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16 Ago 2025
Keep drinks cold at a cool price with the EUHOMY Countertop Ice Maker, only $72 at Amazon - Popular Science
Summer’s still going strong, and so is the need for cold drinks. After a historically hot season—complete with record-warm nights across much of the U.S.—we’ve collectively realized something: ice is not a luxury; it’s survival. So if you’re at home struggling with plastic trays or a wimpy built-in freezer icemaker that can’t keep up, Amazon has a limited-time deal on a countertop machine that can turn “oh no, we’re out of ice” into “ice, ice, baby” in minutes.
EUHOMY Countertop Ice Maker Machine with Handle — $71.24 (was $89.99)EUHOMY
See It
This portable, 13-pound unit churns out nine bullet-shaped cubes in just six minutes and can make up to 26 pounds in a day. That’s enough to keep your drinks cold from breakfast cold brew to your nightcap. It’s got a carrying handle for travel and a see-through lid so you can monitor your stash without letting the cool out. Just add water, press “ON,” and bask in your newfound ice independence. It comes in a rainbow selection of hues, but the black version’s on sale, and it matches basically everything in life.
- Instant Pot Pro (8 QT) 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker, $118.94 (was $199.99)
- BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Digital Coffee Maker, $34.04 (was $40.99)
- magic bullet Blender, $34.99 (was $49.99)
- Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee and Espresso Maker by De’Longhi, Grey, $110 (was $169)
- Ninja Foodi 10QT 6-in-1 DualZone Smart XL Air Fryer, $199.99 (was $249.99)
- COSORI Rice Cooker 10 Cup, $89.99 (was $99.99)
The post Keep drinks cold at a cool price with the EUHOMY Countertop Ice Maker, only $72 at Amazon appeared first on Popular Science.
3 outdated computer myths - Popular Science
Computers have been part of our lives for decades, during which they’ve gone from a niche interest to a necessity for modern life. We spend a lot of time with them, for work and for fun.
It makes sense, then, that a few urban legends about computers have built up over the years and stuck around. Some are based on ideas that were relevant with older technology. Others were never true to begin with. Let’s explore a few common computer myths and talk about the reality.
Cleaning your desktop doesn’t speed up your computerThis is one of those myths that may have been true long ago, when computers had a lot less memory. The basic idea is that a desktop cluttered with icons will slow down your computer. And if you work in IT, you can almost see the logic: A lot of computers that run really slowly also have a lot of icons on the desktop. But as any scientist knows, correlation does not mean causation.
Leo A. Notenboom, a former Microsoft engineer, wrote in a blog post that this is such a case.
“Lots of icons on the desktop have no impact on your system speed, period,” he wrote. “It has a small impact on how long it takes to redraw the desktop, but that’s very minor.”
Given that, why do so many slow computers also have lots of icons on the desktop? Because of what the icons on the desktop imply, namely that you’ve installed a bunch of software.
“Lots of icons on the desktop could mean that you have lots of software installed on your machine,” Notenboom wrote. “Often that means a lot of software that you don’t need or use.” He went on to say that a lot of this installed software may start automatically at boot, which could slow the machine down.
Deleting icons from the desktop, in this case, won’t speed up the machine—it doesn’t get to the underlying cause. You’re better off uninstalling software you don’t use, particularly if that software has a habit of starting when you fire up your machine. It probably won’t hurt to scan for and remove malware while you’re at it.
It’s not important to shut down your laptop regularlyMany people have a habit of shutting down their laptop at the end of the workday, or before going to bed, to save energy. This really isn’t necessary with modern laptops, which barely take up any energy while asleep.
By my own calculations, which I outlined in an article about shutting down your computer, leaving my personal laptop turned on used up 0.02 kWh of energy overnight. I calculated that energy would cost me $1.42 over the course of a year. That’s not nothing, but it’s close to nothing—a 60-watt incandescent light bulb uses more than that in a half hour. Put simply, if you’re trying to save energy, you’re better off doing things like replacing your bulbs with LEDs or air drying your clothes.
Letting your laptop go to sleep means it’s ready to go in the morning, without waiting for it to boot, and there’s basically no energy downside.
Having said that, there are specific situations where shutting down might make sense. If you’re not going to use your laptop for a few weeks, for example, it’s a good idea to power it off to prevent it from fully draining the battery. Also, from a security perspective, a computer that’s fully shut down is more secure (especially if the hard drive is encrypted). For everyday usage, though, simply closing the lid is enough.
SSDs aren’t so fragile anymoreIt’s long been said that solid state drives (SSDs) have a shorter lifespan than conventional hard drive disks (HHDs). This was true in the early days of solid state technology. The idea is that SSDs have fewer write cycles than mechanical drives. And while that is theoretically the case, you don’t have to worry about it much with modern drives.
In the tech industry, the backup company Backblaze famously uses a variety of consumer hard drives for their servers, putting them in a unique situation to record data about the longevity of drives. The company publishes an annual set of statistics long considered among the best reliability stats available for hard drives. A blog post from the company explores the lifespan of SSDs compared to HDDs and concludes that most users don’t have to spend time worrying about this—at least, not for day-to-day usage.
“Under normal use we can expect an SSD to last years,” the post says. “If you replace your computer every three years, as most users do, then you probably needn’t worry about whether your SSD will last as long as your computer. What’s important is whether the SSD will be sufficiently reliable that you won’t lose your data during its lifetime.”
Which is all to say, there was a time when it made sense to worry about the lifespan of a solid state drive, but these days you don’t have to think about it much. At least, not for everyday usage.
The post 3 outdated computer myths appeared first on Popular Science.
Love Story 2 - Dressed to Kill! - Google Maps Mania
Love Story 2 - Dressed to Kill! - Google Maps Mania
iOS 26 Photos App: Everything That's Changed - MacRumors
Navigation
In iOS 18, Apple introduced a unified Photos app view that did away with tabs. The Tab bar is back in iOS 26, with buttons to swap between the newly separated Library and Collections sections in the Photos app.
Apple also added a separate Search button that's at the bottom of the Photos app, relocating it from the top.
The Library view offers an overview of all the images and screenshots that you've taken, much like the iOS 17 Photos app. There is a larger Select button at the top of the Photos interface, along with a clearly visible button for accessing filters and view options for zooming in, zooming out, and excluding things like screenshots and Shared With You images.
Filters were available in iOS 18, but the button was hidden unless you started scrolling through the Photos Library, which could be confusing. The new layout makes it easier to find all of the different options in the Photos app.
Scrolling in the Library View continues to bring up the options to swap to Years and Months, with buttons for returning to the tab bar or launching a search.
In the Collections tab, you'll see all of the different viewing options that used to be included in the unified view. Recent Days is at the top of the app, along with dedicated views like People and Pets, Pinned, Memories, Trips, Albums, and Featured Photos.
The dedicated view means you can see more of your Collections on one screen. The Media Types and Utilities sections under Collections have larger, more distinct buttons that make it clearer you can swipe or tap to get to more options.
Liquid Glass Design
As with all iOS 26 apps, Photos has a Liquid Glass redesign. It's one of the apps where the Liquid Glass look is the most noticeable.
The two-button tab bar uses translucency to show the photos that are behind it, and when it expands into the larger navigation bar that has options for months and years, it remains clear. With the more transparent look, focus is on the photos while buttons fade into the background.
The tab bar, the search button, the select button, and other buttons in the Photos app have the same translucency, and use the more rounded look that Apple adopted this year.
Spatial Scenes
iOS 26 includes a Spatial Scenes feature that adds extra depth and realism to any image. It separates the subject from the background, introducing slight motion when you move your phone back and forth.
Spatial Scenes works with all photos, even those that have been in your Photo Library for years.
To use Spatial Scenes in the Photos app, tap into an image and tap on the small hexagon icon on the upper right side of the display. Once enabled, if you move your phone, you will see the depth effect.
Spatial Scenes uses generative AI to add depth to flat images, but it does not require Apple Intelligence. The feature is available on the iPhone 12 and newer.
Collections Customization
There's a more noticeable Reorder button in the Collections section, making easier to see that you can rearrange what you see. You can still grab and drag to reorder, but there is no longer an option to exclude certain types of collections.
Collections can be collapsed down until you tap into them, which is a new interface option. When collapsed, you'll only see the name of the collection rather than a thumbnail preview of what it includes.
There's a quick access interface option at the top where you can collapse all collections, show all collections, reorder, or choose a different view.
You can see collections in a view that makes the top collection thumbnails larger than the others, a view with all larger thumbnails, or a view with all smaller thumbnails.
Read More
We have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup that goes into detail on all of the new features that are available in the update.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26
This article, "iOS 26 Photos App: Everything That's Changed" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
iOS 26 Photos App: Everything That's Changed - MacRumors
Navigation
In iOS 18, Apple introduced a unified Photos app view that did away with tabs. The Tab bar is back in iOS 26, with buttons to swap between the newly separated Library and Collections sections in the Photos app.
Apple also added a separate Search button that's at the bottom of the Photos app, relocating it from the top.
The Library view offers an overview of all the images and screenshots that you've taken, much like the iOS 17 Photos app. There is a larger Select button at the top of the Photos interface, along with a clearly visible button for accessing filters and view options for zooming in, zooming out, and excluding things like screenshots and Shared With You images.
Filters were available in iOS 18, but the button was hidden unless you started scrolling through the Photos Library, which could be confusing. The new layout makes it easier to find all of the different options in the Photos app.
Scrolling in the Library View continues to bring up the options to swap to Years and Months, with buttons for returning to the tab bar or launching a search.
In the Collections tab, you'll see all of the different viewing options that used to be included in the unified view. Recent Days is at the top of the app, along with dedicated views like People and Pets, Pinned, Memories, Trips, Albums, and Featured Photos.
The dedicated view means you can see more of your Collections on one screen. The Media Types and Utilities sections under Collections have larger, more distinct buttons that make it clearer you can swipe or tap to get to more options.
Liquid Glass Design
As with all iOS 26 apps, Photos has a Liquid Glass redesign. It's one of the apps where the Liquid Glass look is the most noticeable.
The two-button tab bar uses translucency to show the photos that are behind it, and when it expands into the larger navigation bar that has options for months and years, it remains clear. With the more transparent look, focus is on the photos while buttons fade into the background.
The tab bar, the search button, the select button, and other buttons in the Photos app have the same translucency, and use the more rounded look that Apple adopted this year.
Spatial Scenes
iOS 26 includes a Spatial Scenes feature that adds extra depth and realism to any image. It separates the subject from the background, introducing slight motion when you move your phone back and forth.
Spatial Scenes works with all photos, even those that have been in your Photo Library for years.
To use Spatial Scenes in the Photos app, tap into an image and tap on the small hexagon icon on the upper right side of the display. Once enabled, if you move your phone, you will see the depth effect.
Spatial Scenes uses generative AI to add depth to flat images, but it does not require Apple Intelligence. The feature is available on the iPhone 12 and newer.
Collections Customization
There's a more noticeable Reorder button in the Collections section, making easier to see that you can rearrange what you see. You can still grab and drag to reorder, but there is no longer an option to exclude certain types of collections.
Collections can be collapsed down until you tap into them, which is a new interface option. When collapsed, you'll only see the name of the collection rather than a thumbnail preview of what it includes.
There's a quick access interface option at the top where you can collapse all collections, show all collections, reorder, or choose a different view.
You can see collections in a view that makes the top collection thumbnails larger than the others, a view with all larger thumbnails, or a view with all smaller thumbnails.
Read More
We have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup that goes into detail on all of the new features that are available in the update.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26
This article, "iOS 26 Photos App: Everything That's Changed" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
15 Ago 2025
Apple Watch SE 3: What to Expect From Apple's Upcoming Budget Smartwatch - MacRumors
Size and Design
The Apple Watch SE could get new display sizes, according to display analyst Ross Young. The device will supposedly come in 1.6-inch and 1.8-inch display sizes.
Those sizes aren't too far off of the current Apple Watch SE 2 display sizes, but it's time for a display upgrade. The Apple Watch SE 2 is modeled after the Apple Watch Series 6, and it comes in the older 40mm and 44mm size options.
With the Series 7, Apple updated the Apple Watch sizing to 41mm and 45mm, and with the Series 10, display sizes changed to 42mm and 46mm. It's possible that the Apple Watch SE 3 will get the Apple Watch Series 7 design, which features a thinner design and slimmed down bezels.
Right now, the Apple Watch SE does not have always-on display technology, and it's another feature that Apple could bring to the low-cost watch now that it's been around for some time. There are no rumors about always-on display technology for the SE 3, though.
Updated S11 Chip
The next-generation Apple Watch SE will get the same S11 chip as the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra, according to information that Apple accidentally leaked.
The S11 is essentially the same as the S9 and the S10, but it will be a major improvement over the S8 chip that's in the current Apple Watch SE. Performance should be much quicker and the SE 3 should be much more responsive.
With the S11, the Apple Watch SE 3 could get features like on-device Siri processing, support for double tap gestures, and more storage.
Possible Health Features
The Apple Watch SE has historically had fewer health features than Apple's flagship Apple Watch models. It doesn't have the ECG app, and there's no blood oxygen monitoring. If there are new health features in the Series 11 and the Ultra 3, it's unlikely the functionality will make it to the Apple Watch SE 3.
The Apple Watch SE does support core features like heart rate tracking, sleep tracking, and respiratory rate tracking, so Apple could add sleep apnea detection to the SE 3 because it would have all of the hardware to support the feature. Sleep apnea detection is currently limited to the Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2.
Apple could upgrade the optical heart sensor to the third-generation version that was initially introduced in the Apple Watch Series 7, because the current Apple Watch SE is still using the second-generation sensor.
Other possibilities include improved battery life, faster charging, and better water resistance.
Plastic Casing Rumors
Back in mid-2024, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple was working on a new Apple Watch SE with a colorful plastic casing. The device would have been reminiscent of the iPhone 5c, an iPhone that used a rigid plastic material instead of aluminum.
As of this year, Gurman says that Apple might have scrapped the plan for a new casing design. The design team supposedly did not like the look of the device, and the materials team was struggling to make it cheaper than the current aluminum casing.
For that reason, the Apple Watch SE 3 may continue to use an aluminum case instead of the more colorful plastic that's been mentioned in rumors.
Price
There haven't been rumors of a price increase for the Apple Watch SE, and Apple will likely want to keep the device affordable. The current 40mm version is priced starting at $249, and the 44mm model is priced starting at $279.
Apple has been marketing the Apple Watch SE to parents who get the device for their children, and raising the price could impact Apple's efforts to market the device to kids.
Launch Timing
We're expecting Apple to announce the Apple Watch SE 3 at its September iPhone event. Rumors suggest the event could take place on September 9, and if that's the case, pre-orders for the watch could follow on September 12, and a launch could come on September 19.
This article, "Apple Watch SE 3: What to Expect From Apple's Upcoming Budget Smartwatch" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Watch SE 3: What to Expect From Apple's Upcoming Budget Smartwatch - MacRumors
Size and Design
The Apple Watch SE could get new display sizes, according to display analyst Ross Young. The device will supposedly come in 1.6-inch and 1.8-inch display sizes.
Those sizes aren't too far off of the current Apple Watch SE 2 display sizes, but it's time for a display upgrade. The Apple Watch SE 2 is modeled after the Apple Watch Series 6, and it comes in the older 40mm and 44mm size options.
With the Series 7, Apple updated the Apple Watch sizing to 41mm and 45mm, and with the Series 10, display sizes changed to 42mm and 46mm. It's possible that the Apple Watch SE 3 will get the Apple Watch Series 7 design, which features a thinner design and slimmed down bezels.
Right now, the Apple Watch SE does not have always-on display technology, and it's another feature that Apple could bring to the low-cost watch now that it's been around for some time. There are no rumors about always-on display technology for the SE 3, though.
Updated S11 Chip
The next-generation Apple Watch SE will get the same S11 chip as the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra, according to information that Apple accidentally leaked.
The S11 is essentially the same as the S9 and the S10, but it will be a major improvement over the S8 chip that's in the current Apple Watch SE. Performance should be much quicker and the SE 3 should be much more responsive.
With the S11, the Apple Watch SE 3 could get features like on-device Siri processing, support for double tap gestures, and more storage.
Possible Health Features
The Apple Watch SE has historically had fewer health features than Apple's flagship Apple Watch models. It doesn't have the ECG app, and there's no blood oxygen monitoring. If there are new health features in the Series 11 and the Ultra 3, it's unlikely the functionality will make it to the Apple Watch SE 3.
The Apple Watch SE does support core features like heart rate tracking, sleep tracking, and respiratory rate tracking, so Apple could add sleep apnea detection to the SE 3 because it would have all of the hardware to support the feature. Sleep apnea detection is currently limited to the Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2.
Apple could upgrade the optical heart sensor to the third-generation version that was initially introduced in the Apple Watch Series 7, because the current Apple Watch SE is still using the second-generation sensor.
Other possibilities include improved battery life, faster charging, and better water resistance.
Plastic Casing Rumors
Back in mid-2024, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple was working on a new Apple Watch SE with a colorful plastic casing. The device would have been reminiscent of the iPhone 5c, an iPhone that used a rigid plastic material instead of aluminum.
As of this year, Gurman says that Apple might have scrapped the plan for a new casing design. The design team supposedly did not like the look of the device, and the materials team was struggling to make it cheaper than the current aluminum casing.
For that reason, the Apple Watch SE 3 may continue to use an aluminum case instead of the more colorful plastic that's been mentioned in rumors.
Price
There haven't been rumors of a price increase for the Apple Watch SE, and Apple will likely want to keep the device affordable. The current 40mm version is priced starting at $249, and the 44mm model is priced starting at $279.
Apple has been marketing the Apple Watch SE to parents who get the device for their children, and raising the price could impact Apple's efforts to market the device to kids.
Launch Timing
We're expecting Apple to announce the Apple Watch SE 3 at its September iPhone event. Rumors suggest the event could take place on September 9, and if that's the case, pre-orders for the watch could follow on September 12, and a launch could come on September 19.
This article, "Apple Watch SE 3: What to Expect From Apple's Upcoming Budget Smartwatch" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Watch Reportedly Set to Receive 'Significant Redesign' Next Year - MacRumors
In a paywalled report this week, citing supply chain insiders, DigiTimes claimed that a high-end 2026 Apple Watch model will feature "exterior design" changes, including but not limited to "eight sensors arranged in a ring pattern visible through a glass cover on the watch's underside."
Earlier this year, images of an alleged Apple Watch Series 10 prototype surfaced, and the device had a never-before-seen ring with eight white lines in it. It is unclear if that is the same ring that DigiTimes is referring to, but it seems similar, so perhaps it is still coming on the Apple Watch Series 12 and/or Apple Watch Ultra 4 next year.
An alleged Apple Watch Series 10 prototype (Image Credit: @StellaFudge)
More sensors would make sense, as the Apple Watch continues to get more health features. For example, Apple has reportedly been testing a feature that could alert you to signs of high blood pressure. This feature was first rumored well before the Apple Watch Series 10 launched, but Apple continues to face development challenges. It is unclear if the feature will be ready in time for the Apple Watch Series 11 next month.
Beyond sensors, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman once reported on the possibility of a redesigned Apple Watch with a thinner case and a magnetic band system. While the Series 10 is the thinnest Apple Watch ever, the magnetic band system has still never materialized.
The report also says the Apple Watch Series 11 will support Apple Intelligence, enabling smarter health management capabilities, but we are skeptical about this claim due to Apple Watch performance and RAM limitations. However, watchOS 26 adds some new features "powered by" Apple Intelligence, with reliance on a paired iPhone.
DigiTimes has a notoriously hit-or-miss track record, so this report warrants a healthy dose of skepticism. Moreover, the publication has become more of an aggregator of Apple rumors in recent years, but it still publishes some original reports from time to time. Earlier this week, it published an "exclusive" report corroborating rumors that Apple is planning a new lower-cost MacBook with around a 13-inch display and an A18 Pro chip.
Given that the 2026 Apple Watch lineup is still over a year away, there is plenty of time for more rumors, so we should find out if this report is accurate in due time.Related Roundups: Apple Watch 10, Apple Watch Ultra 2Tag: DigiTimesBuyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Don't Buy), Apple Watch Ultra (Don't Buy)Related Forum: Apple Watch
This article, "Apple Watch Reportedly Set to Receive 'Significant Redesign' Next Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Watch Reportedly Set to Receive 'Significant Redesign' Next Year - MacRumors
In a paywalled report this week, citing supply chain insiders, DigiTimes claimed that a high-end 2026 Apple Watch model will feature "exterior design" changes, including but not limited to "eight sensors arranged in a ring pattern visible through a glass cover on the watch's underside."
Earlier this year, images of an alleged Apple Watch Series 10 prototype surfaced, and the device had a never-before-seen ring with eight white lines in it. It is unclear if that is the same ring that DigiTimes is referring to, but it seems similar, so perhaps it is still coming on the Apple Watch Series 12 and/or Apple Watch Ultra 4 next year.
An alleged Apple Watch Series 10 prototype (Image Credit: @StellaFudge)
More sensors would make sense, as the Apple Watch continues to get more health features. For example, Apple has reportedly been testing a feature that could alert you to signs of high blood pressure. This feature was first rumored well before the Apple Watch Series 10 launched, but Apple continues to face development challenges. It is unclear if the feature will be ready in time for the Apple Watch Series 11 next month.
Beyond sensors, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman once reported on the possibility of a redesigned Apple Watch with a thinner case and a magnetic band system. While the Series 10 is the thinnest Apple Watch ever, the magnetic band system has still never materialized.
The report also says the Apple Watch Series 11 will support Apple Intelligence, enabling smarter health management capabilities, but we are skeptical about this claim due to Apple Watch performance and RAM limitations. However, watchOS 26 adds some new features "powered by" Apple Intelligence, with reliance on a paired iPhone.
DigiTimes has a notoriously hit-or-miss track record, so this report warrants a healthy dose of skepticism. Moreover, the publication has become more of an aggregator of Apple rumors in recent years, but it still publishes some original reports from time to time. Earlier this week, it published an "exclusive" report corroborating rumors that Apple is planning a new lower-cost MacBook with around a 13-inch display and an A18 Pro chip.
Given that the 2026 Apple Watch lineup is still over a year away, there is plenty of time for more rumors, so we should find out if this report is accurate in due time.Related Roundups: Apple Watch 10, Apple Watch Ultra 2Tag: DigiTimesBuyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Don't Buy), Apple Watch Ultra (Don't Buy)Related Forum: Apple Watch
This article, "Apple Watch Reportedly Set to Receive 'Significant Redesign' Next Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Splash the otter is training for underwater search-and-rescue - Popular Science
A Florida search-and-rescue provider is training a new non-human team member, but the animal isn’t what you might immediately imagine. Instead of yet another dog, the team hopes an otter may soon help pick up trails when they extend into murky waters.
Canines have remained law enforcement’s preferred search-and-rescue animal partners for decades, but they still have their limitations. Investigations such as boating accidents that lead authorities underwater remain a major barrier. A dog’s scent trail basically ends at the riverbank or lake shore,but that’s not necessarily the case for otters.
“I thought, why can’t we train an otter to do this kind of work?” Mike Hadsell at Peace River K9 Search and Rescue recently told Tampa’s local news outlet WTSP.
Hadsell posted his idea online and was eventually approached by a zoo owner in Arizona about a possible otter. Around 14 months ago, Peace River received their Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) named Splash. Then it was time for Splash’s training regimen to begin.
“Human [bodies] emit somewhere over 500 volatile organic compounds. The scent really never leaves,” explained Hadsell.
Otters are mammals that clearly don’t breathe underwater, but they do taste. To hone his searching abilities, Hadsell and colleagues fill three child swimming pools with water, then hide human scent samples in one of them. Splash then proceeds to live up to his name by scouring the pools–making a lot of bubbles in the process.
“You’ll see all these bubbles coming out, and he’s sucking some of those bubbles back in and he’s tasting them. The odor attaches itself to the bubble, and then he tastes it when it comes into his mouth,” said Hadsell. “And so that’s how he does it. When he finds something, he comes back and he grabs my mask.”
Splash is already garnering interest from agencies around the country. Hadsell says he’s already received search requests from FBI offices and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. But in the Sunshine State, each aquatic excursion poses its own hazards that don’t exist in the Peace River kiddie pools.
“The danger we worry about Splash here is the alligators,” said Hadsell. “For both of us it’s dangerous. I have bumped into alligators.”
The search-and-rescue team takes extra precautions whenever Splash is with them to keep him safeHe’s always tethered to a line, while both human spotters and sonar equipment continuously track his movements. Like traditional K-9 units, Splash’s reward for a job well done is a favorite snack: salmon.
Although he may be the only search otter in the industry, Hadsell thinks that Splash will be far from the last one.
“I expect to see a lot of otters out there. I think they’ll be standard issue probably in 10 years from now,” he predicted.
Since his deployment, Splash has three finds to his name.
“He is operational and still developing,” Hadsell told Popular Science. “So far, the project looks promising and [we’ll] continue to move forward.”
The post Splash the otter is training for underwater search-and-rescue appeared first on Popular Science.
The world’s first robot games were a clumsy mess - Popular Science
This week, China’s leading robotics minds gathered in Beijing for a hotly-anticipated, Olympics-style event dubbed the world’s first “Humanoid Robot Games.”
Over the course of just over an hour, an assortment of wobbly, bipedal robots “competed” in soccer, running, and kickboxing. Others danced alongside far more coordinated children, while a handful struggled to play pre-programmed instruments. The entire awkward affair, touted as a showcase of the country’s robotics prowess, highlighted how far the industry still has to go to approach anything resembling human-level performance.
In other words, the robots weren’t scary. They were just plain goofy.
Humanoid Games: soccer, dancing, running, and lots of fallingThe event, which began Thursday and runs through the weekend, features 500 humanoid robots from 280 teams across 16 countries. Teams include both private companies and researchers from top Chinese universities. The Associated Press notes three middle school robotics teams also participated. All of the robots required ample space to move—and, in many cases, stumble. To accommodate them, the event was held in the National Speed Skating Oval, a 12,000-seat arena originally built for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Livestreams of the competition showed a smattering of empty seats throughout the arena. Tickets reportedly cost between $25 and $80.
Coverage kicked off, after some delay, with a 1,500-meter race. Unitree, arguably China’s best-known robotics company, won the race handily, with its entries taking first and third place. X-Humanoid, which won the first-ever humanoid robot half marathon earlier this year, came in second. But others didn’t finish at all. The Guardian reported that one robot was forced to retire from the race after its head flopped off while rounding a corner.
“Keeping [the head] balanced while in movement is the biggest challenge for us,” Wang Zizi, one of the robot’s 19-year-old creators said, according to The Guardian.
A humanoid robot is carried by technicians after being knocked out in a kickboxing match at the World Humanoid Robot Games on August 15, 2025. Image: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images Kevin FrayerOnce the race wrapped up, the event transitioned into a spectacle reminiscent of an Olympics opening ceremony. Robots danced alongside human performers, while a robot “band” stood off to the side, pretending to play oversized guitars. One of the robot rockers, seated behind a drum set, appeared to actually play a rudimentary beat, though it’s unclear whether it was doing so autonomously or under the remote control of a human operator.
The dancing robots jerked and spun as a video overhead showed press footage of robots working in convenience stores and helping around the house. A pop song with the repeating refrain “Future in my sight” blared throughout the arena.
Some of the robots were dressed in fashionable hats and clothes, walking across the stage runway-style and waving to a cheering crowd. During this portion of the event, one of the waving robots—covered in sequins—tripped and face-planted. It lay there, prostrate, for a solid minute before a pair of humans gingerly walked onto the stage and retrieved it, carrying it by its arms and legs like a wounded soldier.
The runway robots were the first of several to struggle against gravity. Kickboxing bots, provided by Unitree, landed solid smacks but promptly toppled to the ground when they missed a kick. A similar scene played out during the soccer match. One attacking robot eventually scored a goal only after repeatedly failing to bypass a mostly stationary goalkeeper. When it finally did succeed, the goalkeeper robot appeared to lose its balance and collapsed to the ground.
Not so fast, humanoidsThese “Humanoid Games” are the culmination of a months-long push by the Chinese government to promote and fast-track its emerging robotics industry. Several cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, have received billions in funding to serve as technological development hubs as the country races to outpace the U.S. In the lead-up to this event, Chinese humanoid robot firms also participated in a half-marathon and a live-streamed boxing match.
All of these performances are part of an effort to showcase the technology and generate hype. But if that’s the ultimate goal, this week’s humanoid event may have ultimately done more harm than good. As entertaining as it is to watch robots decapitate themselves while trying to complete a race, it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in companies promising to replace human workers or make in-home robot assistance a reality anytime soon.
The post The world’s first robot games were a clumsy mess appeared first on Popular Science.
Stone Age humans traveled for miles to find the perfect rocks - Popular Science
It may not seem like it at first, but there’s a big difference between the Stone Age human ancestors who crafted tools from nearby rocks, and those who trekked to find the right materials. The ability to mentally map surrounding locations—especially far away places—requires an advanced level of cognition that many now-extinct hominin species lacked. For at least one Paleolithic community located in present-day southwestern Kenya, that evolutionary leap occurred as much as 600,000 years earlier than previously believed. The new evidence is explored in a study published on August 15 in the journal Science Advances.
In the 1930s, archaeologists discovered the first Oldowan toolkit in Tanzania—a trio of stone aids including hammerstones for creating pounding tools, angular or oval shaped rocks for splitting material, and flakes that essentially functioned as proto-knives. Since then, similar finds have been located across much of the African continent, such as the Nyayanga site near the Homa Peninsula’s eastern edge of Lake Victoria.
The Nyayanga site is located near the eastern edge of Lake Victoria in Kenya. Credit: T.W. Plummer / Homa Peninsula Paleoanthropology ProjectIn 2023, an international archaeological team including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Queens College, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History discovered the oldest known collection of Oldowan tools and butchered hippopotamus bones dating back roughly 3 million years. Following another two years of analysis at the Nyayanga site, researchers have reached another striking conclusion: some of those tools came from rocks that don’t exist anywhere near Nyayanga.
“People often focus on the tools themselves, but the real innovation of the Oldowan may actually be the transport of resources from one place to another,” study senior author Rick Potts said in a statement. “The knowledge and intent to bring stone material to rich food sources was apparently an integral part of toolmaking behavior at the outset of the Oldowan.”
An Oldawan pounding tool and flake fashioned from nonlocal raw materials. These tools were uncovered nearby a butchered hippopotamus skeleton. Credit: T.W. Plummer / Homa Peninsula Paleoanthropology ProjectSlicing, scraping, and pounding tough plant matter and animal carcasses required rocks that were sturdy enough to handle the tasks, but also brittle enough to flake into sharp edges. However, researchers say the geology around Nyayanga simply wouldn’t have cut it—so to speak. Oldowan tools produced from these softer stones would either dull quickly or shatter, making them poor materials to use.
After conducting geochemical analyses on hundreds of stone cores and flakes found at Nyayanga, the team determined that they were crafted from volcanic and metamorphic rocks like rhyolite and quartzite. They then surveyed the regional geography, soon realizing the stone varieties could be traced to drainage basins located as far as eight miles east of the Homa Peninsula.
Archaeologists previously discovered similar rocks that hominins transported to a separate, 2-million-year-old site on the Homa Peninsula. While those were the oldest known examples of Oldowan tools, these Nyayanga kits were fashioned around 600,000 years earlier.
“It’s surprising because the Nyayanga assemblage is early in the Oldowan, and we previously thought that longer transport distances may have been related to changes that happened in our more recent evolutionary history,” explained study lead author Emma Finestone.
A map of the Nyayanga archaeological site in southwestern Kenya and the distant outcrops of Nyanzian and Bukoban rocks. A variety of rocks from the two types were used to manufacture the Oldowan tools at Nyayanga. Credit: E.M. Finestone, J.S. Oliver / Homa Peninsula Paleoanthropology ProjectThe latest findings further clarify the evolutionary timeline for humans, indicating that some cognitive advancements happened much earlier than initially understood. At the same time, it remains a mystery as to which hominin group made this major developmental step forward first.
“Unless you find a hominin fossil actually holding a tool, you won’t be able to say definitively which species are making which stone tool assemblages,” said Finestone. “But I think that the research at Nyayanga suggests that there is a greater diversity of hominins making early stone tools than previously thought.”
One of the strongest contenders remains Paranthropus,a close evolutionary genus to present-day humans known for their strong skulls and teeth. Researchers excavated multiple Paranthropus dental remains near both the Oldowan tools and the oldest hippo butchering location, which points strongly to them as the mystery innovators.
“Humans have always relied on tools to solve adaptive challenges,” Finestone said. “By understanding how this relationship began, we can better see our connection to it today—especially as we face new challenges in a world shaped by technology.”
The post Stone Age humans traveled for miles to find the perfect rocks appeared first on Popular Science.
MacRumors Giveaway: Win iPad Air M3 Bundle to Use With Astropad's New Daily Planner App - MacRumors
The Rock Daily Planner was built for the iPad with full Apple Pencil integration, and it's clear that a lot of thought went into how people use planning apps on their tablets. The app has a clean design that minimizes distractions and puts maximum focus on events and tasks.
There's a side bar with a full calendar, but the most useful view is the daily interface. Each day gets a dedicated page, with an organized hourly timeline and a separate to-do list. A Daily Plan summarizes everything that you have going on.
The default view shows an hourly timeline and to-do list, but there are customization options for adding note-taking pages. You can create a page with dots, lines, a grid, or a to-do list, or opt for a blank page. You can import your calendar, so you can see your hour-by-hour schedule, important notes, and to-do list all in a single view.
The Rock Daily Planner is meant to be used with an Apple Pencil, so you can handwrite your calendar events, to-dos, and take notes. Notes can be customized with emoji labels, and can be pinned to the side bar so you can keep what's most needed front and center.
Rock Daily Planner was designed for Astropad's $45 Rock Paper Pencil, and it's free to download and use. Rock Paper Pencil is a screen protector and Apple Pencil tip kit that's designed to provide iPad users with a paper-like writing experience.
There's a microtexture screen protector that goes on the iPad, and it has a thin, papery feel. Since it's removable, you can put it on when you need it and then take it off later if you want to play a game. The screen protector is combined with a 1mm stainless steel Apple Pencil tip that feels like writing with a pencil when combined with the screen protector. If you dislike the feel of writing on smooth glass, the Rock Paper Pencil is a useful solution. There are options for most iPad models.
Astropad is providing one lucky MacRumors reader with an 11-inch M3 iPad Air, an Apple Pencil Pro, and a Rock Paper Pencil kit to use with the Rock Daily Planner. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
Astropad Giveaway
The contest will run from today (August 15) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 22. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after August 22 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.Tags: Astropad, Giveaway
This article, "MacRumors Giveaway: Win iPad Air M3 Bundle to Use With Astropad's New Daily Planner App" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
MacRumors Giveaway: Win iPad Air M3 Bundle to Use With Astropad's New Daily Planner App - MacRumors
The Rock Daily Planner was built for the iPad with full Apple Pencil integration, and it's clear that a lot of thought went into how people use planning apps on their tablets. The app has a clean design that minimizes distractions and puts maximum focus on events and tasks.
There's a side bar with a full calendar, but the most useful view is the daily interface. Each day gets a dedicated page, with an organized hourly timeline and a separate to-do list. A Daily Plan summarizes everything that you have going on.
The default view shows an hourly timeline and to-do list, but there are customization options for adding note-taking pages. You can create a page with dots, lines, a grid, or a to-do list, or opt for a blank page. You can import your calendar, so you can see your hour-by-hour schedule, important notes, and to-do list all in a single view.
The Rock Daily Planner is meant to be used with an Apple Pencil, so you can handwrite your calendar events, to-dos, and take notes. Notes can be customized with emoji labels, and can be pinned to the side bar so you can keep what's most needed front and center.
Rock Daily Planner was designed for Astropad's $45 Rock Paper Pencil, and it's free to download and use. Rock Paper Pencil is a screen protector and Apple Pencil tip kit that's designed to provide iPad users with a paper-like writing experience.
There's a microtexture screen protector that goes on the iPad, and it has a thin, papery feel. Since it's removable, you can put it on when you need it and then take it off later if you want to play a game. The screen protector is combined with a 1mm stainless steel Apple Pencil tip that feels like writing with a pencil when combined with the screen protector. If you dislike the feel of writing on smooth glass, the Rock Paper Pencil is a useful solution. There are options for most iPad models.
Astropad is providing one lucky MacRumors reader with an 11-inch M3 iPad Air, an Apple Pencil Pro, and a Rock Paper Pencil kit to use with the Rock Daily Planner. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
Astropad Giveaway
The contest will run from today (August 15) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 22. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after August 22 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.Tags: Astropad, Giveaway
This article, "MacRumors Giveaway: Win iPad Air M3 Bundle to Use With Astropad's New Daily Planner App" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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iPhone 17 Pro Max's Internal Design With Metal Battery Allegedly Leaks - MacRumors
The images were shared by the account "yeux1122" this week, in a blog post on the Korean platform Naver. The account aggregates Apple rumors and leaks, so it is likely not the original source of the images, and it is unclear if they are legitimate.
In any case, it is unlikely that these images are showing official CAD files from Apple, but they still might provide an accurate look at what is rumored.
The images show that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will apparently feature a metal-covered battery, as previously rumored. There will apparently be two versions of the battery, with the L-shaped one in the image below to be used in iPhone 17 Pro models that still have a physical SIM card tray. The battery is expected to be more rectangular in iPhone 17 Pro models that lack a physical SIM card tray, such as those sold in the United States.
Alleged image of iPhone 17 Pro Max internals via yeux1122
The metal cover would help to dissipate heat generated by the battery. Apple already uses a metal-covered battery in the iPhone 16 Pro, but the standard iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, and iPhone 16 Pro Max batteries still have black foil covers.
The batteries in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus use a type of adhesive that can be loosened with low-voltage electrical current, from a 9V battery or another power source. Another leaker known as "Majin Bu" expects the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max batteries will also be removable in the same manner.
The images also show the iPhone 17 Pro Max with a much larger camera bump compared to previous models, as widely rumored by this point.
You can also see the position of the MagSafe system, and the charging port.
Overall, the image does not reveal anything that has not already been rumored by this point, but it does help to reinforce expectations.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 series in less than a month from now.Related Roundup: iPhone 17 ProTag: NaverRelated Forum: iPhone
This article, "iPhone 17 Pro Max's Internal Design With Metal Battery Allegedly Leaks" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
iPhone 17 Pro Max's Internal Design With Metal Battery Allegedly Leaks - MacRumors
The images were shared by the account "yeux1122" this week, in a blog post on the Korean platform Naver. The account aggregates Apple rumors and leaks, so it is likely not the original source of the images, and it is unclear if they are legitimate.
In any case, it is unlikely that these images are showing official CAD files from Apple, but they still might provide an accurate look at what is rumored.
The images show that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will apparently feature a metal-covered battery, as previously rumored. There will apparently be two versions of the battery, with the L-shaped one in the image below to be used in iPhone 17 Pro models that still have a physical SIM card tray. The battery is expected to be more rectangular in iPhone 17 Pro models that lack a physical SIM card tray, such as those sold in the United States.
Alleged image of iPhone 17 Pro Max internals via yeux1122
The metal cover would help to dissipate heat generated by the battery. Apple already uses a metal-covered battery in the iPhone 16 Pro, but the standard iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, and iPhone 16 Pro Max batteries still have black foil covers.
The batteries in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus use a type of adhesive that can be loosened with low-voltage electrical current, from a 9V battery or another power source. Another leaker known as "Majin Bu" expects the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max batteries will also be removable in the same manner.
The images also show the iPhone 17 Pro Max with a much larger camera bump compared to previous models, as widely rumored by this point.
You can also see the position of the MagSafe system, and the charging port.
Overall, the image does not reveal anything that has not already been rumored by this point, but it does help to reinforce expectations.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 series in less than a month from now.Related Roundup: iPhone 17 ProTag: NaverRelated Forum: iPhone
This article, "iPhone 17 Pro Max's Internal Design With Metal Battery Allegedly Leaks" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Make birdwatching easy and save $50 with this Onlyfly smart bird feeder camera from Amazon - Popular Science
If pop culture is to be believed, there’s an age where birdwatching becomes extremely appealing. It’s a slow-burn hobby that rewards patience and a knack for observation (think Detective Cordelia Cupp in “The Residence”). But if you can’t tell a Yellow-throated Longclaw from an Eastern Meadowlark, you might need a little help from an AI-powered identification system and an always-on backyard camera. Amazon’s running a limited-time sale (or until stock flies away) on smart bird feeders with built-in 2K cameras and AI bird recognition, which give you the thrill of birdwatching at home without the binocular neck strain or standing around.
Onlyfly
See ItThis solar-powered 2K camera with AI recognition is basically a paparazzi setup for your native species, capturing pictures and video automatically. This connected bird feeder sends alerts to your phone whenever a feathered guest drops by, so you won’t miss any visitors. Two solar panels keep it running for up to 180 days, and the swappable red/yellow flower nectar feeders both attract hummingbirds and are ridiculously photogenic.
Onlyfly Bird Feeder with Camera, Solar Powered 2K Live Feed Cam for Outdoor Backyard (White Green) — $169.99 (was $199.99)Onlyfly
See ItDual solar panels and a 5200mAh battery keep this bird feeder’s camera running, while nectar feeders, fruit forks, and a jelly feeder attract a wider variety of feathered friends. The built-in Wi-Fi lets you watch from anywhere and share images with friends or on social media. It comes with a 30-day free trial of AI ID so you can identify visitors without squinting at a bird guide.
Onlyfly Bird Feeder with Camera, Solar Powered 2K Live Feed Cam for Outdoor Backyard (Green) — $169.99 (was $200.99)Onlyfly
See ItAnother slightly more wallet-friendly version with the same waterproof, dustproof camera smarts and snack station setup, available at its cheapest price in over 30 days. It’s a great time to awaken your inner ornithologist, or just be the perfect gift for family and friends.
More backyard oasis improvement deals- Metal Bird Feeder with Solar-Powered Smart Camera and 74.5 Inch Pole, $199 (was $299)
- Thermacell E-Series Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller with 20’ Mosquito Protection Zone, $35.15 (was $49.99)
- Bright Solar Pathway Lights Outdoor, 8 Pack Solar Powered Garden Lights Waterproof IP65, $49.99 (was $69.99)
- (2025 New) WYBOT C2 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner, $522.99 (was $679.99)
- Govee WiFi Thermometer Hygrometer H5179, Smart Humidity Temperature Sensor with App Notification Alert, $29.99 (was $39.99)
- Newentor Weather Station Wireless Indoor Outdoor Thermometer, $33.99 (was $56.99)
The post Make birdwatching easy and save $50 with this Onlyfly smart bird feeder camera from Amazon appeared first on Popular Science.
Best Apple Deals of the Week: Shop All-Time Lows on iPad Air, MacBook Air, and More - MacRumors
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
iPad Air
- What's the deal? Get $150 off M3 iPad Air
- Where can I get it? Amazon and Best Buy
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
$150 OFF11-inch M3 iPad Air (128GB Wi-Fi) for $449.00
$150 OFF13-inch M3 iPad Air (128GB Wi-Fi) for $649.00
This week we continued tracking new record low prices across the entire M3 iPad Air lineup, with discounts available at both Amazon and Best Buy. These massive $150 discounts beat the previous all-time lows tracked during Prime Day by about $30.
iPad Mini
$100 OFFiPad mini 7 for $399.00
Amazon and Best Buy are both offering $100 off the iPad mini 7 this week, which is a solid second-best price on the tablet.
AirPods
- What's the deal? Get up to $80 off AirPods
- Where can I get it? Amazon
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
$30 OFFAirPods 4 for $99.00
$80 OFFAirPods Pro 2 for $169.00
Amazon this week has solid second-best prices on the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, and both deals are still available right now.
M4 MacBook Air
- What's the deal? Get $200 off M4 MacBook Air
- Where can I get it? Amazon
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
$200 OFF13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for $799.00
$200 OFF15-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for $999.00
Amazon this week introduced a new record low price across the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, and you can still get the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for just $799.00, plus many other deals.
M4 MacBook Pro
- What's the deal? Get up to $436 off M4 MacBook Pro
- Where can I get it? Amazon
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
$300 OFF14-inch M4 MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,299.00
Continuing this week's theme of steep MacBook-related discounts, Amazon also has great deals on the M4 MacBook Pro right now. You'll find up to $436 off these computers, starting at $1,299.00 for the entry-level 14-inch model.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? 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, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: Shop All-Time Lows on iPad Air, MacBook Air, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Best Apple Deals of the Week: Shop All-Time Lows on iPad Air, MacBook Air, and More - MacRumors
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
iPad Air
- What's the deal? Get $150 off M3 iPad Air
- Where can I get it? Amazon and Best Buy
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
$150 OFF11-inch M3 iPad Air (128GB Wi-Fi) for $449.00
$150 OFF13-inch M3 iPad Air (128GB Wi-Fi) for $649.00
This week we continued tracking new record low prices across the entire M3 iPad Air lineup, with discounts available at both Amazon and Best Buy. These massive $150 discounts beat the previous all-time lows tracked during Prime Day by about $30.
iPad Mini
$100 OFFiPad mini 7 for $399.00
Amazon and Best Buy are both offering $100 off the iPad mini 7 this week, which is a solid second-best price on the tablet.
AirPods
- What's the deal? Get up to $80 off AirPods
- Where can I get it? Amazon
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
$30 OFFAirPods 4 for $99.00
$80 OFFAirPods Pro 2 for $169.00
Amazon this week has solid second-best prices on the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, and both deals are still available right now.
M4 MacBook Air
- What's the deal? Get $200 off M4 MacBook Air
- Where can I get it? Amazon
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
$200 OFF13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for $799.00
$200 OFF15-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for $999.00
Amazon this week introduced a new record low price across the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, and you can still get the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for just $799.00, plus many other deals.
M4 MacBook Pro
- What's the deal? Get up to $436 off M4 MacBook Pro
- Where can I get it? Amazon
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
$300 OFF14-inch M4 MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,299.00
Continuing this week's theme of steep MacBook-related discounts, Amazon also has great deals on the M4 MacBook Pro right now. You'll find up to $436 off these computers, starting at $1,299.00 for the entry-level 14-inch model.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? 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, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: Shop All-Time Lows on iPad Air, MacBook Air, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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The MacRumors Show: Apple's Big Plan to Revamp the Smart Home - MacRumors
Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos
An upgrade to ChatGPT-5 integration is planned for Siri with iOS 26, aiming to improve reasoning capabilities. The next-generation version of Siri is now being tested with third-party apps including Uber, AllTrails, Threads, Temu, Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, and WhatsApp. A more advanced large language model-based Siri, which will be more powerful than the "personalized" Siri, could launch as early as next spring. A visually redesigned Siri interface for iPhones and iPads is also under consideration for release in 2026.
The company is said to be recruiting engineers for its "Answers, Knowledge, and Information" team tasked with enhancing Siri, Spotlight, Safari, and other services. This team is in the early stages of creating a "new ChatGPT-like search experience" and is even exploring the possibility of a standalone "answer engine" app.
The next-generation HomePod mini is expected to launch this year and will shift further toward the smart home. It will incorporate Apple's "S11" chip, a new Apple-designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip with Wi-Fi 6E support, and potentially a second-generation ultra-wideband chip for enhanced spatial awareness. The refresh may also bring improved sound quality alongside new color options. Likewise, a new Apple TV is expected to launch this year with the A17 Pro chip and the new Apple-designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip.
Meanwhile, Apple's first smart home hub is now expected in 2026 and will feature a 7-inch display paired with an integrated speaker, taking visual cues from Google's Nest Hub with a square display, thin black or white bezels, rounded corners, and a half-dome-shaped base. Designed for shared household use, its interface will emphasize clock faces and widgets for core Apple apps, including Calendar, Camera, Music, Reminders, and Notes. Siri could feature a new visual interface, personified and inspired by the Mac Finder icon. The device will include a front-facing camera to deliver personalized content and features for each user, but it will not run third-party apps or have an app store. It is rumored to heavily rely on the next-generation version of Siri.
Apple is also believed to be working on a Ring-style home security camera with facial recognition and motion detection to trigger home automations. Battery life is apparently being designed to last several months to a year. A facial recognition doorbell is also in development. The camera could debut alongside the 2026 smart home hub.
Lastly, a so-called Apple "robot companion" is in the prototyping stage, targeted for a 2027 launch. It will feature a 7-inch iPad-like display mounted on a movable arm that can rotate and extend about six inches in any direction—nicknamed internally as the "Pixar lamp." Apple envisions it as an AI-driven household companion, powered by an advanced Siri capable of remembering information, engaging in more natural conversations, and presenting a "visual personality." The device could proactively interrupt with suggestions and be similar to OpenAI's voice mode. It will include Center Stage as well as joystick-controlled camera movement to show different parts of a room during calls.
The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.
Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!
You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.
If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about some of the most important latest rumors about the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.
The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.Tag: The MacRumors Show
This article, "The MacRumors Show: Apple's Big Plan to Revamp the Smart Home" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
The MacRumors Show: Apple's Big Plan to Revamp the Smart Home - MacRumors
Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos
An upgrade to ChatGPT-5 integration is planned for Siri with iOS 26, aiming to improve reasoning capabilities. The next-generation version of Siri is now being tested with third-party apps including Uber, AllTrails, Threads, Temu, Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, and WhatsApp. A more advanced large language model-based Siri, which will be more powerful than the "personalized" Siri, could launch as early as next spring. A visually redesigned Siri interface for iPhones and iPads is also under consideration for release in 2026.
The company is said to be recruiting engineers for its "Answers, Knowledge, and Information" team tasked with enhancing Siri, Spotlight, Safari, and other services. This team is in the early stages of creating a "new ChatGPT-like search experience" and is even exploring the possibility of a standalone "answer engine" app.
The next-generation HomePod mini is expected to launch this year and will shift further toward the smart home. It will incorporate Apple's "S11" chip, a new Apple-designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip with Wi-Fi 6E support, and potentially a second-generation ultra-wideband chip for enhanced spatial awareness. The refresh may also bring improved sound quality alongside new color options. Likewise, a new Apple TV is expected to launch this year with the A17 Pro chip and the new Apple-designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip.
Meanwhile, Apple's first smart home hub is now expected in 2026 and will feature a 7-inch display paired with an integrated speaker, taking visual cues from Google's Nest Hub with a square display, thin black or white bezels, rounded corners, and a half-dome-shaped base. Designed for shared household use, its interface will emphasize clock faces and widgets for core Apple apps, including Calendar, Camera, Music, Reminders, and Notes. Siri could feature a new visual interface, personified and inspired by the Mac Finder icon. The device will include a front-facing camera to deliver personalized content and features for each user, but it will not run third-party apps or have an app store. It is rumored to heavily rely on the next-generation version of Siri.
Apple is also believed to be working on a Ring-style home security camera with facial recognition and motion detection to trigger home automations. Battery life is apparently being designed to last several months to a year. A facial recognition doorbell is also in development. The camera could debut alongside the 2026 smart home hub.
Lastly, a so-called Apple "robot companion" is in the prototyping stage, targeted for a 2027 launch. It will feature a 7-inch iPad-like display mounted on a movable arm that can rotate and extend about six inches in any direction—nicknamed internally as the "Pixar lamp." Apple envisions it as an AI-driven household companion, powered by an advanced Siri capable of remembering information, engaging in more natural conversations, and presenting a "visual personality." The device could proactively interrupt with suggestions and be similar to OpenAI's voice mode. It will include Center Stage as well as joystick-controlled camera movement to show different parts of a room during calls.
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Earth welcomes baby mice from space - Popular Science
If humans are going to spend as much time in space as some hope we will, it’s important to understand the impact spaceflight has on our bodies. Our bodies in space act like a soda can ready to implode, spaceflight can impact our immune systems, and we lose muscle and bone density at an increased rate.
But how does space affect our ability to produce healthy offspring? A study published August 15 in the journal Stem Cell Reports found that mice stem cells cryopreserved in space can produce healthy offspring.
Germ cells are the precursor cells to eggs and sperm. Studying the impact of spaceflight on germ cells is critical because they directly influence the next generation. If irreversible damage is done to those cells, it will likely be transmitted to offspring. Earlier studies of embryonic stem cells that have undergone spaceflight found some abnormalities. However, the exact cause of the damage is still a mystery.
A team at Kyoto University in Japan decided to test the potential damage that spaceflight has on spermatogonial stem cells, a type of germ cell that lives in the testes and turns into sperm cells for reproduction. They used stem cells from mice, which have a much shorter reproductive life span than humans, so any damage to the offspring is easier to spot.
[ Related: This is how space might disturb our immune systems. ]
First, they cryopreserved (or froze) the stem cells. The cells were then sent to the International Space Station and were stored in a deep freezer for six months. When the cells were then returned to Kyoto, the team observed no initial abnormalities.
Once the stem cells were thawed out, they transplanted the cells into mouse testes. Three to four months later, the offspring of the frozen cells were born after they mated the old-fashioned way. The newborn mice were healthy and had normal gene expression. According to the team, this indicates that cryopreserved germ cells can maintain fertility for at least six months– for mice.
“It is important to examine how long we can store germ cells in the ISS to better understand the limits of storage for future human spaceflight,” study co-author and biologist Mito Kanatsu-Shinohara said in a statement.
Stem cells from mice cryopreserved on the International Space Station for six months have produced healthy offspring. CREDIT: KyotoU / Shinohara Lab.Stem cells from numerous species can be cryopreserved and still produce healthy sperm. By studying how those cells respond to the freezing process in proxy animals, we could better understand what it will do to the cells that become eggs and sperm during long-haul space missions in the future.
Initially, the team on this study predicted that the spaceflight itself would be more harmful to spermatogonial stem cells than cryopreservation, due to their sensitivity to radiation. However, the opposite was true in this case. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide used in cryopreservation did kill off some of the cells, but there were still minimal differences between the pre- and post-spaceflight germ cells.
Several more studies are needed to reach conclusions for humans. While the mice offspring appear normal and do not have abnormal DNA patterns, long-term health issues still cannot be ruled out. Only when the lifespan and fertility of these mice and subsequent generations of mice are properly analyzed will we know for sure.
“We still have some spermatogonial stem cells frozen on the ISS, so we will continue to conduct further analysis,” says Kanatsu-Shinohara.
The post Earth welcomes baby mice from space appeared first on Popular Science.
4 States, DC Enacted Robotaxi Laws This Year - Planetizen
State lawmakers around the country are enacting legislation aimed at self-driving vehicles as the technology is rapidly deployed on urban streets, reports Madyson Fitzgerald in Governing.
“While much of the legislation aims to update existing law to include new definitions for autonomous vehicles, other measures put rules in place regarding insurance, permitting, licensing and road testing.” To date, lawmakers in 25 states have introduced 67 bills related to autonomous cars. Governors in Colorado and Virginia vetoed bills. This year, Arizona, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada and the District of Columbia passed laws regulating AVs.
Waymo is currently operating robotaxi service in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Tesla says it plans to roll out a driverless taxi in Austin this year. “Between 2021 and 2024, there were 696 accidents reported that involved a Waymo vehicle, according to an analysis by California-based law firm DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo.”
Geography United States Category Technology Transportation Tags Publication Governing Publication Date Thu, 08/14/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links States Move Swiftly to Regulate Self-Driving Cars as Technology Advances 1 minute4 States, DC Enacted Robotaxi Laws This Year - Planetizen
State lawmakers around the country are enacting legislation aimed at self-driving vehicles as the technology is rapidly deployed on urban streets, reports Madyson Fitzgerald in Governing.
“While much of the legislation aims to update existing law to include new definitions for autonomous vehicles, other measures put rules in place regarding insurance, permitting, licensing and road testing.” To date, lawmakers in 25 states have introduced 67 bills related to autonomous cars. Governors in Colorado and Virginia vetoed bills. This year, Arizona, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada and the District of Columbia passed laws regulating AVs.
Waymo is currently operating robotaxi service in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Tesla says it plans to roll out a driverless taxi in Austin this year. “Between 2021 and 2024, there were 696 accidents reported that involved a Waymo vehicle, according to an analysis by California-based law firm DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo.”
Geography United States Category Technology Transportation Tags Publication Governing Publication Date Thu, 08/14/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links States Move Swiftly to Regulate Self-Driving Cars as Technology Advances 1 minuteiPhone 17 Pro Max Rumored to Have Major Telephoto Camera Upgrade - MacRumors
In fact, the leaker said the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have one of the best Telephoto cameras on any smartphone, but they did not elaborate.
More recent rumors have indicated that both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature an upgraded 48-megapixel Telephoto camera. Last year, however, well-connected Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo did suggest the 48-megapixel Telephoto camera might be exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Whether it is on the Pro and/or Pro Max, the upgraded Telephoto camera is rumored to offer up to 8× optical zoom. Specifically, it has been rumored that the lens will be able to move, allowing for multiple focal lengths. As a result, a tipster claimed that it will be possible to switch between 5× and 8× optical zoom, without tricks like sensor cropping. A moving Telephoto lens would require more parts and internal space, which could explain why the camera bump is expected to be larger on iPhone 17 Pro models.
On the iPhone 16 Pro models, the 12-megapixel Telephoto lens has a fixed focal length of 120mm, and it offers a 5× optical zoom option. Apple says the devices also have a 2× optical zoom option, but that uses the main rear camera with sensor cropping, which in simple terms is a technique that effectively zooms in on the center of a larger photo.
Instant Digital has accurately leaked Apple information before, such as the Yellow finish for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2's Titanium Milanese Loop. However, the account does not have a perfect track record.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 series in less than a month from now.Related Roundup: iPhone 17 ProTag: Instant DigitalRelated Forum: iPhone
This article, "iPhone 17 Pro Max Rumored to Have Major Telephoto Camera Upgrade" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
iPhone 17 Pro Max Rumored to Have Major Telephoto Camera Upgrade - MacRumors
In fact, the leaker said the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have one of the best Telephoto cameras on any smartphone, but they did not elaborate.
More recent rumors have indicated that both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature an upgraded 48-megapixel Telephoto camera. Last year, however, well-connected Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo did suggest the 48-megapixel Telephoto camera might be exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Whether it is on the Pro and/or Pro Max, the upgraded Telephoto camera is rumored to offer up to 8× optical zoom. Specifically, it has been rumored that the lens will be able to move, allowing for multiple focal lengths. As a result, a tipster claimed that it will be possible to switch between 5× and 8× optical zoom, without tricks like sensor cropping. A moving Telephoto lens would require more parts and internal space, which could explain why the camera bump is expected to be larger on iPhone 17 Pro models.
On the iPhone 16 Pro models, the 12-megapixel Telephoto lens has a fixed focal length of 120mm, and it offers a 5× optical zoom option. Apple says the devices also have a 2× optical zoom option, but that uses the main rear camera with sensor cropping, which in simple terms is a technique that effectively zooms in on the center of a larger photo.
Instant Digital has accurately leaked Apple information before, such as the Yellow finish for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2's Titanium Milanese Loop. However, the account does not have a perfect track record.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 series in less than a month from now.Related Roundup: iPhone 17 ProTag: Instant DigitalRelated Forum: iPhone
This article, "iPhone 17 Pro Max Rumored to Have Major Telephoto Camera Upgrade" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
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