Category: feature

November is here, and so is another week of tech news. From WhatsApp Updates to Ads on Netflix and more, stay connected with our technology news of the week.

Netflix’s New Plans and Pricing with Ads Arrives

The time has come. Advertising has arrived on Netflix, and with it, an updated offering of plans via ad-supported tiers. After a successful rollout in Canada and Mexico, the service launched in the US and eight other countries. As the world’s largest video service, this marks a major move for the streaming giant. Beginning this week, Netflix will run ads alongside its show and movies with its Basic with Ads plan. Those wishing to not add ads to their viewing experience can keep the same ad-free membership.

Matter, a newly released universal smart home standard, Debuts in Amsterdam

Members of the Connected Standards Alliance too to Amsterdam this week to showcase Matter. A new universal smart home standard, Matter promises to simplify the connected home. Major industry players are in support of the new standard, with Amazon, Google, Apple, and more jumping on board. “It is truly one of the biggest engineering efforts in years,” said CSA President Tobin Richardson during keynote remarks that kicked off the event. “To see this kind of collaboration between companies that normally try to eat each other on the market, they come together here, and they work together on something that builds the market together.”

You Can have an iPhone 14 with a Built-In Rolex for $135,000

If you have ever wondered how a Rolex would look when combined with your phone, the answer is here. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is now available with a Rolex watch embedded into the body courtesy of the luxury gift site, Caviar. For a price tag of $135,420, consumers can purchase the luxury upgraded timepiece to add to their collection. The Rolex built into the iPhone is a yellow gold Cosmograph Daytona that sports eight diamonds. “Caviar craftsmen strive to constantly surpass their own achievements,” says the Caviar listing for the watch. 

Moonwalkers – ‘World’s Fastest Shoes’ Create Shoes to Speed Up Walking

Pittsburg start-up Shift Robotics believes it has come up with a solution to the slowness of walking. The Moonwalkers, which are powered, wheeled smart shoes promise a 250% increase in walking speed. The shoes can strap onto regular footwear and have a top speed of 7 mph (11 kph), an average range of 6.5 miles (10.5 kilometers), and a weight of 4.2 pounds (2 kilograms). Shift Robotics shows are funded via Kickstarter and are currently set at a super early adopter price level of $1,099 (£960, AU$1,720). The Kickstarter has already attracted over $200,000, putting it well over its initial $90,000 goal.

WhatsApp to Debut Large Group Communities

The popular chat social app WhatsApp has debuted a new feature for large conversations. The “Communities” feature will support communication across organizations with the ability for a 32-person video call. This latest addition to the app is WhatApps take on Telegrams Groups and Channels sections. In addition to “Communities,” the app announced in April it would also be adding emoji message reactions. “It [communities] makes groups better by enabling sub-groups, multiple threads, announcement channels, and more,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement. “All secured by end-to-end encryption, so your messages stay private.”

Wintertime in Southern California isn’t like midwest winters, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to prepare for the cold weather season. In fact, because of our mild temperatures, many people don’t properly winterize their homes, and that can lead to problems–not to mention some discomfort when the weather does turn chilly. Now is the ideal time to get ready for winter. The following tips can help.

Inspect Your Home for Cracks and Gaps

When the weather gets cold, you’ll naturally want to turn on your heat. The heat can escape through even very small gaps and cracks around your home’s foundation, doors, and windows. Cold draughts can get inside your house, causing your furnace to work harder to maintain your warm interior, and that will lead to higher energy bills. Use caulk or cement to seal cracks and holes. In fact, you may want to use steel mesh as well to deter pests from entering your warm house.

Check Your Roof

Fall is a good time for a roof inspection. You’ll want to ensure that it’s in optimum condition before winter storms roll in. Secure loose tiles or shingles. Make sure there are no pests nesting on your roof or causing damage. If you do uncover damage, contact a professional roofing company to make the repairs.

Clean Gutters for Wintertime

Before wintertime, be sure that your gutters are clean and that water is able to flow through them unobstructed. If there is any damage to your gutter system, have it repaired. It doesn’t take much water around your home’s foundation to cause a moisture problem or seepage. If your gutters are high up, you might want to hire a professional service to clean and inspect them for you.

Furnace Maintenance

Prepare for wintertime by having your home’s furnace inspected and tuned up. An annual furnace tuneup supports the longevity of your furnace. A licensed HVAC professional can inspect your furnace to look for any wearing parts that can cause a breakdown. A filter change, lubrication of parts, and a thorough cleaning will help you properly maintain your furnace for the winter ahead.

Install More Insulation for Wintertime

Adding more insulation to homes is a common home improvement in Southern California. Many homes have been built without adequate insulation. However, temperatures can get quite cold at night and remain cold throughout the morning. By improving insulation, you can reduce your energy costs and maintain a warmer interior environment.

Replace Batteries and Test Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Since your home will be closed up more during the winter and you’ll be relying on your furnace and fireplace more frequently, you want to consider home safety at this time of year. Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Then, test them to ensure they work properly.

Many of these tasks can easily be performed over a weekend. It’s important to winterize your home so that you can weather the winter at home more safely. In fact, when your home is prepared for the cold season, you may find that you love this time of year!

October may be over, but there is still plenty of tech news to catch up on. From SpaceX’s Halloween Launch to the Disney + Metaverse and more, we have you covered with this week’s round-up of technology and media news. Read on for our weekly round-up of the news you need to know!

iPhones Help United Airlines Avoid 13 Million Minutes in Delays

United Airlines have Apple to thank for helping the airline avoid delays. The company, which uses iPads and iPhones across its operations, avoided 13 million minutes in delays this past year. This latest stat comes courtesy of Apple itself, which detailed its United relationship in a recent report on its website. Linda Jojo, United’s vice president and chief customer officer, says United has been using iPads for over 10 years and that the airline has used over 120,000 Apple devices. The minutes equate to eliminating an hour’s delay for over 216,000 passengers per day.

James Gunn to Oversee DC Film Development Along with Peter Safran 

DC has found its Kevin Fiege Equivalent to go head-to-head with the success of the Marvel franchise. Warner Brothers have announced that the Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy Director will spearhead all future DC movie and tv projects. Along with producer Peter Safran, the pair will lead a reorganized division of Warnes Bros. Discovery. Likewise, this will include turning Superman, Batman, Black Adam, and other DC comic characters into new film and TV projects. After shelving the already completed Batgirl film, it has been speculated that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav was specifically searching for a revamp. According to a press release, Gunn and Safran will be co-chairmen and chief executive officers of DC Studios, which replaces DC Films.

First Mars Samples Could Hold Evidence of Alien Life

In the next decade, numerous space agencies have laid out plans to bring Martian rock back to Earth to be studied. This would be the first time any such samples have been retrieved from the distant red planet. According to a new study published Tuesday in the journal Astrobiology, whoever gets to analyze those seminal samples might stumble on something incredible: proof of alien life. In addition,  researchers specifically suggest that any organisms buried beneath the ground could still be lying under Martian soil. With upcoming missions like the ExoMars by Roscosmos and the European Space Agency, there could soon be groundbreaking extraterrestrial evidence.

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy Rocket Set for Oct. 31 Launch After 3-Year Hiatus

While you might not see a witch flying across the night sky on Halloween, you may see SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. The biggest operational rocket in the world is prepped to launch on October 31. The rocket will send a pair of payloads into orbit for the US Space Force. The Falcon Heavy mission dubbed USSF 44 is the next launch on deck for pad 39-A at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, currently set for Oct. 31 at 9:44 a.m. ET (6:44 a.m. PT). The Space Force describes it as a classified mission. “There will be two payloads on board this mission — a larger, unconfirmed satellite and a micro-satellite named TETRA-1,” the military said in a statement on one of its YouTube Channels. 

Disney Plus May Soon Know When You’ve Been to its Disney Theme Parks

The “next-generation of storytelling” is underway at Disney. The company has announced a more unified experience is being planned for visitors to its parks and streaming service. The comments came after Bob Chapek’s discussion of Disney’s vision for the metaverse at the WSJ Tech Live Conference. “Disney should know what you’re watching when you visit its parks and what you visited when you return home again to stream movies and TV shows,” Chapek said, stressing that viewer permission would be required. While he says the company is “putting the arms and legs on it right now,” he didn’t offer many details beyond tailoring Disney Plus suggestions to rides you visited in the park.

With another week winding down, it’s time to get updated on the latest tech news. From Waymo’s driverless cars in LA to flying cars via Alef and more, we have you covered. Read on for the latest news happening in the world of tech!

Alef Debuts Flying Car with 2025 Debut Date

It’s not quite The Jetsons, but Alef’s flying car prototype is fairly close. The company unveiled its prototype for a flying car this past week. The $300,000 machine is meant to give experienced drivers the chance to soar over traffic. Alef hopes to begin selling the flying vehicle starting in 2025. The Alef Model A has a driving range of 200 miles and a flying range of 110 miles. Likewise, the vehicle is already in high demand, with the start-up already receiving orders online. In addition, the company is also working on a $35,000 Model Z to launch by 2030.

SpaceX Debuts Starlink Internet Service for Private Jets

When it comes to staying connected while jet-setting, SpaceX is hoping to have you covered. The company unveiled Starlink Aviation this past week, a satellite internet service that will offer in-flight Wi-Fi on private jets. Likewise, SpaceX CEO and Starlink Founder Elon Musk hopes to sell internet service to the masses. The company is looking to a growing network of private satellites orbiting overhead as a way to ensure connectivity for the service. Private jet owners interested in the internet service can pay $150,000 for the hardware needed to connect a jet to Starlink. Likewise, the monthly subscription will be between $12,500 a month and $25,000 a month for unlimited data. “Passengers can engage in activities previously not functional in flight, including video calls, online gaming, virtual private networks, and other high data rate activities,” the company said.

Meta AI Now Able to Decipher Unwritten Languages, Company Says

The AI system developed by Meta is now able to translate unwritten languages. The company announced the news this week, calling it the “first AI-powered speech translation system for an unwritten language,” according to a blog post from the tech company. The language system was created as a part of Meta’s artificial intelligence project called Universal Speech Translator, or UST. “The translation system is the first milestone for Meta AI’s Universal Speech Translator project, which focuses on developing AI systems that provide real-time speech-to-speech translation across all languages, even primarily spoken ones,” Meta said in a statement. 

BMW Invests $1.7 Billion in EVs and Batteries in the US

Luxury automobile maker BMW has announced plans for a major investment in EVs and the assembly process. The German company stated that $1.7 billion will be invested in US electric vehicle manufacturing. Likewise, the total amount will be segmented, with $1 billion dedicated to EV production at its existing US assembly facility. In addition, BMW hopes that it will be able to build six fully electric BMW models in the US by 2030. The remaining $700 million will go toward building a new high-voltage battery assembly facility in nearby Woodruff.

Waymo Launches Self-Driving Ride Service in Los Angeles

After launches in San Francisco and Phoenix, Waymo’s self-driving ride service has made its way to LA. The company announced this week that it’s Waymo One driverless ride-hailing service will be available in the Los Angeles area. While a timeline has not been provided for launch, the company stated the vehicles will “begin driving autonomously in several central districts over the coming months.” In addition, the car service will be offered around the clock. Waymo has been working with several partners for the rollout, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s California chapter and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition.

Netflix Password Sharing Crackdown to Launch in Early 2023

The days of using your third cousin’s best friend’s former neighbor’s Netflix account are numbered. The streaming giant has set a date for its major update that will limit account sharing beginning in early 2023. Likewise, as a part of the rollout, the company will allow users the ability to transfer their profiles to new accounts. Netflix will begin letting subscribers create sub-accounts starting next year in line with its plans to “monetize account sharing” more widely. In addition, to the profile change, the company will also be launching its ad-supported tier system in the coming month. Of course, the company will be clamping down on password sharing as it remains committed to the “bingeable release model.”

Stay connected in the world of tech and science! In this week’s tech news blog, we are breaking down the major headlines you want to know via bite-sized versions of the facts that matter. From Meta’s Quest Pro to the Netflix Basic Plan and more, we have you covered with technology news!

Meta Debuts High-End VR Set Quest VR Pro

Eager VR fans are finally getting more details on Meta’s high-end version of its Quest VR glasses. The Quest VR Pro, which has been priced at $1499, brings massive changes to the popular VR set. With an upgraded processor and better ergonomics, the Quest VR Pro is both faster and more comfortable than its predecessor. In addition, the gear has added eye tracking and high-resolution color for its video feed. Likewise, the latter makes the line between virtual and augmented reality more blurred. “This is the highest-end VR device — for enthusiasts, the prosumer, the sort of people who are trying to get work done,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Amazon is Primed to Launch its Prototype Satellites Early Next Year

As part of its Project Kuiper satellite internet constellation, Amazon is readying to launch two satellites early next year. The test satellites were built to compete with services like SpaceX Starlink and OneWeb. The company put out a release this week stating that the prototypes Kuipersat-1 and Kuipersat-2, will be riding into orbit on a Vulcan Centaur rocket from the United Launch Alliance (ULA) in early 2023. The company says the launch will let it perform tests on its satellite network technology with data from space and that the data will “help finalize the design, deployment, and operational plans for our commercial satellite system.”

Netflix Begins this November Rollout for Basic Plan with Ads

Beginning in November, Netflix will rollout out its Basic plan to users in a select number of countries. The plan will be available to users in the US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, and the UK. The Basic with Ads tier will launch at $6.99 a month in exchange for having to watch four to five ads per hour. In addition, the package will give users access to a large amount of Netflix’s content but not its full catalog. Basic with Ads subscribers will also not be able to download content onto their devices, and video quality is capped at 720p / HD.

Microsoft Launches Microsoft Places for Better Hybrid Team Connectivity

A new workplace app is being launched by Microsoft to assist with the challenges of hybrid working. Called Microsoft Places, the app is currently in beta and set to launch soon. The app will track what percentage of team members will be in the office on a given day. In addition to tracking team members’ locations, the app also works to keep workflow organized by giving “insights and guidance.” Places are also designed to help managers plan office use and how much space might be needed in the future.

Roku Partners with Wyze and Walmart for New Smart Home Gear

Streaming device company Roku is entering the smart home field. The company has debuted a range of smart home gadgets in partnership with Wyze and Walmart. The gadgets include lighting, plugs, and cameras. Likewise, at launch, users will be able to view a video feed from the Roku video doorbell via the Roku TV operating system. Roku also says the lineup will be compatible with Google Assistant and Roku Voice. A Roku Smart Home mobile app will be available on iOS and Android for managing smart devices.