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Mac mini at 20, Steve Jobs and the tiny Mac

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Mac mini at 20, Steve Jobs and the tiny Mac


It’s once again a fan favorite with its new M4 version, but 20 years after Steve Jobs launched the Mac mini, it has had an extraordinary life of rave reviews — and criticism.

Steve Jobs introduced the Mac mini with the explicit aim of attracting Windows switchers. Yet it never quite seemed to do what Apple wanted, and instead became a cult favorite Mac, even when the company has tried to forget about it.

Jobs unveiled the Mac mini on January 10, 2005. Apple didn’t issue a press release until the following day, though, and the Mac mini itself didn’t ship until January 22.

It’s the Mac that created an industry of firms that hosted hundreds and thousands of Mac minis for remote users. And it’s the entry-level machine that began as the most affordable Mac ever made, and still is — even though it now starts at $200 more than it did in 2005.

Being the cheapest Mac has of course helped its popularity, although you still need to buy a keyboard, display and mouse or trackpad to use it. But it’s small size has been an enormous factor in its popularity too.

That’s most apparent now with the M4 Mac mini being the smallest version by such a very long way, but it has always been the case. A small Mac mini brings the whole macOS experience in a tiny package — and lets firms more easily build up dozens and hundreds of them in server racks.

The M4 Mac mini hasn’t quite been universally well-received, but the only design criticism of it has been to do with the power button being on the bottom. And despite the base model being an undeniable bargain, Apple charges excessively for any upgrades.

Otherwise, everyone seems to love the little M4 Mac mini and everyone loved the original version in 2005.

Yet in between, the reception of the Mac mini and its various iterations has been nothing short of peculiar.

Launching the Mac mini in January 2005

Back in 2005, it was as if Steve Jobs knew we’d all heard the rumors, because his announcement seemed to skip through his usual build up. There wasn’t much stage-setting at all, as he launched straight in to what this new Mac would be.

In fact, it came during the same announcement where he unveiled the iPod shuffle. In that presentation, Jobs put up a slide with a question.

“Why doesn’t Apple offer a stripped-down Mac that is more affordable?” it asked.

“I wish I had a nickel for every time somebody asked that,” said Jobs, before pointing out that actually, Apple already did precisely that. He was talking about the company’s now long-discontinued Xserve servers, which were Macs in racks.

But, he then said, people who asked this question, never meant servers.

“[This] is not what they have in mind. They want a Mac that’s stripped-down, no display, no keyboard and mouse, but they have something else in mind,” he continued. “And so today we know what they have in mind, and we’re introducing it.”

Oddly, Jobs seemed to stumble a little over his speech, repeating that phrase about what people had in mind. And then he showed on screen the words “Mac mini” for the first time.

Watching the video now, it’s apparent that people weren’t too sure about the name. There’s applause, but the video shows people seemingly wondering if this was really the name.

That may have been because while there was precedent for it with the iPod mini that was released the previous year, no Mac had been named this way. There had been the prefix Power before, to make the Power Macintosh, there had been the Macintosh Portable, and before those the Mac Plus.

But otherwise the form had always been the word “Mac” followed by a designator like II, IIcx, or SE. There had not been “mini,” spelt with a lowercase initial letter.

So Jobs worked to underline the name, repeating it, leaving it on the screen, and drawing a comparison to that 2004 iPod.

“It’s called the Mac mini,” he said. “We think people understood the iPod mini, and we think they’re going to understand the Mac mini just as well.”

To some laughter, he then showed that original Mac mini with an iPod mini in front of it. The Mac mini is wider, but the iPod mini looked like it dwarfed the machine.

“So this is a very robust computer,” said Jobs, “but it’s very, very tiny.”

Nothing comes from nothing

The Mac mini did seem “very, very tiny,” but it also seemed like something else. It seemed like roughly half of the old Power Mac G4 Cube.

That failed machine had appeared to be the Steve Jobs’s ideal, it was his aesthetic for what a computer should be. And five years on from that flop, here was the Mac mini — closely replicating its form, but hopefully fixing the Cube’s constraints, and its $1,799 price.

If the Mac mini followed the failed Power Mac G4 Cube, though, it also followed the famous but seemingly unsuccessful Switcher ad campaign.

The campaign aimed to get Windows PC users to switch to the Mac. The reason it’s believed to have been a failure is that Apple dropped the whole campaign in 2003.

So Apple had this failed Cube Mac, and this unsuccessful attempt to win over Windows users. Consequently, Jobs made it very plain what Apple was aiming to achieve with this New Mac mini.

“We want to price this Mac so that people who are thinking of switching will have no more excuses,” he said, before describing the machine as “BYODKM.”

“What does that mean?” asked Jobs. “BYODKM. It means Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse. We supply the computer. You supply the rest.”

“So you can take Mac mini, and you can hook it up to let’s say our 20-inch Cinema Display, right?” he continued. “And our keyboard and mouse.”

“But the great thing about Mac mini is you can hook it up to any industry-standard display, keyboard, and mouse,” he said. “A lot of people already have a display and a USB keyboard and mouse, and so Mac mini will hook up to [those].”

That pricing started at $499, which Jobs repeatedly said made it the most affordable Mac Apple had ever made. “As a matter of fact, it’s the cheapest computer Apple’s ever offered.”

Applause

For a brief moment, the Mac mini shone. The New York Times called it “exceptionally elegant,” for instance, but then people started to use it.

In practice, users tended to find that, yes, it was tiny, but if you wanted anything more than the base version, Apple stung you for so much money that the Mac mini ceased to be anything like a bargain.

Some things never change.

Or rather, they don’t necessarily change much. The same criticism about costly upgrades does apply to today’s Mac mini, but there is a crucial difference.

Today at least a significant number of users can buy the base Mac mini and be perfectly satisfied. In 2005, if you bought the base version, you were in trouble.

The $499 Mac mini came with a 40GB hard drive and only 256GB of RAM. By July, perhaps in response to the criticism, Apple upped that to 512GB RAM.

Unlike today, you could upgrade the RAM yourself. However, you — literally — had to get a putty knife and use it to break open the case

First iterations

As well as that increase of RAM, Apple would soon revise the Mac mini with a more significant update. In 2006, Apple moved the Mac mini from PowerPC to Intel processors.

Plus, since enough users were repurposing the Mac mini as servers, Apple released a version specifically meant to be a server.

In comparison, the 2007 update was unremarkable, but still, two years after launch, the Mac mini was going strong.

Abandonware

There wasn’t any update in 2008, though. The belief at the time was that the Mac mini may have been great, may have been popular with its users, but it wasn’t selling well.

This was the first time that the Mac mini looked abandoned. It was not the last time.

But in 2009, Apple actually updated the Mac mini twice. And in 2010, five years after its original launch, the Mac mini got a significant redesign.


The redesigned 2010 Mac mini compared to its predecessor and the then-new Apple TV.

If the original Mac mini was a Power Mac G4 Cube chopped roughly in half, the 2010 Mac mini was the old version sliced in half again. The new, even smaller, version, was an aluminum unibody design and came in both a regular and a server version.

By now, though, Apple was selling the Mac mini for $699, more than it does today. There’s no question but that the M4 version is a total bargain, but back in 2010, AppleInsider pointed out that Apple was calling it “affordable” far less often.

Apple was still selling it as being for Windows switchers, but the new price was enough to destroy the idea of it meaning “people who are thinking of switching will have no more excuses.”

If it weren’t successfully winning over Windows users, it looked at the time that it was instead being bought chiefly by existing Mac owners.

Perhaps not sure what more it could do to get PC users to switch, Apple made minor updates over the next two years.

Following those updates in 2011 and 2012, there came another abandoned year. There was no update for the Mac mini in 2013, none at all.

Downgraded in 2014

There was a significant update for the Mac mini in 2014, but it was “generally regarded as a downgrade from the 2012 [version],” according to AppleInsider. That’s because while the price was cut back to $499, the then-new Mac mini was actually slower than its predecessor.

So despite Apple releasing a new model, there was once more the suspicion that the company had sidelined the Mac mini. Given that those people who used the Mac mini tended to become fans of the little device, it was a worrying time.

But, as it turned out, 2014’s downgrade was nothing compared to what happened next.

Nothing.

Apple released no new version in the whole of the next year, 2015. Or 2016.

Or 2017.

Apple just kept on selling the same device at the same price, for years. In 2017, Tim Cook weighed in on the criticism that Apple had abandoned the machine.

The attention was enough that Tim Cook responded publicly with an email insisting Apple loves the Mac mini.

Tim Cook responds to Mac mini criticism in 2017
Tim Cook responds to Mac mini criticism in 2017

Then Phil Schiller may have wanted to talk about the Mac Pro, but he was pressed into defending the Mac mini. “The Mac mini is an important product in our lineup,” he said.

Rivals leave the Mac mini behind

Apple’s executives could talk about loving the Mac mini, but they didn’t do anything about it — publicly. There was no update in 2017.

By 2018, Apple’s typical approach of just continuing to sell the same device at the same price for very many years saw it falling behind. Instead of being a bargain computer that would tempt Windows users over to the Mac, PC alternatives were now out-performing it.

Out-performed is possibly too kind a description, as AppleInsider concluded in 2018 that the Mac mini was being trounced.

Small but wide userbase

If Apple really did abandon a particular type of Mac, individuals who owned one could just carry on using theirs for years. But the Mac mini didn’t just have individual users, it also had firms whose whole business was centered on utilizing hundreds of the machine.

Those firms, and those individuals, finally got some good news in October 2018.

“This new Mac mini is an absolute beast on the inside,” said Tom Boger, head of Mac product marketing. “The number one thing our customers wanted us to do is give it more powerful processors… [so this is] by far the most powerful Mac mini we’ve ever made.”

Boger said that the new version was up to five times faster than its predecessor, and Apple had increased the storage, RAM, and processor cores.

Apple had also increased the price, making the base model $799. But for what you got, this was “the biggest update ever,” said Boger.

“Apple’s mightiest mini yet,” saidAppleInsider in its November 2018 review.

The Mac mini was back. All thoughts of Apple abandoning it were gone, and the new 2018 version was a hit.

Except there was no update in 2019.

Enter Apple Silicon

For the first time, though, there was a particularly special version of the Mac mini in 2020 — or if not special, at least niche. For $500, developers could buy a unique version of the Mac mini called an Apple Silicon developer transition kit.

They couldn’t keep it, but they could begin the work of moving their apps to the new Apple Silicon platform.

That was announced during the WWDC unveiling of Apple Silicon in June 2020. And then later that year, the Mac mini was one of the first Macs to be released with the then brand-new M1 processor.

It was a sea change in performance and capability for the Mac mini, and eventually for the whole Mac line. That lineup would also come to include the first brand-new Mac since the Mac mini, the Mac Studio in 2022.

On to today

On the face of it, the Mac mini of today is still Apple’s attempt to have the lowest-cost Mac possible. The company no longer talks about getting Windows users to switch, and perhaps because it’s so successful that it no longer needs them.

But the Mac mini with Apple Silicon — first the M1, then M2 and M2 Pro in 2023 — has blurred the lines of the entire Mac lineup. That very first M1 Mac mini was sometimes capable of outperforming the Mac Pro, Apple’s top of the line Mac.

Then the Mac Studio came in above the Mac mini, both in terms of price and performance. The Mac Studio completed the Mac mini’s hatchet job on the Mac Pro, making the most expensive Mac only worth right for the most niche of uses.

Yet then in 2024, the Mac mini gained the M4 and M4 Pro processors — while the Mac Studio is currently stuck on the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips.

So even if the current Mac Studio and Mac Pro can beat the Mac mini for performance, the “very, very tiny” machine is no longer a cut down device for switchers.

As well as the gaining the new M4 and M4 Pro processors, though, the reason the latest Mac mini has been widely praised is its size.

You know that it is much smaller, at 5 inches by 5 inches, but it’s hard to appreciate just how tiny that is until you see it in person. Photographs don’t convey how small this machine is.

So even if you haven’t succumbed to buy one yet, take a trip to an Apple Store to see one in person. And while you are there, check out the Mac Studio too.

For the Mac mini is smaller than you realise — and the Mac Studio now seems huge next to it.

Apple will now always sell more of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air than any desktop Macs. But of those desktop Macs, the Mac mini has had the most remarkable life — and is currently the star of the lineup.

We’ll just have to see what Apple does with it in 2025.



This story originally appeared on Appleinsider

Diego Lopes vs. Yair Rodriguez expected to headline UFC Mexico City on March 29

MMA Mania
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Diego Lopes vs. Yair Rodriguez expected to headline UFC Mexico City on March 29


Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sat., March 29, 2025 with an all-action featherweight headliner between Top 5 title contenders on ESPN.

Diego Lopes vs. Yair Rodriguez, according to Home of Fight.

Lopes (26-6) is the winner of five straight, which includes his unanimous decision victory over former featherweight title challenger, Brian Ortega, at UFC 306 last September. As for Rodriguez (19-5, 1 NC), no stranger to 145-pound title fights, he’ll look to rebound from his submission loss to “T-City” at the promotion’s last Mexico City fight card in early 2024.

Here’s the current UFC Mexico City fight card and ESPN lineup:

145 lbs.: Diego Lopes vs. Yair Rodriguez
185 lbs.: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer
125 lbs.: Edgar Chairez vs. CJ Vergara
125 lbs.: Ronaldo Rodríguez vs. Kevin Borjas
115 lbs.: Yazmin Jauregui vs. Julia Polastri
135 lbs.: David Martinez vs. Saimon Oliveira
185 lbs.: Ateba Gautier vs. Jose Medina

Expect more UFC Mexico City fight card announcements in the coming weeks.



This story originally appeared on MMA Mania

Who Is Joel Schiffman? 5 Things to Know About Hoda Kotb’s Ex-Fiance – Hollywood Life

Hollywood Life
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Who Is Joel Schiffman? 5 Things to Know About Hoda Kotb’s Ex-Fiance – Hollywood Life





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New York City, NY - 'Today' host Hoda Kotb and partner Joel Schiffman leave the NBC Store after a signing and interview for her new children's book 'I've Loved You Since Forever', in New York City. Pictured: Joel Schiffman, Hoda Kotb BACKGRID USA 14 MARCH 2018 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients - Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*


Celebrities attend the Buffalo Sabres vs New York Rangers hockey game at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 2, 2016. Pictured: Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman,Roman Walker Zelman Debra Messing Hoda Kotb Joel Schiffman Catherine Keener Alejandra Cata Tara Rodgers Steve Schirripa Ref: SPL1253338 020416 NON-EXCLUSIVE Picture by: SplashNews.com Splash News and Pictures Los Angeles: 310-821-2666 New York: 212-619-2666 London: +44 (0)20 7644 7656 Berlin: +49 175 3764 166 photodesk@splashnews.com World Rights


Joel Schiffman and Hoda Kotb Pre-Grammy Gala and Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Presented by Clive Davis and The Recording Academy, Arrivals, New York, USA - 27 Jan 2018

Image Credit: Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman called it quits in early 2022. “Joel and I have had a lot of prayerful and meaningful conversations over the holidays,” Hoda said on TODAY, “and we decided that we’re better as friends and parents than we are as an engaged couple, so we decided we are going to start this new year … on our new path as loving parents to our adorable, delightful children, and as friends.” Hoda said that this wasn’t because “something happened,” but that their relationship ran its course.

Despite their split, the exes have remained amicable co-parents to daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. In fact, she had nothing but positive remarks for Joel during a March 2024 episode of TODAY.

“I’ve only been with people who are super polite. Like, when I get up from the table, for instance, Joel got up every time — every time — even if it’s normal dinner,” Hoda explained, referring to how important it is for children to see their parents get along.

As a mother of two daughters shared with Joel, she announced her departure from the TODAY show in September 2024, with her final day on air on January 10, 2025, to spend more time with her children, as she shared during her farewell announcement. She said, “I saw it all so clearly: my broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now, my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie.”

Here are five things you need to know about Joel Schiffman.

Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman in 2018 (Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock)

Joel Schiffman Met Hoda in 2013

Hoda met Joel at an event she, apparently, “didn’t want to go to,” according to her appearance on Watch What Happens Live. As she was readying to leave the event, Hoda signed a few autographs when Joel approached her. Their meet-cute left an impression on the Today show host, as she passed along her email address to him. They’ve been together ever since!

After years of dating, Hoda Kotb and her longtime partner, Joel Schiffman got engaged in November 2019. The news was announced on an episode of Today, and Hoda was beaming when she shared the sweet pic from her engagement. The proposal appeared to take place on the beach, where the happy couple stood behind their names, which were written in the sand, as Hoda flashed her stunning ring. Unfortunately, the couple postponed their wedding a few times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joel Shiffman Has Been Married Before

Joel had a serious relationship before meeting Hoda and has a grown daughter from that marriage named Kyle Schiffman. Since his relationship with Hoda, Joel has become the father to Haley and Hope, whom Hoda adopted. During her appearance on The Wendy Williams Show, Hoda shared that she “knew I’d chosen the right man” when she asked Joel about adoption.

Joel Shiffman Told Hoda He Loved Her First

During an episode of TODAY, Hoda shared with her co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, how Joel revealed his true feelings. Upon hearing him say those three magic words, Hoda said she had “to sit with that for a minute.” After a brief pause, Hoda told Joel she loved him, too!

Joel Schiffman Works in Finance

As of 2021, Joel worked as the Head of U.S. Defined Contribution and Insurance Sales at an investment management company. Before his current job, he was the Vice President and Director of Financial Institutions for Janus Henderson Investors for over three years, according to his LinkedIn.

Joel Shiffman Has Two Major Degrees

Joel attended the University of California and graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in 1981. After a number of years, he attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, which is the business school of the private, Ivy League university, and finished his degree in 1995.




This story originally appeared on Hollywoodlife

If an investor put £10,000 in Aviva shares, how much income would they get?

Motley Fool
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If an investor put £10,000 in Aviva shares, how much income would they get?


Image source: Getty Images

For me, Aviva (LSE: AV) shares will always be the ones that got away. When loading up my self-invested personal pension (SIPP) last year, I bought almost every high-yielding, dirt-cheap FTSE 100 financial stock I could find.

I didn’t buy Aviva, which went onto outperform the lot. While its shares have idled in recent months, they’re still up 10% over one year and 20% over five. That isn’t exactly Nvidia territory, but top UK blue-chips like Aviva have a different role to play in a balanced portfolio.

Instead of quick-fire growth, they offer the prospect of solid long-term returns, in periods measured over years or even decades. That doesn’t just come from a rising share price, but the steady stream of dividends they pay investors.

Can this top blue-chip give me growth too?

FTSE 100 stocks pay some of the most attractive dividend yields in the world. Currently, shares on the index pay average income of 3.6% a year. That compares to a meagre 1% on the growth-friendly S&P 500. Those dividends close the difference between the two over time (although not totally, sadly).

Aviva has a bumper trailing yield of 7.31%. It also has a solid track record of increasing shareholder payouts, year after year. It’s not perfect though, having suspended the dividend during the pandemic. It’s recovered since, as this chart shows.


Chart by TradingView

Aviva CEO Amanda Blanc is aiming to increase shareholder payouts every year, targeting “mid-single-digit growth”. The forecast yield for 2025 is an even more tempting 7.82%. Blanc has also promised “further regular and sustainable returns of capital”, probably via share buybacks.

If an investor put £10,000 into the stock today, they would potentially get income of £782 this year. Any share price growth would be on top.

The 12 analysts offering one-year share price forecasts have produced a median target of just over 550p. If that pans out, it would mark an increase of more than 16% from today’s 472p. Combined with that yield, this would give investors a total return of around 24%. Time will tell.

This FTSE 100 stock has plenty of cash

Aviva has a healthy balance sheet and generates plenty of cash, but as with any stock, there are risks. First, it looks like interest rates are going to stay higher for longer. That’s bad news for income stocks like Aviva, because it gives investors a decent return from cash and bonds, with no risk to their capital.

Higher interest rates will also squeeze stock markets generally, hitting the value of its £376bn of assets under management.

Aviva is also under pressure to make a success of its £3.6bn takeover of Direct Line. While it stands to make potential savings, the anticipated £125m of capital synergies will only arrive if the board gets its strategy right.

Eight out of the 14 analysts following Aviva name it a Strong Buy. None recommend selling. Sadly, I’ve already made my choice. Having bought rivals Legal & General Group, M&G, and Phoenix Group Holdings, another insurer would be overload.

All three FTSE 100 stocks have even higher yields than Aviva. Now I just hope they can match its share price performance.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool

Prediction: these FTSE 100 stocks could be among 2025’s big winners

Motley Fool
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Prediction: these FTSE 100 stocks could be among 2025’s big winners


Image source: Getty Images

Which FTSE 100 stocks have the best chance of leading the index by the end of 2025? I think the odds are good for these three.

BP (LSE: BP.) is among the top 10 FTSE 100 buys at Hargreaves Lansdown of late, and I think I can see why.

Yes, the world has to turn away from fossil fuels eventually. And yes, renewable energy investments might prove to be profitable in the long term — if we can find the right ones.

But I’m seeing a change in sentiment, with the love for alternative energy stocks fading a bit. And there’s a growing feeling that big oil could provide fat profits for some years yet.

BP’s low valuation

The BP share price had been sliding in 2024, but its already started to pick up. Why? Maybe because investors are looking past the expected earnings fall for 2024 and to a forecast price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just eight for 2025?

Oh, and there’s a 5.6% dividend yield on the cards.

Vodafone comeback?

After falling 55% in five years, can Vodafone (LSE: VOD) switch into top gear in 2025? I see a very good chance of it.

I think it could all depend on results for the year ending March 2025, due in May. We all know the dividend should be slashed to half of last year’s.

That’s part of CEO Margherita Della Valle’s plans to kickstart the company, launched in 2023. And 2024’s dividend was the last at the old rate.

Still, with the Vodafone share price falling since then, we’re already back up to a projected yield of 8.5% for this year.

Show us the results

Will the full-year update show results of the company’s shake-up, and provide confidence in the dividend going forward?

That’s what I think any possible 2025 resurgence could hinge on.

Sporting rebound?

JD Sports Fashion (LSE: JD.) was one of the worst FTSE 100 performers in 2024, losing more than 70% after the Christmas 2023 trading season fell short of expectations.

But it’s started to pick up a bit this year, and as we await 2024 festive figures.

One of my colleagues at The Motley Fool recently spoke of healthy footfall at JD. So I poked my head into my local branch, and yes, there were plenty of people in there.

Current fundamentals might not make JD look like a screaming buy, not with a forward P/E of 12 and only a 1% dividend yield. But that’s after a tough 2024. And analysts see the P/E dropping to around 7.3 in the 2025-26 year.

Watch for recovery

If JD looks like it might be hitting those forecasts, I wonder if it might even become a takeover target in 2025? I’d never buy just on that hope. And it’s always important to be cautious about forecasts. Oh, and retail could still face a tough year.

But JD Sports is one of my top recovery candidates to consider in 2025.

Eyes peeled

Will I buy any of these myself? I’m not sure yet.

I do think all of them stand a good chance of coming out on top in 2025. But I want to get a better handle on where I think they might go in the next five years first.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool

This UK dividend share is currently yielding 8.1%!

Motley Fool
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This UK dividend share is currently yielding 8.1%!


Image source: Getty Images

Based on payouts over the past 12 months, Harbour Energy (LSE:HBR) is one of the best dividend shares on the FTSE 250. Due to its generous yield, it sits comfortably within the top 10% of stocks in the UK’s second tier of listed companies.

And following the acquisition of assets previously owned by Wintershall Dea, it’s now the largest oil and gas producer in the North Sea. This transformational deal, which was completed in September 2024, means the group now has the financial firepower to further increase its dividend.

Indeed, the company intends to pay $380m to legacy shareholders over the next 12 months. At current (9 January) exchange rates, this equates to 21.5p (26.4 cents) a share. At the time of writing, Harbour Energy’s shares are changing hands for around 265p. This implies a yield of 8.1%, more than twice the FTSE 250 average.

But returns to shareholders are never guaranteed, particularly in the oil and gas sector. Earnings can be volatile, which means dividends can fluctuate significantly from one period to another.

However, in it’s short existence as a listed company, Harbour has an impressive record of steadily increasing its payout (see table below).

Financial year Dividend type Dividend per share ($)
2021 Final 0.11
2022 Interim 0.11
2022 Final 0.12
2023 Interim 0.12
2023 Final 0.13
2024 Interim 0.13
Source: company annual reports / financial year = 31 December

Excess profits

Undoubtedly, this has been made possible by spikes in wholesale oil and gas prices, particularly in 2021 and 2022.

But this is a double-edged sword.

In response to public pressure, the previous government introduced a ‘windfall tax’, officially known as the Energy Profits Levy (EPL). Not surprisingly, the company’s share price has been steadily declining since the May 2022 announcement.

Subsequent increases mean the group now faces an effective corporation tax rate of 78% on its profits derived from the UK Continental Shelf.

In part, this explains the acquisition of Wintershall Dea’s oil and gas fields. None of these are in UK waters, therefore the EPL doesn’t apply. And as a result of the deal, the group is now producing 90% more than previously. This gives me some confidence that it can continue to grow its dividend.

Commodity prices

Current legislation means the EPL will remain until 31 March 2030. But there are provisions for it to be scrapped.

On the one hand, a falling oil and gas price would damage revenue. However, if (for six consecutive months) the average monthly oil price falls below $71.40 — and the gas price goes under 54p a therm — the ‘windfall tax’ will be abolished.

But this appears unlikely to happen any time soon.

Although Brent crude is falling, it still remains above the price floor.

Source: World Bank / ESIM = Energy Security Investment Mechanism (below this level, the energy profits levy will be suspended)

And I wonder if gas prices will ever drop below 54p again.

Source: Trading Economics

In my opinion, it looks as though the EPL is here to stay.

My opinion

Despite this, I plan to keep my Harbour Energy shares.

That’s because I think diversifying away from the UK is a good move.

And although it’s impossible to accurately predict future energy prices, the additional profits earned outside of Britain’s waters should help ensure that the group is able to — at least — maintain (in cash terms) its generous dividend.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool

Spanish resorts loved by Brits put on blacklist as people warned: ‘Think twice!’ | Travel News | Travel

Express.co.uk
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Spanish resorts loved by Brits put on blacklist as people warned: ‘Think twice!’ | Travel News | Travel


British holidaymakers are being urged to reconsider visits to three of Spain’s most iconic destinations after they were included in Fodor’s Travel’s ‘No List 2025.’

The renowned travel guide warns that these locations risk “dying of success” due to overtourism, which has led to social tensions, skyrocketing costs, and infrastructure overload.

The three Spanish spots mentioned were Mallorca, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.

The ‘No List 2025,’ featuring 15 global destinations, highlights areas suffering from an unsustainable influx of visitors.

Alongside Spain’s entries, locations such as Bali, Venice, Kyoto, and Lisbon have also been flagged for similar concerns.

Fodor’s Travel advised its users to “reconsider” whether it’s really worth spending their holidays in some of the most popular destinations in Spain.

In Spain, tourism accounts for a significant portion of local economies, 35% of GDP in the Canary Islands, for instance.

However, Fodor’s notes that mass tourism is now impacting the daily lives of residents, altering cultural identities, and putting pressure on public services.

A 7.2% surge in European tourism in early 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, further exacerbates the strain.

Fodor’s editors point to protests as a growing sign of local discontent.

Tourist saturation has led to protests being organised in various parts of the country, including the Canary Islands.

These demonstrations demand measures to limit visitor numbers and establish more sustainable tourism.

Similar protests have been recorded in Barcelona and Mallorca, where residents have also called for caps on mass tourism.

Residents in these regions cite challenges such as unaffordable housing, overcrowded public spaces, and a loss of community character.

While Spain grapples with these issues, it is far from alone. The ‘No List’ pointed out similar struggles in international hotspots, from uncontrolled development in Bali to price hikes in Venice and cultural erosion in Lisbon.

The inclusion of the Canary Islands, Barcelona, and Mallorca in this list reflects a growing debate about tourism sustainability and its impact on residents’ quality of life.

Although Fodor’s acknowledges the economic importance of the tourism industry in these places, it emphasises the need to rethink strategies to avoid what it defines as “unsustainable popularity.”



This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk

Kid Friendly Weekly Meal Plan

TheRecipeCritic
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Kid Friendly Weekly Meal Plan


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This week’s kid friendly meal plan is here to save your sanity! It’s full of quick, kid-approved dinners that are easy to make and guaranteed to keep everyone happy (yes, even the picky eaters)!

Kid Friendly Weekly Meal Plan

This week’s kid friendly menu is a lifesaver, trust me! It’s full of meals that are super easy to throw together and guaranteed to keep everyone at the table happy (yes, even the picky ones). Plus, if you’re anything like me, a little chocolate dessert at the end of the day makes everything better. You’ve got this, mama!

Monday: Easy Instant Pot Lasagna
Tuesday: Taco Pizza
Wednesday: Easy Hawaiian Haystacks
Thursday: Korean Ground Beef and Rice Bowls
Friday: Award Winning Cheeseburger Soup

Easy Instant Pot Lasagna

This Instant Pot recipe is filled with all the lasagna flavors you love! Layers of creamy ricotta, melty mozzarella, and ground beef seasoned with Italian herbs come together in this super easy dish!

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Taco Pizza

Two classic family favorites, pizza and tacos, come together in this easy weeknight meal that is destined to become a favorite in your home.

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Easy Hawaiian Haystacks

Hawaiian haystacks are the ultimate layered comfort food! Rice, shredded chicken, and hearty gravy combine with your favorite toppings in this easy dinner.

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Korean Ground Beef and Rice Bowls

Korean Ground Beef and Rice Bowls are so incredibly easy to make and will become a family favorite! This makes the perfect weeknight meal.

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Cheeseburger Soup

Award Winning Cheeseburger Soup is a thick and hearty soup with lean, tender ground beef, shredded carrots, diced celery and potatoes in a warm and creamy cheese soup. This is an award winning soup and it is excellent! 

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How Many Does it Feed?

This free weekly meal plan is just what you need to get your week started. It provides five meals that will feed 4-6 (depending on if you are feeding adults or kids), AND it includes a shopping list! With fresh new ideas and easy-to-make recipes, having a weekly menu plan will be a lifesaver.

Tips for Picky Eaters

Meal planning with this week’s recipes is so easy to customize for your family! Here are some tips to make these meals work for even the pickiest eaters:

  • Sneak in Veggies: Blend spinach or carrots into the lasagna sauce or the cheeseburger soup for extra nutrients without anyone noticing.
  • Customizable Toppings: Let everyone build their own taco pizza or Hawaiian haystack—kids love having control over their plates!
  • Tone Down Spice: For the Korean ground beef, use less sauce or swap it for a mild teriyaki glaze if your kids aren’t into spicy flavors.
  • Swap Ingredients: Not a fan of pineapple in the Hawaiian haystacks? Use diced apples or grapes instead for a sweet crunch.
  • Make It Fun: Cut the taco pizza into fun shapes, add colorful toppings, or serve the cheeseburger soup with a side of crackers for dipping.
  • Go Simple: Use plain pasta in the lasagna or skip the onions in the soup for kids who prefer simpler flavors.
  • Add Their Favorites: Sprinkle extra cheese on just about anything—it’s an easy way to win them over!

Kid Friendly Desserts to Try!

My weekly meal plans always include a printable shopping list that is measured out and ready to go. It makes things so easy!

A pdf shopping list for a kid friendly meal plan. A pdf shopping list for a kid friendly meal plan.

Storing Leftovers for Meal Planning

I only meal plan Monday-Friday because we sometimes have plans over the weekend or I have leftovers that we can have to finish off the week! If you do have leftovers, make sure to store them properly in an airtight container in your fridge.




This story originally appeared on TheRecipeCritic

’28 Years Later’ Star Ralph Fiennes Teases “Out-There” Character in New Trilogy

MovieWeb
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’28 Years Later’ Star Ralph Fiennes Teases “Out-There” Character in New Trilogy


We’re still five months out from the release of Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later, but that isn’t stopping star Ralph Fiennes from teasing fans about what they can expect from his character of Dr. Kelson. In this case, audiences shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, as apparently there’s more to him than meets the eye in the highly anticipated sequel, which is set to release on June 20.

Speaking with Empire about the third film in Boyle’s epic post-apocalyptic trilogy, Fiennes touched on his part in the movie, in which he stars alongside Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. While Dr. Kelson comes across as an imposing figure that could either be an ally or an enemy, Fiennes says it’s best for audiences to not assume too much, and let things play out before casting aspersions.

He’s quite out-there in his views on the world. I think audiences will assume something about him and then see where it goes.

Related


’28 Years Later’ Meets ‘Dune: Part Two’ in Fan-Edited Trailer

The ’28 Years Later’ poem turns ‘Dune: Part Two’ into an all-out war movie.

28 Years Later sees both the return of Boyle and writer Alex Garland to the franchise after a more than two decade absence, as the duo took a backseat for the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later. This time around, the survivors of the Rage Virus have managed to find a way to somewhat exist with the infected, though this new world is not without its own troubles.

“It’s been almost three decades since the Rage Virus escaped a medical research laboratory, and in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, they discover secrets, wonders, and horrors of the outside world.”

Ralph Fiennes Will Have a Bigger Role to Play in ‘The Bone Temple’

28 Years Later is just the start of a new trilogy of films that will continue in 2026 with The Bone Temple, which sees Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) sitting in the directors’ chair. With Garland once more penning the script, Boyle will serve as executive producer, and for him, he says that the first film is just the start of things to come for Fiennes’ character, who will have “a much bigger part in the next one.”

“He strides forward into the second film in an enormous way, where the question of what he’s after and what he wants to do gets fully resolved.”

As for fans hoping to see original star Cillian Murphy pop up in the new film? Don’t hold your breath on that one, as according to producer Andrew Macdonald, he’s not in 28 Years Later. “He is not in the first film,” Macdonald also told Empire, “but I’m hoping there will be some Jim somewhere along the line.” Look for 28 Years Later to hit theaters on June 20, 2025, and The Bone Temple to premiere at some point in 2026. Fans eager to catch up on the series before the release can now rent or purchase both 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later on all VOD platforms.

Release Date

June 20, 2025

Main Genre

Horror



This story originally appeared on Movieweb

NCIS Season 22’s Gibbs Reference Hinders Parker For Truly Taking Over MCRT

ScreenRant
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NCIS Season 22’s Gibbs Reference Hinders Parker For Truly Taking Over MCRT


Spoiler Alert for NCIS season 22, episode 7, “Hardboiled”

Agent Parker refers to Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS season 22, and the comment shows how Mark Harmon’s legacy is getting in the way of Gary Cole’s character taking control of the team. Cole assumed the lead role in the CBS procedural after Mark Harmon exited NCIS in season 19, episode 4, “Great Wide Open,” with the Office Space actor playing a fundamental role in the plot that bids Gibbs farewell. After a case takes Gibbs and McGee to Alaska, the agent in charge decides to stay in Naktok Bay due to his newfound sense of peace.

NCIS introduces Parker in tandem with Gibbs’ swan song plot, making him the FBI agent tasked with arresting the MCRT leader. Ultimately, Parker refuses to arrest Gibbs and gets fired from the FBI. Coincidentally, however, he takes Gibbs’ place after McGee refuses the role. NCIS season 22 is the fourth season in which Parker has headed MCRT. While Cole has been great, the procedural’s first complete season of episodes following the dual Hollywood strikes is seeing low numbers. Parker can help make the show great again, but only if he stops this trend in “Hardboiled.”

Parker Referencing Gibbs’ Rule #39 In NCIS Season 22, Episode 7 Makes No Sense

Parker Shouldn’t Know Gibbs’ Rules

Parker refers to Leroy Gibbs in NCIS season 22, episode 7, “Hardboiled.” As a tense case embroils the team in an investigation that could neutralize a national security issue, Parker advises the group to trust their instincts, noting that coincidences don’t exist. However, rather than simply advising the team in his own words, Parker refers to one of Gibbs’ rules. The former agent in charge has a code of standards to live by, which Gibbs impressed on his team while leading MCRT. Gibbs’ mentees quoted his rules often. Still, Parker’s reference to Gibbs doesn’t make any sense.

Related


Is CBS About To Cancel NCIS?

NCIS season 22’s ratings aren’t looking good. Based on CBS’ history of cancelations, what are the chances that it’ll pull the plug on the procedural?

Without reciting it directly, Parker refers to one of Gibbs’ rules in NCIS when he says, “Rule thirty-nine. That’s the one about no coincidences, right?” While many are familiar with his’ legacy and would remember his code, Parker never even officially worked with Gibbs. Therefore, Parker’s memory of his predecessor’s rules doesn’t add up. It’s nostalgic for someone like McGee or Jimmy to quote their mentor of nearly 20 years. That isn’t the case for Parker, who never crossed paths with Gibbs in the workplace and probably didn’t study up on his rules.

NCIS Needs To Let Go Of Gibbs For Parker’s Sake

Parker Must Create His Legacy

A custom image of Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Gary Cole as Alden Parker in NCIS
Custom image by Yailin Chacon

For Parker’s sake, NCIS should discard references to the former leader, especially when his successor is uttering them. Parker must forge his own identity so NCIS can outlast Harmon’s exit, and the dated references to Gibbs hardly serve a purpose. While referring back to Gibbs’ rules seems like a fun idea, it’s more meaningful when agents whose careers Gibbs impacted recite them. Parker’s references to Gibbs feel a bit forced while reminding audiences that Gibbs no longer runs the team. Therefore, the reference in episode 7 unnecessarily convolutes his leadership with Gibbs’ legacy.

NCIS season 22 is seeing the procedural’s lowest viewership ratings in more than two decades on air, leading some to wonder if CBS will cancel NCIS.

The nod to Gibbs is problematic because it signals that NCIS is stuck in the past, which doesn’t serve its future. NCIS season 22 is seeing the procedural’s lowest viewership ratings in more than two decades on air, leading some to wonder if CBS will cancel NCIS. Especially in season 22, looking back at Gibbs does Parker a disservice. Parker works because he contrasts Gibbs, leaving no room for comparison, like when bringing the team pastries. NCIS must bolster Parker’s identity to survive the future rather than look in the rearview mirror.



This story originally appeared on Screenrant

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