That said, Cinc's extensive feature set can feel overwhelming initially and areas like website customization and advanced marketing automation have room for enhancement. But, overall, for established teams ready to level up their lead generation and relationship management, Cinc is a compelling choice.

We're at the final stretch of the World Cup. It feels like just yesterday, international fans were arriving in the U.S. and marveling at Buc-ee's and unlimited free soda.

(Image credit: Justin Setterfield)

The three-match series sees the hosts looking to build on their T20I triumph over the tourists.

More than 70 people were injured, with 24 of them still in critical condition, according to a statement by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

(Image credit: Sakchai Lalit)

The expanded World Cup allowed FIFA to introduce a new seeding system that placed the world's top teams in opposite corners of the knockout bracket. Now, the semifinals are both heavyweight matchups.

(Image credit: Florencia Tan Jun, Molly Darlington, Richard Pelham, David Ramos)

• Xiaomi reveals its first extended-range electric vehicle
• SkyNomad will sit separately from its pure EV Xiaomi Auto company
• The 1.5-liter engine is manufactured by Changan's subsidiary Harbin Dongang

Xiaomi is set to enter the hotly contested luxury SUV sector with an all-new business that it has dubbed SkyNomad.

Fresh off the success of both the SU7 and YU7, the former of which has outsold the Tesla Model 3 in the Chinese market, smartphone-maker Xiaomi sees a gap in the market for its first extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), which sees a gasoline engine act as a generator to charge battery packs on the move.

While the powertrain is still in its infancy in Europe, with just the Leapmotor C10 REEV and Mazda MX-30 R-EV currently on sale in many markets, it has experienced sales success in much of China.

Li Auto is the current market leader, with six models offering a mix of combustion engines and battery packs, while AITO, Deepal, Avatar and Leapmotor also offer similar solutions.

Unlike traditional plug-in hybrids, which use a gas engine to drive the wheels or charge the batteries, EREVs rely solely on a fully electric powertrain for propulsion, with the combustion engine serving as a generator to charge the batteries.

According to Car News China, Xiaomi's SkyNomad brand will offer the N70 and N90, the latter coming as a full-size, three-row SUV with rotating front seats, a full leather premium interior, and an N90 Max Camping Edition that adds a pop-up roof and a built-in side awning for upmarket camping trips.

SkyNomad is also selling the idea of modularity, stating in its promotional material that the cabin can transform into a studio for one, a cafe for two, a meeting room for three, or a play area for the whole family.

Under the skin, a 1.5-liter gasoline engine from Changan's subsidiary, Harbin Dongang, sends power to a 76 kWh ternary NMC battery pack in the N90, while a pair of electric motors team up to deliver 310 kW (416 hp) of power.

Analysis: unnecessarily enormous

(Image credit: Xiaomi/SkyNomad)

Xiaomi's decision to launch an EREV-focused brand, SkyNomad, is a clear shot at market leader Li Auto, which is experiencing a 74% year-over-year sales decline in the first four months of 2026, according to Electrek.

The introduction of EREVs to Xiaomi's stable will undoubtedly help it boost sales in China, but it's difficult to get away from the fact that the N90 is absolutely enormous. It measures over five meters in length and weighs 3,361 kg, which makes the 416 hp feel slightly underpowered.

Car News China says the N90 can manage around 230 miles before the batteries are depleted, by which point the 1.5-liter engine is called upon. Overall range is in excess of 1,500 km — or around 930 miles.

It's also interesting that Xiaomi, a company that found great success with pure EVs, is pivoting back to fossil fuels.

All of the PR coming out of China suggests that its public EV charging network is both faster and more widespread than most other markets, which raises the question of why the market needs big, heavy range extenders like this in the first place.

• Marshall's 1959BJA Signature amp was first seen at the Super Bowl
• Built on Marshall’s handwired 1959HW platform, with a custom 'Dookie Mod'
• The color? A nod to Billie Joe Armstrong's first guitar, Blue (are you even an Idiot?)

When Billie Joe Armstrong et al took to the stage for Green Day's Super Bowl performance earlier in the year, I'm pretty sure most guitarists stopped listening for the "MAGA agenda" lyric switcheroo that never came and instead simply breathed "That amp though…"

And now, shredders can buy their own striking baby-blue Marshall head, just like the one that was set up behind Billie Joe Armstrong — for a not insignificant sum of $3,999.99 / £3,099.99 (which is around AU$5,779, where sold).

It is Marshall's first artist signature amp in 14 years, and its full name is the Billie Joe Armstrong 1959BJA Artist Signature. Yes, it's inspired by one of punk rock’s most recognizable guitar tones, and yes, that means it has a special "Dookie mod".

Basket Case? No, just the amp please

(Image credit: Marshall)

The amp was developed with Billie Joe Armstrong (it even bears his signature on the front and back) and is built on Marshall’s hand-wired 1959HW platform, refined with a custom “Dookie Mod”. This, says Marshall, is "inspired by the tone shaped alongside producer Rob Cavallo during Green Day’s breakthrough era".

The promise? A classic plexi but with modern performance flexibility, "increased gain, tighter lows and the saturated punch that brings Billie’s signature sound into a modern stage-ready format."

The design, of course, is a nod to Billie’s first guitar, Blue (seen in the main image), combining baby-blue with brass and silver panel details, all hand-wired in the UK.

It is released as a head-only unit, so axe men can pair it with the cabinet of their choice — but I'm sure a blue cabinet is possible to purchase as well…

And this isn't Billie Joe Armstrong's first rodeo with Marshall. Back in 2024, he actually appeared in the Monitor III ANC headphones campaign. So, the 1959BJA simply marks the natural progression of that relationship? It certainly looks that way.

Armstrong himself is quoted as saying, “I’m so overjoyed to have my own signature Marshall amp", adding "These amps have been a part of my musical life, from my heroes down to little old me. Turn it the f**k up!!”

You'll be able to buy the 1959BJA Billie Joe Armstrong Artist Signature from July 21, and again, you'll need to part with $3,999.99 / £3,099.99 (or around AU$5,779) to get yours when they become available.

Sometimes you don't find the amp; it finds you. It's something unpredictable, but in the end, it's right…

The Hisense A10 has a removable magnetic color screen on the back that lets you swap between E Ink and color.

• AI expansion is overwhelming transformer factories across global electricity markets today
• Power transformer delivery times have stretched from months into several years
• Aging electricity grids are driving an urgent wave of transformer replacements

Electricity grids across Europe and North America are facing a serious equipment shortage that could delay new electricity connections for years, experts have warned.

Power transformers, the large devices that regulate voltage before electricity reaches homes and factories, now take considerably longer to manufacture.

Orders that once took 6 to 12 months before 2020 can now take between 24 and 48 months to complete.

What is fueling the surge in demand?

The rise of electric vehicles and the shift toward industrial electrification are placing significant new demands on local power grids.

Utility companies increasingly compete directly with private developers for the same limited factory capacity, extending wait times for nearly everyone.

Much of the substation infrastructure built 30 to 50 years ago across the United States and Western Europe now requires urgent replacement.

Wind farms and solar installations also require specialized step-up transformers to convert the power they generate before long-distance transmission occurs.

Battery storage projects add further complexity, since each installation requires its own dedicated transformer connected directly to the wider power grid.

The most significant new demand originates from data centers built to support artificial intelligence and AI tools, which consume electricity at an extraordinary rate.

A single facility of this kind can draw several hundred megawatts, comparable to the electricity consumption of a mid-sized city.

Large technology firms can pay in advance to reserve years of factory output, leaving smaller buyers to wait even longer.

The situation is so critical that the largest transformers, rated above 100 MVA and 230 kV, once shipped within 12 to 18 months, can now require well more than 36 months for delivery.

Why factories cannot simply build faster

The principal constraint lies at the material level, since transformer cores depend on grain-oriented electrical steel that remains in short supply.

Alternative steel grades cannot satisfy strict efficiency standards set by the European Union and the United States Department of Energy.

Copper prices for internal winding materials have remained high, adding considerable cost pressure to already constrained manufacturing budgets across the industry.

Skilled labour shortages further complicate matters across the industry, since transformer assembly still depends heavily on precise, hands-on manual craftsmanship.

Factory testing facilities, where each unit undergoes impulse voltage and short-circuit evaluation, can only process a limited volume weekly, further limiting overall output.

As a result, equipment prices have climbed 50% to 80% above pre-2020 levels, driven largely by rising material and labour costs.

While industrial transformers take more time, smaller units used in residential and commercial settings ship faster, usually within 12 to 20 months.

Industry analysts regard these pressures as structural rather than temporary, suggesting sustained capacity investment will be required before conditions ease

Buyers who plan early, secure factory slots in advance, and standardize technical specifications appear better equipped to manage prolonged delays.

Diversifying supplier relationships beyond congested manufacturers may offer flexibility as global demand continues to outpace available production capacity worldwide.

Via Evernew Electrical (originally in Swedish)

For now, a single satellite has been cleared for a test demonstration, but the company making it hopes to eventually launch 50,000 of them into orbit.

• QinetiQ testing of SuperDielectrics' water-based zinc cells showed up to 13x longer high-power cycle life, 100C discharge in 36 seconds, and zero thermal runaway
• The company is pitching its solution to AI datacenters as a 'shock absorber' that can deal with power requirement spikes safely and reliably
• SuperDielectrics' Faraday 3's first commercial deployment is slated for early 2027 as it goes up against existing Lithium-ion battery-based energy storage as an alternative that can be deployed inside the data center

Cambridge-based advanced battery technology company SuperDielectrics recently published independent test results for its upcoming water-based Zinc battery, which could help cement its de facto presence in most projects that leverage renewable energy, whose output is often inconsistent.

The next-generation battery offers up to 13 times longer life cycle under high-power cycling, zero thermal runway, and charging and discharging gains that eclipse those of Lithium-ion-based batteries.

This makes it a great add-on for critical infrastructure, as well as for a new, fast-growing sector that is extremely power-intensive with huge power spikes in tow: AI data centers.

A solution that caters specifically to the AI power problem?

SuperDielectrics is painting its battery technology as the holy grail for AI data center problems, and with good reason: it is where all infrastructure spending will be concentrated over the next decade, and the firm decidedly wants a piece.

SuperDielectrics’ core innovation is a unique, patented polymer that enables it to deliver results that dwarf those of similarly configured single-layer lithium-ion cells. With the battery leveraging Zinc in addition to the proprietary polymer, the abundantly available metal could mean that batteries would be cheaper, immune to geopolitical and supply chain vulnerabilities, and easier to scale.

Room temperature testing of the battery showed impressive results when compared to lithium-ion-based alternatives, with SuperDielectrics claiming:

- Up to 13x longer cycle life under high-power cycling (10 mins charge and discharge, 100% depth of discharge);

- 10x better discharge performance (maintained >85% nominal capacity, achieved at 36 seconds)

- 8x better charging performance (maintained >70% nominal capacity, achieved at 1 minute, 12 seconds)

“These results provide independent benchmarking of the technology at the heart of our batteries: a proprietary polymer separator that combines rapid ion transport with the safety advantages of an aqueous electrolyte system," noted Shelley Brown, CTO of SuperDielectrics.

"The outcome is an energy storage solution purpose-built for high-power, fast-cycling applications, offering an alternative to lithium-ion systems that typically rely on extensive oversizing and additional safety infrastructure to manage demanding power profiles."

There is more to the story that makes the solution ideal: Unlike lithium-ion-based solutions, the battery is safe to deploy in datacenters, whereas off-site deployments are currently required for lithium-ion-based solutions due to their potential as a fire hazard.

AI datacenters are known to be particularly power-intensive and often require significantly higher peak power when performing certain computing tasks. Lithium-ion batteries are not ideal for this because not only do frequent charging and discharging degrade them fairly quickly, but they also do not charge or discharge as fast as the Zinc-based offering from SuperDielectrics.

As a result, as noted by the CTO of SuperDielectrics, data centers need to overcompensate for this limitation by buying more capacity than needed to allow smooth operations without pushing existing lithium-ion-based infrastructure too hard.

There is a trade-off, however: Zinc batteries generally sacrifice energy density to offer advantages over lithium, and SuperDielectrics' silence on capacity does not work in its favor here.

Despite this, thanks to AI compute requirements' near-violent power swings requiring a moderator, SuperDielectrics seems to have a winner on its hands, at least on paper, but it might have its limits for datacenters that require longer backup times. The question that comes to mind is whether a smoothing layer can grow into genuine storage, especially for rack-scale product deployment.

On the flip side of the equation, SuperDielectrics is not the only one toying with a 'safe' battery solution; Chinese researchers are concentrating on a similar approach even as the automobile industry is already using sodium for EVs, which is already racking up wins in extreme low-temperature conditions.