Despite the Grip’s smaller size, JBL pegs battery life on both speakers at the same 14-hour maximum. On the Grip at least, that might be overpromising. When I ran the speaker at 50% volume continuously, I only got about 10.5 hours. Using JBL’s PlayTime Boost mode could help if you really need to eke out a few more songs.
The familial similarities continue with the Grip’s ability to withstand the elements. Like the Flip 7, it’s rated IP68, making it effectively dust and waterproof. They’re both shockproof, and yet the Grip is arguably more durable since both ends are solid silicone rubber. The Flip’s ends are passive radiators, which could be permanently damaged by a sharp object. Just keep in mind that while the Grip won’t be bothered by immersion in water, it doesn’t float. So if you toss it in the pool, someone will be diving in to retrieve it.
The one difference between these siblings (other than size, power, and the Grip’s built-in light show) is orientation. While the Flip 7 can be used vertically or horizontally, the Grip is designed for vertical use only. Not that there’s anything stopping you from laying it down — the built-in loop will keep it from rolling too far. But the controls are positioned for easier access when standing up, and the rear LED panel will end up partially obscured if the speaker is sideways.
Photograph: Simon Cohen
Lava Lamp
Speaking of that LED panel, it’s a fun add-on, but don’t expect it to light up your get-together. There are four colors to choose from (purple, red, an icy-blue, and a vibrant blue) controlled by the JBL Portables app, and five display modes: four that animate and one that’s static. At full brightness, it can’t compete with a well-lit room, and outdoors, you’ll definitely have to keep your expectations in check. Still, in a darkened room, with the Grip near a corner or wall, it can create a subtle mood. Unfortunately, the four animated modes (Bounce, Trim, Switch, and Neon) don’t sync to your music, so the effect is more lava lamp than disco light. If you want a beat-coordinated light show, consider the excellent Tribit StormBox Mini+ ($40), which has a top-mounted LED ring with this feature.
The one thing about the LED panel that perplexes me is its placement: it’s on the “rear” of the speaker. If you can see the light show, it means the Grip’s single racetrack driver is facing away from you. It’s not a massive difference in sound quality, but it’s noticeable, especially in the upper midranges and highs, which lose some of their clarity.
When I first received a copy of one of this year’s great cookbooks, it stopped me in my tracks. There’s such a rush of books at the end of the year that I usually make a couple stacks at the far end of my desk, then attack them methodically, but this book was different. The cover was inviting, like I landed in a party where the drinks and people looked fun and beautiful, and at the same time it immediately started answering questions about the food and culture. Amazingly, that serendipity happened five times this fall.
What makes this group of books unique is that they are all artistic big swings. It’s almost like the authors, photographers, editors, and art department folks stood in a circle, put their hands in the middle, counted to three, and shouted “go for broke!’
There have been isolated versions of similar greatness in the last few years, often in surprising corners of the cookbook kingdom. Recent favorites from the last few years include Koreaworld, Korean American, Start Here, Oaxaca, Big Dip Energy, and maybe even Molly Baz’s trippy More Is More. The resulting efforts opened me up like a favorite piece of art, making me happy and making learning effortless, everything working together to draw me in further.
My hope is that this is the start of a new way forward, because once you start comparing this bunch with older cookbooks, or those from publishers with rigid and repetitive styles, those quickly start to look boring. This year’s bumper crop looks at salsa, instant ramen noodles, drinking culture, a country, and home baking. Subtle they aren’t, but they get you cooking, eating, drinking, and dreaming, which sounds like cookbook perfection to me. More really is more. Enjoy!
We’ll have one more selection of cookbooks to recommend before the year is up, so check back next week for the full list of 2025’s best. In the meantime, also see our recent recommendations for disaspora cookbooks. Also see winning titles from 2024 and 2023.
Even though the footprint of the UK’s alternative broadband providers (altnets) has doubled in less than two years, the sector is now moving from expansion to survival, with several operators facing commercial pressure that could trigger an expected consolidation wave, a study from Intelligens Consulting has found.
The State of the UK fibre market 2025 report revealed that the UK broadband market is on the brink of its biggest shakeout yet, as the industry shifts from rapid expansion to targeted, commercially grounded fibre investment.
Intelligens Consulting said the altnet sector had quietly doubled in under two years. Indeed, when it published its 2024 update, UK altnets had passed just over 8.6 million premises. By late 2025, that figure has grown to around 16 million, which the analyst described as “an extraordinary” increase delivered despite rising costs, slowing build rates and investor caution.
Altnets now account for around 57% of all UK fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) deployments, according to the study, with three firms – CityFibre, Netomnia and nexfibre – anchoring the independent fibre sector and driving the majority of new coverage. In addition, several operators have moved significantly up or down the rankings over the past year, with Lightspeed, F&W Networks and G.Network dropping out of the top 10, replaced by nexfibre, FullFibre/Zzoomm, Trooli and Freedom Fibre (including VXFibre).
Yet even with the rapid growth in altnet footprint and sector investment surging to £21.3bn, defying predictions of a slowdown, the study flagged several signs that the roll-out momentum is slowing, with take-up rates varying from 4% to almost 50%. This sparked concerns over the long-term viability of several operators, according to Intelligens Consulting.
The study found that the UK now sits at an average 2.44 fibre networks per household, raising fresh questions about overbuild, competition and sustainability. The report showed UK broadband leader Openreach was now passing 1.1 million premises per quarter, with take-up exceeding 50% in older cohorts, further squeezing altnet competitiveness. At the same time, nexfibre’s rise from nowhere to become a top-three builder in just 12 months was said to have intensified competitive pressure and reshaped the national roll-out map.
The altnet market has never been bigger – or more fragile. 2026 will be a make-or-break year. Those who fail to differentiate, partner smartly, or rethink their commercial strategy will not survive Iqbal Singh Bedi, Intelligens Consulting
These changes are regarded in the study as reflecting the stronger capital positions, faster build momentum and more decisive strategies of the rising operators. And while predictions of a merger wave have persisted for years, outside a handful of transactions, such as CityFibre acquiring Connexin, the market remains fragmented. Most operators are still pursuing independent strategies, although several face growing financial pressure and are pursuing crowdfunding solutions instead. The analyst suggested that while decisions may finally be forced in 2026, for now, the sector remains unconsolidated.
Commenting on the report, Intelligens Consulting managing partner Iqbal Singh Bedi said the altnet industry had arrived at a “make-or-break moment” for the UK fibre industry as a whole.
“The market has never been bigger – or more fragile,” he said. “Some operators are winning with strong brands and 30-50% take-up. Others are stuck in single-digit traction. 2026 will be a make-or-break year. Those who fail to differentiate, partner smartly, or rethink their commercial strategy will not survive.”
Looking forward, the study noted that one of the most striking findings was the role local authorities will play in the next phase of growth. Indeed, local authorities were cited as being critical to survival for companies. “We’re now past the land-grab era,” said Bedi. “Sustainable growth will come from smarter, place-based partnerships. Councils and operators must collaborate to reduce build risk, accelerate take-up and align fibre with smart place ambitions.”
In conclusion, the research said altnet survival will now depend on take-up, operational efficiency and commercial discipline, and not sheer roll-out volume. The long-expected consolidation will likely begin with those whose take-up, funding or strategy lags the market’s direction of travel. The likely winners will be those that build where it matters, invest where returns can be realised and collaborate where value can be unlocked.
Looking to bridge and eventually transcend the world of traditional mobile networks with IP communications infrastructures ahead of the shutdown of 3G services in the country, leading Swiss national railway operator Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB) has delivered what is claimed to be Europe’s first live integration of legacy railway communications system GSM-R with an advanced IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) platform with voice over LTE (VoLTE) service using Ericsson technology.
With the mission statement of connecting Switzerland, and with 35,500 employees, SBB transports over 1,410,000 people and 170,000 tonnes of freight to their destinations every day. It also operates the mobile network for all Swiss railways on the standard gauge network.
For years, voice roaming for Swiss rail communication relied on telco Swisscom’s public 3G network in areas where GSM-R coverage was not available. GSM-R is the current standard for secure, reliable railway communications, supporting essential voice and data for train control and operations.
With Swisscom’s decision to decommission its 3G services, Swiss railway operators faced an urgent need to modernise. Expanding the old GSM-R system was one option, but SBB engaged Ericsson to deliver a platform based on IMS and VoLTE, bridging GSM-R rail-specific functions with modern mobile and fixed telephony systems.
The infrastructure upgrade is intended to ensure uninterrupted, nationwide railway communication for Switzerland’s 3,100km rail network ahead of the planned decommissioning of Swisscom’s 3G services by the end of 2025. Furthermore, onboard 4G service upgrades have been implemented for about 1,000 trains, in a move that Ericsson says no less then redefines connectivity and reliability for SBB’s railway operations.
Said to offer resilience and innovation, the new system ensures continuous end-to-end rail communication, setting benchmarks for railway operators across Europe facing legacy telecom shutdowns.
In addition, the deployment strategy aimed to prioritise zero service interruptions and robust safety compliance. Key features of the IMS implementation included IMS-GSM-R interworking, GSM-R numbering adaptation and mandatory safety-critical functions such as emergency stop calls.
The IMS/VoLTE integration progressed through a number of key testing phases: platform deployment was initiated in June 2023; the first end-to-end VoLTE-to-GSM-R calls were successfully completed in early 2024; field tests across pilot trains, certified by Switzerland’s Federal Authority Office of Transport, took place in January 2025; and nationwide go-live of the system occurred in April 2025 ahead of schedule. The infrastructure is currently in operation with approximately 450 trains and 1,000 operational devices using VoLTE technology with zero downtime.
Ericsson says the live IMS/VoLTE platform guarantees high-performance rail communication with scalable, modernised dispatcher telephony, reducing risks and limitations of the legacy infrastructure. Key rail-specific functions – including EIRENE functional numbering (European Integrated Radio Enhanced Network), emergency stop calls, group calls and onboard announcements – have been preserved.
By enabling 4G/5G, Switzerland’s railway network is attributed with avoiding service interruptions from the 3G shutdown while laying the groundwork for upcoming 5G-based Future Railway Mobile Communication System innovations. Migrations to date are said to have proceeded smoothly, supported by training provided to SBB’s operational teams.
While the full migration of train fleet communications and smartphone operations continues towards its December 2025 completion, the collaboration is said to have paved the way for future enhancements. Insights gained during this project will guide improvements in strategies for similar railway transformations globally.
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