In an effort to encourage you to stay fit and healthy, Peloton has rolled out the Lanebreak Tread feature, a video game-inspired workout type that challenges you to beat high scores set to heart-pumping music.
Available to Peloton All-Access members, the fitness tech company’s subscription platform, Lanebreak Tread uses the Peloton Tread treadmill’s tablet display to produce an interactive visual experience while you walk, jog or run. At first glance, it looks like a stripped-back version of Beat Saber, a VR game that sees you hit targets and dodge obstacles in time with intense music.
It’s not the first time Peloton has turned to gamified workout experiences either. Last year, the company launched Lanebreak Bike, a similar high-score-chasing experience for Peloton Bike owners.
How does Peloton’s Lanebreak Tread feature work?
Aimed at diversifying your workouts, the new feature uses a combination of visuals and the Tread’s unique hardware. During your session, the aim is to follow the on-screen tracks and match the corresponding speed and incline to earn points. When the display shows a hill, the Tread matches the incline, following the on-screen action as if you’re actually running the trail seen in the Lanebreak game.
Whether you walk or run, Lanebreak Tread includes different difficulty options that use pace as the main guiding factor. Leaderboards will also feature as part of the experience, adding a competitive layer to your exercise. Peloton’s co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Tom Cortese, mentioned that taking inspiration from games has always been at the brand’s core.
“Lanebreak was created to offer an entirely new workout experience that combines an expertly designed workout with immersive graphics, energizing playlists and enhanced game mechanics,” Cortese said. “Lanebreak classes are fun, immersive, and drive you to hit workout cues in a unique way.”
What you see on the screen during a Lanebreak Tread session.
Music forms a major part of Lanebreak Tread, with many different genres and artists represented. At the moment, you can exercise to a range including pop, electronic, R&B, hip-hop, rock, metal, country and Latin. To coincide with the launch of Peloton Tread, there’s a custom 30-minute level using tunes by well-known dance music producer Tiësto. This level features music from Drive, Tiësto’s album from earlier this year.
Of course, the catch is that Lanebreak Tread relies on you sustaining a Peloton All-Access membership, costing $59 a month. That’s on top of needing a $4,445 Peloton Tread, so it doesn’t come cheap. For comparison, other digital fitness content subscriptions include the likes of Les Mills+, starting at $12.49 per month, and Apple Fitness+, a $14.99 monthly subscription.
Lanebreak Tread adds to Peloton’s increasingly diverse range of fitness options. Last year, the company released the Peloton Guide, a strength-based setup that uses a camera and remote to help you maintain good form.
HMD Global has continued its trend of making phones you can fix yourself, announcing the Nokia G42 overnight.
It’s the more powerful follow-up to the G22 launched earlier this year, made in collaboration with global repair organisation iFixit. Notably, the new Nokia G42 ships with Android 13, supports 5G connectivity and wields the Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+ 5G processor; all steps up from its G22 predecessor.
As reported earlier in the year based on research from MobileMuster, Australians produce an average of 25kg of e-waste every year. Enabling people to repair technology at home for cheaper than going to a specialty shop is intended to reduce wastage and encourage users to hold onto devices for longer.
Nokia G42 an upgrade in nearly every way
Available in an attractive So Purple finish, HMD Global’s latest phone also includes a slightly larger 6.56-inch 720 x 1612 resolution display that runs at 90Hz. Alongside its new processor is 6GB of RAM, more than the G22’s 4GB, so it should be faster and more powerful in every way.
Other improvements include Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, and two microphones to support OZO 3D audio capture to complement the 50MP rear camera. Interestingly, the improved specs appear to come at a slight sustainability cost, with the Nokia G42 rear cover only made from 65% recycled plastic, as opposed to the G22’s 100% recycled plastic build. Speaking of the phone’s build, an IP52 rating means that it should weather the elements reasonably well as long as you don’t submerge it in water. A full list of specs is available via the product website.
As suggested by its self-repair status, longevity is the main focus of this phone. Once available, repair kits and replacement parts through iFixit – including batteries, screens, and charging ports – start at $42.99. You should get decent life out of the 5000mAh battery, which will last some people up to three days between charges. With 20W USB-C charging, HMD Global’s testing indicates that the phone’s battery will retain 80% of its capacity after 800 cycles. Supporting this is two years’ worth of OS updates and three years of monthly security updates.
Price and availability
Out in late July, the Nokia G42 costs $449, with an optional 100% recycled materials clear case available for $29. For repairs, a replacement charging port will cost $42.99, a new battery $49.99, and a display $89.99.
With its newest DIY repair phone, HMD Global continues its trend of walking the talk on sustainability. Companies that gatekeep repairs and parts make things more expensive for consumers, ultimately leading to more technology waste.
Managing finances is one thing many of us could use more help with, especially given the current state of the economy. Not all of us are naturally money savvy, which is where many apps and services claim to offer a silver bullet solution. In a crowded market, one Australian-made app stands out thanks to its simplicity: Simplsaver.
Developed by veteran tech journalist Leigh Stark, who’s also a GadgetGuy alumnus and owner of Pickr, Simplsaver aims to make budgeting easy. It’s free to download, and helps you start managing your money in just 30 seconds. From the outset, the app suggests four of the most common recurring expenses: housing, shopping, phone, and internet bills.
“Working out your budget might seem like it’s in the ‘too hard basket’ and that it’ll take too much time, but it doesn’t need to,” Stark said. “Simplsaver can help you build a budget without the burden, and get you on top of knowing where your dollars are going.”
While Simplsaver is only currently available for iPhones, an Android version is in the works. It’s also great to see that user privacy is a primary focus. Any figures you put into the app are only stored locally on your device, providing peace of mind that your information is safe from online data leaks.
Simplsaver includes great budgeting features
Living up to its name, the locally-developed app avoids the complexity of many other budgeting solutions. After adding in your income and expenses, the app then calculates what your finances look like on a monthly basis. It’s entirely free to use for the first five recurring costs you add in, and then it’s a cheap $6.99 per year to add an unlimited amount from there. Generally, if you use something regularly and it provides you value, it’s worth paying for.
One of the standout features included in Simplsaver is a streamlined way to keep on top of your subscription services. Whether it’s streaming platforms or software, nearly everything has some form of ongoing payment. With the app, you can select from a wide range of common subscription services like Netflix or Xbox Game Pass, and it will automatically update your budget with the associated costs. Even better, if you decide you need to cut back, the budget item also includes a link to the specific service so you can more easily manage your subscriptions.
More recently, Simplsaver received an update that adds a “risk of recession” feature. Based on the Australian Consumer Price Index (CPI), it indicates how your budget may be impacted by increasing prices of goods and services. Inflation puts increasing pressure on household budgets, so it’s a good idea to proactively plan ahead.
You can download Simplsavr now for your iPhone on the App Store. In a time when everything seems a bit tougher than usual, it’s good to see affordable, easy-to-use tools available to help.
More powerful and more sustainable: the 2024 Polestar 2 EV boasts “substantial performance increases” over its predecessor, its Swedish manufacturer claimed when revealing the latest model of the electric car. We’re set to see the popular EV in Australia starting this July.
The latest version of the premium compact EV features a new front-end design, more powerful batteries, and overall enhancements across the board, including wireless phone charging as a standard feature. Plus, the 2024 Polestar 2 introduces rear-wheel drive, a first for the company.
In Polestar’s initial media announcement, CEO Thomas Ingenlath emphasised that this was no mere minor cosmetic upgrade.
“Typically in the car industry, a facelift introduces superficial visual changes that often destroy the original intention of the car’s design theme,” Ingenlath said. “With the new model year Polestar 2, we rather went below the surface and upgraded substantial tech and mechanical components of the electric drivetrain.”
Looking at the numbers suggests that the upgrades aren’t being oversold, either. All versions of the 2024 Polestar 2 house new motors and inverters, which reportedly improve the EV’s efficiency and performance. Arguably the biggest gains are found among the single-motor versions of the car, seeing its motor power output increase to 220kW, up from 170kW.
The aforementioned rear-wheel drive applies to both the single-motor versions, which come in standard and long range respectively. Meanwhile, the dual-motor models retain the all-wheel drive configuration.
Another welcome improvement comes in the form of battery improvements. All but the standard range version have upgraded lithium-ion 82kWh batteries that now charge up to 205kW DC, while all versions see range improvements thanks to optimised delivery from the enhanced motors. Long range dual-motor versions will see a 104km improvement up to 591km, while the long range single-motor EV’s range now goes up to 654km, up 103km.
As an added bonus, the 2024 Polestar 2 EVs with the 82kWh batteries produce 1.1 tonnes fewer carbon emissions than previous versions. More specifically, producing these cars emits 5.9 tonnes of emissions per vehicle, down from 7 tonnes previously.
2024 Polestar 2 release date and pricing
According to the recent local announcement, the updated Polestar will be available to order in Australia starting from 5 July 2023. We also now know that the pricing before on-road costs starts at $67,400 for the standard range model. Keep an eye on the company’s website for full details in addition to the specs listed below.
2024 Polestar 2
Standard range Single motor
Long range Single motor
Long range Dual motor
Long range Dual motor with Performance Pack
Drivetrain
RWD
RWD
AWD
AWD
Battery capacity
69kWh
82kWh
82kWh
82kWh
Max charging speed (DC)
135kW
205kW
205kW
205kW
Range (WLTP)
Up to 532km
Up to 654km
Up to 591km
Up to 591km
Power
TBD
220kW
310kW
350kW
Torque
TBD
490Nm
740Nm
740Nm
Price (before on-road costs)
$67,400
$71,400
$76,400
$85,400
With a top-tier pricing of $85,000, this means that all 2024 Polestar 2 models qualify for the Federal Electric Vehicle Discount, as the luxury car tax threshold increased to $89,332 for the 2023-24 financial year. If this is outside your budget, the newly announced MG4 Excite 51 and BYD Dolphin Dynamic are the first EVs in Australia to start below $40,000 before on-road costs. Plus, more EV charging infrastructure throughout locations like regional NSW and Western Australia will make EV ownership more viable.
Laundry can be a surprisingly mentally-taxing household chore, making you think about how to care for and wash different types of clothes, how much detergent to use, and what impact it’ll have on your water and electricity bills. Modern washing machines help take away the guesswork and keep things efficient. Samsung is one of the big manufacturers in this space, having just released a new range of laundry appliances as part of its Bespoke range.
Using AI technology, Samsung’s new front load washer, dryer, and AirDresser steam closet devices aim to keep your clothes clean and in good condition with minimal input from you. These were first seen at CES 2023 as part of the brand’s focus on smart devices that are all compatible with the SmartThings ecosystem.
One of the biggest features coming to this year’s Bespoke washer range is the Less Microfibre Cycle, said to reduce microplastic pollution.
Eco-friendly Samsung Bespoke washer and dryer
As with many modern devices, environmental impact is a big aspect of Samsung’s new laundry devices. Across each of this year’s 9kg, 12kg and 18kg washing machines is a five-star energy rating, along with a four-star water efficiency rating. Meanwhile, the 2023 Bespoke AI dryers have a nine-star energy rating across its 9kg, 10kg and 12kg models.
Through the SmartThings app, you can monitor energy usage and get recommendations via the SmartThings Energy feature. Plus, there’s also a Clothing Care feature that helps pick the best wash and dry cycles based on various factors. This includes fabric type, how often you wear something, and even the season.
What’s most interesting is the washers’ Less Microfibre Cycle, designed to reduce the amount of microplastic entering water sources. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, mainly too small to see ourselves, that pollute waterways and the environment. Some studies have even suggested we consume a credit card’s worth of microplastic per week on average, which is a scary thought.
To combat this, Samsung teamed up with clothing brand Patagonia and global conservation organisation Ocean Wise, producing the Less Microfibre Cycle feature. Based on Samsung’s existing BubbleWash technology that uses cold water for efficiency, the Less Microfibre Cycle was the result. In practice, Samsung claims that the Less Microfibre Cycle reduces released microplastics by up to 54 per cent when washing a load of polyester hoodies.
Aside from the eco-focused features, the Samsung Bespoke washer and dryer use various smart features to make laundry easier. Chief among them is the washer’s AI Wash Cycle that automatically detects a load’s weight and fabric softness to efficiently clean clothes. Plus you can put up to a month’s worth of detergent in the machine and it will automatically use the amount required for each cycle. As for the dryer, it uses recycled warm air to avoid energy waste, in addition to using steam to eliminate bacteria.
AirDresser brings the drycleaner to you
Another update to the Bespoke range is a new Mirror AirDresser, a SmartThings-compatible steam closet that keeps your clothes fresh. It’s geared towards people whose wardrobe can’t be washed at home but need to wear items frequently, like suits and similar uniforms.
Samsung Bespoke AirDresser
You can fit up to five pants or five jackets in the AirDresser, and there’s space to spruce up a long dress too. According to Samsung, the Wi-Fi-enabled dresser uses air and steam to eliminate up to 99.9 per cent of dust mites and particular bacteria.
It’s got a comprehensive list of settings, too. You can set clothes to refresh in a brief 20-minute session or use one of 24 different settings designed for specific fabric types. This includes woollens, linens, delicates and more. In some space age-sounding stuff, the AirDresser also uses AI technology to detect specific clothing items and automatically choose your favourite cycles over time.
2023 Samsung Bespoke laundry range price and availability
Out now, Samsung’s latest smart laundry lineup comes in various white and black finishes via the company’s website and retailers. Some appliances, like the largest-size washer and dryer, are exclusive to Harvey Norman.
If you need to completely upgrade your laundry tech, Samsung has a promotion running now on its website, where you can save up to $1,000 when buying a washer, dryer and AirDresser together. This promo runs until 31 August 2023.
They all look pretty sleek, and show that laundry appliances have come a long way in recent years. As we mentioned in a review of a similar LG washing machine, the ability to remotely set a cycle to finish when you get home, and receive notifications, is one you’ll don’t know how you lived without.
Made for entry-level professionals and students alike, LG has announced that its UltraPC laptops are here in Australia.
Available in two 16-inch models, the LG UltraPC further bolsters the company’s laptop range, including the premium Gram SuperSlim and Gram Style devices. Built using AMD hardware, LG’s more affordable laptops share similar internals, with the option of having more in-built storage and a more powerful CPU.
Separate from the Gram range, the UltraPCs aren’t as lightweight, coming in at nearly 1.5kg compared to the UltraSlim and Style’s svelte 998g form factor. In exchange, these portable PCs are far more affordable.
LG UltraPC laptop details and specifications
At a more affordable price, LG’s new laptops don’t use the same OLED display technology as seen in its Gram lineup. Here, you’ll get an IPS panel with a 1920 x 1200 resolution and a peak brightness of 300 nits. It’s perfectly fine for schoolwork and general admin-based tasks. The UltraPC also uses the same-sized 72Wh Lithium-Ion battery as the Gram Style, meaning you should get through a day unplugged without too much trouble.
On the inside is where a couple of differences stand out. The starting model (GAA53A) only comes with 256GB of SSD storage, while the next step up (GAA76A) includes 512GB. Considering most schools and workplaces use cloud-based systems, it’s not a big deal-breaker either way, unless you store large files locally.
It’s not until you look at the CPU that you see the other main difference between UltraPC variants. The cheaper model uses a six-core AMD Ryzen 7530U processor, while for $500 more you get an eight-core Ryzen 7 7730U. More CPU cores help with multitasking and render-intensive tasks like video editing. However, neither laptop houses a discrete graphics card, so while you could do some rendering tasks on them, you might want to look elsewhere if it’s your main focus.
Model number
16U70R-GAA53A
16U70R-GAA76A
Display
1920 x 1200 resolution
IPS anti-glare
300 nits peak brightness
1920 x 1200 resolution
IPS anti-glare
300 nits peak brightness
Processor
Ryzen 5 7530U (2.0 GHz, Boost up to 4.5 GHz), L3 Cache 16 MB – Hexa(6) Core
Ryzen 7 7730U (2.0 GHz, Boost up to 4.5 GHz), L3 Cache 16 MB – Octa(8) Core
At an eye-catching $999, it sits between the Aldi-stocked Deebot Neo model and the top-of-the-range $2,000+ X1 Omni device. With a mid-range price, you’d expect incrementally better performance from the Deebot N10 Plus than its cheaper brethren. Which, pleasingly, is exactly what it produces.
An increasingly popular home appliance, robot vacuums come in all sorts of varieties. Many of them mop as well as vacuum, with the feature list generally expanding the more you pay. Until now, a device with an auto-empty station typically retailed for over $1,000, which is where the N10 Plus stands out in a crowded market.
It doesn’t matter how tantalising the value looks on paper, however, as you still want a robot vacuum that succeeds at its primary purpose: keeping your floors clean. With the Deebot N10 Plus, you get a decent robot vacuum that vacuums well and removes much of the manual work required for cleaning, even if some common robot vacuum issues linger
Deebot N10 Plus first impressions
Similar in appearance to the Deebot Neo, albeit with a clinical white finish instead of black, the Deebot N10 Plus’ first major difference is its included auto-empty station. This small vertical tower serves multiple purposes for your robot companion. Its predominant function is to charge the device between cleans while acting as the robot’s start and end point for cleaning runs.
Other than being robo-HQ, the station automatically empties the robot vacuum’s small dustbin when docked. Before doing this, its robot voice forewarns you, which is appreciated by this jump-scare-averse reviewer, because the emptying process is loud. All the dust and debris picked up by the vacuum get sucked up into a little bag housed in the station. When the bag fills up, all you have to do is press the lid to pop it open, remove and replace the bag.
The N10 Plus’ auto-empty stationInside the auto-empty station where the replaceable bags go.
Ecovacs estimates that you can go roughly two months before needing to change bags over, which depends on how frequently you set the device to vacuum. It does use bespoke bags that cost $29 for a pack of three, however, so there’s an extra investment to consider.
Like other Ecovacs devices, it’s easy to set up the Deebot N10 Plus. Its included instructions are clear and simple to follow, and the app, which acts as your remote control, walks you through each step. Before you get too carried away with fine-tuning the robot’s settings, you first send it on a recon mission to map your home. From here, with the map generated in the companion app, you can then customise each setting at a fairly granular level. It’s a straightforward process that’s easy to follow, letting you (or your robot, rather) get to the brass tacks of cleaning.
Deebot N10 Plus specifications
Suction power
Up to 4,300Pa
Features
Vacuum
Mop
Auto-empty station with 2.5L disposable dustbag
App control
TrueMapping 2.0 navigation
Before the Deebot N10 Plus, I tried the Deebot Neo and Deebot X1 Plus robot vacuums, so I’ve got a reasonable idea of what to expect at different price tiers. True to where it sits in Ecovacs’ pecking order, the N10 Plus navigates at a smarter level than the Neo but not as well as the premium-priced X1 Plus.
During the initial mapping run, I had to free the N10 Plus from a curtain it got stuck in. Its sensors clearly recognised the curtain as an obstacle but couldn’t find its own way out, amusingly pirouetting on the spot before I lifted the curtain out of the way. Granted, you should accompany any robot vacuum during this initial stage, or at least be home in case it gets stuck.
What was immediately obvious, though, was that the N10 Plus collides with objects on far fewer occasions than cheaper robot vacuums. For example, the Deebot Neo would gently bump into chairs and walls before course correcting. Conversely, the N10 was better at stopping itself before collisions and then turning away to continue cleaning. It still bumped into things on occasion, so be careful if you have anything precariously propped up around the home.
A close look at the robot vacuum’s sensor.
A great thing about robot vacuums is the in-built smarts available through the app. You can customise cleaning schedules to run at set times and go over specific rooms according to the saved map. When I wanted to just do a quick run of the kitchen, I selected it in the app, and the N10 Plus would reliably march directly from the dock to the set location before returning to base.
One of the handiest navigational features is the ability to set no-go zones. It’s particularly helpful when you have places around the home you don’t want disturbed or the robot vacuum struggles to navigate. For our home, we have a water dish our cat drinks from that’s places on a silicon mat to reduce spills. My first trial with a robot vacuum resulted in dragging the mat around the house and spilling water on the floor. To avoid future mishaps, I drew a no-go zone in the app which acts as a virtual boundary the device isn’t allowed past. The Deebot N10 Plus is excellent at adhering to these zones, so there’s no stress about messing up our cat’s sacred spot.
Vacuuming
With a suction power of 4,300Pa, the Deebot N10 Plus is nearly double that of the Neo’s 2,600Pa. In practice, you get the most benefit from this when cleaning carpeted floors, rugs and the like. I noticed a reasonable increase in performance over cheaper models when the N10 cleaned our bedroom, which has an annoyingly tricky-to-clean carpet. The robot vacuum picked up a decent amount of dust, cat fur and long strands of my partner’s hair. It doesn’t make the carpets look brand-new, although it does do a satisfyingly good job.
On tiled floors, the N10 has little trouble gliding from room to room, picking up all manner of things: dust, dirt, crumbs, and pellets of kitty litter our cat loves to kick around. One downside to the vacuum’s prowess is its tendency to gobble up cords and things it shouldn’t. Where possible, it’s best to remove as much clutter off the floor as practical, although it’s easier said than done. When left unattended, I had to rescue a shoe being dragged along by its shoelace, a MacBook charging cable, and a small handbag that the N10 tried to run away with. The optimist in me sees it as a good motivator to avoid leaving stuff on the floor, although the realist in me sometimes gets frustrated.
It’s nice not having to empty the small dustbin yourself each time.
Due to the Deebot N10 Plus’ shape and size, it can’t clean every nook and cranny. This is a limitation of all robot vacuums, however, not just isolated to the Ecovacs range. It can’t fit behind your TV cabinet or other tight gaps, so you can’t rely on it for everything. Regardless, it’s helpful to know that the majority of your floors will be kept clean, leaving only a comparatively small portion of the house for you to manually dust and sweep up.
Another point worth mentioning: there were a couple of times the auto-empty station didn’t fully empty everything from the robot’s dustbin, so some manual intervention is occasionally required. Granted, this infrequent hitch mainly occurred when the dustbin got really full, usually after cleaning our carpet or a spot where our cat decided to shed a bunch of fluff. Otherwise, the auto-empty station is a handy addition that helps you clean regularly without punishing you for forgetting to tip out the vacuum’s bin yourself.
Mopping
Here’s where most all-in-one robot vacuums tend to fall down. Based on my experience, the Deebot N10 Plus performs best as a regular maintenance mop. It doesn’t scrub deeply enough to clean away stubborn stains or the stickiest spots, but it’s handy for reducing the overall amount of manual mopping you need to do. Considering mopping is like vacuuming, only worse, I’m grateful for all the assistance I can get.
To put the N10 Plus’ mopping credentials to the test, I wiped some margarine on the kitchen floor alongside a streak of Vegemite. I shadowed the robot while it cleaned the kitchen and observed the results. On a lighter, less sticky substance like margarine, it cleaned the floor without hassle in one attempt. On the other hand, the N10 Plus struggled with the Vegemite; a combination of the spread’s density and stickiness proving difficult for the robot’s mop function.
Keen to experiment further, I tinkered with some settings to see if the device could win the Vegemite war. With the Ecovacs app, you can set different cleaning intensity levels for both vacuuming and mopping. Specifically for the mop settings, I set the N10 to do two laps of the kitchen and use more water. This means that it would take longer to dry but would be worth it for a cleaner floor. On the second attempt, the robot cleaned most of the Vegemite off the floor, although a stubborn smear remained. It only took me seconds to get rid of it with cleaning spray and a paper towel.
What’s clear here is that robot vacuums at this level can’t replicate the level of pressure a bit of elbow grease provides when mopping. It’s best to see an included mop as a bonus feature that gives your floors a regular touch-up in between deeper cleans. As logic suggests, it’s best to tackle a spill yourself immediately, lest it becomes more effort later, even with a traditional mop.
Who is the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus for?
A capable robot vacuum cleaner in various regards, the Deebot N10 Plus is a suitable cleaning companion for anyone who needs help regularly vacuuming the house. Whether your job or your family leaves little time and energy for much else, this is a helpful appliance for keeping on top of things.
At one of the most affordable entry points for a bundle that includes an auto-empty station, the N10 Plus performs to expectations, tackling the cleaning you’re happy to delegate. It’s nice not needing to worry about regularly cleaning the dustbin, and your floor’s noticeably cleaner after the robot completes a vacuum run. Just keep your cables off the floor or set no-go zones accordingly, and you’ll reap the benefits.
Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus
One of the most affordable robot vacuum and auto-empty station combos in Australia, the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus is a strong step up from entry-level models.
Features
8.5
Value for money
9
Performance
8
Ease of use
8.5
Design
8
Positives
One of the cheapest robot vacuum and auto-empty station combos
Good vacuuming performance
Negatives
Mop function not strong enough to clean tough and sticky spills
