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25 Nov 2024
M4 iPad Pro Black Friday Deals Include Up to $200 Off at Best Buy - MacRumors
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In total, you'll find as much as $200 off these tablets on Best Buy this week, and deals include both 11-inch and 13-inch M4 iPad Pros. Additionally, we're tracking deals on both Wi-Fi and cellular tablets right now, as well as the Nano-Texture Glass models.
SITEWIDE SALEiPad Black Friday Deals at Best Buy
My Best Buy Plus is priced at $49.99 per year and it includes exclusive member prices on thousands of items, like these M4 iPad Pros. You'll also get an extended 60-day return window on most products when you sign up for the service.
11-Inch iPad Pro - Wi-Fi
- 256GB Wi-Fi - $849.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]
- 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,049.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]
- 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,399.00 ($200 off) [Best Buy members only]
- 2TB Wi-Fi - $1,799.00 ($200 off) [Best Buy members only]
- 2TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,899.00 ($200 off) [Best Buy members only]
11-Inch iPad Pro - Cellular
- 256GB Cellular - $1,049.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]
- 512GB Cellular - $1,249.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]
- 1TB Cellular - $1,599.00 ($200 off) [Best Buy members only]
- 1TB Cellular with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,699.00 ($200 off) [Best Buy members only]
- 2TB Cellular - $1,999.00 ($200 off) [Best Buy members only]
13-Inch iPad Pro - Wi-Fi
- 256GB Wi-Fi - $1,099.00 ($200 off)
- 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,299.00 ($200 off)
- 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,699.00 ($200 off)
- 1TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,799.00 ($200 off)
- 2TB Wi-Fi - $2,099.00 ($200 off)
- 2TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $2,199.00 ($200 off)
13-Inch iPad Pro - Cellular
- 256GB Cellular - $1,299.00 ($200 off)
- 512GB Cellular - $1,499.00 ($200 off)
- 1TB Cellular with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,999.00 ($200 off)
- 2TB Cellular - $2,299.00 ($200 off)
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "M4 iPad Pro Black Friday Deals Include Up to $200 Off at Best Buy" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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'iPhone 17 Air' Features Revealed in New Report: As Thin as 5mm, Single Speaker, and More - MacRumors
The report said prototypes of the device have a thickness of between 5mm and 6mm, which would make it the thinnest iPhone ever. In comparison, iPhone 16 models are 7.8mm thick and iPhone 16 Pro models are 8.25mm thick.
Due to this ultra-thin design, some design compromises are necessary.
The device currently lacks a physical SIM card tray, the report said, but the design is not yet finalized. This means the device could rely entirely on eSIM technology. In the U.S., all iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 models lack a physical SIM card tray already, but all iPhones sold in other countries still have one for now.
The device is said to have only a single speaker, in the earpiece, as there is apparently not enough room for a second speaker on the bottom edge.
As previously rumored, the "iPhone 17 Air" is expected to be equipped with an Apple-designed 5G modem that is smaller and more power efficient than Qualcomm modems used in current iPhones. However, the report said that Apple's modem will lack ultra-fast mmWave 5G support, and have slower overall cellular data speeds compared to the Qualcomm modems.
Unsurprisingly, the device will also have a "smaller battery" than current iPhones, but it remains to be seen how battery life ultimately compares.
One final compromise relates to cameras. The report said the "iPhone 17 Air" currently has a "large, centered camera bump on its back" with a single camera, whereas iPhone 16 models have two to three rear cameras.
The device is said to be in early production trials at Foxconn. Apple is apparently struggling to fit an adequate battery and some other components into the ultra-thin chassis, but it still has time to overcome these challenges.
Previously-rumored features for the "iPhone 17 Air" include a 6.6-inch display, aluminum frame, A19 chip, Face ID, Dynamic Island, single 48-megapixel rear camera, 24-megapixel front camera, and 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence.
The device should launch in September 2025 alongside the standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models, with no iPhone 17 Plus expected. The report said the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature an aluminum frame, a rectangular rear camera bump, and more.Related Roundup: iPhone 17Tag: The Information
This article, "'iPhone 17 Air' Features Revealed in New Report: As Thin as 5mm, Single Speaker, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
'iPhone 17 Air' Features Revealed in New Report: As Thin as 5mm, Single Speaker, and More - MacRumors
The report said prototypes of the device have a thickness of between 5mm and 6mm, which would make it the thinnest iPhone ever. In comparison, iPhone 16 models are 7.8mm thick and iPhone 16 Pro models are 8.25mm thick.
Due to this ultra-thin design, some design compromises are necessary.
The device currently lacks a physical SIM card tray, the report said, but the design is not yet finalized. This means the device could rely entirely on eSIM technology. In the U.S., all iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 models lack a physical SIM card tray already, but all iPhones sold in other countries still have one for now.
The device is said to have only a single speaker, in the earpiece, as there is apparently not enough room for a second speaker on the bottom edge.
As previously rumored, the "iPhone 17 Air" is expected to be equipped with an Apple-designed 5G modem that is smaller and more power efficient than Qualcomm modems used in current iPhones. However, the report said that Apple's modem will lack ultra-fast mmWave 5G support, and have slower overall cellular data speeds compared to the Qualcomm modems.
Unsurprisingly, the device will also have a "smaller battery" than current iPhones, but it remains to be seen how battery life ultimately compares.
One final compromise relates to cameras. The report said the "iPhone 17 Air" currently has a "large, centered camera bump on its back" with a single camera, whereas iPhone 16 models have two to three rear cameras.
The device is said to be in early production trials at Foxconn. Apple is apparently struggling to fit an adequate battery and some other components into the ultra-thin chassis, but it still has time to overcome these challenges.
Previously-rumored features for the "iPhone 17 Air" include a 6.6-inch display, aluminum frame, A19 chip, Face ID, Dynamic Island, single 48-megapixel rear camera, 24-megapixel front camera, and 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence.
The device should launch in September 2025 alongside the standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models, with no iPhone 17 Plus expected. The report said the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature an aluminum frame, a rectangular rear camera bump, and more.Related Roundup: iPhone 17Tag: The Information
This article, "'iPhone 17 Air' Features Revealed in New Report: As Thin as 5mm, Single Speaker, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
First iPhone 17 Pro Design Leak Claims Surprising Return to Aluminum, Rectangular Camera Bump, and More - MacRumors
The two flagship iPhone 17 models will be the first high-end iPhones to feature an aluminum frame since the delineation of the iPhone lineup into Pro and non-Pro models. In recent years, lower-end iPhone models such as the iPhone SE and iPhone 16 have featured aluminum frames. Until the release of the iPhone 15 Pro, high-end iPhone models featured stainless steel frames. Now, the high-end iPhones feature titanium chassis – a change that was touted as one of the key upgrades of the iPhone 15 Pro. With the introduction of the iPhone 17 lineup, Apple is reportedly planning to bring the entire selection of devices back to aluminum.
The rear of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max will also feature a new part-aluminum, part-glass design. The top half of the back will be made of aluminum and feature a "rectangular camera bump made of aluminum rather than traditional 3D glass," while the bottom half will continue to be made of glass to support wireless charging. Apple introduced a glass back to the iPhone with the iPhone 8 and iPhone X in 2017, but prior to that, every iPhone except the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 5C had an aluminum rear. The new, aluminum camera bump of the iPhone 17 Pro will also apparently be larger than that of previous models.
The new design will constitute one of the most significant visual changes to the high-end iPhone models in recent years. The Information has an excellent track record for accurate Apple rumors, so the latest report is highly likely to pan out. The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to launch in the fall of 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air.Related Roundup: iPhone 17Tag: The Information
This article, "First iPhone 17 Pro Design Leak Claims Surprising Return to Aluminum, Rectangular Camera Bump, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
First iPhone 17 Pro Design Leak Claims Surprising Return to Aluminum, Rectangular Camera Bump, and More - MacRumors
The two flagship iPhone 17 models will be the first high-end iPhones to feature an aluminum frame since the delineation of the iPhone lineup into Pro and non-Pro models. In recent years, lower-end iPhone models such as the iPhone SE and iPhone 16 have featured aluminum frames. Until the release of the iPhone 15 Pro, high-end iPhone models featured stainless steel frames. Now, the high-end iPhones feature titanium chassis – a change that was touted as one of the key upgrades of the iPhone 15 Pro. With the introduction of the iPhone 17 lineup, Apple is reportedly planning to bring the entire selection of devices back to aluminum.
The rear of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max will also feature a new part-aluminum, part-glass design. The top half of the back will be made of aluminum and feature a "rectangular camera bump made of aluminum rather than traditional 3D glass," while the bottom half will continue to be made of glass to support wireless charging. Apple introduced a glass back to the iPhone with the iPhone 8 and iPhone X in 2017, but prior to that, every iPhone except the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 5C had an aluminum rear. The new, aluminum camera bump of the iPhone 17 Pro will also apparently be larger than that of previous models.
The new design will constitute one of the most significant visual changes to the high-end iPhone models in recent years. The Information has an excellent track record for accurate Apple rumors, so the latest report is highly likely to pan out. The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to launch in the fall of 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air.Related Roundup: iPhone 17Tag: The Information
This article, "First iPhone 17 Pro Design Leak Claims Surprising Return to Aluminum, Rectangular Camera Bump, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
USDOT Launches Climate Adaptation Plan - Planetizen
The U.S. Department of Transportation has released a 2024-2027 Climate Adaptation Plan aimed at building resilient infrastructure, integrating climate risk into its operations, and ensuring environmental justice. The agency’s focus on integrating environmental justice is designed to ensure across its programs and strengthen vulnerable communities.
According to an article in Global Railway Review, “The CAP introduces initiatives to strengthen infrastructure resilience and support vulnerable communities” that include a Climate Hazard Exposure and Resilience (CHER) Tool and the PROTECT program, which “supports resilience projects like evacuation routes and coastal defenses to protect infrastructure from extreme weather.”
The CAP prioritizes four key areas: investment in climate-smart infrastructure, linking climate resilience and environmental justice, leveraging federal climate data, and reducing climate impacts on federal assets.
Geography United States Category Environment Infrastructure Transportation Tags Publication Global Railway Review Publication Date Thu, 11/21/2024 - 12:00 Publication Links USDOT unveils Climate Adaptation Plan 2024-2027 1 minuteUSDOT Launches Climate Adaptation Plan - Planetizen
The U.S. Department of Transportation has released a 2024-2027 Climate Adaptation Plan aimed at building resilient infrastructure, integrating climate risk into its operations, and ensuring environmental justice. The agency’s focus on integrating environmental justice is designed to ensure across its programs and strengthen vulnerable communities.
According to an article in Global Railway Review, “The CAP introduces initiatives to strengthen infrastructure resilience and support vulnerable communities” that include a Climate Hazard Exposure and Resilience (CHER) Tool and the PROTECT program, which “supports resilience projects like evacuation routes and coastal defenses to protect infrastructure from extreme weather.”
The CAP prioritizes four key areas: investment in climate-smart infrastructure, linking climate resilience and environmental justice, leveraging federal climate data, and reducing climate impacts on federal assets.
Geography United States Category Environment Infrastructure Transportation Tags Publication Global Railway Review Publication Date Thu, 11/21/2024 - 12:00 Publication Links USDOT unveils Climate Adaptation Plan 2024-2027 1 minuteFocaccia likely originated in Mesopotamia, not Rome - Popular Science
Focaccia has been a staple of Italian meals since at least ancient Rome, but new research indicates the flatbread’s origins date as far back as the Neolithic Era. According to some archeologists, Mesopotamian communities may have even started baking large loaves of shared bread between 7,000 and 5,000 BCE—thousands of miles away from their modern Roman associations.
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The new findings were published on November 5th in the journal Scientific Reports and focus on evidence recovered across the Fertile Crescent in what is now Syria and Turkey. Collaborators from Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) in Spain, Turkey’s Universities of Istanbul and the Koç, as well as the University of La Sapienza in Rome, examined 13 ceramic fragments unearthed at Mezraa Teleilat, Akarçay Tepe, and Tell Sabi Abyad. The team believes these pieces originally belonged to husking trays—large, oval-shaped, low-walled baking pans made from coarse clay.
Husking tray fragments analyzed in the research project. Credit: Scientific ReportsUsing a combination of tools such as stereomicroscopy and chemical analysis, researchers detected signs of use-wear as well as compounds from phytoliths (plant silica residue) and other organic materials. According to the study’s authors, scoring marks that were “crudely made, repetitive, and uniformly distributed over the entire internal surface of the vessel” also suggest common designs seen in baking pans.
Some of the fragments even contained microscopic signs of animal fat and plant seasonings, whose degradation states imply exposure to baking temperatures as high as 420 degrees Celsius (788 degrees Fahrenheit). According to the study’s announcement from the UAB, archeologists believe this all amounts to “clear evidence” supporting the husking trays in making ancient flatbreads such as focaccia.
The Mesopotamian region with the sites marked out where the material analyzed in this research project was found. Credit: Scientific ReportsThe variation in organic materials found across the 13 fragments led researchers to also conclude that Neolithic communities experimented with multiple different recipes for the breads baking in these husking trays. Given that each vessel could support focaccia loaves as heavy as 6.6 lbs, scientists surmise these breads were likely eaten communally.
“Our study offers a vivid picture of communities using the cereals they cultivated to prepare breads and ‘focaccias’ enriched with various ingredients and consumed in groups,” said Sergio Taranto, the study’s lead author and a doctoral researcher at the UAB.
Related: [Leftovers of a 2,000-year-old curry discovered on stone cooking tools.]
Taranto added that further dating of the fragments leads archeologists to believe that “this Late Neolithic culinary tradition developed over approximately six centuries and was practiced in a wide area of the Near East” before such practices migrated elsewhere like Italy.
The post Focaccia likely originated in Mesopotamia, not Rome appeared first on Popular Science.
Improving South Los Angeles Through Strategic Tree Planting - Planetizen
The University of Southern California (USC) Urban Trees Initiative recently planted the first 27 of 250 planned trees in South Los Angeles neighborhoods, starting in the West Adams area during a community block party. This collaboration between USC, the Koreatown Youth and Community Center, and L.A. Sanitation and Environment brought together university faculty, students, community organizers, and residents to improve local green spaces. The project aims to enhance livability by addressing the need for shade and combating the effects of rising temperatures in underserved communities such as Adams-Normandie, University Park, and Exposition Park.
The initiative, led by the USC Dornsife Public Exchange, emphasizes equitable access to green spaces through data-driven approaches. Experts in geospatial sciences, landscape architecture, air quality, and community engagement work together to ensure a sustainable and inclusive effort. Professor Esther Margulies of the USC School of Architecture highlighted the importance of educating residents about the benefits of trees in mitigating climate change and fostering healthier neighborhoods. These efforts align with USC’s broader “Assignment: Earth” initiative, promoting environmental research and community-driven sustainability.
The event marked a significant milestone for the Urban Trees Initiative and USC’s sustainability “moonshot” spearheaded by President Carol Folt in 2022. This initiative integrates green research, education, and policymaking to address environmental challenges and improve quality of life in Los Angeles. By planting trees in historically underserved areas, the project fosters a collaborative approach to building resilience against climate change while creating greener, healthier communities.
Geography California Category Community / Economic Development Education & Careers Environment Infrastructure Landscape Architecture Social / Demographics Technology Urban Development Tags- Los Angeles
- Trees
- South Los Angeles
- tree planting
- Urban Tree Canopy
- Urban Trees
- Climate Change
- Air Quality
- Shade
- Urban Heat Island Effect
Improving South Los Angeles Through Strategic Tree Planting - Planetizen
The University of Southern California (USC) Urban Trees Initiative recently planted the first 27 of 250 planned trees in South Los Angeles neighborhoods, starting in the West Adams area during a community block party. This collaboration between USC, the Koreatown Youth and Community Center, and L.A. Sanitation and Environment brought together university faculty, students, community organizers, and residents to improve local green spaces. The project aims to enhance livability by addressing the need for shade and combating the effects of rising temperatures in underserved communities such as Adams-Normandie, University Park, and Exposition Park.
The initiative, led by the USC Dornsife Public Exchange, emphasizes equitable access to green spaces through data-driven approaches. Experts in geospatial sciences, landscape architecture, air quality, and community engagement work together to ensure a sustainable and inclusive effort. Professor Esther Margulies of the USC School of Architecture highlighted the importance of educating residents about the benefits of trees in mitigating climate change and fostering healthier neighborhoods. These efforts align with USC’s broader “Assignment: Earth” initiative, promoting environmental research and community-driven sustainability.
The event marked a significant milestone for the Urban Trees Initiative and USC’s sustainability “moonshot” spearheaded by President Carol Folt in 2022. This initiative integrates green research, education, and policymaking to address environmental challenges and improve quality of life in Los Angeles. By planting trees in historically underserved areas, the project fosters a collaborative approach to building resilience against climate change while creating greener, healthier communities.
Geography California Category Community / Economic Development Education & Careers Environment Infrastructure Landscape Architecture Social / Demographics Technology Urban Development Tags- Los Angeles
- Trees
- South Los Angeles
- tree planting
- Urban Tree Canopy
- Urban Trees
- Climate Change
- Air Quality
- Shade
- Urban Heat Island Effect
Apple Black Friday Accessory Sales Include Low Prices on AirTag, iPhone 16 Cases, and More - MacRumors
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
AirTag
Starting with the AirTag 4-Pack, Amazon has the tracking accessory multi-pack for $72.99, down from $99.00. This is a solid second-best price on this device, and it's just about $3 higher compared to the all-time low price.
$26 OFFAirTag 4-Pack for $72.99MagSafe Chargers
For MagSafe Chargers, we're tracking two solid deals at Amazon. You can get the 1-meter MagSafe Charger for $29.99, down from $39.00, and the 2-meter MagSafe Charger for $34.99, down from $49.00.
$9 OFF1-meter MagSafe Charger for $29.99
$14 OFF2-meter MagSafe Charger for $34.99iPad Pro Magic Keyboards
Moving to the new 2024 iPad Pro Magic Keyboards, you can get the 11-inch model in Black for $249.99, down from $299.00. This is a new all-time low price on this version of the accessory, and it beats the previous deal price by about $10.
Amazon also has the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard on sale, available for $274.99 in White, down from $349.00. This is another record low price on the Magic Keyboard.
$49 OFF11-inch M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard for $249.99
$74 OFF13-inch M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard for $274.99Apple Pencil
Right now, the only notable Apple Pencil deal is on the Apple Pencil 2, which is available for the all-time low price of $79.99 for Black Friday on Amazon.
$49 OFFApple Pencil 2 for $79.99iPhone 16 Cases
Lastly, Amazon has quite a few discounts on Apple's official MagSafe cases for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. You can find every case listed below by model, and many are seeing multiple colors hitting record low prices.
iPhone 16
- Clear Case - $37.00, down from $49.00
- Silicone Case - $22.00, down from $49.00
iPhone 16 Plus
- Clear Case - $34.00, down from $49.00
- Silicone Case - $22.00, down from $49.00
iPhone 16 Pro
- Clear Case - $34.00, down from $49.00
- Silicone Case - $34.00, down from $49.00
iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Clear Case - $37.00, down from $49.00
- Silicone Case - $37.00, down from $49.00
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Apple Black Friday Accessory Sales Include Low Prices on AirTag, iPhone 16 Cases, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Black Friday Accessory Sales Include Low Prices on AirTag, iPhone 16 Cases, and More - MacRumors
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
AirTag
Starting with the AirTag 4-Pack, Amazon has the tracking accessory multi-pack for $72.99, down from $99.00. This is a solid second-best price on this device, and it's just about $3 higher compared to the all-time low price.
$26 OFFAirTag 4-Pack for $72.99MagSafe Chargers
For MagSafe Chargers, we're tracking two solid deals at Amazon. You can get the 1-meter MagSafe Charger for $29.99, down from $39.00, and the 2-meter MagSafe Charger for $34.99, down from $49.00.
$9 OFF1-meter MagSafe Charger for $29.99
$14 OFF2-meter MagSafe Charger for $34.99iPad Pro Magic Keyboards
Moving to the new 2024 iPad Pro Magic Keyboards, you can get the 11-inch model in Black for $249.99, down from $299.00. This is a new all-time low price on this version of the accessory, and it beats the previous deal price by about $10.
Amazon also has the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard on sale, available for $274.99 in White, down from $349.00. This is another record low price on the Magic Keyboard.
$49 OFF11-inch M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard for $249.99
$74 OFF13-inch M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard for $274.99Apple Pencil
Right now, the only notable Apple Pencil deal is on the Apple Pencil 2, which is available for the all-time low price of $79.99 for Black Friday on Amazon.
$49 OFFApple Pencil 2 for $79.99iPhone 16 Cases
Lastly, Amazon has quite a few discounts on Apple's official MagSafe cases for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. You can find every case listed below by model, and many are seeing multiple colors hitting record low prices.
iPhone 16
- Clear Case - $37.00, down from $49.00
- Silicone Case - $22.00, down from $49.00
iPhone 16 Plus
- Clear Case - $34.00, down from $49.00
- Silicone Case - $22.00, down from $49.00
iPhone 16 Pro
- Clear Case - $34.00, down from $49.00
- Silicone Case - $34.00, down from $49.00
iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Clear Case - $37.00, down from $49.00
- Silicone Case - $37.00, down from $49.00
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Apple Black Friday Accessory Sales Include Low Prices on AirTag, iPhone 16 Cases, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
‘Was I awkward?’ What overthinking after a party has to do with your ‘lizard brain’ - Popular Science
“Did they think I was annoying?” “Did I say something boring?” “Were they having fun?” These creeping, intrusive thoughts after having a conversation or attending a party are, psychologically, more than just a nuisance. These thoughts are actually a sign of how well our species has evolved to think deeply about what others might be thinking and feeling. However, our brain’s ancient fear center can sometimes get a little bit too involved when worrying about it.
Now, a new study found that the more recently evolved and advanced parts of the human brain used for socializing are well connected to and in constant dialogue with a more ancient part of the human brain involved with processing fear. The findings are detailed in a study published November 22 in the journal Science Advances.
[Related: See the most detailed map of human brain matter ever created.]
The portion of our brain that controls our social interactions is called the social brain or social cognitive network. It is a more recently developed section of the brain. Our species tends to spend a good deal of time analyzing the reactions and emotions of others, sometimes to our peril. During cognitive behavioral therapy, therapists will often work with patients on this idea of mind reading–a cognitive distortion that happens when you assume you know what someone is thinking, even if you cannot know for sure.
“The parts of the brain that allow us to do this are in regions of the human brain that have expanded recently in our evolution, and that implies that it’s a recently developed process,” study co-author and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine neuroscientist Rodrigo Braga said in a statement. “In essence, you’re putting yourself in someone else’s mind and making inferences about what that person is thinking when you cannot really know.”
The social brain is connected to and in constant communication with a less evolved and older part of the human brain–the amygdala. It is often called our “lizard brain” and is primarily associated with detecting threats and processing fear. The physiological and emotional response to seeing a snake or spider–startled body, sweaty palms, and an increased heart beat–are examples of the amygdala in action. According to Braga, there is more to the amygdala than this “lizard brain.”
“For instance, the amygdala is responsible for social behaviors like parenting, mating, aggression and the navigation of social-dominance hierarchies,” said Braga. “Previous studies have found co-activation of the amygdala and social cognitive network, but our study is novel because it shows the communication is always happening.”
In the new study, the team found that the connection between the newer and more ancient parts of the human brain lies in a specific part of the amygdala called the medial nucleus. It is an important part of the amygdalae because it helps the brain understand social cues like aggression. This connection helps shape the function of the social cognitive network by giving it access to the amygdala’s role in processing emotionally important stimuli. According to the team, this study was the first to show that the amygdala’s medial nucleus is in constant communication with the brain regions involved in thinking about other people.
To see this in action, the team used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This noninvasive brain-imaging technique can measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood oxygen levels. Study co-author Kendrick Kay from the University of Minnesota provided fMRI data from six participants’ brains. These high-resolution scans allowed the team to see details of the social cognitive network that lower-resolution brain scans hadn’t detected. The team was also able to replicate the findings up to two times in each brain studied.
“One of the most exciting things is we were able to identify network regions we weren’t able to see before,” study co-author and Northwestern Ph.D. student Donnisa Edmonds said in a statement. “That’s something that had been underappreciated before our study, and we were able to get at that because we had such high-resolution data.”
[ Related: Stress and anxiety wear down your brain. Here’s how to fight back. ]
Anxiety and depression can both involve hyperactivity in the amygdala and deep brain stimulation can be used as a treatment option for severe cases. However, the surgical procedure is very invasive since the amygdala is located deep inside the brain and directly behind the eyes. These study’s findings could lead to improvements in a less-invasive procedure called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This procedure uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of major depression where other treatment methods have not been effective.
“Through this knowledge that the amygdala is connected to other brain regions–potentially some that are closer to the skull, which is an easier region to target–that means people who do TMS could target the amygdala instead by targeting these other regions,” Edmonds said.
The post ‘Was I awkward?’ What overthinking after a party has to do with your ‘lizard brain’ appeared first on Popular Science.
The best early Black Friday deals under $100 - Popular Science
Black Friday is still several days away, but that hasn’t stopped companies for discounting their gear early—in some cases down to their lowest prices ever. That’s great if you’re the type of person who likes to do their holiday shopping early to avoid shipping deadlines and unwanted stress, but the big question when deal hunting is: Where do I start. The good news is that we’ve figured that part out for you by collecting the best Black Friday deals you can get for under $100. The deals are broken down by category, so you can easily find exactly what you’re looking for. We’ll continually update this story with more Black Friday deals under $100 over the next week as new deals become available, so check back often.
Beats Solo 4, $99.99 (Was $199.95)Beats
See ItBeats used to be known exclusively for bass-heavy headphones, but the Solo 4s are a technical tour-de-force, and an incredible deal at their early Black Friday price. The Solo 4s can last up to 50 hours on a single charge, and feature a collapsible design for easy storage. These features make the headphones a good choice for students or commuters who need a pair that can be stashed away quickly in a backpack or bag. The headphones also support Apple’s “Find My” and Android’s “Find My Device,” which allow you to track and locate lost (or stolen) gear. If you accidentally leave the Solo 4s somewhere, you’ll know where to look first, and will be able to track the headphones in real time if they’re on the move. The Solo 4s don’t support active noise cancellation—most on-ear headphones don’t—and if that isn’t a dealbreaker, don’t skip this early Black Friday deal.
The best Black Friday tech deals under $100- Scosche FM Bluetooth Car Charger And Transmitter, $16.99 (Was $24.99)
- Logitech MK270 Wireless Keyboard And Mouse Combo, $19.99 (Was $27.99)
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K, $29 (Was $49.99)
- UGREEN Uno Charger 65W USB C Charger, $32.49 (Was $49.99)
- Razer Seiren V2 X USB Condenser Microphone, $39.99 (Was $99.99)
- Anker PowerConf C200 2K Webcam, $47.99 (Was $59.99)
- Amazon eero 6, $69.99 (Was $89.99)
- Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet, $74.99 (Was $139.99)
- Amazon Kindle, $84.99 (Was $109.99)
- Samsung T7 Portable 1TB SSD, $88.49 (Was $159.99)
- Corsair K70 RGB PRO Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, $99.99 (Was $129.10)
- SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless Gaming Headset, $99.99 (Was $149.99)
- JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless Earbuds, $24.95 (was $49.95)
- Creative Pebble V3 Minimalistic 2.0 USB-C Desktop Speakers, $29.74 (Was $34.99)
- JBL Go 3 Portable Mini Bluetooth Speaker, $29.95 (was $39.95)
- Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation, $34.99 (Was $119.99)
- Roku Streambar SE, $69 (Was $99.99)
- Soundcore Life Q30 by Anker, Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, $51.99 (Was $79.99)
- Sony WF-C700N Truly Wireless Noise Canceling in-Ear Bluetooth Earbud, $78 (Was $119.99)
- Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4, $79.99 (was $99.99)
- Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers, $99.99 (Was $139.99)
- Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale, $10.99 (Was $13.99)
- Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, $24.99 (Was $49.99)
- OXO Good Grips 3-Piece POP Container Set with Mini Scoops, $29.99 (Was $39.95)
- Farberware Electric Coffee Percolator, $41.99 (Was $49.99)
- Keurig K-Mini Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, $49 (Was $99.99)
- Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker, $69.95 (Was $95.95)
- KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender with Accessories, $69.99 (Was $99.99)
- Hamilton Beach 2-in-1 Countertop Toaster Oven and Long Slot 2 Slice Toaster, $74.99 (Was $99.99)
- Ninja BL770AMZ Blender, $99.99 (Was $199.99)
- Energizer Universal+ LED Headlamp, $6.30 (Was $16.99)
- Amazon Basics Sturdy 142 Piece Household Tool Kit, $22.73 (Was $28.49)
- Zircon StudSensor A100 Wall Scanner and Center/Edge Locating Stud Finder, $24.63 (Was $28.99)
- HOTO Electric Screwdriver Kit, $29.99 (Was $39.99)
- Gerber Gear Truss 17-in-1 EDC Needle Nose Pliers Multitool, $40.09 (Was $60)
- WORX 20V Cordless Leaf Blower, $68.99 (Was $119.99)
- BOSCH PR20EVS Router Tool, $79.98 (Was $129)
- DEWALT 20V MAX Reciprocating Saw, $99 (Was $159)
- CRAFTSMAN V20 MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver, $99 (Was $149)
- Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug, $14.99 (Was $24.99)
- Columbia Unisex Omni-Heat Touch Glove Liner, $21.98 (Was $30)
- YETI Rambler 20 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler w/MagSlider Lid, $24.50 (Was $35)
- OLIGHT Arkfeld Pro Rechargeable EDC Flashlight, $74.99 (Was $99.99)
- Coleman 316 Series Insulated Portable Cooler, $87.99 (Was $115.99)
- Anker Power Bank Power Station, $89.99 (Was $139.78)
- Igloo Trailmate Soft Coolers, $98.39 (Was $149.99)
The post The best early Black Friday deals under $100 appeared first on Popular Science.
Toyota uses noise and vibration engineers in pursuit of cabin silence that rivals luxury cars - Popular Science
A quiet cabin is often thought of as the domain of pricey luxury cars, like plush Bentleys and elegant Rolls-Royce sedans. Automaker for the masses Toyota would like to debunk that myth with evidence of laser-focused efforts to silence every unwanted sound.
Scott Smith, a principal engineer in Toyota’s vehicle performance department, has been hard at work making car interiors quieter for nearly 20 years. Typically, when referring to a serene cabin the acronym NVH is often used, which stands for noise, vibration, and harshness.
However, Smith says that Toyota splits those functions into more concentrated specialties, and his group focuses on just the noise and vibration with the harshness factor falling under the ride and comfort group. Smith earned his master’s degree in engineering with a focus in vibrations at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio; he’s an expert.
“When people ask me what I do at Toyota, I say I’m an NV engineer, and they don’t understand what that means,” Smith explains. “So I tell them, ‘I’m the guy that makes your car quiet.’ And they get it.”
Several elements are under consideration when in pursuit of a vehicle that’s as peaceful as possible inside. Noise made by tires, wind, and mechanical components are all studied extensively, and engineers like Smith figure out how to improve NVH ratings with each model iteration. The brand says its new Camry is a prime example, including tweaks to make its cabin more tranquil than the previous generation.
Toyota NV (noise and vibration) engineers focus on making the Camry and other models as quiet as possible. Image: Toyota New, quieter motorOne advantage Toyota is leaning into with the new Camry is the fact that every model includes a hybrid powertrain, which smooths out the edges of the engine noise with whisper-quiet electric motors. The 2025 Toyota Camry is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder internal-combustion engine aided by two electric motors (three if you choose the all-wheel-drive version). What you may notice more than anything is Toyota’s distinctive “spaceship” sound, the brand’s version of a government-required exterior sound to warn pedestrians of approaching vehicles. Once you’ve heard it, it’s easy to discern if the hybrid driving alongside is a Toyota or not based on the notes of the powertrain.
“The electric motor [in the 2025 Camry] is new, and it’s a quieter electric motor than the previous Camry had,” Smith says. “That has a big impact.”
Another dynamic in the Camry’s favor is that it rides on the automaker’s TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) modular chassis, which was designed to reduce acoustic resonance within the frame itself.
Wind noise affects NVH scores, and one way the team addressed that issue was to reshape the rain gutter along the A-pillar (the frame section between the windshield and front doors) so the wind flows over it more smoothly. The updated design ensures air doesn’t snag, avoiding wind noise as it funnels through. The base of the hood was also retooled so that the wind flows above the windshield wipers instead of through them. Even seemingly minor things were adjusted, like tightening the gasket seals on the door handles to improve wind noise.
“We’ve been benchmarking our competitors for a very, very long time; longer than I’ve been at Toyota,” Smith explains. “Most customers expect their new vehicle to be quieter than their old car, so we establish those targets and then it’s all about what the change points are.”
Computer-aided silencingDifferent types of silencers and seals are installed inside the vehicle, which is an important way to reduce the interior noise. That may include the weather strips, double-paned glass, and rubber seals. If you were to take your instrument panel out of your vehicle, you’ll see a big giant piece of felt that’s covering up the entire dash; Toyota calls that a dash inner silencer. Pull back the carpet to find the floor silencer, another giant piece of felt that absorbs noise.
Testing is conducted using mostly computer-aided engineering (CAE) tools and 3D printed models. These tools help the Toyota team predict variables like engine vibration, playing out what the car might sound like inside the cabin as adjustments are made. As technology advances, the engineers can up their game and continually improve.
Inside Toyota’s noise and vibration lab. Image: ToyotaThat’s a big change over the last 20 years for Smith, who used to have to spend a couple of weeks every month at the lab. Now his travel has been greatly reduced because Toyota conducts less on-road vehicle testing and does more of that prediction testing on a computer.
“When I first started at Toyota, we were predicting frequencies below 200 Hertz, but now we can predict up to 6,000 Hertz,” Smith says. “We use three different types of CA tools that help us do those different types of predictions.”
Investing money and time in a quiet cabin has a connection to the brand’s reputation, too.
“Customers expect to have good quality and low levels of noise,” Smith says. “From a quality point of view, that’s where noise migration has a very direct linear correlation to the perception of quality.”
The post Toyota uses noise and vibration engineers in pursuit of cabin silence that rivals luxury cars appeared first on Popular Science.
Apple Announces 2024 App Store Awards Finalists, Including Kino - MacRumors
There are 45 finalists across 12 categories, including a first-ever Apple Vision Pro category. Apple said the awards recognize developers who delivered the "highest levels of user experience, design, and innovation" on the App Store this year.
Kino was released earlier this year by Lux, the makers of the popular iPhone camera app Halide.
Other notable finalists include NYT Games for the iPhone, Procreate Dreams for the iPad, Zoom for the Apple TV, NBA for the Apple Vision Pro, and more.
Apple said the winner of each category will be announced in the coming weeks. More details about each app can be found in Apple's announcement.
iPhone App of the Year Finalists
iPhone Game of the Year Finalists
iPad App of the Year Finalists
iPad Game of the Year Finalists
Apple Arcade Game of the Year Finalists
Mac App of the Year Finalists
Mac Game of the Year Finalists
Apple Watch App of the Year Finalists
Apple Vision Pro App of the Year Finalists
Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year Finalists
Apple TV App of the Year Finalists
Cultural Impact Finalists
- Arco
- The Bear
- BetterSleep
- Brawl Stars
- DailyArt
- Do You Really Want to Know 2
- EF Hello
- NYT Games
- Oko
- Partiful
- The Wreck
This article, "Apple Announces 2024 App Store Awards Finalists, Including Kino" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Announces 2024 App Store Awards Finalists, Including Kino - MacRumors
There are 45 finalists across 12 categories, including a first-ever Apple Vision Pro category. Apple said the awards recognize developers who delivered the "highest levels of user experience, design, and innovation" on the App Store this year.
Kino was released earlier this year by Lux, the makers of the popular iPhone camera app Halide.
Other notable finalists include NYT Games for the iPhone, Procreate Dreams for the iPad, Zoom for the Apple TV, NBA for the Apple Vision Pro, and more.
Apple said the winner of each category will be announced in the coming weeks. More details about each app can be found in Apple's announcement.
iPhone App of the Year Finalists
iPhone Game of the Year Finalists
iPad App of the Year Finalists
iPad Game of the Year Finalists
Apple Arcade Game of the Year Finalists
Mac App of the Year Finalists
Mac Game of the Year Finalists
Apple Watch App of the Year Finalists
Apple Vision Pro App of the Year Finalists
Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year Finalists
Apple TV App of the Year Finalists
Cultural Impact Finalists
- Arco
- The Bear
- BetterSleep
- Brawl Stars
- DailyArt
- Do You Really Want to Know 2
- EF Hello
- NYT Games
- Oko
- Partiful
- The Wreck
This article, "Apple Announces 2024 App Store Awards Finalists, Including Kino" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Losing your wallet? Nope. This credit card tells you where it’s at - Popular Science
Losing your wallet is the fastest way to ruin your day. Cards, IDs, cash—all gone in an instant. It’s a true nightmare come to life when you’re in a checkout line and have no way to pay for that mouth-watering pizza. Instead of leaving hungry, get a wallet tracker.
Yeah, Apple’s AirTag has already done it, but the KeySmart SmartCard does it better. Instead of a coin that doesn’t fit neatly in anyone’s wallet, this credit-card-shaped tracker blends right in. Order a 3-pack for $79.97 with free shipping with this early Black Friday sale—only 70 bundles are left in stock!
Never lose your wallet againThe SmartCard works with Apple’s Find My network, so you get all the same benefits, just in a more convenient shape. Here’s how your wallet will stay where it belongs:
- Get notified when you leave your wallet behind
- See your wallet’s location live on a map
- Play a sound to locate your wallet if it’s lost
- Enter “Lost Mode” if you think it’s gone gone
These wallet trackers actually make it hard to lose your wallet. Want one, or know someone who needs one for a holiday gift? Check out now before they’re sold out.
SmartCard vs. AirTagIf you already have an AirTag, is it worth buying a new tracker? Maybe. The SmartCard is four times thinner, so it actually fits in your wallet, passport, or purse pouch.
For those who don’t have anything yet, we at the StackCommerce deals team think the SmartCard is superior. First, it’s slightly cheaper at $27 apiece (vs. $29). Plus, they’re Qi-wireless rechargeable, and you don’t need to buy a special keychain since they have a built-in lanyard slot.
Head directly to checkout now to get your 3-pack of KeySmart SmatCards for $79.97 with free shipping (reg. $199.97) with this early Black Friday deal! No coupon is needed, but these could sell out fast.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
The post Losing your wallet? Nope. This credit card tells you where it’s at appeared first on Popular Science.
Dallas Considers Nixing Parking Requirements - Planetizen
Dallas density advocates are continuing the fight to eliminate off-street minimum parking requirements in an effort to reorient their land use to denser, more walkable patterns and reduce the cost of housing in the Texas city.
As Andrew Terrell reports in The Real Deal, the proposal is supported by some local officials such as District 10 City Plan Commission member James Housewright, who said the city “consistently” builds 20 to 30 percent more parking than is actually needed. “This amended ordinance has the potential to do more good for the city in terms of land use and urban design than anything else we’ll do.”
According to Terrell, “If approved, the proposal would not reduce parking for existing developments, but it would grant developers flexibility for future projects. Larger developments would require submission of transportation demand management plans to incentivize reduction of single-occupant vehicle trips.”
Geography Texas Category Housing Infrastructure Land Use Tags- Dallas
- Parking Minimums
- Minimum Parking Requirements
- Parking Requirements
- Parking
- Density
- Housing Costs
- Walkability
Dallas Considers Nixing Parking Requirements - Planetizen
Dallas density advocates are continuing the fight to eliminate off-street minimum parking requirements in an effort to reorient their land use to denser, more walkable patterns and reduce the cost of housing in the Texas city.
As Andrew Terrell reports in The Real Deal, the proposal is supported by some local officials such as District 10 City Plan Commission member James Housewright, who said the city “consistently” builds 20 to 30 percent more parking than is actually needed. “This amended ordinance has the potential to do more good for the city in terms of land use and urban design than anything else we’ll do.”
According to Terrell, “If approved, the proposal would not reduce parking for existing developments, but it would grant developers flexibility for future projects. Larger developments would require submission of transportation demand management plans to incentivize reduction of single-occupant vehicle trips.”
Geography Texas Category Housing Infrastructure Land Use Tags- Dallas
- Parking Minimums
- Minimum Parking Requirements
- Parking Requirements
- Parking
- Density
- Housing Costs
- Walkability
Tim Cook at CEO Summit in China to Talk Supply Chain, Trade Issues - MacRumors
The Apple chief joined more than 20 global business leaders in meetings with Premier Li Qiang, including executives from Rio Tinto, Corning, and Charoen Pokphand Group. Chinese corporate leaders from Lenovo Group and ICBC were also present at the discussions, which focused on supply chain and trade matters.
Cook was seen at the China International Supply Chain Expo, where he was keen to highlight the critical role of Chinese partners in Apple's operations. "I value them very highly. We could not do what we do without them," he remarked in comments shared by Chinese state media. "I am proud to be here... that Apple has an exhibit here with our partners," added Cook during his first visit to the expo.
Cook's visit comes at a sensitive time for Apple, with companies worldwide bracing for potential trade disruptions following Donald Trump's U.S. election victory. Trump has threatened to hike tariffs on Chinese goods, while China remains Apple's largest market outside the United States. Apple has around 200 major suppliers, with more than 80% producing products in China. The company also produces the majority of its iPhones there through manufacturing partner Foxconn.
The timing is particularly significant as Apple works to balance its deep ties to China while gradually diversifying its production chain to other regions like Vietnam and Indonesia. Cook's last visit to Beijing occurred only last month when he pledged Apple's continued investment in the country.Tags: China, Tim Cook
This article, "Tim Cook at CEO Summit in China to Talk Supply Chain, Trade Issues" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Tim Cook at CEO Summit in China to Talk Supply Chain, Trade Issues - MacRumors
The Apple chief joined more than 20 global business leaders in meetings with Premier Li Qiang, including executives from Rio Tinto, Corning, and Charoen Pokphand Group. Chinese corporate leaders from Lenovo Group and ICBC were also present at the discussions, which focused on supply chain and trade matters.
Cook was seen at the China International Supply Chain Expo, where he was keen to highlight the critical role of Chinese partners in Apple's operations. "I value them very highly. We could not do what we do without them," he remarked in comments shared by Chinese state media. "I am proud to be here... that Apple has an exhibit here with our partners," added Cook during his first visit to the expo.
Cook's visit comes at a sensitive time for Apple, with companies worldwide bracing for potential trade disruptions following Donald Trump's U.S. election victory. Trump has threatened to hike tariffs on Chinese goods, while China remains Apple's largest market outside the United States. Apple has around 200 major suppliers, with more than 80% producing products in China. The company also produces the majority of its iPhones there through manufacturing partner Foxconn.
The timing is particularly significant as Apple works to balance its deep ties to China while gradually diversifying its production chain to other regions like Vietnam and Indonesia. Cook's last visit to Beijing occurred only last month when he pledged Apple's continued investment in the country.Tags: China, Tim Cook
This article, "Tim Cook at CEO Summit in China to Talk Supply Chain, Trade Issues" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Need to leave the holiday stress behind? This pop-up cabin’s on sale for $79 off - Popular Science
Sometimes, the thought of another holiday season filled with crowds, cooking, and endless to-do lists can be… a bit much. What if, instead, we just packed up the car, skipped the chaos, and went out into the woods?
Want to know how we’d do it? The CARSULE. It’s a pop-up cabin that attaches to your car. All it needs is an upward-swinging tailgate, and you have a cozy little cabin. We don’t even have to wait for Black Friday. This thing’s on sale now for $299.97 (reg. $379).
More comfy than talking politics on ThanksgivingI’ve never been a rough-and-tumble type of camper, which is good because this little cabin leans more toward glamping. It’s quick to set up, has six feet of standing room, and it even blocks bugs. If you’re bringing the family, make sure to warn your aunt about the bug netting.
The CARSULE attaches directly to your car using a nifty adaptive seal that works for all kinds of vehicle types. And your tailgate actually becomes part of the tent. You know what that means? No need to carry that heavy cooler out of the trunk.
Ok, yeah, it’s not exactly the height of summer right now, but a little rain won’t stop us. The flooring is waterproof, and the windows all zip closed. That might shut out some of the natural light, but the tension lines in the ceiling are strong enough to hold lanterns.
You grab the snacks. I’ll pull the car around.
December 8 is the deadline to get the CARSULE on sale for $299.97.
CARSULE – A Pop-Up Cabin for Your Car – $299.97
StackSocial prices subject to change.
The post Need to leave the holiday stress behind? This pop-up cabin’s on sale for $79 off appeared first on Popular Science.
Send and Receive RCS Messages on iPhone - MacRumors
Key Features of RCS
Apple's decision to embrace RCS came last year after persistent persuasion from Google, which has been championing RCS adoption worldwide – and with good reason. Compared to MMS and SMS, the standards that Apple uses for text messages, RCS offers the following advantages:
- Higher quality photos and videos
- Larger file sizes for attachments
- Audio messages
- Improved group chats
- Read receipts and typing indicators
- Better encryption for chats between iPhone and Android users
- Location sharing within text threads
- Works over both cellular networks and Wi-Fi
RCS vs. iMessage: Bridging the Gap
While RCS offers many features that iPhone users have long enjoyed with iMessage, it's important to understand the differences between these two messaging protocols. The most significant advantage of RCS is its ability to work across different smartphone platforms.
Unlike iMessage, which is exclusive to Apple devices and creates the infamous "green bubble" effect when iPhone users text Android users, RCS attempts to eliminate this disparity, creating a more unified messaging experience regardless of device type. That said, RCS messages will still appear as green bubbles in Apple's Messages app, but they will be accompanied by the label "Text Message – RCS" in the conversation thread to identify them.
In terms of features, RCS brings many of the capabilities iPhone users have come to expect from iMessage to cross-platform conversations. High-quality media sharing, read receipts, and typing indicators – all staples of the iMessage experience – are becoming available when texting Android users through RCS. This marks a significant improvement in the messaging experience between different platforms.
When it comes to security though, iMessage still holds the upper hand. It offers end-to-end encryption for all communications between Apple devices. RCS, while offering improved encryption compared to traditional SMS, doesn't quite reach the same level of security as iMessage. However, it's a significant step up from the unencrypted SMS messages that have been the standard for cross-platform texting.
Another area where iMessage still maintains an edge is in its immediate availability across all Apple devices. RCS, on the other hand, depends on carrier support and implementation on both ends of the conversation. This means that while RCS promises a more unified messaging experience, its availability is not yet as universal as iMessage is within the Apple ecosystem.
Despite these differences, the adoption of RCS by Apple represents a major step towards bridging the gap between iMessage and Android messaging. While it may not completely eliminate the distinctions, it certainly narrows them considerably, promising a richer, more consistent messaging experience for all users, regardless of their choice of smartphone. In summary, here's a breakdown of what users can expect when messaging between iPhone and Android devices:
- Enhanced Media Sharing: No more tiny, pixelated photos or videos when sharing media with Android friends. RCS allows for higher resolution and larger file sizes.
- Rich Messaging Features: iPhone users will be able to see when Android users are typing and know when messages are read.
- Better Group Chats: Group conversations including both iPhone and Android users will be more cohesive, with features like naming group chats and adding/removing participants working smoothly across platforms.
- Wi-Fi Messaging: Like iMessage, RCS can work over Wi-Fi, allowing for messaging even without cellular service.
- Seamless Fallback: If RCS isn't available for some reason, the system will automatically fall back to SMS/MMS, ensuring messages always get through.
How to Enable RCS Messaging in iOS 18
Apple introduced RCS support with iOS 18. However, full functionality will depend on carrier support. The good news is that major U.S. carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T already support RCS. Apple also has a list of carriers that support RCS on its website.
- Open Settings on your iPhone and select Apps at the bottom of the menu.
- Tap Messages.
- Under "Text Messaging," select RCS Messaging.
- Toggle RCS Messaging to the green ON position if it isn't already enabled.
How to Tell If You're Using RCS
There's a simple way to tell that you are sending an RCS message in the Messages app. You'll see "RCS" at the top of the conversation window as soon as you type in the number of someone not using an Apple device.
The Future of RCS
Apple isn't stopping at just implementing RCS. The company plans to work with Google and other members of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) to further improve the RCS standard worldwide. This collaboration should lead to even more advanced features, such as the ability to edit and delete sent RCS messages.Tag: RCS
This article, "Send and Receive RCS Messages on iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Send and Receive RCS Messages on iPhone - MacRumors
Key Features of RCS
Apple's decision to embrace RCS came last year after persistent persuasion from Google, which has been championing RCS adoption worldwide – and with good reason. Compared to MMS and SMS, the standards that Apple uses for text messages, RCS offers the following advantages:
- Higher quality photos and videos
- Larger file sizes for attachments
- Audio messages
- Improved group chats
- Read receipts and typing indicators
- Better encryption for chats between iPhone and Android users
- Location sharing within text threads
- Works over both cellular networks and Wi-Fi
RCS vs. iMessage: Bridging the Gap
While RCS offers many features that iPhone users have long enjoyed with iMessage, it's important to understand the differences between these two messaging protocols. The most significant advantage of RCS is its ability to work across different smartphone platforms.
Unlike iMessage, which is exclusive to Apple devices and creates the infamous "green bubble" effect when iPhone users text Android users, RCS attempts to eliminate this disparity, creating a more unified messaging experience regardless of device type. That said, RCS messages will still appear as green bubbles in Apple's Messages app, but they will be accompanied by the label "Text Message – RCS" in the conversation thread to identify them.
In terms of features, RCS brings many of the capabilities iPhone users have come to expect from iMessage to cross-platform conversations. High-quality media sharing, read receipts, and typing indicators – all staples of the iMessage experience – are becoming available when texting Android users through RCS. This marks a significant improvement in the messaging experience between different platforms.
When it comes to security though, iMessage still holds the upper hand. It offers end-to-end encryption for all communications between Apple devices. RCS, while offering improved encryption compared to traditional SMS, doesn't quite reach the same level of security as iMessage. However, it's a significant step up from the unencrypted SMS messages that have been the standard for cross-platform texting.
Another area where iMessage still maintains an edge is in its immediate availability across all Apple devices. RCS, on the other hand, depends on carrier support and implementation on both ends of the conversation. This means that while RCS promises a more unified messaging experience, its availability is not yet as universal as iMessage is within the Apple ecosystem.
Despite these differences, the adoption of RCS by Apple represents a major step towards bridging the gap between iMessage and Android messaging. While it may not completely eliminate the distinctions, it certainly narrows them considerably, promising a richer, more consistent messaging experience for all users, regardless of their choice of smartphone. In summary, here's a breakdown of what users can expect when messaging between iPhone and Android devices:
- Enhanced Media Sharing: No more tiny, pixelated photos or videos when sharing media with Android friends. RCS allows for higher resolution and larger file sizes.
- Rich Messaging Features: iPhone users will be able to see when Android users are typing and know when messages are read.
- Better Group Chats: Group conversations including both iPhone and Android users will be more cohesive, with features like naming group chats and adding/removing participants working smoothly across platforms.
- Wi-Fi Messaging: Like iMessage, RCS can work over Wi-Fi, allowing for messaging even without cellular service.
- Seamless Fallback: If RCS isn't available for some reason, the system will automatically fall back to SMS/MMS, ensuring messages always get through.
How to Enable RCS Messaging in iOS 18
Apple introduced RCS support with iOS 18. However, full functionality will depend on carrier support. The good news is that major U.S. carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T already support RCS. Apple also has a list of carriers that support RCS on its website.
- Open Settings on your iPhone and select Apps at the bottom of the menu.
- Tap Messages.
- Under "Text Messaging," select RCS Messaging.
- Toggle RCS Messaging to the green ON position if it isn't already enabled.
How to Tell If You're Using RCS
There's a simple way to tell that you are sending an RCS message in the Messages app. You'll see "RCS" at the top of the conversation window as soon as you type in the number of someone not using an Apple device.
The Future of RCS
Apple isn't stopping at just implementing RCS. The company plans to work with Google and other members of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) to further improve the RCS standard worldwide. This collaboration should lead to even more advanced features, such as the ability to edit and delete sent RCS messages.Tag: RCS
This article, "Send and Receive RCS Messages on iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Giant Dancing Virtual Geoglyphs - Google Maps Mania
Giant Dancing Virtual Geoglyphs - Google Maps Mania
Apple AirPods Pro 2 in sconto su Amazon per il Black Friday - TheAppleLounge
Apple AirPods Pro 2 in sconto su Amazon per il Black Friday - TheAppleLounge
The best Black Friday deal so far: $239 for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and $90 in Amazon credit - Popular Science
This might be the best Black Friday deal I have seen so far in 2024. Right now, the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer smart glasses are just $239 (their chepest price of the year), plus you get a $90 Amazon digital credit after checkout. The super-cheap $239 price tag is limited to the Wayfarer sunglasses with classic green-tinted lenses, but you can get both regular and large sizes. You’re essentially paying $149 for a $300 pair of smart glasses if you consider the value of the $90 credit. If you don’t like the lens color, you can always swap them out.
Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses, Wayfarer in Shiny Black with G15 Green lenses $239 (with a free $90 Amazon credit, was $389 total value)Meta
See ItMeta’s took a classic pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses and packed them full of useful tech. A built-in camera can record photos and videos that wirelessly transmit to your phone. Built-in directional speakers pump music and other audio directly to your ears without leaking it out into the world. They offer touch controls, as well as a built-in smart assistant that can answer questions and perform other AI-driven tasks. They look cool and they’re super useful in a wide range of situations.
Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses, Wayfarer Matte Black / Clear to Graphite Green Transitions $303Meta
See ItThese are the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses I personally have. The Transitions lenses are clear inside and then transition into sunglasses when you’re out in the sun. I personally have the regular size and wish I had bought the large size, so keep that in mind when making your choice.
The post The best Black Friday deal so far: $239 for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and $90 in Amazon credit appeared first on Popular Science.
24 Nov 2024
This $239 DJI Mini 4K drone kit deal Black Friday deal will sell out before Thanksgiving - Popular Science
The DJI Mini 4K drone is the best drone for most people and it’s cheaper than we have ever seen it right now at Amazon during this early Black Friday sale. We’ve seen deals similar to this on lesser models before and they have sold out, so don’t wait on this one if you want one. It has been selling for its full $449 price all summer and fall, so this is a pretty rare deal. Even other retailers currently have it for at least $20 more than Amazon during their Black Friday sales. Don’t sleep.
DJI Mini 4K drone $239 (was $299)DJI
See ItThis isn’t a toy. It’s a full-fledged 4K-shooting drone that weighs less than 249 grams so you don’t have to register it with the FAA before its first flight. The high-end camera shoots UHD footage that’s super-stable thanks to a 3-axis DJI gimbal system keeping things steady. This kit includes a dedicated controller so you can fly with precision, even in the wind. Each battery provides roughly 30 minutes of flight time, but that varies with conditions.
DJI Mini 4K Fly More Combo $359 (was $449)DJI
See ItThis is the same drone setup, but the kit includes two extra batteries, a bulk battery charger, and a bag in which to carry everything. The extra batteries bump the total fly time up to around 90 minutes and charging multiple batteries without the bulk charger is a pain. The bag is also a nice touch.
More DJI Black Friday deals- DJI Air 3 Fly More Combo with DJI RC 2, Drone with Camera 4K $1,239 (was $1,549)
- DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Gimbal Stabilizer for Smartphones $89 (was $139)
- DJI Power 1000 Portable Power Station, 1024Wh LiFePO4 Battery $419 (was $699)
- DJI Power 500 Portable Power Station, 512Wh LFP (LiFePO4) Battery $360 (was $449)
- DJI Osmo Action 4 Standard Combo, Waterproof Action Camera $209 (was $299)
- DJI Osmo Mobile SE, 3-Axis Phone Gimbal $69 (was $89)
- DJI Osmo Action 3 Outdoor Combo, Action Camera 4K with Chest & Backpack Strap Mount $199 (was $289)
The post This $239 DJI Mini 4K drone kit deal Black Friday deal will sell out before Thanksgiving appeared first on Popular Science.
ESA - Immagine della settimana: Eruzione del ‘Marito Arrabbiato’ (24 novembre 2024) - GEOmedia News
Questa immagine di Copernicus Sentinel-2 acquisita il 13 novembre 2024 mostra l’eruzione del vulcano Lewotobi Laki Laki sull’isola di Flores nell’Indonesia meridionale.
Il monte Lewotobi Laki Laki ha iniziato ad eruttare cenere e fumo il 4 novembre del 2024. Fino ad oggi ha causato almeno dieci vittime e costretto le autorità ad emanare ordini di evacuazione su larga scala. La nuvola di cenere vulcanica ha anche determinato la cancellazionedi centinaia di voli. L’immagine mostra chiaramente il grande pennacchio di polvere e fumo mentre erutta dal vulcano, scivolando verso ovest.
Laki Laki è uno dei due stratovulcani adiacenti sul Monte Lewotobi. Le cime vulcaniche, che sono a meno di due chilometri di distanza tra loro, sono conosciute localmente come le montagne ‘marito e moglie’.
Laki Laki significa ‘uomo’, mentre la sua sposa - più alta e più larga – che sorge a sud-est è chiamata Perempuan, che significa ‘donna’. Mentre il Perempuan è rimasto inattivo per decenni, il Laki Laki è uno dei vulcani più attivi dell'Indonesia.
Il paese è soggetto a terremoti, frane ed attività vulcanica perché si trova lungo il cosiddetto Anello di Fuoco, una serie
...One of our favorite (and most powerful) gaming laptops is cheaper than ever for Black Friday - Popular Science
Gaming on a laptop used to mean settling for a subpar experience. It was impossible to pack enough power into a portable computer without making compromises to battery life or overwhelming its cooling system. The good news is that’s changed, and you can get a laptop that can play the latest games at respectable settings while you’re on the go. Right now, you can save $300 on ASUS’ ROG Strix G16, a big-screen gaming laptop that’s well equipped to handle any title you throw at it.
ASUS ROG Strix G16, $1,099 (was $1,399.99)ASUS
See ItASUS outfitted the ROG Strix G16 with NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, which has 8GB of dedicated memory. This is an impressive portable-friendly version of one of NVIDIA’s highest-end desktop cards, and it’s incredibly capable. The laptop has 16GB of fast DDR5 SDRAM, a 14-core i7-1265HX processor, and a 1TB SSD. You can store a lot of games on this machine without having to swap out the internal drive, or rely on external storage, which is slower. The monitor you use when playing games on a desktop PC is incredibly important, and ASUS managed to cram a very impressive display into the ROG Strix G16. The 16-inch screen has a 165Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync and NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology, which means you can play fast-paced games like first-person shooters with no delay. The display also supports Dolby Vision HDR (High Dynamic Range,) so colors will really pop. If you’re a lapsed gamer who doesn’t have the space for a desktop gaming PC, or travel too much to justify a computer you can’t use all the time, ASUS’ ROG Strix G16 is the solution.
Game on with even more great early Black Friday gaming laptop deals- ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2024) Gaming Laptop, $559.99 (Was $699.99)
- AOC Gaming Laptop, $599.99 (Was $1,699.99)
- MSI Thin 15 15.6” 144Hz FHD Gaming Laptop, $699.99 (Was $899.99)
- MSI Katana A15 AI 15.6” 144Hz FHD Gaming Laptop, $879.99 (Was $1,299.99)
- Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop, $749.99 (Was $849.99)
- Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop, $784.99 (Was $999.99)
- ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2023) Gaming Laptop, $1,199.99 (Was $1,699.99)
- Dell G16 7630 Gaming Laptop, $1,299.99 (Was $1,599.99)
- Alienware M18 R2 Gaming Laptop, $2,199.99 (Was $2,799.99)
The post One of our favorite (and most powerful) gaming laptops is cheaper than ever for Black Friday appeared first on Popular Science.
One of our favorite soundbars is $630 off right now for Black Friday - Popular Science
A soundbar is one of the most effective ways to improve the quality of your home theater system, especially if it supports surround sound. JBL’s Bar 9.1 has one of the most innovative soundbar designs we’ve seen. You can save 52% on the Bar 9.1 if you shop during this early Black Friday sale, which knocks its price down to within $.50 of its lowest price ever.
JBL Bar 9.1, $569.99 (Was $1,199.95)JBL
See ItThe Bar 9.1’s big innovation is that its rear speakers are battery-powered and detachable from the main soundbar. This allows you to position them freely without worrying about stringing speaker wire or plugging the speakers into outlets. This is helpful if you live in a smaller space, since the entire surround sound system fits into an incredibly compact package. The soundbar comes with a wireless subwoofer, which needs to be plugged into an outlet, but can be positioned anywhere in your room.
JBL equipped this soundbar with both forward and upward-firing drivers, which means it can deliver 360 degrees of sound when listening to music or movies with a Dolby Atmos mix. It also supports DTS: X decoding, so it’s compatible with other surround sound formats. You can connect it to your TV’s HDMI port (required if you want to listen to Dolby Atmos content) or optical audio port. If you want a surround sound system, but can’t justify the space for a traditional multi-speaker home theater, JBL’s Bar 9.1 is a great solution. However, if you want it for this low price, you’d better pick one up now.
Even more great Black Friday soundbar deals- Hisense A620 2.1ch All-in-one Soundbar with Built-in Subwoofer, $79.99 (was $99.99)
- Amazon Fire TV Soundbar, $89.99 (Was $119.99)
- Polk Audio React Sound Bar, $135 (Was $269)
- Samsung HW-S50B/ZA 3.0ch All-in-One Soundbar, $147.99 (Was $247.99)
- Sonos Ray, $169 (Was $279)
- LG S60T 3.1 ch. Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer, $176.99 (Was $249.99)
- Samsung B63C 5.1ch Soundbar w/Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio, $177.99 (Was $247.99)
- Polk MagniFi Mini AX Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer, $299 (Was $499)
- VIZIO M-Series 5.1.2 Immersive Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos, $349.99 (Was $499.99)
- Sonos Beam Gen 2, $369 (Was $499)
- VIZIO 5.1.2 Elevate Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos, $474.98 (Was $799.99)
- Sonos Arc, $699 (was $899)
The post One of our favorite soundbars is $630 off right now for Black Friday appeared first on Popular Science.
These portable SSDs are cheaper than they have been all year for Black Friday - Popular Science
Everybody knows they should backup their computer in case of a catastrophic hard drive crash, but few of us actually do it. Sandisk is incentivizing better digital hygiene with its Black Friday deals, including a $70 discount on its Extreme Portable SSD. This ultra fast, highly portable storage device has a storage capacity of two terabytes, which is more than enough to backup an entire computer. It’s also small enough to fit comfortably in a zippered backpack pocket during travel, or plugged into a computer at your desk all the time.
SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD, $129.99 (Was $199.99)Sandisk
See ItData transfer speeds are biggest reasons to choose an external SSD to backup your data instead of a traditional hard drive. The Extreme Portable SSD can read and write data at over 1,000 Megabytes per second. You can backup hundreds of gigabytes of files in a fraction of the time it would have taken you to only a few years ago. Plus, this portable SSD has no moving parts, which means there are fewer things that can go wrong when transferring data to and from the drive. If your work involves a lot of travel, you can rely on the Extreme Portable SSD to stay in tip top shape. Its IP65 water and dust resistant, and was designed with three meters of drop protection. There’s also a carabiner loop, so you can attach it to a backpack so it can’t be lost. If you work with irreplaceable data, from your digital family photo library to documents, photos, and videos for clients, don’t skip this Black Friday deal.
Even more great external storage deals- SanDisk 256GB Ultra USB Type-C Flash Drive, $19.99 (Was $64.99)
- SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO USB 3.2 Solid State Flash Drive, $32.99 (Was $67.99)
- SanDisk 512GB Ultra Fit USB 3.2 Gen 1 Flash Drive, $32.99 (Was $49.99)
- SanDisk 1TB Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB Type-C Flash Drive, $71.99 (Was $119.99)
- SanDisk 2TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD, $167.95 (Was $249.99)
- SanDisk Professional 4TB PRO-Blade SSD, $241.29 (Was $599.99)
- SanDisk Professional 4TB PRO-G40 SSD, $324.99 (Was $380.73)
- SanDisk 8TB Desk Drive SSD, $499.99 (Was $699.99)
The post These portable SSDs are cheaper than they have been all year for Black Friday appeared first on Popular Science.
Hawai'i Researchers Tackle Climate Challenges in National Parks - Planetizen
University of Hawaiʻi researchers are leading an innovative project to protect five coastal national parks in Hawaiʻi from climate change threats such as sea level rise, storm surges, flooding, and erosion. The initiative, funded by a $1.15 million National Park Service (NPS) grant, focuses on cultural resource preservation using high-resolution digital tools. Professors Ryan Perroy from UH Hilo and Seth Quintus from UH Mānoa are co-principal investigators, leveraging advanced technologies to document and assess cultural sites across parks like Haleakalā, Kalaupapa, and Puʻuhonua o Honaunau. The study aims to enhance resilience modeling and adaptation planning to safeguard these critical heritage sites.
The research team employs cutting-edge remote sensing techniques, including drone and helicopter-mounted imaging, to collect precise data from extensive and hard-to-reach areas. These tools allow for efficient surveying of nearshore and flood-prone regions, producing high-resolution digital documentation for resource monitoring. The project builds on previous documentation efforts by the NPS and will support the development of condition assessment protocols. Perroy, an expert in aerial robotics and geospatial analysis, oversees the spatial data analysis lab at UH Hilo, which plays a pivotal role in addressing environmental challenges in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.
In addition to resource preservation, the project emphasizes education and training by involving four students—two each from UH Hilo and UH Mānoa. These students will gain hands-on experience in advanced remote sensing, including data collection, processing, and analysis. The initiative not only contributes to cultural resource protection but also prepares future experts in environmental science and geospatial technologies, equipping them to tackle the impacts of climate change on vulnerable ecosystems and heritage sites.
Geography Hawaii Category Education & Careers Environment Technology Tags Publication University of Hawai'i News Publication Date Fri, 11/15/2024 - 12:00 Publication Links UH researchers help protect 5 Hawaiʻi national parks 2 minutesHawai'i Researchers Tackle Climate Challenges in National Parks - Planetizen
University of Hawaiʻi researchers are leading an innovative project to protect five coastal national parks in Hawaiʻi from climate change threats such as sea level rise, storm surges, flooding, and erosion. The initiative, funded by a $1.15 million National Park Service (NPS) grant, focuses on cultural resource preservation using high-resolution digital tools. Professors Ryan Perroy from UH Hilo and Seth Quintus from UH Mānoa are co-principal investigators, leveraging advanced technologies to document and assess cultural sites across parks like Haleakalā, Kalaupapa, and Puʻuhonua o Honaunau. The study aims to enhance resilience modeling and adaptation planning to safeguard these critical heritage sites.
The research team employs cutting-edge remote sensing techniques, including drone and helicopter-mounted imaging, to collect precise data from extensive and hard-to-reach areas. These tools allow for efficient surveying of nearshore and flood-prone regions, producing high-resolution digital documentation for resource monitoring. The project builds on previous documentation efforts by the NPS and will support the development of condition assessment protocols. Perroy, an expert in aerial robotics and geospatial analysis, oversees the spatial data analysis lab at UH Hilo, which plays a pivotal role in addressing environmental challenges in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.
In addition to resource preservation, the project emphasizes education and training by involving four students—two each from UH Hilo and UH Mānoa. These students will gain hands-on experience in advanced remote sensing, including data collection, processing, and analysis. The initiative not only contributes to cultural resource protection but also prepares future experts in environmental science and geospatial technologies, equipping them to tackle the impacts of climate change on vulnerable ecosystems and heritage sites.
Geography Hawaii Category Education & Careers Environment Technology Tags Publication University of Hawai'i News Publication Date Fri, 11/15/2024 - 12:00 Publication Links UH researchers help protect 5 Hawaiʻi national parks 2 minutesEverything you can do to declutter Windows - Popular Science
When your Windows computer gets cluttered—piled high with files, folders, and apps you don’t need—your productivity can take a hit. It also makes the whole experience of using your PC a lot less pleasant and a lot more frustrating.
It doesn’t have to be this way. There are a few tricks you can use to tidy up your Windows computer and get it back to a nearly-new state, and none of them take very long to tackle. Let us be your guide to a quick Windows decluttering session.
Tidying the desktop There are ways to tackle a messy desktop. Screenshot: MicrosoftIf you often dump miscellaneous files and folders on your desktop for easy access, you’re not alone—many of us do this, rather than filing away things in an orderly fashion. The problem is that as more and more files build up, it gets harder to find what you’re after, and it ruins the look of your desktop too.
Windows has a few features that can help. Right-click on a blank area of the desktop, then choose View from the menu that pops up: From here you can enable Align icons to grid (which snaps icons into a grid layout) and Auto arrange icons (which puts your icons in a grid, and aligns them to the top and left of the screen). To tidy up the screen further, you can change the size of the icons from the same submenu.
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There’s another help feature here: If you right-click on a blank area of the desktop, then choose Sort by, you can have your files and folders arranged by name, size, item type, or date modified. Choose that last option together with auto arrange, and your most recent files will be easily accessible up in the top-left of the corner.
Something else that can be helpful is to create a “Temp” folder on the desktop, and effectively use that instead of your desktop. It’s only one extra click away, but it means your desktop stays clear (and you can see your beautiful wallpaper). If you make sure you only put files you don’t need long term in here, you can periodically clear it out too.
Streamlining the interface You can tweak plenty of taskbar settings. Screenshot: MicrosoftYou navigate Windows via the Start menu and taskbar, and you can clean up both of these areas. In the case of the Start menu, you can right-click on any shortcut icon to pin it to the front of the menu (or unpin it again), pin it to the taskbar (or unpin it again), and move it to the front of the pinned Start menu apps. You can also just drag pinned items around on the Start menu to rearrange them.
More options are available if you open up Windows Settings from the Start menu, then choose Personalization and Start. You can change the menu layout, choose what gets shown or not shown (including most used apps and recently opened files), and put key folders right on the Start menu if needed.
Switch to Taskbar under Personalization, and you’ve got a few more options. Here, you’re able to show or hide the search box, the widgets box, and the task view icon (for switching between desktops). Under Taskbar behaviors, you can change the alignment of the taskbar, get the taskbar to automatically hide itself when it’s not in use, decide whether notification badges appear, and more.
You can also interact with the actual icons on the taskbar. Right-click on any icon and you can choose Pin to taskbar so it stays there permanently (right-click and choose Unpin from taskbar to remove icons you don’t want to see all the time). You’re also able to click and drag icons on the taskbar to rearrange them.
Cleaning up files and folders Windows comes with cleaning tools built in. Screenshot: MicrosoftYou might be surprised at how quickly junk files can build up on your Windows system: forgotten downloads, temporary installation files, out-of-date cached data, and more. Microsoft knows this is a problem though, and has built-in tools to help you keep everything tidy.
Open the Start menu, search for “disk cleanup”, then select the top result that appears. You’ll be asked to choose the hard drive you want to scan, then the utility will get to work: It’ll list all the different types of temporary files you can safely clean up, from whatever’s currently in the Recycle Bin, to Windows error reports.
At the top of the screen, you’ll see the total amount of disk space you can save by clearing everything, but you can select each file type individually, with a running total shown underneath. If you want to include Windows system files too, choose Clean up system files. Click OK to confirm your choices and start the cleaning process.
You can access more options from Settings by choosing System then Storage. Here you can enable Storage Sense—which cleans up temporary files automatically as you go—and get more recommendations about files you might want to get rid of. Click Cleanup recommendations then Large or unused files, for example, to review files taking up a lot of room that you may be able to do without.
Removing apps you don’t need Stick to the apps you’re actually using. Screenshot: MicrosoftRemoving programs you don’t use very often works really well when it comes to decluttering your Windows PC and freeing up storage space. Bear in mind you can always reinstall these apps if you need to—but if they’re gathering digital dust then you’re better off getting rid of them for the time being.
To do this, open up Settings and choose Apps > Installed apps. By default you’ll see all your installed apps listed in alphabetical order, but if you click in the Sort by box you can get the oldest or the biggest apps up at the top of the list—which might give you a better idea of the software you can do without.
When you find a program you’re able to uninstall, click the three dots next to it, then choose Uninstall. The exact process here will vary from app to app, but in a few steps you should be able to remove the software and its associated files from your system, leaving you with a leaner PC setup.
It’s also a good idea to limit the number of programs that can start up at the same time as Windows: Even if you do keep apps around, you don’t necessarily want them running all the time. To make changes, open Settings and pick Apps > Startup, and you can review the current list and take items off it if needed.
The post Everything you can do to declutter Windows appeared first on Popular Science.
Explore Urban Biodiversity: Join the 2025 City Nature Challenge - Planetizen
The City Nature Challenge is a global event happening from April 25 to April 28, 2025, inviting individuals of all ages and backgrounds to explore and document the wild plants, animals, and fungi in their surroundings. This initiative aims to engage community scientists, nature enthusiasts, and everyday observers to contribute to tracking real-time biodiversity changes. By sharing photographs of wildlife, participants help scientists better understand the planet’s ecosystems and advance wildlife conservation efforts.
Participation is simple and starts at home. Observers can explore their homes, backyards, or neighborhoods to find wild plants, insects, or animals—whether it is a bird on a powerline, a weed sprouting in the yard, or an insect scurrying under leaves. Local parks also provide excellent opportunities to discover different species by checking grass, plants, benches, and trees. Safety is paramount, so participants are encouraged to be mindful of their surroundings when exploring and documenting wildlife.
To join, download the iNaturalist app and follow four easy steps: locate wildlife in your area, take photos of wild plants and animals, share your findings through the app, and engage with the community as your observations are identified. Remember to mark anything planted or cared for by people as “captive” or “cultivated” to ensure accurate data. By participating in the City Nature Challenge, you will not only contribute to global biodiversity research but also gain a deeper appreciation for the natural world around you.
Geography World Category Community / Economic Development Education & Careers Environment Technology Tags Publication Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Publication Date Fri, 11/15/2024 - 12:00 Publication Links 2025 City Nature Challenge 2 minutesExplore Urban Biodiversity: Join the 2025 City Nature Challenge - Planetizen
The City Nature Challenge is a global event happening from April 25 to April 28, 2025, inviting individuals of all ages and backgrounds to explore and document the wild plants, animals, and fungi in their surroundings. This initiative aims to engage community scientists, nature enthusiasts, and everyday observers to contribute to tracking real-time biodiversity changes. By sharing photographs of wildlife, participants help scientists better understand the planet’s ecosystems and advance wildlife conservation efforts.
Participation is simple and starts at home. Observers can explore their homes, backyards, or neighborhoods to find wild plants, insects, or animals—whether it is a bird on a powerline, a weed sprouting in the yard, or an insect scurrying under leaves. Local parks also provide excellent opportunities to discover different species by checking grass, plants, benches, and trees. Safety is paramount, so participants are encouraged to be mindful of their surroundings when exploring and documenting wildlife.
To join, download the iNaturalist app and follow four easy steps: locate wildlife in your area, take photos of wild plants and animals, share your findings through the app, and engage with the community as your observations are identified. Remember to mark anything planted or cared for by people as “captive” or “cultivated” to ensure accurate data. By participating in the City Nature Challenge, you will not only contribute to global biodiversity research but also gain a deeper appreciation for the natural world around you.
Geography World Category Community / Economic Development Education & Careers Environment Technology Tags Publication Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Publication Date Fri, 11/15/2024 - 12:00 Publication Links 2025 City Nature Challenge 2 minutes6 Best Black Friday Mac Deals for 2024 - MacRumors
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
All of the deals shared below can be found on Amazon, and a few do require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the final deal price at checkout. The deals shared in this list are focused on the entry-level models of each Mac, but there are many, many more deals to be found on Macs, all of which can be discovered in our post about all of the Apple Black Friday Deals available right now.
YEAR'S BEST PRICESBlack Friday Mac Deals at Amazon
- 13-inch M2 MacBook Air (16GB RAM/256GB) - $749.00 ($250 off)
- 13-inch M3 MacBook Air (16GB RAM/256GB) - $844.00 ($255 off)
- M4 iMac (8-core/16GB RAM/256GB) - $1,149.00 with on-page coupon ($150 off)
- Apple Studio Display (Standard Glass) - $1,299.99 ($299 off)
- 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro (16GB RAM/512GB) - $1,399.00 ($200 off)
- 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB RAM/512GB) - $2,199.00 ($300 off)
We're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
Deals Newsletter
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Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "6 Best Black Friday Mac Deals for 2024" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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6 Best Black Friday Mac Deals for 2024 - MacRumors
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
All of the deals shared below can be found on Amazon, and a few do require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the final deal price at checkout. The deals shared in this list are focused on the entry-level models of each Mac, but there are many, many more deals to be found on Macs, all of which can be discovered in our post about all of the Apple Black Friday Deals available right now.
YEAR'S BEST PRICESBlack Friday Mac Deals at Amazon
- 13-inch M2 MacBook Air (16GB RAM/256GB) - $749.00 ($250 off)
- 13-inch M3 MacBook Air (16GB RAM/256GB) - $844.00 ($255 off)
- M4 iMac (8-core/16GB RAM/256GB) - $1,149.00 with on-page coupon ($150 off)
- Apple Studio Display (Standard Glass) - $1,299.99 ($299 off)
- 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro (16GB RAM/512GB) - $1,399.00 ($200 off)
- 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB RAM/512GB) - $2,199.00 ($300 off)
We're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "6 Best Black Friday Mac Deals for 2024" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
NYC Under Drought Warning, Residents Urged to Conserve Water - Planetizen
New York City is under its first drought warning in more than two decades, adding to the danger of the brush fires sweeping the region. According to an Associated Press article, the city will also restart the flow of water through the Delaware Aqueduct to shore up city reservoirs, pausing a repair project on the aqueduct.
If conditions worsen, the city could elevate the warning to an emergency, which would trigger mandatory cutbacks on water use. New York is also under a statewide drought watch announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday.
The city is implementing water-saving measures in its own departments, with a plan to reduce washing of buses and subway cars and limit water use on publicly owned golf courses and parks.
The rain the city received on Thursday will not be “a drought buster, but it will help, especially with ongoing fire weather issues,” according to the National Weather Service's New York office. The city’s reservoirs are at roughly 60 percent capacity.
Geography New York Category Environment Infrastructure Tags Publication Associated Press Publication Date Mon, 11/18/2024 - 12:00 Publication Links NYC issues first drought warning in 22 years, pauses aqueduct repairs to bring … 1 minuteNYC Under Drought Warning, Residents Urged to Conserve Water - Planetizen
New York City is under its first drought warning in more than two decades, adding to the danger of the brush fires sweeping the region. According to an Associated Press article, the city will also restart the flow of water through the Delaware Aqueduct to shore up city reservoirs, pausing a repair project on the aqueduct.
If conditions worsen, the city could elevate the warning to an emergency, which would trigger mandatory cutbacks on water use. New York is also under a statewide drought watch announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday.
The city is implementing water-saving measures in its own departments, with a plan to reduce washing of buses and subway cars and limit water use on publicly owned golf courses and parks.
The rain the city received on Thursday will not be “a drought buster, but it will help, especially with ongoing fire weather issues,” according to the National Weather Service's New York office. The city’s reservoirs are at roughly 60 percent capacity.
Geography New York Category Environment Infrastructure Tags Publication Associated Press Publication Date Mon, 11/18/2024 - 12:00 Publication Links NYC issues first drought warning in 22 years, pauses aqueduct repairs to bring … 1 minuteHere Are the Latest AirTag 2 Rumors, Including No Rechargeable Battery - MacRumors
Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag.
Timing
Apple is aiming to release a new AirTag in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
From his Power On newsletter last week:In May, I reported that Apple is working on a new AirTag — code-named B589 — for release around the middle of next year. That accessory has now progressed in manufacturing tests, and Apple is getting ready to bring it to market.
In October 2023, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass production of the second-generation AirTag had been postponed from the fourth quarter of 2024 until some point in 2025, but he did not provide a reason for the apparent change in plans. Kuo and Gurman are thus in agreement that a new AirTag is coming next year.
Features
In his newsletter last week, Gurman reiterated that the new AirTag will feature an upgraded chip with improved location tracking. If so, the AirTag could be updated with the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that debuted in all iPhone 15 models last year.
Gurman also believes the new AirTag's built-in speaker will be more difficult to remove, as an anti-stalking measure. Overall, though, he expects the new AirTag to look similar to the current model, so do not expect major design changes.
Last, he said the new AirTag will feature "better range," which could allow the Precision Finding feature to work at farther distances.
Kuo previously said the new AirTag will have some kind of integration with Apple's Vision Pro headset, but he did not share any specific details.
Update — November 24: In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the AirTag 2 will still have a coin cell battery, rather than a rechargeable battery. Not really a surprise, but now you know!Tags: AirTag, Mark Gurman
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Here Are the Latest AirTag 2 Rumors, Including No Rechargeable Battery - MacRumors
Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag.
Timing
Apple is aiming to release a new AirTag in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
From his Power On newsletter last week:In May, I reported that Apple is working on a new AirTag — code-named B589 — for release around the middle of next year. That accessory has now progressed in manufacturing tests, and Apple is getting ready to bring it to market.
In October 2023, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass production of the second-generation AirTag had been postponed from the fourth quarter of 2024 until some point in 2025, but he did not provide a reason for the apparent change in plans. Kuo and Gurman are thus in agreement that a new AirTag is coming next year.
Features
In his newsletter last week, Gurman reiterated that the new AirTag will feature an upgraded chip with improved location tracking. If so, the AirTag could be updated with the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that debuted in all iPhone 15 models last year.
Gurman also believes the new AirTag's built-in speaker will be more difficult to remove, as an anti-stalking measure. Overall, though, he expects the new AirTag to look similar to the current model, so do not expect major design changes.
Last, he said the new AirTag will feature "better range," which could allow the Precision Finding feature to work at farther distances.
Kuo previously said the new AirTag will have some kind of integration with Apple's Vision Pro headset, but he did not share any specific details.
Update — November 24: In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the AirTag 2 will still have a coin cell battery, rather than a rechargeable battery. Not really a surprise, but now you know!Tags: AirTag, Mark Gurman
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Apple Has 'No' Plans Yet for AirPods Max 2 With 'Meaningful' Changes - MacRumors
"I expect the company to keep the Max headphones around for the foreseeable future in their current form," he added.
AirPods Max received only two changes in September, including a USB-C charging port instead of Lightning, and new color options. The headphones did not receive Apple's H2 chip that debuted in the AirPods Pro 2 a few years ago, so they continue to miss out on Adaptive Audio features, and there were no improvements to active noise cancellation either.
This means the AirPods Max continue to have the H1 chip that Apple introduced in 2019, yet the $549 headphones did not receive a price cut.
Gurman believes that AirPods Max sales are too low for Apple to justify allocating more development resources to the headphones. So, if you are hoping for AirPods Max 2 with more significant improvements, keep your expectations low for now.Related Roundup: AirPods MaxTag: Mark GurmanBuyer's Guide: AirPods Max (Buy Now)Related Forum: AirPods
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Apple Has 'No' Plans Yet for AirPods Max 2 With 'Meaningful' Changes - MacRumors
"I expect the company to keep the Max headphones around for the foreseeable future in their current form," he added.
AirPods Max received only two changes in September, including a USB-C charging port instead of Lightning, and new color options. The headphones did not receive Apple's H2 chip that debuted in the AirPods Pro 2 a few years ago, so they continue to miss out on Adaptive Audio features, and there were no improvements to active noise cancellation either.
This means the AirPods Max continue to have the H1 chip that Apple introduced in 2019, yet the $549 headphones did not receive a price cut.
Gurman believes that AirPods Max sales are too low for Apple to justify allocating more development resources to the headphones. So, if you are hoping for AirPods Max 2 with more significant improvements, keep your expectations low for now.Related Roundup: AirPods MaxTag: Mark GurmanBuyer's Guide: AirPods Max (Buy Now)Related Forum: AirPods
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The closest thing to a time machine you can gift (for now) - Popular Science
If your favorite holiday memories are Grandpa and Grandma busting out the family projector, you’re gonna want to see this. It’s not enough to make fun of Dad’s mullet or Mom’s neon legwarmers—you have to digitize those slides as their holiday gift this year.
Preserving the photos in a forever digital format is a thoughtful way of showing your love of reminiscing in family memories. The Kodak Slide N Scan makes it easy to do from home, and it’s only $164.97 right now during this early Black Friday sale (reg. $224.99). Order yours before they’re gone.
An everlasting giftThe vintage projector and slides add to the experience, but imagine how devastating it could be if anything happened to those physical copies. You’d never get to tease your parents about their horrible ‘80s fashion choices again.
Here’s how easy it is to digitize slides at home with the Kodak Slide N Scan:
- Insert the slide adapter (it also works with film).
- Slide your photos into the gadget, one by one.
- Adjust the color and brightness.
- Enhance the quality up to 14MP.
- Save the photo to an SD card (sold separately).
Then, slide more slides into the Kodak Slide N Scan (that’s a mouthful). You’ll get through the family collection in no time.
You can still get the slideshow experienceWhile you could get through the family’s slide stash before the holidays and surprise everyone, you can make it the highlight of the night instead. Hook the Kodak Slide N Scan up to a TV with the HDMI cord and put on a modern-day slideshow as you convert photos.
Imagine everyone’s faces when they see what you did with this slide scanner. It’s only on sale while supplies last, so get yours for $164.97 (reg. $224.99) before they sell out with this early Black Friday deal—no coupon is needed.
Kodak Slide N Scan Film & Slide Scanner – $164.97
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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iOS 19 Rumors: More ChatGPT-Like Siri, Some New Features 'Postponed' - MacRumors
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated his previous report that said iOS 19 will introduce a "more conversational Siri" powered by "more advanced large language models." He said this upgrade will make Siri more like OpenAI's ChatGPT, allowing the assistant to "handle more sophisticated requests."
Apple will likely unveil the revamped Siri when it unveils iOS 19 at WWDC 2025 next June, but Gurman said it will not be available until as early as spring 2026. That suggests the feature will be released as part of an iOS 19.4 update.
In his newsletter, he revealed that additional features have been "postponed" until iOS 19.4.
"I'm told that a larger-than-usual number of features scheduled for iOS 19 (beyond the new Siri) are already postponed until spring 2026 (when iOS 19.4 debuts)," he wrote.
He did not provide any details about those other planned features.
In the meantime, iOS 18.2 adds ChatGPT integration to Siri, and Gurman expects an integration with Google's Gemini to follow in a later update. Apple previously confirmed that iOS 18.2 will be released to the public in December. And with iOS 18.4, Siri will gain on-screen awareness, deeper per-app controls, and a few other enhancements, but it will still not offer fully-fledged ChatGPT-like conversational abilities directly.
Once the new Siri is released, iPhone users should not have to tap into third-party services like ChatGPT and Gemini as often. iOS 19.4 is still around a year and a half away from being released, though, so a long wait remains.Tags: iOS 19, Mark Gurman
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